Another May-September Break-Up

Yet another spring fling that faded with the falling leaves - Obama is adopting the Bush position on indefinite detention and won't vex Congress with a request for enabling legislation.

Why the change?  Uhh, because this is Obama we are talking about?  Could be!

But another reason for the punt may be that the Pelosi/Reid Administration doesn't want to exhaust whatever morale remains on their left flank.  After noting Obama's flip-flop, the Times engaged in a bit of Congress-bashing.  The flip::

[Obama] said he would “work with Congress to develop an appropriate legal regime so that our efforts are consistent with our values and our Constitution.”

Officials said Wednesday that working with Congress did not mean the president would seek legislation, only that he would consult lawmakers.

My guess is the consultations went poorly - that after Pelosi and Reid vented about the frustrations of the left on health care and Afghanistan, these two "leaders" indicated that they wanted no part of any effort to legitimize the locking up of hardened terrorists.  After all, there is only so much a lefty can endure. 

And the bash:

Given the opposition in Congress to Mr. Obama’s plan to close Guantánamo, especially if it means transferring detainees to prisons on American soil, the prospect of writing legislation that would pass both houses appears daunting at best.

Sarah E. Mendelson, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who led a study about closing Guantánamo, said forgoing legislation was "overall a good step" because it prevented Congress from making things worse. "We don’t know if it closes the door definitively on efforts to institutionalize detention without charge," she added, "since the White House might seek to do this by itself."

I must say the expecting squawking from the left is muted - Glenn Greenwald explains that no law is better than the bad law Congress probably would have passed.  However, he delivers a nice "I Want My Hope And Change" rant here:

This leads to a more general point:  when it comes to uprooting ("changing") the Bush/Cheney approach to Terrorism and civil liberties -- the issue which generated as much opposition to the last presidency as anything else -- the Obama administration has proven rather conclusively that tiny and cosmetic adjustments are the most it is willing to do.  They love announcing new policies that cast the appearance of change but which have no effect whatsoever on presidential powers.  With great fanfare, they announced the closing of CIA black sites -- at a time when none was operating.  They trumpeted the President's order that no interrogation tactics outside of the Army Field Manual could be used -- at a time when approval for such tactics had been withdrawn.  They repudiated the most extreme elements of the Bush/Addington/Yoo "inherent power" theories -- while maintaining alternative justifications to enable the same exact policies to proceed exactly as is.  They flamboyantly touted the closing of Guantanamo -- while aggressively defending the right to abduct people from around the world and then imprison them with no due process at Bagram.  Their "changes" exist solely in theory -- which isn't to say that they are all irrelevant, but it is to say that they change nothing in practice:  i.e., in reality.

He's not holding his breath waiting.

Comments

[Charlie (Colorado)]

forgoing legislation was "overall a good step" because it prevented Congress from making things worse.

Words to live by.

[Pofarmer]

Leave it to Greenwald to miss the obvious.

What we were doing was neccesary, effective, and legal, and the Obama administration doesn't want to take the flogging it would richly deserve for abandoning those programs.

Oh, and is Gitmo still open? My bet?(and I was wrong about Van Jones) is that it's still open when Obama leaves office.

[MayBee]

Po- Gitmo is not still open. I heard President Obama announce to the UN yesterday that he had closed it.

[Jack is Back!]

Look, Obama is out of his league and he knows it. That is why we have all the commissars and such - to do the heavy lifting - as if they are any better than Obama himself in that category of executive toil.

So, who is pulling the levers on Gitmo, detention, rendition, counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, Iraq, national security? My guess is Jim Jones with a support cast of Gates and Panetta (who leaves his bit up to the CIA pros not pols).

Does anyone after 9 months of The Once, really believe he has HIS hands on the levers? Not hardly. His hands are stuck on the podium edges and his lap when giving his informercial interviews.

[Extraneus]

Hey, Po, here's one you'll like.

Bullet makers can't keep up with demand

[tollhouse]

Poor dumb Bush. He should just said that we were "closing" Gitmo, made our allies like Russia and China happy, and then do nothing or create a study group.

Things are so much easier when you don't have to act on them, just talk about them.

[Pofarmer]

Heh Extraneous, I KNOW about the bullet shortage. It's very hard to find pistol bullets. I wound up buying Jacketed hollow points for practice ammo becuase, frankly, that's all I could find. Bullets in popular hunting weights are hard to find, as well. Plenty of Target ammo for rifles, but the really useful stuff is in short supply. Ditto Primers. Local Gunshop, large supplier, currently has a 1000 limit on primers, and still can't keep them in stock. They are out of Large Rifle, small Rifle and Large Pistol primers as we speak. Midway arms, another catalog/internet dealer, got in 1.5 MILLION primers last Tuesday, and SOLD OUT on Wednesday.

[Pofarmer]

And, after I read the article, they are talking about AMMUNITION, not Bullets.

Aye yea yea

[hit and run]

MayBee:
Po- Gitmo is not still open. I heard President Obama announce to the UN yesterday that he had closed it.

Well, he said:

On my first day in office, I prohibited -- without exception or equivocation -- the use of torture by the United States of America. (Applause.) I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed, and we are doing the hard work of forging a framework to combat extremism within the rule of law.

Ordering it closed is certainly meant to leave the impression that it was, you know, actually closed.

But taken literally, the only real claim is that he ordered it, not that it was necessarily done.

Today I ordered hit and run jr to clean his room before school.

Wait.

What the snot are all those legos still doing on the floor????

Well, that's it. I am calling together a committee of experts to help devise a plan to get those legos cleaned up by Jan 1, 2010.

But make no mistake, citizens of the world, I have unequivocally ordered that they be picked up.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

You know, I wonder if it's occurred to Obama that these guys are long-time politicians and have had smoke blown up their asses by experts?

[Extraneus]

Hey, do we know who he gave the order to?

Meanwhile, I think I'll order a pallet of 100's.

[Rocco]

The perfect gift, a 5000 piece lego set.

[gmax]

Noting the following:

the Obama administration has proven rather conclusively that tiny and cosmetic adjustments are the most it is willing to do. They love announcing new policies that cast the appearance of change but which have no effect whatsoever on presidential powers. With great fanfare, they announced the closing of CIA black sites -- at a time when none was operating. They trumpeted the President's order that no interrogation tactics outside of the Army Field Manual could be used -- at a time when approval for such tactics had been withdrawn. They repudiated the most extreme elements of the Bush/Addington/Yoo "inherent power" theories -- while maintaining alternative justifications to enable the same exact policies to proceed exactly as is. They flamboyantly touted the closing of Guantanamo -- while aggressively defending the right to abduct people from around the world and then imprison them with no due process at Bagram. Their "changes" exist solely in theory -- which isn't to say that they are all irrelevant, but it is to say that they change nothing in practice: i.e., in reality.

I need to say, hey Glenn its called lying to your base. As Glenn Reynolds would say, exactly who are the rubes? LOL

All Sham no Wow.

[Neo]

"A large majority, 89.3 percent, suggested the national media played a very or somewhat strong role in helping to elect President Obama," according to a summary of the findings. "Just 10.0 percent suggested the national media played little or no role. Further, 69.9 percent agreed the national news media are intent on promoting the Obama presidency while 26.5 percent disagreed. Some, 3.6 percent, were unsure."

And 86.6 percent said they believe the news media try to influence public opinion and that they have their own public policy and political positions. This compares to 87.6 percent in 2008 and 70.3 percent in 2003.

[peter]

So why is this fool's Ras back up to only minus five? That's within the Acorn can steal the 2012election margin of error.

[Ignatz]

--But make no mistake, citizens of the world, I have unequivocally ordered that they be picked up.--

Slight problem with your analogy Hit.

To be accurate you would have to order HRjr to ask the neighbors if he could toss half his Legos on their floor and to toss the other half in the middle of your living room and kitchen so you can step on them in the morning.

[Porchlight]

OT,

"DC Fire Department Report" Quote Regarding September 12 Event Misrepresents Agency Policy

In reference to the September 12th Tea Party event held in Washington DC, quoting a “DC Fire Department Report”, regardless of what any media reported, the size of the crowd of those who attended this event were never estimated by DC Fire & EMS. Any reports contrary to this are false. The DC Fire & EMS Department does not estimate crowd sizes.

A Twitter posting estimating the crowd gathering at Lafayette Park only as “large, possibly as many as 60 thousand” stated that it was an early estimation of that specific area (Lafayette Park), not the number of participants in the event.

Hahahahaha, take that, Tea Party haters.

Really, though, it's inexcusable for the DC Fire Dept to have waited so long to put out the correction.

[clarice]

U thought you knew, Hit. Legos are a Swedish plot to break up intact families.

[DrJ]

Legos are a Swedish plot

Danish, actually.

[centralcal]

Major Garrett justed tweeted that the Treasury Dept I.G. will be investigating Acorn at the request of Sen. Collins and Rep. Issa.

Anyone know who the IG is?

[clarice]

As I always said,"Legos are a Danish plot to break up intact families."

[glasater]

Thanks Porchlight--

I sent that link and quote to Bill O'Reilly who keeps referring to the "DC Fire Department" on the body count of the DC Tea Party protest.

[bio mom]

Someone tell Bill O'Reilly about the DC Fire
Dept. correction. He has been using it to claim 75,000 attended. He has repeatedly said this, using the D.C. Fire Dept. as his authority.

[Cecil Turner]

Wow, they finally figured out a POW detention camp is a handy thing in the middle of a shooting war. Who'd a thunk it? And they finally get around to the difficult-to-escape fact that it's dangerous (and counterproductive) to apply federal court case rules of evidence to determinations of combatant detainees. Gleen is still hyperventilating, as he doesn't have to try to run anything and can still pretend the world is as he'd like it to be.

[Jane]

That truly pisses me off about O'Reilly glasater. Lies are even worse if you were a witness to the contrary.

[BB Key]

OT
There is a AP story (dated 9/23) about a Kentucky Census worker who was found hanged with the word FED on his chest. The lefty blogs are all over it with the usual innuendo.

I did some digging an found an article in the London KY paper dated 9/17 where the local reporter mentions the name of the of the KSP patrolman who was first called to the scene and the KSP Detective who was handling the investigation at the time and neither mention anything about the cause of death.
Can the AP and their anonynmous source be trusted?

[clarice]

IMO O Reilly makes up his mind fast about things, sticks with his first impression come hell, high water or--un--facts.

It bothers me more that he's an economics/market illiterate. Everytime he takes about oil and oil prices I use to go thru the roof--no longer though. I just don't watch tv any more and my world is a far more pleasant place without non stop ignoramus' words piped into my home.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Danish, actually.

That's just what they want you to believe.

[bunky]

Is O'Reilly even shown live anymore? Usually the bottom logo indicates "live" or not. Lately I have not seen it during the 8pm EST showing. Just seems like he is mailing it in.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Well, I stopped paying much attention to O'Reilly early on, when I realized that he was often "reporting" the same topics as on Drudge Report, in the same order.

Not so much any more, but it was pretty obnoxious at the time.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

BTW, Porch, thanks. I want to write a sort of summary piece today, that's a perfect hook.

[hit and run]

A Twitter posting estimating the crowd gathering at Lafayette Park only as “large, possibly as many as 60 thousand” stated that it was an early estimation of that specific area (Lafayette Park), not the number of participants in the event.

I've been trying to say this repeatedly -- in as far as the original tweet where the number came from was at 9:43 AM.

Did you know that the crowd for the 7pm opening game in the new 100,000+ capacity Cowboys stadium was only 25,000!!!

Uh, at 5pm.

[Gregory Koster]

Dear CentralCal (where exactly? I used to live in Fresno): Here you are. Look to see another IG canned soon. No doubt when that happens, he gets a bar added to his DFC.

Another example of cunning v. intelligence: Harvard Law tells The Once, let 'em go. Get rid of this problem, get on with health care. Secret Service'll protect you, what the hell do you care about anyone else? But the Forty First ward of Chicago tells him, no don't do anything danger, danger Will Robinson. Let those windbags Pelosi and Reid flap their jaws.

[hit and run]

Well, the legos that hit and run jr is now playing with are my legos from when I was his age.

No family was unintacted in the intervening years.

We beat the odds.

And the evil Danish.

[Jack is Back!]

Clarice,

You can fly direct to Copenhagen from Dulles on SAS and then its a short train ride to LUN

My son loved it. There is one in the UK, Germany and now in California.

[DrJ]

JiB,

I visited the Danish Legoland about 35 years ago (probably the only one back then). Wonderful place, even if you are not a kid.

[DrJ]

Speaking of Legos, there's this.

[bishop]

Well he's a Air Force Academy graduate, fits the DHS memo profile, now if he were
some Yale Law community organizer or Harvard
educated investment banker turned steel union exec, that would be fine.

[Porchlight]

Welcome, Charlie. I got it via Weekly Standard blog if you want to h/t 'em.

[hit and run]

Also speaking of Legos, there's http://thebricktestament.com>this

[Jane]

Check your email hit!

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

Duuuuude, DrJ and Hit.

One thing few called Bush, even though he was from Texas was "all hat and no cattle"; he did what he said and said what he did.

Does anyone know the Chicago saying for the same concept so we can fit it to our World Leader wannabe.

You had to love the symbolism of his presiding over the Security Council, that most feckless of political bodies.

[clarice]

All bun and no bratwurst? If that's not it, Jim R, let's get the ball rolling:
Obama:All Bun and no Bratwurst.

Worls for me.

[Barbara]

Netanyahu just gave a powerful speech at the UN. right in Iran & zero's faces.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

That's good on so many levels, Clarice. Are brats as big in Chicago as they are in Milwaukee?

[clarice]

Where do you think Chicagoans get their's from, Jim?

[Porchlight]

Go Bibi. More from Contentions here, with a long excerpt. Wow!

[Melinda Romanoff]

Clarice & Jim-

Locals will eat bratwurst but not if there's Polishes around. LUN

[centralcal]

G.K.: Fresno, it is.

[daddy]

Clarice,

I really enjoyed the first half of ">http://www.amazon.com/Ambitious-Brew-Story-American-Beer/dp/0156033593/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid"> Ambitious Brew--The Story of American Beer

It was great on relating the arrival in @1840's Milwaukee, of some German immigrant just off the boat, walking down the main dirt drag, and deciding that this hick town needed a decent Lager, and he was going to figure out a way to give them one. A very enjoyable tale.

Brat's tho' was not covered in the text. Anyone out there got a tip for a good "history of US Brat's" you'ld recommend? My favorite up here are Raindeer dogs, slathered in sauerkraut and brown mustard---grilled onions optional. Yummm!

[daddy]

Yea Netanyahu,

Thanks Po for the link.

Also just for info. I know the sale of guns and ammo is going thru the roof. My second part of that question though, is who is doing all the purchasing?

When I see that video of Obama saying he wants a domestic armed service that is as large and well-funded as the US Military, I wonder is any of that scheme being implemented under the radar screen, like school indoctrination or ACORN voting/census violations, or anything else these shadow groups are pushing. Does anybody know if Obama's Domestic Militia scheme is just more blather, or is there any evidence that an actual plan has been laid out and ongoing as we speak?

[bgates]

they announced the closing of CIA black sites -- at a time when none was operating. They trumpeted the President's order that no interrogation tactics outside of the Army Field Manual could be used -- at a time when approval for such tactics had been withdrawn.

Or,

"The closing of CIA black sites was announced -- at a time when Bush had already closed them all. An order that no interrogation tactics outside of the Army Field Manual could be used was trumpeted -- at a time when Bush had already withdrawn approval for such tactics."

Cabana Boy just can't admit to agreeing with Bush.

[clarice]

daddy, the best ones are made in little butcher shops scattered around the rural areas. But Nueskes which has online orderinf makes great ones and they ship everywhere--they also make great bacon.

Speaking of bratwirst:
< a href=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/health/Firefighters-Save-Trapped-Penis-61110862.html>California!!

[clarice]

porchlight Haile Selassie gave a good speech before the League of Nations, too.
God helps those who help themselves. The international Calvary is not ever coming.

[daddy]

Clarice,

I can't seem to open that Save Trapped Penis link, but I think that might be a good thing:)

[DrJ]

Clarice's link

[Rocco]

I usually just tie a knot! No Pain...No Gain!

[daddy]

"In an ill-conceived attempt to increase the size of his member, a man placed his penis through the "hole of a steel, ring-shaped dumbbell weight fastener," according to the Daily Pilot."

Isn't that what Obama's been trying to do with the US economy?

[clarice]

Heh!

[Melinda Romanoff]

The Polishes I was referring to earlier were Maxwell Street Polish Sausages, mustard, and slathered in grilled onions. (LUN)

[Melinda Romanoff]

And I can spike a thread better than anyone here, exceptin' maybe, Jane.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

The Polishes I was referring to earlier were Maxwell Street Polish Sausages, mustard, and slathered in grilled onions.

Oh, now that's just mean.

[clarice]

I knew what you meant, Melinda but all bun no Polish just doesn't quite make it.