If a system of “preventative detention” (or rather, arbitrary jailing) is implemented during the Obama administration, I can only judge his presidency as a failure and a stain on America. It will be a most radical shredding of constitutional principles. It can only be described as tyranny. Whatever else he does will be tainted.
So far, he has escalated the war in Afghanistan and there is good reason to doubt that he will live up to his promise to end the war in Iraq. If so, he will be a warmonger with a Nobel Peace Prize. What a world we live in!
It is still to early to talk about an Obama legacy, but as of now, I cannot judge this president positively. The revolution must come from elsewhere.
Seems that Obama’s program was just a lie and a Nobel Prize was just a joke (dono waht he even got one, he has just been elected). The system of “preventative detention” is well know form of investigation of suspected people. There is even a movie about it “Rendition”. Obama is a fiasco.
Hmm. Let’s take a deep breath, shall we guys? ::chuckle:: IT. IS. TOO. SOON. … to be talking about Obama’s legacy.
As I revisit this post, Shawn, it is Monday, March 22nd. A day after health care reform has moved forward.
How about taking a look at our favorite conservative commentator’s big-picture analysis of the Obama presidency? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7069622.ece (Sullivan wrote that shortly before the House vote on Sunday, btw.)
That analysis makes perfect sense.
So, let me prognosticate: Obama WILL get to the Cheney/Bush crimes in due course. Maybe as far off as sometime in his second term. But my gut tells me Obama won’t need to wait that long (or risk putting it off until then because he might not even get a second term).
Obama’s presidency a “fiasco”? Please. Let’s see you folks even *imagine* how to get it done, in your cozy armchairs.
My views on health care reform are complicated, and I’ll get to them in due course.
I do want to disagree with you on your prognostication. After all, it was Obama who voted with his fellow Senators to give immunity to telecoms who broke the law. He didn’t bring them to justice; will he do the same for the torturers? I have yet to see evidence that he will go after the war crimes of the Bush administration. I’d be patient, but I’ve seen nothing (except words) that indicates Obama will live up to his promises on civil liberties.
I have a sense that Obama understands that if he doesn’t rectify the profound assault on civil liberties, then all the rest — HCR, saving the economy from a second Great Depression, getting out of Iraq/Afghanistan — even if positively resolved, will ring hollow. I also feel that he knows it’s not going to be easy, but that he *will* try. Of course this is pure speculation on my part, but based on how Obama’s first year went, it’s not an unreasonable speculation.