How much longer will we have to wait?

[varkam]

I don't think I ever applauded at a television before. But after Obama's inaugural speech, I stood up and clapped until my hands were numb. I'm sure the people I was watching it with thought I was silly...well they would have had most of them not stood up and clapped as well. For the first time in eight long years, I was hopeful. I was hopeful to have a politician that I could believe in and count on.

Fair warning - I'm going to voice my grievances. I have said before and I will say again that I do not think we, as Americans, should swear loyalty to any party or any politician - for they are merely transient holders of the body of government. That's not what I take loyalty to mean. On a good day, being loyal to your president and being loyal to your country are one in the same.

These, I fear, are not good days.

I'm not saying that I'm done with Obama or anything of the sort - I still agree with a lot of what he's doing...but I have to say there have been two things...two things in particular that have been gnawing at my political conscience. Due process for detainees and signing statements.

When Obama announced that we were shutting down the base at Guantanamo Bay, I couldn't believe it. It was like waking up from a nightmare, and where at first you confuse the delusion of your sleep with the stark contrast of the reality of it all. It was really closing. I was as happy as a clam. Well...a really big clam.

Then, on February 20th, the Obama administration announced that they were going to continue denying any sort of review to detainees in Afghanistan. They could, in essence, be held indefinitely without charges other than the same sort of vague assertions of "support" that blanketed those held at Guantanamo. Maybe a some sort of military tribunal would work...but I would at least like to see one that conforms to the UCMJ...you know, a set of procedures that at least bears some semblance of due process under the Constitution.

So, it would seem to me, that Guantanamo isn't closing. It's just moving. And maybe I'm wrong about that...I really hope that I am.

Then, there's signing statements. Signing statements have been in existence for a long time, but it wasn't until Bush came along that they became something that, in my opinion, Bush used to grant himself extra-Constitutional powers. Normally, presidents don't have any judicial or legislative function - but signing statements are exactly that. Bush used them to interpret and create law...and Obama is doing the same damn thing.

Mr. President, if you believe a portion of a bill that comes across your desk is unconstitutional, don't just say you'll decline to enforce that provision and sign it into law - veto it.

Like I said, it's not that I'm done with Mr. Obama. I agree with a lot of things that he's doing right now. But these issues, in my opinion, are some very...very big things. I take no glee in thinking about them, or in writing about them either. Rather I am quite sad, because I remember how enthusiastic and hopeful I was on inauguration day.

Maybe he'll change course - and I sincerely hope that he does. I know he's barely got his feet wet, and so I'm willing to wait.

But how much longer will we have to wait?

[ixion]

1. Don't hold your breath

Our government is run by some folks in the shadows who don't like us very much. They've got an agenda, and We, the People fit only insofar as we can provide cheap labor, a revenue stream and canon fodder. We're given the impression that 'change' has occurred, but if you look at the situation "on the ground," as it were, nothing much has changed at all.

Why is that?

Because the folks who are truly running the show have not changed one bit. Not one iota. They're still the same evil bastards. Much like AIG, they change their name -- the branding -- and offer it back up as a new product.

Such is the state of the Human Condition. We've been playing this stupid game for 10,000 years, and, apparently, have yet to tire from it... or "get it," collectively speaking.

So the chances of us getting wise to the situation anytime soon are astronomical, at best.

[CrispyQ]

4. Best post of the day.

And it's not even 9am!


:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. .

:applause: :thumbsup:

[madokie]

9. No doubt about it

We have a good man, an honest and intelligent leader who is asking us to do the work of change. What we need to do is start rattling cages like we've not done before. The change we seek is us and it won't happen until we, the you and I of this democracy stand up and demand it. We have to start making the noises, President Obama will lead the way. We have to be actively trying to work toward that end in our everyday lives and if we do we'll get that change we so want. Nothing will matter until we do. imho

[shadowknows69]

2. We needed a fighter and what we got was another politician

Albeit a more beneficent one, not that Bush is tough to improve on, but we needed a dismantling of the power structure as it stands in DC not more compromising with it.

[donco]

3. Good grief it’s only been a bit over two months.

It took eight years to screw the country up to where it was when he took over.

[Summermoondancer]

5. Its hard to believe that the United States

would deny anyone a right to a fair trial..if we believe in our constitution why don´t we apply it across the board to everyone? Do we have so little faith in our system that it should not apply to terrorists as well?
If we take our freedoms with a grain of salt and say it is ok to deny those freedoms to others what is going to happen and who is going to speak up when they deny us those same freedoms?
Let the evidence speak, if they are guilty let the jury decide what to do with them whether it be a life sentence at Gitmo or somewhere here...we have terrorists in US prisons too...we gave them a trial by jury and let the evidence speak...why not now? Remember the 93 WTC bombing...those folks went to jail, had a trial and were found guilty. We should do the same and treat everyone with the same attitude...if we believe in our constitution and its power we shouldn´t just reserve those rights for Americans.

[dem629]

6. Clapped till your hands were numb? You need to get out more.

[varkam]

8. Is that really necessary? eom