What Obama and America needs: widespread protests demanding prosecutions for torture

[lostnfound]

Pushing him from the left, or from the sane world of people who don't believe in torture, to prosecute Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc.

And what a great contrast if we could get massive crowds out so shortly after the lame made-for-tv teabag events.

[theophilus]

1. There is great wisdom in your post, imo.

Sometimes, in some situations, a great leader must get out of the way and let the people rise up and make things happen. We need to demand in growing numbers and give Mr. O cover to make the hard choices and big changes. It will take time, though.

[katandmoon]

3. I don't think a great leader by definition waits for a popular uprising to convince him

To do the right thing. A great leader does the right thing without cover.

[Bluebear]

4. :nodding:

[Hubert Flottz]

2. K&R

[tan guera]

6. you betcha. :-) he shouldn't need our howls of protest

He's bound by LAW to appoint a special prosecutor.

He says he doesn't want to to look like it's revenge. Good grief, Obama. These are WAR CRIMES and if you don't do something, you're complicit.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Widespread protests?

Protests have unfortunately turned into nostalgia theater for people who want to relive the 1960s. Most people -- even at DU -- can't be bothered to pick up the phone and call the office of their local representatives and/or senators.

We have known from the start that Obama would be hobbled in any attempt to go after the torture apparatus without significant back-up. The DoJ has traditionally been on a short leash, Bush cronies excepted. So let's give him the license he needs and force our reps to initiate the proceedings. They are the ones with the real power to do it, and they ought to be carrying the bulk of the load.

This is a job where Obama can't just wave his hands and make things work out to our satisfaction. It never was. It is OUR job. Call your representative(s) and demand that these criminals be called to account -- yes, even if you have Republican representatives.

My rep is Pat Murphy. He isn't feeling much motivation to move on this case, and he's one of the first we'd imagine would want to. There is no action taking place except for online grousing. This has to change, and we can't expect Obama to be the Big Fixer.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt">Call Congress. Do it NOW.

--d!

[arcadian]

7. Call the Whitehouse too.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: [phone]