Jon Stewart Nails it : Obama going back on his own words

[Mari333]

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=227351&title=moral-kombat

[MannyGoldstein]

1. But It's OK - He Calls Himself A Democrat

He can do whatever he wants.

Isn't Bo the cutest dog ever?

[tomm2thumbs]

124. thanks for posting

truth is stranger than fiction

[Efilroft Sul]

2. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Releasing photos or footage of torture done on our behalf is not what's going to put our troops into a worse position. However, not indicting those responsible will put our troops into greater danger. We will make more enemies by doing nothing, and President Obama is buying the Republicans' antilogic.

Investigate. Indict. Incarcerate.

[KittyWampus]

3. No, Stewart didn't "nail" it. As he often does, he takes bits of info to make a segment

Sadly, his take the last few nights reinforces the Republican tactics.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. What Do You Disagree With?

In what way do you think Obama is being taken out of context?

[Creideiki]

16. Why, of course Stewart is WRONG!!!!

He questioned THE O!

How dare he?

Leave Brittany alone!

[flyarm]

91. Puppy spotting , puppy alert!!..puppy alert!! breaking news!! eom

[blackbart99]

147. Leave O alone....

If we don't hold Obama to his word...by reminding him when he strays...then we are no
better than the repubs we all fought so hard to push out of office. Honesty...Integrity
even when it is painful is the only way to do this whole American Experiment!!!
:patriot: :patriot: :fistbump: :fistbump: :grouphug:

[Mari333]

5. he was kind. he didnt even mention the military tribunals. nt

[KittyWampus]

6. what about the tribunals? You have a better way to start clearing out Gitmo?

[Mari333]

7. he can stop going back on his own words

Back in August 2007, candidate Obama unequivocally rejected military tribunals:

"I also will reject a legal framework that does not work. There has been only one conviction at Guantanamo. It was for a guilty plea on material support for terrorism. The sentence was 9 months. There has not been one conviction of a terrorist act. I have faith in America's courts, and I have faith in our JAGs. As President, I will close Guantanamo, reject the Military Commissions Act, and adhere to the Geneva Conventions. Our Constitution and our Uniform Code of Military Justice provide a framework for dealing with the terrorists."
<http://www.barackobama.com/2007/08/01/remarks_of_senato... >



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5666078&mesg_id=5666078

[Name removed]

18. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KittyWampus]

87. #1. He changed the rules. #2. He is using them for a small number of Gitmo detainees

You know, the ones who actually were involved in terrorism.

[Hannah Bell]

108. um - how do they decide which are which - before the trial?

pretty fundamental.

[Djinn]

137. hilarious isn't it

well it would be were there not actual people held incommunicado for several years & tortured based on the word of some Afghan warlord thug who was paid a bounty for the people he shopped to the yanks

Then there's Obama's ongoing support for rendition, defend his positions on this crap and you are defending kidnapping, torture and illegal incarceration. If that's people position then fine but I wish they'd be honest about it - this takes 'none so blind' to a truly insane level

[bjobotts]

136. Maybe they are not terrorists. We were just told that as Bush tortured anybody trying to connect Sa

[varkam]

139. To be fair, he is instituting due process procedures and evidence rules to be more in line...

with the UCMJ. Not exactly a federal habeas petition, but it's a big step up from what we did have.

[Fovea]

11. Yes, we sign on to the international criminal court

contingient on guarantees that previous acts by America and its allies will not be considered mitigating factors in their prosecution.

Then we send them to the Hague.
The same system that dealt with Milosevic is good enough for al Qaeda.

[flyarm]

92. Thank you Fovea..well stated!! and it was all over my local paper today ripping Obama a new one! eom

[MadHound]

29. Yeah, rather than continuing with these kangaroo courts, which Obama orginally opposed,

Obama could fulfill his promise and actually try all of the detainees in federal courts. *Gasp* true American justice, what a novel concept:eyes:

[KittyWampus]

86. if you were informed, you'd know only about 15 of those in Gitmo will be tried by Tribunal

[dorkulon]

105. So what? Is your argument that it's only a little wrong?

If there's nothing wrong with it, why would it matter how many?

[JustinL]

109. could you please share a link with the rest of us?

[readmoreoften]

116. Oh, only 15. Well, 15 violations of international law and human rights are okay I guess.

How many violations are too many? :crazy:

[flyarm]

93. you mean a better way than Obama has already stated???????

Read more about it at Emptywheel!!

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/05/09/obama-to-git-mo-better-military-tribunals/#more-4091

Obama To Git-Mo Better Military Tribunals
By: bmaz Saturday May 9, 2009 11:41 am


The GOP squeals and Obama greases their detainee wheel. On May 1st, the New York Times warned that President Obama was contemplating reinstating the tyrannical Bush/Cheney military tribunals for Gitmo detainees.

Yes, the same Barack Obama that forcefully pronounced to the American public during the election:


By any measure our system of trying detainees has been an enormous failure,

Not to mention declaring that as President he would:


reject the Military Commissions Act.

That was then, this is now. And now, today, it is seems nearly confirmed that military commissions will be back. From Peter Finn at the Washington Post:

The Obama administration is preparing to revive the system of military commissions established at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, under new rules that would offer terrorism suspects greater legal protections, government officials said.

The rules would block the use of evidence obtained from coercive interrogations, tighten the admissibility of hearsay testimony and allow detainees greater freedom to choose their attorneys, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
...
Officials said yesterday that the Obama administration will seek a 90-day extension of the suspension as early as next week. It would subsequently restart the commissions on American soil, probably at military bases, according to a lawyer briefed on the plan.




oh and it is not just the military tribunals...

-it's FISA
-it's torture photo's he said just two weeks ago he was going to release ( see below)

-it's warning the Brits to stfu about the war crimes.. read more:
Obama Justice Dept. Again Warns Britain Not to Reveal Details of Torture of Gitmo Detainee
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/world/europe/15britai...

-it's not closing Gitmo right away..

-Its not really about getting out of Iraq when he plans to leave in 50,000 soldiers or more for 15-20 years
Dennis Kucinich: 'Get Out of Iraq. Get Out Afghanistan. Come Home America.' http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/05/14-11
quote"Don't tell the American people that the war will end when their plans leave 50, 000 troops in Iraq. Don't tell the American people that the way out of Afghanistan is to escalate our presence.



-it is hiring the fox to guard the hen house.and you wonder why NBC and MSNBC have given Obama a pass at every corner..read this..oh And who made the DOJ announcement? Why it’s the George Soros-backed Center for American Progress..........

Obama Nominates Superfund Polluter Lawyer To Run DOJ Environment Division

President Barack Obama has nominated a lawyer for the nation’s largest toxic polluters to run the enforcement of the nation’s environmental laws. On Tuesday, Obama “announced his intent to nominate” Ignacia S. Moreno to be Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division in the Department of Justice. Moreno, general counsel for that department during the Clinton administration, is now the corporate environmental counsel for General Electric, “America’s #1 Superfund Polluter“:

Number five in the Fortune 500 with revenues of $89.3 billion and earnings of $8.2 billion in 1997, General Electric has been a leader in the effort to roll back the Superfund law and stave off any requirements for full cleanup and restoration of sites they helped create.

This February, General Electric lost an eight-year battle to “prove that parts of the Superfund law are unconstitutional.” One of the 600-person DOJ environmental division’s “primary responsibilities is to enforce federal civil and criminal environmental laws such as” the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Superfund.

Before General Electric, Moreno worked as a corporate attorney at Spriggs and Hollingsworth. Moreno’s name is found in the Westlaw database as an attorney defending General Motors in another Superfund case, the GM Powertrain facility in Bedford, Indiana:

Historical uses and management of PCB containing hydraulic oils and PCB impacted materials has contaminated on-site areas as well as the sediment and floodplain soil within Bailey’s Branch and the Pleasant Run Creek watershed.

Although General Motors entered into an agreement in 2001 with the EPA to clean up the site, a number of local residents whose land has been contaminated by polychorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have sued for damages in Allgood v. GM (now Barlow v. GM), in a contentious and caustic dispute over cleanup, monitoring, and lost property values.

SOURCE: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/15/ignacia-moreno-supe... /


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Glen Greenwald's question to people defending Obama's position on torture photos http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/05/13/photo...

"...(5) For all of you defend-Obama-at-all-cost cheerleaders who are about to descend into my comment section and other online venues to explain how Obama did the right thing because of National Security, I have this question: if you actually want to argue that concealing these photographs is the right thing to do, then you must have been criticizing Obama when, two weeks ago, he announced that he would release them. Otherwise, it's pretty clear that you don't have any actual beliefs other than: "I support what Obama does because it's Obama who does it." So for those arguing today that concealing these photographs is the right thing to do: were you criticizing Obama two weeks ago for announcing he would release these photographs?"


...As Judge Hellerstein wrote in rejecting the Bush argument -- now the Obama argument -- that disclosure would jeopradize the troops: "the freedoms that we champion are as important to our success in Iraq and Afghanistan as the guns and missiles with which our troops are armed."



go ahead keep trying to pretend that there is a great chess game..

[moodforaday]

115. Here's two:

1. Civilian courts.

2. Just fly these people back to where they were taken from. There are good reasons to believe most of them were just blindly rounded up for no reason, or else because a neighbor didn't like them. And they sure have suffered enough.

Problem solved. Meanwhile, Jeremy Scahill reports prisoners are still being brutalized at Gitmo. Right now. This very moment when you're reading this sentence. Think about it.

[ThomWV]

19. No possibility that the emperor is naked?

[QC]

69. Let's hope not--just imagine the photo threads that would inspire! n/t

[RetroLounge]

107. And John Stewart goes under the bus

WTF web site is this again?

Oh, Look, Puppies!

:puke:

RL

[defendandprotect]

134. "Bits of info" . . . NO . . . what I saw was a long replay of obama speaking . . ..

and saying things he has since gone the other way on --

Do you truly not understand that or are you pretending?

[eridani]

142. Republicans want the torture phots released?

On what planet?

[Fovea]

8. Humor

is good. Satire even better.

When Bush uttered absurdities, you could understand that his wee little brain was doing well just to conjugate regular verbs and achieve subject-verb agreement.
Pres. Obama does not have that low expectations thing going for him.
So when he says something absurd, Jon Stewart is the right antiseptic.

Obama inherited a huge pile of manure with a flag sticking out of it.
Torture is not a cow pie we can leave on top of the nation...
Neither is telling our competent men and women who serve it
that their love life makes them unworthy of our trust.

Mr. President, get your head right, and remember what FDR had to do in a less severe crisis.
Be that man, Barack.
Make the changes.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mari333]

10. Just reporting what Jon Stewart said on his show

take it up with him.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. Harry Truman Said...

“I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell.”

[Buzz Clik]

17. I don't think Harry was talking about Will Rogers at the time.

God knows Rogers had no use for any politicians. Do you think Harry considered Rogers to be speaking the truth every time he went for a laugh line?

[MannyGoldstein]

20. Was Stewart Not Speaking The Truth?

In both substance and specifics?

[Buzz Clik]

22. Stewart took a tiny segment of reality and turned it for the benefit of his show and his viewers.

No one ever accused Will Rogers of being a liar; but, no one ever accused him of being a sage political analyst, either.

[MannyGoldstein]

So What Do You Disagree With?

Is Stewart taking things out of context? Is he painting a picture that is inconsistent with reality?

[defendandprotect]

135. Those who saw the show understand it was not "a tiny segment" . . .

it was clear and precise as to what Obama intended to do --

until -- oops! -- he didn't intend to do it any more!

There's a lot of truth in comedy!!!

[dflprincess]

123. For sure Truman wasn't talking about Will Rogers

Rogers died in 1935. He did, however, consider himself a Democrat and, while he did not hesitate to poke fun at FDR, by all accounts he was an admirer and friend of both Franklin and Eleanor.

[Kellen RN]

129. My state sure has come a long way since Will Rogers and

Woody Guthrie... for the worse I might add. Oklahoma wasn't always the scariest place for progressives...

[dflprincess]

141. Maybe we need to return to talking about populists?

People seem to like that word. And start singing the last verse of Guthries' "This Land is My Land":

"In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me."

We never hear that verse any more.

[Buzz Clik]

15. You posted it without comment -- so you own it.

Either say otherwise, or accept my imagninary suggestion.

[tomp]

26. fail.

if you want to be taken seriously, you'll have to do better. based on what i know now of their ability to speak the truth, i'll take stewart over obama. change my mind if you can.

[Buzz Clik]

30. fail.

I don't have to discredit the political savvy of a segment on a comedy show on a comedy network.

I have no desire to do anything with your mind -- that is your problem.

[tomp]

40. it is not valid to say he took one point out of context....

...and created a comedy skit around it, and leave it at that. you must elaborate as to why, in particular what he says is incorrect...that is if you want to be taken seriously.

[Buzz Clik]

42. This is rich -- you're discussing the merits of a comedy bit and telling me to be serious.

Please quote me where I claimed Stewart took Obama out of context.

[tomp]

84. here

"Stewart took a tiny segment of reality and turned it for the benefit of his show and his viewers."

second, you can dismiss stewart's particular brand of "comedy" if you wish, but if you see it ONLY as entertainment you're missing something.

[Photovoltaic]

144. It isn't just a comedy show

In 2005 the Daily Show won the distinguished Ornell Award, among other journalism awards and nominations for such awards. While a comedy show, the Daily Show has a persistent habit of delivering more real news than the actual news programs. The journalism awards it has won reflect this.

[Fovea]

21. Which would you prefer?

Jon Stewart satirizing our president doing something dumb, or Faux news praising the president by making shit up?

In a democracy, we can't all be cheerleaders. We just saw what eight years of that can do.
Is that your standard for democracy, or for that matter, the Democratic Party?

There are so many things Obama is doing right, but we both might surmise the booby traps left by Cheney are a factor here.
I understand the strategic forks that Cheney has devised to prevent us changing his juggernaut of fascism. The same strategies were used in the cold war.

But the point is to flag the landmine *and dig it up*.
That was the change we were asked to believe in, and for some of us, that was the last hope we had left.

I think some folks on both side of the aisle may wind up going down over torture.
But this is about restoring trust in our government and the rule of law under checks and balances over dictatorial powers.
You wanna solve the problem of our becoming a rogue state without legal consequences?

You don't do it by continuing the expediency that violates our obligation to treaties we have signed, for example.
You do it by stating governing principles and adhering to them (such as respect for the third Geneva convention), not by extending unilateralism or acceding to bigotry.

[Buzz Clik]

23. False dichotomy.

You don't have to be a cheerleader to be able to think rationally.

Yes, Obama changed his mind about 40+ pictures. Pictures typcial of what we've seen before. It's hardly a landmine.

The impatience and borderline hysteria at DU is troubling.

[tomp]

27. the denial is troubling. nt

[Buzz Clik]

31. Is it?

Perhaps some therapy?

[Moochy]

35. Add Self-Appointed Therapist to the list of self-appointments

BRAVO!

[tomp]

38. therapy for denial, great idea. nt

[Buzz Clik]

43. Agreed. The doctor will see you now.

[tomp]

89. physician, heal thyself. nt

[moodforaday]

117. May I point out a flaw

in your reasoning?

You said: Pictures typcial of what we've seen before{/em]. Well, you don't know that, do you. You may believe they are typical, because that what you've been told - but you don't know. You haven't seen them.

So unfortuntately your argument boils down to "I believe what the president told me" and "I don't need to see what the president tells me I don't need to see". There's a word for this kind of attitude, but it would offend you.

[Moochy]

34. Self-Appointed Hall Monitor sez what?

[pleah]

13. K&R

[PSPS]

14. I think this puts it succinctly

[lynne]

24. I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry at this, sadly it's just too true!

I will admit that the artist has a real talent with ears, though.

[Buzz Clik]

25. That is correct. Obama is still enacting the policies and philosophies of the Bush administration.

Great to see DU relying on comedians and political cartoonists to do their thinking for them.

[Fumesucker]

37. We all know that comedians and cartoonists never speak uncomfortable truths any more..

It's been so long in our political landscape since a comedian or cartoonist has spoken an uncomfortable truth that we have forgotten that they sometimes do so.

If you don't "get" the point of a joke, quite often it's you.

[tomp]

41. still blaming the comedians and failing to address the substance. nt

[Buzz Clik]

44. My shadow is back. Perfect. Since you're here, let me explain. Again.

Neither comedians nor cartoonists are required to have even a thread of truth, logic, or rationality in their analysis. They take something that strikes them, and they elevate it to the absurd.

Making progress yet?

[tomp]

88. not making much progress penetrating your thickness, no.

what is this bullshit about "your shadow"? i've responded to a couple of your posts. does that equal "shadow"?

because comedians and cartoonists are not REQUIRED to have those elements does not mean they do not HAVE them. and they can only elevate to the absurd that which has such potential, like obama's bullshit positions. perhaps you have not noticed that american politicians are not required to have the elements of truth, logic, or rationality either. this is exactly the point that stewart is making.

[Fumesucker]

143. Not required no...

But the funniest ones are usually the ones that hew closest to the truth.

Those things which strike our sense of humor the most powerfully are truths seen through the filter of the absurd.

And so many truths about us are absurd.

[DU GrovelBot]

28. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

This week is our second quarter 2009 fund drive.
Donate and you'll be automatically entered into our daily contest.
New prizes daily!



No purchase or donation necessary. Void where prohibited. Click here for more information.

[MadHound]

32. And Whoops, there he goes, Stewart is thrown under the bus

Along with Maddow, and anybody else who dares to tell the truth and criticize the president.

[QC]

71. Fear not! There is room for all under the Hopemobile! n/t

[flyarm]

96. yes but..the person next to me has really stinky feet..and with all the bodies here now,,

it is getting quite uncomfortable!!
Did i tell you about the stinky feet next to me..whew..really bad in the heat!:rofl:

[QC]

106. A little tip: this winter, try to get back near the exhaust.

It's so warm and cozy!

[flyarm]

111. ohhh ..so that is why everyone was crowding to the back..thanks for the tip..

i just hope stinky feet doesn;t figure that out..or he will run everyone away from the warmth!!

Any news on a new bus?????? I heard all the ones in use, now are at overcrowding!!

lol

fly

[rug]

33. "Always read the fine print."

"YES WE CAN

but that doesn't necessarily mean we're going to"



:rofl:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. "Yes we can"......keep the same discredited policies and call them "Change".

Political slogans do not change make.

[Buzz Clik]

45. If you think Obama and Bush are the same, you need serious help.

If you think Obama is carrying forward Bush's policies without change, then you are simply blind.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

47. A teaspoon of arsenic is "not as bad" as a tablespoon?

Get back to me when, someday, when the moment is right, depending on the situation, on advice from the military, the troops are out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, when the trials of the CIA thugs who actually did the torturing take place. Or, for that matter, when the trials of anyone who participated in the multitude of war crimes takes place.

The "not as bad" as Bush argument sets a very low bar for governance.

[Buzz Clik]

48. I'm sorry that you miss Bush. I really am.

But, Obama is nothing like Bush. Keep trying, though. You have some people at DU convinced.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

50. False dichotomy. You're the one using Bush as a defense.

And, a lousy argument. Is that really the best you can do? Defend the failures of your hero by comparing him to Bush?

[Buzz Clik]

51. Dichotomy? LOL! Do you know what the word means?

And I'm the one comparing him to Bush? :rofl:

Too much!

I'm nominating your post for a DUzy.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

55. He's "not as bad" as Bush is comparitive and one that you use regularly.

dichotomy: a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities

i.e. Obama's policies and Bush's policies are contradictory = false dichotomy.

i.e. Those opposed to Obama's and Bush's policies are fans of Bush = false dichotomy

[Buzz Clik]

60. I never said those words.

Take off.

[Moochy]

67. But you havent locked the thread yet with your flames

I reccommend more posts with insults and scatological references. Oh and finally, don't forget an "us vs. them" reference!

[Mari333]

49. the old 'you want Bush back' argument again

gird your loins.
no one wants Bush back. and no one wants to see his policies continue, either. i dont think a lot of people get that right now, for some reason. if one critiques Obama, its because they dont want Bush policies to continue. and right now too many of them are continuing.
when Liz Cheney and Joe Lieberman agree with Obama's decisions, thats a reason to worry.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mari333]

56. You are right, I will just stick my head in the sand

and pretend that no one is being tortured, that no one is being bombed, that no one is listening to my phone calls, that no wars are going on, that gays have full civil rights in the military, that there is no patriot act, and that money grows on trees and i shit jellybeans. lalalalala.
I critique all of them, no matter what party they are in. I am an equal opportunity critic.

[Buzz Clik]

61. Way to avoid the hysteria.

:eyes:

[Mari333]

62. I am perfectly calm.

you are getting all worked up. relaxxx.

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mari333]

85. Buzz, you have not yet once said why you disagree with Stewart

when you do, you will make some sense to me.

[Djinn]

138. way to equate

opposing torture to "hysteria" :eyes:

When your child is kidnapped, sent to Egypt for a bit of handy torture, kept as a ghost prisoner for a few years before being sent to Gitmo for more torture (oops I mean creative interrogation) then come back and post your inanities about how it's "not as bad" as Bush.

You either justify torture or you oppose it. It's fucking simple.

[Buzz Clik]

149. "You either justify torture or you oppose it." True, but irrelevant.

And congrats -- you've joined the chorus of the hysterical who believe that not released just 40 more photos somehow equates to justifying torture. Unreal.

[Djinn]

152. Um no - it's simple logic

sorry if you didn't follow it.

YOU get nippy at people for opposing the move to keep torture away from public view. How can you possibly do that unless you agree this should be hidden, if you agree it should be hidden you may not be justifying it, but you are most certainly expressing a preference that the issue go away quietly. Not much of a moral distance there.

What certainly is hysterical is the chorus of political neophytes bleating that disagreement with the President is "hating", it patently demonstrates a pedestrian understanding of representative politics. Have a guess which songsheet you're yodeling to :eyes:

[TBF]

153. If it's just 40 pictures, and no big deal (as you are saying), then why not release them?

I thought Obama was supposed to be all about transparency. What gives?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

57. The Champions of the Status Quo always plead for patience.

Why not add "Don't rock the boat" to your litany of excuses?

[Moochy]

66. The Status Quo aint being served by BuzzThug

He has only one employer, his fragile, paradoxically contrarian, yet pro status quo Ego.

[Lorien]

76. It's become DU's answer to "Well that Clinton lied about sex"!

Whenever a repug realizes that one of their own has done something indefensible, their usual response is something along the lines of "Well that Clinton got a blow job..." Deflect attention from the real issue, and if that doesn't work then personally attack the messenger-but NEVER address the issue directly. The same techniques are being employed here on DU by some on a regular basis. "Well, then just go vote for Republicans then" "you want Bush back", "You would rather have McCain"! Statements that show flawed logic at best and pathetic desperation at worst. There are two ways of loving your country or your President; 1). like an infant loves it's mother. It doesn't care if mom is an abusive drunk and a crack addict; she's mom, so the infant loves her blindly and completely. Or 2). like an adult loves another adult. If your spouse is an abusive drunk and a crack addict and you are a responsible adult who truly loves them, you will try you best to get them back on to a healthier path. If you didn't truly care about them you would turn a blind eye to their problems, which wouldn't be good for either of you and would likely lead you both down the road to ruin. Some people seem to want us all to sign some sort of loyalty oath that forbids EVER criticizing ANY official with a (D) behind their name. Did that work for the GOP during Bush's eight years in office? When any elected official is not staying true to their word then we are responsible for calling them on that and requesting that they do what we hired them to do. It really isn't asking too much, nor is it any kind of "betrayal".

[tranche]

52. Why so hard on the guy you voted for?

[Mari333]

54. Im hard on all of them. :)

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else." Theodore Roosevelt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

59. Holding politicians accountable is the responsibility of the citizenry.

Allegedly, they are public servants who work for us.

[bobbolink]

97. It's called PATRIOTISM.

:thumbsup:

[readmoreoften]

118. No. It's called DEMOCRACY.

All people of all nations to be able to criticize their elected officials.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

83. It seems that this administration has learned the art of newspeak too.....

[lonestarnot]

39. Damn it! Can't see this w/o downloading something. When was this on?

[Mari333]

46. May 14 nt

[lonestarnot]

150. Thanks Mari333

[LWolf]

58. K & R nt

[centristgrandpa]

63. it depends what you mean by "is"

It's quite obvious that Mr. Obama likes moonshine over mirco-brewery beer. The old stuff that is aged seems more tasty to him presently, aNd we thought wholesale change was near...

[Buzz Clik]

65. Welcome to DU! You'll fit in nicely with all the Obama haters here.

[ima_sinnic]

72. yes, anyone who questions too much is an "Obama hater"

you must accept everything he says and does!
question nothing!
and certainly DON'T criticize! only Republican presidents can be criticized. Democratic presidents "need more time."

[Buzz Clik]

74. That's right. Go right for the hyperbole. Good call.

Read the post again. It was a sweeping dismissal of Obama. Fuck that asshole.

[centristgrandpa]

78. Hyper-hole?

Stretch is an understatement.(LOL) Calm Down. Of the two canidates, I choose Mr. Obama for his management skills and hope. I can't imagin what them (mccan't and ms. hillbilly palin) would be doing right now if they were in charge, can't...

[flyarm]

98. self delete posted wrong spot

[ima_sinnic]

100. I certainly hope you were addressing some other poster

because nothing I said warranted that.

[flyarm]

103. no no no..not to you ..sorry it posted incorrectly/will go edit

not to you!!

[centristgrandpa]

75. Can't except your invite...

It's not about hating Team Obama, yes he's accomplish a lot in a very short time span but..the consumers have really lost at every important obstacle. I know that the house and Congress are to blame but he could push harder for main street not wall street...As Mr. Obama would say "open debate is better than a one-way partisan tour."

[Buzz Clik]

77. Yep. And if you want an open debate, that just might include harsh criticism of your views.

[centristgrandpa]

79. center sits well for me...

That's why i blog with openness. Political debate is a good thing no matter what them repub's or demo's say.

[flyarm]

104. you sound 100% just like the Bushbots i used to try to debate 8 years ago!! wow exactly like them

... to disagree with our employee in the White House or employees in our government is to "hate them.. wow you are so delusional ..how about a whole bunch of people who want him to succeed but are intelligent to know he won't on the path he is on??????

I don't think any American hates our presidents unless they are given compelling reasons to do so.

I believe most Americans want our presidents to succeed ..because if they succeed , we all succeed.

Your "hate" monger bullshit doesn't wash around here much ..because see we saw this shit up front for 8 years with bushbots..and we didn't take kindly to it when they said it and we don't take kindly to it when you say it.


It is our responsibility to question our employees in government..after all ..we are the government!!

Try reading the constitution and maybe then you will understand your responsibility and get off your high fucking horse and do your damn job as an American..instead of critisizing your fellow Americans that are taking their responsibility seriously!


or maybe it is all above your pay grade?

[centristgrandpa]

121. bush butts...

I second this commotion, some seem quite sensitive about open debate after 8 years of bush tyranny. The Constitution seem double edge to some who believe change is a bad thing...the debater is probably joke the plumber who seemingly dump the GOP circus because of a moment of clarity, Not...

[Buzz Clik]

148. Nice cherry picking.

The post I hammered was a sweeping indictment of Obama -- not criticism of a single issue or even several issues. Right now, DU is swimming with people who post exclusively on the critical side.

And, friend -- tell me who you sound like in this rant:

"I believe most Americans want our presidents to succeed ..because if they succeed , we all succeed. Try reading the constitution and maybe then you will understand your responsibility and get off your high fucking horse and do your damn job as an American..instead of critisizing your fellow Americans that are taking their responsibility seriously!"

And you tell me that I sould like a Bushbot? Hilarious.

[Djinn]

140. preferable to fitting in with those

who are OK with torture because it's happening under a Democrat.

What exactly is your problem with this thread? Do you oppose torture or not? You don't seem to be able to actually state what your issue with the OP is, just bleat about "haters". If you do oppose torture then I fail to see what you're taking issue with. If you don't come out and say it.

[QC]

68. Stewart is an enemy of the people. n/t

[Moochy]

70. I have deleted him from all of my electronic devices so as to comply fully

[QC]

94. Very wise course of action, comrade.

I will tell the politburo of your loyalty.

[flyarm]

101. Have you discussed this with Agent Mike??????? He may have to give you a new decoder ring!! n/t

[centristgrandpa]

81. royale with cheese anyone?

If JS is the emeny, what was bush and his evil thugs?

[GreenTea]

90. Yes, anyone who tells the truth & things people don't want to hear or believe MUST be .....

"an enemy of the people".

Just tell us good things, because I want to live with my head firmly stuck in the sand!

[dorkulon]

95. Please tell me you are kidding. Please. /nt

[QC]

99. He is a bourgeois obscurantist, comrade, an ally of the kulaks and counterrevolutionaries.

This is far too serious a thing to kid about.

[flyarm]

114. spit my coffee on the keyboard..running for a towel!! eom

[dflprincess]

126. It's too bad Stewart has changed so much

he was so cool and had so many sharp insights when Bush was president. I don't understand why he doesn't know he should just STFU now. :sarcasm:

[QC]

146. He has become an enemy of the people, comrade. n/t

[whatchamacallit]

73. Jon Stewart: 10, Troll: 0

:applause:

[centristgrandpa]

82. could troll have a minus point zero?

Too funny!!!

[Vidar]

80. K&R.

[varelse]

102. And here I thought political comedy was facing four years of "drought"

:rofl:

Yes, he's nailed it. Thanks for sharing the link here :)

[cherish44]

110. Impeach him

I'll bet John McCain wouldn't have gone back on his word!

[flyarm]

112. heck there was a run on tables..sorry we have none left!! eom

[cherish44]

113. I'm serious

Impeach him. Recall election whatever. I'm calling my rep RIGHT NOW. This is inexcusable

[Prometheus Bound]

119. Am I the only one who's creeped out by his joking about torture photos?

From 40 seconds to 1:05

What if they included his son being raped? What if the audience members laughing at his picture frames had knew their family members might be among the tortured in the photos? Would they find that so hilarious?

I somehow don't think Iraqis would find that so hilarious.

I really think I would have walked out if I had been there.

I found nothing to laugh about. He gave me the creeps and so did the laughing audience.

[Mythsaje]

131. My wife doesn't like him because of similar jokes in the past...n/t

[Bluebear]

120. Where is the contingent calling Stewart a PUMA who didn't get his pony?

[RufusTFirefly]

122. Uh-oh! Better put Jon on Ignore! (Always knew he was a Freeper) n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

125. sorry - thanks for posting went under wrong post! Thanks for posting!!

appreciated seeing the video

[t0dd]

127. But Bo, Sasha, and Malia are just too cute for us to not re-elect him in 2012!

[bc3000]

128. I'm not too concerned about not releasing the photos, but...

Where I really think Stewart nails it is his mockery of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. That's really got me steamed. Everything is justified in the name of keeping Americans safe, except for a gay linguist who speaks Arabic. "Don't ask, don't tell" needs to go and here we have an example where the policy would appear to put this country at greater risk. This would be the perfect opportunity for Obama to step in. Where is he?

[nutshell2002]

133. Right

The backpedaling on DADT is disappointing. Never again. Obama was not my first choice, however, when he secured the nomination I volunteered as a poll watcher and contributed financially. Never again. In the future I will only work for and support candidates who support equality for all. Never again.

[zoff]

130. He can release the photos to congress.

Let the congresspeople assume the risk of releasing the photos themselves.

[defendandprotect]

132. Yes!!! And I saw it the other night . . .. Jon Stewart still does it right!!!

[feslen]

145. doubtful

our congress people care at all, Pelosi knew about the waterboarding technique after all. they are all (mostly, maybe not Dennis) bought out by big corporations. It's ironic, isn't? In the past 40+ years The U.S. spent trillions of dollars, killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people in the name of of Democracy against the "evil" Communists, and yet, what have they learned? to be the "evil" Communists in return. Nice going KGB...I mean CIA.

[defendandprotect]

151. Totally sympathize with your thoughts . . .

Pelosi knew back then the directions these people were inclined to take --
and it happened -- and many have been harmed -- and in ever sense Bushco
tortured not only prisoners but all of us.

The press has really not ever told the public what a farce the Cold War was --
IMO that's one of the reasons JFK was killed -- he was showing how laughable it was.
Took Rumsfeld and Cheney decades to restart the Cold War.

And now Obama is bombing Pakistan!!!

I'm shocked that all of this war-stuff goes on and on and how many at DU are supporting it!!!

What is going thru their minds???