Comments on: OPINION: vengence is mine, sayeth the lord… http://1boringoldman.com/index.php/2008/11/15/opinion-vengence-is-mine-sayeth-the-lord/ All Mickey, All the Time Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:59:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: 1boringoldman http://1boringoldman.com/index.php/2008/11/15/opinion-vengence-is-mine-sayeth-the-lord/#comment-90161 1boringoldman Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:33:45 +0000 http://1boringoldman.com/?p=2620#comment-90161 I think all of us feel that we can live without vindictiveness, but <strong>WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED</strong>. President Obama is going to have to find a way to be the great healer and still get us the data. I liked Carl's idea of a pardon with full investigation. But I think Joyhollywood was right on target [<em>The old adage "you have to name it, to call it what it is."</em>]. If you're going to heal, you have the right to know what the wound was, what the name of the disease was. And Smoooochie's also right, we don't have a lot of time. We've definitely got other fish to fry..... Thanks for all the comments! It was great getting all those perspectives. Maybe I'll call Barack tonight and let him know what we thought. I think all of us feel that we can live without vindictiveness, but WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. President Obama is going to have to find a way to be the great healer and still get us the data. I liked Carl’s idea of a pardon with full investigation. But I think Joyhollywood was right on target [The old adage "you have to name it, to call it what it is."]. If you’re going to heal, you have the right to know what the wound was, what the name of the disease was. And Smoooochie’s also right, we don’t have a lot of time. We’ve definitely got other fish to fry…..

Thanks for all the comments! It was great getting all those perspectives. Maybe I’ll call Barack tonight and let him know what we thought.

]]> By: Ralph Roughton http://1boringoldman.com/index.php/2008/11/15/opinion-vengence-is-mine-sayeth-the-lord/#comment-90160 Ralph Roughton Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:36:52 +0000 http://1boringoldman.com/?p=2620#comment-90160 It's not quite the same -- political, rather than criminal activity -- but Obama has already done several things that suggest he's into re-uniting and moving forward. He let it be known he wants Lieberman to stay in the Democratic caucus; true, he didn't commit on the committee chairmanship, but it was definitely a peace-making move. Same with offering Hillary Secretary of State, and meeting with McCain next week, presumably to talk about some projects to work on together. So I'm thinking he's not going to be gung ho for punishing. But I do think he will be stalwart about protecting the Constitution, investigating the torture scenario, and fixing the Department of Justice. My guess is he'll let things that are more political go by. However, as you say, it's not all up to him. Congress has its own role. But I suspect he will set the tone. It’s not quite the same — political, rather than criminal activity — but Obama has already done several things that suggest he’s into re-uniting and moving forward.

He let it be known he wants Lieberman to stay in the Democratic caucus; true, he didn’t commit on the committee chairmanship, but it was definitely a peace-making move. Same with offering Hillary Secretary of State, and meeting with McCain next week, presumably to talk about some projects to work on together.

So I’m thinking he’s not going to be gung ho for punishing. But I do think he will be stalwart about protecting the Constitution, investigating the torture scenario, and fixing the Department of Justice. My guess is he’ll let things that are more political go by.

However, as you say, it’s not all up to him. Congress has its own role. But I suspect he will set the tone.

]]> By: Abby's mom http://1boringoldman.com/index.php/2008/11/15/opinion-vengence-is-mine-sayeth-the-lord/#comment-90152 Abby's mom Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:38:51 +0000 http://1boringoldman.com/?p=2620#comment-90152 Obama has repeatedly shown his preference for "No Drama." Opening files which would provoke a lawsuit which could go to the Supreme Court would certainly be dramatic. And, the current Supreme Court might very well rule in favor of the Bush administration. It might make sense to wait until a justice retires and Obama can nominate a new justice for the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, the justices most likely to retire are the moderate or liberal ones. So, waiting doesn't seem likely. On the other hand, The Bush administration will certainly continue to exert executive privilege. Obama won't do that, and he may simply try to set a good example. But, as an attorney and the leader of the country, he might feel obligated not to let the former administration get away with criminal activity. So, it's going to be a difficult call for him. Does he provoke a constitutional fight in the beginning? If he's going to open the files, I think he'll do it immediately. The public has a short memory, and he'll want to get the drama over and give people time to forget. But, I don't think he'll do it. He's a uniter and not a divider. I can't think of anything which would divide the parties more, and he's much more focused on the future and not the past. He wants to heal the nation; to seek the help of Republicans in repairing the economy. He'll decide those goals are more important for the nation. I hate it, but that's what I think he'll do. Obama has repeatedly shown his preference for “No Drama.” Opening files which would provoke a lawsuit which could go to the Supreme Court would certainly be dramatic. And, the current Supreme Court might very well rule in favor of the Bush administration. It might make sense to wait until a justice retires and Obama can nominate a new justice for the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, the justices most likely to retire are the moderate or liberal ones. So, waiting doesn’t seem likely.

On the other hand, The Bush administration will certainly continue to exert executive privilege. Obama won’t do that, and he may simply try to set a good example. But, as an attorney and the leader of the country, he might feel obligated not to let the former administration get away with criminal activity. So, it’s going to be a difficult call for him. Does he provoke a constitutional fight in the beginning? If he’s going to open the files, I think he’ll do it immediately. The public has a short memory, and he’ll want to get the drama over and give people time to forget.

But, I don’t think he’ll do it. He’s a uniter and not a divider. I can’t think of anything which would divide the parties more, and he’s much more focused on the future and not the past. He wants to heal the nation; to seek the help of Republicans in repairing the economy. He’ll decide those goals are more important for the nation. I hate it, but that’s what I think he’ll do.

]]> By: Mickey http://1boringoldman.com/index.php/2008/11/15/opinion-vengence-is-mine-sayeth-the-lord/#comment-90103 Mickey Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:36:36 +0000 http://1boringoldman.com/?p=2620#comment-90103 <strong>Ralph: </strong> <p align="justify">I hadn't thought of it in terms of Obama's temperment. That's an interesting perspective. Now that you bring it up, I'm not sure he'll think it's for him to decide. My guess [hope] is that he'll avoid being the 'Unitary Executive.' These are Congressional Investigations, and I expect he will cooperate with Congress. If Bush tries to pull a "Harry Truman" from the grave, I'd put my money on him letting it go to the Judiciary for a decision. It would give him a fine opportunity to demonstrate that he believes in the tripartite system of government we have, and allow it to work as it was intended rather than micromanaging everything like the very band of power-mongers that need investigating.</p> <p align="justify">That said, I really like the Commission idea. It's the same thought - to put it in the hands of "the many." My own conflict with Bush and Cheney is that they've welded themselves into my psyche. Maybe if I knew there were some honest Commission looking into things, I could let down my guard and use that part of my mind for something more productive.</p> Ralph:

I hadn’t thought of it in terms of Obama’s temperment. That’s an interesting perspective. Now that you bring it up, I’m not sure he’ll think it’s for him to decide. My guess [hope] is that he’ll avoid being the ‘Unitary Executive.’ These are Congressional Investigations, and I expect he will cooperate with Congress. If Bush tries to pull a “Harry Truman” from the grave, I’d put my money on him letting it go to the Judiciary for a decision. It would give him a fine opportunity to demonstrate that he believes in the tripartite system of government we have, and allow it to work as it was intended rather than micromanaging everything like the very band of power-mongers that need investigating.

That said, I really like the Commission idea. It’s the same thought - to put it in the hands of “the many.” My own conflict with Bush and Cheney is that they’ve welded themselves into my psyche. Maybe if I knew there were some honest Commission looking into things, I could let down my guard and use that part of my mind for something more productive.

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