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Washington Prowler
No Moving On
RED MEAT
Despite reports to the contrary over the weekend, Attorney
General Eric Holder's review of a possible
criminal investigation into use of enhanced interrogation
techniques is taking place with the approval, and even the
encouragement, of the White House.
On Sunday, several news outlets, speaking to unnamed sources in the Administration, said that Holder was considering the criminal prosecution despite concerns or "against the wishes" of President Barack Obama, who wanted to leave the issue in the past.
But Capitol Hill Democratic aides and several White House aides who deal with outside political organizations say that's not the case. While the public stance of Obama and his senior aides may be reticence on the enhanced interrogation investigation, "they know the issue is one reason [Obama] has the support from groups like MoveOn, and this is the kind of thing that politically will keep them engaged on other issues," says one White House staffer. "We can't afford to flip on every campaign promise or issue, and there is already a sense out there, what with our decision on terrorist detention, that we're hedging a bit more than these supporters like."
Another concurred, saying that while Obama and Holder would doubtless take political heat from many Republicans and other segments of the public, there was hesitancy to further agitate Obama's friends on the left at a time when they needed that political coalition on a range of issues, including healthcare reform and climate change legislation.
"Better to keep our team happy and willing to fight and have the other side distracted," says a House Democrat aide. "If Holder moves ahead, it doesn't particularly hurt us, but it may indirectly help us: while the other guys get all riled about it, we can just push ahead with other things and leave them in the dust."
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
It would seem David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel have greater faith
in Barack Obama's varied teleprompters than in their man in an
unstructured setting.
Several weeks ago, it was announced that tomorrow the president would attend a town hall in Warren, Michigan, a Macomb County suburb of Detroit. Yesterday, however, the White House announced that Obama would not take questions from a community angry over his stimulus plans and auto bailout and where unemployment is higher than the national average of about 10 percent. Instead Obama will make a prepared speech, expected to focus, White House sources said, on education and job retraining programs.
The decision was made, according to Democrat sources in Michigan, after party officials determined that Republicans, as well as auto workers, were planning on seeking admission to the event, to ask questions of the President on the economy, taxes, auto and bank bailouts, and the scandal-ridden Democrat House member, John Conyers.
"There were also rumors that Republicans were going to hold their own town hall nearby to answer the questions Obama did not," says a state Democrat party consultant. "It may be a circus no matter what, but this gives the White House a little more control than they might have had."
The White House, according to sources, is mulling to have selected attendees to the speech ask questions specific to the President's remarks, but as it now stands, they would rather control the message than give the citizens of Michigan the answers they feel he owes them.
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Rocco| 7.13.09 @ 6:42AM
"The decision was made, according to Democrat sources in Michigan, after party officials determined that Republicans, as well as auto workers, were planning on seeking admission to the event, to ask questions of the President on the economy, taxes, auto and bank bailouts, and the scandal-ridden Democrat House member, John Conyers. 'There were also rumors that Republicans were going to hold their own town hall nearby to answer the questions Obama did not,'....."
If true, it is a good indication that the Repubs are FINALLY starting to get a little spine here. If Lee Atwater were still alive, he'd be embarrassing this fraud at every turn. As I have said repeatedly for the past year, Odumbo presents a tremendous target-rich environment for any opposition figure with a pair of cojones.
Let's hope this is true.
Robert Rosencrans| 7.13.09 @ 7:07AM
It's astounding that no one within the leadership of the Republican Party hasn't seized on this opportunity.
They should hire an Obama look alike and follow him around the country when he has these idiotic meetings and let the look alike take the questions at a duplicate meeting. The questions could then legitimately be heralded as the questions Obama refuses to take from the public. The questions could then be presented to Obama through the White House Press corps. That is, if Obama still takes questions there.
As far as opening the investigations on enhanced interrogation techniques they are simply trying to gin up some more Blame Bush. As the economy continues to falter it will become Blame Obama, he has failed.
Melvin| 7.13.09 @ 7:19AM
I would imagine that the reason that so many Republicans are mum to this is, that they have been basically bought off by the Democrats in the Porkulus spending bills.
But, then again there is even some things that even a $10 whore won't even do.
Dustoff| 7.13.09 @ 10:02AM
Despite reports to the contrary over the weekend, Attorney General Eric Holder's review of a possible criminal investigation into use of enhanced interrogation techniques is taking place with the approval,
++++++++++++++++++++++++
THIS folks is nothing but a smoke screen. The econ is going south and they can't get it under control. The W/H is kicking out one new plan after another and the American people are getting upset with all of this. So let's change the story and go with this instead.
They are worried and that's all it is!
Pingback| 7.13.09 @ 10:08AM
What? George Bush got the same welcome in Ghana as Barack Obama? « Jim Blazsik links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 7.13.09 @ 10:08AM
Shopfloor » Blog Archive » President Obama in Michigan, Talking about the Economy links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
macdaddy| 7.13.09 @ 11:00AM
I could see the investigation coming from a mile away. You know how? Because Obama said that he didn't want the investigations to happen. Anytime Obama states a position that would favor the Republicans, expect him to actually do the opposite.
Tim| 7.13.09 @ 11:08AM
All those people at CIA must feel really good. Getting their careers chewed up for the sake of domestic political leverage.
Their careers and all that they've done for this nation. God helps us.
Pam20| 7.13.09 @ 11:35AM
Republicans are hardly quiet, but they should be because they CREATED THIS MESS OVER 8+ YEARS. It will not get better, much less be solved, in 8 months.
JeffW| 7.13.09 @ 12:00PM
Pam20,
Your right, it won't get better in 8 months. But it not only didn't get better, it took a drastic turn down and has gotten steadily worse. And get your math straight. Congress controls the budget so you can only blame the Republicans for 6 years. Bush's last two years in office, Congress was Democratically controlled. So by that counting it has been 2 years and 8 months in which it has gotten steadily worse.
ds80| 7.13.09 @ 12:39PM
On the issue of investigating the Bush Administration concerning interrogation - which is it?
(A) Holder is calling all of the shots.
(B) Obama has given Holder the green light.
If it's A, then Obama is the panty-waist we thought he was.
If it's B, then Obama is the liar we thought he was.
This is so patently obvious, why is the State Run Media not asking these questions? Oh, right - it's the State Run Obama Administration Media.
Griff| 7.13.09 @ 12:44PM
Pam20,
You have your history a little off base. Most people trace the beginning of this mess to the housing bust. That bust can be tracked directly to Carter's Community Reinvestment Act (and Clinton's bolstering of same), as well as the lack of oversight re Fannie and Freddie by Frank, Dodd, et.al.
Old Texican| 7.13.09 @ 1:58PM
God bless, Pam 20
I hope Mr. Soros pays you well.
Anthony| 7.13.09 @ 2:16PM
Hey,maybe the country will finally get Joe Wilson's unwritten report on yellowcake from Niger, ya think? Maybe when they sentence President Bush for war crimes, he'll tell the court that he regrets that he only had one New Tone to give to his country.
I say bring the investigations on, let's get the trials going, let's let the Left build the guillotines so we can then use them when the good times come.
Has General Powell opined on Obama's desire to criminalize a prior administrations policies? Opps, sorry, I forgot, Gen. Powell and stooge/aide Armitage left Scooter Libby out to dry. And speaking of stooges, where are the Republican careerists and the RNC? Never mind.
Tim| 7.13.09 @ 3:52PM
Look, the CIA building at Langley is heavily guarded right? So all Obama has to do is issue an executive order for the guards to turn their guns and cameras around to keep the CIA people in. Instant prison! Bonus: America's intelligence professionals can keep right on working (at $.35 cents an hour). Big savings. I can't see a downside.
Pam20| 7.13.09 @ 4:00PM
Nonsense. Rich keep getting richer, while the poor, working and middle classes keep getting poorer. That's a fact. It started with Reagan, got a little better with Clinton (who was more or less Reagan-lite on economic issues), and then Bush drove us right into the ditch by continuing the same bad economic policies x 10, combined with a war of choice that no one wanted to pay for except for the poor men and women in the service, some of whom paid with their lives.
Pingback| 7.13.09 @ 4:12PM
No Moving On ~ The Prowler on 7.13.09 « Evynn’s Weblog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Kevin| 7.13.09 @ 4:44PM
Pam20: Where did you get the supposed "fact" that the rich get richer while the poor get poorer? It seems to contradict the know facts, so please site a source.
janet| 7.13.09 @ 4:53PM
Uhhbama at another staged political rally where attendees are chosen by his staff and given softball questions to ask...gee, that's a first ... all to deflect attention away from his failures as POTUS.
People are mad as hell here in Michigan I will tell you that, even some Democrats that I know who voted for Obama who work in the auto industry. He has much to answer for with the government takeover of the auto industry which resulted in even more layoffs and plant closings but especially about cap and trade legislation that will be the final death to not just a once great industry, but for all people who still want to live in a country where liberty and the American dream are possible. During the election he was given the benefit of the doubt on a lot of things but now he has a track record of failures of his own making over the last 6 months, and Pam, you do not need to be in office for years to see results of failures. Obama made a situation much worse as a result of his power grabs. Pam the apologist, you are an embarrassment to all women who have a working brain.
Jack Neidlinger| 7.13.09 @ 5:23PM
The "Anointed One" must control every aspect of his public appearances along with Dr. Rahm "Goebbels". Remember what Dr. Joseph said about the press "the press can be played like an organ." Rahm & Barry the Bamster are the new organists.
JimE| 7.13.09 @ 6:33PM
So, the teleprompter messiah will not tolerate the same tactics that his minions use. Afraid of questions and open debate. Obama is nothing but a piece of socialist garbage.
Marc Jeric| 7.13.09 @ 8:12PM
Holder pardoned those murderous Puertorican terrorists and was Castro's lawyer in the Elian Gonzalez case (he won and Elian was deported to that communist heaven). So what did you expect him to do now when he is in power again?
lynnrockets| 7.13.09 @ 8:26PM
HOOKED TO THE CEILING
(sung to the Blue Swede song “Hooked On A Feeling”)
Hooga chucka hooga hooga, Hooga chucka hooga hooga
Hooga chucka hooga hooga, Hooga chucka hooga hooga
My arms have no feelin’ they keep fryin’ me
World, you just don’t realize what they do to me
When they fold me in a space so tight
Waterboard me every single night
I-I-I, I’m hooked to the ceiling
Losing all feelin’ till they stop clubbin’ me
George Bush and Dick Cheney, put me in this bind
“Enhanced interrogation”, their term not yet defined
Just the same the whole world knows its still torture
No matter what they call it, I just can’t endure
All this tough love when we’re all alone
Could the Red Cross, please throw me a bone
I-I-I, I’m hooked to the ceiling
Losing all feelin’ till they stop clubbin’ me
(musical interlude with a few Hooga Chucka’s thrown in)
All this tough love when we’re all alone
Could the Red Cross, please throw me a bone
I-I-I, I’m hooked to the ceiling
Losing all feelin’ till they stop clubbin’ me
I’m hooked to the ceiling
Losing all feelin’ till they stop clubbin’ me
I said, I’m hooked to the ceiling
Losing all feelin’ till they stop clubbin’ me
air jordan shoes| 7.13.09 @ 9:13PM
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Cow Rie| 7.13.09 @ 9:38PM
Obama's plans are getting watered and bogged down in the Congress, as the rest of us lose work, income, benefits, the Obama Dem Lib elite get theirs - Unions get their benefits bailed out by us, government employees and their unions get theirs, and the rest of us pay more in taxes, fees, costs, utilites, etc. Oh, and we are told to sacrifice more.
And now the CIA distraction to cover Pelosi, blame that Bush again, and feed the leftist core groups of Obama/Dems some red meat - while the country erodes further. Hey, Rahm needs some more crisis to expand Obama power.
Anonymous| 7.13.09 @ 11:00PM
Eric Holder wants to go out of his way investigate enhanced interrogation techniques done, necessarily, during wartime, but he lets the Black Panthers, caught on video, intimidating people in front of a voting place during a national election scate. Sheesh.
hoogachucka| 7.14.09 @ 1:40PM
lynnrockets--
It was bad enough when Blue Swede's cover shredded a great BJ Thomas song. Don't make it worse.
Patriot| 7.15.09 @ 1:30AM
You're wrong, Melvin; LynnSprockets is back--guess there's nothing a $10 whore won't do.
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