An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right

« Obama’s Offer To Resolve Black Farmers’ Pigford Claims

The Great Performers: Aerosmith’s Janie’s Got A Gun »

Herald of Change

Posted by DAVID ADESNIK in At TMV.
May 7th, 2009 | View Comments

OBAMA, HERALD OF CHANGE: In the words of the certainly-not-conservative Jeffrey Rosen,

Barack Obama is trying to split the difference on torture. He wants to move forward–no messy dwelling on the Bush-Cheney era–except that he’ll look backward if forced. There will be no independent commission to hold top-ranking officials politically accountable. But, if Attorney General Eric Holder wants to prosecute the Bush lawyers who defended the legality of waterboarding–John Yoo, Jay Bybee, and Steven Bradbury–well, the president won’t stand in the way.

What does Obama gain by this approach? For starters, he has delegated the hard choice to his subordinate–and has left himself room to maneuver once more if the political winds shift further.

At least he’s living up to my expectations.

Cross-posted at Conventional Folly

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

casualobserver

The "change" is that Obama is a politician, first and a leader, second at best.

That may well be a welcome change to those who disliked Bush and Cheney. You certainly can't accuse them of putting political wind measurements first on their list.

GeorgeSorwell

So, what are your expectations?

That the torture gurus shouldn't be prosecuted--but you should still be able to bash Obama for not prosecuting them?

blog comments powered by Disqus