Joan Walsh: "As long as Obama covers up and refuses to prosecute torture, the Dark Lord prevails"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Cheney lives on

It's not just his crazy "Out of the Bunker!" tour. As long as Obama covers up and refuses to prosecute torture, the Dark Lord prevails

By Joan Walsh



http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/politics/2009/05/14/cheney_lives/

I really would like to laugh at Dick Cheney's "Out of the Bunker!" tour. This isn't the Cheney Americans have come to know and hate. Remember when he wouldn't talk to us? Now he won't shut up. He used to be the evil puppet master, the man behind the curtain, but without his puppet, he's got to speak for himself.

So there he is, almost daily now, defending torture and the war in Iraq, trying to start another war in Iran. He's decided that Rush Limbaugh is a better public face for the Republican Party than Colin Powell. It's like nobody told him we had an election, and his guy lost. He's in full campaign mode. He's becoming a punch line, but I'm having a hard time laughing (well, except at Obama and Wanda Sykes Saturday night).

It's easy to say this is good news for Democrats. It certainly seems as if Cheney won't be happy until there are two people left in the Republican Party, him and Rush Limbaugh. Gen. Powell? Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. But I also think what Cheney's doing has disturbing political consequences, for the Obama administration and for the country. I'm also starting to worry Obama is internalizing Cheney's values, with a string of bad decisions on torture, culminating in today's move to reverse his prior commitment to transparency and block the release of more torture photos.

Clearly Cheney is legitimizing the worst sort of attacks on Obama, and he's been doing it from Day One, by insisting Obama is making the country less safe. That's despicable. (To be clear, he has every right to say anything he wants, and I have every right to call it despicable.) His decision to declare open season on Obama strengthens the hand of conservative crazies who think they can get away with obstruction and sabotage.

[slay]

1. So.. you think those pics Obama now is covering for too.. think they might show.. TORTURE?

Yeah. I'm fuckin pissed about Obama's involvement in this cover-up. If he's not going to release the pics, then we need an investigation NOW!!!!

[leftstreet]

2. The Dork Lord

[MarjorieG]

3. I'm as tired of my leftie brethren seeing single-minded righteousness everywhere.

Beyond breathless chest-pounding, what is this costing you?

These photos will be released, maybe shown to an investigative committee, so it's possible to think that maybe Obama is protecting our troops. I'm listening to Turley making a high-minded argument for a reasonable, rational enemy appreciating the change in administration if Obama released them; I don't think that's the propaganda war we're fighting over there.

As Gergen said tonight, there is a difference between the pictures just getting out, or with the blessing of the CIC. If harm comes to our troops.

[Usrename]

4. Dick Cheney, 4 days ago

"I think it’s very, very important that we have a clear understanding that what happened here was an honorable approach to defending the nation, that there was nothing devious or deceitful or dishonest or illegal about what was done."

[ZombieHorde]

6. Exactly, you should make that into an OP. nt

[slay]

5. The same as I tire of the "it will endanger our troops" crap

What a shield huh? Can't prosecute the Bush admin - it might endanger our troops should the crime be publicly acknowledged.

Can't release the photos - might endanger our troops should they see how we TORTURE our enemy.

Same lie that got Bush re-elected - can't change CIC in the middle of a war - might endanger the troops.

BULLSHIT!

What endangers ""the troops"" is sending them to stupid pointless endless wars in shitholes. I thought our military was for defense, evidently we are not - we are offense.

And Obama never had to say shit about the pics or his "blessing" (wtf?) the courts ORDERED them released.

No.

Obama CHOSE to intervene.

This isn't about "breathless chest pounding" - it's about THE TRUTH. I guess all of you apologists are fine with Obama being complicit in this cover-up. THE COURTS ruled them released - Lord Obama says otherwise, now BOW DOWN and do as you're told! And don't say - it's over we know what happened. Again - bullshit - show us the pics, then we'll know.

Why are we in Afghanistan anyways? It's not cause of Al-CIA-duh - most of the 911 hijackers were Saudi - but suppossedly they are our friends? It's not about human rights - we are MIA regarding the genocides in Africa. No. Again, it's about oil.

Pipeline-Istan: Everything You Need to Know About Oil, Gas, Russia, China, Iran, Afghanistan and Obama -- http://www.alternet.org/audits/139983/pipeline-istan%3A_everything_you_need_to_know_about_oil%2C_gas%2C_russia%2C_china%2C_iran%2C_afghanistan_and_obama/?page=4

[ima_sinnic]

8. yes, thank you. he's bending over backward to perpetuate the cover-up

AND the useless Middle East war. Bought and paid for.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

9. Cenk says it best

"I know there are some people who, when Obama does something, they will find any way to defend it... There is no secret genius behind this. It was assinine..."

[snowdays]

13. Thumbs up.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. If harm comes to our troops, it is those who tortured that

are to blame. Period.

[lamp_shade]

7. The President doesn't get to be a Prosecutor. Or does he?

[polichick]

10. It does appear that Obama caved and Cheney won this week...

I hope that behind the scenes there is a plan to prosecute and punish Cheney for his disgusting crimes.

[Political Tiger]

11. Seems some people are more afraid of what DICK Cheney might say

than any possible consequences to our troops and foreign policy if these photos are released right now.

[bdamomma]

12. someone needs to tell Dick to shut the hell up.

or spew up everything he is saying under oath!!!!!!

[Bluenorthwest]

15. What I've learned from Obama

The election that give a person the title of President does not make a person the President. The person has to become the President, and if he or she fails to do so, former powers remain in power.