Turley to Olbermann: If Obama doesn't prosecute war crimes by Bushco, then he (Obama) owns them, too

[Stinky The Clown]

No equivocation in his statement.

[malaise]

1. Super discussion

War crimes must be prosecuted.

[okiru109]

93. actually the ICC - if Obama DOESN'T ACT they AUTOMATICALLY inherit JURISDICTION

"it can exercise its jurisdiction ONLY when national courts are unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute such crimes"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court

[leftstreet]

2. K&R

[ikojo]

3. I love Jonathan Turley

Speaking truth!

[lonestarnot]

4. Heard THAT!

Silence kills!

[G_j]

5. sometimes the truth hurts

but he is right

[originalpckelly]

6. Precisely, Turley is one of these people with principles...

he made his name for suing the government on behalf of workers at Area 51, who'd been exposed to some unknown chemical. That was during Clinton's term. Those poor guys developed this weird scaly skin thing, and I think one or two of them died.

They were exposed because Area 51 wasn't following the nation's environmental laws, and toxic chemicals were being burned in open pits to get rid of them, because it "doesn't exist" (odd how we can see it on Google Earth, isn't it?)

[LaydeeBug]

7. I hope that Barack Obama does not render his admin to the be "the new millennium Ford admin"

I think he's too bright for that though. (hopefully)

[HughMoran]

8. I didn't find that as the key statement in that discussion

I thought his statement that Bush had probably commited war crimes and that it would essentially be a crime not to prosecute him was pretty powerful. It's not just Obama who can bring pressure to bear on this issue, so I'm not ready to put any blame on not-yet-President Obama.

[keepthemhonest]

35. no blame yet unless he does not prosecute then blame NT

[RainDog]

51. there was no "probably" committed war crimes about it. Turley noted Bush admitted to them.

Bush and Cheney both have admitted to war crimes. they have both admitted to approval of water boarding.

Turley was also responding to Obama's seeming dismissal of the war crimes issue with the move forward comment.

And, yes, there are Democrats in Congress, as well as Bush administration officials, who are guilty of war crimes, or so it would seem from Cheney's remarks - that top democrats knew and approved. Democrats disagreed, but it certainly would explain why impeachment was off the table. However, the issue comes down to this: Bush and Cheney were in control of the situation, refused to share information, refused to answer subpoenas, crafted statements that sought to justify torture and abuse as mere words to be disregarded at whim.

The ultimate responsibility falls on Bush and Cheney.

Obama doesn't have to be the one who does the work - Congress is the body that should investigate and then turn Bush and Cheney over to the criminal justice system. Obama needs to get out of the way of this proper action, however, and refuse to dismiss torture.

Obama can put a lot of pressure on Congress to accomplish this or can, conversely, impede such actions. This is where he becomes personally responsible for torture policy after the fact.

[nashville_brook]

9. did anyone hear him on Talk of the Nation today, "debating" Charles Freid?

the conservative Freid (spelling likely incorrect) was saying that it's nonsense to prosecute "all crimes." that we should leave bushco alone b/c to do so would set a bad precedent. Turley was amazing in his grace and ability to put this bogus argument away.

Turley is my personal savior. Love him.

[G_j]

10. I once wondered if we'd ever hear the term "war crimes"

connected to the Bush admin through a corporate media outlet.

we've come some ways!

[Occam Bandage]

11. He won't, and he won't. nt

[keepthemhonest]

12. Wow that is profound and seems true nt

[bdamomma]

13. kick & rec

[BrklynLiberal]

14. I sure hope that President Obama understands the full implications of that.

Turley is an excellent person to listen to on these matters.

[bobd0]

15. If the new administration doesn't go after Bush et al for their crimes

then they are just as complicit as Pelosi.

As a matter of fact, they should go after Pelosi too for that very reason.

K&R for the rule of law.

[totodeinhere]

78. Are you dreaming? They won't ever go after Pelosi. n/t

[deaniac21]

16. Bad news for Obama.

[Captain Hilts]

17. Now THAT's a TV pundit who should have gotten a job offer. nt

[orleans]

57. who? olbermann or turley? n/t

[BelgianMadCow]

83. Turley, for AG

nah, ANYONE with an ounce of respect for the constitution would be a huge improvement.
I keep thinking Obama, being the constitutional professor Obama he is, is gonna weigh on that really hard, and it's very important for the US standing in the world.

[Radical Activist]

18. If Olbermann doesn't condemn MSNBC firing Phil Donahue

then he owns their censorship too.

Has he ever done that BTW? Just curious.

[iconicgnom]

52. apples/oranges

[Radical Activist]

54. Still a legitimate question.

[UTUSN]

19. It's true. But who has been listening?!1 n/t

[Horse with no Name]

20. Fair question

What was Olbermann's response to that? Is he going to marginalize Turley or is he open to dialogue now?

[iconicgnom]

53. Clearly Olbermann isn't marginalizing Turley.

[ProgressIn2008]

21. True statement. Good that someone is out there saying it. nt

[MissDeeds]

22. Turely is right

Thank God he had the guts to say it.

:kick:

[Seldona]

23. Didn't some obscure portion of some act give them retroactive immunity?

CAN Obama prosecute under those circumstances, FUBAR as they are?

Wasn't it the Military Commissions Act or something like it? Just to tired to look up the specifics right now, but it was a pretty big deal when it came out on the progressive blogshpere.

[Jim Lane]

104. Much of the misconduct was legalized, but probably not all

You're right that the Military Commissions Act gave retroactive immunity to people who had committed certain crimes. Not every crime that likely occurred was covered, though.

Someone who was immunized couldn't plead the Fifth as to those crimes. The witness can lie, and be prosecuted for perjury; refuse to answer, and be punished for contempt (because there is no privilege applicable); or tell the truth, and at least help us make a record and possibly provide information that helps convict others.

[dana_b]

24. dead right

I hope the P.E. was watching.

[midnight]

25. I say Obama does.....Because no one owns those, but Bush

and Co.

[TheKentuckian]

26. Even our best Presidents had plenty to be tried on and took craps

on The Constitution.

I'm not saying BushCo. should not be prosecuted but none of the rest of the outlaws have been brought to justice, which is probably why they have become sooooooo criminal of late.

I'm more of thinking that dropping the hammer on BushCo would be a wonderful new thing rather than anywhere near expected. Further, if we were a decent people of justice that we'd disband and turn over rule to the tribes as they see fit but that shit ain't happening either.

[lutefisk]

39. Maybe they crapped on the Constitution, but Bush wiped with it and flushed it down the toilet...n/t

[IsItJustMe]

27. If this country is ever to be worth a damn again, this all needs to come out in the open and people

have to be held accountable.

[spanone]

28. good point, but i wouldn't trust them for one second....

[Poiuyt]

29. George Will compared Obama not prosecuting Bush with Ford pardoning Nixon

Of course, he said it in a way that was good...it's best to move forward like Ford did, etc. What I remember is the campaign theme that helped Carter defeat Ford -- "He pardoned Nixon!"

[ejpoeta]

37. It's gotta be a tough place ot be for Obama.

I mean, he KNOWS the constitution, so he SHOULD be prosecuting what bush did. on the other hand, look at the crap heap he is looking at trying to fix. I'm suprised bush doesn't set the white house on fire on the way out the door. he might has well have. Obama may be looking at prosecutions as keeping him from things like trying to patch the hole in the titanic our economy has become. I personally think that this country NEEDS to hold bush and his compatriots accountable for their actions in order to rectify ourselves. Justice is indeed necessary for therapeutic reasons. maybe he sees such an endeavor as causing divisiveness in the congress and then nothing will get done. I just wish our government was working for US and not themselves. I mean, I thought they were supposed to be acting on OUR behalf here. we NEED to resolve this last eight years. we need to see bush, cheney, rummie, all of these people on trial for what they have done in OUR NAME!!!!

[disndat]

85. IMO, Obama is waiting

for Eric Holder to become AG, then as AG he can bring up criminal charges so that Obama will be forced to move forward on this. As Obama has said several times with emphasis, "no man is above the law."

[ejpoeta]

110. maybe the whole 'looking foward' bit is meant to make repubs

not think we're just out to get bush and cheney. And look how relaxed bush nad cheney are. openly talking about their role in using torture. I hope you are right. while we need to look forward, we also need to get justice for the things in the past to right our road.

[Solly Mack]

30. K&R

[Hawkowl]

31. Worse

What's worse is that these war crimes will happen again-- only on a worse scale if Obama doesn't demonstrate their illegality and unacceptability by vigorous prosecution.

We have torture, suspension of habeas corpus, and concentration camps. We are truly just one step away from death camps the next time around. Those of you who scoff should examine history.

[xxqqqzme]

43. Agree. The current bunch of criminals

got their feet wet under nixon. Determined to avoid that mess, this coup was advanced to the next level through demanding (& getting) a unitary executive, rewriting the Constitution and daring anyone to stop them by suggesting they were aiding terrorists. They had a non-stop whorporate media and right wing religion on a continual loop of mis-information that was nearly impossible to overcome. Our only valuable asset was the internet. Next time that too will be used to their advantage. This bunch of neo-con fascists were spawned by the traitors that sought to overthrow FDR. They failed and failed to stop the programs FDR put in place. Their determination lives on in kristol, norquist, and b*sh/chen*y/rums*eld cabal (rove is haldeman on steroids).

This swing to fascism seems to run in a 30 year cycle, so educate your children.

[iconicgnom]

60. Correct. Plus, the current batch of Repubs and Repub commentators assert there was no illegality.

From Bush and Cheney on down, they are clearly asserting that everything done was within the law. Which is to say, they are clearly asserting that everything done sets a precedent in law, for the future. When Obama said that he thinks no laws were broken, he stood firmly with Bush and Cheney, and history will remember. History doesn't forget such things - if the Dems allow this to pass, it will go on record that the Dems not just colluded, but that the Dems were the party that gave it final sanction.

[CrazyLate]

56. Yep...what matters is who is in charge and who's in the camps.

Wait, no, that's not what I meant to say.

Obama needs to dismantle the machinery of oppression put in place by his predecessor. Not just for Gitmo folks, but for average Americans as well. I'm not any more trusting of a left-leaning tyranny than a right-leaning one. Caesar fought for the little guy too, but in the end he was still a tyrant. It's the machinery more than the man.

[FourScore]

32. k&r

[travelingtypist]

33. If I hear "we want to look forward" one more time...

...from Obama or Biden, I'm going to be sick.

War crimes are war crimes. It makes me sad that I'm losing confidence in
Obama even before Inauguration Day.

God damn it.

[loudsue]

34. God damn it is right.

Two systems of justice... one for the rich and powerful, and one for the rest of us. If the rule of law isn't good enough for them, then the rest of us should be able to skate on anything we do wrong, too.

So....let ALL the drug busted people out of jail right now. They sure didn't bring down the economy, lie us into wars, out covert CIA agents, give no-bid contracts to family members and friends, spy on Americans without a warrant....

[SammyWinstonJack]

42. !

:applause:

[SammyWinstonJack]

41. You're not alone.

God damn it, is right! A Nation of Laws, my ass! :puke:

[TankLV]

97. You're not the only one - only my "journey" of disillusionment started a lot earlier...

to say I'm disillusioned is an understatement.

[Hubert Flottz]

36. I couldn't agree more.

Turley would make a GREAT AG...

[sybylla]

45. That was my thought as I watched

I only wish it were possible. Still crossing my fingers Holder will have a big set of brass ones and make sure this gets prosecuted somehow - either in this country or another.

[Pastiche423]

71. You will probably be crossing your fingers for an eternity

if you're wishing that Eric Chiquita Holder will do anything of the sort.

[jhain]

38. watched it again at 10:00

so I could be sure I wasn't dreaming.

[acmavm]

40. Yep. That's the bottom line. He's an accessory after the fact for

covering for the bush** admin if he doesn't.

[orleans]

58. an accessory to murder (as my fav tv shows would say) n/t

[dccrossman]

44. K&R

:kick:

[wildbilln864]

46. Absofrigginglutely! nt

[frylock]

47. word up

[libodem]

48. Yep

and so do the People. I want these crimes off my head!

[Senator]

49. Still, "Owns" Is Just DC-Euphemism For "Commits."

Because aiding and abetting the escape from justice is part of the ongoing original offense.

For years Obama has had the affirmative, treaty-bound duty to report and ACT to stop these atrocities. Treating them as political business-as-usual puts him in the status of a Nuremberg defendant.

His statements like "looking forward, not back" or the http://talkingimpeachment.com/blog/Hall-of-Shame-Inductee----Barak-Obama.html">offenses not being "grave" enough for impeachment are no different than the bush-cheney-yoo nonsense about Geneva being too "quaint" a law to obey. The same goes for the claim that this is about "policy" and not crime perpetration.

It's just the mental gymnastics of law-breaking.

There's still time to impeach and get Obama off the hook.

It would save much political anguish -- likely generations worth -- and get our once-great nation http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Senator/16">off to a real fresh start.

--

[pleah]

50. K&R

[TahitiNut]

55. Face it. We ALL "own" those crimes. Our failure, as a People, to DEMAND justice ...

... due to our own criminality, cowardice, and/or sloth, condemns our 'democratic republic' as a nation of criminals and cowards complicit in war crimes and crimes against humanity committed IN OUR NAME, with our tax dollars.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

59. The silence, apologia, and complicity of the people and their reps is a crime.

How many times, right here, on "progressive" DU have the apologists come out with the usual excuses for "our" guys voting for the very crimes that they now want to hold BushCo accountable for?

All in the name of "practical" politics and idiotic excuses like "they were lied to".

The American people have been transformed into the "good Germans" who knew nothing, know nothing, and blame the "leaders" they voted for from both parties.

Bush and his cronies won't be prosecuted because the Democrats were complicit in his crimes and would have to face the music.

[Selatius]

76. I think Howard Zinn said it best as far as opposition movements go.

"When a social movement adopts the compromises of legislators, it has forgotten its role, which is to push and challenge the politicians, not to fall in meekly behind them.

We who protest the war are not politicians. We are citizens. Whatever politicians may do, let them first feel the full force of citizens who speak for what is right, not for what is winnable, in a shamefully timorous Congress."

-- Howard Zinn, in his article "Are We Politicians or Citizens?"

http://www.truthout.org/article/howard-zinn-are-we-politicians-or-citizens

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

89. Brilliant! Thanks for posting that. It exactly sums up the duty of the citizenry.

We are responsible for our government and it's actions. Too often, far too often, we are all too willing to turn our servants into our masters.

[TankLV]

98. No fucking way. NOT ME!

I don't have ANY power to change ANYTHING. Period.

That's the truth.

An army of one is a DEAD PERSON. A "dead flake".

[Politicalboi]

61. Bush/Cheney

Needs to be tried in a world court. They declared war on anyone who defied them so let the world judge them. We don't have time for this so let the UN hold the investigations and trial. I of course would love to see them tried in Iraq but we would be lucky to have any trial. It's too bad this question was asked and asked during the campaign. What choice did we have after Dennis was gone. He and Ron Paul would have prosecuted Bush/Cheney.

[katty]

62. go Turley!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

63. Yes

Just get someone, anyone to dig. K&R

[frogmarch]

64. Turley is right!

But I don't think Obama will follow through and demand accountability from Bushco. Obama's all about moving forward - which is good in some ways - but bad guys need to pay for their crimes, damn it!

[ejbr]

65. damn skippy n/t

[GreenTea]

66. Absolutely correct!

[nadinbrzezinski]

67. And...he is correct

now cannot wait for folks defending the moving forwards horseshit

[Old Codger]

68. If they don't

I understand that there are some priorities for them and it will take some time to get it together, but they have public admissions by both * and cheney that they did indeed ok torture, and that they did lie to get things going, they did in fact listen illegally to private phone calls, they have admitted all these things and are guilty I am sure of many more...

BUT


If they don't prosecute the war crimes committed by the * administration and anyone in congress that are implicated in them then Obama and Co. are a one term administration (IMHO) If they let it slide then they are no different than all the rest and the all the talk about change is just more political BS.

[totodeinhere]

74. That wouldn't make them a one term administration.

Who would take their place in 2012, another neocon? No, this issue will not derail Obama's presidency. What will derail it is if he cannot fix the economy and health care.

[Old Codger]

81. IMHO

Health care, the economy are all top priorities for sure but if he lets this go then he is not much better than the rest of them and that makes them interchangeable, might as well be anyone in there...He made a lot of promises and guaranteed change and no more government as usual... He has a lot to do for sure but this is one that for the overall good of the united states absolutely has to be done.. if we let them get away with it we as a country say we condone torture, we say we don't care that our leaders are lying pieces of drek that the rule of law that is the backbone of our country and the basis behind our constitution is now irrelevant... as the saying goes you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything and we have fallen a long long way. It will take heroic measures to get us back to anything resembling the country we were..

[slipslidingaway]

69. K&R n/t

[geckosfeet]

70. If he owns them the the rest of the world owns the too. Including me and you.

[TankLV]

99. Wrong. "We" do not "own" anything.

WE voted and marched and wrote letters. What else could we do - blow up the buildings?!

What a fucking foolish and ignorant thing for you to say.

Obama IS in THE position of power to DO SOMETHING about it. If HE fails to DO SOMETHING, then HE and HE alone will be just as guilty as Feinstein and Pelosi and all the others IN POSITIONS OF POWER...

[geckosfeet]

111. I see. Obama is god and can wave his hand.

No. We own it too.

We write and march and when nothing happens we get frustrated and blame someone else. These things are little more than busy work. To expect tangible results towards their purported purpose is somewhat childish. They are feel good compromises that we make so that we can hold our our feelings of helplessness and guilt in check. Things we do to pass the time so that we can avoid doing what has to be done.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You will grow up in time.

[madrchsod]

72. obama will not support any investigation into bush and his henchmen

[totodeinhere]

73. No, if Obama determines that it's in the best interest of the country...

not to prosecute, then so be it. That doesn't make Obama a war criminal too. Personally, I want to see shrub and the gang prosecuted, but I will respect Obama's judgment.

Obama might decide that it is not worth it to tear the nation apart over this. We have a lot of problems to solve, and we need everyone on board, but if they try to prosecute Bush you can kiss any cooperation from the GOP goodbye. Due to Senate rules, even with only 41 votes plus Lieberman, they can slow things to a complete halt if they want to. And we can't afford that type of inaction right now. There are too many pressing problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible.

[rhett o rick]

75. If Obama doesn't think that the prosecution for war crimes is a top priority, he is guilty

of complicity of war crimes. Nothing is more important than to prosecute the administration for war crimes. Justice for the millions affected, and get the criminals out of circulation.

[totodeinhere]

77. I think that's a big stretch. For one thing, the Constitution...

gives him the unlimited power to issue pardons, so he can just pardon them if he wants to and be done with it. And since the constitution gives him that unlimited poser, exercising it would not be a crime and would not make him complicit.

On the other hand, I think you can make a good case that both Pelosi and Reid, along with several other Democrats, are complicit. Do you think Obama will prosecute them too? Not a chance.

[rhett o rick]

108. I doubt that he would pardon them. Even if he did, I believe he would be complicit morally

if not legally. I certainly would never vote for him again. I agree that there are a number of Democrats that are complicit also. But then so are millions of Americans. We will have to draw the line somewhere.

But there needs to be prosecutions of Bush, Cheney, Rummy, and Gonzo at least. These people are war criminals.

[Kermitt Gribble]

80. LOL! I suppose

if PE Obama decides to start WW3, or decides that the govt needs to increase spying on US citizens, or decides abortion should be illegal, that MUST be in the best interest of the country? Then so be it?

Your pom-poms are showing...

[totodeinhere]

87. If I have the temerity to mention a point of view contrary to the mob mentality and..

group think at DU on this issue, then of course someone has to accuse me of cheerleading for war criminals. It's just too bad that we can't have a civil discussion on this important issue without casting aspersions at each other.

This is especially true since I am closer to the position held by Dem leaders on this issue than many people at DU are.

I also have a belief that we need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards. And part of my job is to make sure that for example at the CIA, you've got extraordinarily talented people who are working very hard to keep Americans safe. I don't want them to suddenly feel like they've got to spend all their time looking over their shoulders and lawyering.

--Barack Obama

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/01/11

[Kermitt Gribble]

112. Mob mentality??

- every citizen of this country should have a "mob mentality" when it comes to upholding our Constitution.

I don't care which "Dem leaders" share your position - it's the wrong position. The illusion being spun is there won't be investigations or prosecutions due to political reasons. The reality is there won't be investigations or prosecutions so these crimes can continue.

[clear eye]

91. Senate Rules Can Be Changed

back to where you needed to be actually speaking on the floor to filibuster (w/ a bucket for a toilet). That should make it less necessary to appease fascists.

[totodeinhere]

92. I'm with you on that. Let's bring back the "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" filibuster. n/t

[okiru109]

94. oh really? so if he decides 'that it's in the best interest of the country' to continue torture

and other crimes (as the previous admin) then 'so be it'?

sorry, but not only is that an extremely short sighted view of justice but a miscomprehension of why we are where we are today.

not only would it be required by law to go after these criminals and traitors but it would be GREAT for the rebuilding and healing this country must go through.

do you think we will attract the many investors (monetary, spiritually and allegiance) we desperately need right now if we continue or ignore our crimes?

if Obama is wise (and i believe him to be very e.g. immediately issuing an order to close GITMO)he will not only act but act swiftly.

[totodeinhere]

101. I don't think he will act on this.

But who knows? I'll bookmark this then check back in a few months to see who was right.

[TankLV]

100. Bullshit. If you believe that you are more ignorant than we can imagine...

"just following orders" is no longer acceptable - hasn't been for over fifty years now...

[totodeinhere]

102. I'm not sure what you mean. I didn't say anything about "following orders."

That following orders defense was shot down at Nuremberg and hasn't been used very much since.

[MasonJar]

79. Thank God for Johnathan Turley and for Keith for giving him airtime.

War crimes should not be overlooked for any reason. Looking ahead is an especially poor reason!!!!! Obama had better get with the Constitution, instead of the GOPers. Turley for Supreme Court!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course it will never happen since he is too straightforward and honest.

[MasonJar]

82. Speaking of the little guy, I loved Turley's analogy of how he'd love to go

into court with a client and be able to say that was in the past, just move on. All crimes are in the past and as the great WILLIAM FAULKNER REMINDED US THE PAST ISN'T EVEN THE PAST. Obama is not change if he ignores these egregious crimes; they rise far above the obnoxious crimes of past presidents, even Nixon, who, by the way, looks better every day.

[Left Coast2020]

84. UC Irvine law professor Erwin Chemerinski is also very good.

I know I spelled his name wrong, but he occasionally is on Jon Elloit's show and has been quoted as someone who would be good on the S.C.

But isn't the most important reason we elect someone for President is to nominate a Justice to the Supreme Court?

The answer is yes.

Because those S.C. rulings/decisions will will affect people/country for the next 20, or so years.

[davidwparker]

86. Yes, he does. And, he will be a one-term Obama. I will cast a vote against

him here in newly-turned blue Virgina and he will be one swing state down.

Watch me.

[gravity]

88. Maybe in a fantasy world

:crazy:

[tekisui]

90. Obama would be allowing the precedent to stand.

And, asking future administrations to further the abuses.

[KoKo]

95. Obama is looking to "Move Forward" ...so it's up to Pressure outside to force his Justice Department

to look into the Massive Criminality of the Bush Administration. I'm not holding my breath. Best we can hope for is that "Special Commission" the DLC and Progressive/DLC'ers are leaning to do to satisfy all us angry lefties and centrists.

[Marr]

96. I'm amazed that anyone actually thinks this has a chance of happenning.

There isn't a chance in hell that this Congress or President Obama will pursue a legitimate investigation of the Bush/Cheney Administration. None. They are the establishment and the establishment never ever attacks it's own on behalf of the population. Maybe they'll hold a couple of shallow, neutered show-investigations if people make enough noise, but they will never, ever prosecute these people. Wealth and power doesn't bow to law in this country, sorry.

Hell, they tried to stage a military coup against FDR and it was all dutifully hushed up. You or I would be executed for things like this, sure-- but the law does not apply to everyone in this country, no matter what the books say.

[clear eye]

103. Sigh. n/t

[Marr]

105. Sigh right back at ya.

Sorry, but it's true.

[Ladyhawk]

109. Gotta agree. You'll get flak from those who don't want to see reality. nt

[BlooInBloo]

106. Anyone who owns war crimes should obviously be impeached.

:rofl:

DUers slay me.

[Stinky The Clown]

107. Obviously

Can we start tomorrow?