Little bit of an eye opener on Obama

[Neudiin]

Its longish and isn't something you can just skim, take a few and read it all.

John Cusack Interviews Law Professor Jonathan Turley About Obama Administration’s War On the Constitution

......annnnnnd discuss =)


you might have to right click it and open in new tab.

 

[AllisonWilder]

I don't have anything to discuss, but that was certainly an interesting (and very long) read. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Shaun__]

There is a reason I am voting for Gary Johnson, and other people should consider doing it as well. I am not some hate filled person, and will still defend Obama for the things he did well. I just paid attention to what the man I voted for has been up to, and saw my freedom slipping away due to the hard work of the Congress and President.

 

[camstory]

I tried to suggest that with the continuation of the Afghan war and the continuation of the erosion of our civil liberties we were no better off now than when Bush the lesser left office. I was not sure what I was going to do with my vote, but when I suggested I vote for a third party candidate many denounced anyone who did that as being stupid. I think it is less than smart to cast a vote for a known evil, regardless of justification. Even if it is the lesser of the two evils. This article has only reinforce my believe that Obama is politician above and beyond anything else, including what IMhO every president should be primarily, - a principled statesman dedicated to upholding the constitution.

It seems that this need to be more and more the politician and less the statesman has progressed to the point of absurdity. When being elected for president requires only the best theatrics, and no true character as a principled leader, we need to reexamine our values.

 

[Red7227]

There is a reason I am voting for Gary Johnson, and other people should consider doing it as well. I am not some hate filled person, and will still defend Obama for the things he did well. I just paid attention to what the man I voted for has been up to, and saw my freedom slipping away due to the hard work of the Congress and President.

I do feel sorry for you guys over in the US. At least here in Australia we have the one set of laws for everyone, and an independent judiciary to enforce them

 

[LadyLuna]

Last night, my partner and I talked a bit. I said something random, that I still believe in.

If everyone who thought that voting for third party people was just throwing a vote away, instead just voted who they ACTUALLY wanted, instead of the lesser of two evils... the third party candidates would stand a hell of a lot more of a chance.

This "voting third party is throwing away your vote" mentality perpetuates the two-party system. I remember when I first heard that too. It was a presidential campaign, and the corporate paid commercials started to say it. Soon everyone was saying it, and third party candidates started losing votes.

 

[Just Me]

Last night, my partner and I talked a bit. I said something random, that I still believe in.

If everyone who thought that voting for third party people was just throwing a vote away, instead just voted who they ACTUALLY wanted, instead of the lesser of two evils... the third party candidates would stand a hell of a lot more of a chance.

This "voting third party is throwing away your vote" mentality perpetuates the two-party system. I remember when I first heard that too. It was a presidential campaign, and the corporate paid commercials started to say it. Soon everyone was saying it, and third party candidates started losing votes.

Since I have not found a better explanation anywhere else, and I certainly can't explain it any better. Here is why we end up with a two party system and why 3rd party candidates are not good. It all comes down to math. I understand we don't have a one person one vote system and use the electoral college, he also has a explanation on that and the problems with it.

 

[Just Me]

There is a reason I am voting for Gary Johnson, and other people should consider doing it as well. I am not some hate filled person, and will still defend Obama for the things he did well. I just paid attention to what the man I voted for has been up to, and saw my freedom slipping away due to the hard work of the Congress and President.

I do feel sorry for you guys over in the US. At least here in Australia we have the one set of laws for everyone, and an independent judiciary to enforce them

You really think the US doesn't have this too? We have 3 branches of government here; executive, legislative and judicial. All are independent. We also have just one set of laws for everyone. Maybe I missed your sarcasm or I am being wooshed. :lol:

 

[inkydoo]

Last night, my partner and I talked a bit. I said something random, that I still believe in.

If everyone who thought that voting for third party people was just throwing a vote away, instead just voted who they ACTUALLY wanted, instead of the lesser of two evils... the third party candidates would stand a hell of a lot more of a chance.

This "voting third party is throwing away your vote" mentality perpetuates the two-party system. I remember when I first heard that too. It was a presidential campaign, and the corporate paid commercials started to say it. Soon everyone was saying it, and third party candidates started losing votes.

That's why Instant Runoff Voting should become the norm. It's being "tested" in some places in the US, but really, especially with computerized voting*, this ought to be a no-brainer. http://www.fairvote.org/instant-runoff-voting

* As an IT / Info Security type, I abhor computerized voting as it's done most places (that is, without a physical printout that I can verify and stuff into a ballot box), but if it's going to be there, let's actually make use of the benefits of it being computerized.

 

[Mirra]

There is a reason I am voting for Gary Johnson, and other people should consider doing it as well. I am not some hate filled person, and will still defend Obama for the things he did well. I just paid attention to what the man I voted for has been up to, and saw my freedom slipping away due to the hard work of the Congress and President.

I do feel sorry for you guys over in the US. At least here in Australia we have the one set of laws for everyone, and an independent judiciary to enforce them

You really think the US doesn't have this too? We have 3 branches of government here; executive, legislative and judicial. All are independent. We also have just one set of laws for everyone. Maybe I missed your sarcasm or I am being wooshed. :lol:

Or maybe he meant that while the US was set up that way, the way laws are applied have been eroded into a double standard. Maybe the very topic of the article this thread is discussing shows how the Executive branch has seized some power from the judicial branch when the word "terrorism" is attached. I'd even say the same has happened to the legislative branch when it comes to "war on terror".

It was an ironic statement since our government was designed to function in just that way, but I do believe it was also a valid statement.

 

[camstory]

There is a reason I am voting for Gary Johnson, and other people should consider doing it as well. I am not some hate filled person, and will still defend Obama for the things he did well. I just paid attention to what the man I voted for has been up to, and saw my freedom slipping away due to the hard work of the Congress and President.

I do feel sorry for you guys over in the US. At least here in Australia we have the one set of laws for everyone, and an independent judiciary to enforce them

You really think the US doesn't have this too? We have 3 branches of government here; executive, legislative and judicial. All are independent. We also have just one set of laws for everyone. Maybe I missed your sarcasm or I am being wooshed. :lol:

Or maybe he meant that while the US was set up that way, the way laws are applied have been eroded into a double standard. Maybe the very topic of the article this thread is discussing shows how the Executive branch has seized some power from the judicial branch when the word "terrorism" is attached. I'd even say the same has happened to the legislative branch when it comes to "war on terror".

It was an ironic statement since our government was designed to function in just that way, but I do believe it was also a valid statement.

I am not so sure red meant it precisely as you have articulated, regardless your covering statement imo is a clear and correct evaluation of the current condition of our somewhat compromised independent branches of government.

 

[Red7227]

I am not so sure red meant it precisely as you have articulated, regardless your covering statement imo is a clear and correct evaluation of the current condition of our somewhat compromised independent branches of government.

Your president has introduced legislation that allows him to unilaterally murder US citizens. That isn't possible in Australia as our courts would deem in unlawful and the government would be forced to repeal the legislation. Likewise our courts could try individuals guilty of war crimes irrespective of the wishes of the government. Obama is at least being democratic in that he now murders US citizens with the same disregard for international human rights that previous presidents only applied to foreign nationals.

 

[Mirra]

In theory, our (the US) judicial branch has the power to do exactly that, Red. Why it hasn't is not something I understand completely. Unfortunately this mess at Fort Stewart has likely pushed the possibility of the repeal of these anti-terror laws which started with the Patriot Act and has grown to be an insane amount of power for the Executive Branch and government agencies when anything can be or is suspected to be LINKED to terrorism. We are less free than we've ever been and there's little hope to stop it. MAYBE if we're lucky the economy actually can be fixed so these important issues regarding our diminishing rights can get some spotlight by the next election.

 

[Red7227]

In theory, our (the US) judicial branch has the power to do exactly that, Red. Why it hasn't is not something I understand completely. Unfortunately this mess at Fort Stewart has likely pushed the possibility of the repeal of these anti-terror laws which started with the Patriot Act and has grown to be an insane amount of power for the Executive Branch and government agencies when anything can be or is suspected to be LINKED to terrorism. We are less free than we've ever been and there's little hope to stop it. MAYBE if we're lucky the economy actually can be fixed so these important issues regarding our diminishing rights can get some spotlight by the next election.

I rather like this response from a man I respected immensely for doing an impossible job in an impossible situation. Yes he was a despot and a war criminal, but Iraq was a shining light to the people of the middle east prior to being destroyed by american self interest.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.inf ... e14079.htm