Obama

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Because I don't see it that way. I'm not going to side with the police on every single situation. At this time, I agree with this policeman.

I'm still trying to ponder what "worst case scenario" he could possibly have been protecting against. He had on his hands an irate middle age college professor with mobility issues in/outside of his own home. Was he preventing the officer from leaving the scene? Was he threatening anyone, much less anyone other than the officer, with violence? He was ranting and raving and making a scene...that would have abruptly ended had the officer got in his car and left. Arresting him prevented nothing, except perhaps the officer losing some face. Arresting him was a stupid decision made because he couldn't think of anything better to do and probably was unwilling to just say, "Fine, whatever dude, here's my badge number go bitch at my boss for a while."

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Personally, I heard this story today and was horrified, and it's not mentioned on the site, so I sent them an email. I'm unsure if it counts as a campaign promise though.

They responded to me personally to let me know they had written this up on the site, and thanked me for the email. And what a writeup it is!

For those that are interested in the issue of signing statements, I highly recommend you read the whole thing. Here's a bit of the promises he made:

"I will issue signing statements to address constitutional concerns only when it is appropriate to do so as a means of discharging my constitutional responsibilities," the memo reads, adding later, “"I will strive to avoid the conclusion that any part of an enrolled bill is unconstitutional. In exercising my responsibility to determine whether a provision of an enrolled bill is unconstitutional, I will act with caution and restraint, based only on interpretations of the Constitution that are well-founded."

It’s important to note that Obama makes clear in both his campaign assertion and his official memo that he does not consider signing statements to be problematic in and of themselves. Rather, he argues, their use should be limited in scope and reach, clearly stating that President Bush went overboard.

Again, you should read the whole thing, but here's the article's conclusion:

Unlike Bush, Obama has not picked his battles on major issues such as the use of torture. Rather, he’s quibbled over the seating requirements for a commission that virtually no one's ever heard of (and stipulated to an advisory role rather than a binding role for Congress). He's laid down limits on what his subordinates will tell a panel that lacks any binding legislative power. And he's refused to let Congress dictate specific negotiating positions in foreign policy.

Indeed, Obama's statements were "conventional assertions of executive autonomy," rather than his own policy agenda, said John Woolley, a University of California-Santa Barbara political scientist who has studied presidential powers.

Obama's actions are "routine as far as how the signing statement had been used prior to the Bush II administration," added Christopher Kelley, a political scientist at Miami University of Ohio and a specialist in signing statements. "From this standpoint I have seen nothing that Obama has done that is out of the main, nor in violation of his promise."

Woolley agrees. "In terms of the things he objects to about legislation, Obama's statements are not really all that different from those of his predecessors" other than Bush. ... These statements are all precise examples of 'using signing statements to protect a president's constitutional prerogatives' -- exactly as he promised."

So for now, we find evidence on both sides. There have been the instances where Obama does seem to be exercising more presidential power than Congress would like and, in at least a couple of cases, crossing the line from his promise. But these are issues of power, over which the legislative and executive branch have long tussled. So for now, we're going to rate this one Compromise. But we'll be watching future signing statements to see if we should move the Obameter one way or the other.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Republican Senator Jim Demint

If we are able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.

His constitutuants should run him out of town on a rail.


No, anyone who next election votes for someone who boldly and publically states that the healthcare of all Americans should be based on defeating a political opponent as the prime considetion should be run out of all their towns on sharp rails of razorwire, while Demint himself should be tarred, feathered, and lit on fire.

[Alex]

I know the Gatesgate kerfluffler has mostly died down into media navel gazing but it is worthy in that finally Christopher Hitchens and I finally agree on an issue that doesn't involve god or that lack thereof.

[innerSpaceman]

Isn't this sweet!?


Obama is having a PICNIC today on the White House lawn with Gates and the Cambridge Office who "stupidly" arrested him.

They are scheduled to eat mac and cheese at 12:40 pm, and sing kumbaya at 1:00 sharp.

[Frikitiki]

Obama is going to Martha's Vineyard in a few days, not too far away from Cambridge. Couldn't they visit him there and keep the cost down?

[innerSpaceman]

Less photo op, I suppose.

[Gemini Cricket]

I love these "Obama Surprises _____ with a Visit" news stories.

Obama surprises DNC crowd by showing up after Biden's speech.

Obama surprises press corps by showing up in their briefing room.

Obama surprises Stephen Colbert with a taped message ordering him to get his head shaved. (Although, I think this was all set up beforehand.)

Obama surprises troops with a visit to Iraq in April 09.

Helen Thomas got a surprise visit and cupcakes from Obama today to celebrate her birthday.

I'm waiting for: "Obama Surprises Hawaiian Local Boy, Wannabee Actor and Internet Mischief Maker by Helping Him Fill Super Big Gulp Cup with Ice at Local 7-11!"

lol

[innerSpaceman]

It was Obama's birthday today, too. Which I think makes the Helen Thomas thing really cute.


He just turned 48.


I just turned 49. He's president of the United States. I'm .... well, not nearly as accomplished.


Le sigh.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Le sigh.

Then again, there are unemployed 50 year olds who have never been to Disneyland and can't see what all the fuss is about...