Obama closes Gitmo??

dubsteptim · Post by **dubsteptim** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:02 pm

finally!!!!!

magma · Post by **magma** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:09 pm

Word.

jolly wailer · Post by **jolly wailer** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:11 pm

http://www.divshare.com/download/5532787-965

jrj2020 · Post by **jrj2020** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:02 pm

Absolutely fantastic news. Wailer is that your tune? Its actually wicked...

jolly wailer · Post by **jolly wailer** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:52 am

yeah its mine, made it last summer, wasn't really plugging it as much as I thought it was kinda appropriate.

thanks tho

we'll c where things go w/ gitmo

surface_tension · Post by **surface_tension** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:11 am

I must admit, he's off to a good start here. Closing Shitmo, canceling executive orders(albeit WITH executive orders, which are unconstitutional. He needs to go this route to start, but executive orders are inherently illegal.)

The main thing I think he should have done off the bat was ENDING ILLEGAL WIRETAPPING. Still waiting on that one. Also, instead of freezing pay for his aides he should be cutting it, but he's not Jesus, so I'll give him a couple more weeks before I start bitching too much more. Good first couple of days though.

alexchuck · Post by **alexchuck** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:01 am

@Surface_Tension:

You might end up being his no. 1 supporter

But at least you have the decency to admit he's not doing as bad as you would've thought

drksteppa · Post by **drksteppa** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:16 am

finally! change is happening now. and hes on day3 or 4 right now!

OBAMA= Best Pres Ever!

surface_tension · Post by **surface_tension** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:21 am

The stuff he is doing is blatantly obvious stuff that anyone could/should/would do. It's sad, but when someone actually does their job we actually tend to applaud it nowadays. For whatever it's worth, Bush did a couple of good things as well. Literally 2 good things. 1 of them was that under his watch the United States increased funding for AIDS research and prevention in Africa more than any other time in history. Still not enough, but it's something. I forget what the other thing was, I'll have to look. lol.

I give credit where it is due, even when I don't particularly like someone or their policies in general. I'm really interested in seeing whether or not he will break with his own party over some issues like taxes, states rights, etc. A truly good President usually leaves office with more enemies in Washington than friends. I think the general consensus around America is that our Government is a worthless pile of shit and what we need is a wo/man who feels the same way and wants to change it for the better. I.E. Making it less powerful.

To the extent that he officially bound the CIA to the UCMJ conventions on interrogation today, that is a step in the right direction. Although I'm not sure he needed to sign anything at all, so much as say "this is illegal, and when my AG is confirmed I will instruct him to Prosecute these crimes present and past." Also, when the Oath of Office was bungled by he and Chief Justice Roberts, he had the decency and the respect for the Constitution that I would have hoped he had, and took the Oath again verbatim. Until he did that, Biden was President of the United States--though all the handlers are saying otherwise, the Constitution is pretty clear on that.

at 12 O'clock if Biden wasn't sworn in, we'd have had the first Female President, in Nancy Pelosi... God help us all. All in all, just walking down the street today I did see a lot more people holding their heads high. Went to a diner and just overhearing the conversation about how happy people were was enlightening. I just hope that in all the excitement people heard the most important part of the speech... PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

.spec · Post by **.spec** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:48 am

Surface_Tension wrote:Also, when the Oath of Office was bungled by he and Chief Justice Roberts, he had the decency and the respect for the Constitution that I would have hoped he had, and took the Oath again verbatim. Until he did that, Biden was President of the United States--though all the handlers are saying otherwise, the Constitution is pretty clear on that.

at 12 O'clock if Biden wasn't sworn in, we'd have had the first Female President, in Nancy Pelosi... God help us all..

The 20th amendment disagrees with all this, but that's ok.

EDIT for more clarity: The 20th states that the term of the successors begins at noon on 1-20. Article 2 does say "he has to take this oath" but my understanding is that since the amendment is more explicit it's terms of when the President and Vice President's terms begins then that's when it begins oath or no.

whygohome10 · Post by **whygohome10** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:08 am

.spec wrote:
Surface_Tension wrote:Also, when the Oath of Office was bungled by he and Chief Justice Roberts, he had the decency and the respect for the Constitution that I would have hoped he had, and took the Oath again verbatim. Until he did that, Biden was President of the United States--though all the handlers are saying otherwise, the Constitution is pretty clear on that.

at 12 O'clock if Biden wasn't sworn in, we'd have had the first Female President, in Nancy Pelosi... God help us all..

The 20th amendment disagrees with all this, but that's ok.

EDIT for more clarity: The 20th states that the term of the successors begins at noon on 1-20. Article 2 does say "he has to take this oath" but my understanding is that since the amendment is more explicit it's terms of when the President and Vice President's terms begins then that's when it begins oath or no.

1 up this. they were discussing this very topic on talk of the nation npr.

great radio program as well

oh and at surface tension, i know you are extremely skeptical but you have to hand it to the man. He has accomplished what could be the most difficult thing to do as a president and that is gain the peoples trust. Now what that trust is founded on whether it be hype or true trust is still up for debate i guess.

but speaking generally good things happen when this country has there heads up and willing to be a part of something special

surface_tension · Post by **surface_tension** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:15 am

Article II, Section I

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

---------

20th Amendment, Section I:

1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

---------

The successor can only be someone who has sworn the Oath of office, meaning the next in line, who has legally been sworn in for this term. That means that neither Biden, who had resigned his office, or Obama, who had resigned his office could be the President without again swearing or affirming the oath of office. That would mean by process of elimination that Nancy Pelosi would be the one.

The term of Bush does end at Noon on the 20th day of January, but it doesn't say that automatically his successors are Obama, unless he has sworn the Oath. You cannot be POTUS without swearing the Oath of Office in the affirmative, according to Article II, Section I. Clearly Obama knew this, because he swore the Oath. All of the "abundance of caution" business is for public consumption. The law is the law, and he knew that, and the Chief Justice knew that. His lawyers knew that. Again, he's legally the POTUS, but anything he signed immediately following the first swearing in ceremony would have to be signed again.

FYI, the line of succession would be:

Barack Obama
Joe Biden
Speaker of the House
Pres. Pro Tempory of the Senate
Sec of State
Sec of Treasury
Attorney General

that's enough for now, but you get the point. It's important that the laws are followed verbatim though, for obvious reasons. Cherry picking the laws and finding ways around them is exactly what everyone is so mad at Bush for, amongst other things.

And another thing, people keep saying "I know you are skeptical, but..."

But nothing. As an American Citizen it is your duty to be skeptical at all times of your leaders. If you aren't, you aren't living up to your duties. Even Obama's most fervent supporters should be cautiously optimistic at all times.

pk- · Post by **pk-** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:41 am

this is excellent news seeing as there are no other US detention & interrogation centres with far less media attention hidden all over the globe

ikarai · Post by **ikarai** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:02 am

pk- wrote:this is excellent news seeing as there are no other US detention & interrogation centres with far less media attention hidden all over the globe

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/ja ... on-torture

dubluke · Post by **dubluke** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:04 am

this is great news, and big up Obama for it, but like Pk said, i think we should still be wary, i'm pretty sure there are plenty of other illegal detention centres that we don't know about

ikarai · Post by **ikarai** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:05 am

dubluke wrote:this is great news, and big up Obama for it, but like Pk said, i think we should still be wary, i'm pretty sure there are plenty of other illegal detention centres that we don't know about

Ikarai wrote:
pk- wrote:this is excellent news seeing as there are no other US detention & interrogation centres with far less media attention hidden all over the globe
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/ja ... on-torture

dubluke · Post by **dubluke** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:12 am

ah right fair enough, big up him

dr ddd · Post by **dr ddd** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:05 pm

Amnesty International wrote: 'As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.'
President Barack Obama, 20 January 2008.

A refreshing statement from the new president, and it would seem, one that is backed up by action.

We set out a list of human rights challenges for his first 100 days in office. Please ensure he stays on track by signing the petition.

He's certainly got off to a good start. We're only days into his presidency and the human rights victories are stacking up: first the announcement that military trials at Guantánamo will be suspended, then executive orders that will close the detention centre within a year and ban harsh interrogation techniques like waterboarding. Could it be that the end of secret detention networks are next?

Thanks to people like you, and your many years of tireless campaigning, we are finally seeing a move away from the unlawful practices of the past.

As our video suggests, some people may have unrealistic expectations for Obama's first 100 days in office. So we've given the President a helping hand - by drawing up a checklist of tasks that are a little more achievable.

We're asking you to add your voice to a worldwide petition, to ensure he sets a plan and date for closing Guantánamo, bans torture and brings those responsible for 'war on terror' abuses to justice.

While there is still a long way to go, and plenty of boxes on our checklist that need to be ticked, for now let's take a moment to celebrate. What a difference a week can make.

for anyone interested the 100 day petition can be signed at

http://obama100days.amnesty.org/petition.html

badger · Post by **badger** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:24 pm

excellent new

and ddd, hasn't he already done most of that stuff in the petition?

Obama closes Gitmo??

Obama closes Gitmo??

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