Court Sides With CIA On 'Extraordinary Rendition,' Grants President Broad 'State Secrets' Privilege

Obama has nothing to do with decision.....This was made by the 9th Circuit Court.
================================

Here's what The New York Times' John Schwartz reported in February, 2009, when the Obama DOJ first told the 9th Circuit that they were going to assert the same "state secrets" arguments in this case which the Bush DOJ made:  "In a closely watched case involving rendition and torture, a lawyer for the Obama administration seemed to surprise a panel of federal appeals judges on Monday by pressing ahead with an argument for preserving state secrets originally developed by the Bush administration."  Schwartz described how the judges on the appellate panel were so startled that they actually asked multiple times if the Obama DOJ was really sticking with the Bush position, as though they couldn't believe what they were hearing.  What a quaint time that was, when people were surprised by Obama's replicating Bush's secrecy and Terrorism positions -- the very ones he so vehemently condemned when running for President. After 18 months of seeing this over and over in multiple realms, nobody would react that way now. 

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/09/08/obama/index.html
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Court Sides With CIA On 'Extraordinary Rendition,' Grants President Broad 'State Secrets' Privilege

Obama is asserting that he has the right to do this to American citizens.

How much longer before criticism of an administration gets an American citizen a ticket to some dungeon off the grid in the far east?  
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Court Sides With CIA On 'Extraordinary Rendition,' Grants President Broad 'State Secrets' Privilege

You can't even imagine what that might be?

With all of the scare tactics used on us these past years, you can't even imagine what that might be?  

One of the 3 (Bush) and his cohorts claimed not to have even fathomed that planes would be used to fly into buildings -- How dvmb was that, when even the most casual citizen keeping up on foreign affairs knew about the threats?  Any NYer could have told them about it after the first attack on the WTC.

By the by, you're talking about 3 flawed, power obsessed and deeply characterological men.   

Others know what they've seen, and do not support rulings like this.  Colin Powell, for example.
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Court Sides With CIA On 'Extraordinary Rendition,' Grants President Broad 'State Secrets' Privilege

It's not a matter of wrong; it's a matter of useless, meaningless, after the election.
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Court Sides With CIA On 'Extraordinary Rendition,' Grants President Broad 'State Secrets' Privilege

He's seeing things that you have no clue about.
=====================================

What do you possibly imagine he's seeing that justifies the total disregard (and thus, the end) of this noble experiment, the USA?
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Court Sides With CIA On 'Extraordinary Rendition,' Grants President Broad 'State Secrets' Privilege

After the midterm, it is time for progressives to put their money where their mouth was back during the Bush years.

===================================

After the midterms?

No.

There is really only one place in our democratic republic where the people have any voice whatsoever, and that's during elections.  Even then, we have no Constitutional right to have our votes counted.

Now is all that we have.  

Sorry to sound so zen about it, but it's time to vote all incumbents out.  Particularly Democrats.  Their arrogance is breathtaking.  And then you have to get involved, personally, hands on, in the running of your government.
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Court Sides With CIA On 'Extraordinary Rendition,' Grants President Broad 'State Secrets' Privilege

 In a July 2007 Foreign Affairs article then-candidate Obama wrote that the U.S. must “[end] the practices of shipping away prisoners in the dead of night to be tortured in far-off countries.” 

http://www.ombwatch.org/node/10336


http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Obamas_Jus­tice_Depar­tment_back­s_Bush_sta­te_0209.html>

THE EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION OF RAYMOND AZAR: An Early Case of Contradictions Between Candidate Obama’s promises and President Obama’s realpolitics.


http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4073221-raymond-azar-renditions-cobos>
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Regulatory Capture Of Oil Drilling Agency Exposed In Report

"Self-regulation" is a clever term of art to try to distinguish it from deregulation, vinny, but we've known exactly where this road once the push for deregulation began from both parties (beginning in the 1960s).  

http://motherjones.com/politics/2008/03/its-deregulation-stupid

You don't cut government services, borrow from social security, cut taxes on the rich, start wars, borrow borrow borrow from foreign nations, outsource jobs and manufacturing, bankrupt the nation, without knowing that there's no way you're going to be able to pay for inspectors.  
About Gulf Oil Spill
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Regulatory Capture Of Oil Drilling Agency Exposed In Report

It's not just 8 years.

It's been going on for decades, and continues today.

 
About Gulf Oil Spill
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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

I think I understand but am willing to give Reid and the rest of the Democrats the benefit of the doubt about why these couldn't get passed. Your assessment is too cynical for me to accept as the only analysis. I promise to do research and change my opinion accordingly.
=================================


Ok, I'm glad to hear that.


But what I've said isn't cynicism.  


Am I cynical about these Democrats (DLC), what they're doing and why?  Absolutely, and for reasons.  It's not any secret, what they're up to -- They've admitted to it.  


So the problem we (real Democrats, little 'D's, We The People) are facing is from those voters among us who aren't as informed and want to be able to believe and trust in those they've put into power.






 






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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

But more progressives in Congress means real populist legislation getting passed into law. Real reform bills, that re-regulate banks and big business. Real stimulus bills, with jobs creation, green clean energy development, and more.  But that's not who or what Obama and the DLC-controlled Democrats are about, so they work to prevent real progressives getting into office. 

Lieberman & Blue Dogs (& Republicans) provide cover to Obama & the DLC-controlled Democratic Party, to let them continue to serve corporate interests over the interests of the People.

Not only should the number of votes that Harry Reid can count on for cloture from Democrats be considered by voters, but how many, if any, from Republicans?  They have constituents, too, who are in desperate need of this legislation, and Republicans are up for reelection, too.  Think of the hay that can be made in their reelection campaigns, with such information.
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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

But more progressives in Congress means real populist legislation getting passed into law. Real reform bills, that re-regulate banks and big business. Real stimulus bills, with jobs creation, green clean energy development, and more.  But that's not who or what Obama and the DLC-controlled Democrats are about, so they work to prevent real progressives getting into office. 

Lieberman & Blue Dogs (& Republicans) provide cover to Obama & the DLC-controlled Democratic Party, to let them continue to serve corporate interests over the interests of the People.

Not only should the number of votes that Harry Reid can count on for cloture from Democrats be considered by voters, but how many, if any, from Republicans?  They have constituents, too, who are in desperate need of this legislation, and Republicans are up for reelection, too.  Think of the hay that can be made in their reelection campaigns, with such information.
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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

This Democratic president demanded that Joe Lieberman, for all his treachery (he campaigned for John McCain in 2008), remain in the Democratic Caucus and retain a committee chairmanship over the objections of REAL & loyal Democrats.  Did Obama get nothing for that concession to Lieberman?

By Lieberman's own admission, Obama never pressured him on the healthcare bill.  Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, nor any Blue Dog was pressured.  The Democratic leadership could've taken away committee chairs of members in their caucus that joined with Republicans and threatened to filibuster a public option for healthcare.   

The DNC could've taken away reelection funds, but it hasn't. 

The White House put their full weight & support behind Blanche Lincoln over the true progressive (& union-backed) candidate in the primary, Bill Halter. 

Lincoln is 40 points down behind the GOP candidate John Boozman.

Guess who could beat Boozman in Arkansas? BillHalter. Because, like just about all Americans, Arkansans would prefer an authentic, likable candidate, even if it's a progressive. 


KEEP READING
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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

Reid can count noses to see if he's got the 60 votes necessary to end the GOP's endless debate (cloture) should he call Mitch McConnell's bluff and say, "Go ahead, make my day and filibuster".  Or he can take McConnell's word on it, that they've got the numbers, the will and the stamina to endlessly debate the issue on the floor of the Senate, and forget about bringing it to the floor for a vote.   

Either way, it's a win for the People (and presumably Democrats).  Either the bill passes or it raises issues favorable to REAL Democrats & worthy of consideration by voters.  

If it's the former, I think voters want to know why, with 60 members of the Senate caucusing as Democrats, this Democratic president and this Senate Majority Leader, in an overwhelming Democratic Congress controlled by Democrats, can't get unity from their members.  Republicans manage party discipline pretty d@mned well, and they're not any smarter than Democrats.  How do they do it?  (Answer: Carrots & sticks; committee assignments, chairmanships, party support and financing at reelection time)  


KEEP READING
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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

Reid can count noses to see if he's got the 60 votes necessary to end the GOP's endless debate (cloture) should he call Mitch McConnell's bluff and say, "Go ahead, make my day and filibuster".  Or he can take McConnell's word on it, that they've got the numbers, the will and the stamina to endlessly debate the issue on the floor of the Senate, and forget about bringing it to the floor for a vote.   

Either way, it's a win for the People (and presumably Democrats).  Either the bill passes or it raises issues favorable to REAL Democrats & worthy of consideration by voters.  

If it's the former, I think voters want to know why, with 60 members of the Senate caucusing as Democrats, this Democratic president and this Senate Majority Leader, in an overwhelming Democratic Congress controlled by Democrats, can't get unity from their members.  Republicans manage party discipline pretty d@mned well, and they're not any smarter than Democrats.  How do they do it?  (Answer: Carrots & sticks; committee assignments, chairmanships, party support and financing at reelection time) 

KEEP READING
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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

JacklynD, I think you're a little confused.  

The issue isn't changing rule 22, although can be done, too.

It's not even about the number required for cloture, except tangentially.

Let's look at a couple of examples.  

One we've talked about already is a bill extending unemployment insurance benefits.  All senators who had out-of-work constituents would be for that bill, wouldn't you think?  And if they weren't for the bill, that would be a pretty good campaign issue (especially for Democrats), wouldn't you think?  

Or a bill that would create the Small Business Lending Fund Program to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make capital investments in eligible institutions in order to increase the availability of credit for small businesses.  All senators who had constituents with small businesses would be for that bill, don't you think?  

But when the Senate Majority Leader goes to schedule them for a vote on the floor of the Senate, the Minority Leader (Mitch McConnell) says, "If you do, we're going to filibuster (endlessly debate)."

Harry Reid (Senate Majority Leader) then has two choices.  

KEEP READING
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Obama Blasts Bush Tax Cuts, Calls Out John Boehner In Ohio Economic Speech

Strawman argument.

There is no difference, chum.

Not better, not worse, but THE SAME.

You just like the packaging better.  

I'm not talking skin color, although that may be a factor for you; I'm talking about how a 'D' after the name is a brand you believe and trust in, despite the fact that it's the same 'soap' (product).  
About Barack Obama
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Obama Blasts Bush Tax Cuts, Calls Out John Boehner In Ohio Economic Speech

Interesting how you claim to be a liberal and support liberal policies, yet all you do is defend Obama's and the DLC's pro-corporate policies, and Obama's exclusion of liberals within the White House and government.

For anyone who doesn't know, BillLoney here is a political operative PAID by the DLC.
About Barack Obama
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Obama Blasts Bush Tax Cuts, Calls Out John Boehner In Ohio Economic Speech

Obama is under heavy pressure to show voters that he and his party are ready to do more to get the economy moving and get millions of jobless Americans back to work. 

However, none of Wednesday's proposals, nor Obama's call for allowing tax rates to rise for the wealthiest Americans, seems likely to be acted on by Congress before the elections, reflecting the battering Obama and congressional Democrats have taken in public opinion polls.
===============================================

Because it's way too little (and just 'stump speech' talk at that), too late.  

Obama does not want to, or doesn't know how to, govern.  Where is the action?  

Obama and the DLC-controlled Democratic Party are taking Democratic voters for f00ls.  
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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

 It was a lot more than Rule 22.
==========================

Like what?

When more than 200 bills (pro-populist) have been passed in an overwhelmingly Democratic House of Representatives and all that stands in the way of them being voted on in the US Senate is Republicans threatening to filibuster them, and the Senate Majority Leader (Harry Reid) has the power to call their bluff, make them do it, what else could it possibly be?

Wouldn't you like to know which Democrats and Republicans could possibly be against those pro-populist bills?  

Wouldn't you think it might be enlightening to Republican voters, to see who in their party is voting against their best interests?
About 2010 Elections
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Why Obama Is Proposing Whopping Corporate Tax Cuts -- and Why He's Wrong

Robert Reich was on Dylan Ratigan a few days ago talking about the economy and how Obama has it all wrong.

It's well worth a listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92pqa0_snRQ


Part 1 is guest host Cent Uygur's set-up for the Reich interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X91Gt_BN_9Y

While Obama gives much lip service to being "president to all the people", he doesn't govern.  Everything since he got into the White House has been about the next election.  There isn't anything that Obama does that ISN'T a political ploy, and it's not for the good of the People, only the corporations.
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Rendell Being Rendell, Calls Republicans 'Fruit Loops', 'Whackos' And 'Flat-Out Crazy'

While You've Been Distracted With Political 'Pop Culture', Empty Calories' Articles :





9th Circuit: The Government Can Kidnap and Torture You and Then Hide It Under State Secrets

The government can kidnap you and send you to be tortured, yet even if agents of the US government agents (CIA, private contractors) acknowledge what they were doing, if the government wants to call their own law-breaking a secret, the most liberal Circuit Court in the country agrees they can.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/09/08/9th-circuit-the-government-can-do-anything-to-you-and-hide-it-under-state-secrets/
> 


To date, not a single victim of the Bush administration’s torture program has had his day in court. If today’s decision is allowed to stand, the United States will have closed its courtroom doors to torture victims while providing complete immunity to their torturers.


Obama has blocked all investigations and prosecutions into the Bush administration.
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Rendell, Scarborough Agree: U.S. Can't Afford Afghanistan, Should Instead Invest At Home

9th Circuit: The Government Can Kidnap and Torture You and Then Hide It Under State Secrets

The government can kidnap you and send you to be tortured, yet even if agents of the US government agents (CIA, private contractors) acknowledge what they were doing, if the government wants to call their own law-breaking a secret, the most liberal Circuit Court in the country agrees they can.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/09/08/9th-circuit-the-government-can-do-anything-to-you-and-hide-it-under-state-secrets/
> 


To date, not a single victim of the Bush administration’s torture program has had his day in court. If today’s decision is allowed to stand, the United States will have closed its courtroom doors to torture victims while providing complete immunity to their torturers.


Obama has blocked all investigations and prosecutions into the Bush administration.
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Poll Update: Senate Remains In Play

While You've Been Distracted With News Stories That Only Have Meaning To Professional Politicos:





9th Circuit: The Government Can Kidnap and Torture You and Then Hide It Under State Secrets

The government can kidnap you and send you to be tortured, yet even if agents of the US government agents (CIA, private contractors) acknowledge what they were doing, if the government wants to call their own law-breaking a secret, the most liberal Circuit Court in the country agrees they can.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/09/08/9th-circuit-the-government-can-do-anything-to-you-and-hide-it-under-state-secrets/>


To date, not a single victim of the Bush administration’s torture program has had his day in court. If today’s decision is allowed to stand, the United States will have closed its courtroom doors to torture victims while providing complete immunity to their torturers.


Obama has blocked all investigations and prosecutions into the Bush administration.
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Nevada Senate 2010: Harry Reid Racks Up Republican Endorsements

Harry Reid has served Republicans very well as the Senate Majority Leader.

He's allowed the gridlock that keeps more than 200 pieces of Democratic legislation from being voted on in the Senate.  

Reid refuses to exercise the discretion that Senate rule 22 allows him, by letting Republicans merely threaten a filibuster instead of forcing them to actually do it.  Filibustering is hard on those soft, privileged bodies.  The one and only time Reid forced it (Jim Bunning, extending unemployment benefits), the GOP caved.

 

 
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Obama Left Largely Helpless As Judicial Vacancies Reach Crisis

About Barack Obama
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Obama Left Largely Helpless As Judicial Vacancies Reach Crisis

Not better, not worse, but THE SAME.

You just like the packaging better.  

I'm not talking skin color, although that may be a factor for you; I'm talking about how a 'D' after the name is a brand you believe and trust in, despite the fact that it's the same 'soap' (product).  
About Barack Obama
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Rendell, Scarborough Agree: U.S. Can't Afford Afghanistan, Should Instead Invest At Home

The definition of chutzpah:

Simpson: Veterans 'Not Helping Us' Save Country From Debt 
 
If Social Security is "a cow with 310 million t!ts" then what's the proper metaphor for veteran's benefits? 

We don't know. But Alan Simpson seems to think they're too expensive. Or too overused. Or something. Anyway, it's bad. 

"The irony (is) that the veterans who saved this country are now, in a way, not helping us to save the country in this fiscal mess," said Alan Simpson, co-chair of the White House's fiscal commission, according to the Associated Press.
About Afghanistan
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Rendell, Scarborough Agree: U.S. Can't Afford Afghanistan, Should Instead Invest At Home

Troops Popping Anxiety, Depression Meds Like Never Before

An untold number of active-duty troops and recent veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming home with  mental health conditions inflicted during service — and their spouses and children are suffering too. Now, with solid data slowly emerging from the nearly decade-long wars, the severity of the crisis is starting to show. 

The use of psychiatric medications among 18 to 34-year-olds (both troops and their spouses) soared by 42 percent between 2005 and 2009, Army Times is reporting.

Antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed medication, but the use of anti-psychotic meds — like Seroquel, which is used off-label to treat nightmares and insomnia caused by PTSD — nearly doubled. And the use of anti-anxiety drugs, like Xanax, surged by 72 percent. 


Read More http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/09/troops-popping-anxiety-depression-meds-like-never-before/#ixzz0yy51G8ej
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Rendell, Scarborough Agree: U.S. Can't Afford Afghanistan, Should Instead Invest At Home

The meltdown of the politically-connected Kabul Bank shows that the rampant corruption of the Afghanistan government is jeopardizing the nine-year U.S. war, alienating the people, and making the Taliban look like good-government reformers. And according to one of Washington’s most prestigious defense wonks, it’s all your fault.

Read More http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/09/whos-really-responsible-for-afghan-corruption-you/#ixzz0yy4SLs4B
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Rendell, Scarborough Agree: U.S. Can't Afford Afghanistan, Should Instead Invest At Home

US Can't Afford Afghanistan, Should Instead Invest At Home:
===================================================

Like here, for example, cleaning up the many corporate toxic waste dumps causing birth defects & illnesses in nearby residents:


What's K!lling The Babies of Kettleman City?:
When a group of teenage environmental activists started a health survey of their Central Valley town, they were prepared for the usual problems plaguing the mostly Latino, mostly poor residents: Asthma, perhaps connected to diesel fumes from the thousands of trucks rolling down the freeway nearby. Cancer, perhaps from the pesticides sprayed on the vineyards and orchards all around. Obesity and diabetes, perhaps linked to the lack of local supermarkets. What they didn't expect was to knock on door after door to hear of babies born dead, or with severe birth defects. Of 25 births over 14 months, researchers discovered five serious birth defects (three of those babies died). Ever since then, the town and its supporters have been demanding answers: What is killing the babies of Kettleman City?

http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/07/kettleman-city-toxic-birth-defect-cluster>

Is BP dumping that oiled boom in a landfill near you? 
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Rendell, Scarborough Agree: U.S. Can't Afford Afghanistan, Should Instead Invest At Home

Naomi Klein, Jeremy Scahill, Dave Zirin all will be speaking at the Brooklyn Book Festival this Sunday, September 12th, 10-6 pm.


http://www.brooklynbo­okfestival.org/BrooklynBo­okFestival/festival.html
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