I don't think George W. Bush will get much painting done today.

[WilliamPitt]

His phone will be ringing off the hook with calls from friends and allies telling him, "Congratulations, President Obama has vindicated you."

“Drone strikes. Wiretaps. Gitmo. Renditions. Military commissions. Obama is carrying out Bush’s fourth term, yet he attacked Bush for violating the Constitution,” Ari Fleischer told Politico yesterday. “He’s helping keep the nation safe, vindicating President Bush, all while putting a bipartisan stamp on how to fight terror.”

With friends like these...

[Solly Mack]

1. No surprise that's being said.

Now, had Bush been held accountable for his crimes then I doubt Fleischer or the rest would be making such comments.

[leftyohiolib]

3. now we know why he wouldnt go after w

[boilerbabe]

19. that's what i always said. why would he go after someone

for stuff he is most likely doing himself?

[pocoloco]

29. LOL

Does he still think they are gonna let him fuck Geronimo's skull??

[boilerbabe]

47. LOL nt

[Mira]

11. + 1000 n/t

[morningfog]

15. I agree. Even if bush hadn't been held accountable, but Obama discontinued his policies,

it couldn't be said. Obama earned all of the shit he gets on his embracing and expanding bush policies.

[Volaris]

58. right...ANYTHING to cover their own ass

[n2doc]

2. ...

[The Link]

4. Ouch.

[Arctic Dave]

26. That needs it's own OP so it can go to the Greates Page.

Brutally correct.

[boilerbabe]

48. !!!!nt

[LuvNewcastle]

60. Worth a thousand words

[Benton D Struckcheon]

5. Obama allowed himself to get caught up in the whole right wing mania for security

...which is what, for instance, is really behind the enormously stupid reaction to Benghazi.
This is from a Foreign Policy piece written at the beginning of that nonsense:

Rather than the simple mantra of "never again" when reacting to the death of Ambassador Stevens, the life and mission he desired should be valorized a bit more. Stevens knew that the best way to advance U.S. interests in Libya was to be on the ground. Doing that from embassies that resemble Orwell's Ministry of Truth is a difficult task.
There is a tradeoff between protecting U.S. officials overseas and promoting their ability to advance the national interest. I fear the pendulum has swung way too far towards the protection side, and Stevens' death will only exacerbate that shift. The cruel irony is that Stevens, of all people, would have abhorred that shift. Better that we openly acknowledge the risk that foreign service officers face in overseas postings, recognize the bravery and loyalty that their service entails, and let them do their f***king jobs.

More security every time something happens, whether it be 9/11, the shoe bomber, Boston, you-name-it, doesn't solve a thing. People have forgotten the lesson the French learned in WWII about the Maginot Line: barriers can be gotten around. Always.
Stop this obsession with security.

[kentuck]

7. That is a very relevant truth....

He adopted the Bush policies.

[me b zola]

17. As I suspect the next president will, regardless of party affiliation

I've come to the realization that TPTB have a firm grip on the mechanisms of government and we will see the same basic policies coming from whomever is elected into office.

[movonne]

30. Yes but if it is a repug it will be....no abortions, no

gay rights, no social security, no health care (unless you can afford very high ins. payments, etc...

[SunSeeker]

36. Yup. And wingnut Supreme Court appointees...

The list is endless. Saying Obama is Bush's mini me is just plain wrong.

[sheshe2]

67. Yes,

Goldie Taylor @goldietaylor

Your "base" doesn't tell people you are "no better than" the last POTUS...

TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary

[bvar22]

45. Yep.

The Republicans would do something like force us all to buy Health Insurance from For Profit Corporations.
Thank gawd a Democrat is in charge.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

46. Bingo!

Very cleverly said.

[tomp]

62. when they get you to think like that, they win. nt

[JHB]

24. That's part of the mindset at the upper echelons of the Party...

...to stamp out the "weak on defense" meme. That was also a big factor on why so many Democrats vote to authorize Bush's war on Iraq.

[mountain grammy]

12. I agree. Obama has become enamored with the military and that's a problem.

However, his appointment of someone like Ambassador Stevens is exactly how he's different from GW.

[Myrina]

14. Right wing mania for security or corporate money mania for security?

Snoop, spy, data and the MIC are rolling in the cash in this Administration.

[BlueStreak]

54. It wasn't as if circumstances overtook him. These were Obama's choices.

[tomp]

61. diplomacy is just another tactic....

....u.s imperialism uses to try to control the markets and raw materials required for maximum profit. just like soldiers, diplomats may THINK they are providing noble service to their country, but they are only pawns of the masters.

[Nye Bevan]

6. "...the name ‘Animal Farm’ had been abolished."

"He had only one criticism, he said, to make of Mr. Pilkington's excellent and neighbourly speech. Mr. Pilkington had referred throughout to ‘Animal Farm.’ He could not of course know — for he, Napoleon, was only now for the first time announcing it — that the name ‘Animal Farm’ had been abolished. Henceforward the farm was to be known as ‘The Manor Farm’ — which, he believed, was its correct and original name.

‘Gentlemen,’ concluded Napoleon, ‘I will give you the same toast as before, but in a different form. Fill your glasses to the brim. Gentlemen, here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! ’

There was the same hearty cheering as before, and the mugs were emptied to the dregs. But as the animals outside gazed at the scene, it seemed to them that some strange thing was happening. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another. Some of them had five chins, some had four, some had three. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then, the applause having come to an end, the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted, and the animals crept silently away.

But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse. They rushed back and looked through the window again. Yes, a violent quarrel was in progress. There were shoutings, bangings on the table, sharp suspicious glances, furious denials. The source of the trouble appeared to be that Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously.

Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."


http://msxnet.org/orwell/animal_farm

[bigtree]

8. Congress 'vindicated' him first

. . . and still stands in the way of even some of the reforms Obama has proposed and tried to enact for the Bushian, terror initiatives and laws.

What's amazing is how the republicans are still running against a lame-duck president - and losing, at that. Not surprising to see demagogues like Fleischer attempting to blur the lines of opposition to his former boss's agenda and legacy.

The op is a little 'blurry' as well. Par for this place, tho . . .

[Gus Lammas]

18. Wish I could DURec this particular post

because you're exactly right.

[Whisp]

27. +++

another day, another Obama bashing.

some here are so gullible as to believe any flapping yapper on the tvm which is bad enough, but to side with the fucking baggers and their lies, that's a bit hard to take. Blurry today because it's the popular thing to do, but will be crystal clear sharp another day in the total opposition direction - whichever way the wind blows and sells paper.

[Cha]

43. Facts?! They don't need no stinkin' pesky facts in the way of

Pres Obama= bush Ignorance.

[William769]

9. kick & recommended.

[chuckstevens]

10. Impeach Obama!

I can't wait until the Republicans starts chanting "impeach", even though when Bush did it was for "our security." I want someone to start working on video clips of the same people who praised Bush to now be condemning Obama. The hypocrisy will be mind blowing, yet the Obama haters will try to explain why "this is different."

[mountain grammy]

13. And Obama supporters will try to explain why "this is different."

As an Obama supporter most of the time, I think it is different. Ok, I'm naïve, blind, or whatever anyone wants to call me, but Obama is different from GW Bush and most of those differences I approve of.

[Roland99]

16. Must be that multi-layer chess game he's so adept at playing

or something....

[Boomerproud]

53. He's so much smarter than the rest of us

or so I've been told.

[TommyCelt]

34. It's not different...

...it's precisely the same.

[lynne]

20. It's sad because it's true -

- and with every Bush policy, procedure or action that the President continues or escalates, it then becomes uniquely his own.

[Politicub]

21. You are smarter than this

Come on, now.

You know there's a tremendous difference between Bush and Obama yet you are pushing false equivalency.

People are too hasty with their judgment. I can't think of anyone whose happy about the latest set of revelations, but I know some will cash in on it

Is it worth throwing away the progress we've made from a social rights perspective in anger over Prism? My answer to that question is it isn't. But that's just me.

But I'm guessing that many will believe the inevitable rhetoric from Ron Paul and other supposed republican civil libertarians about how they're against the collection of data.

I will tell you this: the security state was created by an act of congress and maintained by vast Department of Homeland Security. None of this will go away by becoming cheerleaders for impeachment.

We must agitate to dismantle it. But I sure as hell don't want the tea party and republicans in charge of the NSA with their attacks on women's rights and drive to destroy all parts of government except the ones that serve their agenda.

This is the choice in front of us whether or not people choose to believe it. Those who encourage voter apathy are complicit if there's a GOP sweep because of this.

But that's just my POV. I hope you reconsider your approach for how you are communicating about this issue since your posts in particular are influential on DU. It is up to you whether or not you use your talents for constructive or destructive means.

[Bluenorthwest]

37. A tremendous 'delta'? Do you know what a delta is? It is when a river splits

into smaller parts of itself as it heads to the sea. The streams are of the same source and heading to the same place. Not sure it is the best choice of words for the point you are straining to make, which seems to be that no criticism of policy should be allowed because you apply hyperbolic rhetoric about subjects the OP simply did not say. How utterly counterproductive, all of this characterization of others, it is so similar to the way moderates and Republicans speak of LGBT people, smug, self certain and with ear plugs to prevent knowledge from entering the system.
Example, your attempt to claim great social rights progress when that is not really the case, those who lack rights still lack those rights. And noting is older or more tired than the 'we will throw away your rights if you don't behave' threats. Is that why 'moderates' refuse to close the deal on equality for all, so that they can keep saying 'do it like we tell you or we won't support your rights anymore' as they always say. The moderates see other people's rights as something owned by them, to be meted out as reward for those who properly grovel. 'If they keep that up, I won't support them anymore' is all over DU. As if they owned us. You do not own us, and you do not hold progress in the palm of your hand.
Refusing to vote for moderates mushy types is a great thing. Vote for liberal Democrats who actually believe in equality, actually see other people as their equals, reject those who are sanctimonious bipartisan centrists who keep putting riders on their alleged support of equality.
Big, big yawn. Those who still have no rights to lose, have nothing to lose, everything to gain by rejecting the nearly Republican centrists who refuse to so much as debate equal protections even under newly made laws like the immigration law. They cut those out, DiFi and her lot, to assist the GOP, to prevent Republicans from being upset at the very idea. People like DiFi are of no value to us, no more so than the Republicans whose advance work she does, perhaps they tip her, who knows?

[Politicub]

41. No one is calling for curtailing discussions and criticism of policy

But there is a passionate group of DUers who are taking a constructive approach and not an absolutist approach to discuss policy. I firmly believe that throwing the baby out with the bath water will be more damaging to the American people and our country.

Neutering the power of the Democratic Party in protest diminishes the effectiveness of the more progressive members of our party like Warren and Franken.

I changed the word delta to difference, btw. Thanks for the clarification.

[SunSeeker]

38. Well said. Thank you. nt

[Cha]

44. Thank you, Politicub.. and I guess not.

"You are smarter than this".. not if it gets in the way of Recs from the ignorant mob.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

50. DU, sir is as far as one can get "from an ignorant mob", and is why astute followers of history and

politics gravitate to this place.

It is said that the foolish and ignorant reveal themselves by never being able to accept criticism, even when it is agreed with by an overwhelming majority.

think about it...

[Cha]

52. Oh please. Ignorance can happen anywhere. I don't mind

criticism.. it's viral ignorance that sucks. you think about it.

[boilerbabe]

49. he is telling the truth. you are just upset he won't use his tremendous talents to spin and

lie in support of the president. apparently he wants to retain some semblance of dignity.

[tomp]

63. ahistorically foolish pov. nt

[treestar]

70. +1

They are already trying to divide us for 2014. Didn't they learn from 2010?

[Zorra]

22. Read Fleischer: "Republicans and 3rd Way Democrats have formed a bipartisan coalition to protect the

1% from the threat of democracy."

The only solution is world revolution.

[A Simple Game]

31. You got it exactly right.

The threat to the people in power isn't from terrorists, it's from the 99%. Everything they are doing is aimed at that, well, that and making money from us while "protecting" us.

How many people could be "saved" with all of the money being spent on the war on terror? Let's use that money to cure cancers, heart disease, diabetes, etc., etc. Those are the real "threats" to most of us.

[tomp]

64. the alliance goes back LONG before third way.

like the turn of the last century, ESPECIALLY in terms of foreign policy and "defense."

[sulphurdunn]

23. Bush vs. Obama

is a media distraction, nothing more. The issues are technological advances in information technology, who is using them, to what end, and where it's all headed. Obviously, none of that has much if anything to do with who is or was President and hasn't for a long time, if ever.

[CrispyQ]

33. This ^^^

Privacy is dead in the digital world. Once we started dumping our private info into digital accounts, what did we think would happen?

[tomp]

66. that's right, anyone can fuck the 4th amendment.

and the alliance between the dems and repubs against the people is old news anyway.

but seriously, the media gets it right for once and people complain. none so blind.....

[gulliver]

25. Yeah and Karl Rove is still not in jail

Do you have any updates?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

28. The choice between 'Big Brother' or the 'Appeaser'

I guess Obama decided on the 'Big Brother' which is probably the correct one since this country is obsessed with security and fears the boogeyman.

I think many plots etc have been caught however I wish it would catch some real criminals instead of listening in on old ladies knitting.

[TommyCelt]

32. Left wing, right wing...

...same stinking bird.

[tomp]

68. wrong!!!!!!!

obama and the democrats are not left wing.

[marble falls]

35. Will - you are one of the few (hissyspit, babylon sister, manny) who can post the truth about...

this stuff without getting major backlash. We need to speak the truth here and deal with reality and you and the very few others who have your touch get it on the table without the rancor others of us receive. I am glad we got this President but I am also very disappointed with the conservative policies and people he's gone along with. Thank-you for putting the issues in such a way it leads to more discussion and less flame.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

39. This (aka thank you) n/t

[RitchieRich]

40. "same as bush" argument is obviously limited to this area

Of course they are very different on many other issues.
Making that argument is to avoid the whole point, and is irrelevant.

Sorry, but even though I hope the EPA isn't dismantled, I value the bill of rights many times over it.

[michigandem58]

42. " I have to follow them, I am their leader"

[WillyT]

51. Yep...

& Rec !!!

[blkmusclmachine]

55. Obama smiles.

Fooled ya!

[Pterodactyl]

56. I never thought he was serious about closing Guantanamo.

The pretended opposition to it was all for show, to win elections.

[JDPriestly]

57. Yes. Republicans will argue that this is what it takes to keep

America safe, and why not just vote for a Republican in the first place since this was a Republican policy. Obama has really let us Democrats down on this one.

[DCKit]

59. Of course you mean pResident Cheney.

If you believe W* was capable of juggling all that crap, then I LOLROFL at you.

There are evil idiots, and total idiots.

[DLevine]

65. Sadly, I have to agree with you. nt

[treestar]

69. That would also mean Bush would have signed the ACA

repeal of DOMA, etc.

The security apparatus is there no matter what. Bush did more to put it in place as it, but like the rest of the government bureaucracy, it is going to remain unless pulled back by us as a society. Just laying it at the feet of any current President (even future Republicans, now) is a cop out.

That's a big DU theme, we are all the victims of the big bad people who managed to find their way to the top in government. This is a form of giving up. We should stop that, as we do still have a country in which we can say just about anything and influence other voters and vote for people we want to represent us. (Diebold arguments notwithstanding, as there is no proof they actually control all local, state and federal elections).

[aquart]

71. NOBODY wants to veto anti-terror crap and then get caught with another strike.

I was stunned when Obama talked about ending the war on terror. That common sense took guts.

The media is no help. Right-wing controlled, they play up miniscule terror events to distract us from what is really killing us: the weather and their unimpeded, parasitic greed.