Certainly all most know- or at least understand -Obama is not the real issue. This is far bigger than the puppet president.
Beyond a voting solution. Only democracy's can correct by voting. This would no longer be the US.

Jeevee

All this hate talk gets us nowhere. Does anybody still realize the ancient truth of all organized spirituality:

"GOD IS LOVE: LIVE IN LOVE."

what else is new...did you really think the new puppet would be able to break his puppeteers shackles and think and do what any real human being would do. don't you all get it . they don't care about you..me...all of us....never have and never will. how much longer are you all going to take it in the back side. the only way to change this cystem is to reject it entirely. do you really think that paper in you wallet you call money is any different than the paper you use to wipe you backsides? its all a matter of your faith. Its paper...that it....PAPER.....a few rich Jekyll island cocksuckers who sold us on using their special backside wiping FED PAPER.....

war crimes prosecutions...not going to happen...
white collar prosecutions against banks...not going to happen
4th amendment violations prosecutions...not going to happen..

Sure seems like FASCISM TO ME

Sally said (May 28th 10:23 am):
"Obama has a very big job in front of him cleaning up the incredible wreck left by the previous administration. No one could expect him to fix it all in a mere few months. It's going to take time and patience to see actual results from all of this. If you have to blame anyone, blame the Bush/Cheney cabal for doing the damage that Obama was left to try his level best to clean up."

Oh, Sally-in-Wonderland, if YOU can see the Bush/Cheney "mess" (treason, attack on any remaining democracy, war crimes, that's all), and I can see it, and millions of others can and have, why was every effort by the People (remember them?) to get impeachment hearings going thwarted by Pelosi and most others in her party? Why did Obama during his campaign give cover to the Telecoms who got off scot-free after breaking Federal Law? Why did AT&T give him such a hugh nomination-night bash, from which all reporters were barred?

Hmm,... let's see, now has anyone ELSE gotten off scot-free for illegal and dangerous actions lately? ... how about the BANKS, AIG, the hedge-funds and so on. Oh, yeah, they didn't get off scot-free -- they were given rewards, and kept largely in charge of the "cleanup process".

Oh, and what about health insurance? Is having citizen-advocates for Single-Payer health insurance refused a seat at the table and hauled off to jail in handcuffs, a step in the right direction? I expected THIS from Bush-Cheney ... What expectations SHOULD I have at this point. Tell me.

Hell, we could have had Single-Payer in the CLINTON administration if shortly after his first victory he had invited all those people and groups who supported it (and HIM, btw) to Washington to show their support, instead of bowing and begging the insurance companies, as Obama once again does, lemme see ... 16 years later!. But ... ahhh ... too much fear built into the system for that, eh?

For how long have the People come last?

Shall we keep making excuses for those "better" people we occasionally elect, but who never seem to get us on inch closer to what we want? Face it -- THEIR role in this Oligarchic Ruling Game is to slow down the corporate takeover at times when folks get uppity and restless (uninformed but upset) to a less painful and obvious pace, but never a retreat or ... heaven forbid! ... change.

Sally, OF COURSE anyone trying to undo the untold damage to the nation by Bush-Cheney would have to be circumspect and handle things carefully. No doubt about it. But even to start, you would have to bring as much as possible into the light and aim to get the most egregious of the continuing Bush-Era crimes slowed or stopped, if not reversed. THAT would require PUBLIC SUPPORT -- meaning a serious attempt to explain to the people what is amiss.

Going full blast into Afghanistan, and intervening in Pakistan with (gasp!) robot-drone bombs (!??! Nuremberg, where are you?), and threatening preventive detention, while hanging onto the use of Bush's other abuses, is MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

What happens if Obama gets replaced and the 'ol cabal moves back in, one way or the other? Don't you want those rules already denounced and removed? OK, so maybe you can't do it all at once, but ... START ... don't add to the abusive executive powers.

It took all of Hell's energy to get this nation to the low spot it is in: decades of outright censorship and threats to critical thinking (the continuing ripple effects of McCarthysim), a thoroughly controlled major media, with a thoroughly pacified public and work-force even as all our decent-paying jobs were exported to the benefit of a tiny powerful ruling class, a once-again overly powerful military now much of it in private hands, yet paid by us(!?!).

It is this lock-down on minds knowledge and history and perspectives and dreams and desires and expectation and ... hope that got us here with a nearly-total sham crowd of people occupying what we call our Congress, doing the daily bidding of the Unseen Ones who fund their multimillion dollar campaigns on OUR airwaves (where broadcasters pay NO rent, BTW) that got us here.

To get us out, we must START. Start to INFORM the people, to organize. Believing that Obama will eventually move us in the correct direction, even as in major ways he goes in the wrong way, is what makes you and others passive, sidelined and enabling. At this time we need all of those who actually claim to UNDERSTAND the damage done by Bush-Cheney Crimes to stand up and shout, organize, work and DEFEND, for once, our Constitution -- or there will not be one again.

When it hurts, it can help to scream.

Even if one doesn't agree with Rall's remedy (resignation now) you pretty much have to admit his diagnosis: dangerous.

I'm sorry, this just sounds like a Bushism. Impeach Obama! No Exit Strategy!

Obama has made me breathe with a sigh of relief on a good number of things, and made me deeply wince with some other things. i am clear that he is not Malcolm X or Karl Marx. I fear that many on the left would prefer to destroy the baby steps towards a less oppressive dream, and embrace the much more ridiculous dream of magically creating a war-free, socialist, egalitarian and anti-oppressive country RIGHT NOW by impeaching Obama.

If Obama refuses to pursue the agenda of the corporate masters of war he won't live to see his daughers grow up.

Not to worry. It is God who promotes and God who demotes. If it is His will, it will happen. Nothing gets past Him.

Joe,
re: "People are more awake and getting angrier. Some, anyway."

Yeah, people are definitely getting angrier, check out "cinie's world's" comments on "ACORN" today:
http://cinie.wordpress.com/2009/05/30/obaganda/

Can't recall if commondreams has ever posted much about ACORN, anyone know?

When polled a great majority of USans say they want public policies in their own better interests, but then they turn around and vote against their own better interests, and are rewarded with material opiates.

Now that I am done reading all the comments & posters I must say, I really appreciate listening to intelligent discussion for a change. Now that's the kind of "change" I can use!

Rainborowe,
I _did_ know that Obama would be a disaster for the country. Hence, my log-in name. Didn't even know who to vote for, it was such a sad & pathetic experience esp. coming on the heels of 8 years of Republican nightmare.

At least now there are others waking up to the sad facts of our country's fascist-oriented direction, so what do we do now?

Everyone best start reconciling themselves to another sad fact. The DNC pre-selected Obama & allowed him to, no, enabled & supported him - to narrowly steal the nomination from Clinton.

Why should you care? 'Cause it's called a Democracy, silly, and we don't have one anymore...

Calling for Obama's resignation would be a disaster! During his presidential campaign, Obama reveiled who he was. He was mostly ambiguous, but at times addressed semi-controversial issues and America went crazy for him. He is the person that we elected into office. I was and am a Kucinich supporter becuase he is bold and courageous, and I felt addressed exactly what was on my mind. To me, Obama is being pretty much as I expected. However, I would like to believe that President Obama has a vision for the future, but I am sure we are not going to see that vision unfold if we immediately discount his credibility and intentions. He has repeatedly asked for our patience, and stated that he has a mess to clean up and that it is going to take time. Should we expect things to remain a lot of the same for a while? Hell yes! Just because Obama is the president of the United States does not mean that he has the power to make people bend at his will. There are very powerful people in place that make his job extremely difficult, so we shouldn't just assume that accomplishing what Obama has promised is going to be a snap of the finger. There is a reason why Kucinich is not president and that is because he made his intentions very clear and that threatened a lot of people in a lot of high places. Just look at Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy if you think Obama can just come in and make sweeping changes. I want to believe that he is doing what he has to do at this point to keep everyone at bay. President Obama has to be a step in the right direction; the whole point is to pressure him and become more pro-active, only then will we be ready as a collective to elect someone like Kucinich. Until then, we do not just boot Obama out of office! We will never have the "perfect president" but the last thing we do is give republicans one square foot to stand on. We have to recognize that Obama did not choose Clinton necessarily because she was his favorite pick, but because as a memebr of the senate she could have made things very difficult for him. As his secretary of state, he has created a sense of peace between them and is now doing the unthinkable, which is to get her to criticize Israel...even if it is a small, it is significant. We have an opportunity to insist more is done, we should not be advocating for his resignation. That is ignorant!

I concur with your dismal assessment of Obama. Double goes for Congress.
I think they have decided that progressives don't count. They saw Bush get away with murder and they believe they do the same.
They don't think we are important enough or powerful enough to stop them. So far they're right.
Too many of us are isolated in our own little kingdoms, politely bearvering away at whatever issue blows our skirts up.
What is needed is a mega-alliance of all the little interest groups to restore the basis of our government; the Constitution and the rule of law. Nothing is going to change until our president and congress are forced to operate within these boundaries.
We need to get organized and have an effective strategy. No one from the previous administration or this administration who has violated the law or the public trust should be able go anywhere without being hounded. We need to use every available resource from the courts to occupying the offices of those that betrayed the electorate. It's going to take all of us all the time.
It won't be pretty but letting this ride is worse.

Where was Ted Rall during the Dubya years? How long did it take him to ask Dubya to step down, if he did?

Congress made "thoughtcrime" an offense several years ago. Then there were a series of EO's that ciminalize anybody who impedes government actions (such as opposing a war) and allows the government to seize their property and bank accounts and to do the same for anybody who takes pity on them and helps them.

Now we have legislation that any comment or opinion that might offend anybody is a hate crime (which could be construed as terrorism or being a terrorist sympathizer)

Now we have preventative detention for anybody that might think of doing a crime, though nobody has proof, just somebody's suspicion, and the crime can simply be that of opposing the government's policies, or protesting the giveaways to the banksters.

The KBR built camps are waiting. I am sure the Blackwater, oops, Xe Corporation will supply contract employees to run those camps, for a price paid for by We the People as usual. (they will be sub-contracted by HS, no doubt)
---------------------------------------
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

Joseph Goebbels
29 October 1897 – 1 May 1945

"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same for any country."

Herman Goering to Gustave Gilbert at Nuremberg, 18 April, 1946
---------------------------------------
Those guys spelled it out in their playbook, and the current administration is running the plays.

Much of this stuff has already been played out with the Nazis and in Stalinist Russia many years ago. Why must we do a repeat?

Dear Sioux Rose, I believe your 12:41 message has it exactly right. It seems that most of our fellow citizens don't understand the juncture that we find ourselves at these days. The "Patriot Act" has effectively made respecting our Constitution and the Bill of Rights voluntary for our executive, Obama can declare martial law at his whim and Congress shows no will to resist. All we need is a hyperinflation, such as has occurred in recent years in Russia and Argentina, which will finish off the pensions, savings and work opportunities that have just begun to decline, and public anger might trigger another "sound and light show" like 9-11 and usher in martial law. There are already detention camps ready for three hundred thousand people and the principle of posse comitatus has been ignored by training divisions of combat troops just back from Iraq in croud control and civil affairs. We also have a citizenry that is in full denial of what is occurring around them as our Treasury is being looted, the last act of a failed government.
Tony Vodvarka

I do wonder about the consequences if a President really did try to make the radical changes in priorities and policies we need in America. I recently heard more on the JFK conspiracy theories - that the CIA cleared out before the shooting. JFK was threatening the nuclear and MIC industries. He may have been the last President to make a real attempt. I'm not sure how conscious Obama is of the risks of really taking on this beast, but it does have to be reined in somehow.

By appointing Geitner - an integral player in helping to create the wall street mess, Obama certainly blew most of the opportunity he had to face down the corporatocracy. He's hitting a lot of key issues at least and opening some dialogues, and giving the EPA some breathing space to work. Though Obama may be loosing his biggest opportunities, I'm hoping he is helping crack open the door for better leadership. He may not represent real change but at least he may help to wake up more Americans to the nature of the many problems we face.

Doesn't the law require that a person be charged with a crime before being detained for more than 48 hours on US soil? Most of the people being held at Gitmo are being held with no official charge. Before these people could be placed in lengthy confinement in any US prison they will have to be given due process--- since there is no evidence against most of them that would mean that they would have to be released and returned to their native country. This is the real reason the Democrats voted with the republicans against closing Gitmo--- they know the law is against the continuation of this unlawful detainment of these people!

Not only is the early call for Obama's resignation news, so is the shear number of responses to this article. It is good to see so many people clearly noticing the failure of Obama's message of "change" and "hope".

If we all had agreed to read his campaign website and carefully follow all of his statements, we should not be surprised by his behavior.

During the primary, Obama lied to folks when he gave speeches that simplified his positions to populist demands. The online movie, "The Obama Deception" has video of him making promises during speeches that he would later nullify. Of course he would wait until he got the endorsements he needed.

After reading his campaign rhetoric, I was surprised to see him gain in popularity so much during the primary. (I voted for him in the primary to avoid Clinton who differed in that she would attack Iran and the Iraq war was started with good intentions.)

The bi-partisan rule by Wall street and the MIC is failing America.

Vote Nader!!!

I was hoping that Mr. Obama would prove me wrong and be a ethical and honorable character.

But his term in office has only served to make me more ashamed of being an American.

I'm optimistic for this reason. I think enough people in this country will begin to see the confusion of our leaders and experts who obviously do not have answers to the current crises, and with the economy continuing to flounder they will begin to get serious about looking for real leadership. From this rubble will emerge intelligent groups of capable individuals who can lead out of the wilderness that we are now entering. America will be learning some hard lessons about allowing commercialism to run amuck. I believe there will eventually be light at the end of the tunnel, but we've got to move through the dark tunnel first. We will no doubt see some major restructuring before this is all over - politically, economically - in every aspect of American and world order. Think of it as the catepillar that liquifies before becoming totally restructured and emerging as the butterfly. The tunnel/chrysalis hasn't even entirely formed yet. More economic failure is on the way, I am certain. Pouring billions down the corporate maw in a vain attempt to restart the dead beast of wall street will never work. This has not become fully apparent to those who are heavily invested in the 'old order' as yet.

In the US today, elections of either a Republican or Democrat is nothing but bread and circuses for the masses. We really must learn that they are all bought and paid for and will dance with those who brung them. What a travesty of a government we have in the US.

Oh, I completely forgot option #2, armed rebellion. I really, really hope that it doesn't come to that, but if it does I'm ready. I'm too old and fat to fight in the streets, but give me a sniper rifle and a high perch, I'll do my part.

I'd pray to God if I believed in fantasy. Sigh, sometimes it's a bitch to be an atheist.

Great article as is to be expected from Mr. Rall. I’m also amazed and very pleased by the majority of responses. Yes, I read them all, unlike many who seem to jump in with no concept of the ongoing dialogue. With the glaring exception of Nebraska Nathan1 who is either a paid shill or a moron (sometimes it’s vary hard to tell the difference), the vast majority are passionate and thoughtful.

But what I would like to impart to the discussion is that it’s time for left/right, Dem/Repub advocates to realize that they are all part of the same game. Same goals and the same Masters.
You are presented with 2 choices for each position in the government so as to provide the comfortable illusion that you might possibly have a voice in what is to be. That is a lie, pure and simple. The men behind the curtain care not who wins, because they are both pre-selected and firmly in their pocket.

There are only 2 ways to end this nightmare that I can see. The first is to use our power at the voting booth in a massive manner. The criteria is simple. Throw away party voting. Pretend the dem/repub option doesn’t exist. Vote against all incumbents unless the last term was their first, and even then, examine their voting records before deciding to send them back. Do this at not only the national level, but also down to community, school boards, etc. Seek out potential candidates committed to the restoration of rule of law and the constitution. With a large enough effort, we could regain control of the “House of Representatives” and turn it into a body worthy of it’s name as early as 2010, along with one-third of the senate. A mere 2 years later, with the same tactics we would have two -thirds of the senate, along with the executive branch.

The last issue, though not discussed here is the financial meltdown. Obama has brought in the very people responsible for this mess to “fix” it. The whole thing reeks of a gigantic rip-off of the taxpayer by the financial elite, as is obvious to any reasonably aware American. The huge financial drain could be ended immediately by simply closing all foreign military bases (500+), bringing all troops back to US soil immediately (like Dr. Ron Paul famously said, “we walked in, why can’t we just walk out?), parking all nuclear ships except subs in US port cities and connecting to the power grid. I’m not an economist, but from what I’ve read, I’d estimate the savings to be in excess of 1.5 trillion per year. How much medical care, schools and infrastructure repair does that translate to?

Will that make us weak and susceptible to those “Islamic Terrorists”? NO!!! As our ex-military re-assimilates into American society, a good number of them will naturally gravitate into border protection agencies. With all our nuclear submarines, there is absolutely no external threat to this country from ballistic missiles, Iranian, North Korean or other. After all, didn’t the MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) doctrine protect us from the “Evil Soviet Empire” for over 30 years?

SallyUUKent, Kernelz, Kane Jeeves, and Nebraska Nathan1,

Please wake up and look at the facts and reality. Can't you see that Obama is not changing course? He's continuing Bush's agenda albeit a little slower but the damage and impact will be severe nonetheless.

Let's face it. He is not going to resign, and if he were to, those in line are no better. But, Mr. Rall, I second your emotion.

Joe

I already suspected the Big O to be nothing but a pompous fraud. Let's get busy and prepare a strong third party victory starting in 2010 and onwards. I may not live to see the day a progressive independent finally gets to govern in Washington but the sooner we start the sooner we'll get there. Whether Obama resigns or not, we got plenty of challenges to face against the rotten political machine.

Let's put it this way, not great but better than Bush.

The operative word in Mr. Rall's article is "dangerous."

It's bad enough Obama's letting those like Cheney (who admit they believe in using torture) roam free, but even entertaining a suggestion like "preventative detention" is a direct threat to every citizen alive - and to those yet unborn.

My contempt for Obama grows daily. NO RESPECT for this vile piece of excrement in the White House, wrapped up and sold as a Tootsie Roll.

I try to remain focused on man's role regarding the health of the planet upon which we all depend, but...

My opinion is that, knowing full well they were about to wreak financial and every other kind of havoc on the poorer members of our society (read: minorities), it seemed a good idea to those in power to, at the very least, put a black man in the Presidency as a hollow symbol of unity to those so suffering...not to assist them in their suffering, of course, but to prevent them from becoming murderous rebels by giving them the hope that, being one of their own, it must be some kind of horrible mistake, and will shortly be put right...

I don't know what to say to those of you that truly believe your votes are controlling the country's leadership...

I am one of the disillusioned, lesson learned. But my friends continue to stand by Obama and say "There's only so much he can do, he inherited a mess, etc." It reminds me of employers I had several years ago; after the Republicans had a major victory and had control of Congress and the White House, I was told, "Now that the Republicans are in charge, they'll be cutting taxes for business owners and we'll be able to do so much more for our employees." I remained a loyal employee for years, waiting for the benefits I was assured would come. While I watched my employers' lifestyles improve, nothing ever changed for us lowly workers. I finally wised up and left.

And today my Obama-loyal friends continue to make excuses and wait for the rewards I know will never come.

What many here are missing is the fact that THE ENTIRE GODDAMNED SYSTEM IS CORRUPT.

You need to get deprogrammed and allow that to penetrate your skulls.

Meanwhile, you're wasting time and bandwidth now arguing over whether Obama, (or before this, Bush) should be removed. Tell me, who in the current gov't would replace Obama or Bush if they actually were impeached or brought to justice?

I'll tell you who: the same criminals, cronies, and bought-and-paid-for whores in the D and R parties that enabled them in the first place. Nothing would significantly change.

Until you remove the foundation of the corruption - meaning the monied interest's nearly complete control - you'll get only the same results.

There used to be people living on this continent that realized this and acted upon it, such as Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson.

So, anytime someone that probably most of us cringed and voted for doesn't live up to our notion of progressiveness we should demand they resign after a few months and let whatever half-ass VP take over, while anytime the Right gets their favorite in and they back him all the way, or at least for 4-6 years?

I'm the last one to encourage people to be blindly "patriotic" and to "support your leader", but some of us should be careful - being really hard-core against everything is no more productive than the very attitude you are against. Really reflect on what constant criticism does to relationships. Are you more critical than you are productive?

Look at the great diplomats and world leaders around us. (Yes there are many, maybe not presidents but former presidents, human rights leaders, forward looking visionaries) - men and women who do more productive work and less criticism.

Again, I'm not saying don't criticize our war-mongering efforts and lack of action in issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict.

However, this is very serious reminder to all progressives. There is always more going on in the world than mere outer events. Inner, spiritual trends are harder to notice sometimes. Being too negative actually destroys inner progress and what would be positive developing trends.

There's sort of an art to being patient, and yet not being patient and working for the change you want to see.

I'm afraid though that your criticism of Obama will have throngs of Obama supporters crying foul. -- Space Cadet
__________________________________________

Well, two or three here, anyway-- that's a sort of mini-throng, I suppose.

Needless to say, I much enjoyed Rall's screed, and side with the "thumbs-down" majority in this thread.

The "Obama needs time to work his magic" argument is fallacious, IMO, because it presumes that-- to use a phrase from the Sixties, which Obama regards as the Dark Before the Dawn of Morning in Amerika-- Obama is indeed "part of the solution".

Thus, devotees limit themselves to superficial disappointment at his unexpected troublesome aspects, e.g. making the Treasury a division of Goldman-Sachs and reaching out to banksters everywhere; not only condoning but supporting the worst excesses of the Bush-crafted Global War on Terror; backing the corporations opposing single-payer health care. For starters.

If Obama was Daniel in the lion's den, or David facing Goliath, he would naturally invite support; that is, if he were truly a rookie underdog striving to Do the Right Thing in the face of partisan and wingnut adversity, no one would have to bleat that he is being unfairly rejected and condemned.

It's a red herring to frame the issue as one tiny president standing up against massive entrenched corruption, and citizens like Rall being far too quick to condemn. The condemnation springs from Obama's obvious preference for the vested interests and his own authority, at the expense of the people.

· Yr Obd't Servant

Such extremist talk ! Obama may have disappointed all of us in so many ways but now is not the time to call for him ro resign. So if Obama resigns, why do you expect Biden or anyone else to be any better? Ted Rall should keep his big fat mouth SHUT until November 2012 when he can vote Obama out. Ted Rall and the far leftist loonies can vote for Gingrich and Palin in 2012 and get themselves wiped off !

Why not have a revolution and learn how to ELECT folks who are not slaves to Big Oil and Big Guns abd Big Banks?

If Obomba resigns you will get Israeli citizen Biden.

How, may I ask, is that an improvement?

This is just effing pathetic.

Ted, welcome to the club! Last week (May 22, on the Tom Engelhardt thread), I made a comment here suggesting Obama should resign, in reverse Stuart Smalley fashion: "I am now resigning as I have realized I am not up to the job. I am not good enough, or smart enough, and doggone it, people are beginning to really despise me!"

And they are beginning to really despise him because they are beginning to really know him.

I was thinking RECALL, but resignation also works for me --

True, we are living a military dictatorship nightmare

put in place by the elite.

They have power and control as long as they can maintain

secrecy. Secrecy over documents, history - and their own

evil deeds.

We still haven't even had the Church Committee Report

released as yet -- and that goes back into the 1970's!

CIA has been working to keep right-wing governments in

place all over the world post WWII. No reason to think

they haven't been doing the same thing in America.

Wake up, America!!

"According to all myth, the female - not the male -- gives life"

Good article Ted Rall.
I'm afraid though that your criticism of Obama will have throngs of Obama supporters crying foul. Also the corporate media isn't ready to dispose of Obama just yet as he hasn't lived out his usefulness to the corporate agenda. I expect him to be discarded once he actually tries to do something (ANYTHING!) that is in the interests of the common folk. As of May 28th 2009, Obama has been an admirable Republican as he squashes any move towards single-payer healthcare, increases military adventures in the Near East, coddles Big Oil, does nothing to end the prison industrial complex, continues the so-called "War on Terrorism" and surrounds himself with right wing ideologues, hand picked by America Inc who in turn advise him on how to keep the populace down.
Now I read in your article this latest Orwellian move to implement "prolonged detention" that sounds like it came right out of the Rumsfeld-Cheney playbook.