Obama releases internal Bush Justice Department memos

**Jason** · 03-03-2009, 04:29 PM

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Obama administration Monday released nine previously secret internal Justice Department memos and opinions defining the legal limits of government power in combating terrorism.
Attorney General Eric Holder says the government can fight terrorism while also honoring the Constitution.

The Bush administration had refused to make the documents public, rejecting demands from congressional Democrats.

The release ends a tug-of-war over copies of controversial legal guidance from the post-9/11 period that advocated greatly expanded executive power to combat terrorism.

Among the documents from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) is a 2001 memo declaring that in terrorism cases the military may conduct searches in the United States without a warrant if approved by the president.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS...sed/index.html

k2skier · 03-03-2009, 04:47 PM

Morals and ethics return to the White House finally.

**Drew1369** · 03-03-2009, 05:29 PM

when?

k2skier · 03-04-2009, 08:50 AM

If you really think W had morals and ethics then this will turn ugly between us. Obama is much more accountable than W will ever be.

bry623 · 03-04-2009, 10:22 AM

And the terrorists shall rise again.

yustr · 03-04-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

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.

**Canaanabolaanan** · 03-04-2009, 03:22 PM

Zing!

**simpswr** · 03-04-2009, 03:59 PM

"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. " : Dick Cheney

**Drew1369** · 03-04-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k2skier

If you really think W had morals and ethics then this will turn ugly between us. Obama is much more accountable than W will ever be.

Nope never suggested it... just wondering on when Obama will too?

**Chode** · 03-04-2009, 09:55 PM

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think some of the revelations about actions during the Bush Administration are going to become a major embarrassment to the U.S. Frankly, this is an instance where I'd be willing to sacrifice principle to expediency and let the issue of Bush's probable war crimes and illegal abuses of power lie quiet for a few years.

It isn't that I don't want to see Wubbya and his subordinates and advisers crucified, but I think this could distract the nation from moving to a less partisan, more effective government. Unfortunately, if the Obama Administration suppresses these documents, it would be seen as morally bankrupt as the Bush Administration. If we don't act on the evidence of criminal behavior by Bush, we face the same judgment. At a time when the U.S. would like to reassert its position as an inspirational leader of the West, this is a lose/lose scenario.

**EnglishPaul** · 03-07-2009, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chode

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think some of the revelations about actions during the Bush Administration are going to become a major embarrassment to the U.S. Frankly, this is an instance where I'd be willing to sacrifice principle to expediency and let the issue of Bush's probable war crimes and illegal abuses of power lie quiet for a few years.

To heal a wound, you first have to remove the dead tissue.
Sometimes it is only after dealing with the past, that the future improves.
But how to do that in a non-partisan way?

yustr · 03-08-2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnglishPaul

...
But how to do that in a non-partisan way?

In this country we can't - or won't. Its me first, then my party, then ...maybe...my country. Sad times indeed.

03-03-2009, 04:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jason Faugh a ballagh Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pasco, FL Posts: 8,475 OS: Windows Vista My System Blog Entries: 2	Obama releases internal Bush Justice Department memos WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Obama administration Monday released nine previously secret internal Justice Department memos and opinions defining the legal limits of government power in combating terrorism. Attorney General Eric Holder says the government can fight terrorism while also honoring the Constitution. The Bush administration had refused to make the documents public, rejecting demands from congressional Democrats. The release ends a tug-of-war over copies of controversial legal guidance from the post-9/11 period that advocated greatly expanded executive power to combat terrorism. Among the documents from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) is a 2001 memo declaring that in terrorism cases the military may conduct searches in the United States without a warrant if approved by the president. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS...sed/index.html __________________ Posting Tips \| Advice for New People \| Common Fixes \| Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh

03-03-2009, 04:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
k2skier Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 313 OS: XP Home-SP3 My System	Re: Obama releases internal Bush Justice Department memos Morals and ethics return to the White House finally.

03-03-2009, 05:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
Drew1369 Moderator Relaxation Room Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 3,424 OS: Win7 Ultimate	Re: Obama releases internal Bush Justice Department memos when? __________________ We humans have a primal urge to kill because, thanks to natural selection, all the homo sapiens who didn't have a primal urge to kill, were themselves killed. http://obamaclock.org/

03-04-2009, 08:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
k2skier Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 313 OS: XP Home-SP3 My System	Re: Obama releases internal Bush Justice Department memos If you really think W had morals and ethics then this will turn ugly between us. Obama is much more accountable than W will ever be.

03-04-2009, 10:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,692 OS: winxp pro sp2	Re: Obama releases internal Bush Justice Department memos And the terrorists shall rise again. __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"

03-04-2009, 03:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Canaanabolaanan TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 560 OS: XP Pro SP3	Re: Obama releases internal Bush Justice Department memos Zing!

03-04-2009, 03:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,205 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Obama releases internal Bush Justice Department memos "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. " : Dick Cheney __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

03-04-2009, 09:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chode TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,280 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Obama releases internal Bush Justice Department memos I don't know about the rest of you, but I think some of the revelations about actions during the Bush Administration are going to become a major embarrassment to the U.S. Frankly, this is an instance where I'd be willing to sacrifice principle to expediency and let the issue of Bush's probable war crimes and illegal abuses of power lie quiet for a few years. It isn't that I don't want to see Wubbya and his subordinates and advisers crucified, but I think this could distract the nation from moving to a less partisan, more effective government. Unfortunately, if the Obama Administration suppresses these documents, it would be seen as morally bankrupt as the Bush Administration. If we don't act on the evidence of criminal behavior by Bush, we face the same judgment. At a time when the U.S. would like to reassert its position as an inspirational leader of the West, this is a lose/lose scenario. __________________ Sweet!