I know that governing involves compromise. What Obama has done goes way beyond compromise. If you don’t see that, then you don’t understand the value of the US Constitution and the rule of law.

Actually @ 36 we heard some of the things he promised and/or campaigned on, which he subsequently reneged on or made worse. That is what elicits contempt.

But the President must look them in the eye and tell them to act or not. He then bears the full weight of what may happen. Extraordinary challenge if they tell you people may die and you chose to ignore it. So that may alter what you previously thought.

Wooey, this sounds like a screenplay. Only in Hollywood…

He knew he was a target. Hell his father and the ACLU tried to get him off the list but failed.

Really? Since when has Obama’s kill list been public? This smells like pretty intense bullshit to me.

TBogg, real good at dissing the messenger. The message, not so much. Why is that?

Gov. Jan Brewer just showed how an executive can get things done over the hissyfits of legislative Reds. It would be a learning moment for Obama, but I guess he’s too busy keeping us all safe.

“Preserve our traffic patterns” … Dotty, you go girl!

Thank you for both your replies. I’m glad for you that you didn’t have to deal with war crimes.

You didn’t address my question regarding broken chain of command.

I do have a problem believing the following that you wrote:

Commanders up the chain want to know what is going on under their commands. Open-door policies, normally via Executive officers, is a norm, at least in the USAF.

Everyone is accountable in the US Military, from the lowest Airman to the Air Force Chief of Staff.

For example, recent reports of rapes in the military show that commanders are quite willing to tolerate illegal actions and in fact, some will reverse verdicts imposing accountability.

During your career, did you ever encounter what you thought could be a war crime? If so, what did you do?

What do you mean by “if [the chain of command] was broken”? Does the military acknowledge that the chain of command can be broken?

What’s it all about, Alfy? (I wonder who/what is the “government watchdog”)

I think that PW @11 got it just right. But I’ll add just a bit to this which may or may not be true. Yesterday you on Chris Hayes’ show he had a guest who said that Lerner might be under investigation in a criminal matter. That would certainly give her incentive to invoke the fifth.

Our government is not based on electing a dictator, but on electing a Congress that speaks and acts for all of us. Congress declared the war.

Actually, our government is based on The Constitution. The Constitution grants rights that can not be abridged or taken back by anyone, including Congress and the Executive.

As for Congress speaking for all of us, you only have to look at the recent gun background check bill, supported by about 90% of the country, but voted down by Congress.

when they tell him the U.S. military is gunning for him

Who is this “they” you are referring to?

Hey thanks!

Btw, it wasn’t until you wrote “if I believed what Obama said” that I let out a good laugh. Had me going for awhile.

That was really funny. Thanks, I needed a good laugh today.

Do us both a favor and go to bed. Your ego needs a rest.

I’ve been following Kevin’s reporting on Manning and read his story (that I cited @ 140) when it came out. So it’s actually been several weeks that I’ve understood the selection process to involve an electoral college that selects the marshal(s). The name “electoral college” itself implies a democratic process as we know it, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that the organization is using past grand marshals as representing the parade’s constituents. It’s a private organization and that’s how they set it up.

My response at 140 contained the essence of my conclusions. There is an electoral college of past grand marshals. These are the representatives. There were four people nominated. Manning was elected. That’s democracy. Hence, representative democracy.

No straw grasping necessary.