Regarding economic policies, you are probably right, and the Obama Administration is gambling HUGELY. He will probably go down in history as either the most fiscally dangerous and unsuccessful President or the one who, unlike Roosevelt, took brilliant risks and successfully re-fashioned the American economy. I'm betting on a failed Presidency a la Jimmy Carter's, and, for that reason, am glad I decamped permanently to Europe. That doesn't mean I much blame Obama, however; I'm not sure that the mess was fixable.
On the issue of human rights and "secrecy," I'll just point out to you that "Homeland Security" comes up for renewal soon, and Obama's real position regarding governmental violation of citizens' rights and of war crimes statutes won't be fully on display until then.
Please note, however, that the Obama Administration's ploy regarding torture MAY be to let the Europeans deal with it entirely. Under EU legal provisions regarding "crimes against humanity," if war criminals are not being prosecuted in their home countries, European courts, including the International Commission on War Crimes in the Hague, MUST begin proceedings against those criminals, whether they are residents of the EU or not. This is the trap that Pinochet was caught in, and, frankly, I can't see Obama telling his European allies that they may not investigate and try these folks who are, increasingly, his political enemies. Extradition might be an altogether different matter, but, I assure you, there is plenty of evidence against Yoo, Cheney, et. al. over here in Europe--and particularly in the U.K.--to make a full-blown war crimes trial in a European court possible.
And that's my prediction regarding what will actually happen: the impetus for investigations will come from over here; the legal processes will begin over here; and Obama's Administration will stand by and let it happen. It's actually a brillinat way of dealing with the problem.
I also think that two months is not enough time to judge any Presidential Administration, but I do agree with you that the signs are not good regarding Obama's fiscal policy. You have not said, however, what you'd have him do: should he nationalise the banks, as Sweden did? Should he only worry about the fiscal crisis and let all the other aspects of his "stimulus" plan wait?--things such as health care reform, school reform, etc.?
There's one other issue, too, that I think his is miles and miles away better on than any previous Administration of recent memory: he appears to be finally standing up to the Zionist Lobby and informing the Israeli Likudniks that they must abide by the "road map," demolish "settlements," and adhere to a "two state solution."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Two Things...
Date: 2009-04-10 06:28 am (UTC)On the issue of human rights and "secrecy," I'll just point out to you that "Homeland Security" comes up for renewal soon, and Obama's real position regarding governmental violation of citizens' rights and of war crimes statutes won't be fully on display until then.
Please note, however, that the Obama Administration's ploy regarding torture MAY be to let the Europeans deal with it entirely. Under EU legal provisions regarding "crimes against humanity," if war criminals are not being prosecuted in their home countries, European courts, including the International Commission on War Crimes in the Hague, MUST begin proceedings against those criminals, whether they are residents of the EU or not. This is the trap that Pinochet was caught in, and, frankly, I can't see Obama telling his European allies that they may not investigate and try these folks who are, increasingly, his political enemies. Extradition might be an altogether different matter, but, I assure you, there is plenty of evidence against Yoo, Cheney, et. al. over here in Europe--and particularly in the U.K.--to make a full-blown war crimes trial in a European court possible.
And that's my prediction regarding what will actually happen: the impetus for investigations will come from over here; the legal processes will begin over here; and Obama's Administration will stand by and let it happen. It's actually a brillinat way of dealing with the problem.
I also think that two months is not enough time to judge any Presidential Administration, but I do agree with you that the signs are not good regarding Obama's fiscal policy. You have not said, however, what you'd have him do: should he nationalise the banks, as Sweden did? Should he only worry about the fiscal crisis and let all the other aspects of his "stimulus" plan wait?--things such as health care reform, school reform, etc.?
There's one other issue, too, that I think his is miles and miles away better on than any previous Administration of recent memory: he appears to be finally standing up to the Zionist Lobby and informing the Israeli Likudniks that they must abide by the "road map," demolish "settlements," and adhere to a "two state solution."