The pressure mounts

Foraging moose calf (375 lbs.)
accidentally falls through Spokane
window into basement bedroom.

Much to my great pleasure the pressure is mounting for an investigation into the war crimes of Bush/Cheney and others. John Dean and Jonathan Turley, both keen legal minds, observed today on different programs that if the U.S. does not itself investigate allegations against these war criminals it is quite likely the case that some other nation will eventually insist on doing so, which would, of course, be a major embarrassment for our country. Bugliosi, too, has suggested Bush could be tried and probably convicted of murder. It now appears to me that however much Obama and Biden want to consider this something in the past, and do not wish to have to deal with it, they will most probably have to do so at some point (hopefully sooner rather than later as it will continue to hang over their administration until something is done). Nothing would make me happier than to see these monstrous torturers and murderers have to pay some price for their unforgivable horrible deeds. I have little doubt that if they were held accountable the world would rejoice. Maybe even Israel could be curbed (but as they haven’t been for more than 50 years, probably not). For me this comes down to a very basic question; is there justice and accountability in human affairs or not. In this case there is not – as yet.

In the movie, The Maltese Falcon, one of the policemen says, “Sam, I sure hope you know what you’re doing.” That is exactly how I feel when I think about Obama’s cabinet and other choices. I am certainly of two minds about some of them, but I have to admit I do have the feeling that Obama does, in fact, know what he is doing. He seems to have selected them with certainty, even though in some cases there are rather serious questions about their previous positions. Dennis Ross and John Brennan are good cases in point, but, then, so are Biden and Hillary, for that matter. Eric Holder has some baggage, as well. The only one I find no trouble with whatsoever is Leon Panetta, the CIA clearly needs someone from the outside to shape it up after the past eight years. Panetta would seem to have the necessary skills and authority to do so. Along these same lines, I keep telling myself that whatever Obama said about certain things during the campaign, and while waiting to be inaugurated, will not necessarily be precisely what he does after becoming President. I know that critics have been saying he may not do what he indicated he would do, like pulling our troops out in 16 months, or raising taxes on the wealthy, or unconditionally supporting Israel, or negotiating with Iran, and so forth. No doubt there will be pressures and constraints he will have to deal with, but there are things that I hope he will do: give more support to the Palestinians, raise taxes on the wealthy, get our troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible, find a way out of the Afghanistan mess, engage in diplomacy with Iran and others, including Hamas and Hezbollah, get us a universal health care program, prosecute war criminals, and restore our economy and stature in the international community. This sounds like a job for Superman. It is. Superman doesn’t usually need any help. Obama will need all the help he can get. I believe there is a Kenyan God named Asa, who has to do with mercy, help, and overcoming the impossible. Let us hope he will smile on Barack Obama.

LKBIQ:
We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics. They will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We've been asked to pause for a reality check; we've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
Barack Obama

TILT:
Julia Child was 6’ 2” tall when she arrived in Paris for the first time. She could neither speak French or cook.