In the cocoon of our public debate Obama gets high marks on foreign policy. That is because his policies’ principal aim is not to make strategic decisions but to satisfy public opinion— he has done more of the things that people want and fewer of the things we have to do that may be unpopular. [...]
Tag Archives | John Brennan
Unprecedented Justice Dragnet on the Associated Press
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy The government would not say why it sought the records. Officials have previously said in public testimony that the U.S. attorney in Washington is conducting a criminal investigation into who may have provided information contained in a May 7, 2012, AP story about [...]
News Desk: CIA Drone Program to Shift to Pentagon? Exclusive Report at Daily Beast
The Daily Beast reports, in an exclusive report, that there may soon be some phased-in changes in the Obama administration’s use of drones. At a time when controversy over the Obama administration’s drone program seems to be cresting, the CIA is close to taking a major step toward getting out of the targeted killing business. [...]
Rand Paul Earns Spot as Serious Political Player
Steve Schmidt, the Republican strategist who ran John McCain’s 2008 effort, said Paul could be a formidable 2016 opponent because he is a “conviction” candidate. “I can’t tell you how many hours and meetings are devoted to discussing the candidates vision in a campaign,” said Schmidt. “Well, you wouldn’t have to do that with him. [...]
The Sheer Ineptitude of Eric Holder
“I’m quite happy with the answer and I’m disappointed it took a month and a half and a root canal to get it.” – Senator Rand Paul on CNN WHY DIDN’T Attorney General Eric Holder just send this letter out earlier? I guess the White House wasn’t expecting Senator Rand Paul to pitch a filibuster [...]
Top Story — Rand Paul Makes Democrats Look Feckless on Civil Liberties, Should Worry GOP 2016 Hopefuls
1:27 a.m. | Updated WASHINGTON — A small group of Republicans, led by Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, stalled the Senate on Wednesday by waging a nearly 13-hour old-school, speak-until-you-can-speak-no-more filibuster over the government’s use of lethal drone strikes — forcing the Senate to delay the expected confirmation of John O. Brennan to lead the [...]
Sen. Rand Paul Filibusters John Brennan the Old Fashioned Way *Updated*
“I will speak until I can no longer speak.” – Senator Rand Paul IT BEGAN at 11:45 a.m. today. Love his politics or detest him for his literalism, Senator Rand Paul is doing it his way and at least stands for something. After the Senate Intelligence Committee forwarded President Obama’s CIA nominee John Brennan to [...]
Paul and Graham Threaten “Hold” on Brennan, Feinstein Delays Committee Vote
In a statement late on Wednesday, Feinstein confirmed that because “members of the committee have the ability to object to a vote on the nomination of Mr. Brennan to be the CIA director until after Thursday … the vote will be delayed.” She did not specify a date for the vote. But it cannot be [...]
Memo from Justice Ginsburg to Crybaby Lindsey Graham
“I’m hoping there will be members of Congress who will say enough. We are destroying the United States’ reputation in the world as a beacon of democracy, and we should go back to the way it was, and the way it should be.” – Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg THIS IS exactly what’s happening [...]
Drones: What It Takes to Get Our Attention
Drones. It’s not a new topic, but you’d never know it by the expressions of dismay from Electeds and Electorate alike. Apparently drones are only interesting when there’s something like a Congressional hearing. Actually, even that isn’t accurate, since Dennis Kucinich held hearings on “combat UAVs” last November, but then, that was only a couple [...]
Wyden Confronts Obama, Wins One Classified Document on Drones [Video]
The Senate Intelligence Committee will receive a classified document Thursday that seeks to justify the administration’s policy of targeting Americans overseas via drone attacks, chairwoman Dianne Feinstein said. [CNN] GETTING IN President Obama’s face over the John Brennan confirmation, whose hearing is today and should be intense, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden compared Obama’s drone policy [...]
Top Story — NBC Obtains Targeted Assassinations White Paper on Classified Memos that Remain Out of Reach
YOU COULD ask why President Obama and his administration think they have the legal right to refuse Congress their oversight duties. Ignoring the responsibilities they have by keeping classified memos away from senators, documents which describe the White House’s legal rationale for targeted killings of Americans believed to be terrorist affiliated or worse, but who [...]
Right Smears John Brennan as “Arabist,” Ignores Purge of “Arabist” James Baker Wing
IF YOU want to start dissecting what’s happened to the sane branch of the Republican Party, it dates back to Georg H.W. Bush and James Baker, a time when realism in foreign policy took over for Ronald Reagan’s ramshackle militarism that led to Iran-Contra and near impeachment. The big story in the Republican Party over [...]
News Desk: John Brennan to be Nominated to Head C.I.A.
Mr. Brennan’s nomination will be announced at 1 p.m. along with that of Chuck Hagel, the former maverick Republican senator from Nebraska, whom the president has chosen for secretary of defense, said the spokesman, Thomas Vietor. [New York Times] CRITICIZED AND kept out of the directorship in Obama’s first term, progressives rallied against John Brennan [...]
News Desk: John Kerry, Susan Rice, and John Brennan Reported in Cabinet Shift
AND SO it begins. The Obama cabinet shuffle. From the Post’s Greg Miller: President Obama is considering asking Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to serve as his next defense secretary, part of an extensive rearrangement of his national security team that will include a permanent replacement for former CIA director David H. Petraeus. Although Kerry [...]
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