Evan Thomas: Why Presidents Need Contrarians | Newsweek Politics

Prisoners of the White House

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Obama is looser than Bush. Meetings do not always end on time, and the president likes to play law professor, teasing out illogic and sloppy thinking with probing questions. He insisted on keeping his BlackBerry—though, for security reasons, there are some limits on its use. Obama's style is more informal than his predecessor's. Bush insisted on respect for the office: aides wore coats and ties and saluted smartly, metaphorically and literally. White House photos show Obama in his shirt sleeves or tossing a football in the Oval Office. But all paper flows to him through an elaborate staffing process. He, like all presidents, is the captive of a system that has been designed for efficiency but is inevitably isolating. It will take more than a few dinner parties to avoid the fate of presidents who lost touch with reality.

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April 22, 2009

US Department of Justice
Office of Attorney General Holder

Greetings Mr. Holder:

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands that have connected them with another; a decent respect to the opinions of Americans in general require that they should declare the causes that impel them to this separation.

Let these facts be submitted to a candid world.

George W. Bush and his administration refused to act in the best interests of the nation and public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of pressing need. He has made Judges dependent on his will alone.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass the people of this nation.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution.
He has incited domestic insurrections among us.
He has abdicated Government here while waging illegal war on foreign shores claiming we are under his protection.

George W. Bush and his entire cabinet of advisors on economy, war, and torture are fugitives from justice.

The representatives of the {u}nited States of America are petitioned to act immediately. House and Senate Committee???s on the Judiciary and the Office of Attorney General of this nation are to indict, arrest and prosecute George W. Bush and cabinet on charges of obstruction of justice leading to war crimes and tyranny.

Gary Witherspoon
California Congressional Fourth District

CC: Senator Feinstein / civic groups / elected representatives

Member Comments

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Posted By: chris s. @ 05/12/2009 6:00:27 PM

You do realize, it was one of your own peeps, who brought up the stlyle issue?
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Posted By: chris s. @ 05/12/2009 5:49:41 PM

I was responding to Still Free in the USA [5/6 a@ 10:43] with the children who are roaches with a sense of entitlement comment. So, no I didn't pick it out of the air, as implied. Kids are always off limits. Now, about you having any new and improved ideas?. Didn't think so.
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Posted By: johngaltnevadacity @ 05/08/2009 3:22:43 PM

April 22, 2009

US Department of Justice
Office of Attorney General Holder

Greetings Mr. Holder:

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands that have connected them with another; a decent respect to the opinions of Americans in general require that they should declare the causes that impel them to this separation.

Let these facts be submitted to a candid world.

George W. Bush and his administration refused to act in the best interests of the nation and public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of pressing need. He has made Judges dependent on his will alone.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass the people of this nation.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution.
He has incited domestic insurrections among us.
He has abdicated Government here while waging illegal war on foreign shores claiming we are under his protection.

George W. Bush and his entire cabinet of advisors on economy, war, and torture are fugitives from justice.

The representatives of the {u}nited States of America are petitioned to act immediately. House and Senate Committee???s on the Judiciary and the Office of Attorney General of this nation are to indict, arrest and prosecute George W. Bush and cabinet on charges of obstruction of justice leading to war crimes and tyranny.

Gary Witherspoon
California Congressional Fourth District

CC: Senator Feinstein / civic groups / elected representatives