"I can stand here today, as President of the United States,

and say without exception or equivocation that we do not torture, and that we will vigorously protect our people while forging a strong and durable framework that allows us to fight terrorism while abiding by the rule of law. Make no mistake: if we fail to turn the page on the approach that was taken over the past several years, then I will not be able to say that as President. And if we cannot stand for those core values, then we are not keeping faith with the documents that are enshrined in this hall."

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Repeating a line from that paragraph: "if we fail to turn the page on the approach that was taken over the past several years, then I will not be able to say that as President."

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Mr. President, I completely agree with you. That line is a tacit admission that the "enhanced interrogation techniques," as you called them in your speech today, are in fact, torture. Let me add, as well, that we WILL fail to turn the page on the approach that was taken over the past several years if we do not deal, under the rule of law, with all the ugliness that is on the page you want to turn. You are right when you say there is a "thirst for accountability." You, sir, and the Dept. of Justice must slake that thirst before we can turn the page. Otherwise, the argument will NEVER be settled.

You alluded to the fact that the Congress and Justice Departments are capable of dealing with broken laws. I ask that you add your voice to mine and many others that call for an independent special prosecutor to look into the crimes of those who committed and authorized torture.

You said today, sir, that those who tortured those in the pics you failed to release from Guantanamo have been dealt with. That's only partially true. People ORDERED that abuse. We expect THEM to be dealth with according to the laws and the constitution you swore to uphold.

:hi:

sadly enough this old codger actually had his hopes up that maybe finally a candidate would stand by his word on the major planks of the platform he ran on and once again I was disappointed, I tend to agree with another poster here that he may be limiting himself to a single term not by doing wrong but by NOT doing right. Also agree with the other post that he is making himself an accessory after the fact by allowing law breakers to go without prosecution.

It look more and more like he is all talk and no action on these points anyway.

see what is happening. WORDS are only WORDS, and I for one am SICK of ONLY WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But the American people can't or won't hold anyone accountable so much of what we hear is WHAT WILL BE!! I must also add, that mounting any movement would be extremely hard, Tea-baggers get covered by MEDIA... Marches on DC DON'T, I know because I've been to quite a few! Even C-Span didn't cover them! So while I say Americans can't or won't, I understand why. But how I WISH we had a LEADER who would jump in a help "we the people" hold THIS GOVERNMENT accountable to those who elected them!

I've tried to elect other people, but the MONEY machine is too big and it's almost impossible for outsiders to even stand a chance! It does happen, but not enough! This country elected Democrats to CHANGE things, but most ended up being "Blue Dogs" or DLC'ers so we're still standing at the end of the line!

Say what you will, I want more than WORDS!!! Stop with the photo OPS, and quit going back on what you promised during your run as POTUS!! Bully Pulpit... get with the PROGRAM. YOU can't change votes, but you CAN veto, and YOU CAN LEAD!!

Come and get me... I'm disillusioned so disagreement isn't something that will hurt my feelings much!

White house contacts!

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD

where are you going?

Without IRV voting -- without campaign bribery reform . . .

there's no where to go.

The president and Democratic Party will be counting on that!!

Or are you saying you'll vote for a Repug . . . I doubt that!

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD