Long article is LOOOONG, but worth the read

[ubiquitous_a]

In Obama's Inner Circle, Debate Over Memos' Release Was Intense
Some Feared That a Partisan Outcry Could Obstruct Larger Agenda

By R. Jeffrey Smith, Michael D. Shear and Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, April 24, 2009

As President Obama met with top advisers on the evening of April 15, he faced one of the sharpest policy divides of

Comments

[mlfoley]

Great article. I am really very pleased with Obama releasing these documents despite the protest of the criminals in the CIA.

[littlestarletta]

this was on my constitutional law final

[ameonna]

I love that he was like, "Okay, you're going to debate it and whoever convinces me wins."

Spoken like a true Constitutional Law professor, Mr. President.

Now, Eric, your team needs to get together your debate notes for Why We Have To Put The People Who Wrote That Shit From Last Time In Jail (Before They End Up In the Hague.)

[erunamiryene]

Obama requested a mini-debate in which one official was chosen to argue for releasing the memos and another was assigned to argue against doing so. When it ended, Obama dictated on the spot a draft of his announcement that the documents would be released, while most of the officials watched, according to an official who was present. The disclosure happened the next day.

OMG A POLITICIAN DID SOMETHING FAIRLY AND INTELLIGENTLY. BRB, GOING INTO SHOCK.

No, seriously. The caps were to emphasize my shock, not to display sarcasm.

[eyetosky]

Slightly OT: One of the conservative shows I'm listening to to try and even out my news feed is Phil Hendrie, and Good Lord is he frustrating sometimes.

Particularly on this. About how turning the courts on the Bush admins that authorized this, and prosecuting for torture is a witchhunt, and liberals are just in it to get Bush and liberals don't really care about torturing people at all.

Yes, it is important that we investigate, and yes it is important to hold people accountable.