Why, Barack? Why?

President Obama's speeches have always been remarkable, but his recent speech was downright astonishing. Not only because of his trademark eloquence, which is always noteworthy, but because he managed to progressively destroy much of his moral authority while being as eloquent as he always is.

Obama had promised to redress Bush's policies regarding war prisoners, but what he's ended up doing is re-dressing them - literally. He's changed the terminology and euphemized some of the more shocking illegalities, but the substance remains almost unchanged. In fact, some of Obama's comments were worse than Bush's, in that they implied a possible adoption of "prolonged detention" (preventative detention!) without trial and without public or military oversight - that's right, detention for crimes that have yet to be committed. Even Bush hadn't gone that far! As Rachel Maddow pointed out, preventative detention - or the punishment of criminals that aren't yet criminals - is not only utterly unconstitutional, but is unnervingly reminiscent of the Pre-Crime Unit of Minority Report, the science fiction movie depicting a prescient dystopia.

Where on Earth is Obama going with this? (Well, the prisoners are going to Gitmo, obviously.) But how can retracting one of the core moral statements of his election at all benefit Obama? Not only is he destroying his own national and international moral standing, but he is actively equating himself with Bush, which... is not a good idea. For any reason - be it political or ethical.

I understand that Obama is facing extraordinary pressure from certain congressional luminaries, but for God's sake - or the sake of his own conscience - he can't cave under that pressure! He shouldn't! What is he doing?

Barack, I hope that you don't actually construct a "legal framework" to justify preventative detention, just as the Bush administration constructed one to justify preventative torture.

The United States does not (and should not) torture - but neither should it hold non-criminals indefinitely! I ask you, Obama - isn't "prolonged detention" (seclusion from the rest of the world, separation from one's family and friends) torture? And how will you go about constructing a "legal framework" to justify it? Hire John Yoo, perhaps? Or sing Rock-A-Bye Baby with Jay Bybee?

My head's spinning. I can't... I can't believe this. Barack, please, restore my faith in you. Take back your words - or, at least, reveal them as some sort of Machiavellian political ploy that, no matter how reprehensible, will never, ever translate into action. Tell me that I'm terribly, terribly mistaken. Tell me that your speech isn't exactly what it sounds like - a cosmetic makeover of the Bush legacy's horrible, hideous face.

If I hadn't loved Obama so much, I wouldn't feel so betrayed. Now, I feel all sobered-up (as a gentle dreamer is by a bucket of icy water) and cold (again: icy water). Is Obama's speech a consummate example of Orwellian doublethink? Or is it simply a morbid hallucination brought on by years of sanity-destroying exposure to radioactive Bush rhetoric?

Jesus. (No, really. Jesus!) I feel like Tracy Chapman... "Give me one reason to stay here, Barack, and I'll turn right back around!"

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