My view is that we tend to reduce everything down to simple shapes that fit into the holes we simply understand.

I can see that we despise censorship, and love justice. I consider that laws broken, and power abused, and crimes of war should be prosecuted for preservation of the rule of law.  Let Justice be Done though the Heavens fall.  I can see that releasing the photos of waterboarding is the transparent and upright motivation, and would let chips fall, as they should.  I sympathize with those who long for an end to Gitmo and the unamerican trials it has symbolized to the world.  I long for our voices to be heard.  I long for wrongs to be made right.

But I also know this: Whenever you move forward to take part in a fight, make sure you can end it. (otherwise what is the point?)

To assume that we have broad support is just wishful thinking.  If we do not have broad support, what will be the outcome; a failed first try where there is little chance of getting a second.  Obama obviously either cannot move yet, or chooses not to.  Most of the people I talk to are still split on these issues, once made aware of the implications for our troops, and for the focus taken from things that more affect their families lives.  I am not an advocate of avoiding these things, neither am I their foremost proponent.  All I have learned tells me that in politics, battles should be won before they are fought.  With broad support to investigate and prosecute, Obama will appear to have no choice but to submit to the Vox Populi.  Same with the investigating committee, or other judicious apparatus. I don't care what the books say. People do what is in their interest, not always what is proper.

If there appears there is not significant popular support, no one is going to stick their neck out there, only to watch it die with their name attached. Monuments and History Books are full of winners, not losers. These are, after all, pencil necked geeks, not arthurian knights.

But these delays do not tempt me to grow angry, nor disappointed in our shining prince. I am not in the habit of reducing complex negotiations (as we are with our government) to either success or failure in the first hours or first compromises drafted. To reduce Obama down to betraying or staying true is like reducing the Bible down to the first three chapters. (Jesus isn't even mentioned until more than halfway through.)

If I am George W. Bush, it is easier for me to remember the term "Constitution" and throw that word around alot, but hard and displeasing to memorize the preamble and sections thereafter, and harder still to apply them to real-life current events, (not that he would ever.) This strays far from our discussion but hopefully the point is grasped: To say Obama is either betraying or staying true to the left--measured by his most recent decisions on torture, prosecutions, and photos--is to me is dismissive and foolhardy; we have no clue or context what is in the complete version.  Like a full box of chocolates, we have no concept yet of what we are about to eat.

I know that pleasing one side, even the side that "got you there" is never assured, nor realistic in any circumstance demonstrated. If life were that simple, we would all treat each other much better, because we would always receive our treats.

I believe Obama has to, just by nature of his office, betray at least some of his own personal views, let go at least some promises made, and even adapt a measure of his message for the sake of political expediency. He for instance may oppose a few items in a bill, yet knowingly still support the overwhelming majority of items in it and thus the bill. Did he betray himself or others? He may want to leave Iraq immediately, yet be "outside of the box" enough to comprehend and appreciate the consequences inherent in that move. That is why he we wanted him; his judgements in relation to his execution.

We really can never know what considerations he is struggling with, weighing in his own mind, and what grander ideas he keeps in the hand behind his back. Nor should I judge him as betraying the left by making a few decisions I may take issue with from my obscure POV.

The generous yet wise reaction I am left with is this; give him time, let it flow, wait and see before I prejudge. Often being to close to a thing impairs our vision.

Separate emotion, personal passion and involvement, and then take a look, and what you think you see isn't always exactly what it turns out to be. Just my opinion--don't reduce Obama to a yay or nay. In time, we can be sure of our verdict. It is still too early in the investigation, and we are still collecting evidence.