Obama Prompted To Prosecute Bush

With few exceptions the transition period has been a model of presidential goodwill and cooperation. Apparently, the curious users who have been submitting questions on President-elect Barack Obama's Web site, Change.gov, didn't get the memo.

In fact, the number one submission on the popular "Open for Questions" portion of the site might seem more than a little impolitic to the current, and soon to be former, occupant of the White House.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[swo68]

I don't understand why people can't seem to realize that in order to take down Bush, you take down dems, too. It's not going to happen.

[Yermammy]

Oh wait... this isn't going to be another FISA gig, is it? You know, where we're told one thing and another happens. This question (the TOP question) is going to be pretty hard to ignore. Especially since the entire progressive BLOGOSPHERE is aware of it! No biggie, actually. The World knows about it and it ain't going away. No way, no how.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

You are obviously optimistic. But you recognize what happened with FISA.

How is this going to be different? Wasn't the entire progressive blogosphere and the entire world aware of the duplicity regarding the FISA-telecom-immunity vote? If such awareness didn't affect the telecom immunity, how will such awareness make a difference this time?

Since the election, hasn't Obama announced an effort to be a "centrist," whatever that is? None of us have a clear idea as to what the term "centrist" means, except that we know that it doesn't mean progressive. He's not too far away from treating "progressive" as a dirty word, something like Newt's term "liberal Democrat." He doesn't want to be a liberal, or a progressive, nor does he inherently want his followers to have values which are liberal or progressive. If they have such values, that's OK. But now he is more interested in "reaching out" to neocons and neocon-supporters. If they are intractable, how do you do that? There is only one way. You change your values to meet theirs.

All of us can be aware. I suggest that unless genuine action is taken, all of our awareness means nothing.

It may be that the issue, unlike our $700 billion dollars, won't just go away. That doesn't mean that the "centrist" position will involve prosecuting these obvious criminals.

[CologneCitizen]

Nothing will happen. The USA has more serious problems now than going after Bush. You can be lucky if you get your rights back as they were before he took office. It will be interesting to watch what Obama does. Will he turn the USA into a just country again, or is it more comfortable to leave things as they are ?

[Yermammy]

You just answered your own question. Liberty is never given- it has to be fought for. If you lay back and expect things to get better, you're beyond naive. All the pie-in-the-sky hopes and dreams are moot if we live in a land where we have no rights and the politicians live in a two tiered system of Justice (them being on top and immune). For the apologists that say we can't afford to do this because of the economy, the climate, the cost of gas or the rights of gays/lesbians are simply decorating a sinking ship. Unless consequential action is taken to remedy this, it is not only apt to happen again- it GUARANTEES it will happen again. This is definitely not a dangerous precedent we want to follow- not even once.

[naeldwyck]

The USA can do several things at the same time, can't it? I tell you, regardless of whether Obama turns things around "from now on", it is going to be a long time before the US is ever going to be seen as an honest broker in the rest of the world if you people don't sort this one out. There needs to be some accounting. Questions need to be answered about the lead up to the Iraq war, and questions about its prosecution, as well as questions about treatment of detainees in US facilities all over the world. Some people need to be held responsible.

[Yermammy]

Thank you naeldwyck. You sound like your not from here (and if you are, I couldn't blame you for pretending). This isn't going to disappear or be brushed under the rug, no matter how much people wish it to be. This has to be addressed.

[theubermensch]

I would say go for it, but it will take a lot of time and money. Bush has taken enough of our money, but something needs to be done. Our government has spun out of control. I could go on, but I am sure we all get the jest of what I am saying.

[Anonani]

Exactly how much time and money do you think that the taxpayers can afford to spend on this?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

As much as it takes.

[Anonani]

Well, I as a taxpayer, do not agree with you. And, if this course is followed, I for one would be the first to lead a protest against it. We are a nation on the precipice of financial disintegration. We have no money to waste. Attempting to prosecute Bush is completely squandering time, money, and precious national energy.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

If it's a matter of money, perhaps we could pass the hat. Some might be willing to kick in a few dollars.

[RTIII]

I'm all for THOROUGH and honestly conducted investigations and where appropriate (and there's probably a LOT of "appropriate"), prosecutions.

However, this is premature.

We have to get past January 20 before we can even TALK about it properly.
.

[TAC]

"We have to get past January 20 before we can even TALK about it properly."

Exactly...

[rollingdivision]

Ebama and the Dems don't have the stones to prosecute Bush.

[Petey131]

Wow another blogger that can predict the future, scarey.

[sonoffestus]

We will see if the Constitution is merely a piece of paper..............................

[oafishcad]

Less than 2 weeks and the United States of America can wipe this piece of crap off the soles of our shoes. Too bad the stench will remain for years to come. We need the cleansing disinfectant of justice to clear the air. We'll see. I hope it happens, for the health and well being of our Constitution.

[cylindar]

Amen!

[schatsie]

yep, I want us to sign onto the International Court of Justice and send Bush there...

[Retrofuturistic]

Obama should do it, but he probably won't do it. After all, this is the guy who sucks up to people like Rick Warren now. The "faith-based" crowd.

[PoliticalAmazon]

No kidding. In fact, Obama is continuing Bush Jr's lavish support of War ren.

Interestingly, Team Obama keeps bragging about War ren's Africa AIDS project as proof that he's a good guy and not against gays. What they don't tell you is the man who War ren calls his "right-hand man" publishes the names of gays and pushes for laws to lock up gays. Of course, War ren doesn't want condoms as part of his AIDS work, so one of the biggest successes in Africa, the ABC program, is not doing so well because War ren is siphoning away contributions that would have gone to the ABC program.

Here's the link to an article about it:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-01-07/the-truth-about-rick-warren-in-africa

[Petey131]

Wow, another blogger that can predict the future, very scarey

[AnotherMcIntosh]

"very scarey"

Anytime anyone uses the term "very scarey" or the word "scarey," and is either scared or pretending to be, all I can think of are neocons and neocon supporters.

[RRundbaken]

This administration needs to be investigated. What they have done makes Nixon look like a petty shoplifter. They have attacked and violated the Constitution, manufactured evidence to start a war, violated the Geneva Conventions, and destroyed this nation's standing in the world. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Gonzalez (especially him) should be exposed for what they did and held accountable.

[Rep0X]

What you want to prosecute, are the bankers! Bush is owned by them, and perhaps O too... The white house is anyway...

[dragonlady620]

Cheney had a huge hand in the econmic meltdown-as well as the Iraq debacle. Unlike Bush, who is probably too ignorant to understand most of it, Cheney knew exactly what he was doing. He has thumbed his nose at the law-and any investigation-under the guise of "executive privilege". As has Karl Rove-where the hell does HE get off citing "executive privilege"? When was he elected to anything?

[Emlyn]

I would be happy if Cheney got it. I wonder when these men go out in public - what would they do, if the people they passed on the street or in restaurants or stores would hold their noses or give them the you know what? It would be fitting. They deserve it. They tried to kill our country for profit and ego and they deserve what they get. And dear Mr. Rove - there must be a special hole somewhere for him to fall into or ... be pushed!

[texasrodeoqueen]

Not just "prompted", PE Obama- that's a big reason we elected you. We want our DOJ, Constitution and Bill of Rights back. You cannot let this lawless man distort reality like this. You must not let him walk away like Ford did Nixon. Do it for our children, please President Obama!

[PoliticalAmazon]

He's made it clear he won't do it. Considering that Obama appears to be continuing some of Bush's worst policies, it wouldn't make sense for him to investigate Bush Jr--might dry up funding for those programs like faith-based services for big0t s like War ren.

[Petey131]

You need serious therapy for that Warren thing....it has taken over your life...

[peacegurl48]

I would love to see Cheney, Bush and several others from the regime prosecuted but that is not likley to happen. There will be some vindication if History reflects who they really were and what they did; reject the reinvention and spin that has already begun.

[Marastan]

There is no court on this earth that should waste the time and (our) money for this. I know people feel strongly about it, but NO MORE. Kick him out the door and be done with it. He and Bush Sr WILL answer to their "own maker" when they leave this earth..

[RTIII]

Wrong.

If this nation is to heal, it MUST have the Bush admin crimes aired fully. Convictions is another matter, perhaps. But for the rule of law to mean _anything_ once again, we MUST see justice happen to those who committed crimes from the highest offices in the land. Justice is NOT just for the petty thief who steals an apple to eat - it's for EVERYONE. Or is it?
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