Republicans Make Case For Prosecuting Bush Officials

The Washington Independent:

The Senate Judiciary Committee's "Getting to the Truth Through a Nonpartisan Commission of Inquiry" convened this morning to consider Sen. Patrick Leahy's (D-Vt.) proposal for a sort of "truth and reconciliation" commission.

Read the whole story: The Washington Independent

Comments

[newmexicogold]

The Republican party said the samething about the Watergate hearings and the Iran-Contra hearings. They had no problem spending millions to investigate a failed real estate transaction, and had no concern for appearing to being partisan when that investigated proved that the real estate transaction was not a criminal act.

The investigation did lead to an impeachment of a sitting President. I can see why they would be concerned that the commission might turn up evidence of other illegal activity in the administration, and in the Republican leadership, even if the evidence uncovered was not related to the original purpose of the investigation.

[1differentdrummer]

Well, shouldn't the party of law and order embrace prosecution?

[ibsteve2u]

The linked article speaks of somebody who objects: "David Rivkin, a former Justice Department official in the Reagan and first Bush administrations [...] said a truth commission 'is a profoundly bad idea, a dangerous idea, both for policy and for me as a lawyer for legal and constitutional reasons.'"

Kind of makes you wonder if "for me as a lawyer" is an any way related to the Iran-Contra matter.

[weatherwaxx]

"Truth is a profoundly bad idea..."

You heard it here first, folks.

[madisonhack]

You didn't read the article carefully. This guy is on our side. He says that Congress can't abdicate it's responsibilities to a "commission" - and he's right, in my opinion. Read it again.

[rblackbird]

I can still remember where I was the moment I heard that Gerald Ford had pardoned Nixon. Ford said he wanted to put the past behind us, bind up the wounds and move forward. The people, however, did not want reconciliation with Nixon. We wanted him in jail!

[1differentdrummer]

Ah, but that was the deal. Ford was made VP specifically, some people think, because he agreed to pardon the criminal. How did Gerry do after his gig as pres? He had some sweet deals in the development of Vail, CO, didn't he?

[ggmome]

NOW they are for prosecution? There has to be a method to their madness!

[weatherwaxx]

It's called scapegoating, so they can all pretend to be SHOCKED, UTTERLY SHOCKED! by the corruption... and keep sucking out of the public trough for a few more years.

[undrgrndgirl]

no, no, no, no, no! NO reconciliation...prosecution is the ONLY way to go!

[texanna]

This article states so clearly what is so wrong with Leahy's idea. It is now a matter of the public record that the Bushies indulged in a number of illegal activities and should be investigated and prosecuted. Pres Obama can prefer to look to the future all he wants, and frankly that's probably where he should be focused right now given all the problems shrub left him. All he has to do is appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate and (hopefully) prosecute. Or, he could instruct AG Holder to do it. Either way, there is law in this country and it must be upheld.

[hortonhearsawho2]

So, feed the sharks....

[mohawk79]

They should prosecute Specter for ripping off my children.

[MaximMaximus]

Try to make sense. Where were you in the last 8 years?

[serena1313]

While I admire any politician who has the courage to support investigating Bush and his administration, too often Arlen Specter has made an about face in matters of the law. It is obvious he has a conscience, but lacks the courage to follow through notwithstanding. I really hope he and other Republicans will not buckle under pressure from others in their party this time.

What transpired under the Bush era for 8 years is shamefully astounding. Aside from irresponsible fiscal integrity and the lack of oversight, the dismantling of our system of check and balances, using state secrets to cover-up crimes, politicizing the Justice department and the intelligence agencies and the military, committing crimes against humanity, illegally wiretapping US citizens, eviscerating the Constitution and the rule of law, knowingly starting preemptive wars based on unsubstantiated/false information, indefinite imprisonment, and torturing innocent people also bears noting the explosion of corruption within the halls of government power.

Millions have bore the brunt from Bush's policies. Millions of lives, limbs and fortunes have been lost; families have been torn apart; societies destroyed; children are without parents; whole cities are in rubble, etc... the devastation and ruination Bush and his administration brought on an unsuspecting world cannot go unanswered.

To Republicans and Democrats alike, I implore you not to shy away from pursuing Justice.

To do so would be a crime of the highest order and a travesty of justice!

[23000Days]

Good post.

Justice itself has become a travesty the last 8 years.

[freddiefreeloader]

Something else you might want to concider is the U.S. does'nt have a good record of investigating itself, just look at Haditha, Hamandiya, sadar city,Abu Ghraib, Samarra, Ishaqi, The U.S. has covered up most of these cases and exonerated the indivduals involved, prosecuting only a few low-ranking personal and giving out light sentences, Rape, murder, torture, the U.S. does'nt do these things, right.
The U.S. does'nt like airing their dirty laundry for the world to see. Not only that, if its proved that the U.S. committed crimes than there will be reparations to victims of torture.

[SPQR1775]

I prefer that the US AG office handle this issue. I am not at all trusting the Congress, they seem to always botch the "TRUTH", they botch the Truth time and again in their "fake" attempt to get to the truth. We all know 9-11 was an inside job and everything was a planted and fabricated crime scene design to lead us into WAR and creating a Facist American empire, only that not everyone drink the Bushite koolade and it backfired, but we were so very close to Dictatorship and anarchy in this country. Then Bush and his Bushite gang in Pharma, Defense, Military, Banking and Financial Industry try once more prior to the election, only again it backfired because it was Obama that was prepared and not McCain and the nation andthe world saw that again this was another attempt to steal the 2008 elections. First in 2004 they use 9-11 and fear along with convinience of color coded threats alerts, OBL Tapes (which we haven't seen for about a year, nor color codes?), funny huh!! It is time to indicte and arrest everyone, the President is not above the Law so President Obama do not need to get involved, let Holder uphold the constitution. The GOP will issue lawsuit but the courst won't support them. NO JUSTICE NO PEACE, NO CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION, NO TAX!

[pewty]

Conspire much?

[23000Days]

Right, and very well said. I think it will all surface if we have a SP rather than a commission, given how well the 9-11 commission worked.

[23000Days]

Right, and very well said. I think it will all surface if we have a SP rather than a commission, given how well the 9 11 commission worked.

[gbrooks]

I think the best thing the GOP can do for their cause is to lead the way in prosecuting Bush, Cheney, et al. It might bring back some confidence in the notion that the GOP is the part of conscience.

[madisonhack]

And, it would take exactly that much to give them credibility again. What do you think the odds are?

[gbrooks]

I think the possibility of that happening are right around 0.0001%, unfortunately.

[brandnewstuff]

www.tomjoad.org/bybeememo.htm

and the release of paper yesterday-- and I want to read the second bybee

I am sure the Nazi engineer that made the gas chamber to Kill people thought he was creativly doing the world a favor also-

[fumes2]

Since when is Specter a Republican?

[Texas Blue]

If the Justice Department determines that it is not possible to prosecute, then Leahy's inquiry could begin.

I want the Attorney General of the United States to state publicly whether he has enough evidence to prosecute. Yes or No.

It's your job, Mr. Holder - JUST DO IT.

[catzoned]

We know they violated FISA regulation by wiretapping and spying. There's evidence of that much in Google.