NYT Calls For Investigation Of Bush-Era Abuses

New York Times:

We've known for years that the Bush administration ignored and broke the law repeatedly in the name of national security. It is now clear that many of those programs could have been conducted just as easily within the law perhaps more effectively and certainly with far less damage to the justice system and to Americans' faith in their government.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[RightWingMarine]

if Bush gets investigated and thrown in prison does this mean that Barrack "post-acquittal detention" Obama will also be investigated? Maybe he and Bush could be cell-mates.

[gbrooks]

Perhaps he will one day be investigated for something along those lines, but he actually has to commit it or knowingly allow it to happen first.

It may shock you to know that many people here would support an investigation into laws being broken, no matter if a Democrat or Republican was guilty--and that's the way it should be.

[OnReflection]

"NYT Calls For Investigation Of Bush-Era Abuses"

I agree, Starting with the New York Times,It's self, They were as much a part of perpetuating the false information for invading IRAQ, and continued to support and defend the Bush administration, They were the ultimate enablers /cheerleaders !!

They lost all Journalistic Credibility,

They have no shame !

[kepary]

the NYTimes is trying to sell newspapers.. to investigate a former President would be a complete waste of time AND money... even President Obama is NOT in favor... lets move on people... bigger fish to fry... close gitmo and get out of Iraq and Afganistan

[rich misty]

Democrats can multi-task. They don't have one track minds.

And I will note: When Clinton was subpoened to appear and testify before a Grand Jury... They had absolutely nothing on him except a stained blue dress. He made his own problem by making a false statement under oath... But he was being investigated without any evidence of a crime being committed.

Here we have public domained news stories, and federal laws clearly appear to have been violated. Why are the Republicans obstructing justice and refusing repeated callls for criminal investigations? What else is the GOP hiding?

[janfin]

Uh...maybe the NYT is just wanting to express it's opinion in the OPINION section. So you're ok with Bush et al having committed crimes and getting away with it. You're ok with future presidents committing similar crimes. McCain said on Meet the Press that it will make us look bad in the eyes of the world if we were to investigate and really reveal what happened. Everyone knows some REALLY BAD stuff happened. What will make us look really, REALLY bad is to look the other way and let CRIMINALS get away with war crimes. So what if Obama is against an investigation? It's not his choice anyway and he is wrong. I just hope Holder does the right thing.

[AirForce Vet]

You said it would be a waste of time and money, the POTUS isn’t in favor of investigations, and let’s move on. By the way, what bigger fish are there to fry? We have a major problem in this country. We always want to move on without rectifying our reprehensible behavior. Do you consider the lives of our service men/women a waste? Many of the live lost were due to scripted lies and egos. We wasted more money due to the egos of lunatics. Did you speak out and say move on when our service men/women were prosecuted for performing their duties on the orders of others? The POTUS is one person and what he says is his opinion about investigations. We don’t operate under a monarchial system, but I guess the last 8 years made it look like a monarchy. Investigating and prosecuting a former or current government official isn’t a pretty sight, but it’s necessary. The POTUS and your philosophy of moving on doesn’t eliminate the problem, it only gives credence to it. Sweeping dirt under a rug doesn’t eliminate a dirty floor. Looking forward is great, but you best look back for the hounds nipping at your rear. I have a quick question for you Kepary. If you had done some of the things that the ex-president, ex-vice president, and others had done, do you think someone would come out and say it’s a waste of money and time, lets move on?

[gbrooks]

Great. Set a precedent that it's just fine to break our laws, so then when Cheney, part II gains power, he can just become a complete dictator.

Move along! Nothing to see here!

[wadenelson1]

What is with the New York Times?

They wouldn't even use the T-word (torture) until 3 weeks ago, and now they're calling for an investigation?

Do their writers all go outside at 9 am and look at the flagpole to see which way the wind is blowing before starting work?

What are we, current and former readers supposed to do? Suddenly give them our renewed faith and trust?

[gbrooks]

Yes! I mean, yes? And, no, don't give them your trust. Question everything that doesn't make sense.

[Amunaka]

What some of us would like to see..


GOP Cell Block

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/G/6/gop_cell_block.jpg

[janfin]

HA!!! Good one!

[Amunaka]

Okay one more time ...Clintons biggest mistake ..and look what it got him...


The Clintons' Real Trouble with Truth

By Robert Parry
February 24, 2007

If a future historian is ever to understand what happened to the United States in this era – how the world’s greatest power so disastrously lost its way – that scholar should look back to the first Clinton-Bush transition in 1992-93, when Bill Clinton could have grasped a unique historical moment but didn’t.

Clinton was the first U.S. President to take office after the end of the Cold War. He could have ordered a long-needed historical review of what nine U.S. presidents had done, often behind opaque cloaks of government secrecy.

This review also could have assessed what damage those decades of secrecy, propaganda and deception had done to the core values of the American Republic. By revealing the truth, both the good and the bad, Clinton could have helped restore vibrancy to the democratic process by giving the voters the means to again be an informed electorate.

Easy Exit

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/022307.html

[sonoffestus]

Unless there are investigations, prosecutions if warranted, and punishment if convicted then "America" ceases to exist. All you once held dear and lectured the world on, will be undermined. America can then join the ranks of other lawless nations.

[FROG1]

yes, but you dimocraps would be some pizt when it ended up with Peloserperjury) and Harry Greid(treason) in the slammer along with Wilson(perjury) and Plame(treason)

[rich misty]

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/pelosi-tells-maddow-she-absolutely-su

Nancy Pelosi is on record supporting investigations that DO NOT provide immunity from criminal prosecution. Yet at the same time Republicans are pointing fingers, accusing her - While the Republicans on committee are obstructing justice in exactly the same way they are obstructing government. What gives with that? Republicans cannot have it both ways.

I suggest Republicans support open investigations with no immunity, and put Nancy Pelosi under oath as the first witness.

[sonoffestus]

I really don't care where it ends up. I believe and will continue to believe, until proven wrong, that some really bad sh t went down and it is not acceptable.

I am not saying this stuff never happened before or it's one party's problem ,but the scope and magnitude this time is frightening.

[gbrooks]

You know what?

If Pelosi/Reid or anyone else goes down for breaking our laws, so be it. Investigate and prove your allegations, just make sure they're worthwhile and you aren't just being a partisan snit.

[abouttime]

As I recall the NYT revealed the warrentless wiretaping by the Bush Adninistration "four years" after it began, but had the information about it, and withheld it until after the 2004 election, thereby giving Republicans and the Bush/Chenney a gift in the the election over Kerrey.

[Moshe]

Well . . . thanks NYT. But are you sure it's not to soon?

After all, it's just lying us into phoney wars for personal profit, torture, murder, and general lawlessness and contempt for the basic Rule of Law at the highest levels of government.

[rich misty]

Faved, I was already a fan.

[expired]

Nothing will become of this. Smoke and mirrors. Move along folks, nothing to see here.

[Rule Of Law]

That is the sort of attitude that got us here. The People, when properly aroused, can effect great change!

[Moshe]

CYA for the NYT too little far too late.

The NYT lost credibility when they helped Bush/Cheney pimp the Iraq war.

[sc300nc]

Go ahead and investigate. The Republicans will reciprocate in 2013 when Obama is no longer president. ACORN, GM, AGI, and whatever else he does these next 3 years will all be on the table. Obama knows that, that's why it the Bush investigations will never happen.

[rich misty]

Republicans have to win some election cycles before they can do anything, and that is simply not in the cards for them. Their "predictions" are completely baseless.

[sc300nc]

Obama will be a one termer. The Republicans will win some senate seats in 2010. The Dems realize this, that's why they have such urgency to get things pushed through.

[rich misty]

"Obama will be a one termer."

Republicans are laughable. You have nothing to support that statement, nothing at all. Not even a cooked Republican "feel good" poll from Rassy.

[washlib]

2013? hahahaha hahahaha hahaha

you are DREAMING if you think reichwingers will have any power in this country for at LEAST 20yrs. Try 2033, and the GOP will be barely center-right, instead of rabidly extremist right as they are now.

Intelligent americans have had enough of the f4cist GOP, where does that leave...YOU?

[rich misty]

Fanned and faved

[sviolette]

There is an election in 2013? What country do you vote in?

[gbrooks]

Isn't it obvious that he's not in touch with reality?

[kepary]

you are right ... lets STOP this tit for tat

[proudlyproud]

For goodness sake, this is all sooo simple if the previous administration hadn't been so Islamaphobic. Just because the government seized these men in the vicinity of where fighters were fighting doesn't automatically mean they were involved. When were they read their Miranda rights? When did they get benefit of counsel? Just because they aren't American citizens or never set foot on American soil doesn't mean they aren't entitled to the full protection of American law if America is going to incarcerate them? They didn't even get an arraignment where they could have had a bail hearing. And how can they be classified as "prisoners of war" if they aren't uniformed soldiers? No, no, no, they should all be given trials in federal court in the US and provided free legal representation. I just don't understand why it has taken Mr. Obama so long to act on this. I know he's busy trying to change America into a more economically egalitarian society, but this is just one thing that needs immediate attention. Can you imagine what the conditions must be like for those men locked up in Cuba for all this time?

[Jalepeno]

For goodness sake, this is all sooo simple, take no prisoner, two rounds per person and we do not have to worry about who's right were violated. If they don't want to the two rounds, they should not be on the battle fields.

[FROG1]

I'm with you, jalapeno - I hope rules of engagement have been changed to 'no prisoners' - can you imagine if during WW2 we had to mirandize every German prisoner, provide him with an attorney (free of charge), speedy trial, etc etc - these trials would still be going on! These fruitcake lefties are living on some other planet - or spending their welfare checks on high-potency crack!

[rich misty]

Pat Tillman, and it was three rounds, not two.

[milman1]

Please stay out of my Army unit.

[rich misty]

Republican mistreatment of detainees is a direct violation of the US Constitution, and simply shows their intense disrespect for the ideal and principals America was founded upon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Six_of_the_United_States_Constitution

Article Six ^^^

http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/terrorism?OpenDocument

The specific language of the law ^^^

[cynthia3217]

The problem with the NYT was Judith Miller had a direct line to Cheney and parroted his talking points in the Grey Lady. To be fair, when the editor found out, he did boot her tush.

[rich misty]

Judy Miller was eventually cleared, but she was heavily involved with the Plame investigation. She had met I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby for breakfast the day before the NYT put her Iraq WMD story on the Sunday front page. The entire Bush adminstration, shy only the President, had already booked time on the Sunday talk shows and they showed up with the banner headline in their hands.

As a result of her contacts with Libby at the time of the outting of Valerie Plame, she came under investigation and was held in jail for some weeks on contempt. Libby of course obstructed the investigation by committing perjury and has a felony conviction.

[vippy]

Bush broke the rules. What good does it do when we have laws and they are broken by a dictator?

[FROG1]

what rules?

[Grunty1]

Dubya said the same thing.

[rich misty]

Why do Republicans support breaking the rules? And why do they support people who break them?

[FROG1]

that's just who we are LOL

[rich misty]

"that's just who we are LOL"

I know that. That is why the Conservative ideology must be completely voted out of the federal government.

One of the problems Republicans have is that they honestly think that everybody else is corrupt like they are.. They project their personality disorder in their attacks upon Americans. But Americans are not corrupt, they are decent, honest people who work hard and are willing to make personal sacrifices to reach their goals.

Nero is an excellent study of the personality traits found in todays Republican party.

[rich misty]

Things like the National Security Act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Act_of_1947

The National Security Act was passed in 1947 to prevent secret programs from operating without Congressional oversight. This law is essential to preserving Democracy in America.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode50/usc_sec_50_00000403----001-.html

SEC. 501. [50 U.S.C. 413] (a)(1) The President shall ensure that the congressional intelligence committees are kept fully and currently informed of the intelligence activities of the United States, including any significant anticipated intelligence activity as required by this title.

http://feinstein.senate.gov/crs-intel.htm

[Jalepeno]

Didn't Tim break the rules??

[KIVPossum]

How come everyone wants to investigate Bush now? We knew for 8 years what was going on and no one had the courage to open their mouth.

[LemonMeringue]

Plenty of people complained.

The media did the bidding of BushCo and suppressed the complaints as much as they could.

[skippypicasso]

No one had the courage to listen to the people who were opening their mouths.

[DimBulb2]

the wind changed directions

[rich misty]

I switched parties before the 2004 re-election of Bush, even tho I was not a Kerry fan at all. I have been pushing for Justice and Change ever since, and have been able to do a lot at the local level by reaching out to neighbors in the community. The more I have learned about Conservative ideology the more people I have tried to reach out to and educate.

[FROG1]

wow, am I ever impressed!! did you award yourself a medal yet? or did you just paint one on your mirror?

[rich misty]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/188279

David Frum ^ identifies the Republican base as a cult, pg. 4, bottom.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-06-14/attack-of-the-zombie-republicans

John Batchelor ^

Both Frum and Batchelor are life long Republicans, both have identified the Republican base as a cult. Bill Schneider, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute agrees:

http://www.librarygrape.com/2009/05/todays-gop-qualifies-as-cult.html

[proudlyproud]

You go, girl!

[washlib]

because admin #43 threatened whistle blowers with a police state and locking up dissenters WITHOUT REPRESENTATION OR TRIAL.