We have just emerged from a time when White House officials often acted as if they were above the law. That was wrong and must be fully exposed so it never happens again.
The Huffington Post community and the netroots played a vital role pursuing, demanding, and exposing the Bush-Cheney administration's numerous abuses. But there's still more we don't know, and more we must uncover, about the misdeeds of the past eight years.


That is why I proposed the idea of a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate abuses during the Bush-Cheney administration. These abuses may include the use of torture, warrantless wiretapping, extraordinary rendition, and executive override of laws. 


I have set up a petition at BushTruthCommission.com, and I hope you will sign it to urge Congress to consider establishing a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate the Bush-Cheney administration's abuses. We already have over 7,000 signatures, but we need to hit 10,000 signatures -- or more -- by next week, to build momentum behind this idea.
During the past several years, this country has been divided as deeply as it has been at any time in our history since the Civil War. It has made our government less productive and our society less civil. In this week when we begin commemorating the Lincoln bicentennial, there is need, again, "to bind up the nation's wounds." President Lincoln urged that course in his second inaugural address some seven score and four years ago.


Rather than vengeance, we need a fair-minded pursuit of what actually happened. The best way to move forward is getting to the truth, finding out what happened, so we can make sure it does not happen again.


The Obama administration has already made huge strides to restore the Constitution and renew our commitment to international law after eight corrosive years. But we must read the full page on this dark chapter in American history before we can turn it for good, which is why I feel so strongly about investigating what really happened.

 I hope you agree.


On Monday, I delivered a speech at Georgetown University where I outlined my ideas about why we need a truth and reconciliation commission and how it could work.


A truth and reconciliation commission would be tasked with seeking answers. It would provide Congress and the American people with a shared understanding of the failures of the recent past, so we do not repeat them in the future.


Thank you, in advance, for taking action at www.BushTruthCommission.com to prevent history from repeating itself and joining me to support the creation of a truth and reconciliation commission.
Nowhere have you provided an estimate of what your Commission will cost. Nothing in the Federal Government happens without an appropriation. Your letter to the GAO: http://citizenoversight.com/pdf/blwb.pdf seeking a study did not yield anything precisely because there was no appropriation for it. If a GAO study cannot be got going without dedicated funding, how can a massive enterprise like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
It means spending time and money allowing people to make high sounding speeches that a year later will have no effect except the mass of money they have wasted. Nothing but one political party trying to paint the other party as the "bad guys" at the waste of the taxpayers money.
The question is why the wiretapping began? Were Bush and Cheney wanting to spy on their political opponents to advance the New World Order? Did they have information on the pending 9/11 attacks and did nothing so as to go to wars? We need answers and the questions about their illegal activities should start since their first day on the job.
This Act incorporates the 1998 war crimes Treaty of Rome, and the Agreement for the prosecution and punishment of the major war criminals of the European Axis, signed at London on August 8, 1945; and the Proclamation by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, dated January 19, 1946.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/ShowTdm/cs/C-45.9//20090214/en?command=search&caller=SI&fragment=war%20crimes&search_type=all&day=14&month=2&year=2009&search_domain=cs&showall=L&statuteyear=all&lengthannual=50&length=50
Bush can be arrested under the provisions of Section 6 of the Act - 'Offenses Outside Canada'.
In fact, it appears that nothing in the Criminal Code of Canada precludes an ordinary citizen of Canada from making a citizen's arrest of Bush for crimes under this Act. Section 494 of the Criminal Code provides citizens with all the power they require.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/C-46//20090214/en?command=search&caller=SI&fragment=494&search_type=all&day=14&month=2&year=2009&search_domain=cs&showall=L&statuteyear=all&lengthannual=50&length=50
Mandatory life imprisonment is called for where intentional death occurs as a result of the accused's actions:
2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (1.1)
(a) shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, if an intentional killing forms the basis of the offence; and
(b) is liable to imprisonment for life, in any other case.
If you can make this happen, you'll become my hero.
.
I have sent Leahy a message regarding his aiding and abetting criminals and refused to sign on for his attempt at a cover up. Every one should target this senator overwhelmingly to send a strong message to him and his peers_ "We are in control and prosecutions are demanded."
Failure to do so will come back to haunt them.
From 911, to the phony war on Iraq, to the bankster's bailout- virtually all of the Congress rolled over for Bush- over, and over.
You guys have pensions for life, unlike the rest of us. So I ask- what are you afraid of?
Senator Leahy, I like you, and like the idea of a commission, but just have the DOJ launch a full scale investigation. We all know already who is guilty, and why, we just need the evidence shown in a court of law.
The Rules of DAG- DOJ and The Civil Rights are black and white and in english- for clarity-rule of law
Enron and WorldComm have nothing on these creative debacles of high level of Malfeasences-
I'd like to see some sun shined on areas that it has NOT been shown previously: Frank, Dodd, Geithner's role in creating the sub-prime, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac mess and then being in charge of the cover up of that?