Whitehouse: If Obama doesn’t investigate Bush’s crimes, I will.
Whitehouse: If Obama doesn’t investigate Bush’s crimes, I will.
President-elect Obama this week said his team was in the middle of “evaluating” Bush administration policies to see whether a criminal investigation would be worthwhile. NPR reports that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) says that he understands Obama’s reluctance to pursue investigations but that he may take matters into his own hands:
“I think that there’s a lot that remains to look at, and I appreciate that President Obama doesn’t want to make it his purpose as a new president, with America in real distress in many directions, to go back and look at all this, but I think we in Congress have an independent responsibility, and I fully intend to discharge that responsibility,” Whitehouse said.
In a 487-page report out today recapping Bush’s “imperial presidency,” House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) recommends that “the incoming Administration finally begin an independent criminal review of activities of the outgoing Administration.”
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Whitehouse: If Obama doesn’t investigate Bush’s crimes, I will.»
– - Seriously, I don’t want to hear the man’s name again after January 20th. It’d be like perpetuating a bad nightmare or picking at a scab that’ll never heal. I don’t need BushCo’s crimes spread over the media for next decade for us to be inundated with.
Move on….
January 13th, 2009 at 5:28 pmThere should be NO reluctance to investigate this criminal administration.
If Obama does not uphold his oath of office, then others will have to do so.
Well done, Senator.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:28 pmIt’ll be interesting to see how Rove and Addington and the other criminals duck out of testifying now that they’re no longer protected by “executive privilege”
January 13th, 2009 at 5:30 pmOh boy should they investigate! I can see leaving Obama free to deal with the aftermath and to be out of what will be spun as a partisan attack.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:30 pmIt’s a pity Whitehouse did not show the courage he has now 10 months ago.Think of all the damage it would have spared us.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:30 pmI think that legally, it is the House and the Sente who must investigate Bush&Co. Obama can give them a green light and push them, but I think congress is the legal body in the nation.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:31 pmIf Obama doesn’t have his Justice Department investigate the crimes of the Bush Administration, he will be putting a lie to his saying that “No one is above the law”.
Good for Whitehouse. Maybe we can all shame Obama in to investigating.
But, I really do think Obama intends to investigate and prosecute the Bush Crime Family, he just can’t announce it now and come out of the gate swinging. That would totally freak out the Republicans and they are pretty freaked already due to their lack of status and power. They are already declaring that they will obstruct anything Obama tries to do. But they know that there are some Republicans who are going to break rank with them to support the stimulus and other Obama plans. Those people are the one’s who will be up for re-election in 2010. But, if Obama declares war on Bush right off the bat, even those 2010 Republicans will close ranks and all hell will break loose.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:31 pmWhile I applaud Senator Whitehouses comment and the seriousness in which he takes his oath of office, we shall see how long his admirable and tough talk lasts after the spineless majority leader Harry Reid has a talk with him.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:34 pmIt sounds like the cowardly lion, wait until the danger is gone to bluster. Whitehouse began serving when?
January 13th, 2009 at 5:34 pmBadmoodman Says:
- – Seriously, I don’t want to hear the man’s name again after January 20th. It’d be like perpetuating a bad nightmare or picking at a scab that’ll never heal. I don’t need BushCo’s crimes spread over the media for next decade for us to be inundated with.
Boy, I can’t say how much I disagree with you. I think the only way this country is going to heal and become a kind and caring nation once again is if the people who have assaulted our country are tried, convicted and put in jail. Besides, if we don’t prosecute these criminals, what will be the incentive for the next Republican administration to not commit the same crimes?
January 13th, 2009 at 5:34 pmWell said Bilbo Hussein Baggins.Nothing is generally gained at the beginning of an Admin by getting on top of a building & yelling as loud as you can.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:35 pmThe DoJ can and should also investigate the charges; but don’t the charges first have to be officially written?
January 13th, 2009 at 5:35 pmI think Obama can stay above this likely nasty affair, while having the DoJ and the congress do the job.
Obama, frankly, has too many very urgent matters to deal with in his first months — there is no statute of limitations on the charges against war criminals.
It’s not Barack Obama’s task to begin with.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:35 pmIt is the US Congress’ duty to serve as a check and balance against an imperialistic executive branch.
Congress has sat on it’s hands for two years. It’s about time they started pursuing the criminality of the Bush administration.
The good news is; the perps will have less executive privilege to hide behind, and we may actually see justice served.
I think Bilbo is right when he says Obama can’t come out swinging right now, no matter how much he may want to — his is the calm, cool demeanor — but remember he plays a mean game of poker — and he may just be setting up his opponents.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pmMaybe that light isn’t a train.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:37 pmNevar Says:
It’s not Barack Obama’s task to begin with.
Good point.Pelosi particualrly sat on her hands & did nothing for 2 yrs .remember impeachment is off the table.Somehow now people are looking to Obama to do Pelosi’s & Reid’s job for ‘em.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:40 pmSheldon Whitehouse sworn in 1/4/07. His remarks at the time:
Whitehouse said a top personal priority on the Judiciary Committee, coinciding with the program of incoming Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., is to examine what he called “the warrantless activities of this administration.”
http://whitehouse.senate.gov/newsroom/news/article/?id=41154867-d6d9-4a08-bcfb-b63773f6f1c1
January 13th, 2009 at 5:41 pmThere should be absolutely no question of “IF” — only a matter of “WHEN” the investigations will start.
Otherwise America will never live down the shame of Bush.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:41 pmBetter late than never. If they didn’t do anything wrong, they won’t mind being investigated.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:43 pmWe all second that, Senator.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:44 pmHas anyone else noticed the all of the sudden “balls” of Democrats, Independents, and so-called Media. As if all of the sudden they all discovered accountability. I knew this would happen as soon as D.C. went blue, now everyone wants to do their jobs since 9/11 is far enough away to be held over them as a club to beat them into submission. So we get everyone acting tough and now we’re gonna hold peoples feet to the fire.
RIP
January 13th, 2009 at 5:52 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
Congress swore an oath to defend the Constitution. If they do not investigate the abuses of the Bush administration, they have failed in their oath and should be removed from office. We are either a nation of laws or we are not. If Congress cannot find the decency to honor their oath, then who will?
Do the American people have to do Congress’ work also? And as they always said: “If you have nothing to hide, then you should welcome an inquiry.”
January 13th, 2009 at 5:54 pmOne thing I’ve always been confused about is how BushCo thought they could get away with keeping what they’ve done from biting them forever. Seeing as how all of their tactics involve invoking the Presidency to hold off questions or indictments, those only amount to delaying tactics. In fact, the longer it takes to get them, the worse it will be. I can’t imagine they actually thought people were going to drop it just because they allowed themselves to become irrelevant.
.
Badmoodman Says:
I don’t need BushCo’s crimes spread over the media for next decade for us to be inundated with.
I do. We will not restore the United States as a nation of laws unti we take care of this. Furthermore, they’ll be back. We must be constantly reminded in order to remain vigilant in defending America from these vermin.
The thing is, even after prosecutions, more and more dirt is going to be dug up by historians. We’re going to be hearing about this for a century, at least. That’s a good thing.
.
Marie Says:
I think that legally, it is the House and the Sente who must investigate Bush&Co. Obama can give them a green light and push them, but I think congress is the legal body in the nation.
The Special Prosecutor law exists specifically to investigate people at the top of the Executive food chain. It would apply to ex-Presidents as well. The appropriate thing to do would be to activate it.
.
Uncle Fester Lurks Says:
While I applaud Senator Whitehouses comment and the seriousness in which he takes his oath of office, we shall see how long his admirable and tough talk lasts after the spineless majority leader Harry Reid has a talk with him.
Having a private talk with Reid gets you whatever you want. If he sat down to lunch with Harry, he’d leave the meeting with a major chairmanship. And Reid’s pants.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:56 pmThere needs to be an investigation and consequences for any charges proven by that investigation. Not for a sense of vengeance, mind you; just so that politicians of all stripes will think twice before trying this shit again.
What reason is there now for an administration official to NOT reveal the identity of a covert agent if it will benefit him politically? He might lose his job? Big frickin’ deal. He won’t go to jail. He’ll become a big hero to the wingnuts and, you can bet your bippy, a big recipient of Wingnut Welfare™.
Ford’s pardon of Nixon, and Poppy Bush’s pardon of Cap Weinberger and the Iran Contra bunch are the things that gave Cheney confidence that he could pull off all the shit he’s pullled off over the past eight years.
It’s got to stop.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:58 pmWhy is it that the GOP seems to be the party which always needs explaining? They always need to explain their incompetence, corruption, executive over-reach, cronyism, lack of patriotism, greed, etc…
The GOP is the law and order party. I guess that simply means that they make up the law and order everybody else to follow it.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:01 pmTired Of Fighting Says:
Has anyone else noticed the all of the sudden “balls” of Democrats, Independents, and so-called Media. As if all of the sudden they all discovered accountability.
I think their balls came as of November 4. Up until that time they were so scared they were going to lose the presidency they acted like a bunch of cowardly lions. That is the only reason why they didn’t impeach Bush. They actually thought that if Congress held Bush accountable, that the country would elect another Republican into the presidency. I think they were quite wrong, but what’s done is done. As long as they keep their balls and use them well, I’m OK with going forward at a reasonable rate investigating the Bush Crime Family.
Personally, I think that once an investigation begins and all the whistle blowers come out of the woodwork, there’s going to such a damning case against everyone in the Bush Crime Family that Congress/Obama will not be able to NOT prosecute them.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:02 pmWhat I would love is for Obama to appoint an independent prosecutor and that he would appoint Jonathan Turley. That guy is brilliant. He’s also giving Obama no quarter when it comes to weaseling out of prosecuting Bush & Company.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:03 pmHear hear, Bilbo – I’d second that in a heartbeat.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:11 pmGo a head Whitehouse, just do it!
But I think the investigation should take place under the Justice Department. I think AG Holder should give his USA a free hand to take leads from individuals who will free to talk after 1/20/2009 and follow those leads to wherever and to whomever. If there’s evidence of wrongdoing, call up a Grand Jury and present the evidence and let the good people of the Grand Jury decide if charges should be brought. If so, bring them in and book em’. Give them a fair trial….. then hang them. :-) just kidding.
“Our government… teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.” – Justice Louis Brandeis
January 13th, 2009 at 6:14 pmstateofthedivision Says:
It sounds like the cowardly lion, wait until the danger is gone to bluster. Whitehouse began serving when?
Seems to me that Whitehouse has been quite vocal about this for a long time (well, as long as he’s been around). See here. I think he’s one of the good guys.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:14 pmObama, if you take the oath of office to uphold the laws of the land, then you MUST bring the WAR CRIMINALS Bush, Cheney and others to the justice they deserve.
Mr. Whitehouse they have broken the law so often that even a 10 year old knows they are criminals, good luck bringing them to justice.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:20 pmObama is a very smart man. I have no doubt that Bush and the rest of the Criminals in this admin will see there day before a court.
Obama just realizes that he can’t be seen as the head cheerleader.
1.He has to remove himself as far as possible.
2. It can’t look political.
You don’t want to go down as the guy who led the fight to execute an X President while you were President. It has to be justice was served.
You don’t want to turn Bush into a martyr because that’s what the Conservative Taliban will do.
Imagine the day and think about it. The day Bush faces the electric chair. Think how that day would be covered in the news.
If he’s as smart as I think he is, Obama knows that he can turn the Republicans into the Wig party.
Obama was not oblivious to the campaign they ran.
He knows what they are truly made of. He knows they truly do not have the country’s best interest in mind.
Unless your from Real America. He gets it.
It’s like watching a classic 5 card poker match and Obama knows he’s got the Royal Flush.
If all that fails there is one reason they will have to investigate Bush.
Do they realize how many Americans will look at our Criminal Justice System as a complete joke and decide that if they want to look forward on Bush’s crimes then look forward on mine.
Unless they want the complete Justice System to crumble they have no choice but to prosecute Bush.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:20 pmWe will be able to move on, after America is restored and the RepubliCons, like Bush and Cheney are behind bars. Badmoodman, you sound like a RepubliCon stooge.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:21 pmAnyone else find it ironic that it took a Whitehouse to finally investigate the White House?
More power to you, Senator! You have my full support, and I applaud your efforts.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:23 pmWhitehouse, with all due respect, shut up and do it. Sick to death of the ‘coasting on intent’ that the Spineless Ones’ have done in lieu of their actual jobs.
If you were serious, you wouldn’t make an iffy announcement months early to glean whatever kudos and confidence from a severely abused electorate.
Shut up, Whitehouse, and get started. Tell me after you’ve taken real steps instead of trying to bask in what always turns out to be pretense.
Sick ‘o this Jellyfish Congress…
January 13th, 2009 at 6:31 pmObama has a simple choice:
1) Investigate and lead the way on this. Be a leader.
OR
2) Don’t investigate and lose your entire foreign policy credibility around the world. Forever and ever, amen.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:51 pmNixon didn’t pay for his crimes and that’s why it’s happen again but this time Cheney up dated the crimes. Most Americans need to realize Ford live to learn his mistake as he watched the Bush Administration commit more crimes then Nixon. One can only look at the number of soldiers who didn’t have to die. What about the millions of Americans who lost their jobs, homes and life savings. Should they just let it go for another President to do the same as Bush/Cheney.
If anyone feels Bush should be let off the hook for his crimes then let all the criminals out of jail too. This country was almost destroyed by the Corruption of the President and the Vice President. I have notice how Law Makers and the American people are making demands on Obama even before he has even taken office. Some Republicans and Media has suggested if Obama loses one dime of taxpayers money he will be IMPEACHED.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:23 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins says:
Boy, I can’t say how much I disagree with you. I think the only way this country is going to heal and become a kind and caring nation once again is if the people who have assaulted our country are tried, convicted and put in jail. Besides, if we don’t prosecute these criminals, what will be the incentive for the next Republican administration to not commit the same crimes?
I couldn’t agree with you more. To paraphrase James T. Kirk (sorry about that), “the laws must apply to everyone, or they mean nonthing.”
January 13th, 2009 at 7:32 pmKarl Rove convinced them that they’d have the White House and the majority forever. That’s how they thought they’d get away with all these acts. Even them “losing” emails is illiegal and shredding papers and they did those things blatantly because they thought they’d be covering their own butts forever.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:43 pmPlain & Simple–Investigate, Follow-up, Prosecute…
January 13th, 2009 at 7:47 pmSheldon Whitehouse has shown himself to be an exemplary Senator as far as I can tell ( C-SPAN ). He and Byron Dorgan, could break open the whole BUSH-CHAINY corruption ring if they had the j and a Special Commission at their disposal.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:59 pmWhat crimes?
January 13th, 2009 at 8:16 pmWhitehouse: If Obama doesn’t investigate Bush’s crimes, I will.
I have an idea, Senator… You see, Obama is not President yet. His prospective AG is not the AG yet.
How long have you been a senator? How about you starting that investigation, yesterday.
Geez.
January 13th, 2009 at 8:17 pm“…independent criminal review”
The cancer is bad enough to use extreme measures. Time to dust off the old independent counsel statutes. Make it a republican, but not Fitz. Ask John Dean who he’d recommend.
January 13th, 2009 at 8:19 pmbarfly Says:
“…independent criminal review”
The cancer is bad enough to use extreme measures. Time to dust off the old independent counsel statutes. Make it a republican, but not Fitz. Ask John Dean who he’d recommend.
David Iglesias would probably be a good choice.
January 13th, 2009 at 8:26 pmHe is a Republican.
Heh
Why is Obama reluctant? Maybe he is waiting to be sworn in before making the decision as he would have the ultimate protection…. we are dealing with a band of the most degenerate thugs.
How can we turn the page with out cleaning the infection from the wound? And if we do not make things right, we are just as guilty as the thugs in the eyes of the world.
January 13th, 2009 at 8:27 pmProfessor of Constitution Law, Johnathan Truley, said on Olberman’s that ‘if Obama looks away from the WAR CRIMES of this administration, Obama will own these crimes!
Prefessor Truley opinion is shared by the whole of the International community with the exception of UK/USA/Israel.
WAR CRIMINALS, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, MUST BE PROSSECUTED!
January 13th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I don’t think Chenney/Bush and Co. deserve to be jailed.
Two million Iraqui civilians are dead because of the lies and greed. Another number of civilians are dead in Afegahnistan because of their lies and greed.
4227 service personel are dead because of the lies and greed.
300 americans are dead because of their false flag operation, 9/11.
They deserve the DEATH SQAUD!!!!! They Deserve HANGING!
January 13th, 2009 at 8:54 pmI meant to say 3000 Americans on 9/11… miss typed…
January 13th, 2009 at 8:56 pmSure you will. If your going to do it, just do it and don’t talk about it. Try Kucinich or Feingold if you want help.
Out here we won’t hold our breath.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:45 pmI sort of miss those major freakshows….
January 13th, 2009 at 10:09 pmCan anyone at this site spell? If you’re going to prosecute George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for the capital crime of disagreeing with left-wing bloggers, at least learn the rudiments of English grammar and the accepted spelling of English words.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:34 pmsacopenapa,
You are one sick puppy. I hope you get a visit from the Secret Service.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:38 pmsharksbreath -
… the fight to execute an X President [...] The day Bush faces the electric chair.
see, i totally empathize … but, the death penalty is against the norms of civility, imo…
and it would be much too easy on these criminals…
seriously, gitmo would be too good for them… but it would serve well enough for that purpose…
January 13th, 2009 at 10:41 pmbe?mused
? ?/b??myuzd/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [bi-myoozd] Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. bewildered or confused.
2. lost in thought; preoccupied.
obviously…
January 13th, 2009 at 10:47 pmWhitehouse is excellent. Finally, somebody willing to do their job. I predict that pardons will be announced this Friday at 5 pm eastern. After the great final presidential speech. Or maybe on Sunday during the football game.
But really, George Will and David Brooks and Bill Kristol??? I did not vote for this.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:26 pmTo Bemused:
I actually have a college education, know how to spell (and punctuate), and believe the exact opposite of you. Find another excuse to insult liberals and then figure out why Reagan’s economic policies are killing this country. Hope you lost a bundle with Mr. Madoff.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:31 pmIMPEACH!!!!
January 14th, 2009 at 12:15 am55#
Tim Vaculik Says:
sacopenapa,
You are one sick puppy. I hope you get a visit from the Secret Service.
If to be disgusted by the War Crimes of the USA is to be a sick puupy, ‘bring them on!’.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:01 ambemused Says:
Can anyone at this site spell? If you’re going to prosecute George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for the capital crime of disagreeing with left-wing bloggers, at least learn the rudiments of English grammar and the accepted spelling of English words.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Yeah starting a war of aggression is no biggie. Comitting a fraud on the United States which is the crime a couple of the Watergate conspiritors went to prison for. That is misleading Congress, like with their aluminum tubes lie. Acting like the fourth amendment doesnt apply to Pharoah Bush. All that is fine but misspelling WOW, THAT is the real problem. YOU are a joke and a brainwashed braindead joke at that
January 14th, 2009 at 1:26 amTim Vaculik Says:
Timmeh. You are one ignorant fascist
January 14th, 2009 at 1:27 amSen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is one of my role models.
The American people need more courageous Congressmen, like Whitehouse and Conyers, to pursue investigation and prosecution against George W. Bush.
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
“GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY” BLOG OF ANDREW YU-JEN WANG
ONLINE ANTI-BUSH SCHOLASTIC RESEARCH: LISTING OF MAJOR ISSUES
http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/2008/10/bush-is-worst-president-in-american.html
January 14th, 2009 at 2:00 am.
Congress has a sworn duty to the Republic and We The People, to support and defend the Constitution of the USA…
… NOT it’s demise and usurpation by the president.
If America is to be a nation of Laws and NOT men, then what does it make us when our elected Officials choose to follow the whim of a man(the Administration) and forgo the limits prescribed within the laws?
.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:42 am.
America ceases to be “A Nation of Laws and not men,” when their elected Officials grant permission to a man on the grounds that when a president(or V.P.) does it, that means it is NOT illegal.
R E M E M B E R:
The Founders built the base of this Nation during war time, on our soil, while our cities were under direct assault. If it was good enough then, to secure these Bill of Rights for the People, then why is it NOT good enough now?
And now, our Representatives would rather sell out from this nation it’s foundations because of a threat? Sure, circumstances change as time goes on, however it is principles that keep one steady and honest to one’s cause, that for America to stay complete and whole, one must NOT undo the defining characteristics that have long defined what America is.
.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:52 amYour question is worth pondering. Obviously, one could assume that Bush-Cheney never considered any of their actions to be criminal and therefore impeachable. But we are talking about a laundry list of acts that a clear majority of Americans believe this administration is accountable for and that certainly meet the threshold of ‘crimes and misdemeanors’.
(1) 9/11 – their gross negligence and systematic ignorance of the mounting threat levels – at best. Only they were in the position to take some kind of actions before 9/11 to prepare or try to address the looming attack (see 8.6/01 – PDB). TOTAL FAIL.
(2) Iraq War (a) advance planning in Cheney’s secret energy meetings? (b) lies about a casus belli. There was no credible or demonstrable threat by Hussein against this country prior to the ‘03 invasion. See UN reports that proved there were no stockpiles of WMD.
(3) Gross negligence in oversight of our economy. Trillions of dollars lost that may have been great mitigated/minimized had this administration done their due diligence over their term in Office.
(4) Gross negligence in withholding federal resources early on in the Katrina disaster. The City and State were in no condition to deal with the immediate aftermath of Katrina – Bush was AWOL.
(5) Politicization/corruption of the DOJ.
(6) Outing a CIA agent and major operation tasked with tracking WMD – treason?
(7) Condoning/Promoting Torture which I believe may be crimes against humanity (see also Iraqi War).
(8) War profiteering – I want to see how well Dick did in handing out no-bid contracts to KBR/Halliburton, etc. Whatever happened to that $8BB that was ‘lost’ in Iraq?
These are just off the top of my head…countless more outrages where crimes were committed with no one being held accountable.
So why the complacency at the end of their term? Pure bluff? Are they holding pocket aces? Are they counting on Republican media machine to protect them when their hands are taken off the reins of government on 1/20/09?
Or did their plans go awry back in 2006? Were they expecting that they had the 2006 election in the bag and that they could retain the Presidency in 2008? After the ‘01 anthrax attacks, implementation of the Patriot Act, warrentless wire tapping (political blackmail? – see Elliot Spitzer), Wellstone plane crash, and the improbable 2004 election results, I really thought that fear, media control, polling/balloting manipulation, and setting Americans against each other was their recipe to maintain control for a very, very long time to come.
But Americans didn’t lose their cool, they gave this administration no excuse to declare martial law, and their wonderful war for oil turned into a trillion dollar disaster. Too much Party corruption in too many places made tipping close elections impossible. By the time they lost Congress in 2006, it was probably too late for the New American Century architects to salvage their grand plan.
So, here we are. Impeachment appears to be picking up steam, but until this administration is completely out of power, there is not going to be a real, coordinated open discussion and action on this central issue.
And I don’t expect Obama to ever lead on this. Obama has a macro-job to do – repair this country’s economy and international reputation. He has to stay above this battle. But I’m hoping he’s going to let the investigations grow organically, through Congress’ direct involvement…let the crimes become exposed, bring the lower level players in and get them to drop dimes and quarters. As the evidence mounts and the testimonies are recorded, there will be too much corruption exposed to bury. When the polls start showing 75-80% of Americans wanting impeachment/accountability, then the wheels of justice will start to crank into overdrive.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:02 amGo for it, Sheldon.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:43 amDon’t forget to investigate Harry Reid and all the senators who said there wasn’t enough evidence to hold impeachment hearings.
Be sure to go back to 2004, when actual patriots were calling for Bush’s impeachment, but the Democrats wanted everyone to keep quite, because “if Bush was impeached, Cheney would become president”. Besides, Vietnam vet Kerry was a sure thing to beat Bush!
Come to think of it, like a few others said, where were you for the last two years?
Impeachment hearings was the proper way to handle two alleged traitors, not electing someone new and then “investigating”.
I left out Nancy Pelosi and your spineless counterparts in the House who followed orders.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:56 am#68 Innocent Bystander!!!!!!
What you wrote is excellent!!!!! Thanks!!!!
January 14th, 2009 at 6:54 amIt is imperative that this bunch of criminals NOT go unpunished. The Bush Crime Syndicate must be thoroughly investigated, prosecuted, and let the chips fall where they may. For America to return to the family of nations this has to be done; let all complicit Democrats be aware that their hands bear the same blood stains as those criminal Republicans who allowed Bush and his mob to run rough-shod over our Constitution and over our lives. The alarmed world is looking on to see what will CHANGE under our new president, and I can envision the world turning completely away from us should we refused to take action against the moronic creep, Bush, and his PNAC neocon gang.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:20 amSheldon Whitehouse is a true champion of the law and the Constitution. For those of you who are criticizing him, this is NOT the first time he’s said this type of thing. If you’ve ever watched C-Span’s coverage of the Senate floor, as well as Committee Hearings (he sits on, among others, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence), you’d know this. Also, he was elected to the Senate only in Nov. of 2006 (replaced Lincoln Chafee), taking office in Jan. of 2007. He has been both U.S. Attorney and the State Attorney General in Rhode Island. He knows the law…and he believes in it. I was actually hoping he was at least on Obama’s short list for AG. The guy is smart and honest.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:33 am# 68 Innocent Bystander:
“When the polls start showing 75-80% of Americans wanting impeachment/accountability, then the wheels of justice will start to crank into overdrive.”
That’s exactly what bothers me; after January 20th, I feel Americans are going to be overcome by selective amnesia, and/or, republicans who are dissatisfied with the bush administration’s “performance” are just that, but not outraged enough to want to pursue impeachment/prosecution. If the “push” for impeachment falls below a certain level nationally, along with little or no coverage by the “liberal media”, I fear Congress will then feel free to sit on their hands as usual, and the bush criminals will skate. Actually, this is what I believe WILL happen, but I really hope I’m wrong on this one.
BTW, does anyone know if bush can pardon himself and the other members of the bush cabal for the crimes listed in #68 post?
January 14th, 2009 at 10:37 am911=Iside job. Start there.
Anthax attacks=Inside Job but not just Bruce Ivins the Patsy.
WMD Lies.
Torture
Obama will not investigate. Mark my words.
Too many Democrats would end up in jail.
Bush had many Dems enabling him including Diane Fienstien, Senator Rockefeller, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Obama would have to eat his own.
We are a fascist police state and Obama is the status quo.
Not to worry though – other countries will investigate and prosecute. These folks better never leave this country or they will be snatched-up for war crimes.
In the end Justice will bee served by the Big Man upstairs.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:49 amAmerica has been raped and pillaged by these monsters.
Time to pay the piper! I don’t care how often we have to see or hear about these criminals, as long as its to punish them to the fullest extent of the law!!
January 14th, 2009 at 11:20 amSorry about the typos -
Anthrax has an r – I know
Inside has an n.
I am surprised the spell police haven’t flagged me yet.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:50 amThere are four groups who are against investigation/prosecution/justice to be meted out.
1. The group who would be investigated.
2. The group whose cowardly inaction aided and abetted acknowledged treachery, treason, war crimes and other nefarious criminal activity.
3. The group whose wilful and purposeful ignorance (which is stupidity raised to the level that constitutes criminality)
4. The group the symbol of which are the three monkeys who see no evil, hear no evil, and speak of no evil and are too ashamed to even see what hear or speak about the enormity of the evil perpetrated to which malignantly oblivious!
Failing to investigation/prosecute/and bring to justice the criminals is no better than to turn one’s back on an overflowing cesspool and imagine the stink will go away.
The Bush Administration crimes and misdemeanors are not some boo-boo that will heal by itself. It is a cancer that must be excised, irradiated, subjected to cleansing by the most potent of “chemotherapy” and the “body” politic monitored constantly lest the even one malignant cell regenerate.
To ctcadguy – Typos are the least of your problem – Your infantile belief as well as that of so many millions of Americans in some “Big Man Upstairs” contributed in no small part to overflowing cesspool that America has became under Reagan, Bush I, Clinton to some extent, Bush II and “Put- Clothespin-On-Your-Nose-And-Pretend-It Did-Not-Happen-Obama”
More than 100 years ago the I.W.W.(Wobblies) paraphrased lyrics to the hymn “In the Sweet Bye and Bye”.The signature line was (They’ll be Pie in the Sky Bye and Bye.)
January 14th, 2009 at 1:15 pmContact Whitehouse and tell him he has your support to expose the biggest scam of the past one hundred years. There is a mountain of evidence proving that Bush illegally took this nation to war resulting in untold misery for millions of Americans and Iraqis.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:26 pmWhen Sen. Whitehouse investigates the Bush gang, he can turn his attention to Rep. Nancy Pelosi. IMO her discouragement of and/or outright refusal to allow the House of Rep. investigate possible impeachment charges after the 2006 mid-term electins amounts to being an accessory after the fact. If she had allowed a House investigation, there wouldn’t be a lot of unresolved questions now.
January 14th, 2009 at 2:15 pmI understand our President-elect, however, the Bush administration cannot be allowed to skip town, so to speak, scott free. It sends the wrong message to other future administrations. Worse, it tells the world that our Constitution is not worth the paper on which it is written. It is imperative, in restoring the damage that the Bush administration has wrought on this country, to make it cystal clear that no one – NO ONE – is above the law.
January 14th, 2009 at 2:36 pmI encourage Senator Whitehouse to persue this matter and bring it to a lawful conclusion.
#81 dsmith Says:
“Contact Whitehouse and tell him he has your support to expose the biggest scam of the past one hundred years.”
Here’s the link to contact Whitehouse
http://whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/
January 14th, 2009 at 3:13 pmBemused asked, “what crimes”?
See
January 14th, 2009 at 11:28 pmhttp://tinyurl.com/9sk7kk
Tim Vaculik Says:
sacopenapa,
You are one sick puppy. I hope you get a visit from the Secret Service.
I ask him, “For what? Telling the truth?
And Innocent Bystander. Your #68 comment was great & right on!
January 15th, 2009 at 10:09 amThink about the potential can of worms that an investigation of Bush would open. For starters any investigation of Bush and 9-11 or Iraq will inevitably lead to issues that will involve Israel. It has been said that Israel furnished the intelligence about Saddam’s WMDs. That’s a powerful and embarrassing smoking gun.
Hold up your hand if you believe that Congress would oppose the Israeli Lobby and permit that potential embarrassment and more? Was the persistent rumor that Pelosi and AIPAC gave Kucinich a warning to shut up about impeachment a matter of pure fiction?
Any investigation into Bush will lead in directions that powerful players want dead ended before they begin.
Our supposed government of the people, by the people, is compromised and is no more.
The first step in getting it back is required public financing of elections.
January 15th, 2009 at 9:59 pmIn three months, Wolf Blitzer and the rest of the MSM will be describing the Obama Administration as “under seige” and “tainted with allegations of scandal and coruption.” Two months after that, the talking heads of the punditocracy, led by Fred Barnes, will begin to declare that Obamas is “a failed presidency.”
By the end of the year, there will be talk of impeachment of Obama, over…something or other…
Meanwhile, Harry Reid will use his newfound muscle as majority leader to block every Democratic attempt to investigate the crimes of Bush&Co. over the last eight years… “Given the hyperpartisan nature of the investigations against President Obama,” Reid will state “It would not serve the nation by adding to the atmosphere of recriminations by launching futher investigations into the past eight years.” Reid will be singled out for praise by Sean Hannity for his “civility” and “bipartisanship.”
January 16th, 2009 at 1:39 pmHappy 2009!
If the Obama has Bush investigated for crimes, he will be opening a can of worms and starting a precident.
If this happens, every administration from now on will be investigated for crimes. Sounds like what a third word country does.
It will also severely split the country.
Do you really want to start that?
January 16th, 2009 at 3:00 pmHow quickly we forget. Clinton taking a few million from Marc Rich’s ex-wife to buy his pardon, other bought pardons, stealing furniture from the White House that had to be returned. Having Sandy Berger steal and shred damning documentation Clinton didn’t want public, convicted perjurer, failing to capture Osama Bin Laden when he had the chance which would have saved more lives than any war Bush has started, and other miscellaneous crimes. And if, as one reader said Bush should go to jail for all the unemployment I guess we will have to put Jimmy Carter under the jail.
For those of you who can’t figure it out I’m a staunch Republican and didn’t vote for Obama. But I decided after listening to all you liberals berate Bush for 8 years that it is time for some civility in this country. I for one am tired of all the accusations and partisanship. The office of the Presidency is to be respected no matter whether your candidate is in office or not. I will support Obama and pray that he has the right ideas to turn this country around. Of course with the most useless Congress (both parties) we have ever had it’s going to tough. Unlike the posters here I will respect President Obama and do my part to bring some reason back to the political discourse. I hope many of you will consider doing the same thing. It should be easy with your candidate in office.
January 16th, 2009 at 4:08 pmYou should all be ashamed of yourselves. I have never seen so many people suffering from such blood thirsty mob-mentality. If you are not careful this hate will eat you alive. It is especially distressing when it is incongruent with your professed ideology of loving your fellow man. I know rage and hate blinds, but regardless of how little you and I agree upon I know you can do better.
January 17th, 2009 at 11:27 amI am torn on this issue as I know the Bush administration should be investigated but I also feel that it will take important time, energy and resources away from the rebuilding of our nation…
http://yourobamaupdate.blogspot.com/
January 19th, 2009 at 3:11 amHolding the Bush administration accountable, we provide our nation the best future prevention against criminal action by future presidents. If we look the other way, a terrible message and precedent is sent to future self-interested politicians: do anything–anything at all–no one will care or lift a finger to hold you accountable. Is this the message we want to carry forward? I hope not.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:27 amAllowing the Justice Department to do its work will not prevent us from using resources to build a better nation. Are not the very foundations of our nation built on the rule of justice and law? Isn’t living up to these principles fulfilling what our forefathers asked of us: to build a nation of equals under the law and protect our constitution rather than to build a land of kingly privilege for some thus inequality for all. These principles seem reasoned and responsible.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:40 amTruth can be our friend. Holding people (all people) to this principle—even politicians—this may be our hope for a brighter future.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:47 ami am in full support of investigating all these guys. everything from lying us into war thats caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people to their spying on americans to, as most of you guys forgot, outing covert cia agents because they didnt support all the bullshit that was going on!! i want all these guys investigated and indicted. get the small fries into federal prisons and bush, cheney, hadley, and the whole “cabal” thats was responsible tried for treason.
February 13th, 2009 at 6:09 pmand if they get convicted….get the same treatment as benedict arnold…..hung!!!
this would definitely be a warning to any future administrations that got any ideas in doing any of these acts again!!!