"Wait, hold on just a minute. Who let Limbaugh into this press conference?"Pennsylvania Republican Senator (and Ann Coulter/Rush Limbaugh irritant) Arlen Specter came out forcefully for the idea of a Congressional investigation of Bush administration wrongdoings. In a Senate Judiciary Committee (on which Mr. Specter is the ranking Republican) hearing convened Wednesday to consider Sen. Patrick Leahy's (D-VT) proposal for a "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" to look into, among other things, the possibility of criminal actions on the part of Bushies during the lead-up to and prosecution of the Iraq War and the "War On Terror."
Sen. Specter's support of such an idea is nothing new, but he seemed to be turning up the heat a bit. While cautioning against a witch-hunt atmosphere in which the Congress could go "helter-skelter" on a "fishing expedition," Specter highlighted his concerns, which have increased due to recent revelations by the Bush Office of Legal Counsel.Calling the OLC's disclosures about White House attorneys' legal opinions "rather startling," the moderate lawmaker stated his belief that they may be "starting to tread on what may disclose criminal conduct." He continued that if there is reason to believe that the Justice Department under President Bush had knowingly approved actions they knew were illegal, Congress should "go after them." We could not agree with Sen. Specter more whole-heartedly. The idea that there is even a question (and yes we've heard the tired old "you'll tear the country apart" argument) strikes us as ludicrous in the extreme.
So, The World According To ME is pleased to have the chance to offer Arlen Specter some "Sincere Praise." I, it seems, am not able to extend nonsnarkily-intended recognition nearly frequently enough. I jump at the chance and wish there were more Republicans willing to consider trying to get to the bottom of just what the Bush administration was up to (no matter what Rush Limbaugh might say about it).
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73 comments:
Again, I was being snarky, because while it's accurate that Specter supported the idea of Sen. Leahey's 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission', Sen. Orrin Hatch and Sen. John Cornyn each spoke out publicly against it. It shouldn't be surprising to anyone that the GOP has no interest in any commission with the words truth or reconciliation in the title.
What are they afraid of? More damage, no doubt. Let the truth out! What was that little scripture Hatch's mormons love: ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Apparently Orrin thinks the nation should be kept hostage.
This is a real disappointment.
For all I disagree with Sen. Hatch about (and that's a hell of a lot), he has oftentimes surprised us with his moderation and willing to compromise and be reasonable in the midst of conservative squawking...
I wasn't expected him to lead the chants of "Hang Bush!" but I did think he might see the usefulness of at least looking into the possibility (to you and me that would be CERTAINTY) of W administration wrongdoings.
I wish I had something wise to offer. Instead I'll just give this a solid "Bummer, man."
Well, Hatch was blaming Obama for the state of our economy yesterday. So much for his grasp of reality.
For too long the GWB and his GOP buddies got away with breaking the law and lying to the American people. Everyone has to be held accountable for their own actions but these think no one in GOP should be held responsible. Why not? They're American, they broke the law. End of story!
Just because there is a change in administration doesn't mean the last one shouldn't be held accountable. Get real, if anyone else committed these crimes they'd be waterboarded. You should be too Hatch. Maybe you will be in the next election.
All Republicans should be waterboarded to pay their debt to America for the last 8 years!
Something has to be done or history will repeat itself.
Maybe a truth commission with no teeth is not the way to go. Unless some repubs are on the commission, it'll seem totally partisan. How about an international tribunal?
The truth will set you free!
i guess that by repub logic, we can abandon the justice system and stick to the court of public opinion. "see that guy walking down the street? he's a murderer. we didn't think it was necessary to send him to prison. it's enough that everyone knows he did it."
A commission, Hatch said, "is not the American way. We have congressional oversight and aggressive media which have already been exhaustively investigating these matters and we have the American people to pass judgment on the result through elections."
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That is only partially correct, the American people are the ones to pass judgment, but not with elections, but as a jury of peers. We do not have elections to hold those accountable who have broken laws, we have courts for that matter. Elections are for those that have lost the public's trust, which took place in November.
Personally I don't like the idea of a 'truth commission' either - these are not hard questions. Did the president or his appointees break the law: Yes or No. There is no gray area, the constitution is very clear in its protections.
The pursuit of justice "is not the American way." That's the Republican party credo.
Rumplestiltskin - Exactly. I feel you. They need to turn this over to the Department of Justice to see if any of these people broke the law.
You hit the nail on the head.
I would also disagree with Hatch, that the media will inform the public and we can then vote.
Even the media doesn't have access to information which the President and his henchmen label as "executive privilege or national security."
In effect, we are rarely, if ever given the entire story.
I would just as soon skip the congressional hearings and go straight to court.
Sorry Senator Orrin, you didn't EXERCISE any oversight, and so much has been hidden from the media and the rest of America that your argument doesn't hold up.
Dear Senator Hatch,.... Go Cheney Yourself!
The problem with a truth commission is that it would net too many Republicans still in Congress. While they may escape legal prosecution, it would be the end of their political careers.
and this is a problem how?
The repubs will do anything to make the past 8 years, and their involvement in it, disappear from history and from memory. But, as stated several times at CPAC by their own members, personal responsibility is a mainstay of conservatism. So why not with Bush and his administration? Why not with their own involvement with all that went on during the past 8 years? Where's the personal responsibility now? Or does personal responsibility only apply to everyone else? The republicans are like the grade school bully, try to set the rules and control everyone else but really just a coward and the first to go running off crying when they don't get their way.
Where were Hatch and Cornyn when the media, RNC, and all republicans dragged us through 18 months of hell over a President that lied about a stupid personal affair? Begging for blood, that's where.
The Bush Admin. practically destroyed this Country and its economy, undermined the Constitution, politicized the DOJ, and invaded a sovereign country based on lies, but THAT is not important to investigate???
Please, spare me.
If they had any sense, the GOP would welcome all these investigations while they're at such a low point. Sweeping away all the bad behavior of the past eight years would clear the way for a renewed party. Call it "Rush To Judgment."
Hope you didn't just give Limbaugh another book title there....
Back in the 90s these hypocrite's spared no Time or expense going after Clinton - fair is fair, go after Shrub's. Just saying!
The Republicans know that the results of this investigation would be the final nail in their political coffin. There is no way, no matter how much they try and distance themselves from Bush, they will allow this to proceed with their help.
They are afraid every American will know without a doubt that the GOP did & will do almost anything for money.
Almost?
(welcome back Jerryskid)
we don't need a friggin' truth commission - we know the truth...what we need are prosecutors to convict the lawbreakers.
I want investigations that can lead to prosecution.
Why is this so hard to come by in a nation that is supposedly a nation of laws and not men?
Ohh. That's right. Apparently our government views the ideals of our Constitution as just suggestions.
Frankly, I don't give a crap what is popular or divisive. Did people break the law? If so they should get prosecuted just as vigorously as any ridiculous, small time criminal who can't afford a legal defense
I agree, be they Repub., Dem., or Independent, if they broke the law they should be held accountable. To quote Walter Solchek from The Big Lebowski, "Without rules, Dude, all is anarchy".
"is not the American way. We have congressional oversight and aggressive media which have already been exhaustively investigating these matters and we have the American people to pass judgment on the result through elections." - Orrin Hatch
Hey Orrin! Congress did not practice their oversight of Bush. While the press has eviscerated Bush, they are not a litigating body and cannot hold anyone accountable to the law. Hence, we need some other system.
Huh. The GOP afraid of the truth. Who'd a think it.
Truth is to republicans like a cross is to a vampires.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who used to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the notion of a truth commission an effort at "demonizing and criminalizing opponents."
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That's how certain people in America now view seeking the TRUTH.
The very same people who never stop talking about GOD and how the TRUTH shall set you free.
The same people who impeached Clinton for having a blow job.
It's easy to demonize and criminalize those who acted like demons and criminals. The sooner we find out the truth the better off we all will be.
I agree with Hatch on this one. It's just scapegoating.
Oh, goodie! we have an Anonymous who doesn't seem to care about war crimes, crimes against humanity, and unconstitutional actions.
Scapegoating? SCAPEGOATING???
That would be the pinning of blame on those who did not do the big bad things. It is not pursuing people who actually did do the big bad things.
It's called accountability.
scapegoating means you blame an innocent person and the real perpetrators walk.
That's exactly what this commission is trying to stop....the scapegoating
How will we know it's scapegoating till the truth is found: Secret meetings, secret memos, destroyed interrogation tapes, outed CIA agents, super renditioning, unsupervised mercenaries, the list goes on and on.
Serious laws were broken and people's lives and livlihoods were destroyed.
Clinton got his dick sucked and the GOP hounded him for years. Team Bushco trashed our rights, our fellow humans, and our constitution and you call it "scapegoating."?!?
Hatch sure saw things quite differently when it came to Pres Clinton. Some of us don't forget!
Let's see...
We had an administration that kept secret files and held secret meetings.
That administration used all available tactics to keep any and all records (documents, videos, voice recordings, emails, memos, etc.) from being released to any one outside the administration.
That administration used all available tactics to avoid having any member testifying, under oath or not, regarding any of the illegal activities they were involved in.
That administration advocated the repeal of many civil liberties and even considered constitutional amendments to shield themselves from investigation and prosecution.
But these Rushpublican toadies think that a commission is not needed?
That investigating these fascists would be un-American?
Maybe we should just citizen's arrest them all and turn them over to the World Court for violations of the International Convention Against Torture Treaty!
But the truth will set you free
That's right!
Criminal justice is the media's job.
After all, Sen Hatch, who are you as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to exercise your authority to investigate and punish criminal behavior (unless it's a democrat)...
Dr. B. is right in his blog to praise Sen. Specter, one of the 3 repubs to vote for the stimulus bill, to confirm Eric Holder as the first African-American attorney general, and will have a tough time getting re-elected in 2010 running against an ultraconservative republican for his party's senate seat. We need Specter on our side (I think he's a closet democrat myself)
We need Nuremberg Trials for those responsible for criminal activity, we still have a legal system, dont we?
"truth and reconciliation" commissions are what they have in 3rd world countries.
all for the " truth" part---the "reconciliation" part sounds like enabling and minimizing.
all these congress weasels were quiet when the "dictator" was in office-----cowards.
Truth - it is their Constitutional Duty. No more Mickey Mousing around.
It is unanimous -
Guilty!
Lock 'em up. have some balls to act on our own "rule of law" on behalf of a "United" States of America.
It has already been long enough to be known that the Bush Cartel conned everyone.
Is there no limitation on the amount of damage a political faction (right wing) can do to a country? Immunity...?
It really reminds me more and more of back home in my country. The US through The Bush Cartel has set a terrible precedent and a horrible example for "young" democracies. And if these "Legislators" do not act to punish those above the law... it is all meaningless.
This will be nothing but theater. Someone will be the fall guy and take the rap.
Look for someone relatively low ranking to face criminal charges.
Political rank will be high enough to ensure outraged partisans that 'justice' has been done, that a sufficient price had been paid.
The purpose of this relatively low ranking politice is that their punishment is to shield the real players and protect their legacy.
This media circus will act as a shield to distract from something really going on.
After this farce, the country will be said to be cleansed, and no further investigation into the real crimes will be exposed publicly again.
From the increase of mentions he is getting in the press, I think John Yoo is being set up as the goat. And hey, as Rush would say, "Everybody knows I am not a racist and that I have the utmost respect for people of the oriental persuasion, but with the name John Yoo...he ain't even an American".
That is exactly who came to mind!
Prosecuting any criminal wrong-doing by members of the Bush administration is our responsibility, but it is also secondary in importance.
The primary reason to bring these people in and make them account for their actions - under oath - is that this is a matter of national security.
We have ample evidence that the Bush administration was extremely secretive, tried to hide things, and often simply refused to tell the truth. Over eight years this type of behavior was repeated and consistent.
Therefore, there is no way we can responsibly assume that the Bush administration has informed the Obama administration of all their dealings.
We can assume that what President Obama doesn't know, regarding the full and complete activities of the Bush administration, would effect his ability to make the best decisions for the welfare of the nation - therefore, the most important reason to put members of the Bush administration under oath is to address the concerns and responsibilities of national security.
That is why the investigation and questioning needs to go far beyond torture, or any other single issue in the repertoire of the Bush administrations dishonest activities.
We can't place the responsibility of cleaning up Bush's messes in the hands of one person, and fail to provide them with the full accounting of what we are expecting them to clean up.
First, get the information. Second, if the facts warrant, send them to prison.
If the Senate had actually done any oversight during the bush administration this might in fact be a moot point.
However, they did not.
Senator Coleman headed the senate ethics committee and filed exactly ZERO ethics violations during the entirety of the Bush administration.
None, not one, that's how the Repubs do business and that's how the Repubs do oversight, they look right over any crimes.
I agree with Sen. Hatch that we don't need a "truth commission", a truth commission will not have subpoena power or indictment power to file criminal charges.
We need to have criminal trails and determine what laws and how many were broken and by whom and then jail the criminals.
How many of these rats will be granted immunity for testifying before this commission?
Could be we hear a lot of interesting stories, but no one will ever be seen wearing an orange jumper.
Smart Republicans know that the only way that their party can begin to regain any degree of respectability is to prosecute a few of their own. Smart Constitutional scholars understand that the very fabric of our nation, as a nation of laws, is at steak here.
Like a bankruptcy brings finality and closure to a vicious downward financial spiral, which in turn paves the way for a new start, prosecutions of flagrant legal malpractice and criminal activities would bring a much needed sense closure to a downward spiral away from rule of law and a sense of a new beginning or return to the rule of law.
I happen to agree with Senator Specter here. Since the DOJ has uncovered a disturbing amount of blatantly criminal activity, prosecutions are the way to handle this. In the process of preparing for criminal prosecutions, much more will be learned about the timing and authorization of these memos and other illegal activities.
All of this material could be turned over to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for review. In many ways a Truth and Reconciliation Commission should follow any and all prosecutions outlining what went wrong and how to prevent these kinds of things from happening in the future.
However, every effort should be made not to select a few crimes and bury the most inconvenient crimes. The path to clean this mess up should follow the evidence no matter where it leads us.
Great. More opportunity for grandstanding by politicians who were complicit in this whole mess.
I think President Obama should use his power of rendition (which he didn't seem to want to give up) and send all of the Bush criminals to Europe to face the International Criminal Court.
They'd do a better job than those useless, cowardly politicos we have in this country.
Beyond that, President Obama should simply appoint a Special Prosecutor and sidestep the wasted time of another commission and associated grandstanding.
that....is reasonable
Presidents don't appoint special prosecutors. The AG does. This is up to Holder, and from the looks of it he is releasing all of these secret Bush memos to make it obvious that the Bush administration was criminal.
& that's EXACTLY where this whole mess belongs (in the international courts). That's the only way it will have the credibility it needs & deserves. I am so sick of watching tax dollars go in to spendy investigations that turn out to be white washes with buddies getting cushy jobs to say nobody did nothin' wrong... ENOUGH!!!
Leahy (D) & Specter (R) are the bipartisan guys ready to go after Bush&co, but they better get started before Specter's re-election bid.
You know, I don't like Repug ideals, I do like Arlen Specter for his principles.
If a Democratic President had turned out to be such a horrendous criminal as Bush Junior has, I'd want him to pay for his crimes too.
I may be a Proud Liberal, I'm an American FIRST.
Good on ya, Arlen!
One of these days you might just be as principled as Dennis Kucinich, Ron Paul and Russ Feingold. Okay, that's stretching it :) LOL!
Please, guys and gals, we HAVE to keep the pressure on our Congress people to make this an INVESTIGATION and NOT a "truthiness" commission!
NO immunity for those at the top and only limited immunity for those that testify to ALL the crimes!
Many, if not most. US Senators are lawyers. Some are former US Attorneys. Senators Specter and Leahy were prosecutors.
If these 100 elected officials did not see the Constitution of the US going to pot in the past years, it will be difficult for them to blame Ashcroft, Gonzales, Bush, Cheney or anyone else.
The Iran-Contra hearings let more 'crooks' loose than one can imagine. Even the convicted ones got Presidential pardons. -Elliot Abrams is back in the State Department. Hopefully Sec. State, Clinton will do something about that.
Many of the citizens of this country can read what is left of the constitution, it is time for Senators to enforce it and try to remember the oath you took.
I am sick and tired of rich people breaking the law with impunity. They should be treated like other Americans. If found guilty they go to jail.
jodi - Sometimes they do go to jail, but it's usually not for very long, and it's usually spent in a nice comfy minimum security prison.
Only the lower class rate being shoved into the same prisons with hard core criminals and murderers. Not the delicate, soft, silver spooned set.
"...Sen. Arlen Specter, the ranking committee Republican, after noting his previous support for judicial review of the Bush administration's terrorist surveillance program, referred to the recent disclosures of Office of Legal Counsel memos as potentially supporting the case for prosecutions.
"You've had some rather startling disclosures, with the publicity in recent days about 'unusual' to put it mildly 'legal opinions' to justify broad executive actions, including homicide. They're all being exposed now," he said, and noted that a forthcoming report from the Office of Professional Responsibility in the Justice Department will likely expose even more. They're "starting to tread on what may disclose criminal conduct," he said.
http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=5986
...and the heads of the repubs go, "P0P, P0P, P0P."
I have seen in recent days that Mr. John Yoo, author of some of the most egregious 'legal opinions', is referred to as an expert in Constitutional Law. I must disagree. I believe Mr. Yoo has pioneered an entirely new area of law and is its founding scholar: Unconstitutional Law.
Soon, one will be able to study Unconstitutional Law at Law Schools all over the U.S.
Mr. Yoo teaches law at Berkeley. One has to wonder what kind of lawyers his teaching will produce ...
YAY for a true 'country first' republican like Specter - BOY are they thin on the ground!
How long until he will have to apologize to Rush I wonder...
During the Bush administration, Sen. Cornyn and others were more than delighted to "outsource" virtually all congressional responsibility to the executive branch. Why is he surprised that people are now demanding some accountability?
After the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal with millions of dollars in taxpayer money wasted over consensual sex between two adults, the Republicans don't want to know what the Bush Administration did to start a bogus war in which, based on Pentagon estimates, over 100,000 people died? They don't want it on the record that the Bush Justice department fired good US Attorneys based on refusing to be political hatchet men taking orders from Karl Rove?
But they'll raise holy hell over a settled issue like Obama's birth certificate, right?
Charge these spineless, self-serving bastards, along with Rush Limbaugh with treason and sedition and throw them in Gitmo. Hey, it's in the tropics, right? It can't be all that bad... They really are worthless human beings.
I recall one apologist of Gitmo bragging that the 'inmates' had cushy lives - salmon and wild rice for dinner, temperate climate, and soft beds. When you begin with deceit you end with running for the hills.
Republicans only seem to like the truth when they are making it up.
LOL True
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