The US will need a truth and reconciliation commission in 2009

[ck4829]

Don't ever forget this, we're going to need this, and it will need to be as powerful as possible.

There will be so much that will need to be investigated, the first thing will be to find out what to investigate first.

Election 2000
How the Bush Administration came to be
9/11 (Everything done before and on the day it happened)
The Phone Jamming Scandal
The Energy Task Force
Propaganda and psychological warfare against the American People
Ties to Enron
The Iraq War
Failures of the Freedom Agenda
Katrina
Jack Abramoff
Secret Prisons
Valerie Plame
And so much more

Everything will need to be exposed, we can't let another Bush Administration happen.

[mmonk]

1. Where can we get such a commission?

[ck4829]

3. It could probably be created by Congress

A special commission (Like the 9/11 Commission) could be created that could do this.

[mmonk]

16. Are there enough clean people in congress to go along with it?

[Zywiec]

2. How long do you think this will take?

Is this how you want to spend the first four years?

[L. Coyote]

4. Will it address the invasion of Ohio in the late 1700s?

[EVDebs]

5. An updated FOIA will be the first order of business in a Democratically controlled Congress

Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

[Hosnon]

6. Doesn't a Truth and Reconciliation Commission usually provide immunity

for the wrongdoer?

The "Truth" part is encouraged by not punishing the individual.

Not that such a commission would be a bad thing, but I am not sure that many people, especially here, would agree to immunity for everyone in the Bush Administration.

[Solly Mack]

7. Not necessarily

In Rwanda people were still charged

and I'd never agree to immunity for anyone in the Bush administration (resigned or current)

[Hosnon]

9. I know they don't necessarily include immunity.

Hence the "usually" qualifier.

My point was that if immunity is not going to be given, labeling the commission a Truth and Reconciliation Commission seems less accurate (because most such commissions, I think, do provide immunity).

[Solly Mack]

10. Immunity isn't necessary to the truth or to reconciliation

So maybe I'm not understanding what you're saying. Sorry.

[Hosnon]

11. I agree.

But immunity encourages truth. And the truth encourages reconciliation. That is why the idea of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission usually (not necessarily) involves immunity.

No, immunity is not required for either. But if a commission is going to have the label, "Truth and Reconciliation Commission", that usually implies that immunity will be given.

That was my point. Does the OP want immunity for the Bush Administration? If not, the term is misleading, to a large degree. Of course, the OP could be calling for such a commission without immunity. If that is the case, I am simply questioning the utility of using a term that usually refers to something else.

[Solly Mack]

12. Oooh..see what you're saying now

Thanks!!

[Hosnon]

13. I must know...

What's the giant banana thing?

[Solly Mack]

15. LOL He's from an animated cartoon rock group

called the Rotten Fruit

and he's vile and disgusting and for some odd reason, I like him anyway

[tom_paine]

8. God, yes, what a wonderful idea that is!

It sure could be created lawfully by Congress, and you ae correct. It would show our own citizenry and the world that the US is not gone. I would consider the appearance of anything even remotely like that a HUGE step towards restoring the Old Republic and a MAJOR cause for hope.

:party: :toast: :beer:

Now the bad news: What are the odds that the Democratic Leadership, based on what we have seen so far, will dare such an audacious course, even IF we win stronger majorities in both Houses?

I wonder, though I shall, as always, continue to hope that your wonderful idea reaches some Democratic Leader's ears, and that such is in fact created in 2009.

Yes, THAT would be a huge signpost that all is not yet lost. Thanks for bringing it up.

[american_typeculture]

14. How about a commission of pixies, faeries and leprechauns?

Please. My scenario is more likely to occur.