Republicans Make a Case for Prosecuting Bush Officials

[babylonsister]

Republicans Make a Case for Prosecuting Bush Officials
By Daphne Eviatar 3/4/09 1:26 PM


The Senate Judiciary Committee’s “Getting to the Truth Through a Nonpartisan Commission of Inquiry” convened this morning to consider Sen. Patrick Leahy’s (D-Vt.) proposal for a sort of “truth and reconciliation” commission.

The hearing was full of all the predictable, lofty statements from illustrious supporters about why a commission would further the American people’s understanding of our nation’s past and true values, and also demonstrate to the world our commitment to truth and justice — most of which I agree with. But what was most surprising was that the Senate Republicans and their witnesses, in the process of ripping apart the idea, made the strongest case I’ve heard yet for why the Department of Justice should prosecute former senior officials of the Bush administration.

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.

Rather than going off “helter-skelter” and conducting a “fishing expedition,” said Specter, “it seems to me that we ought to follow a regular order here … If there’s reason to believe that these justice department officials have given approval for things that they know not to be lawful and sound, go after them.”

The witnesses called to present the Republican opposition to Leahy’s proposal made the same point.

more...

http://washingtonindependent.com/32406/republicans-make-a-case-for-prosecuting-bush-officials

[Myrina]

1. Does.Not.Compute.

The GOP WANTS to investigate BushCo? Does Arlen have another Magic Bullet stashed somewhere to divert the trail away from the Cabal?

:wtf:

[babylonsister]

4. Yep. Rachel Maddow was all over this tonight. She interviewed

Sen. Leahy, and he's less than enthusiastic.

[originalpckelly]

11. Remember the whole US Attorney's scandal, the career people...

at the DOJ were unduly influenced by the political appointees there. They've already fixed the game so that when it gets put to the DOJ, they'll come back with nothing. Get it? Pretty crafty little devils.

Even under Obama, it's not like they're all going to be fired.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. The old limited, modified, partial hangout ploy.

Let's do a cursory investigation of all the stuff that we can't hide, but let's not go looking for anything else.

[babylonsister]

5. Leahy wants a commission, they want prosecution?

Whatever they do will take time.

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Sure. Hang a couple small fry & move on.

Or to put it another way, Screw Yoo. (PLEASE don't take that personally!)

[babylonsister]

17. Haha! I won't. But Yoo could be very valuable. I want this whole

ball of string/lies to unravel.

[BuyingThyme]

3. Specter will always do whatever it takes for HIM to control the investigations.

[wallwriter]

6. Classic Specter move--Beware!

He will criticize the Bushies and their terrible behavior as if he were in favor of prosecution. Then at the last minute, he will back down in a way that scuttles the whole investigation. It's a total ploy whose result will be to sink any legitimate investigation and prosecution. Mark my words.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Either that or full miscalculation

this is quite possibly one of those, careful what you wish for

[joeunderdog]

13. You've sen this movie before, too? nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Careful what you wish for folks

careful what you wish for

The truth and recon commission was a nice way to push all under the rug

Did Specter just royally miscalculate? Or did he develop a conscience? Possible, he is a moderate, not a radical...

[babylonsister]

9. He's not a radical, unless that means rethug. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Let's clarify, he's not, but rush is

kantor is

Specter is right, the rest are radical right

[stillcool]

12. they want to prosecute..

the low hanging fruit.

[Jackpine Radical]

16. Precisely.

And look no further up the tree.

[GeorgeGist]

14. The same Arlen Specter who sold the magic bullet ...

to the Warren Commission?

He must be dying to let the Democrats have their Truth Commission. But who will be the mole? Jerry Ford isn't available.

[Jackpine Radical]

18. Arlen Spector, the Truth Fairy.

You take your truth and put it under your pillow, and he comes in the night and replaces it with a magic bullet.