I concur. Completely.

We can be above retribution, but we can't be above justice. There is nothing at all lofty or even desirable about being above justice.

No Justice, No Peace.
Know Justice, Know Peace.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

You cannot cure a cancer (and these people have been a longtime, metastasizing cancer in our body politic) by putting a band-aid on it and sing Kumbaya and hope it will be miraculously healed. It needs to be cut out completely. Finally - someone writes here about the core root of all our other problems. And he is right - if we don't do it, it will come back roaring, just like an untreated cancer. And it will be too late, if it already isn't. I fear so much for the children and grandchildren of my friends and family, even with the election of our new president.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

There are dues to be paid. That's the way it is. Bush is already getting a little whiney, and regretting some of his profound remarks. Simply put, this administration left far too many dead people in its path. Nothing they did was "inappropriate". I'm beginning to hate that word, it's meaningless. They are guilty of big time crimes. To allow them to walk away form it would be a worse crime. We would be destroying the entire system by accepting it as the corrupt operation it has become over the last 8 years. I prefer to think that we expect better from our leaders. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it. Thanks, ANNA

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Don't ya' know? In a fascist government (such as ours -- maybe even under Obama, let alone under Bush/Cheney), the rich and powerful and the privileged and (I dare say) the (true) elite can do whatever they want, and get away with it scott-free. So stop whining.
Are you complaining? If you complain, then you are being a "socialist" or part of the "angry left", and that is being the worst thing possible.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

(or investigations that actually have consequences) but perhaps when Obama is sworn in and we have a new Attorney General and a new JUSTICE Dept. that is actually interested in upholding the law, things will happen.

Waxman is ready. Not sure about the other committees. But they better not fold now.

The only way to restore confidence in us is to once again give credence to the Rule of Law. There are whistleblowers in every governmental department ready to come out and speak about the crimes that have been committed under the Bush Junta, so there will be plenty of witnesses and evidence presented. Given that, I don't see how they can simply ignore it.

It will be up to us to hold their feet to the fire. We have to have Justice after what has been done to us over the past eight years. A dangerous precedent has been set. It must not be allowed to stand. Prosecutions have to happen if we hope to ever have a functional government or a shred of democracy in this country again. People have to be held accountable for their crimes, and it has to unfold in public, for all of us to witness, and it can't just be low-level paper pushers. It has to be those who created the policies. It has to go all the way to the top.

Whoever Obama names as Attorney General is very important. That person will set the tone for what will follow. I haven't heard any names floated out there yet, but it is going to be the most important selection he makes, in my opinion.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

9/11 set the tone.

Bribery, anthrax, fear and the remarkable deflection of MSM allowed integrity, accountablity and honor to somehow become an anachronisim, un cool. Remmeber the media beating Jimmy Carter took?

It was a badge of honor to say 'greed is good' all the MBA arrogance can ponder the totality of that qoute and embrace their irrelevance.

America sustained critcal injuries on 9/11 - and for ALL the folks who fear the disclosure of their part in it knowing or not, many got rich during, but certainly after, it was pure bribery. Just capture the global transactions 48 hrs. before and after 9/11.

If the bushcons had even a passing interest in a true investagation, they'd have looked at the paper trail??

Sick isn't it. The pathology of deceit is pernicious and base denial and sense of entitlement kept it that way.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Bill Clinton let H.W. Bush & friends get away with Iran/Contra on the hope that the gesture would ingratiate him with Republicans. We all remember how they paid him back.

These people interpret goodwill as weakness. And if the Dems let W. Bush & friends get away with lawlessness once again I'd have to agree.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

...The new BOOGEYMAN...

The Cockroach in Chief is so hated by the world he is now being used to Scold other world Leaders!

I'd like to Bill O'Reily report that...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Let's not be vindictive, like the right wing is. We should forgive everyone -- let all the murders, and bank robbers, and child molesters, and rapists, and terrorist bombers, and war criminals go -- let's forgive them all and live in a world of sweetness and light... nice and soft like the conservatives say liberals are.

Well -- maybe not. Screw it -- they're traitors, gangsters, and committed crimes against humanity: let's hang them! Otherwise they will be back in another few years along with their protégés. Sure -- let's do it like the conservatives preach. It's the bipartisan thing to do, after all.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Those of you who know that they committed crimes but do nothing to make the Congress impeach are nearly as guilty as Bush and Cheney.

I seriously doubt that the next Congress will do anything to either prosecute or impeach Bush or Cheney. If you want them to pay a price for their crimes you must make the House do it now!

Call 800-828-0498 and ask for Rep. Conyers' office

Demand that he start impeachment hearings. He is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and has the power. He promised that he would impeach them after the election.

DEMAND THAT Conyers Start Impeachment Hearings Now!

A promise is a promise
IF Conyers Word is good.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

They will never do it. Beyond the partisanship for the proletarian amusement, power in Washington is a good old boys club. Clinton didn't chase bush 1, bush 2 didn't go after Clinton, and Obama should focus on the messes at hand rather than vindictive past dwelling. The good old boys won't support any post term action even with the dems in full power.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Why are impeachment hearings necessary now?

If Congress refuses to hold the Executive Branch accountable for its multiple abuses of power, the next

Administration will know it has nothing to fear from Congressional oversight. More war, more abuse of power,

more erosion of our civil rights and our civil liberties are the inevitable consequences of an unchecked

Executive. Congress must reassert itself to restore a functioning balance of power. That can only be done by

holding impeachment hearings.

■ IRAQ: Bush Administration officials have collectively told hundreds of lies about the run-up to our invasion

of Iraq, as anyone who’s done any reading over the last 5 years knows. If this is not gross abuse of power,

nothing is.

■ ILLEGAL SPYING ON AMERICAN CITIZENS: Whatever changes Congress makes now to FISA, it

was illegal for the Bush Administration to conduct surveillance of American citizens without a warrant. They

did this for years.

■ TORTURE: Before the passing of the Military Commissions Act, torture was illegal in this country. The torture

and illegal treatment of prisoners authorized by the Bush Administration violated international treaties

such as the Geneva Conventions, thereby violating US law.

■ SEPARATION OF POWERS: The Bush Administration’s outrageous abuse of signing statements amounts

to giving the Executive a line item veto over legislation passed by Congress. The firing of the U.S. Attorneys is a

graphic example of the Administration’s politicization of the Judiciary. Congress must act to protect and reassert

the balance of power.

■ NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. This is nonpartisan. If anything, it is the highest form of conservatism—

respect for the rule of law. It’s up to the Congress to demand true accountability, and that means holding

impeachment hearings now.

■ DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE—IT’S NOT TOO LATE. It’s only too late if citizens like us give up on

our country.

http://kucinich.us
http://democrats.com
http://afterdowningstreet.org

www.pledgetoimpeach.org
www.wexlerwantshearings.com
http://nationalimpeachment.org/
http://www.wethepeopleimpeach.org/

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

... the "Openness" (Transparency) policy introduced by Russia's Gorbachev, intended to pave the way for the new reconstruction policies of "Perestroika". Or in this case it would be more like a court of enquiry to determine what crimes have been committed, and by whom. Without one, America's place in the world (of which it laughably claims to be "leader") will continue to remain in doubt. For eight years, America's ELECTED leader has lied to the world, started wars... and now that you've got a NEW leader, it's "forgive and forget" time? Dream on Americans; the rest of the world still has a bad taste in its mouth. Your reputation in the world is badly damaged. Putting the man responsible on trial is the first step to restoring that reputation. Fixing things so that it can never happen again, would be the second step. The problem will be, overcoming Americans' tendency to exist in a state of profound self-delusion. Maybe a dose of perestroika would help fix that?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The song Kumbaya is expressing our care for the people of the world. Someone's crying... someone's praying ... someone's dying ... Oh, Lord, come by here.

When we pray for something, we are also more motivated to act. Praying often leads to new ideas of how we can do something.

Sing Kumbaya, consider the deep needs of the world, then act appropriately.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

We all know that Ian is right in his analysis, many of us have ben saying the same thing for years. Congress (consisting of both Democrats and Republicans) failed to follow the constitution and properly prosecute these criminals after Watergate and Iran/Contra and that empowered them to return and perpetrate even greater crimes against humanity, using this great and powerful nation as a burgler tool or a stick-up gun.

What often gets overlooked, is that this is NOT a partisan matter. There is a strong tendency to view these crimes as a some sort of interparty dustup, wherein the spineless Democrats are failing to hold the criminal Republicans responsible, and yes, there is an element of that, but Republicans in the Congress are equally responsible for their failure to act. It seems the "decent Republicans" somehow get a free ride, not being expected to defend the constitution if it's members of their party committing the crimes.

They're All guilty, either as co-conspirators, or parties after the fact and all should be held accountable. THAT'S the problem, there are more criminals in government than there are responsible, law-abiding members to arrest and prosecute them. It must be the ultimate historical irony, that Reagan came along and said government will not work for you, and he was elected to prove just that. Gingrich then arrived to claim government was corrupt beyond imagination, and he was swept into office with an entire entourage of corrupt co-conspirators, only to take it to unprecedented levels.

Obama's promise is that he will empower US to make government and effective mechanism for ordinary people to collectively use their talents and energies to the benefit of all of us, not just the select few who have manipulated the laws to their advantage. He may be on our side, but it's OUR job to do. People like Medea Benjamin and Code Pink seem to undestand this better than anyone. If anything is going to change, we're going to have to change it, and 30 years ago was not too soon to start. If you're waiting for someone to do something, guess what. You're the one you're waiting for.

So, yes, keep writing to Conyers and Waxman, and spend some time every day considering and acting on ideas that will bring about change. Or go hide somewhere, things could get rough. (I have to admit, hiding out has its appeal)

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Damn sure won't be any investigations originating from Lieberman's committee should he remain Chairman. Being from New Orleans I was real happy when as Chair of the Homeland Security committee he decided NOT to investigate the criminal negligence, the fraud, and the looting (by Bush's corporate buddies)after Katrina of what once was a beautiful city on the way back. Yea, let's let bygones be bygones and not play the blame game. Unfortunately, we in New Orleans will still be living with the bygones for a long time into the future.

Of course, the same is true of so much of the Bush Administration's criminal incompetence and outright criminality. Those who lost sons, daughters, and spouses for Bush/Cheney's lies can just suck it up and blow that off in the interet of "Why can't we all just get along?"

And now, the Dems are wrenching their hands in the agony of angst and painful decision: whether or not to dump the lying, war-loving slimeball, Lieberman. If this is a crisis of confidence for the Dems, frankly I don't hold out much hope of their looking into much of anything concerning the Bush Administration.

From a pratical point of view, Clinton looked the other way concerning George H. W. Bush's crimes and all that achieved was his being harried by the Republicans for his entire time in office. He refused to investigate. They didn't. Even when there was nothing to investigate, which had the effect of impeding legislation that might have been passed.

So "let's all get along." and forget about the death and destruction, the damage to constitutional government, the contempt for law and the subversion of justice. Lets forget that the Republican Party in lockstep with the Bush Administration never forgot their agenda which they were quite willing to jam down everyone's throats, getting along be damned.

Satan's Neutral Corner
satansneutralcorner@yahoo.com

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]