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| US senator wants probe of Bush-era abuses |
| 2009-02-11 |
| A top United States senator called Monday for the creation of a "truth commission" to probe alleged abuses under former President George W. Bush, including the promotion of war in Iraq, detainee treatment, and wiretapping without a warrant. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he wanted to heal what he called sharp political divides under Bush and to prevent future abuses. "I'm doing this not to humiliate people or punish people but to get the truth out," he said. Obama said at the first press conference of his young presidency that he had not seen the proposal from Leahy and would have a look at it--"but my general orientation is to say let's get it right moving forward." "If there are clear instances of wrongdoing...people should be prosecuted just like any ordinary citizen," said the president. Leahy compared his proposed panel to South Africa's post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and stressed, "We need to come to a shared understanding of the failures of the recent past." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #13 Of course the Bush admin. was constrained by some secret magic directive from nearly ever defending or explaining its policies (it's greatest failure, along with fiscal insanity). But all of the issues listed have been exhaustively investigated and/or adjudicated, by Congress or the courts, with results to date totally vindicating Bush, of course. Leahy is a loathsome creature. Where oh where is the GOPer (or donk with a brain, like Bayh) to stand up and b-slap that idiot in public, citing the actual record on those issues? And add in some personal color on Leahy's outrageous cowardice and irresponsibility as well. |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2009-02-11 19:38 |
| #12 Go for it! But remember, payback is a Pelosi. |
| Posted by: Bill Jineck7955 2009-02-11 18:43 |
| #11 There is already a Constitutionally-mandated body set up to do all this. It's called the Senate. Maybe Mr. Leahy's heard of it. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-02-11 16:28 |
| #10 Good. Lets have "OPEN" hearings on this. Lets have everyone talk frankly about this issue and it will leave Leahy with egg on his face. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2009-02-11 13:02 |
| #9 I rather have all members of the house and senate investigated for their undoing of our country. Sounds like we need to draw and quarter them ALL. |
| Posted by: newc 2009-02-11 12:36 |
| #8 Chairman Pat sez, "There will be show trials! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-02-11 12:21 |
| #7 Lefties have a way of establishing precedents which end up biting their fundaments. For example, the Office of the Independent Counsel, or the original HUAC. Leahy might want to ponder this. |
| Posted by: charger 2009-02-11 11:48 |
| #6 Wait -- isn't Leahy known as “Leaky Leahy?” Wasn't he a suspect in the leaking of the wiretapping surveillance program to the NYT's? He's been after this stuff for years now. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2009-02-11 10:59 |
| #5 The only probe this old derelict needs is a 4 foot piece of rebar up his ass. |
| Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700 2009-02-11 09:24 |
| #4 South Africa's post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission Firearms and property seizure soon followed the TRC blame game. South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) looks and performs quite a bit like the my way or the highway party in control here now. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-02-11 08:02 |
| #3 Right along with the 'truth' commission that hauls various MSM up before it to reveal the CIA et al personnel who released classified information during time of war. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-02-11 08:01 |
| #2 Major asshole. |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-02-11 02:09 |
| #1 With the current economic uncertainty upppermost in the minds of people, Senator: Trust me. You don't want a truth commission of any type. |
| Posted by: badanov 2009-02-11 00:50 |