10 Reasons Why Congress Must Investigate Bush Administration crimes....

[marmar]

Ten Reasons Congress Must Investigate Bush Administration Crimes
By Jeremy Brecher
t r u t h o u t | Guest Contributor

Tuesday 14 November 2006

Few elections in history have provided so clear a mandate. As the New York Times put it, Democrats were "largely elected on the promise to act as a strong check on administration." (1) But the first response of the new Congressional leadership has been to proclaim a new era of civility and seek accommodation with the very people who need to be held accountable for war crimes and subversion of the Constitution.

Democratic strategists who argue for this kind of bipartisanship maintain that the American people want their political leaders to address the problems of the future, not pursue recriminations about the past. They therefore oppose the kind of penetrating investigation that a White House strategist told Time would lead to a "cataclysmic fight to the death" (2) if Democrats start issuing subpoenas. If such "peace at any price" Democrats prevail, the result will be a catastrophe, not only for the Democratic party but for American democracy.

Establishing accountability will require a thorough investigation of the actions of the Bush administration and, if they have included crimes or abuses, ensuring that these are properly addressed by Congress and the courts. The purpose of such action is not to play "gotcha" based on hearsay and newspaper clippings. Investigation, exposure, and even prosecution or select committee proceedings, should they become necessary, are primarily means for re-establishing the rule of law. But such investigations may be blocked by the Democratic leadership unless American citizens and progressive Democrats in particular demand them. Here are ten reasons why they should:

1. The US faces a Constitutional crisis that goes far beyond either partisan politics or isolated acts of wrongdoing. The Bush administration has tried to replace the Constitutional rule of law with the power of the executive branch to disregard both the laws established by the legislative branch and the judgments of the judicial branch. It has cloaked this power grab with a mantle of secrecy. Only by demonstrating the power of Congress to know what the executive branch does can even the possibility of Constitutional checks and balances be restored. The prerequisite for oversight is the right to know. Unless Congress successfully asserts that right, the Executive's usurpation of power will be permanent and unlimited.

2. The Democrats are in danger of walking into a death trap the Bush administration and the Republican leadership are setting for them. The Democrats won the election on ending the Iraq war and holding the president accountable. In the current courtship, they are being invited to come up onto the bridge of the Titanic and share responsibility for the catastrophe. If they do that, they will end up at the 2008 election with a disillusioned public (especially their own base) who give them equal blame for the war and its catastrophic consequences. As The Nation recently editorialized, "Democrats must not forget the voters' message. If they collaborate in allowing continued bloodletting in Iraq, they will pay the price themselves in future elections." (3)

3. Defending the Constitution by investigating breaches in the rule of law will allow Democrats to appeal to new bases of support among independents and others concerned about the rule of law. It provides a way of reaching out without selling out.

The complete article is at: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/111406L.shtml

[goddess40]

1. There's just one - because it is the right thing to do

It's that simple - no matter what party is in the White House when there is such an outrageous abuse of power it needs to be investigated.

[blm]

2. That's the correct answer and always should be in a nation that calls itself free.

.

[Mnemosyne]

3. I second that blm. n/t

[yurbud]

4. "collaborating" with the right is how the Dems got so far in the hole

they need to treat Republican ideas the way a psychiatrist deals with scientologists' views on anti-depressants. Don't get hysterical, just tell your patient that the other guys are ureliable sources with an agenda of picking their pocket.

[classysassy]

5. Impeachment is off the table

Nancy when you made that statement,you spoke for yourself not the american people,last time I looked we the people still had a choice in some of the matters concerning our country,key word our country.Let the american people speak and act accordingly.No deals with criminals attempting to save their cushy jobs,do the right thing or you too will be held accountable.