Have you signed Sen. Leahy's petition for a Bush Truth Commission?

[edhopper]

If not, do so now.
http://ga3.org/campaign/btcpetition

[tularetom]

1. Not until I see some clarification on the immunity deal

Like how far up the food chain immunity applies to.

[Greyskye]

12. Leahy spells it all out in this interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q568YyRoqQ&eurl=http://video.aol.com/video-detail/rachel-maddow-show-pat-leahy-on-having-a-truth-commission/288230382101725247/?icid=VIDUR

Leahy weighs in on this at about the 3:00 mark in the linked interview with Rachel Maddow. He makes it very clear that if you don't tell the whole truth, or if you perjure yourself, you can absolutely be prosecuted. He also says that the question will be asked under oath "Have you given us all the information?" If you withhold anything, that is perjury and you can be prosecuted.

Watch the interview. It made me feel a lot better about this whole concept.

And if anyone thinks that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al will cooperate and thus get immunity, they've been asleep for the past eight years.

[EFerrari]

16. Leahy is peddling the idea that the truth hasn't been staring us in the face

for years.

We do know the truth.

[Greyskye]

24. I'm sorry that you're too naive to understand the genius behind this move.

If they testify they can be brought up on International War Crimes.

If they don't testify they can be prosecuted in the U.S., as they won't get any immunity.

The assholes responsible go to jail either way, but I'm so glad you want to go the route that has the best chance of them getting away with everything. :sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

25. Right. The problem of the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Cmte going off the rez

is I'm too naive. Got it.

No. Why isn't Leahy pushing that charges be brought by Justice? Cheney BRAGGED that he tortured people on national teevee.

WHY ISN'T LEAHY INSISTING THAT JUSTICE TAKE THIS ON?

It's the law, after all.

Don't you EVER swallow this kind of bullshit and call me "naive" again. We'll have to send paramedics out to you.

[Greyskye]

26. Naive is the only word that fits

Go the route you suggest, and the hearings will be tied up in partisan bickering for the next decade.

I'm done with you. Have a joyful day.

[EFerrari]

27. Knowing the law is the opposite of naivete.

Enjoy yours.

[Greyskye]

28. Knowing the reality of the situation and how the republican thugs will react...

...is the opposite of naivete.

But good luck in your fantasy world.

[EFerrari]

29. The reality of the situation is that one of the very Federal officers

who is supposed to guard the rule of law is lowering the bar to let these criminals get off.

That's reality.

Bush tortured, he lied us into war, he spied on us illegally. That's not fantasy, that's the public record.

And there is no excuse for Pat Leahy to pretend it isn't.

We are not a third world nation. We don't need a "truth commission". We need Federal officers to enforce the law.

[wryter2000]

2. Yup n/t

n/t

[EFerrari]

3. No. Leahy, of all people, should be advocating for the rule of law

not for a whitewash.

[katanalori]

13. I agree

Those commissions are for third world countries. We have a Dept. of Justice and we have evidence.
I signed the petition, then read that we do not need this delay. I think Leahy meant well, but our govt. is set up to "handle" this swiftly and justly.

[derby378]

4. If it grants immunity to the Bush administration, no way

Nobody is above the law. No Bushie is going to get away with what they have done to America.

[ThomWV]

5. No, not with immunity in it

[derby378]

6. "Rather than vengeance, we need a fair-minded pursuit of what actually happened"

These guys say "vengeance." All we want is justice. And justice will be denied now and forever by this "truth" commission.

[EFerrari]

7. I thought we had a Justice Department. n/t

[derby378]

8. Time for them to earn their pay after an 8-year hiatus

I'm all for that. Bring out the handcuffs...

[Greyskye]

9. Before you say "No" - watch this interview with Leahy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q568YyRoqQ&eurl=http://video.aol.com/video-detail/rachel-maddow-show-pat-leahy-on-having-a-truth-commission/288230382101725247/?icid=VIDUR

It's really pissing me off that people are saying that a Truth Commission won't prosecute, when it absolutely can and will.

[EFerrari]

14. Leahy has no business pushing "reconciliation" over enforcement.

He's the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, for Christsake.

[Greyskye]

15. I see by your reply that you DIDN'T watch the interview.

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

17. Wrong. n/t

[Greyskye]

19. Leahy: "Anybody can be prosecuted for perjury"

More Leahy quotes from the interview:

"You either grant enough immunity to get the truth out, or you get constant stonewalling."

"The only way they would have immunity would be to testify, and testify thoroughly. Because they would be asked under oath, 'have you given us all the information?' You withhold, that's perjury, and you'd be prosecuted for that."

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Anyone who thinks that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc., will fully testify under oath is high, insane, or in a coma for the last eight years. And even if they, by some miracle, do testify and are granted immunity, that wouldn't keep them out of the Hague for War Crimes.

It's a freaking Catch 22 for the Bush administration criminals, and why the supposedly intelligent denizens of DU can't see that is beyond me.

[EFerrari]

20. We know the truth. It's been all over the media and all over the world.

I don't know why he's doing this but it's wrong.

Bush criminals are nothing new. They're just like any criminals. They don't have to confess. The evidence has been overwhelming for some time.

Now what we need is for our Justice Department to muck itself out and do its job.

In the whole history of the United States, there has never been more clear and public evidence of high crimes by an administration.

Pat Leahy can stuff his Truth Commission.

[EFerrari]

18. "Let's find out what happened."

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

BUSH LIED US INTO WAR.

BUSH SPIED ON US.

BUSH TORTURED.

We don't need to "FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED". The evidence is all around us. Shame on Pat Leahy for even suggesting that the American public settle for another WHITEWASH.

[Greyskye]

21. Fine. Settle for 10 years of stonewalling and obstruction.

Which in the end tells is freaking nothing. Leahy has them in a beautiful Catch 22.

Testify and get immunity from U.S. prosecution, which then makes them candidates for War Crimes at the Hague.
or
Don't testify and get prosecuted based on the testimony of those who flipped.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. LEAHY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED. HE'S JUST SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO NAIL THEIR ASSES TO THE OUTHOUSE WALL! :grr:

[EFerrari]

22. He's paving the way for a whitewash. n/t

[glowing]

10. No, I want it all to go to a court and put them in jail.. that's what would happen to you and me

if we even thought about waterboarding our pet dog... nope, put them in jail.

[JFN1]

11. Do NOT sign this petition!!!

It is a very bad idea...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5039512&mesg_id=5039512

[VP505]

23. No and I don't intend to either.

There is absolutely No need for such a commission, the usual result of such a commission is to hide the truth and guarantee that no one is ever held accountable.