I just watched an MSNBC report about the release of the CIA torture memos with expanded analysis on the decision of President Obama and CIA Director Leon Panetta to refrain from prosecuting any agents who carried out the Bush administration orders. The very next story? "Hulk Hogan's Nasty Divorce."
Seriously?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Strange Segues
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4 comments:
I'll be saying this more fully in a blog, but I'm still trusting Obama on this one.
Prosecution is a political hot potato. If Obama were to simply direct the DOJ to arrest and prosecute members of the Bush administration, it would not advance his agenda and might suck all the oxygen out of Washington.
Let's remember too that Obama is a constitutional scholar, so he understands that Congress -- which has gotten lazy after years of marginalization by the "unitary executive" -- is equipped for the task. And really, it should be Congress's job, shouldn't it?
There should be hearings, and committees, and reports -- all the things Republicans hate about government -- to drag this whole sordid scandal out in the light of day, on CSPAN.
I completely agree, Matt. That's what the "equal branches of government" are for. President Obama's release of the torture memos should be the impetus to get the ball rolling on special investigations and hearings.
He stuck his neck out just by releasing those memos and someone has to pick up the ball and run with it.
I've been working on a post about it too.
I feel better about this after reading your comments, Matt and Carl. This whole thing has had me worried. But you have to hope that as a lawyer, Obama knows the right way to go on this one.
I understand its a political hot potato but,hearings and investigations by congress isn't the same as prosecution.Congress will bring in witnesses and give them immunity like they did to Ollie North who may admit they broke the law but, as in North's case, won't be jailed because they received immunity.Such hearings in congress would produce great theatre but little else.I guarantee,the men at the top of the whole thing (Bush&Cheney)won't be asked to testify.What Obama should've said is that the memos indicate that laws might have been broken so, hes appointing an independent special prosecutor with subpeona power to get to the bottom of the whole thing.
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