Senator Leahy has set up a petition at www.BushTruthCommission.com

[BlueJessamine]

A Truth Commission to Investigate Bush-Cheney Administration Abuses

From Senator Patrick Leahy's diary at the Daily Kos:

by Senator Patrick Leahy

It's great to be here blogging at Daily Kos:

We have just emerged from a time when White House officials often acted as if they were above the law. That was wrong and must be fully exposed so it never happens again.

The Daily Kos community and the netroots played a vital role pursuing, demanding, and exposing the Bush-Cheney Administration's numerous abuses. But there's still more we don't know, and more we must uncover, about the misdeeds of the past eight years.



That is why I proposed the idea of a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate abuses during the Bush-Cheney Administration. These abuses may include the use of torture, warrantless wiretapping, extraordinary rendition, and executive override of laws. 



I have set up a petition at www.BushTruthCommission.com, and I hope you will sign it to urge Congress to consider establishing a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate the Bush-Cheney Administration's abuses. We already have over 5,000 signatures, but we need to hit 10,000 signatures -- or more -- by next week, to build momentum behind this idea.


During the past several years, this country has been divided as deeply as it has been at any time in our history since the Civil War. It has made our government less productive and our society less civil. In this week when we begin commemorating the Lincoln bicentennial, there is need, again, "to bind up the nation's wounds." President Lincoln urged that course in his second inaugural address some seven score and four years ago.



Rather than vengeance, we need a fair-minded pursuit of what actually happened. The best way to move forward is getting to the truth, finding out what happened, so we can make sure it does not happen again.



The Obama Administration has already made huge strides to restore the Constitution and renew our commitment to international law after eight corrosive years. But we must read the full page on this dark chapter in American history before we can turn it for good, which is why I feel so strongly about investigating what really happened.

 I hope you agree.



On Monday, I delivered a speech at Georgetown University where I outlined my ideas about why we need a truth and reconciliation commission and how it could work.



A truth and reconciliation commission would be tasked with seeking answers. It would provide Congress and the American people with a shared understanding of the failures of the recent past, so we do not repeat them in the future.



Thank you, in advance, for taking action at www.BushTruthCommission.com to prevent history from repeating itself and joining me to support the creation of a truth and reconciliation commission.

Senator Patrick Leahy's diary is here where it has been updated:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/2/12/1350/08709/262/696385

[PM Martin]

1. k/r

[AndyA]

2. I want to know if he did indeed promise immunity to everyone.

Did he promise immunity only to those who come forward and will tell the truth, or is it across the board, including Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, etc.?

We need to know exactly what Leahy has in mind.

[tbyg52]

14. Yep, that's what I want to know before I'll sign. nt

[Greyskye]

17. Watch this video - Leahy explains very clearly who can be prosecuted

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

Yes, his concept of a Truth Commission can absolutely lead to criminal prosecutions. It's a 10 minute spot, and fairly in depth.

[Howardx]

3. trials not "truth commission"

"Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said the primary goal of the commission would be to learn the truth rather than prosecute former officials, but said the inquiry should reach far beyond misdeeds at the Justice Department under Bush to include matters of Iraq prewar intelligence and the Defense Department.

Leahy outlined his suggestion for a "truth and reconciliation" commission during a speech at Georgetown University Monday.

"I'm doing this not to humiliate people or punish people but to get the truth out," he said."
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D96885BO0&show_article=1

he doesnt want to punish any criminals his commission finds, just another whitewash.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

22. Same BS they said about 9/11 Commission

doesn't it really piss you off?

[pleah]

4. I don't want the taxpayer money wasted on a "truth" commision.

I WANT F'N PROSECUTIONS! They already have enough evidence to prosecute! From the mouths of the criminals themselves, if nothing else.

[snappyturtle]

5. K&R Done! 10,385 signatures so far

It's a start....truth will mandate trials!

[pmorlan1]

6. This Petition Does Not Support Prosecutions

I went to Leahy's site and clicked on the tell me more feature and boy did I learn more.

Rather than vengeance, we need a fair-minded pursuit of what actually happened. The best way to move forward is getting to the truth, finding out what happened, so we can make sure it does not happen again.

Vengeance is the beltway code word for not having prosecutions.

I don't consider prosecutions to be VENGEANCE but evidently Senator Leahy must. There is nothing in the petition about prosecutions so I can not in good conscience sign his petition. I hope someone else creates a petition that includes prosecution.

[Mist]

9. Prosecution is the way to go. A feel-good "truth hearing"accomplishes nothing. nt

[Greyskye]

18. It supports prosecution for anyone who either perjures themselves, or does not testify fully.

Because that is the only way that anyone will be offered immunity. And if you think that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc., will testify fully under oath, you've been asleep for the past eight years.

[santamargarita]

7. Put their criminal activity out for all to see and prosecution will be demanded

I signed it

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Call the WH and leave a message for Leahy..No commission.

I do hope Leahy is getting plenty of calls.

202-456-1414

Leahy of all people know what laws were broken. He can start with the contempt of Congress charges he promised to file against Meirs, Rove and etc.

Conning people into calling for a Commission is a cheap manipulative trick.

So there !!!!

[Greyskye]

10. Bush, Cheney, et al, would never testify, and would therefore be fair game for prosecution

Give Leahey some credit people. This is a good thing.

On Edit: Over 12,000 signatures already, exceeding the Senators desired 10,000. :thumbsup:

[bertman]

11. I disagree, Greyskye. Even if lots of evidence is presented for prosecution this leaves them

the "out" of saying, "Oh no, we promised this was not about prosecution, only about getting to the truth."

Sorry. I'll be writing them to encourage INVESTIGATIONS, THEN PROSECUTION, not truth and reconciliation.

[Greyskye]

13. Leahy himself disagrees with you

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.

[bertman]

30. Thanks, Greyskye, I'll watch the vid later. However, I did email the White House and

recommend NO truth commissions, but FULL-BORE investigations followed by prosecutions.

[Greyskye]

31. I appreciate you taking the time to watch it.

That puts you about a mile ahead of most other people I've been dealing with today. :hi:

In my ideal world there would indeed be full-bore investigations followed by prosecutions.

I personally believe that Leahy is setting up a beautiful Catch-22 situation. If they testify, they may have immunity in the U.S., but it leaves them wide open to be brought up on War Crimes at the Hague. If they don't fully testify, they don't get immunity, and can be prosecuted here. Win-Win! :evilgrin:

[pmorlan1]

12. You are Dreaming

Greyskye

Evidently you and the 12,000 who signed the petition come from the 24% of Americans who want just an investigation. I'm one of the 38% of Americans who want criminal prosecutions. Do you really believe that after Leahy characterized prosecution as "vengeance" that there will be any prosecutions? Think about it.

USA/Gallup poll

38% want criminal prosecutions
24% want independent panel (Leahy's idea)
34% want neither (Bush supporters)
3% have no opinion

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-02-11-investigation-poll_N.htm

[Greyskye]

15. See post #13

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=424803&mesg_id=424870

I want prosecutions as well, and think that this may be the best way to get them; as well as preventing further abuses in the future.

[digidigido]

16. I think taking all moneys made from war profiterring is more what I'd vote for

[Greyskye]

20. They have to actually prosecute war profiteers before that will happen

And that will never happen until we know the whole story.

Thus... (ta-da!) A TRUTH COMMISSION!

[pmorlan1]

24. Check out this petition

The petition to have prosecutions has 41,604 signatures.

http://www.democrats.com/special-prosecutor-for-bush-war-crimes

[caraher]

27. Thanks for the link

One more signature for prosecution.

I won't sign Leahy's - truth is important, by why do we open by bargaining with criminals? Let's see what we have before offering *anyone* immunity.

[quickesst]

19. One would have to be desperate......

..to find this acceptable. Sounds like a lame attempt to use the lame-thinking in an effort to forestall any real investigations, and prosecutions that might arise. Public outcry is growing, and Leahy, along with the other pink tutu wearing democrats in our government that rubberstamped everything the bush gang did are trying their best to not make the republic party mad at them. I sometimes wonder why so many democrats will just settle for what they can get. Thanks.
quickesst

[MasonJar]

21. NO WAY I'd sign that. We need a special prosecutor. A Commission

is a hoax and probably Obama's idea to keep from having to do anything.

[Juche]

23. I signed it but my hopes are low

Wexler got 200k signatures for impeachment of Cheney and nothing happened. There has been no achievement in a new 9/11 investigation.

So I signed it and sent it off to some people, but I have low hopes of anything coming from it.

[GeorgeGist]

25. Dear Senator Leahy ...

phuck you very much but Truth Commission is a cover-up.

[Politicalboi]

26. At least if the truth gets out there

Other countries can prosecute too.

[Caretha]

28. I'm sick of signing petitions

I've signed, and signed & signed. The only petition I'm going to sign from here on out, will be one that states "DO YOUR DAMN JOBS NOW"!

[Doctor_J]

29. Please don't sign on to this

As Jon Turley said on Countdown, this will be nothing more than a 9/11 commission-style whitewash. We are required by treaties that we wrote to prosecute these offenses, not just "reconcile" anything.

Do not sign up for this hoax

[L. Coyote]

32. 21,422 signatures so far... keep it going!

[Dr.Phool]

33. Sorry Charley,

Special Prosecutors, not Commissioners.

Trials, not hearings.

Punishment, not immunity.

No Whitewash.

No cover-up.

Senator Leahy, GO FUCK YOURSELF!!!!!!