Which is the better word to use right now? Prosecute or Investigate?

[Stinky The Clown]

I am of a mind that we just go straight to sentencing, but that's just me.

The talkers in the media are speaking of Democrats "prosecuting" the former administration.

Maybe that term is too incendiary.

To say we are going to prosecute presumes we have sufficient evidence to go to trial. I suspect we do not - even though we KNOW they're guilty.

So maybe we ought to be saying we plan to investigate.

What do you think?

[tekisui]

1. Call for a Special Prosecutor.

ETA: They can investigate while the Dems take a hand's off approac h until they bring a case with a sure conviction.

[Stinky The Clown]

Why a special prosecutor?

Why not let the Justice Department do what they're supposed to do - uphold federal law? The SP, it seems to me, just makes a circus of things.

[tekisui]

22. I'll be happy with either.

[babylonsister]

2. Investigate, then prosecute. nt

[sutz12]

3. Investigate....

Presumably, that would lead to prosecutions.

:shrug:

[derby378]

4. In the name of all that's holy, PROSECUTE

Investigation will take all of five minutes, thanks to "the Google" and those whistleblowers who have already stepped forward.

[Doctor_Horrible]

5. my vote is for imprision... go straight to jail do not collect $200

[EFerrari]

6. Investigate what? Most of us have Bush and Cheney admitting to torture TiVo'd.

Investigate, my granny.

[leftofthedial]

7. Execute. Ooops!

[Jkid]

8. Prosecute him and get it over with.

[wryter2000]

18. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[TheKentuckian]

9. Frame as invistigate so that we can actually get control of the DoJ

and then commence to prosecuting. Sneer and Smirk removed any path to "overlooking" the crimes because they are apparently so very proud of them.

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Persecute and immolate are my preferred terms. n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Immolate ... I like that

Allow me ....

[hobbit709]

11. Investigate first

if evidence is found, then prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Then convict and send them to a maximum security prison.

[spanone]

12. investigate and if warranted, prosecute.

[ikojo]

13. PROSECUTE

The pugs were not afraid of words when they went after Clinton for lying about a BJ. Why are Dems so timid? Phrased and presented correctly, Americans will accept the word PROSECUTE.

[Imagevision]

14. I believe it begins with hearings first then the investigation...

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Why do we need hearings?

Carjackers and kidnappers and civil rights violators (all federal crimes) don't get hearings. What got done by bushco is simple federal law violations. Prosecute them as common criminals. EVERYTHING we need to do that is in place .... except maybe the will.

[wryter2000]

17. Investigate and then prosecute

The nasty details have to come out -- as many as we can possibly force the 'murikan public to hear/see. As much as I'd love to have all of them behind bars for war crimes, more than anything I want people to see the reality of what the Jack Bauer mentality leads to.

We know darned well that if they admit to waterboarding they MUST be doing other, worse things. If Sy Hersch is right about the screams of boys being sodomized, I want the pro-torture folks to have to listen to them.

Once we have all the evidence, then give them trials as public as OJ's. Only then should we lock 'em up and throw away the key.

[Caliman73]

19. They would be technically correct in using "Prosecute"

I think that it incendiary. Prosecute technically means to instigate legal proceedings against someone or to find something out by means of legal process. An investigation would be the beginning of the prosecution of the legal process. However, most of us understand it to be that they will be automatically hauled in front of a judge and tried.

So, yes they are using it in a technically correct way, but the media always chooses words that will incite viewers and draw ratings.

[damntexdem]

20. Investigate is a fine word -- even a Special Investigator.

The issue is that when sufficient evidence of wrongdoing is in hand, there must be a commitment to prosecute.

Of course, the RW is going to call any investigation a "witch hunt." The word "investigate" will not deter them. But it might matter to public opinion.

[nc4bo]

21. Investigate first then if there is a crime, try the guilty and then prosecute.

MUST prosecute. MUST prosecute. MUST prosecute. To the fullest extent of the law.

Investigations alone are worthless and a joke when no action is taken if there are findings of wrongdoing.

[Bjorn Against]

23. Prosecute, we have eight years of evidence against them.

We already have plenty to prosecute on, no need to drag things out any longer. They can still continue to investigate for additional charges, but they need to arrest these people on the charges that we already have substantial evidence on now.

[Individualist]

24. Why waste time on further investigation when crimes have already been enumerated

in the Articles of Impeachment presented by Kucinich? PROSECUTE!

[Stinky The Clown]

25. Those were articles of impeachment. Prosecution happens in courts, not congress

[stray cat]

26. Investigate absolutely - prosecution only occurs based on an investigation

[mmonk]

27. If you see a crime and it is recorded, not much investigation is needed.

So it's pretty much up to trial or no enforcement of the law.