Sen Whitehouse: Republicans Demand Holder Promise No Bush Prosecutions

[kpete]

Delay in Holder Confirmation Illogical and Unreasonable, Whitehouse Says

January 23, 2009

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a former U.S. Attorney and Attorney General for Rhode Island, today sharply criticized the argument some Republican members of the Committee are making for delaying a vote on the nomination of Attorney General-Designate Eric Holder:

"Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have asked Eric Holder to make a commitment, before he is even confirmed, that he will not prosecute any Bush Administration officials for their involvement in acts of torture during the last administration."


"Anyone familiar with the criminal justice system - especially those with experience as prosecutors or judges - should know that a prosecutor should make no determination about who to prosecute before he or she has all the facts, and particularly not in response to legislative pressure.

"After all we have recently been through at the Department of Justice, I would hope and expect that upon calm reflection, no one on our Committee would expect the Attorney General of the United States to make prosecutive decisions based on legislative pressure."

http://whitehouse.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=E048ED64-4C8C-4096-8BD2-B216A194E037
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/23/16592/1381/314/688205

[FreakinDJ]

1. Not legal is that

Like asking a cop to ignore some one committing murder isn’t that?

[EFerrari]

2. It doesn't matter if no one challenges THEM either, does it?

[The Backlash Cometh]

99. At least these ultimatums are now in the open.

[Piewhacket]

103. yup.

[Caliman73]

5. Since when have repubs ever cared about what is legal?

They are the party of "what will keep us in power and out of jail". Republicans have no conscience. They are being completely unreasonable. If a Democratic administration had committed the same exact acts that Bush's did, the Republicans would be on it mercilessly. It is ridiculous to even consider that crap!!

[glinda]

50. Clinton had lied about sex yet they can torture?????

[aquart]

3. Tell them to stuff it up a tight, small orifice.

[bobd0]

87. There's an expression in Italian that a guy I knew often repeated

I don't know how to say it or write it in Italian but a loose translation is, "Shove it up into the highest part of your ass." You know, all the way up there, at the very beginning, right up there where the Duodenum meets the Pyloric sphincter valve. All the way up in that part of their ass.

After penetrating that tight orifice, that's how deep they should stuff it.

[Still Sensible]

4. Uh, well Mr. Whitehouse, I hope you told them

to sit the fuck down, shut the fuck up and stay the fuck out of the way.

just sayin'

[hlthe2b]

6. Specter and others should be prosecuted for obstruction of justice

:mad:

[FatDave]

15. Agreed.

[ColbertWatcher]

20. Good point. n/t

[L. Coyote]

25. This is co-conspiratorial. It infers they were involved.

[defendandprotect]

60. Agree . . . especially based on what he did in '63 to help coverup . . .

[vanboggie]

138. Exactly

That MF shouldn't be anywhere near government after his participation in the biggest coverup of the 20th Century.

[BattyDem]

7. So basically, they're saying that they want an AG who WON'T uphold the law!

:eyes:

[L. Coyote]

30. No, they are trying to get past a statute of limitations on Bush's warrantless eavesdropping.

Stalling the new AG is an attempt to delay legal actions.

[jtrockville]

42. There's no statute of limitations on torture.

[L. Coyote]

48. And certainly none for murder by torture!

[truedelphi]

133. That sounds right to me. Aren't the deadlines for that in late March? n/t

[Baby Snooks]

90. You got it...

The Republicans believe they are above the law but then some Democrats believe they are above the law as well. Which is why this country is a fallen empire.

The people are tired of the sleaze on both sides of the aisle. That's why the people elected Barack Obama. He gets it. I sometimes wonder if anyone else does.

[tan guera]

141. Maybe he "gets" it but he voted for FISA

and I don't hear him getting involved in this...yet.

[Enthusiast]

119. That is what they want.

That is what they have had for eight years. They should be called out in the media for their obstructionism. Obama won!

[Politicalboi]

130. For Republicans ONLY

[bluesmail]

8. I see they are sticking with their status quo. n/t

[glinda]

51. Republicans will always lie and be the same. They have to go.

[defendandprotect]

149. As Newt Gingrich acknowledged to Clinton...if they told the truth, they'd be defeated . . .

[proud patriot]

9. isn't that aiding and abetting a felony ?

those republicans really need justice to come to their
doorsteps .

No One Is Above The Law .

The pukes sicken me with their hypocrisy .

[bvar22]

10. How cute !

Republicans making demands.
THAT was sooooo 2008.

Don't pay them any attention.
It'll only make them worse.

[fishwax]

16. "Republicans making demands. THAT was sooooo 2008. "

:thumbsup:

:rofl:

[MasonJar]

11. Whitehouse is turning out to be the top of the whole bunch. Kudos!!!!!!!!!

Now let's hear it from the rest of the dems. Pour it on, dems, or go home!

[stopbush]

12. Gee, wouldn't Holder making such a pledge rather DISQUALIFY him

from being AG? Would the Senate really confirm an AG who would take an unchangeable position on a case where he admits he hasn't even reviewed the evidence?

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Sounds like they think * and Dickless are guilty of something.

In fact, sounds like they have convicted the dufus Duo of torture in their minds.
Otherwise, why worry?

[Inkyfuzzbottom]

95. EXACTLY

they are admitting the Bush Administration is guilty. Why else would this even be a concern?

[Winterblues]

14. Ask them how they would feel about it if Bush* had received a blowjob.

:shrug: they have no credibility..

[file83]

49. And then LIED about it - tell the Repugs that what Bush did is like what Clinton did, only...

much much worse.

Maybe they'll get it through their thick skulls.

[The Wizard]

64. Better yet

Ask them if Bush could be prosecuted for giving a blow job.
Now try and get that image out of your head.

[Frisbee]

88. Only Dick Cheney knows for sure...

But * did everything else he wanted...

[nc4bo]

17. Psst Republicans, your fear is showing and it ain't pretty. nt

[FatDave]

18. Time to hold a press conference, President Obama

Show us how a bully pulpit is wielded.

[jwirr]

19. Can we confirm him without them?

[FatDave]

23. If they unite on the issue, they can filibuster

But if we can get a handful to vote for cloture (and I imagine we can) we can confirm with a simple majority.

However, I think the issue here is they're trying to block him in the Senate Judicial Committee. I'm not sure what they can accomplish there.

[glinda]

53. The Public may have to pursue charges

[robinlynne]

21. Right on. Say it like it is. Thank-you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

22. K&R.

[The Hope Mobile]

24. Does it really matter what they want?

I think whoever Obama would nominate would NEVER promise such a ridiculous thing. Did we extract these kinds of promises from Mukasey, Gonzalez, Ashcroft?? COME ON!!!

[wroberts189]

54. NOPE it does not .... they just like to yell a lot and hope we all run scared.

Sometimes it works but i do not think it will this time.



Pretty dumb ...promise you will let criminals go to be AG .... dumb

[The Hope Mobile]

96. Its worked for them in the past . . .

I guess they haven't figured out the new rules yet. We don't expect our people to uphold the law of the land by promising NOT to uphold the law of the land.:crazy:

[stillcool]

26. Of course they are...

if anyone wants to drop Spector or Cornyn and email.. the two blocking the nomination.. here you go...
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home

and here's a handy-dandy list of zip codes
http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/zip_codes/index.htm

[L. Coyote]

27. Someone should ask Gov. Don Siegelman if he has an opinion on this idea!

Let me see if I can sum this up.

During the Bush administration the innocent were prosecuted for political purposes,
so logically, under a Dem administration, the guilty should NOT be prosecuted.

Cooool, the Repubs are finally getting behind the idea of CHANGE! :rofl:

[FatDave]

28. I don't really get the statute of limitations angle (mentioned in the kos link)

Why would it only be 5 years? Isn't it usually 7 years? What am I missing?

[Vinnie From Indy]

29. Seems like a good time to use some of that political capital earned after the election

If the Dems and Obama do not wind up and bitch slap with all of their might the Repubs holding this nomination, we have been lied to in a massive way. This isn't even a hard one to deal with. Simply have Obama go on the TeeVee and explain that the same folks that brought us all of our recent pain are in the way of change. Bring all work of the Congress to a complete halt until these jackasses from the GOP relent, shut-up and sit down.

[clear eye]

118. Good Thinking!

Obama should use the "bully pulpit" to defene his nominee from such an unAmerican attack. How 'bout putting the suggestion up on the White House's new website, Vinnie?

[defendandprotect]

150. Remember Bush claiming a "mandate" after 2000 . .. !!!

[SoCalDem]

31. Publicity, publicity, publicity is the answer

Jam it in their faces..

We have enough votes to confirm him, and should just take it to the floor, and expose their wicked little extortion scheme..and then say it again and again and again to the press..

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

32. Republicans seem overly comfortable with politics polluting the judicial branch.

They need to be told to back off and that too many more threats/ and or bribes (I'll vote for you if you don't prosecute) might be prosecutable in themselves.

[annabanana]

33. Statute of limitations on the wiretapping thing is March 11th

(according to Tom Hartman's program yesterday. . )

[Hissyspit]

34. Wow.

How incredibly, incredibly corrupt of them.

Slimy.

[Hepburn]

35. Fuck the Pubbies and feed them peanuts.

Soooooooooooo....they are no longer the party of "law and order?"

[Catshrink]

36. Just because they got that promise from Mukasey, doesn't mean they can demand it

from Holder. Get over it guys, we won!

[snot]

37. IMPORTANT:

sorry if someone else already mentioned this, in a hurry; but impt. related post at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4888347 .

Basically,

"'I believe they are delaying Holder's nomination to shorten the time between the day Holder takes over and the day the statute of limitations on violations of FISA Bush committed on March 11, 2004 start to expire -- that is, March 11, 2009, just seven weeks away.

"'At yesterday's Progressive Media Summit, I had an opportunity to remind Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of that timeline. I reminded him, too, that Bush seems intent on delaying the time when an Article III judge assesses the evidence in the al-Haramain document, which probably proves Bush broke the law.'"

I have not personally verified the facts or all of the law re- the statute-of-limitations issue, but I can confirm that if there's an applicable statute of limitations, and no prosecution is commenced before it expires, the "evil-doers" are home-free.

If you find this delay unacceptable for that or any other reason, pls tell the two senators blocking the nomination, Senators Spector and Cornyn (I'm especially talkin' to you, Pennsylvania and Texas residents!), which you can do here (http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt ).

[BBG]

38. That's Bullshit.

I don't know how else to say it but that's bullshit. If the glove really fits, ain't no acquits.

[hootinholler]

39. Which Senators? These are capital crimes they are demanding br ignored!

:grr:

-Holler

[Swede Atlanta]

40. No. No and HELL NO

First of all, if he takes the oath of office to become Attorney General, such an agreement would make him violate his oath. Further, FUCK YOU you slime of the universe. If Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Cunti, Wolfohair, etc. committed crimes they need to be prosecuted, tried, convicted and thrown into maximum security prisons for the rest of their lives. These Repukes are terrified, literally terrified that their complicity in torture and other crimes will be exposed during the trials. Remember, Repugs love to eat their own. They are all cowards.

[Kansas Wyatt]

41. Are Republicans prepared to NOT investigate Democrats and...

Withdraw their never-ending witch hunts of Clinton, when they run out of excuses to justify any of their whines?

Hey Republicans... Sit down and shut the fuck up! You've all done enough damage to this country, by never questioning the Little Fuhrer and giving him everything he wanted. Just sit down, STFU, and stay out of the way, while adults clean up the mess the Republican Party has made.

[lovuian]

43. For them to ask that is obstructive of Justice

Obama needs to just let the justice system do their job

[creeksneakers2]

45. If a Democrat threatened an AG candidate to get a Democrat

off the hook, you'd better believe obstruction of justice would be exactly what the GOP would be screaming. They'd demand a special prosecutor.

[lovuian]

62. exactly

they are scared to death of Obama

Good

[Laelth]

44. What the Rs are doing is very inappropriate.

Not that I am surprised, mind you.

:dem:

-Laelth

[defendandprotect]

151. And shouldn't Holder or some of the Democrats make that CLEAR . . .!!!

If crimes were committed, they should be prosecuted -- not covered up!

[Zhade]

46. He fucking BETTER NOT make any such pledge.

I

want

JUSTICE.

[The Doctor.]

52. Actually He should say that he won't prosecute... and then

turn around and do it anyway.

Oh, it would be so nice hearing those bastions of hypocrisy and moral ineptitude squealing about how they were 'betrayed'.

:rofl:

Tell me you wouldn't LOVE it!

[wroberts189]

55. Excellent point !!! Just like the last two AG's did.

Tell them one thing ...and do another .. the republican standard operating procedure.

Worked for them ....

[salguine]

47. Holder should state unequivocally that he will make no such commitment, and when

the Republicans try to block him, the Democratic majority should, for once this decade, shove it up their asses.

[wroberts189]

56. "Republicans Demand" ???? HAHAHAHAHA n/t

[NM Independent]

57. Fuck off and go to hell you corrupt peices of inept slimy SHIT!!

NO. FUCKING. WAY.

String these fuckers up by their heels and turn them into pinatas of justice.

[Cleita]

58. I think that ship sailed when the Repubs impeached Clinton over

a sex matter. It's our turn to defend the Constitution now.

[LynnTheDem]

59. The "party of accountability" strikes again. Dear Republic Party;

Fuck off, you stupid little losers.

[Solly Mack]

61. members of Congress , "law"(makers)

want assurances that those who break the law are allowed to get away with their crimes

that those who have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity be allowed to go free...

The attitude isn't new, of course...We've seen it for 8 years

Still...the same people that want me to follow the law...the same people who make laws they want me to follow...want to me to accept that it's OK to let government thugs go free...

[GinaMaria]

78. Can I use this

in my letter to the congressional pukes. This is exactly what should be said to them!

[DCKit]

97. Even better as an LTTE to all the papers in Cornyn's and Spectre's home districts. n/t

[Solly Mack]

153. Yes you can :)

[NewJeffCT]

63. Hmm - if Team Bush has done nothing wrong, why should these Republicans worry so much?

You would think Team Bush and people would be able to defend themselves - after all, if the president orders it, it's not illegal.

[The Wizard]

65. Methinks some Republicans

have unclean hands.
Guilty, next case please.

[Kip Humphrey]

66. More republican rule of lawlessness. I guess they want to ALL be voted out of office.

[PatSeg]

67. The "Law and Order" party

only advocates accountability when it applies to someone else. They want to live by a different set of rules than the rest of society. Their opposition has "guilty" written all over it.

[Generic Brad]

83. They are more like the "Lawless and Disordered" party.

At least they are that way when laws are applied to them.

[PatSeg]

106. They do tend to be "Orderly"

Maybe they are the "Orderly lawless party". Tidy little scoundrels.

[Rude Horner]

68. What about the ol' "he deserves an up or down vote" thing?

Didn't the Repubs bring out that phrase every time Bush nominated someone like Harriet Myers, Alberto Gonzalez, etc....?

[tanyev]

69. Sounds like they think Bush is guilty, too. Scared much?

[Optical.Catalyst]

70. Republican opposition to prosecuting Bush can only mean that something is there to prosecute

Where there is smoke, there is fire. The advisers to President Obama need to investigate appointing a Special Prosecutor to persecute this.

[shadowknows69]

71. I am so fucking sick of the minority party making demands

When is it "Punch a Republican Day" again? Can't we start a pettition to add it?

[hologram]

72. Fuck 'em.

NOBODY is above the law and that is not negotiable.

I heard Fran Townsend on CNN the other day and she sounded scared.

[bobd0]

73. Isn't this one of those "litmus tests" that Republicans supposedly eschew?

Ridiculous demands like this from the Republican MINORITY shows they are in full retreat.

This is the time for the Obama administration to go into full attack and get to the bottom of the myriad crimes of the Bush years.

Bi-partisanship is fine as long as we get to the bottom of the partisanship and clear criminality that was the Bush administration. In other words, bi-partisanship isn't good for our leaders, our party, or our nation when it's bi-partisanship with criminals.

BRING THEM TO JUSTICE NOW, ONLY THEN WE CAN HAVE TRUE BI-PARTISANSHIP.

[GinaMaria]

76. bi-partisanship works when we all agree on basic principles

like crimes must be prosecuted. There should be basic things we can all agree on like upholding the law. This is an indication of how corrupt, damaged, diseased and destructive the republican party allowed themselves to become. Time for the voters to surgically remove the Conservative Cancer destroying this country. We took care of huge chunk of it but unfortunately we missed some and the voters have to go back in and excise the rest of it.

[bobd0]

84. I agree. But, unfortunately, "Bipartisanship is another word for date rape." -- Grover Norquist

doesn't seem to have the ring of a basic principle that would lend itself to reaching agreement on any of the others.

It seems as though the current crop of cancer cells doesn't or is simply incapable of understand the simple statement, "I won."

I sincerely hope they are given a remedial lesson. In a purely bipartisan fashion, of course.

[spanone]

74. why on god's green earth would they still be protecting bu$h* cabal???? blackmail?

[vanboggie]

139. Well there is that little issue of the Congressional email system

that was designed by Rover's dearly departed IT guru.

[Hubert Flottz]

75. "If they don't have anything to hide why would they worry?"

[Enthusiast]

121. They don't want the party name

to be tarnished, as with Nixon. Too late!

[Jackpine Radical]

77. I'd like to see the Dems seize this as a huge PR opportunity--

a great chance to get a message across on the moral character of Republicans, that they are trying to continue the coverup of crimes committed during the Bush Administration. Revisit all the Republican crimes, from Lay to Abramoff to Cunningham, and just keep smearing them with whatever you can get to stick.

[iamthebandfanman]

79. wtf? isnt that kinda admitting guilt?

or atleast admitting theres a case to be had against the adminstration?

[ccinamon]

80. They are admitting that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield et al, are GUILTY!!!

Time for blast emails...Senate Republicans believe everyone in the Bush administration, including Bush and Cheney, are Guilty of torture.

[droidamus2]

81. How about this

Okay I am begin sarcastic but why doesn't Holder just do what Bushes appointees did. When trying to get appointed tell the committee whatever they want to hear. Once you have the position do whatever you want to.

[ccinamon]

82. My email to Cornyn

whois, sadly, one of my senators...


Senator Cornyn,

I just read a report about you holding up the Holder confirmation. You
are doing so because you want Holder to guarantee that he will not
prosecute any Bush administration for their involvement in torture.

I want to thank you for admitting that Bush, Cheney, and their
administration is guilty of torture.

The constitution states that you are supposed to defend against all
enemies foreign and domestic - so why are you against holding domestic
enemies accountable for their actions.

You went after Bill Clinton and his lies about sex, but you let Bush get
away with lies about WMD that started two wars.

Why do you hate the constitution you swore to uphold?

You sir, are not a patriot, but a political hack.

[Baby Snooks]

91. Your next email should be to the Texas Democratic Party...

Why do we have John Cornyn? Because the Texas Democratic Party decided Rick Noriega couldn't win so the Texas Democratic Party did nothing.

That's the official story. They didn't think he could win. I suspect there is more to the story.

I am so disgusted with Texas Democrats. They did this in 2006 with Hutchison. We should have two Democratic senators at this point. Instead we have the two favorite lap dogs of the Bushes.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

147. The Senator Cornyn who was linked to Abramoff

[dansolo]

85. So the Republicans are basically saying that they are guilty?

If they are so worried about prosecutions, then they must think that what was done was illegal.

[Kansas Wyatt]

86. The best response Holder can give the Republican Obstructionists....

'If anyone in the previous administration did nothing wrong, then they have nothing to worry about.'

That answer was more than good enough for 8 years, so the same should apply, unless they are only being partisan obstructionists. If it's not good enough, then get very loud about it, so that all of America hears it, and dump it back in their laps.

[man4allcats]

89. No deals with these assholes!

We fight until they cave; then we prosecute!

[goforit]

92. This is why they never prosecuted them for the last 8 years. If they don't, The

American public will!!!!

[Pryderi]

93. I LOVE Sen. Whitehouse! He's one of the smartest progressives in the country.

[pipi_k]

94. Did I miss something?

Like how it makes sense that the mouse is demanding that the humans (and two very large housecats) let him have access to the kitchen

[kenny blankenship]

98. How can he swear to uphold the law, and promise not to enforce the law?

Only a Republican could explain how that works, I guess.

[tomp]

100. somebody ought to reach across the aisle...

...and throttle those assholes.

[AllyCat]

101. What better way to say, "Hey, we know he's guilty, but..."

[JAbuchan08]

102. Litmus test! Litmus test!

Fucking fuckers, I could strangle them.

[ThisThreadIsSatire]

104. I would suggest

attaching electrodes to their balls, but they'd only think they were being rewarded...

So how about waterboarding them while they're naked in a 40 degree cell for a while and then see how they feel about possible prosecutions?

[abq e streeter]

142. That first sentence is one of the best things I've ever read on DU

a true LOL moment ...(even though the whole subject is pretty damn serious of course.)

[sellitman]

105. This is nothing more than FUCKING BLACKMAIL.

Holy shit! Are they drinking?

[JAbuchan08]

122. I would simply say: "you are asking me to disavow my oath of office before I even take it"

"I can't promise to you gentleman that I will not follow the law, and then turn around and swear to uphold it"

[WeDidIt]

107. The desire for such a promise indicates Specter and Cornyn KNOW

beyond any reasonable doubt, that Bush administration officials are guilty of war crimes.

[tom_paine]

108. NEVER! Prosecutions are the only way to make our Comstitution and Republic whole.

We have been dishonored, disgarced and VIOLATED. Robbed, murdered in ill causes, and made to murder innocents by the Bushies who stole our nation from the get-go on 12/12/2000, the day everything changed.

DO NOT LET THEM OFF THE HOOK! AT LEAST ONE OF THE BUSHIE INNER CIRCLE MUST BE PROSECUTED IN THE NEXT 4 YEARS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUATION OF THE REPUBLIC.

Otherwise the next ones to steal or sit on the throne will FINISH the job these Bushies started and Old Free America will disappear forever into history.

[iconicgnom]

109. NOW they're worried.

Maybe they'd sleep better now if they had worried a bit during the 8 yr Republican tenure, and had provided some checks and balances on a rogue administration. But it's too late to worry now. Now they should act like adults and be responsible for the consequences of their actions/inactions.

[WillyT]

110. Big K & R !!!

:kick:

[ooglymoogly]

111. Just the good ol' boys who think laws are made for the little people;

Trying to keep justice as far away from them and the evil they perpetuate, as possible; To which I'm afraid some of our "democrats" ascribe to. And that is where the wobble will come from as has become abundantly clear, particularly in the last few years.

And thus another grand kabuki dance begins.

[ooglymoogly]

112. KR NT

[Rockholm]

113. How about..."We Won" and return to the rule of law.

[spanone]

114. commit to nothing...

[AtomicKitten]

115. They do protest too much! LOL

[Independent_Liberal]

116. The bastards know that as soon as the damn breaks, they're all going to jail!

[happygoluckytoyou]

117. TO UNDERSTAND.... LAWYER TO PROMISE TO NOT DO JOB, IN ORDER TO GET JOB...?

HE DAMN WELL BETTER NOT MAKE THAT PROMISE---- OR ANYTHING THAT EVEN LOOKS LIKE THAT PROMISE..... WE WOULD HAVE TO PROSECUTE HIM FOR ABETTING THE CRIME

[jmowreader]

120. I think I'd agree...

The Bush Administration is guilty of THOUSANDS of crimes besides torture. We can certainly prosecute these people for genocide, launching an unprovoked war of aggression, failure to prevent 9/11, contracting fraud, general malfeasance...and then ship them all to The Hague after ratifying the International Criminal Court, so THEY can prosecute them for torture. Or better, send them to Baghdad and let the Iraqis prosecute them under Sharia.

Besides, the fact the Republicans are demanding no torture prosecutions points to the fact the Bush Administration did commit acts of torture, when even a blind man can see they did.

[santamargarita]

123. FUCK you right-wing assholes - we'll toss your ass in jail too!

Jesus Christ these fucking people!

[varelse]

124. Why all the fuss, Republicans?

If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. :evilgrin:

[raysr]

125. They can't do that,

it's extortion!

[xxqqqzme]

126. Was it Turley or John Dean

making the point the other night on Countdown that it doesn't matter what is done nationally. That has no influence on international law.

And

What about Obama deserving the people he wants to work with? Wasn't that also one of their frequent tunes?

[Jack Rabbit]

127. Sunshine is the best disinfectant

Now let the Republicans deny it and let Holder be confirmed.

Any decisions about prosecutions for war crimes or anything else that the Bushies did should be based on facts, not politics.

[Marr]

128. Democrats need to make theater of this.

Holder in particular should say that no one is above the law, including these Senators, and their demands are offensive.

[Politicalboi]

129. Are they for real?

Can you imagine the shit Holder would get from these assholes if President Clinton did what Bush did and Holder ok'd it? Kinda like Marc Rich. Somebody should tell these assholes this is a National Security situation and we can't create more enemies without prosecuting Bush/Cheney. Give Bush/Cheney a choice. Either a trial by the UN or we will let the Iraqi people have you. This needs foreign investigation. I don't trust our system to do the right thing. Let the world decide for the decider. In the eyes of so many around the world, Bush is just like Osama bin Laden. We need to smoke him out. Wanted Dead or Alive.

[hangman86]

131. perhaps there's a silver lining in this

The Repukes wouldn't be asking these questions if they didn't feel that the prosecution and imprisonment of Bush for war crimes was a reachable goal. This just shows that they're knee deep in their own piss behind those desks. They can delay all they want but Holder will eventually get elected, and when he is I hope the first thing on his checklist is to bring Bush and Cheney to justice.

Still, it does puzzles me as to why anyone is sticking their neck out for that stupitard anymore, including Republicans. The one thing this country seems to be united on is the fact that George W. Bush was a failure who ruined and/or took countless lives over his 8 years as President. Would anybody really be pouring gasoline over themselves if they found out the bastard was convicted? Unless, that is, these Senators' names would come up in the trials. Hmmmmmmmmmmm :evilgrin:

[lonestarnot]

132. Quid pro quo ya bitch!

[edc]

134. Ha-ha-ha

Dear Senator Sheldon. It's time to tell your Republican colleagues to kiss your ass.

[Jawja]

135. Wow.

What happened to the "rule of law??" :shrug:

[Wizard777]

136. Obstruction of Justice?

[nikto]

140. LAUGH THEM OUT OF THE ROOM!

What they ask is borderline illegal at best.
Outrageous!

Publicize their requests to the Public, bigtime, thru every media outlet possible,
and then pummel them with it in the blogs
and wherever progressive voices can get themselves heard.

Equally outrageous is what the GOP is trying to pull with Labor Secretary appointee Hilda Solis.
The GOP objects to her "pro-labor" bias, as if the Commerce secretary
wouldn't have a pro-business bias!

What putrid bastards!!

They should be defeated or destroyed, or made to go along,
and not catered to.

Ever.

[relayerbob]

137. Or they'll do what?

Join Lush Rimjob in hoping the new Administration fails????

His response should be "If you persist in this, I may need to investigate you for obstruction of justice".

[BrklynLiberal]

143. Are they nucking futs??!!! Glad this little request has been made public.

[LaPera]

144. Fuck the republicans, they are powerless, making bullshit threats as if they are the party firmly

in control of the executive branch, the senate and the congress.

When the republicans were in complete control of our government, (they not only fucked everything up in favor of corporations stealing us blind) but they also looked the other way and agreed with all of Bush and their fellow republicans crimes, paving the way for all of Bush's crimes to proceed and go unchallenged.

The republicans thought they would be in power forever (as the criminal, and vote stealing Nazi Karl Rove promised them) but the republicans unbelievable greed & hatred was just too much for most Americans to handle or allow.

Now, the republicans don't want to be exposed as the party that allowed all the sickening crimes against humanity to occur and on top of it they want to protect the criminals who ordered the atrocities!!

Republicans and their ideology is corporate fascism, no different than the Nazi's!

[DallasNE]

145. We Had An Election

And the voters rejected this Republican approach of anything goes so it is time that Republican's grow up and learn about responsibility and accountability. Something that has been dearly lacking for the last 8 years. Democrats must draw a line in the sand on this, stand strong and say NO.

[Wetzelbill]

146. It's the Republicans, what do you expect?

I'd be surprised if they didn't do something crazy and/or ratty.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

148. the GOP 'role' in 9/11 all needs to come out

[clear eye]

152. How is it RI gets Whitehouse, and NYers get

Gillibrand, Blue Dog?