Dear Sen. Leahy, screw a Truth and Reconciliation Commission

[pilsner]

The thought of creating such a commission to address gang violence is just as absurd.

Lady Justice is supposed to have a blind-fold.

There should be prosecutions when there's enough evidence that crimes were committed.

Truth and Reconciliation Commissions are for emerging, third world countries that are unstable and don't have a good court system.

Letting the Bushies off the hook will only embolden future administrations to abuse power in even worse ways.

[DJ13]

1. prosecutions when there's enough evidence

Thats precisely the reason these kinds of commissions are formed.

They arent designed to find the truth, but to bury the truth.

And if theres too much evidence to bury, then the commission lasts long enough to bury the evidence through disinterest by the general public.

[snowbear]

2. Screw Leahy's Commission idea?

.
.

Definition-

A truth commission or truth and reconciliation commission is a commission tasked with discovering and revealing past wrongdoing by a government, in the hope of resolving conflict left over from the past.

Why scrap Leahy's idea? I SooOOOoo confused.

Thank you for clarifying! ~~


-

[babylonsister]

3. So you say? Let's do nothing? Do tell. In detail. Thanks. And it had NOTHING to do

with gang violence, despite people believing you. Ugh.

And PS, your spelling problem concerns me.

[EFerrari]

4. I agree. We have a Justice Department. Let them do their effin' job. n/t

[babylonsister]

5. Hi, friend.

Remember the good old days, when we agreed? :spray:


Maybe one day.

Edit to add, we will/do, on the big things. Love you and are you okay with first names?

[EFerrari]

8. I know! I remember that line in "Steel Magnolias" --

"I've just been in a very bad mood for forty years".

lol

[babylonsister]

9. Bwhahaha!

:rofl:

That's about right! Oddly, when the dim one was 'in power' we agreed. Now, not so much.


It's thought provoking.

[leftstreet]

6. Too bad Bush & Cheney weren't on steroids. CONgress woulda been on it!

Don't let these people put on yet another dog and pony show.

!Justice Department!

[catnhatnh]

7. I'm OK with the commission if it accomplishes a few simple things...

It must fully expose the truth.And it must prevent every person escaping criminal prosecution from ever returning to government office or power. I actually posted on my rules for such a commission and this was what my rules would be:

1.War crimes are excluded. No exceptions. None involved were "patriots" or "just trying to do their jobs". Those executed after WW2 faced unprecedented punishment for crimes defined after the fact exactly because the acts should have "outraged the conscience". We have treaties and international obligations. Those engaged either directly by acts or indirectly by directing policy should have refused EITHER AS AN ACT OF CONSCIENCE or from knowledge of law.

2.Failure to testify before the committee or perjury before the committee must result in prosecution both for the perjury or failure to testify as well as all underlying crimes to the full extent of the law.No further immunity may be offered.

3.Those who fully testify before the committee and make open admissions of felonies shall be immune from prosecution. On completion of testimony they shall be awarded the status of "discharged felon". Any cash gains are forfeit. They may not serve in a government post either elective or payed or appointed for life. Any pensions or benefits are forfeit. Failure to report discharged felony status to an employer or perspective employer shall be a felony and cause for mandatory prosecution. Any holding attorney's license are disbarred for life from every state. They may not possess firearms or vote.

4.Discharged felons may not be employed in firms which hold government contracts or that lobby the government.

5.The above provisions not withstanding on establishment of the Commission there shall be a 10 day amnesty period for those who witnessed abuses and themselves have committed no felonies. They shall be awarded limited whistle-blower status. Their testimony will be taken under oath and their maximum punishment shall be simple discharge from employment without prejudice. Under no circumstance may they gain any other benefit.

That's about it. They want a free pass-that's as far as I'm willing to go. The commission should exist for no more than one year and the information gained turned over to the DOJ for prosecutions. The Commission should post a full account of all testimony online. And then Truth and Reconciliation Committees should be made illegal for the next hundred years.

[emulatorloo]

10. Leahy is a lot sharper than you give him credit for.

-- Step 1: Have a commission
-- Step 2: Give underlings immunity so they will finger the Big Fish
-- Step 3: let all the crap come out in a HUGELY PUBLIC WAY
-- Step 4: The DOJ has to step in