http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/03/uselections2008.joebiden Obama might pursue criminal charges against Bush · Biden says criminal violations will be pursued · Democrats have issued subpoenas to Bush aides · 3 staffers have been held in contempt of Congress * Elana Schor in Washington * guardian.co.uk, * Wednesday September 03 2008 19:32 BST * Article history Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden said yesterday that he and running mate Barack Obama could pursue criminal charges against the Bush administration if they are elected in November. Biden's comments, first reported by ABC news, attracted little notice on a day dominated by the drama surrounding his Republican counterpart, Alaska governor Sarah Palin. But his statements represent the Democrats' strongest vow so far this year to investigate alleged misdeeds committed during the Bush years. "If there has been a basis upon which you can pursue someone for a criminal violation, they will be pursued," Biden said during a campaign event in Deerfield Beach, Florida, according to ABC. "[N]ot out of vengeance, not out of retribution," he added, "out of the need to preserve the notion that no one, no attorney general, no president -- no one is above the law." Obama sounded a similar note in April, vowing that if elected, he would ask his attorney general to initiate a prompt review of Bush-era actions to distinguish between possible "genuine crimes" and "really bad policies". "f crimes have been committed, they should be investigated," Obama told the Philadelphia Daily News. "You're also right that I would not want my first term consumed by what was perceived on the part of Republicans as a partisan witch hunt, because I think we've got too many problems we've got to solve." Congressional Democrats have issued a flurry of subpoenas this year to senior Bush administration aides as part of a broad inquiry into the authorisation of torturous interrogation tactics used at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp. Three veterans of the Bush White House have been held in criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to respond to subpoenas: former counsel Harriet Miers, former political adviser Karl Rove, and current chief of staff Josh Bolten. The contempt battle is currently before a federal court.
So, how are you trying to bait an argument out of this one? It's a perfectly legal statement. I would love to vote for a president who wants to punish criminals. It's like the GEICO ads - stand up if you want to save money... who says 'no thanks, i'll keep my seat.'
Agreed. This is just a politically attractive statement for their base that comes with all elections. If Obama/Biden make it into office I don't think they would be willing to make this the face of their administration for their first couple of years. It would be nothing more than a giant never ending circus. Something this nation doesn't need at this time.
Unfortunately, I agree. Think about what might happen if they actually went after, and busted, some of the big fish of the Bush administration. You would have to step on a lot of toes to get to these guys, and many of those toes are attached to hands that are stuffing pockets on both sides of the isle. Even if Obama were squeaky clean himself (debatable), many of his co-partisans are surely not. All of a sudden you have a hostile Congress, and what was once an achievable, if ambitious, agenda becomes a hopeless utopia. Or, maybe the new sheriff in town strikes the fear of God into Washington, and American politics enters a renaissance. The public would have better tools to expose systematic lying and fear-mongering. Officials (e.g. US Attorneys) would gain the independence necessary to properly do their jobs. The potential benefits are unfathomable. Under Bush, the executive branch rooted out much of the transparency in government that is so essential to democracy. Obama will be powerfully tempted to continue that trend. Half-assing this sort of thing won't work either, as it would be indistinguishable from partisan retaliation. He would have to risk his entire presidency on restoring the rule of law. The payoff is huge, but the downside is we look back in four years and none of the problems generated by Bush's disastrous reign are fixed.
More and more I am finding obama is playing old school politics. The one thing that attracted me to obama was bringing a new outlook in politics, but it is quickly shifting away.
This will not be an issue. W will pardon the whole lot, on his way out of office, just like his daddy did. W has already pardoned Libby.
This would be 100% the wrong move, just fix what the guy did, give us back our freedoms and protect our borders. DD
"If there has been a basis upon which you can pursue someone for a criminal violation, they will be pursued," Biden said during a campaign event in Deerfield Beach, Florida, according to ABC. that b*stard. how dare he go after those who commit crimes?
Obama could be forcing W's hand, forcing W to blanket pardon his entire staff. Did Truman blanket pardon his staff on the way out of the White House?
He wasn't pardoned, his sentence was commuted. Minor difference, and he probably will still get pardoned anyway, but a difference nontheless.
What prevents future presidents from doing what Bush has done now? I mean, Bush abused his power - and he got away with it. It's something we have to figure out as a country. Does it mean punishing him in some way, or new legislation? He invoked executive privledge as if he was emperorer.
I mean, all Nixon had to do was invoke executive privledge about watergate. He could have refused to hand over the tapes or anything. Just said sorry - executive priveledge....
Lol yeah really, what's wrong with that guy Bush got a lot family member and our American troops Killed! He lied to us and lead the united states in a unnecessary war with false facts, and used an American media out let out( fox news) to spread propaganda...If we really wanted to help stop terrorist and restore order around the world, the we would stop the genocide in Darfur?
If Obama wins I would like to see a special prosecutor appointed and the Bush administration reviewed for prosecutable misconduct. If crimes are there and the evidence warrants prosecution they should be prosecuted. It's not the same certainly but like war crimes but Executive branch crimes can't be prosecuted until the perpetrators are removed from power and don't have the power of suppression.
