Accountability NOW

[radfringe]

Before boarding the train in Philadelphia, Obama delivered a brief but inspirational address that evoked not only the fathers of American independence, but also Lincoln, the emancipator of slaves and protector of the American union whose model he would invoke all day.

"Starting now, let's take up in our own lives the work of perfecting our union," Obama said. "Let's build a government that is responsible to the people, and accept our own responsibilities as citizens to hold our government accountable."

On Obama's change.gov transition Internet site, respondents were asked what concerned them most. A top response demanded investigation of the outgoing Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq. But www.theadvertiser.com/article/20090118/NEWS01/901180316|Obama has been cool to that suggestion] and says he wants to look forward.

While the sentiments of "looking forward" may sound good - we must also understand where we've been and where we are now. Holding government accountable means investigating the Bush-Cheney years - to dismiss it as diverting resources away from the problems we have today increases the probability of repeating the same mistakes.

At noon on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 - Barack Obama will raise his hand, take the oath of office and officially become our President. With that comes great responsibility and serious problems both at home and abroad. He will inherit a broken government, an economy in free-fall, two wars, and a host of other serious problems - all demanding his immediate attention. To solve a problem, Obama not only needs to look forward, but also backwards and sideways - and that means holding our past government accountable.

While some of the problems facing us today may not have have their origins in criminal offenses, and may be a case of incompetence - it still warrants investigating. There are too many questions, too many "Unknown Knowns and Unknown unknowns".

From Enron to 9-11, "yellow cake" to WMDs, Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, torture, warrantless wiretapping, Valarie Plame, Attorney firings, Halliburton, KBR, no-bid contracts, Hurricane Katrina, Veterans Administration, election fraud, cherry-picking intelligence, ignoring or "rewritting" science, and the systematic shredding of our constitution for political gain are part of of our past and will effect our future.

The concept of Accountability in government doesn't begin on Jan 20, 2009, it doesn't mean we ignore the past - it means we have to hold government accountable for the past, the present and the future. Bush may issues blanket pardons which could preclude any criminal charges - but this doesn't mean we are prevented from investigating.

We can't "fix"' problems if we don't understand the problems.

[H2O Man]

1. I agree.

Nominated.

[MadHound]

2. Hate to break it to you, but much like Clinton Obama is going to let another Bush get off scott free

I'm sure he'll come up with some polite rationalizations, like the need to focus on the economy and such, but the fact of the matter is that Obama is going to let Bush get away with it.

In part, this may be a deliberate move on Obama's part. Bush drastically expanded the powers of the Executive Branch, and don't you know, the Democrats and Obama have been chomping at the bit to use those new, improved powers.

[radfringe]

5. then his words about accountability

are just that - words and the law, the constitution, our principles, our beliefs, our values have no meaning

Obama's campaign was one of 'we the people' and perhaps building on Dean's theme back in '04 of "we have the power". we can throw up our hands, crawl into our holes and accept empty words - or we can demand accountability not just from the Obama administration but also that OUR GOVERNMENT (past, present, and future)be accountable.

[blm]

7. maybe he also means for us to MAKE HIM cooperate with accountability - read what he said....

citizens need to stand for accountability and help make it happen - that's how I interpret his remarks.

Obama is saying what I have been saying for years and attacked for by the keep the books closed wing of the Dem party. It is every citizen's RESPONSIBILITY to demand accountability or stop complaining about the cover ups or the next BushInc presidency.

[radfringe]

8. you got it

if he won't take the lead on investigations and holding people accountable - then we have to hold Obama accountable and take the lead.

it's OUR government, it's OUR responsibility

[DCKit]

10. President Obama may not have a choice.

If there are (as has been speculated in other posts) dozens of high-level whistle-blowers waiting in the wings, the hue and cry of an American public armed with the absolute truth of what the BFEE has done to this country and the world over the past eight years may be a force that can't be stopped.

What's the punishment for treason? I know, I know, just want to hear it repeated as often and as loudly as possible.

[radfringe]

11. Pelosi Now Signals Support for Bush Probes

---She got the memo - Pelosi Now Signals Support for Bush Probes
January 18, 2009 - Young Turks

Gird your loins Young Turks, Nancy Pelosi has done a big 180 and is now ready to support John Conyers investigations and will be aided by Henry Waxman's recently released report about Bush administration secrecy: Rep. Henry A. Waxman has released a comprehensive examination of secrecy in the Bush Administration. The report analyzes how the Administration has implemented each of our nation’s major open government laws. It finds that there has been a consistent pattern in the Administration’s actions: laws that are designed to promote public access to information have been undermined, while laws that authorize the government to withhold information or to operate in secret have repeatedly been expanded. The cumulative result is an unprecedented assault on the principle of open government.

From THE PUBLIC RECORD:
In a stunning reversal, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has for the past two years has staunchly refused to back calls to impeach President George W. Bush, now says she will support congressional efforts to investigate the Bush administration over it's controversial practices, such as the politicization of the Department of Justice.

Pelosi who famously remarked in 2006 after Democrats won control of both Houses of Congress that “impeachment is off the table” indicated during an interview with Fox News she was willing to support legislation proposed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers to create a blue-ribbon panel of outside experts to probe the “broad range” of policies pursued by the Bush administration “under claims of unreviewable war powers,” including torture and warrantless wiretaps.

But told by Fox News’ Chris Wallace that President-elect Barack Obama signaled his unwillingness to support efforts to investigate the Bush administration, Pelosi countered, saying, “I think that we have to learn from the past, and we cannot let the politicizing of the — for example, the Justice Department, to go unreviewed. Past is prologue. We learn from it. And my views on the subject — I don't think that Mr. Obama and Mr. Conyers are that far apart.”

Pelosi’s comments seem to suggest that Conyers staffers may have already contacted Obama’s new administration to work jointly on the investigative efforts.

[mmonk]

3. My first recommend of the morning.

[ThomWV]

4. My biggest fear is that Obama will simply hang possible investigations over Republicans heads

As a bargaining chip by which to contol their votes in Congress. He will threaten to open up investigations if they don't vote with him on the bills he cares about. In the end nothing will be done to expose the illegal and successful grabs of power than will accru to Obama himself next tuesday at noon.

[radfringe]

6. kick

[radfringe]

9. bump