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View Full Version : Obama May Pursue Criminal Charges Against Bush Administration

DroppinScience
09-04-2008, 07:43 PM
Of course, this is a vow that they COULD do this if Obama-Biden are elected in November.

This is positive news indeed. But why not pursue criminal charges regardless of the election results? Why wait for the next President to do this, based on a hypothetical.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/09/04-1

Published on Thursday, September 4, 2008 by The Guardian/UK
Obama Might Pursue Criminal Charges Against Bush Administration
Biden says criminal violations will be pursued

by Elana Schor

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".

"[I]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.
Bob
09-04-2008, 07:50 PM
this seems like an...odd move. i thought the whole reason that the democrats weren't pushing for impeachment or criminal charges or any kind of accountability for the shit bush did to this country was because they didn't want to alienate voters and appear radical and crazy. but now the presidential candidate is saying he's going to do it, and he's conditioning it upon him getting elected? isn't that going to give people something of an incentive to not vote for him?

maybe he's trying to court the disillusioned ron paul voters or something, i have no fucking idea
RobMoney$
09-04-2008, 11:31 PM
Grandstanding much?

Bob's right, this reeks of post-Palin speech desperation.


Obama, why don't you come to your senses...
Bob
09-05-2008, 05:55 AM
Bob's right, this reeks of post-Palin speech desperation.



haha no, that isn't what i said. i just said it was an odd move
Laver1969
09-05-2008, 06:17 AM
Did I miss something or the article says that Biden's the one making the comments? Not Obama...

Obama stated back in April that ""[i]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."


Sounds like he's against making it a witch hunt.
NoFenders
09-05-2008, 11:03 AM
While I'm sure most here would love to have time wasted on finding dirt on W, I would think Obama would have better things to do.

:cool:
DroppinScience
09-05-2008, 02:24 PM
Did I miss something or the article says that Biden's the one making the comments? Not Obama...


Yes, it's Biden saying this. But he is laying out a plan what would happen during an Obama administration... which Biden would be a part of.

If this happens, I'll be overjoyed. But I don't like the fact that it sounds conditional upon election results. Even if Obama were to lose, this should be happening no matter what.
NoFenders
09-05-2008, 03:55 PM
It would be huge waste of time. Otherwise, it would already have started.

:cool:
saz
09-05-2008, 03:59 PM
no it wouldn't. any administration official who breaks the law should be held accountable, whether it's bill clinton or bush & co. they shouldn't be able to operate above the law, nor violate the constitution and do what they want.
RobMoney$
09-05-2008, 04:02 PM
no it wouldn't. any administration official who breaks the law should be held accountable, whether it's bill clinton or bush & co. they shouldn't be able to operate above the law, nor violate the constitution and do what they want.


(y)
NoFenders
09-05-2008, 04:44 PM
no it wouldn't. any administration official who breaks the law should be held accountable, whether it's bill clinton or bush & co. they shouldn't be able to operate above the law, nor violate the constitution and do what they want.


Agreed. So in that same sense, don't you think people have done everything they can to get something off the ground? If not, then there must not be much there. It's not like another signature document spread around message boards is the real way to do it. And now they come out with this as if it's a threat and a promise if he gets in. Kinda weak if ya ask me. Almost beneath the great Obama/Biden connection to have to pull that type of stuff .

:cool:
saz
09-05-2008, 05:26 PM
the democrats could easily pursue this, as well as cutting off the funds for the iraq occupation, however the majority of them are totally spineless.

all we can really hope for is henry waxman to continue to pursue oversight hearings (http://oversight.house.gov/investigations.asp?ID=203) (one of the few brave dems who has balls), and for an eventual clamp down on private contractors, haliburton, blackwater et al who've been bilking the american taxpayers for billions.
Laver1969
09-05-2008, 08:19 PM
Yes, it's Biden saying this. But he is laying out a plan what would happen during an Obama administration... which Biden would be a part of.

If this happens, I'll be overjoyed. But I don't like the fact that it sounds conditional upon election results. Even if Obama were to lose, this should be happening no matter what.

If McCain becomes President and Bush is convicted, McCain will pardon him.