Pelosi Says She Supports Investigating Bush Admin. Officials

Last week, House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers released a 400+ page report detailing why the incoming Obama Administration should seek to hold certain Bush Administration officials accountable for alleged crimes and abuses of power. 

Paul Krugman also explained why Bush Administration officials should be investigated, and he  logically refuted the specious, sound-bite arguments against accountability.

Today, Politico repots that Nancy Pelosi seems to be of like mind:

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Sunday that she was open to pursuing investigations of abuses by the Bush Justice Department.

“I think that we have to learn from the past and we cannot let the politicizing, for example, of the Justice Department, to go unreviewed,' Pelosi said on 'Fox News Sunday.' 'Past is prologue. We learn from it.'”

"Pelosi told host Chris Wallace she thought the Obama administration would be open to scrutinizing the Bush White House, as House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) has urged.

“'I don’t think Mr. Obama and Mr. Conyers are that far apart,' Pelosi said. 'I want to see the truth come forward.'

"On ABC’s 'This Week' last Sunday, Obama sounded a note of caution on the prospect of investigations, telling host George Stephanopoulos: 'We need to look forward as opposed to looking backward.'” (Politico)

This all seems a bit odd, coming from a woman who refused to allow (from January 2007 to  present) the U.S. House of Representatives to even vote on the impeachment of President Bush.  

True, the Senate likely would not have convicted Mr. Bush, due to heavy Republican numbers in the Senate in 2007-08, but impeachment would have helped restore America's faith in the federal government  and our oft-spoken-of notions of accountability.

When Speaker Pelosi took impeachment off the table, she severrely disappointed many  American voters who gave the Dems control of the House, specifically hoping that they would step up and keep the Bush Administration in check.

I hope that Mrs. Pelosi will do an about-face and earnestly work toward ensuring that we taxpayers at least learn details of the various Bush Administration abuses.

Memeorandum has commentary.

Other Buck Naked Politics Posts:

* Political Stunt: Two U.S. Attorneys Refuse to Resign

* Pentagon's Vague Statement on Released Guantanamo Detainees

* GAO: Bailed-out Companies have Offshore Tax Havens 

* Real Bonuses Based on Fake Profits

* Cleaning up Political & Corporate Culture Could Help Economy

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Comments

[Melanie Buswell]

I am appalled at the indescretions, violations of law, and violations of US Constituion so prevelent under the Bush/Chenny Admisistration. Do I dare mention Ratheon, Haliburton, The Carlyle Group, wire-tapping, war without provocation, 911? The list is endless.

This country deserves to hold Bush/Chenny accountable for their actions. How many US military men & women lost their lives, limbs, and ability to function by serving in Iraq/Afghanistan?

Our country is in shambles with an economic crisis I attribute primarily to the deceit and corruption throughout our own government.

What president would allow foreign manufacturers to set up shop here in the US and reward them with tax breaks? What president would ignore trade imbalance with China?

Hold them accountable. I say take em to court.