by Deb Cupples | The Huffington Post reports:
"Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy insisted on Monday in firm and passionate terms that a comprehensive investigation be launched into the conduct of the Bush administration, saying anything less would prevent the country from moving forward.
"Speaking at a forum at Georgetown University, the Vermont Democrat suggested the creation of a truth and reconciliation commission to uncover the "misdeeds" of the past eight years.
"'Many Americans feel we need to get to the bottom of what went wrong,' said Leahy."
Yes, and I'm one of those many Americans who'd like to know what sort of abuses our tax dollars have paid for.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers agrees with Sen. Leahy (and me). Last month, Conyers released a long report listing Bush Administration abuses of power and evidence supporting the allegations.
I watched the House and Senate Judiciary Committees' hearings on Justice Department abuses during the first half (or so) of 2007. I don't know about proof, but there's tons of evidence that the Bush Adminsitration abused its power while using our nation's chief law-enforcement agency to punish political enemies and help political friends.
I kept up with the questionable prosecution of Gov. Don Siegelman -- which is frightening to the core if only because it evinces how vulnerable any of us can be to political rogues.
I remember, during the weeks preceding President Bush's questionable invasion of Iraq, thinking something like: "If he needs to argue four different reasons on TV to invade a country, he probably doesn't have one good reason."
Here we are, roughly 5,000 American lives and $500 billion later -- all of us pretty well aware that the Bush Administration's "reasons" for going to war in Iraq were essentially false.
I could go on and on with examples, but I digress.
The upshot: I hope that Sen. Leahy is serious about launching a "truth commission," because we taxpayers deserve to know what our money really paid for.
Memeorandum has commentary.
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