Do you really knit shrouds?

'm going to appoint an AG who is widely respected, highly accomplished, very smart and independent.

Hmmm. I like your thinking...but can Barack really insulate himself, distance himself enough via a strong A.G. appointment from the political realities of throwing BushCo against the wall?

What I like about your reasoning usually, here, Glenn, is that you convincingly make the case that the RIGHT thing to do for Dems is also the politically pragmatic and popular move.

But here, are you sure? Are you sure Barack could weather the blowback from a move like this?

addicted

While their punishment might not be equivalent to that faced by an ordinary citizen,

So, in other words, we'll have a two-tiered system of justice -- one for "ordinary citizens" and another for Presidents and their top aides -- and you're OK with that, because it's important that Obama get stuff done? -GG

You mean we have to go for the gold ring? I mean, we can't settle for the bronze ring? Or, maybe the brass ring? Or, even, the clay ring?[/snark]

For others:

[WARNING!! Little Brother is hereby instructed to plug his ears and close his eyes. You have been cautioned, Sir!]

For those who were looking for an excuse to subscribe to Harper's, Scott Horton has an article in the December 2008 issue; Justice After Bush: Prosecuting an Outlaw Administration.

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/12/0082303

It came in today's mail, so I haven't read it yet. At a glance it appears Horton is suggesting a Commission of Inquiry; drawing its authority from either the executive branch or a hybrid legislative-executive branch. The goal being publishing the truth, leaving prosecution to those who would follow later. Its analysis could produce the background for three results: (1) who to pardon?, (2) a formal recommendation for prosecution, (3) and a formal recommendation for reparation. Looks worth a read either as a single issue purchased at your local newsstand, or perused at your public library.

catamitebastard: I've always been partial to Madam Defarge, myself.

ouroborous: "The Red Packets are coming! The Red Packets are coming!" One if by LAN, two if by ISP...

Bravo! I like! I like!

As a prosecutor, would you go forward on a politically unpopular prosecution if you knew it was the right thing to do? And do you never see that in the end, if it was the right and just, that the unpopularity of your decision changes?

Doesn't that ever happen, or is it only in the movies?

Sorry for the irritation but I don't need it explained to me.

Sorry for the irritation but even though I pretty much totally agree with you, your constant aggressive whininess almost makes me want to join the Democratic Party.

Look, either start building your own following (which you have repeatedly, loudly insisted you are incapable of doing), or try a different strategy of winning Glenn Greenwald over to be a spokesman for the revolution. Because if he is half as irritated as I am, we stand a better chance of getting Keith fucking Olbermann to be our front-man.

And that self-important dick chaps my ass even more than you do.

kthxbai

A guy gets life under three strikes for stealing a couple of slices of pizza, and people who commit uncounted murders and rob the country blind go scot free and are in fact celebrated, rewarded with speaking fees and book deals.

We've come a long way since 1776.

Remember that just a week or two ago, just hours after Senator Ted Stevens had become only the fifth Senator convicted of a crime (all seven counts) while in office, he said

"I have not been convicted. I have a case pending against me, and probably the worse case of prosecutorial ... misconduct by the prosecutors that is known."

How much worse can the abuse of the poor English language get than that? I have a nightmare scenario where Bush and Cheney are impeached, convicted, and imprisoned, and the power elite simply chooses to say that this never happened. "No, they haven't been convicted of anything. This is all a partisan witch hunt. The President is voluntarily residing at Fairview Correctional Institution, which is not a prison, until the political climate improves and he can return to Texas."

Hmm. Why did I read that in my mind with Sarah Palin's voice?

Glenn. YOU are President Obama, the new, first, black president in American history. You're gonna do this?

I'm going to appoint an AG who is widely respected, highly accomplished, very smart and independent. And then I'm going to say: "I repeatedly said during the campaign that the rule of law must be restored. I want you to appoint some of the best career prosecutors you have -- hire who you want -- to look at whether there are serious acts of criminality by the prior administration and pursue it where it leads."

Samantha Powers was a personal hero for me during the primaries. I especially liked it when she call "the BITCH" Hillary a "MONSTER". Well, you can forget about her having an independent thought from now on. She married the biggest apologist PRICK imaginable- Cass Sunstein. I heard Cass and Glenn awhile back talking about holding people accountable and the way Cass sees things, you could run over his dick and he'd shake your hand. It's pussies like him whispering in Obama's big ears that will show up absolutely nothing new in U.S. Politics. Welcome to the fucking Machine. Samantha went from Independent Woman to ditzy split tail in 2.5 seconds. She drinks from the Corporate Fountain now. She told me to tell you "Fuck off".

As far as Barack using up his political "currency" doing what's legally responsible? The election is proof positive he just hit the Jack Pot. I say spend the Hell out of that "currency" and realize a return on his investment. The people would be shocked, but in a great way.

Really? OK. You're Barack's top adviser. You are gonna tell him you think throwing the Bush administration against the wall and prosecuting them for war crimes is going to work out well for him?

I'm asking seriously, here, folks. I think it's really easy for us (and by that I mean ME, a PROSECUTOR, who thinks Bush et al are WAR CRIMINALS), who don't bear the enormous downside, to say.