That "Easy" part was in jest, I'm not underestimating the level of noise. There is a huge hypocrisy, though, in promising to restore our government and not investigating and prosecuting. We know from experience that those who are not prosecuted return to positions of influence and power. So nothing is restored until the government is first cleaned of these people. Not doing that would break a very profound campaign promise from all the Democrats who ran in 2008.

There is also a slow steady decay in a democratic society that becomes comfortable with war crimes and crimes like torture. In the interests of national security -- real national security, as in securing our country's future and freedoms -- investigation, prosecution, punishment, and reparations are the only way to clean the nation's soul.

It's something to think about.

Civility in discourse?

Oh, no. I could care less what an idiot you make yourself look like... my point was that you're doing nothing to advance your stated goal of trying to get Glenn to advocate for issues you say you care about.

I'm sorry for confusing you with someone who gives a shit about bringing real change to the world. It's obvious your only goal is to draw attention to yourself, which you marginally accomplish by being the resident cartoon of a left radical.

Maybe you'll be an object lesson to young people of the difference between rhetoric and action. Or maybe you'll end up an old barfly like a lot of disillusioned leftist wannabes I know here in Boston.

As much as you piss me off, I genuinely don't wish that fate on you.

Has anyone else had trouble getting to DCLaw1's Inside-Out the Beltway blog?

2/3 of both houses of Congress is only one possible precondition for an Article V Convention .......

See "paste" below from Website "Friends of the Article V Convention"

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

However, the state legislatures of ALL 50 states have already submitted over 607 applications to make amendments. Congress and the Supreme Court are violating the Constitution.

___________________________________________________________

The Congress and the Supreme Court have, like George Bush, violated the Constitution and thus like George Bush, are guilty of treason.

Love it ........ law of the jungle ..... every man for himself ...... and so the USA has become.

Yes, those guys committed terrible crimes, including the murder of hundreds of thousands of civilians in Iraq . . . and, right, they shouldn't get away with it.

However, the time to nail them should have been DURING Bush's term, and the political will was not there.

Now, yes, let's investigate the crimes, let's get them out. And I don't believe anybody should be getting pardoned. But let's keep in mind the example of South Africa and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and try to bring these things to light in a spirit of repentance and forgiveness. The whole country is really at fault here for letting the bastards get away with doing these in the first place.

The problem really is that the American people are unaware, uneducated, really. They don't understand the rule of law. They don't understand what went on in those years. The people have to be educated, and that will mean bringing them along slowly and somewhat gently.

The reason there won't be trials for war crimes from the Obama administration is that this administration will not want to inflame the anger lying just below the surface in this still deeply divided country. What I hope Mr. Obama's intention is is to 1) reverse all the rotten executive orders, and 2) start educating the country in the right ways of doing things, changing the mind set.

It's all very well to want perfect justice. But sometimes perfect justice is closer to what happened in South Africa than what happens in adversarial law proceedings. Let's heal for awhile. If that means the bastards get off the hook, I guess that's what it means, however much I'd like to see them get theirs.

As I'm late to the party, I haven't read through all the responses. Apologies if what I'm saying has already been said.

I feel very strongly that elected officials should be subject to the rule of law. Politicians should not be allowed to hide behind partisan cover when it comes to crimes committed while in office.

If the federal government is unwilling to uphold its contract on these issues, what about individual states taking action against these elected or appointed officials? Spying on Americans happened at the local level, why couldn't a state AG go after a Bush Administration official on behalf of its citizens?

Just because the incoming administration is unwilling to take up the mantle of accountability, it shouldn't mean that every level of government does the same and gives the Bush Administration a pass.

I suppose I'd be better off petitioning the ICC in The Hague.

I am dismayed and appalled at seeing how many are willing to not trying to bring the Bush & co criminals to justice, especially when the argument is frequently "It would be bad for Obama's goodwill". Do you realize what you're saying??

I don't care if Obama gets only 4 years if it means getting the executive back to following the rule of law, and showing that an administration isn't given a carte blanche by the next administration to commit crimes.

Come on people! THIS is what you wanted Obama in office for? To just let blatant violations of the constitution slide in the name of "bipartisanship"?

I feel like I'm in some kind of alternate universe where America no longer exists. We can not seriously be considering letting war crimes and blatant disregard for the constitution go unpunished, can we? It was bad enough that no serious political efforts were made for impeaching Bush & co, but at least I was fairly sure they wouldn't get away with it after the new administration was in place. I guess I might be wrong.