Jan16 |
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Don’t investigate the Bush Administration war crimesMaybe I need to trade in my liberal card. Because while I desperately agree with Paul Krugman, Brian Beutler, Not Atrios, Matt Yglesias and a whole bunch of other people that some Bush Administration actions the last eight years were unconstitutional and unlawful — torture and warrantless wiretapping chief among them — I part ways with them here: I think the Obama Administration should have no part in investigating its predecessors. Why? Because it’s probably the quickest way to steer Obama’s presidency straight onto the rocks. I’m surprised to find myself so nakedly cynical about this topic, but here goes: More than anger at the Bush Administration, most Americans are simply tired of it and ready for him to go. (As Kevin Drum notes, that’s part of the reason Obama’s ascension has been greeted with something of an outsized expression of joy.) What they want from the Obama Administration is not to relive the worst parts of the last eight years, but to get started on the hard work of stabilizing the economy and getting the troops out of Iraq. Presidential administrations are not great at walking and chewing gum at the same time; an investigation into the excesses of the Bush Administration will suck the energy out of every other effort Obama needs to succeed if he — and the country — are to be successful. And there’s simply no way to pull it off, anyway, without seeming like an exercise in the extreme partisanship Obama has tried to tamp down. Which, incidentally, is one key to him having the support he needs to get stuff done. If Congress wants to appoint a special prosecutor, let ‘em. If the Obama Administration wants to throw open the archives and let the public get a more definitive account of what was done in their names, let ‘em. Hell, if Spain wants to send a warning that certain Bush officials should steer clear of European vacations, lest they be arrested, let ‘em. But if Obama takes the advice of his liberal allies and goes on the investigative warpath, they’ll be wondering in a few years why other progressive aims weren’t achieved. |
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Uncategorized, barack obama, brian beutler, matt yglesias, not atrios, paul krugman, torture, war crimes, warrantless wiretapping
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You don’t think it could be done quietly or by someone only loosely affiliated with the administration somehow? I’m not entirely sure how this would work, but I do know that ongoing investigations tend to be tedious and boring to the public. On that note, I doubt the media would be obsessed with it. But on the other hand, if anyone asked, the Obama would be able to reference the investigation. I’d like to see it done, but in a quiet manner that wouldn’t detract from or define the new administration. You don’t think it’s possible?
No. I don’t. The media — and I can’t say that I’d blame them — would be ALL over that bad boy. I’d like to see justice done, and it worries me for our future if administration officials can just decide the law doesn’t apply to them and evade consequences. But, hoo boy, there are some other awful big fish to fry right now.
I’ll just be highly surprised if Obama makes any effort at all to return to Congress powers that constutionally belong to the Congress and undo the COnstitutional damage that has been done over the past 12 years.
Actually, I should say I would be surprised if that happened. But I won’t be surprised because it won’t happen.