Libertarian Vegan

John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, unveiled a bill last Tuesday that would set up a commission to investigate highly criticized policies of the Bush administrations, such as wiretaps and torture.

The bipartisan commission, known as the “National Committee on Presidential War Powers and Civil Liberties” would be made up of 9 members, have subpoena power and a budget of $3 million.

While it has received criticism from a number of groups, some are saying that it may not be necessary.  One of those is Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).  As the second ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, he said they are planning to press the administration to declassify as much information about CIA prisons as is possible.

He stated, “With regard to the C.I.A. interrogation program, if you want to make a break with the flawed policies of the past, as the president-elect has said he wishes to do, you have got to come clean about what happened over the past eight years, and that is why I’m going to push very hard to declassify these documents.”

President-Elect Obama seems to be somewhat retreating from the hardline he took against the administration while he was campaiging, saying he was unlikely to authorize a broad inquiry into Bush’s programs.  In an interview on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” Obama stated he has “a belief that we need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards.”  That is all well and good, but violations of the nation’s highest laws should be seriously investigated.

Obama did say prosecutions would go ahead if the Justice Department found evidence that laws were broken.

Another early priority he had stated was closing Guantanamo Bay, which he now says is unlikely within the first 100 days of his presidency.

Sources: Raw Story - Conyers introduces bill to probe Bush policies January 10, 2009

Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Obama signals his reluctance to look into Bush policies January 12, 2009

These are more signals that the more things “change” the more they stay the same.  All of those out there who elected Obama because he was against these policies is now seeing a retreat.  It is true that he must play the game carefully, but these are crimes of the highest level undertaken by our highest officials - why should we possibly let them off the hook whatsoever?

The only candidate who offered real, positive change was Ron Paul.  His record is proof that his actions are consistent and principled.  Not only has he actually read the Constitution, he believes we should actually follow it.

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