We, as a nation, can ill afford to EVER experience the Bush years again!

3. February 2009 by admin.

Honestly, I’m not trying to “beat a dead horse.” But today as I was thinking about what it’s going to take to move this great country in the direction of leader of the free world I couldn’t help but think we have to “walk the walk.” We’ve become very good at talking the “talk” but it’s the walk that seems to be so difficult. We are a nation of laws and not men, that is the mantra that has allowed the United States of America to survive as a self governing republic for over 200 years, something unachieved prior to this in the World’s history. It feels as if the foundation is cracking. Eight years of George W Bush and company has put this nation in jeopardy of losing its status as the world’s lone super power. The world, in my opinion, desperately needs America to return to its roots, so to speak, because we have the opportunity to lead by example as many nations struggle to find an identity in the 21st century.

My thoughts today centered on the fact that Karl Rove continues to thumb his nose at congressional subpoenas as if the law doesn’t apply to him. Virtually every member of the Bush administration, post Scooter Libby’s conviction for obstruction of justice and perjury, just refused to testify or provide any information about what was happening inside the “walls” of their “command center.” Everything was excused because of national security or executive privilege - both dubious claims that the Democrats never forced them to justify in court. While I blame the Democrats for that, it’s more understandable while Bush was still in office, but totally unacceptable now. I know that President Obama must be focused on getting the Stimulus legislation through Congress, but this lawbreaking cannot go unabated.

Rove, Harrriet Miers, Josh Bolton, they can’t get away with ignoring Congressional subpoenas. Letting that happen won’t be “looking ahead” it will be asking for a national disaster down the road as far as our legal system. The reason our system works is because the people of this country have a sense that it’s fair and they have confidence in it. I’m not suggesting a witch hunt for Republicans - I’m suggesting that citizens that are subpoened by Congress have two choices - appear and testify or go to jail for contempt of Congress. It can’t be any other way! I voted for Obama, but I don’t want him or any other future President thinking this is OK.

Our system of justice works largely based on interpretation of the original constitution by supposedly fair minded judges and juries. We trust that the prosecutors and those in government who take the oath to defend the constitution and execute the laws will act in a non-partisan manner. Now we know that during the Bush years this changed in the Justice department and people were hired and fired based on political motivations. THIS CAN’T HAPPEN IF WE ARE TO REMAIN A STRONG STABLE NATION! When Congress chose to investigate the firings of nine (republican) attorney’s general, possibly for political reasons, the Bush administration chose to refuse to cooperate. In the process they took an embarrassing situation - which probably wasn’t illegal - and turned it into an issue of critical importance to the future of this nation. If Rove, Miers, and Bolton get away with this, they are setting a disgusting precedent. It is through precedents that the constitution is molded to evolve with the changing times. This would be a terrible way to let the constitution evolve.

President Obama need not do any more than let Congressional leaders and the Justice department do what is right here - he should be able to stay out of the “fray.” But if they continue to allow themselves to be pushed around by Rove, in particular, then someone has to step in and say “enough already.” This guy was responsible for who knows how much of the illegal behavior of the Bush administration. There is little doubt in my mind that he participated in the “outing” of Valerie Plame - the covert CIA agent - a treasonous offense - and he was clearly involved in the firing of the US attorneys - which was also an abuse of his position in the White House. At the very least, Rove should be forced to testify about his role in these scandals in front of Congress and a national CSPAN audience. We deserve to know exactly what happened so that it can be prevented from happening again. And, just because he was the President’s advisor shouldn’t isolate him from his responsibility to act within the bounds of the law. I believe his lawbreaking went far beyond these two areas, but regardless, “We the People” should get a full accounting of his actions - if for no other reason than for history’s sake. How else can we insure his abuses are never repeated? We, as a nation, can ill afford to EVER experience the Bush years again!

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