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Sen. Leahy proposes truth panel on Bush era abuses
Breitbart ^ | 2/9/09 | DEVLIN BARRETT

Posted on 02/09/2009 11:47:00 AM PST by xtinct

WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee is proposing a "truth commission" to investigate abuses of detainees, politically inspired moves at the Justice Department, and whole range of decisions made during the Bush administration. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said the primary goal of the commission would be to learn the truth rather than prosecute former officials, but said the inquiry should reach far beyond misdeeds at the Justice Department under Bush to include matters of Iraq prewar intelligence and the Defense Department.

Leahy outlined his suggestion for a "truth and reconciliation" commission during a speech at Georgetown University Monday.

"I'm doing this not to humiliate people or punish people but to get the truth out," he said.

The panel he envisions would be modeled after one that investigated the apartheid regime in South Africa. It would have subpoena power but would not bring criminal charges, he said.

Among the matters Leahy wants investigated by such a commission are: the firings of U.S. attorneys, treatment and torture of terror suspect detainees, and the authorization of warrantless wiretapping.

"Rather than vengeance, we need a fair-minded pursuit of what actually happened" during the Bush administration, Leahy said.

Some Democrats have called for criminal investigations of those who authorized certain controversial tactics in the war on terror. Republicans have countered that such decisions made in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks should not be second-guessed.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Vermont
KEYWORDS: bush; distraction; leahy; moonbat
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To: LearsFool

I think that this is the beginning. I predict that they will overplay their hand big time.

Actually, I really want them to do this. Liberalism not only fails where ever it has been tried but also is the most unpopular. I think by springtime, the hideous mask of liberalism of Hussien, Reid, Pelosi, and MSM will be on full display for the whole world to see. The public will not only see it but will know what it is. And the public will puke.


41 posted on 02/09/2009 1:05:02 PM PST by TMA62 (TMA62)
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To: happinesswithoutpeace

dangit cut and paste that whole link....instead of clicking...it left out the end...


42 posted on 02/09/2009 1:05:10 PM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (You are receiving this broadcast as a dream)
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To: xtinct
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee is proposing a "truth commission" to investigate abuses of detainees, politically inspired moves at the Justice Department, and whole range of decisions made during the Bush administration.

Truth Commission? "Leaky" Leahy? ROFLOL!!!!!

43 posted on 02/09/2009 1:07:40 PM PST by Kitty Mittens (To God Be All Excellent Praise!!)
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To: xtinct

All it will take is for one Bush official to give a Jack Nicholson type speech and the whole thing will blow up in the Dems’ faces. Go for it, Leahy . . .


44 posted on 02/09/2009 1:08:20 PM PST by Numbers Guy
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To: Spok
Oh, I'm sure these 'bipartison loving', 'hope bringing', 'change committing' demoncrats only want to ask President Bush a few little questions about his 8 years in the White House:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
45 posted on 02/09/2009 1:17:25 PM PST by pillut48 (CJ in TX --"God help us all, and God help America!!" --my new mantra for the next 4 years)
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U.S. senator seeks Bush-era ‘truth commission’
Reuters
Posted on 02/09/2009 11:13:16 AM PST by Sub-Driver
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2181715/posts


46 posted on 02/09/2009 1:27:53 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/ _____ it's February 2009! _____ do you know where JimRob is?)
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To: xtinct

Patrick Leahy is proof positive that there’s no fool like an old fool.


47 posted on 02/09/2009 1:30:08 PM PST by andonte
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To: xtinct

If they really wanted the truth, most of the present administration would be too busy defending themselves to do much damage to the rest of us.


48 posted on 02/09/2009 1:30:55 PM PST by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: xtinct
"The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness: only power, pure power." --George Orwell, 1984
49 posted on 02/09/2009 1:42:31 PM PST by Mojave (Barack Obama is a joke)
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To: mort56
"They need a bad guy. Without an enemy, the masses will begin to look at them and their policies...."

DING, DING, DING!!! We have today's winner of the thread!

50 posted on 02/09/2009 1:56:56 PM PST by avacado (Bipartisanship is when Democrats and Republicans get together to rob the American people blind)
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To: xtinct

“Do these moonbat liberals wake up every morning wondering what nitwit proposal they can recommend that will cost the government aka taxpayers a boat load of money?”

They just want to keep us distracted from the damage they intend to cause.


51 posted on 02/09/2009 2:11:24 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade, There are only two sides. Pick one.)
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To: xtinct
Patrick Leahy

"..Intelligence Leaks

During his tenure as Vice-Chairman of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Leahy leaked a number of pieces of classified information, which led to his resignation from the committee. Leaks included information about a Reagan plan to topple the Gaddhafi regime in Libya, and another regarding the Iran-Contra affair. He deemed the Iran-Contra leak "careless" and accepted blame[1]. There is a possibility that a leak of his led to the death of a covert agent in Egypt.[2].."

Leahy is a scumbag who should not be in the Senate.

52 posted on 02/09/2009 2:13:52 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: XenaLee

I was cleaning out some old email and ran across this from 1/16/07:

The Democrats now promise, “A New Direction For America”

The stock market is at a new all-time high and America’s 401K’s are back.
A new direction from there means, what?

Unemployment is at 25 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Oil prices are plummeting.
A new direction from there means, what?

Taxes are at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs.
A new direction from there means, what?

The Federal deficit is down almost 50%, just as predicted over last year.
A new direction from there means, what?

Home valuations are up 200% over the past 3.5 years.
A new direction from there means, what?

Inflation is in check, hovering at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Not a single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11/01.
A new direction from there means, what?

Osama bin Laden is living under a rock in a dark cave, having not surfaced in years, if he’s alive at all, while 95% of Al Queda’s top dogs are either dead or in custody, cooperating with US Intel.
A new direction from there means, what?

Several major terrorist attacks already thwarted by US and British Intel, including the recent planned attack involving 10 Jumbo Jets being exploded in mid-air over major US cities in order to celebrate the anniversary of the 9/11/01 attacks.
A new direction from there means, what?

Just as President Bush foretold us on a number of occasions, Iraq was to be made “ground zero” for the war on terrorism — and just as President Bush said they would, terrorist cells from all over the region are arriving from the shadows of their hiding places and flooding into Iraq in order to get their faces blown off by US Marines rather than boarding planes and heading to the United States to wage
war on us here.
A new direction from there means, what?

Now let me see, do I have this right? I can expect:

The economy to go South
Illegals to go North
Taxes to go Up
Employment to go Down
Terrorism to come In
Tax breaks to go Out
Social Security to go away
Health Care to go the same way gas prices have gone

But what the heck !

I can gain comfort by knowing that Nancy P, Hillary C, John K, Edward K, Howard D, Harry R and Obama have worked hard to create a comprehensive National Security Plan, Health Care Plan, Immigration Reform Plan, Gay Rights Plan, Same Sex Marriage Plan, Abortion On Demand Plan, Tolerance of Everyone and Everything Plan, How to Return all Troops to the U.S. in The Next Six Months Plan, A Get Tough Plan, adapted from the French Plan by the same name and a How Everyone Can Become as Wealthy as We Are Plan. I forgot the No More Katrina
Storm Plan.

Now I know why I feel good after the elections.
I am going to be able to sleep so much better at nights knowing these dedicated politicians are thinking of me and my welfare.

Interesting how much of it came to pass...


53 posted on 02/09/2009 2:30:07 PM PST by r-q-tek86 (The U.S. Constitution may be flawed, but it's a whole lot better than what we have now)
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To: xtinct

I dont know who is keeping the enemies of the state list but this guy needs to be in the top 20.


54 posted on 02/09/2009 2:32:52 PM PST by samadams2000 (Someone important make......The Call!)
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To: xtinct

Let’s see, we need to go back to the CIA under Bill Clinton to get to the prewar intel. As for the Justice Department, let’s go back to the JD under Clinton. Who was fired? Who was promoted? Who was prosecuted?


55 posted on 02/09/2009 2:34:35 PM PST by petitfour
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To: RexBeach

“Besides, Mr. Bush is no longer in office, is he?”

The Office of the ex-President!


56 posted on 02/09/2009 2:42:18 PM PST by FroggyTheGremlim
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To: xtinct

This is evil!

He wants to equate it in the publics mind to the evils of Africa!

F- Leahy!


57 posted on 02/09/2009 2:47:00 PM PST by Finalapproach29er (Democrats still want to get Pres. Bush and/or VP Cheney; there might be show trials in Feb09)
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To: xtinct; All
Truth?

LMAO!

Somebody once said one can always tell when a politician lies because "their lips move".

Or another's take: never trust a Lefty in the months that contain the letter 'r.'

Iraq War - I'd hate to post pages of quotes from all the Loons going back to the Clinton administration on the threat of WMD's and taking action against Sadaam.

How about the 9-11 Commission? Hildebeast stacks the deck by putting Jamie (Al) Gorlick on the panel when she was part of the 9-11 problem.

Like my tag line says......

58 posted on 02/09/2009 4:00:11 PM PST by SloopJohnB (It it wasn't for Double Standards, the Left would have no standards at all.)
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To: mort56
They need a bad guy. Without an enemy, the masses will begin to look at them and their policies.

Agreed.....

.....But I think this will backfire bigtime. It may work with the hardcore Obamanuts, but the fence sitter middle voters will find it unseemly.

Add to that the coming Kommunism, Obama Census, Obama Care, Obama Power (meaning green power blackouts), Obam-enployment, high gas prices again, no drilling for US oil, no new nuclear power,....

....people will see that the RATS are not for anything but chest thumping and talk. They may end up sweating themselves when this is over.

The only thing that will stop the inevitable LARGE backlash is for the RATS to successfully get amnesty, more illegal ACORN votes, the rigged census, and no talk radio before the next presidential election.

The problem is, I fear they will succeed. It will take years of useless court fights to recover, if it ever happens.

59 posted on 02/09/2009 4:13:31 PM PST by SteamShovel (Global Warming, the New Patriotism)
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To: xtinct

Well..well..this is rich, coming from Leaky Leahy.


60 posted on 02/09/2009 5:33:56 PM PST by Hildy
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