Do you feel the Bush administration should face investigation?

Question

Last Sunday President-elect Barack Obama was asked whether he would seek an investigation of possible crimes by the Bush administration. “I don’t believe that anybody is above the law,” he responded, but “we need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards.”http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/opinion/16krugman.html?_r=1

What are your thoughts on this? Do the very nature of the responsibilities within a presidency demand a benefit of the doubt, or a full investigation?

Answer 1

No, I don't think so.



All actions by all administrations should be subject to review. We can learn from past mistakes. We know, for example, that Franklin D. Roosevelt was wrong to put Japanese-Americans into concentration camps.



We could review every presidential administration back to Washington to learn what they did right and what they did wrong. But criminal investigation? I don't think so. Someday we might take a look at the Bush administration and count the things they did right. And, as in the case of the Roosevelt administration, they could outweigh what was done wrong.



Obama, as usual, has sidestepped the issue, leaving nothing but doubt about what he might or might not do. I think he is wise enough to not open doors he might one day be forced to walk through himself.

Answer 2

If there have been crimes committed by Bush (and I firmly believe there have been SERIOUS ones), they should investigate the s*** out of him and all of the administration officials. I think Obama will be preoccupied with other things for a while. One can only hope that Bush and Cheney are not give time to destroy documents.

If I were Obama I would set the Justice Department to work on my first day to make sure that no evidence is "lost" or is "accidentally" destroyed, which I would I would assume is likely to happen, if it hasn't already.

"Responsibility" is not in the Bush/Cheney vocabulary, unless it's someone else committing a crime. Look at Bush's record as Governor of Texas and all the execution warrants he signed. Bush should be held to the same values he espoused as Governor and President.

To answer your question, Bush demanded accountability from anyone outside his Administration, it would be hypocritical and immoral for him to block any attempt to hold him accountable for his decisions or actions. The President cannot hide behind privilege if there have been war crimes or negligence while he was steering the ship.

There should be a full investigation into Administration activities for the full eight years. If there is evidence that there were illegalities committed, the guilty parties should be handed over to the proper authorities. This includes the World Court or the War Crimes Tribunal.

Sorry for the long - windedness.

Answer 3

I think 9/11 was a defining moment in US (no world) history, and that it happened in Bush Junior`s Presidency, shaped it in many ways.

There have been many abuses of power in the last 6 years on both sides of the Atlantic, all in the name of `War on Terror`. I think the Obama administration will probably not want to stir things up too much, especially in `09, and I don`t see a groundswell of opinion clamouring for an investigation, such as Watergate. Pentagon papers etc. Oil, World Power and same old Paradigms will continue to be the order of the day. And it`s the Economy stupid will be the first priority.

Answer 4

Of course they should.. the crimes committed by this regime are disgusting.. but will they??



No.. because for one thing the Dems know that too often they just went along and supported Bush. Also Obama and crew know that they won't start an investigation because they will have plans to probably do even worse things in future.



It seems Absolutely Ludicrous that the most corrupt party. the Republicans were the ones to investigate Clinton over a little whoopee with an intern.. and got him impeached.. and then they bring along Bush and his mafia team to run the country.. and the stupid Democrats do nothing about it.



What does that tell us? That both parties are now so corrupt and dishonest that they just give each other the wink and the nod.. and carry on like no one has actually screwed over the American taxpayer.



Sickening isn't it?

Answer 5

NO NO NO. to do that would be to open a full investigation as to why the congress was on board with it. hillary would have to get involved also. the only reason people want this is because they hate bush. those same people are willing to give obama a pass for rezko the felon, ayers the terrorist, dorn the felon, wright the racist, blago the felon to be. i wonder why no one wants to persue that line of investigation, bush has done nothing and not one person has generated one iota of evidence that would justify an investigation. those who want him investigated are haters of the highest order. they should focus on obama and his crime syndicate.

Answer 6

Maybe they should do the same to this idiot ! What would you try President Bush for ? Keeping your country safe ? Compare the attacks in the 7 years after 9-11 under President Bush (which is 0 ) to all the terrorist attacks that were carried out against the USA in the previous 8 years before Bush ? Now , go to it and investigate !

Answer 7

If we looked backward we would probably find that all our presidents needed to be impeached or jailed or both. Even Honest Abe violated the constitution 7 separate times.

Answer 8

Investigations cost money

Is money well spent when you launch investigations into the *possible crimes* I am no fan of Bush, however I do not believe that when society has such a huge burden of debt to shoulder and no extra money to spend, It is a collosall waste and in poor judgement to spend it so foolishly.

Where does it stop? The checks and balances should have been ongoing in the term that he served and dealt with in a timely fashion.

This is just another controversy to be debated, I believe,

In answer to your question, perhaps they should, however I pose this question, Do we want to waste time and MONEY to do so with the possible outcome not being what we had hoped for?

Answer 9

No but I can name a whole slew of democrats who should be prosecuted. Investigate what? Of course the libs ignored the court decision announced YESTERDAY that the wiretaps and treatment of prisoners, etc was perfectly legal and constitutional, so forget your silly dream of impeachment or "war crimes." trials.

Answer 10

Sure as long as we investigate every member of the house and senate along with all previous living presidents. Your dislike for him does not warrant an investigation.

Answer 11

No! Just leave it alone, because the amount of constitutional raping Obama has already done has gone unnoticed by and large.

No ifs ands or BUTS.

Obama did not say BUT.

Answer 12

why waste more of our taxpayer money on an investigation that will give us nothing back? we already waste it on companies that cant make a business out of being in business

Answer 13

Just like the NAZI party did



trying to say they were just following orders



Nuremburg Traill II staring Bush admin

chenney

rumsfailure

rice

gonzalez

libby

haliburton

Answer 14

Investigation for what? Congress has already tried twice, nothing there. Get over it.

Answer 15

I as a Republican would love it. They would not be charged with anything, and that alone would be enough ammo to dis-mantle the Democrat party.

Answer 16

Not unless you turn back the clock and haul in all of the other presidents who have made blunders and mistakes.

Answer 17

and in 2012 when we impeach obama ...will you be mad ??



He is already changing his mind on most of the programs that he promised you when you voted for him.

Answer 18

There isnt going to be an investigation.



He didnt do anything illegal.

Answer 19

No, not at all. Bush has done nothing wrong. The brits have a unique take on his legacy.......



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/4241865/History-will-show-that-George-W-Bush-was-right.html

Answer 20

No, but I do think that people that keep accusing him of crimes when there are none should be forcefully placed in a mental institution.

Answer 21

Y E S

Answer 22

Yes, vehemently.

Answer 23

No - this is payback for the clinton impeachment.

Answer 24

Yes!



He should also immediately resign!

Answer 25

I believe so

Answer 26

No.