tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10249940.post1958771771549574947..comments2024-03-26T20:24:43.919-05:00Comments on Papamoka Straight Talk: Catching Criminals is Important Too Mr. PresidentPapamokahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14611162290397820224noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10249940.post-68607267611448728652009-01-24T08:20:00.000-06:002009-01-24T08:20:00.000-06:00To be honest with you, I could actually picture Pr...To be honest with you, I could actually picture President Obama pardoning former President Bush for the sake of the office of President the same way Ford had to pardon Nixon. Only then could a bipartisan approach be doable to clearly define the powers of the President such as signing statement, wire tapping, and the list goes on of crimes committed by President Bush in the guise of the office of President.<BR/><BR/>Excellent article and insightful debate in the comments! Loved it!Papamokahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14611162290397820224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10249940.post-86302232354570103632009-01-24T05:28:00.000-06:002009-01-24T05:28:00.000-06:00It's a really tricky one: perhaps it all comes dow...It's a really tricky one: perhaps it all comes down to politics versus justice?<BR/><BR/>I suppose the best argument for doing this is that whilst the costs of acting are borne in the short term, the benefits are felt in the long-term in cleaner government. Was it Ford's decision to pardon or congress and the media trying to impeach President Nixon that has forced all subsequent presidents to behave better? Clearly the latter...<BR/><BR/>But - cynic that I am! - I can't help feel that the short term threat to Obama's agenda will take precedence and he'll resist any attempt to prosecute, especially when he can see it as a question of "binding up the nation's wounds".Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03413659492973102654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10249940.post-1047117320883142602009-01-24T05:26:00.000-06:002009-01-24T05:26:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03413659492973102654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10249940.post-2349045036733251642009-01-23T22:16:00.000-06:002009-01-23T22:16:00.000-06:00You bring up a good point...that the GOP will thre...You bring up a good point...that the GOP will threaten them if they try. They shouldn't allow the GOP to control this conversation (which they will and is my pet peeve with Dems). They should be out front "threatening" the GOP with this and holding it above their heads, not the other way around! They should be using this situation to their own advantage getting what they want. Knowing the Dem leadership, they will find a way to blow this opportunity. They don't know how to act like the majority and use their power to their advantage. Knowing this, it may just be a better idea to prosecute since I think they will blow their opportunity at capitalizing on it.DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01267112937396907790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10249940.post-62908518709024577802009-01-23T22:04:00.000-06:002009-01-23T22:04:00.000-06:00DB - I LOVE that analysis - it's very practical an...DB - I LOVE that analysis - it's very practical and accurate. It gets to the core of the problem. In the end, as you probably already know, I think NOT prosecuting would be worse than prosecuting. It's a debate that needs an answer soon. Even Chris Matthews seemed confused on Hardball today. Most Republicans are threatening us with bad stuff if we try. I personally think politicians need to grow a pair and help protect the future, but then again I'm a longterm kind of thinker. :) Thanks for the feedback DB - MBMichael Bohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17802461239955936784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10249940.post-88909499923069336272009-01-23T21:08:00.000-06:002009-01-23T21:08:00.000-06:00Tbh, I am torn. Part of me wants justice for these...Tbh, I am torn. Part of me wants justice for these crimes, yet part of me wants to move forward and retract the failed policies. Obama can make large gains if he leverages these investigations over the heads of the Republican leadership. Does that give us justice? No. But it does allow for progressive policies to move forward and could ensure an Obama win in 2012 with little fight.<BR/><BR/>Prosecuting the Bush crimes could provide justice, but at what cost to our country? The Obama administration and Congress would be tied up fighting these battles (which will without a doubt divide our country further) and his progressive agenda would take a backseat (thus affecting all of us).<BR/><BR/>Obama will accomplish so much more if the Republicans work with him. I know that if I was a Republican and Obama launched investigations, I would do everything in my power to impede his agenda and rally my supporters. Perhaps justice by another name is to hold this above their heads in closed doors forcing them to support the Obama agenda.<BR/><BR/>Then again, not bringing the injustices to light only invites the crimes to return in the future. And we know Republicans will fight against his agenda either route he chooses...<BR/><BR/>See? I am torn lol.DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01267112937396907790noreply@blogger.com