As I write this, Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has yet to start his Tuesday briefing. Odds are, he's huddling with top administration officials trying to figure out what answers he'll give to the crack White House press corps when they bombard him with questions about Obama's statement earlier today that any decision to prosecute top Bush Crime Family operatives is up to Attorney General Eric Holder, and any decision to open Congressional hearings is up to, well, Congress.
The statement Obama made at a White House photo op with Jordan's King Abdullah concerned the opinions written by top Bush Justice Department Lawyers "legalizing" torture techniques. Having yesterday cleared the actual torturers -- who were, um, just following "legal" orders when they hit, stomped, slapped, restrained, partially drowned and otherwise committed acts against "detainees" that shredded whatever myths still exist that the United States respects the rule of law, our own and those found in international treaties we have agreed to -- Obama said "...with respect to those who formulated the policies, that is going to be more of a decision for the attorney general within the parameters of various laws". He also opened the way for a Congressional inquiry into the issue when he added, "...if and when there needs to be a further accounting," he hoped that Congress would examine ways to obtain one "in a bipartisan fashion," from people who are independent and therefore can build credibility with the public.
Well, well, well. A move toward justice? An attempt to undo some of the hideous damage the Bush Crime Family perpetrated against the foundations of this republic? A glimmer of light cast over the dark, filthy, sick policies of Cheney, Yoo, Bybee, Libby, Bush, and the rest of the nest of snakes that took this country into what became a slimy, twisted, lawless "reality" they so famously declared they would constantly be creating? If so, there will be no "bipartisan" effort to bring these thugs to justice. In fact, the Republicans in Congress and the Limbots in media will do anything and everything (more tea-bagging? gun rallies? immigrant burnings? lynchings?) to prevent such hearings or investigations ever from taking place.
For example, within minutes of Obama's statement, the warped television medium -- on which so many Americans rely for "news" -- was wetting its collective pants. Reporters began asking questions about the "influence" of "left wing" web sites like moveon.org and the awesome power these sites must wield over Obama's polices. It had to have been them, right? They must have pressed their magic buttons and Obama The Socialist, no, Obama The Communist, no, Obama The Fascist, no Obama The Muslim, no, Obama The Guy Born In Indonesia And Who Shouldn't Be President ...surely, they chanted almost in unison, surely the president has come under the spell of... of... these...liberals, liberals who want to (gasp!) try to suggest the so-called "rule of law" might be a better method of dealing with the Bush criminals than putting our collective hands over our collective ears and shouting the lyrics to "Onward Christian Soldiers." Rule of Law? Fuck that! We have to fight the Muslim terrorists! And, they're everywhere! Look! There's one now! Eeek!
Now it remains to be seen whether or not a committee -- any committee with the authority -- will move toward hearings that will expose the depth of the criminality under which this country has been managed during the past eight years. It remains to be seen whether or not Attorney General Eric Holder will honor his oath of office and designate a special prosecutor who will then begin the process of discovery that will reveal the Bush swine for what they truly were. Today Obama opened the door just a crack for those type investigations and hearings to begin. It is now up to members of Congress and the nation's law enforcement division to either follow through or turn away... from justice.
Wanna bet which way it's going to go??
Mike Malloy can be heard daily on his radio show 9pm - 12pm ET. Visit www.mikemalloy.com to stream live, purchase a podcast or find a station near you