Prosecute the Bush Administration - Ideas for Change in America

What do you think is the most effective way to turn this idea into real policy? Add your suggestions here for how you think we should run an advocacy campaign to advance the idea – including the overall strategy, messaging, targets, and tactics.

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It is important that the law be enforced. When we focus upon many of the actions of President Bush, he had to be aware of taking action to torture people, and to life the habeus corpus rights of American citizens, he should be called to account, as well as Vice President Cheney. They believe they are above the law. This should not be allowed.
A Speical Prosecutor needs to be appointed. For really, their actions are beyond President Elect Obama. It was a law so it is not as if they did something in a gray area.
Prosecute those persons to the extent of the law and especially those lawyers who believed they could by-pass the law and authorize torture.
This is a stain on my citizenship in our country. People around the world will see me as an American citizen as being deficient in my citizenship responsibilities.

David R. Clark, Sr.

Suggested by David Clark on 01/17/2009 @ 04:05AM PT
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This proposal needs to be developed into an organized effort and campaign. First we need to find and develop working relationships with our most effective spokespersons, political leaders, and allies. This would include people like Dennis Kucinich & . A group of respected and respectful organizers should go to talk to Conyers, Pelosi, etc. They have told us repeatedly that they didn't want to waste the time on an Impeachment campaign that could fail and that it was better to leave Bush & Cheney in office and win a big victory in the election. If one doesn't look at the continuing damage that the Bush Administration has done, then they were right. The Democrats and people won big in the election.
However, the election is over and an investigation by a special prosecutor would require little of the Democratic Party other than for them to fulfill their constitutional duty and oath of office. This should in fact be a bi-partisan effort and the Republicans should (one would expect) be even angrier at what the Bush Administration did than the Democrats. Thus, the matter should be discussed with those in the Republican Party that might be the most interested in upholding US and international law and in enforcing ethical behavior.
This must no be allowed to become narrowly focused. While we should indeed expect those that have violated the law and committed crimes to pay the price, it is equally important that a full accounting and open review of what has taken place be undertaken.
A full and honest investigation of 9/11 needs to be prosecuted. Every single question raised by the Families of 9/11 needs to be fully and openly looked into and the full story of what occurred leading up to, on, and following that fateful day must be developed and openly shared. Let the chips fall where they may.
And we need to know what has been done since to safeguard America's defenses. Are their missle batteries that protect the White House, Congress, the Pentagon or are there not? Why or why not? Do we have airforce procedures that will enable our fighter jets to respond to defense emergencies immediately and be any where in the country within minutes - why or why not?
Do we have laws and procedures in place to ensure that an open and honest investigation will be immediately undertaken so that the people can be assured of the truth of what has happened if something like this occurs again? Why or why not?
So, we need to bring together a team of political representatives that are willing to reach out to other representatives to build the support needed. We need to approach our allies who should support us on this, like Pelosi and Conyers, and ask them to work with us once again. But if they say no then we should just forget about it and not waste anymore time on them. We don't need them but they could be very helpful.
We should bring on board those that have written about the crimes of the Bush Administration and ask Bill Moyers to do a Special on why an Investigation by Special Prosecutors is needed and then we should develop a media campaign to encourage everyone in America to watch the Moyers special. Then it should be rerun periodically so that everyone that watches it the first time can tell their friends to watch it the next time. The special should also be available on line.
By the way, the Special Prosecutor should also be mandated to look into the potential (probable?) act of stealing the election in both 2000 and 2004; and we should welcome the participation of those that have been taking a lead on this matter as well.
We should begin our campaign with a short but detailed listing and description of the crimes that it would appear were committed and the laws and articles of the constitution that were clearly violated and in fact require prosecution and accountability.
This Idea for Change in America very narrowly missed making it into the top ten. I worked all day to try to make sure that my Idea for a Sustainable America got in instead. But I feel just as strongly that the people in the Bush Administration must be held accountable for their actions. I am so fed up with their lies, hypocrisy, self serving actions, and deceit -- that I insist that it must all be brought out into the open and they need to pay the consequences for everything that they have done that was illegal or immoral.
We must thus insist that this Idea for Change in America be included just as fully in Change.org's national advocacy campaign as the Top Ten. It only missed by 19 votes. Finally I want to thank Bob Fertik and all of the others that have pursued this matter so doggedly for so many years against incredible odds. They should be seen as national heroes and respected and appreciated as such.
So, thanks again Bob and everyone else who has dedicated so much of your time to this. It is a noble effort indeed.

Suggested by Rob Wheeler on 01/17/2009 @ 04:00AM PT
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I have said my piece on here on this subject many times, NOW I will make my SUGGESTION!

I suggest that everyone, (that is upset and will be totally peeved if Obama does not assign a Special Prosecutor for crimes that the Bush/Cheney Administration has committed) be it Democrat/Republican/ Independent band together and start a NEW PARTY OF THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE, to run against the Democrats and Republicans come election time in order to take back our country and out everyone of those elected officials that refuse to do what they were elected to do by the citizens of the U.S. . If they refuse then their fired come next election !

Enough of the empty promises, enough of the lies they tell just to get elected for another term.

ENOUGH !!!!

Suggested by Anita Palmer on 01/17/2009 @ 03:04AM PT
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Rove and Myers have defied the Congress, refusing to show up even to state their rights against self incrimination. Bush and Cheney have testified only on their own terms, citing Executive Priveledge that better resembles the Divine Right of Kings.

This is inexcusable in America.

Please appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute the crimes of the Bush administration, and to open
the records of this, the most secret government we have ever had.
thank you,

Suggested by Heather Yukon on 01/16/2009 @ 07:18PM PT
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I call upon the people of the United States of America to begin its own impeachment and criminal indictment of the Bush administration. We have spoken out on this site Change.org and we have spoken out on Change.gov. Yet, it seems our pleas go unheard. We voted in November and gave Barack Obama a resounding mandate to reassert our Nation as strong and staunch believers in Law and Human Rights. To uphold those human rights the President, Vice-President must have the intelligence to understand issues, and the wisdom to make critical decisions based on the Nation’s best interest. The Nation’s best interest is not being a willing spectator of illegal and un-Constitutional acts. Barack Obama must adhere to his promise of CHANGE in his administration and Presidency.
I believe that we must hold a special election in order for the people to be heard on this issue. However, because of the time constraints, the most expedient method of using our collective voice is via petitions. The Governing body of the United States of America must regain the trust of its people and of the world, nothing less will suffice.
The links below offer detailed information (you can click on each to read each article of criminal activity committed by the Bush administration) as well as the opportunity to send the petition to your House and Senate representatives.

As citizens of this country we have remained apathetic, silent or so frustrated at the idiocy around us we became sheople. It is time to use our voice and once again become “We the People.”

"Impeach Bush To Stop Pardons" petition at:
http://www.democrats.com/pardon

Appoint Special Prosecutor for Bush War Crimes
http://www.democrats.com/special-prosecutor-for-bush-war-crimes

Suggested by Marte McCalla on 01/16/2009 @ 04:17PM PT
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One of the best articles on the need for this investigation, in my opinion, is by Paul Krugman in today's New York Times (1/16/09). We have MANY individuals who have written eloquently on the topic. I would build a campaign around this material, but publishing and republishing it, day after day, until a special prosecutor is appointed. We have to remember the short attention span of the media, and if we don't keep an issue constantly in front of the public, we can't generate the needed pressure. This is an issue where I think relentless pressure is the only way to succeed.

Suggested by James Wood on 01/16/2009 @ 04:05PM PT
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Pam Weiss said it eloquently. There are nearly 10,000 "changers"
interested in this topic. Something MUST be done or the moral
tone of the country will be completely undermined. If not you,
the next president may subvert the Constitution even further unless this you bring the issue to America's awareness by a trial. It's not that we want to punish Bush and Cheney, but to reinstate the principle of equality under law and the Constitution.

Suggested by Genevieve Marcus on 01/16/2009 @ 03:51PM PT
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Mr. Obama,
Among your qualifications (that helped win my vote) was your background as a Constitutional professor/lecturer; We KNOW you are aware that there is a MOUNTAIN of evidence of war crimes, Constitutional crimes, international crimes and abuse of power in the Bush administration! We KNOW you agree with us in this discussion! We also KNOW that you are aware that in order to honor your upcoming oath of office ... you are OBLIGATED to (at the very least) appoint a Special Prosecutor! Do not be afraid in the least to do this!! Let the politics (and neocons) be damned!!
You will be rewarded with a clean conscience, and the deepest gratitute of us Americans who have watched in disbelief and deep sadness the trashing of our Constitution, democracy and ideals over the past 8 years!

P.S. I agree with an earlier comment - NOT Patrick Fitzgerald please.

Suggested by dave sillman on 01/16/2009 @ 02:22PM PT
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An investigation into who has profited from the war in Iraq is probably the best way to flush out the criminals who are responsible for the death of a 100,000+ Iraqis, and 4,000+ American Service People. Does the name Halliburton ring a bell? These people are the weapons of mass destruction.

Suggested by Roberta Lorio on 01/16/2009 @ 11:54AM PT
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Delighted to see so many people have responded to hold Bush/Cheney responsible for their crimes just in the last 3 days! We all should be sure to pass this site on to friends and family so there is an overwhelming number to present to Congress!

Suggested by Anne Sherwood on 01/16/2009 @ 11:20AM PT
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