I've tried to avoid writing this, but feel compelled to do so today, given the number of diaries that are venting fury at the Obama administration's unwillingness to investigate and prosecute the crimes of the Bush administration.
Fury about torture, (and about the other crimes committed by the arrogant criminals who have been in control of the Republican Party for so many years), is absolutely appropriate. It's necessary, it's the only sane response to what we've learned so far. That anger and frustration will provide the fuel that can energize us to take action, but fury alone won't make anything happen.
Pressuring the Obama administration to undertake those investigations and prosecutions is, in my opinion, not the solution here. In fact, I think it would be insanity. No one in the DOJ would be safe, and there aren't enough Secret Service agents to keep watch on all the people who would be endangered. Fox News and RW talk radio would be in pig heaven if a "Democrat (sic) administration engaged in partisan attacks on the Bush administration" . They'd see a ratings bonanza, and to hell with any violence incited, any deaths, any chaos.
Could we take a step back and look at what's really happening with the slow and steady release of information by the current administration (no matter how reluctant they say they are)?
If Obama and Holder weren't interested in seeing justice done, there would be no memos released. The information, the truth, would not be leaking out. Trust me, there's no way to "force" this information into the public eye, FOIA notwithstanding. National Security needs trump the public's right to know every time. It's pretty clear that a lot of Americans, not just Progressives and bloggers like us, want to know what happened, and want to see the guilty held accountable. Investigations and prosecutions can't come from the White House if we truly want to see justice done. Congress has to act. There must be an Independent Special Investigator for obtaining information, and a trusted and trustworthy panel of judges to handle prosecutions.
While it would be political suicide for the Obama administration to take point here, they're certainly giving us enough information to make ignoring reality very difficult. The can is open, the worms are everywhere, and there will be many more of them over the next few months. I think we can count on the Obama administration to keep the horror stories coming. The ante goes up with every revelation. Instead of bitching about what is politically necessary, why aren't we taking the lead here?
A calm, orderly, firm campaign demanding action from Congress is the only effective means of obtaining what the majority of Americans want. 2010 is our best friend, but only if we act quickly. Even the most partisan/blind/foolish of the Republicans in Congress can see beyond their own inflammatory and obdurate rhetoric. (No, that's not completely true - the Bachmann wing will never concede.) The rest know they'll go down hard if they can't attract any moderates. If they stonewall an independent investigation that the majority of Americans want, they're gone.
The wingnuts will fight like demons, but they're a small minority - albeit a dangerous one - and they'll have less ammunition if there's a strong public call for justice that backs the Republicans into a corner and forces some of them to support seeking the truth.
Progressives certainly organized well enough during the election, and we have enough emotion behind this issue to make another mass organization feasible. Writing diaries protesting the words and actions of Obama, Rahm, and Holder won't cut it. Only action will make a difference, and it has to be large, organized, and consistent. It can begin here, in the blogosphere. The power is here, the demand for a nation that follows the rules and laws we cherish is here, and the ability to organize is here. Let's mobilize, let's use that power.
This must happen - we can't heal our nation if it doesn't. We can't prevent future atrocities if there's no accountability. I'm not sure we can maintain a democratic form of government if we don't clean house, swallow some bitter pills, and face reality with humility and courage.
Writing a few e-mails to your representatives isn't enough, although it's a beginning. We need a massive number of e-mails, we need to bombard these people with phone calls. Online petitions may help, but paper and ink petitions have more weight. If every Democrat in Texas was consistent in contacting Senators Cornyn and Hutchinson, demanding action, we could have quite an impact, and that's true in every state.
If we work with our local party organizations we are far more likely to locate and involve Independents and Moderates. It will take a ton of work, but is there anything more important for us to do?
I know there are people here who can help make this a reality - I'm not an organizer, but tell me what to do and I'll do it passionately.
I'm tired of impotent flame wars and name-calling. If that's the best we can do, we deserve to lose this battle. I know we can do better, and I'm asking each of you to help ensure that justice prevails.