Biden says Obama might pursue criminal charges against Bush

[nitroglycol]

Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden said yesterday that he and running mate Barack Obama could pursue criminal charges against the Bush administration if they are elected in November.Biden's comments, first reported by ABC news, attracted little notice on a day dominated by the drama surrounding his Republican counterpart, Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
But his statements represent the Democrats' strongest vow so far this year to investigate alleged misdeeds committed during the Bush years.
"If there has been a basis upon which you can pursue someone for a criminal violation, they will be pursued," Biden said during a campaign event in Deerfield Beach, Florida, according to ABC.
"[N]ot out of vengeance, not out of retribution," he added, "out of the need to preserve the notion that no one, no attorney general, no president -- no one is above the law."

From here. Whether this would actually go ahead, of course, is another matter.

Edited to add: Oops, I suppose I should have put it in the new election forum.

[marvenger]

Re: Biden says Obama might pursue criminal charges against Bush

farken sweet. There's hope i've become a little too cynical. People have to want this for a true inverstigation into 'alleged misdeeds'.

[BiscayneSunrise]

Re: Biden says Obama might pursue criminal charges against Bush

So much for Obama's promise for a new bipartisan mindset in Washington.

[jdv]

Re: Biden says Obama might pursue criminal charges against Bush

So much for Obama's promise for a new bipartisan mindset in Washington.

"[I]f crimes have been committed, they should be investigated," Obama told the Philadelphia Daily News. "You're also right that I would not want my first term consumed by what was perceived on the part of Republicans as a partisan witch hunt, because I think we've got too many problems we've got to solve."


But it's all for naught, I'm sure Bush will be issuing stacks and stacks of blanket pardons his last week. Can he pardon himself?

[D-Mack]

Re: Biden says Obama might pursue criminal charges against Bush

Like going into Iraq and lying to congress?

Ah wait, Joe was a cheerleader for that.

[Judas]

Re: Biden says Obama might pursue criminal charges against Bush

Maybe he could go after McCain for the Keating stuff as well. Or if McCain gets in he can go after Obama's Rezko dealings, and maybe even have the gall to go after the Senator from MBNA.

Hell, if this spreads it would be awesome. Each time a new politician gets into office he could pursue and prosecute those he replaced or ran against! Maybe even just implement a law that each time a politician leaves office they get a mandatory sentence of 1-10 years depending on whether they were just a bit corrupt or a full-blown criminal. Hm, I suppose there would need to be some kind of opt out program though for Ron Paul...

I fully support any and all criminal prosecutions of any politicians, current or former, for pretty much anything.

[World Traveler]

Remember the Mantra, Term Limits, from the 1980's?

Typical Republican ploy, when they are losing power.

Now they want bipartisanship... When they have always acted as though it does not apply to them, when they hold the power.

How bipartisan were Newt Gingrich and Tom Delay when Republicans controlled the House? Or the George W. Bush Administration after the 2000 and 2004 elections?

This reminds me of another favorite Republican ploy in the 1980's, Term Limits. The Democrats often controlled Congress and its agenda then, particularly in the House of Representatives. Then Republican mantra was Term Limits, limit by law the number of terms that congress people could serve.

As soon as they gained control of the House in the 1990's, did Newt push for a law enacting Term Limits? Of course not...