2009 - the Final End of 1984

Well, it is official now, we have President Obama in command, and “W” is finally a member of the Ex-Presidents Club. It was interesting to watch the inauguration yesterday, as much for seeing a new president take office as to watch the reactions of those on their way out. George Bush barely reacted to most of Obama’s speech, lamely clapping in some spots and smirking or grimacing in others when Obama mentioned subjects like an end to governing through fear and the false choice between safety and freedom. Dick Cheney didn’t react at all, after arriving in a wheelchair, supposedly having injured his back moving boxes. I really don’t see Cheney moving boxes unless they were full of the documents he intends to withhold in defiance of the Presidential Records Act.

There were impromptu choruses of “Na-Na, Hey-Hey, Goodbye” among the few onlookers as Bush entered the Presidential helicopter for his final ride to Andrews AFB for the trip home. I had heard some debate on how Bush would return to Texas. I was willing to pass the hat for the U-Haul. I could imagine the Kennebunkport cowboy and the schoolmarm traveling across the country, seeing Ruby Falls, getting their picture taken next to the Worlds Largest Ball of Twine, and finally being confronted by some dissenting opinions, though I suspect he would convince himself that they were really telling him he is “Number One.”
Now we will get to see the last minute pardons (if any) made by former President Bush. There are two schools of thought on that. The first is that every one in the administration will get a blanket pardon, stopping any investigation. The second is that no one will get one (except perhaps Cheney and Bush himself) because then every one will be subject to the consequences of their actions which will keep everybody quiet, since a Presidential Pardon could eliminate any excuse for not testifying by removing any Fifth Amendment objections.

I want the crimes of the last administration will be investigated. The suggestions to the contrary being put forward by the phalanx of conservative talk show hosts is simply an effort to lay the foundation of the stonewall. I can’t imagine any regular citizen standing in court and getting anywhere by telling the judge “there is no reason to look back, we need to look forward now”. I can only hope that the recent exit interviews by Bush and Cheney, bragging about their policy of torture and secret wiretapping of American citizens will be usable in court. I also want to see an investigation of where all the money has gone, both in Iraq and in the first round of TARP money, which seems to have gone down a black hole. Let us also not forget the crowning jewel of the Bush legacy, revealing the identity of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame during wartime.

I hope the current Democratic congressional leadership will grow the spine needed to look into all these things (and more, I’m sure). Despite the efforts of Henry Waxman and John Conyers, there appears to be no real effort to look into anything. Nancy Pelosi took impeachment off the table as soon as she was House Speaker, and Harry Reid goes into a swoon anytime a Republican stamps his/her foot.

George Santayana said "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it” in response to Francis Bacon's statement that "A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." We have seen the depth of the philosophy of the Neocon religion of “I’ve got mine” in action. Lets hope we don’t forget the results.