Expect Congress to Look Backward as Obama Moves Forward

The first month of the Obama administration has been a whirlwind. The president signed the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act–the most comprehensive (and most expensive) legislation in American history–into law on Tuesday in Denver. The following day, Obama began to implement the economic recovery package, no doubt continuing the frenetic pace established since his inauguration. Congress, however, will likely set about getting some answers out of the Bush administration.

That the Congress and the President will be traveling separate paths is inconsequential and should be expected. As Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com perceptively posted on Sunday, the liberal, or progressive, electorate is by no means a homogeneous bunch. He describes progressives as being divided into “rational” and “radical” contingents with countless individual members falling somewhere between the two.

Silver charts the differences between The Two Progressivisms, and there are many, but make no mistake, they are all liberal. I encourage you to check out his post, but for the purposes of this discussion consider the “rational” progressives as a group that is more inclined to cooperate with its opposition for the sake of “seeking synthesis.”

Clearly, the Obama administration’s center of ideological gravity may be placed in the “rational” segment of progressives. Their statements regarding the investigation of Bush’s behavior are indicative of that. Obama is much more likely to stay above the fray for the sake of his “synthesis seeking” nature. Among the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, there is more of an impulse to “orient by antithesis.”

Such is the nature of their respective electorates. Obama’s is as broad as the U.S. itself. Members of Congress have constituencies which are narrowed by their localities, and they’re likely to be politically polarized after eight years of GOP control and gerrymandering. They also have to defend their seats every couple of years, making them much more sensitive to the demands of concentrated and vocal “radical” progressives within their districts.

What all of this means is, in a nutshell? It’s Time for Hearings, Baby!

That’s right, it’s time for some probative Q&A sessions with Bush officials. They’ve already got the ball rolling, having presented Karl Rove with his third subpoena to appear before the House Judiciary Committee. Unlike the previous two orders to appear, Rove will be unable to dodge the new one pertaining to the prosecution of Don Siegalman and other matters pertaining to the politicization of the Justice Department. The Raw Story reported Monday:

[Rove's Attorney, Robert Luskin] says Rove’s previous stance was based on advice from the Bush White House but that Bush representatives are no longer advising him on the matter.

“The only basis that Rove has ever declined to appear has been the White House claim of immunity for senior advisors to the president and executive privilege,” Luskin said. “I do think that it’s clearer now that the Siegelman matter falls outside the scope of the former claim and, on that basis, I offered to have Rove appear on this matter.”

Rove won’t be the only one, either. Just last week, the ACLU obtained a document detailing the torture and deaths of enemy combatants in U.S. custody. In addition, Newsweek’s Michael Isikoff reported Saturday:

H. Marshall Jarrett, chief of the department’s ethics watchdog unit, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), confirmed last year he was investigating whether the legal advice in crucial interrogation memos “was consistent with the professional standards that apply to Department of Justice attorneys.” According to two knowledgeable sources who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters, a draft of the report was submitted in the final weeks of the Bush administration. It sharply criticized the legal work of two former top officials—Jay Bybee and John Yoo—as well as that of Steven Bradbury, who was chief of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) at the time the report was submitted, the sources said.

Bush’s Attorney General quashed the OPR report, but Obama’s AG, Eric Holder, is expected to view the report in the near future. Should Holder release the report as expected, Congress will jump on the issue hard with both feet. Further, Congress will do so with at least some support from House Republicans.

What do you think? Are the ideological differences between political progressives helpful, or are they an obstacle for the majority party? Will congressional hearings pertaining to past misconduct by the Bush administration hurt the Democrats going forward? Regardless, it’s going to be exciting to watch.

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Past Member .

6:01PM PST on Feb 28, 2009

BRAD,

Is your life so lonely and are you so depressed and obsessed with making good people as miserable as yourself that you can find nothing better to do than make un kind remarks at those that you feel are vulnerable to your attacks?

There is a far better site for you to comment on there you would find many that have your same profane views ---- it is the ALTERNET.

send a green star

Kelly J.

7:14AM PST on Feb 27, 2009

That is okay by me, that you do not find any truth in my life....as that may be perhaps a reflection of your own life. I speak of only truth of my life. Also, I do not "hate" anyone on this precious planet. We are only given one shot here, in this mind and body, as I see it. I do however, see a direct correlation between the Zionist (a big difference between the practice of Judaism and Zionism)

Brad B.

8:19PM PST on Feb 26, 2009

Kelly, your story does not have the ring of truth. That's the nicest way I can think of putting it. But it does come through loud and clear that you are a Jew hater, and that explains a lot.

4:13AM PST on Feb 26, 2009

While American's became obsessed with Wal-mart and our disposable society, middle of the road Americans wage's did not receive any increase whatsoever, the deliberate dumbing down within the education system, the obsession with "toys", the XBOX generation, the violence increased in Hollywood, both parents increasingly went off to work~depending more and more on day care, the upper 4%'s wealth increased by 480% while the average worker's worth felt a decline of 47%. (if you disagree check the numbers yourself or not, I could care less).
I continue to teach my children the old Buddhist quote, and not only say, but live by "Less is More".....now, by a force feeding on reality, and Bush and Company (I do also believe past administrations also, and the grossly corrupt Federal Reserve along with Zionism:check out the disproportionate amount of congress members with dual citizenship with Israel, you may be surprised,also the insane amount of funding year after year to support their terrorist state with a population the size of Wisconsin) the complete collapse of the US economy, we shall all know that less will have to be "enough"....for our fat American bellies.

3:21AM PST on Feb 26, 2009

Well, Royal you must be part of the problem then in my humble opinion. How nice for you that you made money, had a job, and can enjoy a beer. That is just lovely. In my thirty six years, I have watched the total decline of this country that I am proud of. My ancestry comes from a 1) Robert Treat Paine signing our great Declaration of Independence 2) Native American tribe's on my mother's side of the family 3) Many who fought and died in many wars, too many I need not mention right here. I started working at the age of twelve years old, as I was raised with the morals and ethic that if I wanted to succeed and obtain anything that is how I needed to acquire it. When I was sixteen years old I moved out of my house and had two cars, my own apartment, and needed only to go to school two hours a day. This was the year 1989, back then I was making $8.00/hour. Today, I am jobless, college educated, and cannot even get my propane tank filled. I am a single mother, who cannot even find a job making minimum wage. I purchased my home with cash. I totally redid the home myself, and quadrupled the value myself, with my hands. I cannot sell the house if I wanted to sell it for what I paid for it. A beer? I wish. I watched, after the signing of NAFTA, corporation and corporation in Michigan leave the US one by one to set up shop in China and Mexico. After Bush became president, then the numbers just multiplied as he gave enormous tax cuts to these corporations for leaving. To be continued...

4:32AM PST on Feb 24, 2009

Looks like the fairness doctrine got my last post.
Those who can work with ideas believe the pen is mightier than the sword. Those who can't, believe the eraser is mightier than the pen. Royal, a fair comment and a fine machine.

Royal B.

4:11AM PST on Feb 24, 2009

Why must we keep everything negitive, this is what we would be doing .Time to move on and stop all the bashing and move forward in this country.Now time for a beer and to quit reading all the negitive stuff about our Government and Country.
I will keep my head in the sand and just remember what a great country we used to be and prteen that we still are.I am old and already lived my life any way, so you young people just keep on bashing this great country ,that gave you freedom to do so, and gave you a place to live if you will at least work for it, and gave you food and the right to dream of being any thing that you want to be.I do not know about any of you but America has been a great country to live in more than 54 years I have been here.Even under the rule of Bush who I did not like but I always had a job, food and health and a place to live and many good times in my life.Made more money in my life under eight years of Bush than any other time of my life,must mean something.
I know alot of people do not like God in this country any more but God willing I will have many more good beers and stories and rides on my Harley Davidson before my last ride into the sunset!This will be done in the great Country Called America, the land of the free, the brave and the land of plenty!

10:35PM PST on Feb 22, 2009

Friends, fellow Americans, countrymen lend me your ear. We the people must let our elected officials know how we feel about the greed and corruption which is endemic in our government, our business community, and our society. We must pressure President Obama and the Congress to investigate and prosecute all of the criminal activities that have left America in the pitiful state it is in. The wall street pirates and the treasury insiders must be brought to justice and the stolen funds returned. The justice department goons from the last administration must be dealt their share of real justice. Does the rule of law only apply to you and I? Do politicians have a separate law of rule that makes them special, above the rest? Looks that way to me! Justice for all? The past administration has made a mockery of justice and if this administration does nothing about it then it is clear for all to see. But as Mr. Obama stated during his campaign he needs to be pressured by the people, you and me. He has some heavy pressure from the big boys up on the hill. People with a lot of power behind the scenes are leaning on him to tow the line. Only with the massive pressure the American public can exert will he be able to take unprecedented action contrary to their will. We can supply the pressure by contacting our representatives and the president and letting them know that we want these traitors in jail now. Let them know everyday to enforce the law starting right there in Washington DC.

8:55AM PST on Feb 21, 2009

NOT PAST BUT PASTE

ATTN CARE 2 FRIENDS.

Below is a boiler plate petition and plea that you can copy then paste in word remove my signature add you own then send it along to PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA at info@barackobama.com

8:53AM PST on Feb 21, 2009

OOPS FINALLY GOT IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE

ATTN CARE 2 FRIENDS.

Below is a boiler plate petition and plea that you can copy then past in word remove my signature add you own then send it along to PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA at info@barackobama.com