A desperate game-changer

Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision late yesterday to launch a potential criminal investigation of how terror suspects were treated by the CIA during the George W. Bush administration couldn’t have come at a better time for the White House. As the president’s health reform initiative continues to take a shellacking throughout the country, followed by more bad news today of a swelling national deficit and debt, and seemingly no end in sight for the slow, plodding economic recovery, Barack Obama desperately needs a game-changer.

So what does he do? He turned to page one of the Democratic playbook: “When in trouble, blame Bush.” It’s the eternal M.O. of this administration. Can’t turn the economy around? Bush put us in this ditch. Deficit even larger than you expected? Don’t look at my spending habits, Bush was just as bad. Kids having trouble at school? It’s that damned No Child Left Behind! Grandma can’t sleep at night? She’s afraid of Bush. I’m surprised at yesterday’s news conference the attorney general didn’t drop in Rush Limbaugh’s name for good measure — to really show the American people just how Obama and crew can play the victim card.

I’m not cynical of this administration, but I’m definitely suspicious. And I’m tired the “Champion of Change” keeps looking over his shoulder to his predecessor instead of plotting his own course, like he promised during his campaign. Sure, Bush made mistakes. I’ve written about them for years. But Dubya isn’t running the country anymore, so stop looking for a political scapegoat and get to work! And please work on the things that matter. CIA activities from 2005 don’t count.

Holder himself seemed uncommitted to his actions yesterday — admitting he has likely opened the door to questions on the appropriateness of his move. Forget what former Vice President Dick Cheney said this morning, that America should be heralding these agents for keeping the country safe. Even setting that argument aside, Holder’s move was questionable. It went fully against the pledge Obama made not to pursue those who acted in good faith based on the ruling of what constituted torture at the time. Nothing has changed on that fundamental observation.

Holder acted because a new storyline of mock executions came to light, but the underlying interpretations by the Bush Justice Department have not changed, irrespective of how you viewed them. It was the legal authority at the time. No manner of revisionist history can refute that point.

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