Congressional Oversight

I don't know if this will go anywhere. I'm cynical enough to think it most probably will turn out to be little more than political theater but, at least it offers some small ray of hope that the Bush regime might be held accountable for its crimes.

In one of the first acts of the 111th Congress, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers proposed legislation to create a blue-ribbon panel of outside experts to probe the “broad range” of policies pursued by the Bush administration “under claims of unreviewable war powers,” including torture of detainees and warrantless wiretaps.

I know blue ribbon panels have traditionally had about the same impact as the ever popular sternly worded letter. Certainly, remembering what good the 9/11 Commission or the Iraq Study Group did, doesn't give one much cause for optimism, but still, maybe this time with a new president and a Democratic majority, it might amount to more than merely creating the appearance of concern.

[More posts daily at The Detroit News.]