The Young Turks

From the Salon article linked above:

The nonpartisan presidential commission that Malinowski and other people involved in the discussions are advocating would have considerable power, granted by Congress, to force cooperation. The commission would ultimately deliver recommendations to the president that would include, among other things, whether or not Cheney deserves that walk up the courthouse steps.

Off to a good start, though the article predicts that any prosecutions would not occur until a second Obama term, if one were to exist (this brings up the worry of continually delaying a potentially controversial move until the next election has passed). But then:

The commission would focus strictly on detention, torture and extraordinary rendition, or the practice of spiriting detainees to a third country for abusive interrogations. The panel would focus strictly on these abuses, leaving out any other allegedly illegal activities during the Bush administration, such as domestic spying.

While none of this is attributable to Obama himself, nor is it a firm indicator of what sorts of investigations an Obama administration might pursue, it is an indication that there isn't a burning desire among the Obama team for an investigation into the NSA Surveillance program. Disappointing, to say the least.

Don't get me wrong, that there is a plan to investigate things such as rendition, detention, and torture, is a good thing. It is only through these sorts of investigations, and through prosecution of those responsible, that we can stave off future acts of the kind. But the same is true for the sort of unchecked surveillance of American citizens that the President engaged in.

If you are feeling productive, contact the Obama team and request that they make investigating President Bush's domestic surveillance program a priority.