Why Congressional Investigations Are So Important

Gleen Greenwald explains why shining light on Government administration is so important, citing classic historical essays and arguments. This is also obvious, or should be. One point he does not make directly is the prophylactic effect of knowing that one's actions and documents will always be available for public and legal review. One will be much more careful of one's actions if this check is always in play. The test we always used to use at work was "can this action/decision/document withstand the public exposure of being on page one of the Detroit Free Press or New York Times?" Isn't this fundamental? I guess not to the Bushies who, stupidly and arrogantly, must have assumed that at no time ever would their actions be put on page one.

And the fact that Alberto Gonzales and top DOJ officials simply got caught lying the minute that minimal amounts of oversight were exercised -- the minute that their statements were investigated for accuracy rather than blindly assumed to be true -- demonstrates just how pervasive this corruption and deceit has been at the highest levels of the Bush administration. And this has occurred principally as a result of a Republican-led Congress that did not just fail to investigate, but deliberately sought to help the administration conceal wrongdoing so as to politically prop up and protect the President.
In light of how quickly and powerfully evidence of wrongdoing and deceit is spewing forth with minimal amounts of prodding, it is just inconceivable that our Beltway stars -- including alleged journalists -- would be more worried about the unpleasantness and disruption that comes from uncovering corruption and illegality than they are about the corruption and illegality itself. But that is exactly the message they are conveying.
And none of that should be surprising, even though it is so destructive. After all, our government would not have been able to spend the last six years blocking all forms of accountability and checks if not for the support of our national media. So it should hardly come as a surprise that so many of them do not believe in that which lies at the core of our political system since its founding -- namely, a belief that all political leaders must constantly be subjected to rigorous scurtiny and compelled disclosure of their conduct.