An important issue for me, in light of recent admissions by Cheney, is that of war crimes and the prosecution thereof. If you search Change.org for questions regarding war crimes, you can find (and vote on) questions such as the ones below.

“Will you appoint a Special Prosecutor – ideally Patrick Fitzgerald – to independently investigate the gravest crimes of the Bush Administration, including torture and warrantless wiretapping?” (21, 287 up votes)

“Will you appoint a Special Prosecutor (ideally Patrick Fitzgerald) to independently investigate the gravest crimes of the Bush Administration, including torture and warrantless wiretapping?” (6,093 up votes)

“Will Obama investigate members of the former administration for potential war crimes, and if evidence is found how will he address it?” (3,697 up votes)

“After WWII the US became a force for bringing war criminals to open trials for their crimes. Now that Cheney has admitted ordering torture are we going to regain our moral leadership by bringing this administration to justice? The world is watching.” (1,288 up votes)

“What is your position on investigating members of the Bush administration, including President Bush and Vice president Cheney, for war crimes? What will you do to re-establish the rule of law?” (806 up votes)

“The Senate has determined that war crimes were committed by members of the Bush administration. When will the rule of law be restored and prosecutions begin?” (661 up votes)

“It’s common knowledge that the Bush administration committed war crimes, with torture and rendition flights. Will you examine the evidence and prosecute the people responsible?” (691 up votes)

“Will President Obama appoint a special prosecutor, hopefully Fitzgerald, to investigate Cheney’s involvement with war crimes and prosecute if Cheney is guilty ?” (607 up votes)

While there may be more important issues that we are currently facing and that will affect us more directly in the new year, thankfully, more people have voted in favor of the questions above. Unfortunately, it may be likely that, unless we apply pressure, those in the Bush Administration who were involved in the war crimes will not be prosecuted. The President-Elect has provided a useful tool to show how important this issue is.

So, how does this issue stack up against other important topics including the economy, national security, education, health care and the environment? Let’s take a look at the leading questions from each section, and the current number of up votes, and compare those to the war crimes questions.

“I’m concerned about the banks who received tax payers money and have had no accountability. Will this be corrected after President elect Obaham is in office?” (17,791 up votes)

“Our current war on drugs is failing America. Billions of dollars are spent on a losing campaign. Our prisons are overflowing with people that don’t deserve to be there. What is the government going to do in an effort to fix this major problem?” (6,680 up votes)

“I know many teachers that are familiar with the “No Child Left Behind Act”. They think while the intention of the act was good it falls FAR short of its’ intended goals. How will you improve or change this act?” (4,419 up votes)

“In all other 1st world countries, there’s a minimal level of universal healthcare for all citizens. What will your adminstration do to provide truly universal, affordable healthcare for all US citizens, regardless of employment status?” (11,007 up votes)

“Will transit and intercity rail projects be a major component of the infrastructure stimulus package, rather than focusing on highway projects?” (6,864 up votes)

“How will the Obama Administration encourage the future generations of Americans to become the worlds leading scientists and engineers?” (3,636 up votes)

The other issues are vastly important to the citizens of the United States and do, also, affect the rest of the world. However, we need to set an example by showing the world that we are not complacent and that our new leaders do have the balls to stand up and do the right thing. Bush, Cheney, et. al. are not above the law.

On behalf of myself and my entire family, I would like to thank you and congratulate you on becoming the 44th President of the United States of America. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for running a terrific campaign, consistently taking the higher road, following it all the way to the White House and making history in the process. Most of all I want to thank you for giving me hope, but not so much hope for myself, but rather hope that my son will grow up in a better world than in which he was born.

My son was born during the Bush Administration and I have feared the worst for his generation due to the failed policies, unprovoked war, tremendous debt, and any of the other countless atrocities brought on by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and their ilk. At times I was so depressed at the thought of what was to come, if we continued down that path, that I wanted to apologize to my son. I came to the conclusion that his may be the generation that makes the changes to save us. By voting for you, President-Elect Obama, and seeing you accomplish your dreams, I have new found hope that my son and his generation will be able to accomplish theirs.

As I told my son, who is still too young to understand, “History books are being rewritten and you will not know a world without possibilities. Your future is much brighter.” Whether or not you are able to accomplish what you promised throughout your campaign will remain to be seen. The fact that you ran brought me hope. The fact that you won the Democratic Nomination inspired me. The fact that you won the Presidency has truly changed my outlook on life. And you have changed my outlook on my son’s life.

For all that and more, I thank you. I truly, deeply, thank you. Now, get some rest. You have a big job ahead of you!