The calls for an independent prosecutor for Bush-era torture have become considerably louder in the last few weeks, but a new approach has recently been floated as well – and it makes an enormous amount of sense.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

A government report on activity by right wing extremists has conservatives up in arms. Some good might come out of this newfound concern, provided it happens before political fortunes change too much.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

An enormously important news article and a coming decision by the Justice Department have made this the month when some important decisions on torture are made by the government and the general public as well. Those decisions may shape America’s direction for a long time to come.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

Trying to slow down unwanted results as they approach is not unique to politics, but Washington has developed an unhealthy fondness for it recently.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

The president would like the Treasury Secretary to be granted a vast new array of powers more closely resembling those granted to a separate and inter-branch agency. It is a bad idea in this particular case and a worse one generally.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

The bad news is that the president – whether through conviction, an excess of caution or political calculation – has been unwilling to directly address some urgent problems. The good news is that not everyone is waiting around for him to change his mind.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

Some in Washington have made a great show of signaling support for investigating evidence of crimes during the Bush administration, but not much is happening. While they dither the opportunities to actually do something are getting whittled away.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

Newly released legal opinions from the Bush White House has intensified calls for an investigation. Congress is looking in to getting involved, but does not have the track record, leadership or authority to inspire confidence in such an effort.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

Barack Obama has already made a handful of decisions that have proved controversial among progressives. Some of his supporters have apparently taken criticism to be a personal attack against him, but some recent events show how the office he holds has become dangerously aggrandized.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.

While there have already been several noteworthy changes from the policies of the last president, the current one has shown some uncomfortable similarities to him as well. Considering George Bush’s deep unpopularity when he left office that might not be a model for success.

For more on pruning back executive power see Pruning Shears.