The Recapture the Flag campaign's third issue, to root out corruption and partisan prejudice in the administration of justice, fits neatly into the now-infamous firing of US attorneys by the Department of Justice for alleged ideological differences. Fourthly, and perhaps most seriously, Democrats on the committee and several Republican witnesses argued that the public trust had been knowingly and flagrantly violated by President Bush and Vice President Cheney in the run-up to the Iraq War as they persuaded the nation and the world of the possession of weapons of mass destruction on the part of Saddam's regime.

Finally, committee members argued that personal freedom and individual liberty, the final plank of Recapture the Flag's campaign, had been completely undermined by successive administration-backed legislation, including the USA PATRIOT act and the FISA amendments.

The House Democratic leadership was careful not to paint the hearings as the first stage of the impeachment process for which Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) had called, but the day did serve to summarize the many abuses of power by the Bush White House, and placate many members of Congress smarting for a fight. Mr. Kucinich, however, has promised that he will not let this one go, and Common Cause will be keeping a very close eye on what happens next.