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Can George W. Bush 'Self-Pardon' Himself?

There's no definitive legal consensus on whether a president can pardon himself. But Bush may well give the theorists an answer.
November 24, 2008  |  
 
 
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Charlotte Dennett promised that, if she won her race for attorney general of Vermont in the recent election, she would prosecute George W. Bush for the murder of 4,000 American soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians after he left office.

Unfortunately, Dennett did not become Vermont's attorney general. But it is possible (perhaps very possible) that one or more of our other 49 state attorneys general will take up that case after Jan. 20. Hopefully, that AG will appoint -- as Dennett promised to do --famed criminal attorney Vincent Bugliosi (author of The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder) as special prosecutor.

However, there will be no prosecution or trial of George Bush -- or Dick Cheney, or Donald Rumsfeld, or Condoleezza Rice, or any of the others who deliberately deceived America into a war that should never have been waged -- if Bush decides to pardon not only his accomplices in crime but also himself.

We know that a president can pardon anyone, for any reason, and for any federal crime (except in cases of impeachment), not only after a conviction has been handed down in trial, but before any trial has even taken place, indeed before any charges have even been filed -- as Gerald Ford infamously pardoned Richard Nixon for Watergate; as George H. W. Bush pardoned Caspar Weinberger, Elliott Abrams and various CIA officials accused and/or convicted in connection with the Iran-Contra affair; as Bill Clinton pardoned his brother, Roger, for drug trafficking and financier Marc Rich for tax evasion (after Rich's wife made a significant donation to the Clinton Presidential Library); and as current President George W. Bush more recently commuted "Scooter" Libby's prison term.

So -- can Bush do it? Can he pardon himself before leaving office?

According to attorneys whom I asked, there is no definitive legal answer.There is no case law on the subject and not even much legal analysis of the possibility. All there seems to be are three law review articles that analyze the self-pardon power with arguments for and against its legality. (I am convinced by the arguments against its legality, but given the present Supreme Court, who knows?).

You might be interested in a much less troublesome -- and perfectly legal -- route that Bush can take to avoid prosecution.

He can simply pardon Cheney (and everyone else) and immediately resign. Cheney then becomes president and pardons him. Short, sweet, and -- after consulting with an attorney -- perfectly legal.

Would the entire country freak out over such brazen self-dealing? No doubt. Would Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al., care? Not a bit. After all, given the choice between a trial for high treason and murder (resulting in a possible death sentence) versus millions of people thinking badly of them (which 82 percent of the public already does), the answer is obvious.

But though the public might rise up in horror, politicians on all sides would secretly breath a sigh of relief. Especially Democrats. In fact, it is my guess that Obama and virtually every Democrat in Congress is secretly praying for Bush to "self-pardon" himself. Not because they wish him to escape justice, but because they don't want the politically dangerous, nationally divisive, and ultimately thankless task of having to administer it.

If Bush pardons himself, or gets Cheney to pardon him, he will let the Democrats off the hook, freeing them from the growing importuning of millions of Americans whose rage at Bush and Cheney will only grow greater as more and more insiders come forward to reveal the truth.

My only question is -- why is no one even discussing this?

 


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Mervyn Langford
Posted by: Mervyn Langford on Nov 24, 2008 12:32 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sounds like a very compelling reason for an International Court of Justice! One that has real teeth, is not subject to being undermined by political machinations, diplomatic posturing and narrow nationalistic frenzy. Maybe Guantanamo Bay or Australia's newly finished high security prison on Christmas Island would be suitable destinations for those convicted.

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» RE: Mervyn Langford Posted by: lanesta

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He can go right ahead and "pardon" Congress so that they can continue FUCKING America to DEATH !
Posted by: maxpayne on Nov 24, 2008 12:38 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Don't just blame the President. Congress is equally guilty as sin for "supporting" him all the while showing contempt for its base !

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A very good question. Let's discuss.
Posted by: -matti on Nov 24, 2008 12:43 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
As far as I'm concerned the various hypotheticals in the article expose one of the inherent flaws in our current system.

Law withers without the nourishment of Precedent (as in "Can Bush pardon HIMSELF?") but it can, on the other hand, become choked up by an excess of this nourishment.

We now face BOTH of these problems at once. And not just on this narrow issue but on many more important and broader points.

Why?

The simple explanation is that our Constitution is TOO OLD.

The founding legal document of our Federal Republic has been subject to more than two centuries of alteration, abuse, and indifference.

This has lead to our current "ungrounded" situation where almost every legal argument can be countered by some precedent, and that counter can be further countered by some other precedent. Everything becomes debatable, this attorney says this, this attorney says that, but we'd be fools to trust EITHER of them.

This would be bad enough, but another consequence inherent in a system founded on such an old document is that there are now many, many, matters to which the Constitution simply doesn't refer.

Hopefully, we all see the truth in this: the World and the Republic have simply changed too much for the Constitution to reflect the constitution of the nation the way it did in 1789 or '93. Or 1826 or '66 or 1934 or '54 for that matter.

It should have become apparent to any serious observer in the last year (and last few decades) that the "framework" of the Republic that was "framed" by the "framers" has been thrown in the garbage heap.

I'm not saying this was a conscious conspiracy -or even really the determined goal of various players- but this IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED. The Federal Government (and many of the State ones -but that is a different topic) is really operating on a "make it up as you go" plan grafted onto a "national security" plan flavored with a "let's make a bunch of money off the suckers" plan.

I don't think it will (or should!) happen overnight, but I think the only solution to a Constitution both vine-choked and water-starved -to the point of death- is to compost it and get to work growing a new one.

Personally I'd rather see work on this -in State Capitols and in Public Referenda at the State and national levels- than efforts to prosecute Bush.

He has perhaps committed criminal acts, but he is FAR from the only one (if Iraq is an illegal war, than every single officer who followed orders to deploy there could be argued to be in Dereliction of Duty, for instance) and his crimes are NOT sourced merely in himself or his cronies, but in the failure of the Law itself.

Until we honestly face the depth of our Problems, our Solutions will remain too shallow.

-matti.

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» Thanks Beck, Posted by: bobtr900
» RE: I have 1st Amend. Right to Call You Insane Posted by: animalleaderisgreat
» The Federalists... Posted by: bobtr900
» RE: So what does it take? Posted by: oregoncharles
» RE: True, with deep pitfalls... Posted by: oregoncharles
» RE: A very good question. Let's discuss. Posted by: frank.oneal@cox.net

Comments are closed-

A Self Pardon & Trip to Tehran
Posted by: AlexLawyer on Nov 24, 2008 1:01 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There is an easy solution if Bush's last words as president are "pardon me." He can still be extradited to another country for trial, along with his accomplices. It wouldn't have to be a European country, which might be a bit squeamish about trying a former US president; Iraq, Iran, Syria or any number of other countries would love the chance, and human rights crimes are subject to universal jurisdiction.

If Bush wants to preclude an American trial and take his chances in Baghdad, Tehran or Damascus, it's fine with me.

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» RE: A Self Pardon & Trip to PARAGUAY Posted by: americansheep
» RE: The ICC Posted by: oregoncharles

Comments are closed-

Beg Pardon?
Posted by: Tom Degan on Nov 24, 2008 2:06 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Do you think for a minute that the Founding Fathers gave the chief executive the power of pardon in order that he would be able to preside over a criminal enterprise for four or more years and then walk away from his crimes by merely "self pardoning" himself? If that were the case, why did they give the congress the power of impeachment? Why didn't Bill Clinton pardon himself? Or Richard Nixon? Or Andrew Johnson?

As our beloved Molly Ivins once said, the Founding Fathers were "just about the smartest sons of bitches who ever walked this earth." Believe me, no part of the constitution was written in order to cancel out another part.

Please, when you're done reading all of the great articles and opinions on AlterNet, read what I wrote on this very subject. Here's a link:

"The Rant" by Tom Degan

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

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» hehe.... Posted by: Elmowilcox
» Stephen.... Posted by: Tom Degan

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State prosecutions
Posted by: mylesh on Nov 24, 2008 3:20 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What's to stop the AG's from charging him for State murder? Any state with a National Guardsman killed can charge him for that crime. Isn't that one of Bugliosi's arguments?

Besides, Obama wants him pardoned so the precedent would be set that he would be pardoned for war crimes by the next president or by himself.

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» RE: State prosecutions Posted by: Quannah

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Until January 20
Posted by: Last Chance on Nov 24, 2008 3:26 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bush is still the President, and as such he has the power to again politely step aside and invite another terrorist attack, after which he gets the Congress-approved power to declare marshal law, nullify the election, rule as dictator and launch World War Three. Already he has increased the number of nations from which anyone may travel to the USA without a visa, and opened military air lanes to commercial jet traffic. The only question is, are there any terrorists crazy enough to take the bait?

This is why both Bush and Cheney should have been impeached, not only for the crimes they have committed in the recent past, but to prevent those they have the power to commit between now and Jan. 20. At the very least they should be watched and monitored very closely until they are safely out of office. If not, we all may witness a horror show to end all horror shows!

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» Read my comment again, please?! Posted by: Last Chance
» Far Worse Than Any Bogeyman Posted by: Last Chance

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PARDON ME! The Bush Bail-Out!
Posted by: Ottomatic on Nov 24, 2008 3:30 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A Clear Cut National Forest
FIRE SALE!
Pump the
Mercury and Arsenic into the Water & Air
Talk about Auschwitz?
Oy!
Have some Car-Filtered-Fish
and
Watch your savings disappear!
Such a Deal!
First you see the three buildings
Now you don’t!
A La
Las Vegas Mirage

The
FALSE Market
CRASH!
Participates
A Two Trillion DOLLAR Bailout for Billionaires.
So SORRY!
None-4-U
While the prisons are filled with
Joe Six Packs
Arrested for stealing a can of corn.
A harbinger of things to come.
Sound familiar?
Gotcha!
While Rich Schmucks!
Put
Uncle Ben under a top Hat
and
Pull
Lieberwhore
Out of the Admiral’s
Son’s
Rear.

Fixing a whore
When the pain sets in
To
Stop his lies
From
Floundering.

Next up;
American Bible.

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Admission Of Guilt
Posted by: cherylholmes on Nov 24, 2008 3:40 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A pardon would be an admission of guilt. He knows this. While he may stay safe from prosecution in this country if he pardons himself, he will not escape prosecution globally. Several countries have been chomping at the bit to try him (and them) for war crimes.

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» RE: Admission Of Guilt Posted by: tginmn

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Without Justice being done, personal vendettas must follow
Posted by: phindrup on Nov 24, 2008 4:07 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If someone doesn’t make the move to arraign Bush and his cronies, then there is clearly no justice within the whole of the International community — which of course we already know by the indifference shown to the Israeli brutality to the Palestinians — and so the only option for the aggrieved is to seek personal vengeance.

Iraqis would be absolutely justified in sending in kill squads to wipe out Bush, his cronies and their families. Likewise for Blair and Howard.

To argue that this is unreasonable is to argue that there are some whom may murder and destroy at will, without risk of retaliation. This is clearly untenable.

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Let's stop kidding ourselves
Posted by: Frank J. Burris on Nov 24, 2008 4:10 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There's no chance whatsoever of Bush or anyone in the administration being held accountable for their crimes. If any prosecutor dared to do their jobs with this bunch after Bush got out of office, Obama would pardon them himself.

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Congress & the Supreme Court
Posted by: weathered on Nov 24, 2008 4:17 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
have essentially been held under house arrest since 9/12/01 and we currently have a criminal defense attorney acting as an Attorney General. The public will have little remedy criminally - but think of bush as an OJ Simpson and go after him in civil court.

This isn't Kansas anymore.

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Obama Will Just Not Prosecute
Posted by: 911FalseFlag on Nov 24, 2008 4:30 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Mark my words. President Obama will follow in the footsteps of his predecessors by not holding his predecessor, George W. Bush and members of his administration, liable for violating the United States Constitution and criminally responsible for treason, 9/11, financial fraud, mass murder and war crimes.
Along the same lines as his predecessors, President Obama will deal with the current financial crisis by pointing his finger at everyone except the real culprit, the Federal Reserve Bank and its partners in crime, the Wall Street financial institutions. The Federal Reserve Bank is a cartel of private banks with only one motive-profit. Presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson all knew about the all pervasive control that a private central bank has when it is permitted to print the money for the government and then lend it back to the government at interest. The end result of this scheme is that US government is in debt to the Federal Reserve Bank and taxes our income in order to pay this debt. As a result, we all live our lives in debt. Being in debt is a form of slavery.
Go to www.911insidejob.net

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cephalis
Posted by: cef on Nov 24, 2008 4:32 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
To even raise this question, buys in to the notion that a politician is above the law, which is nonsensical in a Constitutional democracy.

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» RE: cephalis Posted by: phillydrifter

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don't quit holding your breath...
Posted by: ellie on Nov 24, 2008 4:53 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
until 1/20/09 @12:01pm... lots more horrendous crap can happen till then... hank and the boys are running amok, this morning announcing they are going to burn through the other half of the $700 bil and then some... wombat is in overdrive with his pen (crayon?) with exec orders and signing statements (merry christmas all!!!)... don't put it past him to try to pardon himself along with the rest of the murderous crew...

btw... where the hell is darth himself??? camped out in a bunker somewhere??? just in case???

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» Only until Jan. 20 Posted by: Last Chance

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better prosecutors are available
Posted by: littlepitcher on Nov 24, 2008 5:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bugliosi probably would get Bush off the hook while looking ferocious and prosecutorial.
Vincent B already has one coverup to his credit, don't give him another one.

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Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld & Rove Haven't Been CONVICTED - So Need for Bush's Pardon
Posted by: colleenwhalen on Nov 24, 2008 5:34 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This article is all wet.

First, in order to NEED a pardon - you must be CONVICTED of a crime.

With barely 6 weeks left on his term of office, Bush won't be charged with crimes while he is still in the White House.
Ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and V.P. Dick Cheney have been charged with felonies for employing slave labor in American prisons, privately owned by none other than everyone's favorite sociopathic crypto-fascist - Dick Cheney.

But those charges will take months - maybe years of legal wrangling to come to a verdict.

Bush and his henchmen will probably get off scott free. Democrat politicans and the Senate and Congress are EQUALLY complicit of committing war crimes against humanity in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not only do our elected officials have blood on their hands for war crimes committed in Iraq/Afghanistan - every single fucking American citizen who was apathetic, complacent and silent about waging genocide in the Middle East is equally guilty.

If over 70% of Americans are against the war in the Middle East - why is it still GOING ON FOR SIX YEARS? Same reason the 9th ward of New Orleans is still a ghost town abandoned slum - three years post-Katrina.

Americans are too complacent and lazy to get off their lard buckets and DO SOMETHING. The war in Iraq is a vague, abstract notion for 99% of Americans. Unless they have a friend or relative fighing in the military - most of us really don't care what is going on there.

The price of gas, preventing home foreclosure, getting health insurance, being employed is far more imporatant to 90% of Americans than peace, social justice, human rights, global warming, child abuse, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Keep Hope Alive!

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Quote me now...
Posted by: Elmowilcox on Nov 24, 2008 6:34 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
They will all walk free, Bush will start collecting megafees for making speech and his overly massive Presidential library will employ "scholars" to write his history.

And isn't that the real irony in all this, that George Bush gets to build a library?

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» RE: Quote me now... Posted by: weathered
» RE: Quote me now... Posted by: VZEQICVA

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My only question is -- why is no one even discussing this?
Posted by: douglashoyt on Nov 24, 2008 6:49 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Because the citizens are generally demoralized. We understand and appreciate that the idea of a free and open rule of the public is a twisted dream, not reality.

We are prisoners of our own inaction.

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» That's right. Posted by: Last Chance
» Well Said Posted by: Last Chance

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DONT GIVE UP, JUST YET
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Nov 24, 2008 7:15 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
We are not the only country that wants to see Bush & Co. prosecuted. Just yesterday in New Zealand Condi Rice was mobbed by 300 people who wanted her arrested for war crimes. It was George Bush who coined the phrase "Global War On Terror". Now most of the globe thinks that he ought to pay his dues. He can pardon himself if he pleases, but that means nothing in other parts of the world. They have their own rules. George Bush is personally responsible for the deaths of over 4000 American soldiers and possibly a million Iraqis. 4.5 million do not have a place to live. For all their treaties and pacts, I don't believe that the Iraqi people will ever reconcile themselves to the last 5 years. I haven't given up hope that one or more foreign countries will decide Bush's fate for reasons of their own. He gonna need lot of lawyers. He's guilty of international war crimes. Not something his father can write a check for. I have to believe that he's scared to death. He can't be that stupid. Thanks, ANNA

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privateman
Posted by: privateman on Nov 24, 2008 7:52 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
You are mistaken when you say

"However, there will be no prosecution or trial of George Bush -- or Dick Cheney, or Donald Rumsfeld, or Condoleezza Rice, or any of the others who deliberately deceived America into a war that should never have been waged -- if Bush decides to pardon not only his accomplices in crime but also himself."

A presidential pardon applies ONLY TO FEDERAL OFFENSES.

As Bugliosi makes clear, Bush&Co could still be prosecuted under State laws, by State prosecutors.

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Dems fear being exposed as well.
Posted by: robgo2b on Nov 24, 2008 8:00 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Almost no Democrats in official Washington want to see criminal prosecutions or even non-criminal investigations, because many of them were complicit in the very actions that would come under scrutiny. From the illegal war in Iraq to torture to spying on citizens, Democrats have left their own fingerprints at the scene of the crimes. Obama knows this, and so do Congressional Democrats. This is what comes of not being a true opposition party when dealing with a radical regime.

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Can George W. Bush 'Self-Pardon' Himself?
Posted by: joe_is_in_the_room on Nov 24, 2008 8:06 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He can bullshit the lawyers, the politicians, and the dim-witted, but he can't hide.

He has to live somewhere and his federal protection ends Jan 21, 2019.

"To support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

He has made his bed.

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He might pardon himself but.....
Posted by: jeffrey7 on Nov 24, 2008 8:07 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There's a couple of states where if Bush even sets foot in them they will arrest him for war crimes. The Indian nations could actually bring him up on charges, because they are nation within a nation. As citizens we can't bring him to the Hague for trial, I've tried several times,so fuck them.
He should face a dogshit firing squad at the least. If Obama had any balls as soon as he takes office he'd order the arrest of the outgoing administration. He hasn't so we're probably going to be stuck with a bunch of clintonites and ex-treasoners, I'm talking to you Scocroft!!!!
He'll be going back to crawford Tx. so.....
we could have a National Drive-by Fence Pissing. Cruise by the ol' homestead,do a 'chinese fire drill' and as you go past the mailbox....empty your bladder. We could send him on a hunting trip with Cheney but he'd probably shoot some other old coot by mistake.

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Prophylactic pardons never tested in court
Posted by: kroenung58 on Nov 24, 2008 8:07 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
James Madison is rolling in his grave at the perversion of justice that a Presidential pardon BEFORE conviction would mean. As far as I know the Nixon and Carter cases were never challenged in court. No one wanted to dredge up that pile of muck.
But anyone with half a brain can see that it was never the Founders' intention to permit a pardon until after a conviction. Otherwise the President could pre-pardon his whole staff two minutes after his inauguration and get right to the despotism.
If Bush tries this we need instant lawsuits across the board to get this thrown out. He CAN'T pardon until there's been a conviction. It defies all logic.

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Hello?
Posted by: bcain on Nov 24, 2008 8:08 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The very idea of "self pardoning" is too ludicrous to even contemplate. Hello? Is anybody home? Can you say "Admission of guilt", or "Dictator"?

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» RE: Hello? Posted by: peacefullaim

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Pardon has deeper roots
Posted by: danscanlan on Nov 24, 2008 9:23 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The possibility of G.W.Bush pardoning himself is trivial compared to the larger problem, viz., the ineffectiveness of the United States Constitution.

The Preamble is the most salient part of the Constitution along with the Bill of Rights, a veritable afterthought of the Founders. In the Preamble, the United States declared itself an entity with a mission. What follows the Preamble is an attempt to make the mission of the Preamble come to be. The Bill of Rights was a "we better cover our asses" move in case the folks just didn't get it.

We now know that the organizational part of the Constitution is a dismal failure: representative government can be purchased; there is no allowance for mass media control (mass media didn't exist at the time of the document's birth); there is no guard against corporations becoming "persons"; blacks were allotted three-fifths of existence, but no vote; women didn't exist at all; there is no guarantee of one person, one vote; no guarantee of the accuracy of the vote count; and the inclusion of a Presidential pardon was a knee jerk nod to monarchism. Surely, others have observations of its failings.

A more important discussion is this: Where and when should the American People hold a convention in order to write a new Constitution and who shall be given a seat at the table?

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» RE: Pardon has deeper roots Posted by: paulphoenix

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The Law
Posted by: bluepilgrim on Nov 24, 2008 9:35 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The reality is that law is no more than those with power making BS excuses to do what they want, unrelated to either morallity or utility. It is a fiction imposed by the king or oligarchy on others to control them and maintain power.

If the powerful want to do something against the law they either change the law or they ignore it.

All the things the Nazis did was legal -- they just changed German law to meet their purposes.

The US invented new law to invade Iraq, which had been defined as a war of agression -- the highest war crime. Now it is attempting to force the Iraqis to pass laws giving all control of it's oil to foreign companies, and otherwise leave the US with the powers essential to control the country.

Israel passes laws to allow the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinaians, or ignores laws to the contrary.

Law is no more than an interim step and distraction to the exercise of power, either by politics, economics, or violence. Bush will be held accountable for his wrongdoing only if those with the power decide to hold him accountable.

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I support the pardons
Posted by: 60sretread on Nov 24, 2008 9:57 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bush, Chaney, Rove, Libby, Rumsfeld, et.als. are clearly guilty of a number of crimes, perhaps rising to treason and murder. Certainly the attack in Iraq gave aid and comfort to the Taliban by strengthening Osama & lessening our ability to go after the Taliban. I agree that the Democrats will not prosecute these folks. A Bush pardon will give them a stigma & let the country recover from a nightmare with as little hangover as possible. For's pardon of Nixon helped us get over that. Ford'pardon of Vietnam resisters let us move on

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Please contact your Rep. re: H.Res. 1531. STOP DEBATING, DO SOMETHING
Posted by: common intelligence on Nov 24, 2008 10:02 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
On Friday, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced H.Res. 1531 urging President Bush not to pardon senior administration officials for crimes the President authorized. It notes:

President George W. Bush "has" committed crimes involving the mistreatment of detainees, the extraordinary rendition of individuals to countries known to engage in torture, illegal surveillance of United States citizens, unlawful leaks of classified information, obstruction of justice, political interference with the conduct of the Justice Department, and other illegal acts (parentases added by me"

and that

Bush has been urged to grant preemptive pardons to senior administration officials who might face criminal prosecution for actions taken in the course of their official duties

Nadler's resolution urges Congress to investigate those crimes and any pardons relating to them, and urges the Attorney General (current or future) to appoint an Independent Counsel to prosecute those crimes.

These are major steps towards holding George Bush, Dick Cheney, and other senior officials accountable for their crimes and thereby upholding the rule of law, rather than allowing Presidents to become dictators.

Rep. Nadler's leadership is crucial because he chairs the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties and can use his credibility and clout to move the resolution forward either during the lame duck session in December or when the next Congress convenes on January 6.

So our next step is to persuade as many Representatives as possible to co-sponsor H.Res. 1531.
Please SIGN our new petition

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Reap what you sow
Posted by: mom'z the word on Nov 24, 2008 10:56 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I think the answer to this question is obvious. Self-pardon does not exist in a democracy. The President is an elected official. He is a servant of the people, for the people, by the people. Self-pardon suggest some other form of government not a democracy. Could I pardon myself? I don’t think so? Then how in heavens name is this possible for a president? Did Hitler pardon himself? Of course he did. A dictator can do no wrong.

Make an exception to the rule and the exception becomes the rule. Is this what we have become? A nation of exceptions? We make exceptions for corporations and insurance companies, and health care facilities and banks, auto industry and that most certainly has only lead to chaos.

And what is he pardoning himself for? Wrongdoing? What good can come from that? In all honesty no good can come from pardoning wrongdoing and the wrongdoer cannot be in charge of pardoning himself. Is there a reason why Citicorp, Chrysler, GM, Ford, AIG, and a multitude of others are asking for an ALmighty handout to save themselves from collape? Was there corruption, mismanagement, wrongdoing associated with their demise? You can bet your bottom dollar there was. So, our democracy says we reward wrongdoing by forgiving them for their sins and to provide them with anything and everything they need to continue doing what they have done in the past which was Every man for himself and screw everyone else whenever you can. That is just brilliant regulating, legislating and enforcement of wrongdoing. And that is where we are today.

We reap what we sow.

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If these pardons happen, and if nothing else comes out of this...
Posted by: Quannah on Nov 24, 2008 11:00 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
if Bush manages to find a way to pardon himself and his entire Junta, there needs to be a process started IMMEDIATELY for a Constitutional Amendment that limits the pardoning power of the President.

It should state that a President does not have the right to pardon anyone in his administration, anyone serving in government in any capacity, nor anyone with any contacts, both familial and political, with the White House.

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A few points
Posted by: willymack on Nov 24, 2008 11:02 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Good article and discussion. This is a subject that MUST be kept alive, and above all, communicated to Barack Obama in no uncertain terms. To let the bushies get away with their manifold crimes would be a crime in itself, one that would poison us just as surely and as long as the Civil War has. One possibility is an end-around. There is ample evidence of election fraud in 2000 and 2004. If the bushies were brought to trial for that, after they're out of power, and a conviction secured, then it can be pointed out that they were in power ILLEGALLY, and everything they did was ILLEGAL, including any and all pardons. This would open the door for prosecution of all their capital crimes which have no statute of limitations.

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Caesar77
Posted by: Caesar77 on Nov 24, 2008 11:36 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If this despicable little bastard doesn't pay for his crime of murder, then the American people can never again ask God to bless their disgraced country.
We should ship him and his follow criminals overseas for trial.
Cheney is the devil incarnate and should be shipped with Bush the murderer.

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» RE: Caesar77 Posted by: willymack
» RE: Caesar77 Posted by: phillydrifter

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Wow???
Posted by: conch9 on Nov 24, 2008 1:42 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have read some interesting and though provoking articles here on Alternet, however this one is absurd.
Those who are familiar with the US Constitution in its simpliest form, know the President does not have the power to send our troops into war. That falls to our Congress. Granted, the President led the way, however without the backing of Congress, the President is required to pull our troops back.
That being said, if President Bush is charged and or prosecuted by a court of law, where does it end? Do we go after just the President and his close administration? Do we go after all the Generals? How about all the individuals who briefed the President and his advisors about the WMD/War? You can not forget Congress, so we would have to charge and or prosecute all those who voted "yes" to the war at the beginning and then have voted to continue to support it. Why stop there, what about the staff/advisors of all those congressional members or better yet, what about those who voted those people into office and continue to do so?
The prosecution of the President for actions that took many people to accomplish will result in a slippery slope that would not or could not be stopped.
There is a checks and balance in our american government that takes place prior to all actions that are taken. Therefore no decision is made by one person or branch. Therefore the problems and issues that our country is now facing is the result of hundreds/thousands/millions of people and their decision making.
In addition what member of the executive or legislative branch would push for this investigation and or prosecution? This would open the door to every politician being held to higher standards, and we know that they do not want that to happen.
One more thought, I we also going to prosecute all of the "leaders" for other countries that assisted us in the War? I am sure that had their own intelligence and or briefings and did not just rely of Bush's statements.
Where does it end?

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» RE: Wow??? Posted by: Vicario
» RE: Wow??? Posted by: conch9
» RE: Wow??? Posted by: StirMan
» RE: Wow??? Posted by: conch9
» RE: Wow??? Posted by: phillydrifter

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Extraordinary
Posted by: robert.noll on Nov 24, 2008 2:00 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is one situation where extraordinary rendition to the Hague would be acceptable.

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THE HOLY EARTHLY GENOCIDE TRINITY OF THE BLOODTHIRSTY ORGIES AT LAS AZORES.
Posted by: Vicario on Nov 24, 2008 2:31 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bush of the Bushy Bushes has been denying the essence and presence of CHRIST. He has been stepping on the supreme charity of CHRIST and pissing on his BEATITUDES. He has CRUCIFIED CHRIST 4.000 times plus 100.000 times and later on, he has involved the major part of CHRISTIANITY and CHURCH with his MACRO GENOCIDES, that glorifies and honours the IGNORANCE of HITLER and JUDE of the JUDES. TORTURES have exceeded CELESTIAL MIRACLES and anybody who IDENTIFIES with the HUMANITY RACE should consider the EVILS and DEVILS have been unable to carry on such CHRISTIAN BARBARIES. He turned the BLOOD of CHILDRENS´ BODIES into WATER for WATERING the KANAA, where CHRIST converted WATER into WINE and PROCLAIMED the NEARNESS of CHILDREN. BUSH has played the role of the DEVILISH VICAR of CHRISTIANITY, with the PERMISSION of the GERMAN PASTOR, who has no PEDIGREE and lives on the PENTAGONIZED VATICAN, much better seventy times seven than his GOD. He went to VISIT the PENTAGON PLANET to CONFESS AND FORGIVE BUSH, instead of going to AFRICA or SOUTH AMERICA to feed them with the WORD OF CHRIST, because he is unable to share BREAD with the POOREST OF THE POOR.
I do not know who I thank that the WAR ON TERROR, turned into a WAR of ERROR and ERRORISM.
I will never forget the ENJOYMENT and JOYFUL of the OPUS DEI at RETAMAR SCHOOl, in MADRID at watching the DESTRUCTIONS, CHILDREN´S BLOOD and ALI, a CHILD WHO LOST HIS FOUR LIMBS. At that moment I was a SUPERNUMERARY MEMBER OF OPUS DEI for a QUARTER OF A CENTURY and an EDUCATOR for ELITISTS OF THE ELISTISTS for over than three DECADES. A COLLEAGUE of mine who was not a member of OPUS got horrorized when he heard the CHAPLAIN ARGUMENTS about WAR ON THE POOREST OF THE POOR WHO HAD NO BREAD TO EAT OR MILK FOR THEIR BABIES. IT IS THE COUNTRY OF THE MILLION BABIES WHO DIED. I entered SCHOOL with FAITH and came out with out FAITH. They have tried to seal my mouth by giving me 37.000 EUROS in BLACK LORD MONEY and FIVE YEARS WITH FULL PAYMENTS and STAYING AT HOME. I feel PROUD that I was expelled out from PALESTINE on the ARMS of my ADOLESCENT SISTER and spent my CHILDHOOD, sleeping under the OLIVE TREES AND with the HELP OF UNRWA, then I EDUCATED THE ONES WHO COME FROM ARISTOCRACY, NOBILITY, GREATNESS, HIGHNESS and with GREAT PLEASURE ROYALTY. I WAS A MEMBER OF OPUS DEI when I TRIED to let them get rid of emptying the TREASURY. I WAS in CONTACT with the SECRETARY of a SYNDICATE, who is called MR. VIRSEDA. MY WIFE was an EMPLOYEE AT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION and controlling all their DOCUMENTS AND MOVEMENTS, and in spite of that they tried to CHEAT ME AND PAY ME HALF of the money I had received from the MINISTRY. AT the end they gave me the FULL PAYMENT, because their DOCUMENTS WERE UNDER THE CONTROL OF MY WIFE. When I arrived home, my ex wife got fed up and said in SPANISH "COÑO, que engañen a todo el mundo, pero no a ti, ya que conzco todas sus ESTAFAS".
AT the moment, as usual, they invaded my computing territory from SAN ANTONIO in MEXICO and SHARED ALL MY FILES AND COMPUTER for some YEARS. LAST TWO MONTHS I HAD TO REPAIR THE COMPUTER more than FOUR TIMES. THE OPUS DEI, who PRAY the MEMORARE daily for the NEEDY BROTHER WHO RAPE ADOLESCENTS AND SODOMIZE KIDS. The POOR are SLAVES OF LAWS, but they are SLAVES OF IMMORALITY AND FUCKING THE HUMAN RIGHTS. THE ONE WHO had sins more than SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN, cannot be FORGIVEN or IDENTIFIED with the HUMAN RACE. HE SHOULD GO AND LIVE WITH THE MONEYS ON THE BRANCHES OF TREES OR HE SHOULD BE KEPT AT MONASTERY TO SERVE THE EVILS his PRAYERS.

VICARIO
VICARIUS

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Federal Pardons have no jurisdiction on a local Prosecution
Posted by: Sue4theBillofRights on Nov 24, 2008 3:24 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Please read Vincent Bugliosi's "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder". If you don't have time, at least read Ralph Lopez's "Indictment for Dummies" which Mr. Bugliosi has approved as an accurate synopsis.

The Reader's Companion is available on the web at: http://ralphlopezworld.com/vince.html (Mr. Lopez was Charlotte Dennett's campaign manager and continues to work closely with Mr. Bugliosi. We are seeking prosecution at a local level (either local District Attorneys or State Attorney Generals), PRECISELY to circumvent any federal pardons.

Read Mr. Bugliosi's case. This can and will be done. There is no statute of limitations on murder. The argument is strong and valid that Bush's lies about reasons for invading Iraq knowingly, intentionally led to the deaths of over 4,000 US troops, and the families of each and every US casuality can be represented in the case against George W. Bush. Vincent is world reknown attorney with a better than 99% success rate in his long prosecuting carreer. Read the book. It has legal support from Peter Weiss, VP of The Center for Constitutional Rights, Benjamin Davis University of Toledo, Ellen Ides Layola U. LA, Dean Lawrence Velvel, Mas.. School of Law, to name a few.

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» RE: The Prosecution of GWB... Posted by: grammasanity

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Why is no one discussing this . . . YOU ARE!
Posted by: StirMan on Nov 24, 2008 4:18 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Ummmm . . . YOU ARE. The battle's barely begun. I can't even keep up with the commentary, discussion and calls-to-blog webwise. Yet I read faster than the whole Republican mental malignancy can lie. I suffered with Polio as a child—couldn't do anything but read—and watch my cohort try to move a finger or such—for a very long time. America and the March of Dimes took good care of me. I listened to Hitler on the newsreels too. I've heard fascist sludgethot before—and I watched what it accomplished. America took care of that too. Now it's back. Go Read the Naomis . . . Shock Doctrine . . . The End of America. You do read don'cha? . Hang in there with your shields up!

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Don't forget Hillary Clinton
Posted by: rickiey on Nov 24, 2008 4:32 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
While we are going after the ones responsible for Iraq, lets not forget Hillary Clinton.

Although others in the Senate can foist off the blame for Iraq on "Bush lied to us", remember Hillary's own words, that she personally knew from her experience in the White House.....

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Pardon Procedure
Posted by: bbbb on Nov 24, 2008 8:47 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
First rule for a pardon is that you've been found guilty of a crime.

Second, is that you had to of lost on appeal.

Third, it has to be at least five years since either your conviction or lost appeal (I forget which one).

Those are the basic guidelines in order just to be considered for a pardon. Bushco doesn't meet any of those and they'd have to change an awful lot of things before Obama is sworn in.

If he did manage to change the guidelines, what's to stop Iraq or Afghanistan from coming after him in a few years? If they have the support of another major power like Russia, who's to stop them from extradition? It's not like the Rothschilds, Bilderbergs or any other Illuminati hierarchy have any more use for him.

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» RE: Pardon Procedure Posted by: VZEQICVA
» RE: Pardon Procedure Posted by: phillydrifter

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Bush's Future is Bleak, Anyway.
Posted by: AlexLawyer on Nov 25, 2008 12:12 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Any pardon is bound to be tested in the Supreme Court, where the balance is precarious. If the RATS (Roberts, Alito, Thomas and Scalia) are joined by one other justice, the pardon would stand. If so, he could be extradited and tried abroad, as I mentioned above. And if he moves to Paraguay, he could be subject to extraordinary rendition, giving him a taste of his own medicine. Or, more likely, someone would kill him; he has made a lot of enemies over the past 8 years and his security there would not likely be good.

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It's not "CAN" but "WHEN" will...
Posted by: Bearzerker on Nov 25, 2008 1:54 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
George W. Bush 'Self-Pardon' Himself and all those responsible for this current fiasco!

Just wait for it... he will pardon everyone below himself for all crimes committed while "HE" was in orifice!... and Obama will pardon him because he will have no choice!

Lets just recap on some of the shit he's responsible for

1.) his declared Wars!
on terror, on Drugs, on Iraq? Iran Syria, ohh and the one we all could get aboard with and could have really done something about ...Afghanistan... he ignored!

2.) his domestic Policies... the creation of Fear and Loathing Departments and umbrella'ng them within the Federal Political processes is something that will be studied for YEARS
HHS FISA etc...
"your doing a heckava job Brownie"

3.) he wanted to spend his political capital after 2004 and this is what we get... deregulated markets sucking up whatever revenue they can get before the tap is shut down... his political interference in global markets is causing this instability because regulation IS coming back and they know it...

OFFSHORE AND UNTAXED REVENUE GENERATED IN COUNTRY IS THEFT!

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Outcasts
Posted by: US Citizen 07 on Nov 25, 2008 2:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If they pull anything along those lines, they may as well take their families and move out of America.

They will be viewed as traitors and pursecuted by the population.

Maybe they can get away with moving in with the terrorist we harbor in Flordia, after all, criminals tend to cover each others backs.

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I blame Pelosi
Posted by: motamanx6 on Nov 25, 2008 7:29 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I blame Pelosi for taking it off the table at square one. She is either complicit, a coward, an idiot, or all three.

Bush has done NOTHING right. (Name something, please.) He and Cheney have done plenty that was wrong, illegal, and impeachable. We have been ill served by the Repubs, and, sadly, equally so by the Dems.

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Why Weren't They Impeached?
Posted by: AlexLawyer on Nov 25, 2008 8:34 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yes, you're right, Bush, Cheney and Rice et al. should have been impeached. Once public hearings were held and the full extent of criminal wrongdoing became known, even many Republicans would have been forced to vote to impeach. And, interestingly, Pelosi would have been president!

So why did she not do it? Because she had enthusiastically backed torture and feared being labeled a hypocrite? Because she was being blackmailed or threatened?

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Cliffyworld
Posted by: cliffyworld on Nov 26, 2008 5:28 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Please read related article titled "Turkeys never keep a criminal record" at http://www.cliffyworld.com/blogs

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What fear should Bush have??
Posted by: tomjoad on Nov 26, 2008 7:09 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Who is going to prosecute Bush?
The Obama administration is more likely to hire bush than prosecute him for his considerable crimes. Bush knows that.

The only possibility for Bush might have for prosecution is if an opposition political party were to suddenly emerge on the US scene. That could happen in the future, but i don't think it is on Bush's mind.

He will not pardon himself or Cheney.

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Get Real!
Posted by: skc on Nov 27, 2008 8:59 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Good grief! The President is elected as Commander in Chief. Wars are a necessary part of that duty, if and when wars are necessary. A president can be impeached, but he certainly cannot be brought to trial for doing one of the primary functions he is elected to do. I think the mainstream media has had a little too much affect on your thinking. The two current wars were very effective at opposing terrorism in the U.S., and after the 9/11 attacks most people were in favor of going to war.

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A call to end the "try Bush" talk
Posted by: rickiey on Dec 1, 2008 12:04 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
You guys don't give Bush enough credit. Any trial would be a waste of time and taxpayer money.

There is no concrete law that can be applied to Bush, that he can not beat the rap on.

Lets stop wasting time on one man, and let W's march to insignificance begin, and work on healing the nation. It happens to be broken at the moment, and fixing the problems is more important than vengeance.

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Of course not. Remember...
Posted by: jvaljon1 on Dec 1, 2008 6:34 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...Nixon had to get fellow Republican and President Gerald Ford to pardon him? Was Ford's first act.

However--what makes anyone think that Bush would even consider 'pardoning' himself? He doesn't feel that he did anything wrong. He did all those murders--he must've been right! That's how this psychopath thinks. In pardoning himself, he admits to his wrongdoing. And since no one can legally pardon themselves--even an asshole like Bush would have to know, that is not the way to go. The American people are too sick of him and he'd--with that tacit admission of guilt that a self-pardon would be--be finally clapped in the irons where he belongs.

So no. I do think that Bush--nutty as he is--still retains that much smarts.

But I sure hope that the American People--no matter their party--come away with the realization that kept America prosperous and free for fifty years since the First Great Depression: NEVER REPUBLICANS AGAIN!!!

Think of the 50 years between FDR and Ronnie Dearest. Think of what we did. We went to the moon, we grew a tremendous Middle Class, the remnants of whom are strewn around us. We can do it again. But we must heed the lessons of the NRA--Never Republicans Again.

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Alternet Comments:

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Mervyn Langford
Posted by: Mervyn Langford on Nov 24, 2008 12:32 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sounds like a very compelling reason for an International Court of Justice! One that has real teeth, is not subject to being undermined by political machinations, diplomatic posturing and narrow nationalistic frenzy. Maybe Guantanamo Bay or Australia's newly finished high security prison on Christmas Island would be suitable destinations for those convicted.

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» RE: Mervyn Langford Posted by: lanesta

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He can go right ahead and "pardon" Congress so that they can continue FUCKING America to DEATH !
Posted by: maxpayne on Nov 24, 2008 12:38 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Don't just blame the President. Congress is equally guilty as sin for "supporting" him all the while showing contempt for its base !

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A very good question. Let's discuss.
Posted by: -matti on Nov 24, 2008 12:43 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
As far as I'm concerned the various hypotheticals in the article expose one of the inherent flaws in our current system.

Law withers without the nourishment of Precedent (as in "Can Bush pardon HIMSELF?") but it can, on the other hand, become choked up by an excess of this nourishment.

We now face BOTH of these problems at once. And not just on this narrow issue but on many more important and broader points.

Why?

The simple explanation is that our Constitution is TOO OLD.

The founding legal document of our Federal Republic has been subject to more than two centuries of alteration, abuse, and indifference.

This has lead to our current "ungrounded" situation where almost every legal argument can be countered by some precedent, and that counter can be further countered by some other precedent. Everything becomes debatable, this attorney says this, this attorney says that, but we'd be fools to trust EITHER of them.

This would be bad enough, but another consequence inherent in a system founded on such an old document is that there are now many, many, matters to which the Constitution simply doesn't refer.

Hopefully, we all see the truth in this: the World and the Republic have simply changed too much for the Constitution to reflect the constitution of the nation the way it did in 1789 or '93. Or 1826 or '66 or 1934 or '54 for that matter.

It should have become apparent to any serious observer in the last year (and last few decades) that the "framework" of the Republic that was "framed" by the "framers" has been thrown in the garbage heap.

I'm not saying this was a conscious conspiracy -or even really the determined goal of various players- but this IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED. The Federal Government (and many of the State ones -but that is a different topic) is really operating on a "make it up as you go" plan grafted onto a "national security" plan flavored with a "let's make a bunch of money off the suckers" plan.

I don't think it will (or should!) happen overnight, but I think the only solution to a Constitution both vine-choked and water-starved -to the point of death- is to compost it and get to work growing a new one.

Personally I'd rather see work on this -in State Capitols and in Public Referenda at the State and national levels- than efforts to prosecute Bush.

He has perhaps committed criminal acts, but he is FAR from the only one (if Iraq is an illegal war, than every single officer who followed orders to deploy there could be argued to be in Dereliction of Duty, for instance) and his crimes are NOT sourced merely in himself or his cronies, but in the failure of the Law itself.

Until we honestly face the depth of our Problems, our Solutions will remain too shallow.

-matti.

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» Thanks Beck, Posted by: bobtr900
» RE: I have 1st Amend. Right to Call You Insane Posted by: animalleaderisgreat
» The Federalists... Posted by: bobtr900
» RE: So what does it take? Posted by: oregoncharles
» RE: True, with deep pitfalls... Posted by: oregoncharles
» RE: A very good question. Let's discuss. Posted by: frank.oneal@cox.net

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A Self Pardon & Trip to Tehran
Posted by: AlexLawyer on Nov 24, 2008 1:01 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There is an easy solution if Bush's last words as president are "pardon me." He can still be extradited to another country for trial, along with his accomplices. It wouldn't have to be a European country, which might be a bit squeamish about trying a former US president; Iraq, Iran, Syria or any number of other countries would love the chance, and human rights crimes are subject to universal jurisdiction.

If Bush wants to preclude an American trial and take his chances in Baghdad, Tehran or Damascus, it's fine with me.

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» RE: A Self Pardon & Trip to PARAGUAY Posted by: americansheep
» RE: The ICC Posted by: oregoncharles

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Beg Pardon?
Posted by: Tom Degan on Nov 24, 2008 2:06 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Do you think for a minute that the Founding Fathers gave the chief executive the power of pardon in order that he would be able to preside over a criminal enterprise for four or more years and then walk away from his crimes by merely "self pardoning" himself? If that were the case, why did they give the congress the power of impeachment? Why didn't Bill Clinton pardon himself? Or Richard Nixon? Or Andrew Johnson?

As our beloved Molly Ivins once said, the Founding Fathers were "just about the smartest sons of bitches who ever walked this earth." Believe me, no part of the constitution was written in order to cancel out another part.

Please, when you're done reading all of the great articles and opinions on AlterNet, read what I wrote on this very subject. Here's a link:

"The Rant" by Tom Degan

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

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» hehe.... Posted by: Elmowilcox
» Stephen.... Posted by: Tom Degan

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State prosecutions
Posted by: mylesh on Nov 24, 2008 3:20 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What's to stop the AG's from charging him for State murder? Any state with a National Guardsman killed can charge him for that crime. Isn't that one of Bugliosi's arguments?

Besides, Obama wants him pardoned so the precedent would be set that he would be pardoned for war crimes by the next president or by himself.

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» RE: State prosecutions Posted by: Quannah

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Until January 20
Posted by: Last Chance on Nov 24, 2008 3:26 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bush is still the President, and as such he has the power to again politely step aside and invite another terrorist attack, after which he gets the Congress-approved power to declare marshal law, nullify the election, rule as dictator and launch World War Three. Already he has increased the number of nations from which anyone may travel to the USA without a visa, and opened military air lanes to commercial jet traffic. The only question is, are there any terrorists crazy enough to take the bait?

This is why both Bush and Cheney should have been impeached, not only for the crimes they have committed in the recent past, but to prevent those they have the power to commit between now and Jan. 20. At the very least they should be watched and monitored very closely until they are safely out of office. If not, we all may witness a horror show to end all horror shows!

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» Read my comment again, please?! Posted by: Last Chance
» Far Worse Than Any Bogeyman Posted by: Last Chance

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PARDON ME! The Bush Bail-Out!
Posted by: Ottomatic on Nov 24, 2008 3:30 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A Clear Cut National Forest
FIRE SALE!
Pump the
Mercury and Arsenic into the Water & Air
Talk about Auschwitz?
Oy!
Have some Car-Filtered-Fish
and
Watch your savings disappear!
Such a Deal!
First you see the three buildings
Now you don’t!
A La
Las Vegas Mirage

The
FALSE Market
CRASH!
Participates
A Two Trillion DOLLAR Bailout for Billionaires.
So SORRY!
None-4-U
While the prisons are filled with
Joe Six Packs
Arrested for stealing a can of corn.
A harbinger of things to come.
Sound familiar?
Gotcha!
While Rich Schmucks!
Put
Uncle Ben under a top Hat
and
Pull
Lieberwhore
Out of the Admiral’s
Son’s
Rear.

Fixing a whore
When the pain sets in
To
Stop his lies
From
Floundering.

Next up;
American Bible.

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Admission Of Guilt
Posted by: cherylholmes on Nov 24, 2008 3:40 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A pardon would be an admission of guilt. He knows this. While he may stay safe from prosecution in this country if he pardons himself, he will not escape prosecution globally. Several countries have been chomping at the bit to try him (and them) for war crimes.

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» RE: Admission Of Guilt Posted by: tginmn

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Without Justice being done, personal vendettas must follow
Posted by: phindrup on Nov 24, 2008 4:07 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If someone doesn’t make the move to arraign Bush and his cronies, then there is clearly no justice within the whole of the International community — which of course we already know by the indifference shown to the Israeli brutality to the Palestinians — and so the only option for the aggrieved is to seek personal vengeance.

Iraqis would be absolutely justified in sending in kill squads to wipe out Bush, his cronies and their families. Likewise for Blair and Howard.

To argue that this is unreasonable is to argue that there are some whom may murder and destroy at will, without risk of retaliation. This is clearly untenable.

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Let's stop kidding ourselves
Posted by: Frank J. Burris on Nov 24, 2008 4:10 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There's no chance whatsoever of Bush or anyone in the administration being held accountable for their crimes. If any prosecutor dared to do their jobs with this bunch after Bush got out of office, Obama would pardon them himself.

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Congress & the Supreme Court
Posted by: weathered on Nov 24, 2008 4:17 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
have essentially been held under house arrest since 9/12/01 and we currently have a criminal defense attorney acting as an Attorney General. The public will have little remedy criminally - but think of bush as an OJ Simpson and go after him in civil court.

This isn't Kansas anymore.

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Obama Will Just Not Prosecute
Posted by: 911FalseFlag on Nov 24, 2008 4:30 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Mark my words. President Obama will follow in the footsteps of his predecessors by not holding his predecessor, George W. Bush and members of his administration, liable for violating the United States Constitution and criminally responsible for treason, 9/11, financial fraud, mass murder and war crimes.
Along the same lines as his predecessors, President Obama will deal with the current financial crisis by pointing his finger at everyone except the real culprit, the Federal Reserve Bank and its partners in crime, the Wall Street financial institutions. The Federal Reserve Bank is a cartel of private banks with only one motive-profit. Presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson all knew about the all pervasive control that a private central bank has when it is permitted to print the money for the government and then lend it back to the government at interest. The end result of this scheme is that US government is in debt to the Federal Reserve Bank and taxes our income in order to pay this debt. As a result, we all live our lives in debt. Being in debt is a form of slavery.
Go to www.911insidejob.net

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cephalis
Posted by: cef on Nov 24, 2008 4:32 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
To even raise this question, buys in to the notion that a politician is above the law, which is nonsensical in a Constitutional democracy.

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» RE: cephalis Posted by: phillydrifter

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don't quit holding your breath...
Posted by: ellie on Nov 24, 2008 4:53 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
until 1/20/09 @12:01pm... lots more horrendous crap can happen till then... hank and the boys are running amok, this morning announcing they are going to burn through the other half of the $700 bil and then some... wombat is in overdrive with his pen (crayon?) with exec orders and signing statements (merry christmas all!!!)... don't put it past him to try to pardon himself along with the rest of the murderous crew...

btw... where the hell is darth himself??? camped out in a bunker somewhere??? just in case???

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» Only until Jan. 20 Posted by: Last Chance

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better prosecutors are available
Posted by: littlepitcher on Nov 24, 2008 5:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bugliosi probably would get Bush off the hook while looking ferocious and prosecutorial.
Vincent B already has one coverup to his credit, don't give him another one.

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Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld & Rove Haven't Been CONVICTED - So Need for Bush's Pardon
Posted by: colleenwhalen on Nov 24, 2008 5:34 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This article is all wet.

First, in order to NEED a pardon - you must be CONVICTED of a crime.

With barely 6 weeks left on his term of office, Bush won't be charged with crimes while he is still in the White House.
Ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and V.P. Dick Cheney have been charged with felonies for employing slave labor in American prisons, privately owned by none other than everyone's favorite sociopathic crypto-fascist - Dick Cheney.

But those charges will take months - maybe years of legal wrangling to come to a verdict.

Bush and his henchmen will probably get off scott free. Democrat politicans and the Senate and Congress are EQUALLY complicit of committing war crimes against humanity in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not only do our elected officials have blood on their hands for war crimes committed in Iraq/Afghanistan - every single fucking American citizen who was apathetic, complacent and silent about waging genocide in the Middle East is equally guilty.

If over 70% of Americans are against the war in the Middle East - why is it still GOING ON FOR SIX YEARS? Same reason the 9th ward of New Orleans is still a ghost town abandoned slum - three years post-Katrina.

Americans are too complacent and lazy to get off their lard buckets and DO SOMETHING. The war in Iraq is a vague, abstract notion for 99% of Americans. Unless they have a friend or relative fighing in the military - most of us really don't care what is going on there.

The price of gas, preventing home foreclosure, getting health insurance, being employed is far more imporatant to 90% of Americans than peace, social justice, human rights, global warming, child abuse, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Keep Hope Alive!

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Quote me now...
Posted by: Elmowilcox on Nov 24, 2008 6:34 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
They will all walk free, Bush will start collecting megafees for making speech and his overly massive Presidential library will employ "scholars" to write his history.

And isn't that the real irony in all this, that George Bush gets to build a library?

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» RE: Quote me now... Posted by: weathered
» RE: Quote me now... Posted by: VZEQICVA

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My only question is -- why is no one even discussing this?
Posted by: douglashoyt on Nov 24, 2008 6:49 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Because the citizens are generally demoralized. We understand and appreciate that the idea of a free and open rule of the public is a twisted dream, not reality.

We are prisoners of our own inaction.

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» That's right. Posted by: Last Chance
» Well Said Posted by: Last Chance

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DONT GIVE UP, JUST YET
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Nov 24, 2008 7:15 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
We are not the only country that wants to see Bush & Co. prosecuted. Just yesterday in New Zealand Condi Rice was mobbed by 300 people who wanted her arrested for war crimes. It was George Bush who coined the phrase "Global War On Terror". Now most of the globe thinks that he ought to pay his dues. He can pardon himself if he pleases, but that means nothing in other parts of the world. They have their own rules. George Bush is personally responsible for the deaths of over 4000 American soldiers and possibly a million Iraqis. 4.5 million do not have a place to live. For all their treaties and pacts, I don't believe that the Iraqi people will ever reconcile themselves to the last 5 years. I haven't given up hope that one or more foreign countries will decide Bush's fate for reasons of their own. He gonna need lot of lawyers. He's guilty of international war crimes. Not something his father can write a check for. I have to believe that he's scared to death. He can't be that stupid. Thanks, ANNA

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privateman
Posted by: privateman on Nov 24, 2008 7:52 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
You are mistaken when you say

"However, there will be no prosecution or trial of George Bush -- or Dick Cheney, or Donald Rumsfeld, or Condoleezza Rice, or any of the others who deliberately deceived America into a war that should never have been waged -- if Bush decides to pardon not only his accomplices in crime but also himself."

A presidential pardon applies ONLY TO FEDERAL OFFENSES.

As Bugliosi makes clear, Bush&Co could still be prosecuted under State laws, by State prosecutors.

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Dems fear being exposed as well.
Posted by: robgo2b on Nov 24, 2008 8:00 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Almost no Democrats in official Washington want to see criminal prosecutions or even non-criminal investigations, because many of them were complicit in the very actions that would come under scrutiny. From the illegal war in Iraq to torture to spying on citizens, Democrats have left their own fingerprints at the scene of the crimes. Obama knows this, and so do Congressional Democrats. This is what comes of not being a true opposition party when dealing with a radical regime.

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Can George W. Bush 'Self-Pardon' Himself?
Posted by: joe_is_in_the_room on Nov 24, 2008 8:06 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He can bullshit the lawyers, the politicians, and the dim-witted, but he can't hide.

He has to live somewhere and his federal protection ends Jan 21, 2019.

"To support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

He has made his bed.

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He might pardon himself but.....
Posted by: jeffrey7 on Nov 24, 2008 8:07 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There's a couple of states where if Bush even sets foot in them they will arrest him for war crimes. The Indian nations could actually bring him up on charges, because they are nation within a nation. As citizens we can't bring him to the Hague for trial, I've tried several times,so fuck them.
He should face a dogshit firing squad at the least. If Obama had any balls as soon as he takes office he'd order the arrest of the outgoing administration. He hasn't so we're probably going to be stuck with a bunch of clintonites and ex-treasoners, I'm talking to you Scocroft!!!!
He'll be going back to crawford Tx. so.....
we could have a National Drive-by Fence Pissing. Cruise by the ol' homestead,do a 'chinese fire drill' and as you go past the mailbox....empty your bladder. We could send him on a hunting trip with Cheney but he'd probably shoot some other old coot by mistake.

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Prophylactic pardons never tested in court
Posted by: kroenung58 on Nov 24, 2008 8:07 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
James Madison is rolling in his grave at the perversion of justice that a Presidential pardon BEFORE conviction would mean. As far as I know the Nixon and Carter cases were never challenged in court. No one wanted to dredge up that pile of muck.
But anyone with half a brain can see that it was never the Founders' intention to permit a pardon until after a conviction. Otherwise the President could pre-pardon his whole staff two minutes after his inauguration and get right to the despotism.
If Bush tries this we need instant lawsuits across the board to get this thrown out. He CAN'T pardon until there's been a conviction. It defies all logic.

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Hello?
Posted by: bcain on Nov 24, 2008 8:08 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The very idea of "self pardoning" is too ludicrous to even contemplate. Hello? Is anybody home? Can you say "Admission of guilt", or "Dictator"?

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» RE: Hello? Posted by: peacefullaim

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Pardon has deeper roots
Posted by: danscanlan on Nov 24, 2008 9:23 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The possibility of G.W.Bush pardoning himself is trivial compared to the larger problem, viz., the ineffectiveness of the United States Constitution.

The Preamble is the most salient part of the Constitution along with the Bill of Rights, a veritable afterthought of the Founders. In the Preamble, the United States declared itself an entity with a mission. What follows the Preamble is an attempt to make the mission of the Preamble come to be. The Bill of Rights was a "we better cover our asses" move in case the folks just didn't get it.

We now know that the organizational part of the Constitution is a dismal failure: representative government can be purchased; there is no allowance for mass media control (mass media didn't exist at the time of the document's birth); there is no guard against corporations becoming "persons"; blacks were allotted three-fifths of existence, but no vote; women didn't exist at all; there is no guarantee of one person, one vote; no guarantee of the accuracy of the vote count; and the inclusion of a Presidential pardon was a knee jerk nod to monarchism. Surely, others have observations of its failings.

A more important discussion is this: Where and when should the American People hold a convention in order to write a new Constitution and who shall be given a seat at the table?

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» RE: Pardon has deeper roots Posted by: paulphoenix

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The Law
Posted by: bluepilgrim on Nov 24, 2008 9:35 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The reality is that law is no more than those with power making BS excuses to do what they want, unrelated to either morallity or utility. It is a fiction imposed by the king or oligarchy on others to control them and maintain power.

If the powerful want to do something against the law they either change the law or they ignore it.

All the things the Nazis did was legal -- they just changed German law to meet their purposes.

The US invented new law to invade Iraq, which had been defined as a war of agression -- the highest war crime. Now it is attempting to force the Iraqis to pass laws giving all control of it's oil to foreign companies, and otherwise leave the US with the powers essential to control the country.

Israel passes laws to allow the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinaians, or ignores laws to the contrary.

Law is no more than an interim step and distraction to the exercise of power, either by politics, economics, or violence. Bush will be held accountable for his wrongdoing only if those with the power decide to hold him accountable.

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I support the pardons
Posted by: 60sretread on Nov 24, 2008 9:57 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bush, Chaney, Rove, Libby, Rumsfeld, et.als. are clearly guilty of a number of crimes, perhaps rising to treason and murder. Certainly the attack in Iraq gave aid and comfort to the Taliban by strengthening Osama & lessening our ability to go after the Taliban. I agree that the Democrats will not prosecute these folks. A Bush pardon will give them a stigma & let the country recover from a nightmare with as little hangover as possible. For's pardon of Nixon helped us get over that. Ford'pardon of Vietnam resisters let us move on

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Please contact your Rep. re: H.Res. 1531. STOP DEBATING, DO SOMETHING
Posted by: common intelligence on Nov 24, 2008 10:02 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
On Friday, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced H.Res. 1531 urging President Bush not to pardon senior administration officials for crimes the President authorized. It notes:

President George W. Bush "has" committed crimes involving the mistreatment of detainees, the extraordinary rendition of individuals to countries known to engage in torture, illegal surveillance of United States citizens, unlawful leaks of classified information, obstruction of justice, political interference with the conduct of the Justice Department, and other illegal acts (parentases added by me"

and that

Bush has been urged to grant preemptive pardons to senior administration officials who might face criminal prosecution for actions taken in the course of their official duties

Nadler's resolution urges Congress to investigate those crimes and any pardons relating to them, and urges the Attorney General (current or future) to appoint an Independent Counsel to prosecute those crimes.

These are major steps towards holding George Bush, Dick Cheney, and other senior officials accountable for their crimes and thereby upholding the rule of law, rather than allowing Presidents to become dictators.

Rep. Nadler's leadership is crucial because he chairs the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties and can use his credibility and clout to move the resolution forward either during the lame duck session in December or when the next Congress convenes on January 6.

So our next step is to persuade as many Representatives as possible to co-sponsor H.Res. 1531.
Please SIGN our new petition

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Reap what you sow
Posted by: mom'z the word on Nov 24, 2008 10:56 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I think the answer to this question is obvious. Self-pardon does not exist in a democracy. The President is an elected official. He is a servant of the people, for the people, by the people. Self-pardon suggest some other form of government not a democracy. Could I pardon myself? I don’t think so? Then how in heavens name is this possible for a president? Did Hitler pardon himself? Of course he did. A dictator can do no wrong.

Make an exception to the rule and the exception becomes the rule. Is this what we have become? A nation of exceptions? We make exceptions for corporations and insurance companies, and health care facilities and banks, auto industry and that most certainly has only lead to chaos.

And what is he pardoning himself for? Wrongdoing? What good can come from that? In all honesty no good can come from pardoning wrongdoing and the wrongdoer cannot be in charge of pardoning himself. Is there a reason why Citicorp, Chrysler, GM, Ford, AIG, and a multitude of others are asking for an ALmighty handout to save themselves from collape? Was there corruption, mismanagement, wrongdoing associated with their demise? You can bet your bottom dollar there was. So, our democracy says we reward wrongdoing by forgiving them for their sins and to provide them with anything and everything they need to continue doing what they have done in the past which was Every man for himself and screw everyone else whenever you can. That is just brilliant regulating, legislating and enforcement of wrongdoing. And that is where we are today.

We reap what we sow.

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If these pardons happen, and if nothing else comes out of this...
Posted by: Quannah on Nov 24, 2008 11:00 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
if Bush manages to find a way to pardon himself and his entire Junta, there needs to be a process started IMMEDIATELY for a Constitutional Amendment that limits the pardoning power of the President.

It should state that a President does not have the right to pardon anyone in his administration, anyone serving in government in any capacity, nor anyone with any contacts, both familial and political, with the White House.

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A few points
Posted by: willymack on Nov 24, 2008 11:02 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Good article and discussion. This is a subject that MUST be kept alive, and above all, communicated to Barack Obama in no uncertain terms. To let the bushies get away with their manifold crimes would be a crime in itself, one that would poison us just as surely and as long as the Civil War has. One possibility is an end-around. There is ample evidence of election fraud in 2000 and 2004. If the bushies were brought to trial for that, after they're out of power, and a conviction secured, then it can be pointed out that they were in power ILLEGALLY, and everything they did was ILLEGAL, including any and all pardons. This would open the door for prosecution of all their capital crimes which have no statute of limitations.

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Caesar77
Posted by: Caesar77 on Nov 24, 2008 11:36 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If this despicable little bastard doesn't pay for his crime of murder, then the American people can never again ask God to bless their disgraced country.
We should ship him and his follow criminals overseas for trial.
Cheney is the devil incarnate and should be shipped with Bush the murderer.

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» RE: Caesar77 Posted by: willymack
» RE: Caesar77 Posted by: phillydrifter

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Wow???
Posted by: conch9 on Nov 24, 2008 1:42 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have read some interesting and though provoking articles here on Alternet, however this one is absurd.
Those who are familiar with the US Constitution in its simpliest form, know the President does not have the power to send our troops into war. That falls to our Congress. Granted, the President led the way, however without the backing of Congress, the President is required to pull our troops back.
That being said, if President Bush is charged and or prosecuted by a court of law, where does it end? Do we go after just the President and his close administration? Do we go after all the Generals? How about all the individuals who briefed the President and his advisors about the WMD/War? You can not forget Congress, so we would have to charge and or prosecute all those who voted "yes" to the war at the beginning and then have voted to continue to support it. Why stop there, what about the staff/advisors of all those congressional members or better yet, what about those who voted those people into office and continue to do so?
The prosecution of the President for actions that took many people to accomplish will result in a slippery slope that would not or could not be stopped.
There is a checks and balance in our american government that takes place prior to all actions that are taken. Therefore no decision is made by one person or branch. Therefore the problems and issues that our country is now facing is the result of hundreds/thousands/millions of people and their decision making.
In addition what member of the executive or legislative branch would push for this investigation and or prosecution? This would open the door to every politician being held to higher standards, and we know that they do not want that to happen.
One more thought, I we also going to prosecute all of the "leaders" for other countries that assisted us in the War? I am sure that had their own intelligence and or briefings and did not just rely of Bush's statements.
Where does it end?

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» RE: Wow??? Posted by: Vicario
» RE: Wow??? Posted by: conch9
» RE: Wow??? Posted by: StirMan
» RE: Wow??? Posted by: conch9
» RE: Wow??? Posted by: phillydrifter

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Extraordinary
Posted by: robert.noll on Nov 24, 2008 2:00 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is one situation where extraordinary rendition to the Hague would be acceptable.

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THE HOLY EARTHLY GENOCIDE TRINITY OF THE BLOODTHIRSTY ORGIES AT LAS AZORES.
Posted by: Vicario on Nov 24, 2008 2:31 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bush of the Bushy Bushes has been denying the essence and presence of CHRIST. He has been stepping on the supreme charity of CHRIST and pissing on his BEATITUDES. He has CRUCIFIED CHRIST 4.000 times plus 100.000 times and later on, he has involved the major part of CHRISTIANITY and CHURCH with his MACRO GENOCIDES, that glorifies and honours the IGNORANCE of HITLER and JUDE of the JUDES. TORTURES have exceeded CELESTIAL MIRACLES and anybody who IDENTIFIES with the HUMANITY RACE should consider the EVILS and DEVILS have been unable to carry on such CHRISTIAN BARBARIES. He turned the BLOOD of CHILDRENS´ BODIES into WATER for WATERING the KANAA, where CHRIST converted WATER into WINE and PROCLAIMED the NEARNESS of CHILDREN. BUSH has played the role of the DEVILISH VICAR of CHRISTIANITY, with the PERMISSION of the GERMAN PASTOR, who has no PEDIGREE and lives on the PENTAGONIZED VATICAN, much better seventy times seven than his GOD. He went to VISIT the PENTAGON PLANET to CONFESS AND FORGIVE BUSH, instead of going to AFRICA or SOUTH AMERICA to feed them with the WORD OF CHRIST, because he is unable to share BREAD with the POOREST OF THE POOR.
I do not know who I thank that the WAR ON TERROR, turned into a WAR of ERROR and ERRORISM.
I will never forget the ENJOYMENT and JOYFUL of the OPUS DEI at RETAMAR SCHOOl, in MADRID at watching the DESTRUCTIONS, CHILDREN´S BLOOD and ALI, a CHILD WHO LOST HIS FOUR LIMBS. At that moment I was a SUPERNUMERARY MEMBER OF OPUS DEI for a QUARTER OF A CENTURY and an EDUCATOR for ELITISTS OF THE ELISTISTS for over than three DECADES. A COLLEAGUE of mine who was not a member of OPUS got horrorized when he heard the CHAPLAIN ARGUMENTS about WAR ON THE POOREST OF THE POOR WHO HAD NO BREAD TO EAT OR MILK FOR THEIR BABIES. IT IS THE COUNTRY OF THE MILLION BABIES WHO DIED. I entered SCHOOL with FAITH and came out with out FAITH. They have tried to seal my mouth by giving me 37.000 EUROS in BLACK LORD MONEY and FIVE YEARS WITH FULL PAYMENTS and STAYING AT HOME. I feel PROUD that I was expelled out from PALESTINE on the ARMS of my ADOLESCENT SISTER and spent my CHILDHOOD, sleeping under the OLIVE TREES AND with the HELP OF UNRWA, then I EDUCATED THE ONES WHO COME FROM ARISTOCRACY, NOBILITY, GREATNESS, HIGHNESS and with GREAT PLEASURE ROYALTY. I WAS A MEMBER OF OPUS DEI when I TRIED to let them get rid of emptying the TREASURY. I WAS in CONTACT with the SECRETARY of a SYNDICATE, who is called MR. VIRSEDA. MY WIFE was an EMPLOYEE AT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION and controlling all their DOCUMENTS AND MOVEMENTS, and in spite of that they tried to CHEAT ME AND PAY ME HALF of the money I had received from the MINISTRY. AT the end they gave me the FULL PAYMENT, because their DOCUMENTS WERE UNDER THE CONTROL OF MY WIFE. When I arrived home, my ex wife got fed up and said in SPANISH "COÑO, que engañen a todo el mundo, pero no a ti, ya que conzco todas sus ESTAFAS".
AT the moment, as usual, they invaded my computing territory from SAN ANTONIO in MEXICO and SHARED ALL MY FILES AND COMPUTER for some YEARS. LAST TWO MONTHS I HAD TO REPAIR THE COMPUTER more than FOUR TIMES. THE OPUS DEI, who PRAY the MEMORARE daily for the NEEDY BROTHER WHO RAPE ADOLESCENTS AND SODOMIZE KIDS. The POOR are SLAVES OF LAWS, but they are SLAVES OF IMMORALITY AND FUCKING THE HUMAN RIGHTS. THE ONE WHO had sins more than SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN, cannot be FORGIVEN or IDENTIFIED with the HUMAN RACE. HE SHOULD GO AND LIVE WITH THE MONEYS ON THE BRANCHES OF TREES OR HE SHOULD BE KEPT AT MONASTERY TO SERVE THE EVILS his PRAYERS.

VICARIO
VICARIUS

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Federal Pardons have no jurisdiction on a local Prosecution
Posted by: Sue4theBillofRights on Nov 24, 2008 3:24 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Please read Vincent Bugliosi's "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder". If you don't have time, at least read Ralph Lopez's "Indictment for Dummies" which Mr. Bugliosi has approved as an accurate synopsis.

The Reader's Companion is available on the web at: http://ralphlopezworld.com/vince.html (Mr. Lopez was Charlotte Dennett's campaign manager and continues to work closely with Mr. Bugliosi. We are seeking prosecution at a local level (either local District Attorneys or State Attorney Generals), PRECISELY to circumvent any federal pardons.

Read Mr. Bugliosi's case. This can and will be done. There is no statute of limitations on murder. The argument is strong and valid that Bush's lies about reasons for invading Iraq knowingly, intentionally led to the deaths of over 4,000 US troops, and the families of each and every US casuality can be represented in the case against George W. Bush. Vincent is world reknown attorney with a better than 99% success rate in his long prosecuting carreer. Read the book. It has legal support from Peter Weiss, VP of The Center for Constitutional Rights, Benjamin Davis University of Toledo, Ellen Ides Layola U. LA, Dean Lawrence Velvel, Mas.. School of Law, to name a few.

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» RE: The Prosecution of GWB... Posted by: grammasanity

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Why is no one discussing this . . . YOU ARE!
Posted by: StirMan on Nov 24, 2008 4:18 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Ummmm . . . YOU ARE. The battle's barely begun. I can't even keep up with the commentary, discussion and calls-to-blog webwise. Yet I read faster than the whole Republican mental malignancy can lie. I suffered with Polio as a child—couldn't do anything but read—and watch my cohort try to move a finger or such—for a very long time. America and the March of Dimes took good care of me. I listened to Hitler on the newsreels too. I've heard fascist sludgethot before—and I watched what it accomplished. America took care of that too. Now it's back. Go Read the Naomis . . . Shock Doctrine . . . The End of America. You do read don'cha? . Hang in there with your shields up!

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Don't forget Hillary Clinton
Posted by: rickiey on Nov 24, 2008 4:32 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
While we are going after the ones responsible for Iraq, lets not forget Hillary Clinton.

Although others in the Senate can foist off the blame for Iraq on "Bush lied to us", remember Hillary's own words, that she personally knew from her experience in the White House.....

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Pardon Procedure
Posted by: bbbb on Nov 24, 2008 8:47 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
First rule for a pardon is that you've been found guilty of a crime.

Second, is that you had to of lost on appeal.

Third, it has to be at least five years since either your conviction or lost appeal (I forget which one).

Those are the basic guidelines in order just to be considered for a pardon. Bushco doesn't meet any of those and they'd have to change an awful lot of things before Obama is sworn in.

If he did manage to change the guidelines, what's to stop Iraq or Afghanistan from coming after him in a few years? If they have the support of another major power like Russia, who's to stop them from extradition? It's not like the Rothschilds, Bilderbergs or any other Illuminati hierarchy have any more use for him.

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» RE: Pardon Procedure Posted by: VZEQICVA
» RE: Pardon Procedure Posted by: phillydrifter

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Bush's Future is Bleak, Anyway.
Posted by: AlexLawyer on Nov 25, 2008 12:12 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Any pardon is bound to be tested in the Supreme Court, where the balance is precarious. If the RATS (Roberts, Alito, Thomas and Scalia) are joined by one other justice, the pardon would stand. If so, he could be extradited and tried abroad, as I mentioned above. And if he moves to Paraguay, he could be subject to extraordinary rendition, giving him a taste of his own medicine. Or, more likely, someone would kill him; he has made a lot of enemies over the past 8 years and his security there would not likely be good.

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It's not "CAN" but "WHEN" will...
Posted by: Bearzerker on Nov 25, 2008 1:54 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
George W. Bush 'Self-Pardon' Himself and all those responsible for this current fiasco!

Just wait for it... he will pardon everyone below himself for all crimes committed while "HE" was in orifice!... and Obama will pardon him because he will have no choice!

Lets just recap on some of the shit he's responsible for

1.) his declared Wars!
on terror, on Drugs, on Iraq? Iran Syria, ohh and the one we all could get aboard with and could have really done something about ...Afghanistan... he ignored!

2.) his domestic Policies... the creation of Fear and Loathing Departments and umbrella'ng them within the Federal Political processes is something that will be studied for YEARS
HHS FISA etc...
"your doing a heckava job Brownie"

3.) he wanted to spend his political capital after 2004 and this is what we get... deregulated markets sucking up whatever revenue they can get before the tap is shut down... his political interference in global markets is causing this instability because regulation IS coming back and they know it...

OFFSHORE AND UNTAXED REVENUE GENERATED IN COUNTRY IS THEFT!

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Outcasts
Posted by: US Citizen 07 on Nov 25, 2008 2:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If they pull anything along those lines, they may as well take their families and move out of America.

They will be viewed as traitors and pursecuted by the population.

Maybe they can get away with moving in with the terrorist we harbor in Flordia, after all, criminals tend to cover each others backs.

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I blame Pelosi
Posted by: motamanx6 on Nov 25, 2008 7:29 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I blame Pelosi for taking it off the table at square one. She is either complicit, a coward, an idiot, or all three.

Bush has done NOTHING right. (Name something, please.) He and Cheney have done plenty that was wrong, illegal, and impeachable. We have been ill served by the Repubs, and, sadly, equally so by the Dems.

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Why Weren't They Impeached?
Posted by: AlexLawyer on Nov 25, 2008 8:34 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yes, you're right, Bush, Cheney and Rice et al. should have been impeached. Once public hearings were held and the full extent of criminal wrongdoing became known, even many Republicans would have been forced to vote to impeach. And, interestingly, Pelosi would have been president!

So why did she not do it? Because she had enthusiastically backed torture and feared being labeled a hypocrite? Because she was being blackmailed or threatened?

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Cliffyworld
Posted by: cliffyworld on Nov 26, 2008 5:28 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Please read related article titled "Turkeys never keep a criminal record" at http://www.cliffyworld.com/blogs

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What fear should Bush have??
Posted by: tomjoad on Nov 26, 2008 7:09 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Who is going to prosecute Bush?
The Obama administration is more likely to hire bush than prosecute him for his considerable crimes. Bush knows that.

The only possibility for Bush might have for prosecution is if an opposition political party were to suddenly emerge on the US scene. That could happen in the future, but i don't think it is on Bush's mind.

He will not pardon himself or Cheney.

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Get Real!
Posted by: skc on Nov 27, 2008 8:59 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Good grief! The President is elected as Commander in Chief. Wars are a necessary part of that duty, if and when wars are necessary. A president can be impeached, but he certainly cannot be brought to trial for doing one of the primary functions he is elected to do. I think the mainstream media has had a little too much affect on your thinking. The two current wars were very effective at opposing terrorism in the U.S., and after the 9/11 attacks most people were in favor of going to war.

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A call to end the "try Bush" talk
Posted by: rickiey on Dec 1, 2008 12:04 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
You guys don't give Bush enough credit. Any trial would be a waste of time and taxpayer money.

There is no concrete law that can be applied to Bush, that he can not beat the rap on.

Lets stop wasting time on one man, and let W's march to insignificance begin, and work on healing the nation. It happens to be broken at the moment, and fixing the problems is more important than vengeance.

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Of course not. Remember...
Posted by: jvaljon1 on Dec 1, 2008 6:34 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...Nixon had to get fellow Republican and President Gerald Ford to pardon him? Was Ford's first act.

However--what makes anyone think that Bush would even consider 'pardoning' himself? He doesn't feel that he did anything wrong. He did all those murders--he must've been right! That's how this psychopath thinks. In pardoning himself, he admits to his wrongdoing. And since no one can legally pardon themselves--even an asshole like Bush would have to know, that is not the way to go. The American people are too sick of him and he'd--with that tacit admission of guilt that a self-pardon would be--be finally clapped in the irons where he belongs.

So no. I do think that Bush--nutty as he is--still retains that much smarts.

But I sure hope that the American People--no matter their party--come away with the realization that kept America prosperous and free for fifty years since the First Great Depression: NEVER REPUBLICANS AGAIN!!!

Think of the 50 years between FDR and Ronnie Dearest. Think of what we did. We went to the moon, we grew a tremendous Middle Class, the remnants of whom are strewn around us. We can do it again. But we must heed the lessons of the NRA--Never Republicans Again.

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