Are bush & cheney entitled to a fair trial?

[Philosoraptor]

I mean, even the lowliest criminal is entitled to a fair trial right?

[annabanana]

1. Of course.

The evidence is manifest and irrefutable. It would not be hard to convict them at all.

[Philosoraptor]

3. If they weren't totally above the law, we'd could really nail em'.

[tekisui]

2. Yes. It has to be for legitimacy.

If they are tried improperly, the could get off free.

They need to be thoroughly, and carefully tried and convicted. And, put away for life.

[Philosoraptor]

6. They should be held at Gitmo for 6 or 7 years, and tortured first of course.

[tekisui]

7. Of course.

:grr:

[trusty elf]

19. Shrubject them to Busharia Law!

[HereSince1628]

4. Sure, their trials should be to international standards and in the Hague

But it's morning and time for dreams to fade to reality.

[realisticphish]

5. yes

all american citizens are by law, and all non-american citizens SHOULD be

[Philosoraptor]

8. But these two terrorists tried to destroy America, they're enemy combatants.

And enemy combatants who attack America don't deserve any fair trial, or lawyer visits, or family visits, all they deserve is torture and lemon pepper chicken on Fridays.

[H2O Man]

9. I'd like Vince Bugliosi

as the prosecutor.

[Philosoraptor]

11. I'll second that, he's got the whole prosecution planned out.

[tom_paine]

10. Yes. n/t

[lligrd]

12. The Least We Could Do For Them

and yes, they are entitled despite their own policies.

[KharmaTrain]

13. Justice Not Vindication

I want these criminals...and many others in this regime...investigated and tried and I have no fears of either the jury system or the results that ensue. Of course they should be accorded the rights of a trial by their peers, my concern is their attempts to shield themselves from such a trial and to avoid being held accountable.

No matter my disgust and anger at this regime and all the damage they've done, I want future prosecutions to be based on preventing any regime of this type from ever rising up again and those who perpetrated crimes to be brought to justice...either in a U.S. court (if it's politically possible) or an International tribunal. Let the evidence speak and let justice, not spite, uphold both the rule of law and the Consitution. May it be a learning experience as much as one of reconciliation.

Cheers...

[Philosoraptor]

15. I guess presidents & senators & such are automatically immune to prosecution.

And those silly 'laws' have never been a concern for these assholes.

[KharmaTrain]

22. A DeFacto Impeachment Removes Those Immunities

I know some will argue this...and it will probably require Constitutional scholars to hash this out as we've never had to test the Constitution in such murky waters. However, I see several avenues available that could force this regime into accountability.

Thanks to Paula Jones, even if they are immune from criminal prosecution, it doesn't mean they're immune from civil litigation and if it's shown that either had a hand in some crime that did damage to another person (Valerie Plame) there could be some interesting discovery and process here. Ya gotta think that Joe Wilson has to be grinning like a Cheshire Cat these days with McClellan's revelations. Time will be the avenger here.

Also, while we may not have legal redress at the top two in this regime, there are many underlings that deserve a thorough investigation and with this regime removed and the possibility of pardon removed, I see this happening. The backlog of cases is getting overwhelming. I liked Jon Turley's suggestion of setting up an Independent Prosecutor (calling Pat Fitzgerald or David Igelsias) to follow up on all the crimes and investigations that will leave the Congress to do other business. Then...once the evidence and convictions of the Roves and Rumsfelds and Gonzalez move forward, so will the evidence for impeachment and possible criminal proseuction against booosh and cheney...but, again, I think that may be best left to an international court...and if you're following some of the cases in Europe, I see that as a distinct possibility.

Cheers...

[MiniMe]

14. Yes, the constitution applies even to those terrorists.

[Philosoraptor]

17. Oh but-they laugh at the constitution, it would only apply if WE applied it.

[DailyGrind51]

16. They could be tried with the same jury instruction

as Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling. Prior to deliberations, the Enron jury received this instruction from the judge, "Deliberate ignorance of wrongdoing is no defense".

[terrya]

18. Yes.

That's the point, I think, that Vincent Bugliosi made in his new book. There's a surfeit of evidence to prosecute Bush and Cheney and Condoleeza Rice, but they are entitled to a fair trial.

[mmonk]

20. Yes, like Nuremberg.

However, our democracy is so much more corroded than it used to be that we can't even get impeachment or admission much wrong has occurred.

[LeftishBrit]

21. Yes.

I would suggest The Hague as a suitable place.

[hlthe2b]

23. before or after waterboarding....?

:sarcasm:


Yeah, stress on the :sarcasm: We progressives believe even (especially?) Bush-Cheney deserve fair trials...

[WritersBlock]

24. As ye reap, so shall ye sow. Therefore they deserve the same fair trials as the Gitmo prisoners. nt