Topic: Constitutional Issues
George W. Bush Belongs In Prison There is a compelling case for indicting George W. Bush and putting him in prison, not to get revenge, but to obtain justice and show the world that we truly believe in the rule of law that even presidents are not above.by Joel S. Hirschhorn
(libertarian)
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Electing Barack Obama president was the first step in redeeming American democracy. The second step must be indicting ex-president George W. Bush, giving him a fair trial, finding him guilty of many criminal acts and putting him in prison. Forget revenge. Think rule of law and justice.
I want President Obama soon after taking office to go on television and announce the formation of a special group of outstanding jurists and attorneys to make a recommendation whether or not the US Justice Department should bring criminal charges against George W. Bush. Based on earlier analyses, including work by the American Bar Association, I have no doubt they will recommend indictment.
If moral honesty and courage have any meaning, then the nation must take seriously the concept that no president can ever be allowed to be above the law. How can President Obama not strongly support this? Surely no president must be allowed to disrespect and dishonor the US Constitution. George W. Bush broke his oath of office. His behavior was treasonous. Instead of defending the Constitution he disgraced it. Instead of protecting constitutional rights, including privacy, he sullied them. He asserted his right to ignore or not enforce laws so he could break them. Respect for the office of the presidency must never be allowed to trump truth and justice.
Millions and millions of Americans and people worldwide know that George W. Bush made 9/11 the trigger for initiating an illegal war in Iraq that has killed and maimed so many thousands of people. What Vincent Bugliosi, author of "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder" called "the most serious crime ever committed in American history." I say convict Bush of myriad counts of criminally negligent homicide related to both Iraq and the Katrina disaster and put him in prison. A former president in prison would not disgrace the presidency. It would restore honor to the office and the Constitution.
Surely millions more people now understand that George W. Bush bears responsibility for creating the conditions that encouraged greed-driven capitalism to rape and murder the middle class and push us into the current global economic meltdown. By removing government oversight and regulation he committed the greatest acts of fraud in the history of mankind. After he made American democracy delusional he made prosperity delusional.
We the people are paying the price for George W. Bush's criminal acts and so must he. When George W. Bush is sent to prison everyone will see that American democracy has earned the respect of the world. Everyone will better understand that evil comes in many forms and that even an elected president of the United States of America can and must be recognized as a perpetrator of horrendous criminal acts.
Please President-elect Obama, make it so. Be the principled person we want you to be. Make the USA the nation it is supposed to be. Have the courage to do what Congress refused to do when it did not impeach George W. Bush. Change history by showing the world that American justice applies as equally to the president as it does to anyone else. Do not let George W. Bush escape the justice and prison sentence he deserves. Do not let respect for the presidency trump respect for justice. If we do not bring George W. Bush to justice that probably only you can make happen, then surely we do not restore respect for the office that you worked so hard to achieve.
To ensure that no future president behaves like George W. Bush we must punish him. Not merely through the words of historians, but through the physical punishment that he has inflicted on so many millions of people. In previous eras citizens would have demanded "off with his head." Now we must demand "lock him up." How poetic for a pro-torture ex-president. As summed up at www.imprisonbush.com: "Bush must be made accountable to the law, to serve as a lesson to all those who would attempt to destroy the American system of laws and liberty for the sake of their own power." This is a test for both President Obama and American democracy.
If there is any kind of God in the universe, then George W. Bush must go to prison. When he does, then and only then should God bless America.
[Formerly a full professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a senior official at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment and the National Governors Association, Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of nonfiction books, including Prosperity Without Pollution, Sprawl Kills and Delusional Democracy.]
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The thing I could never understand is so many spineless congressmen and senators who went along with Bush, vote after vote after vote. It really is a travesty.
I agree. George Bush should go to jail. I don't hold out much hope though. As far as I can see the whole system is corrupt.
The Presidential elections seem to me like a two horse race, where both horses are owned by the same syndicate.
I think we are all pretty well screwed. We are all so divided. It's dog eat dog, and every man for himself.
Even if we were to discover exactly what was going on, very few would believe you if you told them. Of the few who do, far fewer would be prepared to take any type of action. Of the few who would be prepared to take action, there would be arguments about the type of action. etc. etc.
Have a look at Internet forums. So many people argue the person rather than the point. Instead of rationally discussing an issue, and taking into consideration that the poster is doing the best he can with the knowledge he has available... people often launch unwarranted personal attacks.
The inaction of congressmen, and senators makes no sense... unless you believe that there is indeed a "New World Order" conspiracy. Then there behavior makes lots of sense.
I am loath to mention it... but I have spoken to people who have been senior advisers for former Prime Ministers, people who have been high ranking federal police officers, and people from the SAS.
They all say the "New World Order" is reality.
If that is indeed true... we are all in a world of hurt.
Our only hope against them would be to all band together and force positive change... I think we have left our run too late. :(
When you're done with W maybe you can dig up LBJ and Nixon and try them for what they did in Vietnam and then hang them. After you rebury them they should be dug up and hung again.
Vietnam resulted in a far greater loss of American lives. And it was also based on false information.
Bemoaning the removal of "government oversight and regulation "?
Such comments are not indicative of libertarianism as I know it.
The ruling elite have always been above the law. Nothing new here. Genghis Khan was above the law, but his soldiers ate well. We must accept the fact: It's their world, we just have to live in it.
Posted By: Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
Date: 2008-11-30 14:52:35
“Electing Barack Obama president was the first step in redeeming American democracy. The second step must be indicting ex-president George W. Bush, giving him a fair trial, finding him guilty of many criminal acts and putting him in prison. Forget revenge. Think rule of law and justice. I want President Obama soon after taking office to go on television and announce the formation of a special group of outstanding jurists and attorneys to make a recommendation whether or not the US Justice Department should bring criminal charges against George W. Bush. Based on earlier analyses, including work by the American Bar Association, I have no doubt they will recommend indictment.”
“Please President-elect Obama, make it so. Be the principled person we want you to be. Make the USA the nation it is supposed to be. Have the courage to do what Congress refused to do when it did not impeach George W. Bush. Change history by showing the world that American justice applies as equally to the president as it does to anyone else. Do not let George W. Bush escape the justice and prison sentence he deserves. Do not let respect for the presidency trump respect for justice. If we do not bring George W. Bush to justice that probably only you can make happen, then surely we do not restore respect for the office that you worked so hard to achieve.”
Joel Hirschhorn. (2008, November 29). This Is A Test For Both President Obama and American Democracy! George W. Bush Belongs In Prison. http://impeachforpeace.org/. Retrieved November 29, 2008, from http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=5857
The article indicated above is one of the best articles Andrew Yu-Jen Wang has read for as long as he can remember. Let Andrew Yu-Jen Wang indicate below something written earlier in his blog.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Andrew Yu-Jen Wang for months had strongly rooted for Barack Obama over John McCain. However, in the end, Andrew Yu-Jen Wang voted for Ralph Nader only as a symbolic gesture because Andrew Yu-Jen Wang expects to be immensely disappointed by Barack Obama who Andrew Yu-Jen Wang assumes will not rigorously make arrangements or seek to have George W. Bush prosecuted—the most horrifying omission of action imaginable.
However, Andrew Yu-Jen Wang acknowledges that it is a hell of a lot better to have Barack Obama as President of the United States than John McCain.
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
Posted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang at 6:56 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Retrieved November 29, 2008, from http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/2008/11/andrew-yu-jen-wang-for-months-had.html
And so Andrew Yu-Jen Wang did not vote for Barack Obama where Wang strongly suspected that Obama would not really go all out to cause George W. Bush to be incarcerated for his heinous crimes. This omission of action of Obama would be shocking to the conscience. It would be the saddest thing. It would demoralize the American people. It would break the heart of the American people. And so Wang just did not want to make a fool of himself by investing himself in Obama through casting a vote for Obama only then to be mortified and let down by Obama not embarking on a mission to incarcerate the absolutely evil career criminal—George W. Bush.
After George W. Bush leaves office, one of the most important things is for his incarceration to be sought by the American people. If Obama were not prepared to fight diligently for such a thing, then Obama would, in a way, have wasted his time as the President of the United States. Moreover, Obama must be aware of George W. Bush’s various onslaughts against black people. Please read all about it in the blog of Wang (http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/). Thus, if Obama does not have the indignation and rage to seek Bush’s incarceration, one must conclude only that Obama lacks the courage to do it. In failing to seek Bush’s incarceration, Obama—a black person—inevitably shames and humiliates and embarrasses himself.
Obama—a black person (a racial minority himself)—should be profoundly sensitive to the racial prejudice and widespread suffering Bush has inflicted against black people.
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/2008/11/electing-barack-obama-president-was.html
President Bush acted on the full authority of the US government and the co-operation of the UN. That is why there are Peace keepers in Iraq. The War in Iraq was do to the failure of the Iraqi government to allow the continued access to suspected weapons manufacturing and storage facilities. This was part of the Surrender agreement made at the end of the first Gulf War. The UN inspectors had repeatedly been denied the access specified and knew positively that certain weapons were being used. After the attacks on 9/11 during the war in Afghanistan, military official found evidence of Iraqi made weapons being used against troops fighting the terrorists.
These discoveries along with other International evidence led the US government to pursue new inspections of Iraq's weapon supply. Saddam did not want to hold up his end of the bargain.
We along with several other countries then declared war on Iraq.
At no point was there super secret movements. No ultra covert ops. No indiscriminate killing of civilians. Everything was above board and transparent to anyone paying attention.
If the same conflict would have taken place during the 1930's or 40's there would have been carpet bombings, artillery bombardment and possibly nukes used instead of the surgical type of combat currently used. This would really would have killed innocent civilians.
Please try to look past the caltrop being fed to us by the media majority and look at facts and historical precedents
Posted By: Jake, the Champion of the Constitution
Date: 2008-12-01 11:05:13
ctmetal -
Although your comment is that of an educated person, it is pretty much full of lies. For instance, how do you explain the bombing of Iraq during the mid-to-late 1990s and prior to the 2003 war? I also suggest reading Mr Bugliosi's book and disproving it - all of it, [as he did make several small mistakes].
http://www.nolanchart.com/article4364.html
Dear Joel Hirschhorn -
Although I agree with the sentiments in your article, I do think its premise is fairly ridiculous. Obama has never given any indication (that I am aware of) that he would support prosecuting Bush, and his recent cabinet announcements are further proof, if any indeed was needed.
As a matter of fact, my question from earlier this year remains - will the new POTUS pardon Bush? Will Bush/new POTUS pardon Cheney, Rowe, and the rest? I do think there is a fairly high chance that some legal teams will be going after Bush after Jan 20th.
And if Obama DOES pardon Bush, what a message this will send to the American people! Perhaps that is a more interesting idea to ponder.
Posted By: patrick henry
Date: 2008-12-02 13:27:44
ctmetal,
War was NEVER declared. Peace keepers, that is a good one, been there done that, no peace keeping going on I assure you. Listen to Albright and Richardson talk about our sanctions killing over 500,000 Iraqi kids as necessary. Listen to the IAEA inspectors reports prior to the invasion, what they said and what you say are total opposites.
Man so much filth in so short a piece Goebels would be proud.
Follow your own advice in your last sentence.
Obama,nor any POTUS would persecute the outgoing POTUS as it would set a precedence for honest governance and the rule of law that others would have to follow.
Posted By: Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
Date: 2008-12-03 20:18:31
“Electing Barack Obama president was the first step in redeeming American democracy. The second step must be indicting ex-president George W. Bush, giving him a fair trial, finding him guilty of many criminal acts and putting him in prison. Forget revenge. Think rule of law and justice. I want President Obama soon after taking office to go on television and announce the formation of a special group of outstanding jurists and attorneys to make a recommendation whether or not the US Justice Department should bring criminal charges against George W. Bush. Based on earlier analyses, including work by the American Bar Association, I have no doubt they will recommend indictment.”
“Please President-elect Obama, make it so. Be the principled person we want you to be. Make the USA the nation it is supposed to be. Have the courage to do what Congress refused to do when it did not impeach George W. Bush. Change history by showing the world that American justice applies as equally to the president as it does to anyone else. Do not let George W. Bush escape the justice and prison sentence he deserves. Do not let respect for the presidency trump respect for justice. If we do not bring George W. Bush to justice that probably only you can make happen, then surely we do not restore respect for the office that you worked so hard to achieve.”
Joel Hirschhorn. (2008, November 29). This Is A Test For Both President Obama and American Democracy! George W. Bush Belongs In Prison. http://impeachforpeace.org/. Retrieved November 29, 2008, from http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=5857
The article indicated above is one of the best articles Andrew Yu-Jen Wang has read for as long as he can remember. Let Andrew Yu-Jen Wang indicate below something written earlier in his blog.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Andrew Yu-Jen Wang for months had strongly rooted for Barack Obama over John McCain. However, in the end, Andrew Yu-Jen Wang voted for Ralph Nader only as a symbolic gesture because Andrew Yu-Jen Wang expects to be immensely disappointed by Barack Obama who Andrew Yu-Jen Wang assumes will not rigorously make arrangements or seek to have George W. Bush prosecuted—the most horrifying omission of action imaginable.
However, Andrew Yu-Jen Wang acknowledges that it is a hell of a lot better to have Barack Obama as President of the United States than John McCain.
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
Posted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang at 6:56 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Retrieved November 29, 2008, from http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/2008/11/andrew-yu-jen-wang-for-months-had.html
And so Andrew Yu-Jen Wang did not vote for Barack Obama where Wang strongly suspected that Obama would not really go all out to cause George W. Bush to be incarcerated for his heinous crimes. This omission of action of Obama would be shocking to the conscience. It would be the saddest thing. It would demoralize the American people. It would break the heart of the American people. And so Wang just did not want to make a fool of himself by investing himself in Obama through casting a vote for Obama only then to be mortified and let down by Obama not embarking on a mission to incarcerate the absolutely evil career criminal—George W. Bush.
After George W. Bush leaves office, one of the most important things is for his incarceration to be sought by the American people. If Obama were not prepared to fight diligently for such a thing, then Obama would, in a way, have wasted his time as the President of the United States. Moreover, Obama must be aware of George W. Bush’s various onslaughts against black people. Please read all about it in the blog of Wang (http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/). Thus, if Obama does not have the indignation and rage to seek Bush’s incarceration, one must conclude only that Obama lacks the courage to do it. In failing to seek Bush’s incarceration, Obama—a black person—inevitably shames and humiliates and embarrasses himself.
Obama—a black person (a racial minority himself)—should be profoundly sensitive to the racial prejudice and widespread suffering Bush has inflicted against black people.
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/2008/11/electing-barack-obama-president-was.html
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