Will Brattleboro Indict Bush?

Brattleboro, Vermont resident Kurt Daims has drafted a ballot question petition calling for the town to indict George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for crimes against the Constitution, and making it the law that if either man comes to town, he would be liable to arrest.

Some will say that this is just another unenforceable ordinance at best, and an absurdity at worst. Others worry that it will detract from the gravity of the impeachment movement as it stands today, on the cusp of forcing hearings in the House Judiciary committee. The argument will be made that such "extreme" rhetorical proclamations only serve to divide us further from each other, marginalizing the demand for accountability, rather than promoting it.

Upon reflection these arguments can be answered and laid to rest.

To date, the most persuasive and productive arguments for impeachment have been based upon the Constitution, which is suffering most egregiously under this administration and Congress, and which expressly prescribes the remedy to be taken should these circumstances arise. And while these arguments are making headway in the halls of Congress, where impeachment must happen, the politicians who are supposed to represent us do not yet understand the depth and breadth of our disgust and dismay with their dereliction of duty. While a growing number have joined the call for impeachment, far too many are towing the identical Republican/Democratic party line of ignoring the Bush/Cheney administration's repeated constitutional violations.

When we last faced a King George who labored to: "subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution" by: "depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury: For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses," when we last found that "our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury", we knew what conclusion to draw: "A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people." These of course are quotes from the Declaration of Independence. And when this document was solemnly signed and made public, it had no legal standing whatsoever. It had no chance of succeeding against the world's greatest empire. It alienated the colonists still friendly to England. It drew a line that clearly demarcated the divide that already existed in colonial society. Those who signed it were branded as radicals and, in fact, made outlaws by virtue of their signatures.

Independence was declared because the laws and actions of the government were violating the laws of nature and common morality. As members of a commonweal, colonists understood that it was their inherent right, if not duty, to rise in defense of societal standards of humanity, decency and fairness. Mr. Daims and others who drafted the Brattleboro Bush/Cheney Indictment are acting in the same spirit, and with the same moral authority as our founders did in 1776.

Prosecutors in France, Spain and many other countries have issued indictments for crimes against humanity committed outside of their borders, without regard to the nationality of the perpetrator. In some cases, prosecutors have won arrests, extraditions and prosecutions. Why shouldn't Brattleboro give precedence to Constitutional, American and international law, rather than bow to political expediency and a misplaced desire to not rock the boat? The boat has already foundered. The nation is already divided. Our political leaders have debased themselves and rendered our Republic dysfunctional.

Let us support this call for an indictment. Let Brattleboro show the nation that in the current course of events, it has become necessary for Americans to take action. The current government respects neither the Constitution nor the people. Let us represent ourselves.

Comments

[atreyablue]

I think it takes allot of bravery to do this. Sending a message to everyone through the media that there is an overwhelming dissaproval of his actions. I give my full support and hope others follow. Kurt Daims should be commended.

[blankmw]

I'm 100% behind Brattleboro, and proud that they are taking action against these hoodlums that have taken over our government.

[bobo6]

A couple of years ago I was visiting my son and his family who were living in Ireland and while there I saw an article in the Irish Times that reported the Dublin City Council voted to arrest and hold George W. Bush for trial on charges of war crimes. Didn't get much press coverage here in the U.S. did it?Europe woke up to this criminal years ago and our poiticians are still sleeping at the switch.Go Vermont!!!

[realitytrumpsbull]

Well, one city that is then joined by others
and holds its' principles in higher regard
than the flow of federal government doughnuts
likely obtainable through crass posturing
and ring-kissing is highly laudable, but is
still at the end of the day only one. There's
50 states in the Union, 2 senators per state
and a varied number of representatives, a
majority of the public would have to be
standing up and saying 'impeach' in unison
for Congress to act. Maybe after the foreclosure harvest?

[accountability]

Thank You Dan DeWalt.
"the politicians who are supposed to represent us do not yet understand the depth and breadth of our disgust and dismay with their dereliction of duty."

Well said.
I sometimes find myself more incensed with the one's who will not defend the Constitution than with the ones who are committing treason against it.
I expect nothing from those criminals other than crimes... I expected more from those who absolutely know the truth of what has happened and will do nothing about it.
Of course not defending it when you are in a position to do so is itself a crime.

I know ity is about re-election and also not wanting to be seen as paying back for Clinton.
When they talk about not dividing the country, or protecting the American people from such a painful ordeal I want to smack them.
Who the hell are they, some concerned parents who think they need to "protect us." If they can't infantalize us with toys, big screen TV's, cars and video games than they do it by taking all the power to themselves and telling us they know what is best.

So how is Nancy any different than the bastards in the White House who think they know what is best...
Well, I guess they do know what is best... for themselves and their cronies.
Nancy and Harry need to be taken to the wood shed.

[Sundialsvc4]

I, too, sense a sea-change in the wind. I feel it coming not only from within this country but definitely also from without.

The well-organized band of criminals who seek to destroy this country from within .. and I do not "speak" such words lightly nor happily .. are very well-placed and very, very rich. Exactly the thing that "Ike" Eisenhower warned us about in January of 1961 has since become devastatingly true, and his General's-assessment of it is straight on the mark.

Yet, it really is "up to us."

I am very fond of the saying that "'the best that you can hope for' is precisely equal to 'the worst thing that you will accept.'"

As long as you continue to accept a Congress that votes itself trillions of dollars' worth of spending ... knowing that the money will be placed in companies owned or controlled (perhaps at a short and perfunctory arm's-length) by the people who cast those votes ...

... as long as you continue to view your own country as "divided" and to accept the lie that the lawmakers are either "divided, too" or in any way "ineffectual" ...

... then it will not stay the same; it will somehow get even worse.

But when enough of you get truly angry enough, and being angry-enough grasp the true meaning of the word "UNITED States," then the sea will change and in a mighty blow demolish all puny obstacles that these criminals may devise to set against it.

Justice will prevail, and her "terrible swift sword" will not be stopped ... just as soon as we truly demand nothing less.

[hopeless277]

It's all just window dressing to keep the war machine going. Small pockets of resistance are allowed just to make the population feel that all is not lost. The problem is that all IS lost. No matter who gets into the WH the corporations will still own the congress. And as I'm sure you all will see, the occupation of Iraq and pending attack on Iran will proceed unhindered and unquestioned. Resistance is futile.

[fairwitness]

YES. How can we contribute to this desperate effort to salvage our future from the tyranny evil men intend?

[stlrfan]

Congress could take a leson from these courageous citizens. Americans do take perversion of the Constitution seriously.

[afgail]

Battleboro should go ahead with the effort if for no other reason but to make a political statement. Sort of a referendum on the Bush/Cheney administration.

[afgail]

I would very gladly impeach Bush/Cheney, but you need to be able to count at least 60 votes to get past a filibuster. Won't happen with this congress. If the Democrats launch impeachment and can't make it stick they look even weaker than they already are. Also, there may be a very severe backlash for doing impeachment while at war and in the last year of the Bush dynastic reign.

[syllepsis]

Brattleboro can make a stand for the rule of law.
I wish my own city would!

[mommadona]

Exactly.

It's about time the adults step forward.

Let's 'get 'er done'.

ONWARD.

[lgillooly]

I support them all the way. We should have such a petition in EVERY town in America.Is Brattleboro the only town that will try and save the Constitution??

[sugarmoes]

GO BRATTLEBORO!!!!