What if Obama pardoned Bush?

[underpants]

Think about that. I think that a pardon can be turned down but if Obama pardoned him it was basically be a statement of guilt.
Lots of people wouldn't like it here and elsewhere but let's face facts an ex-President is NOT going to be indicted (on a criminal matter of course ;-) ) so waiting and pining for that is wasted energy.

If Obama pardons Bush, even if it is turned down, it would be an official statement of "We KNOW you broke the law" and would stand forever.

[geckosfeet]

1. I was going to say - has not been investigated much less convicted. Nothing to pardon. Yet.

[opihimoimoi]

2. LOL....fat chance....good try...... :o)

[underpants]

13. Not today

Timing is everything. Let this continue and fester. Later when more facts come out and it looks more menacing THEN offer the pardon and Bush at least has to come out and say no (draw him out).

:shrug:

[opihimoimoi]

20. LOL...better to take him hunting w Cheney

:kick:

[Captain Hilts]

3. Gerald Ford redux. And that does seem to be the 'looking forward' approach he's taking. nt

[polichick]

5. I hope not - that approach brought us Cheney & Co.

[WeDidIt]

4. Under International Law, Obama would immediately become an accessory after the fact

I'm thinking Obama is getting some good legal advice because there is an international law consideration in his actions regarding torture.

Torture is illegal because of international treaties. Bush opened himself up to international criminal charges. If Obama pardoned Bush under US law, Bush would still be culpable under international law and Obama would be obstructing justice under international law, thus he would became as much of a war criminal as Bush.

Because of this fact, there is no way in HELL anybody is getting a pardon out of this.

[polichick]

6. Very interesting.

[underpants]

11. as polichick posted-Very interesting

thanks

[rucky]

7. Even now, Bush won't be visiting Spain anytime soon.

I think in that Scenario, he won't leave Texas.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Just tell Bush that the flight is to Portugal and take Quayle along.

And conveniently leave out the part that there is a stopover in Spain.

[rucky]

14. I think they both kinda sorta served in the Air National Guard

they wouldn't even need a pilot - just a mislabled map.

[stillcool]

17. Maybe that's why Texas...

wants to secede.

[rucky]

19. The Champaigne Unit will protect him.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. K&R - I Was Just Thinking About This Last Night

Otherwise Obama is making a sham of US law.

[LiberalFighter]

9. Wait until there are indictments. Then maybe a pardon.

But only if they are charges that would not be tried in the Hague.

[underpants]

10. Or just wait until the sharks get closer to the boat

THEN offer the pardon and Bush may have to accept it

:shrug:

[Uben]

15. What if he deemed Bush to be an enemy combatant?

The chances are about the same. Nil.

[tbyg52]

16. Yeah, and pardoning Nixon was a statement of guilt also, but

that and the Iran/Contra coverup, I believe, just perpetuated the notion that high muckety mucks can get away with stuff. Look where *that* got us....

[Arkana]

18. Bush hasn't been convicted or charged with anything, so issuing

a pardon right now would be kind of odd.

[saltpoint]

21. He could. Or he could just send Bush a bag of

pretzels.

Pretzel justice.

[Hutzpa]

22. Only if Bush gives up Dick Cheney

yup!


:headbang:

[aejlaw]

23. Let Obama save the world first

We have to PRIORITIZE. SURVIVAL FIRST and THEN JUSTICE. The House and Senate should take the lead investigating Torture-gate, Iraq-gate, Katrina-gate, Black-water-gate, Spying-On-Our-Own-Citizens-gate, No-Bid-Contract-gate, Phony-Intelligence-gate, etcetera. LET'S GET REAL PEOPLE, even Obama has multi-tasking limitations. CONGRESS HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OVERSIGHT. Let Congress do its job and let Obama do his. If Senator Ervin had waited for the President's support there would never have been a Watergate investigation. Should Congressman Rodino have waited for Nixon to approve the impeachment hearings? I would like to see Bush and his people convicted not pardoned. I certainly don't want them pardoned by my President. We need to encourage our Senators and Congressmen to do their job, they do not need President Obama's help or blessing, that would only complicate and slow the process. Let Obama stay above this crap and save the world. Once the Congressional investigations are complete the evidence by itself will compel prosecution. Obama doesn't need to dirty or wash his hands over this matter. He has and should continue to make available the evidence necessary for Congress to do their job. Beyond that the ball is in their court. Besides pardoning Bush would be political suicide, and like I said before the President has to save the world first.