Does anyone *really* think that Bushies will be prosecuted?

[FLAprogressive]

I really doubt that any will be....the "opening of the door" is just an attempt to throw a bone to the left.

[Psychic Consortium]

1. There will be legal action against them for some time to come.

They will not have an easy retirement.

[LeftishBrit]

2. I wouldn't be surprised if some relatively low-level ones were..

but probably not Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Gonzalez themselves.

The biggest fist are rarely caught.

However, they will probably feel their unpopularity; will not get all the high level posts and speaking engagements that such people usually do; and there will be many places where they won't be able to travel comfortably.

[zipplewrath]

3. No elected officials

Yoo could find some trouble, he may end up being the scape goat for it all. Bybee may be removed from the bench. But I'd bet several dollars that the DoJ will balk at prosecuting any officials that were subject to either impeachment and/or election. They'll consider that the purview of the Congress, especially on matters that were known, or re-viewable at the time by congress. Yeah, yeah, I know all the caveats on that statement, but in the end I suspect that the DoJ will be hesitant. And I suspect that almost anyone at the CIA will be "protected", unless someone manages to document some real butchers. Who ever decided to water board 185 times in a month might want to hire counsel.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Which "Booooshies"???

And which crimes? The list is long and growing.

As we're seeing with the torture situation, some of these crimes are too big just to "look forward" from...and are becoming political liabilities not only to the booooshies, but the Obama administration as well. These elephants are too big to ignore and we are seeing that the justifications just make the scope of the crimes worse.

I don't have a crystal ball, but I do see several roads ahead that will allow those demanding accountablity to find some degree of restitution. I strongly suggest AG Holder appoints several Special Prosecutors...each one digging into another area of corruption...torture, illegal wiretapping, financial fraud and launching an illegal war. Next is the international courts...some of these crimes were violations of International treaties this country is a signatory to. As the scope of this regime's war crimes become public, so does the justification for the UN to open their own investigations. Lastly, there's the civil route...those who were wronged in these crimes can and should sue the individuals who were responsible...use the power of discovery to bring out further details that could lead to prosecutions or at least tie these criminals up in court and drain them of money for years to come.

[laststeamtrain]

5. I don't know.

Persons who have a truly informed opinion on this matter are probably not posting on DU.

If they get away with it that's just too terribly typical. Another day in the empire.

If they do get prosecuted it would be great. Weirder things have happened.

Wouldn't it be great if lil' Georgie had some kind of attack of morality & started singing like a bird?

There's just so much stuff. So many overlapping circles.

The world sure could use a big-time war crimes trial a la Nuremberg. The standards need to be reset.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

6. Shhhh...We're "looking forward" with our blinders firmly in place. ...n/t

[newportdadde]

7. I agree its throwing a bone. The 'investigation' will go on for years.

Every now and then you will see a thread on DU pop up which will get a 100 recommends and maybe in say 3 or 4 years some low level peon will get a suspended sentence.

[cobalt1999]

8. Never.

Anyone who thinks so hasn't been paying attention to politics.