Thread: Activists in Vermont town want Bush, Cheney subject to arres

Activists in Vermont town want Bush, Cheney subject to arrest

MONTPELIER, Vermont (AP) -- President Bush may soon have a new reason to avoid left-leaning Vermont: In one town, activists want him subject to arrest for war crimes.


Kurt Daims of Brattleboro, Vermont, speaks Friday about his movement against Bush and Cheney.

A group in Brattleboro is petitioning to put an item on a town meeting agenda in March that would make Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney subject to arrest and indictment if they visit the southeastern Vermont community.

"This petition is as radical as the Declaration of Independence, and it draws on that tradition in claiming a universal jurisdiction when governments fail to do what they're supposed to do," said Kurt Daims, 54, a retired machinist leading the drive.

As president, Bush has visited every state except Vermont.

The town meeting, an annual exercise in which residents gather to vote on everything from fire department budgets to municipal policy, requires about 1,000 signatures to place a binding item on the agenda.

The measure asks: "Shall the Selectboard instruct the Town Attorney to draft indictments against President Bush and Vice President Cheney for crimes against our Constitution, and publish said indictment for consideration by other municipalities?"

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. The press office did not immediately respond to an e-mail.

Support for the measure is far from universal, even in Vermont, where the state Senate voted earlier this year to support impeaching the president. Anti-war rallies are regular occurrences here, and "Impeach Bush" bumper stickers are common.

"I would not be supportive of it," said Stephen Steidle, a member of the town's Selectboard, which oversees its government.

"It's well outside of our ability. From my perspective, the Brattleboro Selectboard needs to focus on the town and the things that need to be done here."

Daims has been circulating documents that claim the community acquires a "universal jurisdiction" to take such steps "when governments breach their highest duties."

"We have the full power to issue indictments, conduct trials, incarcerate offenders and do all other acts which Independent jurisdictions may of right do," the statement says.

Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell, a Democrat whose office has repeatedly sued the Bush administration over environmental issues, said the move was "of very dubious legality."

"I have not seen the proposal, and I've done no legal research on any of the issues," Sorrell said. "But at first blush, if this passed, they'd have really uphill sledding trying to have it be legal and enforceable."


http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/28/ ... index.html

(This one is for you AirborneSapper7 )

Fences make good neighbors.

I would love to see bush and cheney in prison in general population.

I am a conservative Republican and I want Bush / Chaney / Chertoff and Rice in Prison after a trial in from of the American people

So whats the big deal with Liberal Vermont getting all of the attention. There are millions of Americans that feel the same way about the village idiot and his cabinet of corporate crooks.

The only thing protecting him is the CFR Democrats and Republican members in the House / Senate ... we are identifying the corruption as we go

This one is for you AirborneSapper7 Very Happy )

I wish I could PM you back to thank you; but I am apparently to outspoken so I do not get that privilege of being able to contact people

For all of those people that think G W Bush is a rock star... wow, you must have an amazingly boring life.

The man is a "Soup Sandwich" at best and the Village Idiot at worst

Oh... I voted for him twice so you are not alone

I too was duped by Bush. I'm ashamed of my vote.

Bush has an overinflated ego and an exaggerated sense of power. Not only would I like to see him in jail, but I would like to see him in a Mexican jail, surrounded by drug runners and pedophiles...you know....those "good-hearted folks" with great family values and a work ethic that we loser Americans don't have.

Originally Posted by americangirl

I too was duped by Bush. I'm ashamed of my vote.

Don't be, americangirl, nobody new the monster that he really is. You are certainly not the only one who didn't know. My wife took our kids to a campaign with Bush speaking. She had been campaigning for him for a couple of months. During his speech, she was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling that this man is not who he appears to be. I didn't go because I don't like GWB and haven't since his father started spewing garbage about the new world order back in '91. Birds of a feather, family ties, etc..The first time I saw GWB was when he was standing at a podium as gov of TX on TV in 1997. I didn't like what I had seen. They say you can't judge a book by its cover and I don't judge people by the way they look, but GWB was an exception. He gave me the same feeling.

Think I'll be packing for Vermont soon.
ANQ