Arrest Bush since Pelosi nixes impeachment

That’s Ted Rall’s bottom line on the Bush White House discussing details of torture inside the White House:

The Supreme Court has never resolved the question of whether a sitting president can be arrested by civilian authorities. Even if he were charged and convicted, many legal experts say he could issue himself a pardon.

However, leaving the presidency in the hands of an self-admitted torture killer is unacceptable. Congress could ask a U.S. Marshal to arrest Bush as part of impeachment charges. But the ultimate outcome — removing him from office a few months before the end of his term — seems woefully inadequate given the nature of the charges. In any case, Democrats have already said that impeachment is “off the table.”

And, the silence is deafening with the sound of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi putting impeachment back on the table in the last week.

Rall suggests other possibilities

Bush could be extradited to one of the countries where the torture and murders were committed — such as Afghanistan or Cuba. But he could claim immunity as a head of state.

This wouldn’t even work after his second term ends, not even if Clinton or Obama defeat McCain.

Rall doesn’t project the future out on this issue, but you know that both of them would fight extradition, and not just to Afghanistan or Cuba. Despite tweaking and tightening, it’s arguable that Belgium’s war crimes law might still allow Bush to be indicted there.

Anyway, that leaves Rall offering one other option.

There is, however, a person who could begin holding Bush and the others accountable for their crimes.

She is Cathy L. Lanier, the 39-year-old chief of D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department. Chief Lanier, take note: you have probable cause to arrest a self-confessed serial torturer and mass murderer within the borders of the District of Columbia. He resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Go get him.

History is calling, Chief Lanier. Your city, and your country, needs you.

Of course, Pelosi would probably have the House zero out the Metro PD budget if Lanier actually tried that.