What makes him think that Bush won't pardon Rove, Gonzales, et al as his last act in office?
What makes him think that pardons are only issued if a trial has been set or someone has been indicted?
Didn't Ford pardon Nixon in advance of any trial?

I think what Conyers was alluding to is that he would rather wait them out, the Hague doesn't recognize our laws of pardons, they can still issue endictments after they leave, for war crimes. Conyers would fully cooperate with them.

The safest move would be a full blown of impeachment of Bush/Cheney to insure that they cannot use pardon power on anyone, including themselves.

Don-- that is a good point, if we begin impeachment, shrub cannot issue pardons, but like I said, pardons don't mean shit to the Hague.

You expect Repugs, Muckasey to co-operate?

Don't people realize we've had a coup d'etat? Some people really need to wake up!

Let's be real. Extremely unlikely the International Court would try, convict, and punish these particular miscreants.
Doesn't the US has a history of conveniently refusing to acknowledge the authority of the International Criminal Court?
Besides which, the Hague is so inefficient and slow, some of the perpetrators of the world's worst crimes who have gone to trial have died before they could be punished by the court (most recently and notoriously, Slobodan Milosevic).
And I am sure there are many in the international community (UK being a prime example) who would challenge the proposition that the crimes alleged rose to the level that would warrant trial in the war crimes court.

But Slobodan Milosevic died while in captivity for awaiting trial for crimes against humanity.
What would be the problem if Bush/Cheney suffered the same fate?

There is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, even if you are incarcerated.
Like Christiane said, it will be like they have gotten away with it.
(There is also the impact on their name and their heirs to consider.)

Don---I concur.

Visinari---Yeah, let's be real. The international criminal court hates us right now, they'd probably put them on the fast track. Shit the world hates us right now. Don't underestimate the rest of the world, they are more informed than we are, at least in Europe.

Honestly, I think the best we can hope for is that Bush/Cheney and their whole klan simply go off and retire in Dubai and leave us all alone. In the meantime, I need to worry about something more pressing at the moment -- getting Barack Obama elected.

Except that they are grooming their younger generations to continue in US politics.

Some Democrats think that Kucinich should just shut up because talking about impeachment will just embolden the Republican base to get out and vote and will turn independents away from Democratic candidates.

Now would be the perfect time to send the message that we demand a level of accountability from our elected officials.

Exactly...we need a regime change before we can start getting down to business. I'm glad impeachment is off the table...the bunch of them will do pardons...screw that!

John Conyers is one of the most duplicitous members of the Congress and I am amazed at how so many are fooled by his tiresome performances as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He should not occupy that Chair.

As an ordinary congressman Conyers always managed to keep his Detroit constituency happy, which accounts for his long-term tenure. Now that he's attained an important Chairmanship he is able to do even more for his constituency than before, as facilitated by scratching the right backs on the Republican side of the aisle.

Conyers' primary concern is being re-elected, which is assured as long as he continues to bring the bacon home to Detroit, so he is not looking to step on any Republican toes. This accounts for why he's done nothing more than hold hearing after hearing, in which he's virtually told to go to hell by witnesses, and nothing ever comes of them. In simple terms, he is gaming us.

Most of Conyers' hearings are joke in which I really can't blame some of the BushCo officials, such as Gonzales, Addington, Yoo, et. al., for regarding him with utter contempt. It takes him five minutes to say hello and when he pretends to make a salient point he speaks in the manner of a heroin junkie on the nod.

More than being totally useless in his present capacity, John Conyers is an embarrassment. He should be replaced -- along with a few more equally useless members of his impotent committee.

At this point impeachment's a straw man for divide and conquer.

Not ONE of the Repugs have shown a conscience or duty to country; they're loyal to themselves and their "friends".

I'm with you 100%.

The President can't pardon himself, especially if he is being impeached.

Impeachment of Bush and Cheney would be like impeachment of 90% of our govt. federal, state and local... bottomline. There is 30 million of us...30 million...and that is more than enough to get the job done.

I agree that they have done far less than they should.
But they have issued subpoenas, which is a step in the right direction.
And they have gotten some damning information for the record (eg testimony of Monica Goodling, Kyle Sampson, Acting Attorney General James Comey).