Question:
If Karl Rove and Vice President Cheney are guilty of leaking the identity of the CIA operative, should they be tried for treason?

The penalty for treason is death. Do you believe that the constitution should be modified so that a Vice President cannot be put to death?

Choices:
Guilty of Treason, Yes the Constitution should be changed
Not Guilty of Treason, Yes the constitution should be changed
Gulity of Treason, should have same penalty as any other citizen
Not Guilty of treason, but if he were, he should be tried like any other citizen.

 

Here's a Washington Post article from yesterday.

When Libby goes to trial, Cheney may testify. That should prove to be interesting. I still think that Rove may be in trouble.

Cheney's off clean now, btw. Libby's been charged on five different accounts of "lying," I don't know the official terms. Rove could still be convicted for something, possibly.

quote:

In reply to yogore. What if the CIA agent had been undercover at the time? The action of Cheney may have well gotten her killed. You don't think the same should be done to him?

I completely agree that this leak of information was very out of line and the cover-up was evern worse.

I believe that all guilty should be punished, but death is not what is deserved.

Treason is the only crime in the Consitution not clearly defined, but I would most definitely agree that this is a punishable case, and that the men mentioned are partakers in the leaking of information. They should know better; they are political affiliates and their power shouldn't disallow them from being punished just as any other citizen would be.

I think he's obviously guilty, but I don't think anything will come of it. It sickens me how unbelievably corrupt the current administration it.

In reply to yogore. What if the CIA agent had been undercover at the time? The action of Cheney may have well gotten her killed. You don't think the same should be done to him?

It does not matter whether or not a person is the vice president. The person is still a United States citizen and should be punished with the same penalty as any other.

It now appears that Cheney is involved with case. I have a feeling that both Libby and Rove will go.

quote:

Originally posted by Greenleaf771:
I should hope that no one is given the death penalty for something such as treason, unless it resulted in the deaths of thousands of people.

Treason is a crime so high that it may have long term political effects that we may not see for decades. Death is entirely warrented in many cases. Although it's questionable, think of the effect the Rosenberg's treason had on the world.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it treason. It's not like Cheney leaked the location of some big important place, to put it intelligently. I should hope that no one is given the death penalty for something such as treason, unless it resulted in the deaths of thousands of people.

quote:

Originally posted by FreeMarketLover:
Libby is, yes. But I was more interested in the conflict of charging a sitting VP with treason. Kind of a philosophical rather than a real question.

Well, a VP can easily commit treason just as much as anyone else. You'd have to impeach them and prosecute, then they'd just be any old citizen. All our officials, from the President and SCOTUS justices on down, are just ordinary citizens, men and women, like you and me.

Libby is, yes. But I was more interested in the conflict of charging a sitting VP with treason. Kind of a philosophical rather than a real question.

Isn't Libby being investigated, not Cheney?

You are right, I should have said "can be the penalty" rather than "is the penalty"

I'm not sure that the ONLY penalty for treason is death. Wasn't there a CIA/FBI agent a few years ago convicted of treason? I don't remember hearing that he was to be executed.

I agree that he did not commit treason.
I just heard Al franken mention this last week and figured I'd throw it out there.

I think he is guilty, which warrents their removal from all government position, but I would not support anyone being put to death for leaking only the identity of a CIA agent especially since she was not undercover at the time.