BUSH ON TRIAL

THE TRIAL OF GEORGE W. BUSH 2005

A SATIRE BY JD WALSH

ACT 1

THE SCENE OPENS IN A COURTROOM SETTING, THE JURY SECTION IS FACING THE AUDIENCE, THE JUDGE’S DESK IS ON STAGE RIGHT. THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE TABLES ARE ON STAGE LEFT. THE WITNESS CHAIR WILL BE BETWEEN THE JURY AND THE JUDGE FACING THE AUDIENCE.

WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE COURTROOM ARE A COURT REPORTER, THE PROSECUTION TEAM AND A MARSHAL WHO WILL ANNOUNCE THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE TRIAL.

ENTER: GW AND HIS DEFENSE TEAM

THE MARSHAL WILL CALL ALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCE THE JUDGE

MARSHAL:

ALL RISE FOR THE HONORABLE SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN JAY--------------------

JUDGE: (sits)

GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE MATTER BEFORE THIS COURT IS BOTH SERIOUS AND UNUSUAL. SERIOUS BECAUSE WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE TAKEN IT UPON OURSELVES TO TRY AN EX-PRESIDENT FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, BECAUSE OUR CONGRESS REFUSES TO ACT. THIS TRIAL COMES UNDER OUR DUTY AS THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO BRING TO JUSTICE ALL WHO WOULD DAMAGE OUR DEMOCRACY BY WAR PROFITEERING, LYING ABOUT GOING TO WAR, MISAPPROPRIATION OF FEDERAL MONIES, LYING TO CONGRESS, AND CAUSING COUNTLESS DEATHS OF INNOCENT IRAQIS DURING THE OCCUPATION OF THAT COUNTRY, AND THE MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

I SAY UNTO YOU, WE WILL DECIDE THIS CASE UPON THE LAWS OF THIS LAND AND THE ARTICLES OF THE NUREMBERG TRIALS AS FOLLOWS:

INDICTMENT-----As the judge starts to read

DEFENSE ATT.-----------CLARENCE DARROW

YOUR HONOR, WE WAVE THE READING OF THE INDICTMENT AND ASK TO PROCEED TO TRIAL.

JUDGE

Mr. PROSECUTOR?-- --ROBERT H. JACKSON

NO OBJECTION YOUR HONOR

JUDGE

VERY WELL, WE ARE READY TO BRING IN THE JURY

MARSHAL OPENS DOOR TO ALLOW THE JURY IN

JUDGE

BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL NATURE OF THIS TRIAL, THE JURY IS MADE UP OF SOULS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED HERE BECAUSE OF THEIR UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS TO JUDGE THIS MATTER. OUR FIRST JURIST IS WELL KNOWN TO YOU AS OUR FIRST PRESIDENT, THE HONORABLE GEORGE WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON ENTERS

WASHINGTON

I HAVE COME FROM MY PLACE OF REST TO THIS PLACE BECAUSE I FEAR MY REPUBLIC IS IN DANGER OF BECOMING A DICTATORSHIP. I SWEAR BY ALL THAT IS HOLY THAT I WILL GIVE PRESIDENT BUSH EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO US WHY HE DID WHAT HE DID, -----AND GIVE HIM A FAIR AND HONEST HEARING. ----I WILL NOT HOLD IT AGAINST HIM THAT HIS FIRST NAME IS GEORGE; YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I THINK OF THE LAST GEORGE I HAD DEALINGS WITH.

PRES. WASHINGTON SITS DOWN

JUDGE

OUR NEXT JURIST IS ALSO WELL KNOWN TO US AS THE PRESIDENT WHO HELPED KEEP THE UNION TOGETHER, THE HONORABLE PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 16TH PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES

ENTER LINCOLN

LINCOLN

WHEN THE SUMMONS WAS DELIVERED TO ME, I DID NOT WANT TO BELIEVE WHAT I WAS READING. I HAVE ALWAYS ASKED MYSELF IF I COULD HAVE DONE THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND SAVED AMERICAN LIVES. THIS QUESTION WILL HAUNT ME FOR ETERNITY. THE QUESTION BEFORE US TODAY IS VERY GRAVE INDEED, AND I SWEAR BY THE ALMIGHTY THAT I WILL HEAR AND MAKE JUDGMENT IN THIS MATTER. I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE COURT, IS THIS THE FATHER OR THE SON WE ARE TRYING THIS DAY?

JUDGE

THE SON MR. PRESIDENT

JUDGE

OUR NEXT JURIST IS A WOMAN OF GREAT CHARACTER, ABIGAIL ADAMS.

THE WIFE OF OUR SECOND PRESIDENT AND MOTHER OF OUR SIXTH PRESIDENT.

ENTER MRS ABIGAIL ADAMS

ABIGAIL ADAMS

WHEN I WAS ASKED TO PARTAKE IN THIS VENTURE, I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EARS. MY FAMILY HAS GIVEN MUCH TO INSURE THAT THIS REPUBLIC WOULD BE THE SHINING LIGHT TO ALL WHO WOULD LOOK. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT MEN LEFT ALONE WOULD CAUSE GREAT DISSERVICE TO OUR BELOVED FREEDOMS, MANY TIMES I HAVE SAID TO MY HUSBAND JOHN,--- DO NOT FORGET THE WOMEN, THEY WILL KEEP YOU FREE FROM ALL DESPOTS AND DEMONS . I SWEAR BY ALMIGHTY GOD TO LISTEN AND JUDGE THIS MAN FROM TEXAS WHO CALLS HIMSELF PRESIDENT.

ABIGAIL TAKES HER PLACE

JUDGE

OUR NEXT JURIST IS A MILITARY MAN OF GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHARACTER, GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON

PATTON

WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE,----- I GOT THIS CALL AND WAS TOLD THAT YOU SONS OF BITCHES ARE PUTTING AN EX-PRESIDENT ON TRIAL FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, STEALING AND TORTURING PRISONERS, WHAT THE FUCK IS THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE? I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT POLITICIANS WERE ASS-HOLES, BUT NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THE DAY ONE WOULD BE TRIED FOR WINNING A WAR. UNDER MY GOD. I WILL LISTEN TO THE EVIDENCE AND DECIDE THIS CASE ON ITS MERITS.

PATTON TAKES HIS SEAT

JUROR # 5 IS A WOMAN OF GREAT CHARACTER AND INTELLIGENCE, MRS

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT.

MRS ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

KIND SIR: I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN A GREAT ENDEAVOR, THE TRIAL OF AN EX-PRESIDENT-------I WAS MARRIED TO A GREAT AMERICAN WHO NEVER LOST HIS SENSE OF HUMANITY NO MATTER HOW MUCH POWER HE HAD OR WAS GIVEN BY OUR BELOVED PEOPLE. I ONLY AGREED TO COME IF I WAS ALLOWED TO SPEAK OF OUR FOUR GREAT PILLARS OF THIS REPUBLIC:

FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION, FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, FREEDOM FROM WANT, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE FREEDOM FROM FEAR. OUR GOOD INSTITUTE, EACH YEAR ACKNOWLEDGES OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO THESE IDEALS.

I REMEMBER PRESIDENTS TRUMAN, KENNEDY, AND CARTER RECEIVED OUR AWARD, I TRULY FEAR THAT PRESIDENT BUSH WILL NEVER BE INVITED TO THE LONG LIST OF LAUREATES, HOWEVER I WILL SWEAR BEFORE GOD THAT I CAN LISTEN TO THE EVIDENCE AND JUDGE THIS MAN WITH HONESTY AND TRUTH.

ELEANOR SITS DOWN

JUDGE

OUR NEXT MEMBER OF THE JURY IS A MAN WHO LOVED OUR COUNTRY SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO BRING COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING TO OUR TROUBLED LAND, PRESIDENT JF KENNNEDY, OUR 35TH PRESIDENT.

JFK

SOMETIME AGO I SAID THE FOLLOWING AT THE UNITED NATIONS:

The problem is not the death of one man--the problem is the life of this organization. It will either grow to meet the challenges of our age, or it will be gone with the wind, without influence, without force, without respect. Were we to let it die, to enfeeble its vigor, to cripple its powers, we would condemn our future.

For in the development of this organization rests the only true alternative to war--and war appeals no longer as a rational alternative. Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer concern the great powers alone. For a nuclear disaster, spread by wind and water and fear, could well engulf the great and the small, the rich and the poor, the committed and the uncommitted alike. Mankind must put an end to war--or war will put an end to mankind.

So let us here resolve that Dag Hammarskjold did not live, or die, in vain. Let us call a truce to terror. Let us invoke the blessings of peace. And as we build an international capacity to keep peace, let us join in dismantling the national capacity to wage war.

I SWEAR IN FRONT OF THE BLESSED TRINITY THAT I WILL RENDER A FAIR AND JUST DECISION IN THIS CASE NOW BEFORE ME.

JKF TAKES HIS PLACE

JUDGE

THE 7TH MEMBER OF THE JURY IS A MAN KNOWN AS A ROUGH RIDER, A VISIONARY WHEN YOU ARE CONCERNED WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT, PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT OUR 26TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THEODORE

WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF THIS TRIAL, AT FIRST I WAS APPALLED, BUT THEN I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE RAPE OF OUR FORESTS, THE GREED OF THOSE IN POWER AND I JUST KNEW I WAS GOING TO GET MY STICK AND WALK IN HERE TO SEE IF IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A REPUBLICAN COULD DESTROY ALL THAT I FOUGHT FOR DURING MY TERM OF OFFICE. I DO SWEAR THAT I WILL LISTEN AND COME TO A CONCLUSION ABOUT THE ACTS OF THIS PRESIDENT. --------

WHERE IS MY STICK?

JUDGE

THE 8TH MEMBER OF THE JURY IS A SPECIAL PERSON; SHE HAS ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND IS CREDITED WITH MEETING WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON AND MAKING THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG, MRS BETSY ROSS.

BETSY

WHEN I WAS CALLED HERE TODAY, THE THOUGHT WENT THROUGH MY MIND, WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, WHOM I HAVE ONLY MET THIS DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME. I DO KNOW ABOUT WOMEN BECOMING WIDOWS, TWO HUSBANDS I DID GIVE TO THE CAUSE. I DO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN WAR ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR ALL YOUR LIFE, MAYBE THAT IS WHY I AM HERE THIS DAY. THE LEGEND THAT I MADE THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG IS GOOD FOR THE NATIONAL HISTORY, I WILL STAND AND FIGHT FOR THIS GREAT REPUBLIC AND SHAME ON HIM WHO BRINGS A PLATE OF DISHONOR TO OUR GREAT COUNTRY. I TAKE THE OATH AS ANY GOOD QUAKER WOULD AND WILL LISTEN TO ALL EVIDENCE AGAINST THE 43RD PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES.

BETSY TAKES HER PLACE

JUDGE

WE ARE HONORED TODAY TO WELCOME ONE OF THE GREAT FIGHTERS AGAINST ANY RACISM, REP. BARBARA JORDAN

JORDAN

WHEN I TOOK MY LAST BREATH, I FELT THAT AMERICA WAS IN GOOD HANDS, SHE WAS WELL ON HER WAY TO TOLERANCE. WHEN I WAS TOLD OF THIS COURT PROCEEDING, I COULD ONLY WONDER WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE AMERICA I SO LOVED. I THOUGHT THAT THE NIXON YEARS WOULD NEVER RETURN. MY HOPE AND PRAYERS ARE THAT WE FIND THAT AMERICA STILL EXISTS AND YOU HAVE ADDED TO OUR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE 60’S AND 70’S. I WILL SAY THAT PRESIDENT BUSH DOES SMILE BETTER THAN PRESIDENT NIXON, HOWEVER, I ALSO KNOW THAT ABSOLUTE POWER RARELY SMILES FOR LONG. I DO SWEAR TO WEIGH ALL THE EVIDENCE AND COME TO A JUST DECISION IN THIS CASE.

JORDAN TAKES HER PLACE

JUDGE

WE COULD NOT HAVE THIS CASE BEFORE US IF WE DID NOT INVITE A GREAT MAN OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, THE 3RD PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES, PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON.

JEFFERSON

WHEN I LAST TALKED TO PATRICK HENRY, WE SPOKE OF THE WONDERFUL WAY OUR NATION HAD COME TO BE. THE DAY THAT WE MET WITH OTHERS IN A SMALL ROOM WITHIN THE RALEIGH TAVERN AND DECIDED THAT ARISTOCRATS HELD TOO MUCH POWER OVER OUR BELOVED VIRGINIA. WE FURTHER SPOKE OF THE DISPUTES BETWEEN THE COLONIES AND THE UNITED KINDOM UNDER KING GEORGE. WE ALL CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT ETERNAL HOSTILITY SHOULD BE WAGED AGAINST EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MINDS OF MAN. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT OUR PRESIDENT A FEW HUNDRED YEARS LATER WOULD SAY THAT IT WAS OUR INTENT TO CREATE A COUNTRY WHO INVADES OTHERS BASED ON LIES AND DECEIT. WAR PROFITEERING IN MY TIME WAS DEALT WITH BY A FIRING SQUAD. LET US HEAR FROM PRESIDENT BUSH AND KNOW WHAT WE HAVE CREATED THOSE MANY YEARS AGO. I DO SWEAR THAT I WILL LISTEN AND GIVE ONLY CREDIT TO EVIDENCE PUT BEFORE ME IN THIS COURT, SO HELP ME GOD.

JEFFERSON TAKES HIS PLACE

JUDGE

THE ELEVENTH MEMBER OF OUR JURY IS A MAN WHO KNOWS ABOUT WAR AND PEACE, HE WAS SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIES DURING WORLD WAR 2, HE WAS ALSO OUR 34TH PRESIDENT, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER.

IKE

I KNOW THE FEELING OF SENDING TROOPS INTO HARMS WAY, I WATCHED AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR FINEST WERE SLAUGHTERED ON THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY. I ASKED MY GOD MANY TIMES IF THERE WAS A BETTER WAY, PLEASE LET ME THINK OF IT, BECAUSE THIS MUST BE AGAINST EVERYTHING YOU STAND FOR AS A GOD OF MERCY. TO THIS DAY, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAD TO GO TO WAR BECAUSE WE WERE ATTACKED AND WAR WAS DECLARED ON US. THERE IS ALWAYS CORRUPTION DURING WAR, SOMEONE STEALS A BOTTLE OF WINE, ANOTHER A TROPHY FOR THEIR FRIENDS. THE MAGNITUDE OF CORRUPTION THAT HAS BEEN CHARGED AGAINST THIS ADMINISTRATION IS STAGGERING; I AM TOLD THAT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN MISPLACED OR STOLEN. I BEGAN MY ADMINISTRATION BY TALKING ABOUT CENSORSHIP GOING BEYOND COMMON DECENCY, AND I ENDED MY TERM OF OFFICE WITH A WARNING THAT WE MUST GUARD AGAINST THE ACQUISITION OF UNWARRANTED INFLUENCE, WHETHER SOUGHT OR UNSOUGHT, BY THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. THE QUESTION FOR ME IS -----------DID ANYONE HEAR ME?--- I WILL BY THE GRACE OF THE ALMIGHTY RENDER A JUST AND FINAL DECISION CONCERNING ALL CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS

IKE TAKES HIS PLACE

JUDGE

OUR LAST JURIST IS A MAN WHO STOOD AGAINST TYRANNY, WAS A POLITICAL FORCE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN THE UNITED STATES. HE WALKED ACROSS AMERICA AND FORCED US TO SEE THAT MANY THINGS WERE WRONG IN OUR BELOVED COUNTRY. HIS DREAM HAS NEVER DULLED AND WILL LIVE ON LONG AFTER WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, THE HONORABLE MARTIN LUTHER KING.

KING

WHEN I WAS ASKED TO GO TO MEMPHIS IN 1968 TO SUPPORT BLACKS DURING A GARBAGE STRIKE, I THOUGHT IT WOULD ONLY BE A FEW DAYS OUT OF MY LIFE AND I COULD HELP. WHAT I DID NOT KNOW WAS THAT WALKING WITH THE STRIKERS WOULD BE MY LAST ACT BEFORE I WOULD MEET MY GOD IN THE PROMISE LAND. THE BULLET THAT TORE INTO MY BODY DID NOT TAKE MY SENSE OF LOVE FOR YOU, NOR DID IT TAKE MY WISH THAT ALL CHILDREN UNDER GOD WOULD ONE DAY BE FREE. YOU CANNOT STAND BY AND BE GLAD THAT THEY ARE NOT AFTER YOU, BECAUSE YOU WILL BE NEXT. I HAVE COME TO THIS COURT TO SIT IN JUDGEMENT OF A MAN OF FAITH, WHO SAYS THAT HE LOVES GOD, AND YET HAS CAUSED SO MUCH FEAR AND ANGER THROUGHOUT THE WORLD; ONE WONDERS WHAT HE SEES WHEN HE LOOKS INTO THE MIRROR. I WILL LISTEN TO THE EVIDENCE AND RENDER A FAIR AND HONORABLE DECISION IN THE PEOPLE VS PRESIDENT G.W. BUSH

KING TAKES HIS PLACE

JUDGE

MR JACKSON DO YOU WISH TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT AT THIS TIME?

JACKSON

YES YOUR HONOR,

JUDGE

YOU MAY PROCEED MR. JACKSON

JACKSON

GOOD MORNING, IT IS TRULY AN HONOR FOR ME TO STAND HERE WITH YOU THIS DAY, MOST OF MY LIFE I HAVE READ ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENTS. I WILL NOT TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME, BUT FEEL THAT I MUST LAY OUT WHERE WE ARE GOING AND WHY WE HAVE BEEN CALLED HERE TODAY. I REMEMBER BEING TOLD OF ANOTHER CASE IN OUR HISTORY, A STAFF MEMBER OF THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION WENT TO THE PRESIDENT AND TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A CANCER IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND IT MUST BE STOPPED. I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT COMPARED TO WHAT YOU WILL HEAR THIS DAY IT WAS ONLY A SKIN CANCER, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A BODY THAT IS CONSUMED BY A RUN AWAY CANCER. THE CORRUPTION OF THIS ADMINISTRATION IS SO VAST AND ENTRENCHED THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE.

WE WILL START AT THE BEGINNING WHEN THE SUPREME COURT TOLD FLORIDA TO STOP COUNTING AND GAVE THE ELECTION TO MR. BUSH. DURING THE TRANSITION, THE PLOT TO INVADE IRAQ WAS FIRST TALKED ABOUT. WE WILL SHOW THAT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WAS WARNED THAT TERRORISTS WERE PLANNING AN ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WE WILL SHOW THAT AFTER GOVERNOR BUSH WAS SWORN IN AS THE 43RD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE AND ENCOURAGEMENT PLANS WERE BEING PREPARED TO INVADE IRAQ. AFGHANISTAN WAS NOT EVEN DISCUSSED IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY MEETINGS. CAREER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WERE ATTEMPTING TO CONVINCE VICE PRESIDENT RICHARD CHENEY THAT A GROUP WHO CALLED THEMSELVES AL-QAIDA WAS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS TO THE UNITED STATES THAN IRAQ. MR. CLARK WILL TESTIFY THAT HE WAS TOLD TO STOP PUSHING AL-QAIDA AND GET ON THE ROAD TO BAGHDAD OR GET OUT OF THE WAY. THE VP DID NOT WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING MORE ABOUT AL-QAIDA.

WE WILL SHOW THAT THE BUSH FAMILY HAS LONG STANDING TIES WITH THE OSAMA bin LADEN FAMILY AND THE SAUDI ROYAL FAMILY AND WE WILL EXPLAIN WHY THE CARLYLE GROUP BECAME A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE WAR IN IRAQ.

WE WILL SHOW THAT PRISONERS WERE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY, TRANSPORTED TO CUBA AND HELD INCOMMUNICADO FOR OVER TWO YEARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS VIOLATION OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION AND VIOLATES THE ARTICLES OF NUREMBERG

WE WILL SHOW THAT THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS WAS NOT JUST A FEW BAD APPLES WHO TURNED ROTTEN ONE DAY BUT A SYSTEMATIC ATTEMPT TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE PRISONERS AT ANY COST INCLUDING MURDER.

WE WILL SHOW THAT THERE WAS WAR PROFITEERING, HALLIBURTON AND VP DICK CHENEY DID CONSPIRE FIRST TO GET THE CONTRACTS AND THEN OVERCHARGE WITH ALMOST NO OVERSIGHT BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. THE TERM LOOK THE OTHER WAY WAS USED SO OFTEN THAT PEOPLE WOULD JUST POINT THEIR FINGER LIKE THIS AND IT WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT NO INVESTIGATION WAS TO TAKE PLACE. IT BECAME A JOKE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS LIED TO CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT MISLED CONGRESS AND MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTIONS OF THEIR STAFF AS OUTLINED IN THE NUREMBERG ARTICLES.

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED HERE THIS DAY TO LISTEN AND DECIDE IF PRESIDENT BUSH DID VIOLATE OUR TRUST AND CORRUPT THE POLITICAL SYSTEMS THAT WE ALL LIVE AND DIE FOR. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

JUDGE

WOULD THE DEFENSE LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT AT THIS TIME?

DARROW

NO, YOUR HONOR, WE DO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO GIVE OUR OPENING STATEMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR DEFENSE.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON ANY OBJECTIONS?

JACKSON

NO YOUR HONOR

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON YOU MAY CALL YOUR FIRST WITNESS

JACKSON

THE PEOPLE CALL DR. CONDOLEEZA RICE

CONDI TAKES THE WITNESS STAND

MARSHAL

DO YOU SWEAR THAT YOU WILL GIVE TRUTHFUL AND HONEST TESTIMONY?

CONDI

ON THE ADVICE OF MY ATTORNEY, I INVOKE THE FIFTH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND WILL REMAIN SILENT FROM THIS POINT ON. I WISH TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I DO WISH TO TESTI……..

JACKSON

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR----------WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED THAT DR. RICE WOULD TAKE THE 5TH!!!!

GEN. PATTON (STANDING UP)

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS, SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING, MAKE HER TESTIFY, DAMN IT

JUDGE

ORDER IN THIS COURT, GEN. PATTON PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT, DR. RICE ARE YOU REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY?

CONDI

YES YOUR HONOR, MR. SULLIVAN IS IN THE COURTROOM

JUDGE

MR. SULLIVAN, PLEASE APPROACH THE BENCH

TEDDY ROOSEVELT

WHY I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING, GET MY STICK… I’LL SHOW THAT WOMAN HOW TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH, WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY HAVE WE BECOME WHEN A PERSON CAN REFUSE TO GIVE TESTIMONY ABOUT ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES OF THE DAY, GET MY STICK, HURRY!

JUDGE

MR. PRESIDENT PLEASE SIT DOWN AND LET ME SORT THIS OUT

JUDGE

MR. SULLIVAN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE COURT WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT DR. RICE WOULD REFUSE TO TESTIFY?

MR. SULLIVAN

THE DECISION WAS ONLY MADE JUST BEFORE WE ENTERED THE COURTROOM, UP TO THAT TIME, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT DR. RICE WOULD GIVE TESTIMONY, YOUR HONOR.

JUDGE

DR. RICE HAS INVOKED HER 5TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION AND CANNOT BE MADE TO TESTIFY. I DO WARN THE DEFENSE THAT THEY WILL BE HELD IN CONTEMPT OF COURT IF THERE ARE ANY MORE SURPRISES.

MR. JACKSON DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER WITNESS READY OR DO YOU NEED A RECESS TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR NEXT WITNESS?

JACKSON

NO YOU HONOR WE WILL CALL OUR NEXT WITNESS, WHO IS IN COURT.

JUDGE

DR. RICE YOU ARE EXCUSED

BETSY (STANDING---WATCHING CONDI LEAVING)

I GAVE TWO HUSBANDS SO THAT THIS REPUBLIC COULD COME INTO EXISTENCE AND YOU SAY YOU WILL NOT TESTIFY? TEDDY, CAN I USE YOU STICK?

TEDDY

BETSY, TAKE YOUR SEAT, WE ALL KNOW THAT SOMEDAY THIS WOMAN WILL APPEAR BEFORE US AND WE WILL NOT WALK SOFTLY.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON CALL YOUR NEXT WITNESS

JACKSON

THE PEOPLE CALL MR. DONALD RUMSFELD

RUMMY COMES FROM THE BACK OF THE COURTROOM AND TAKES THE WITNESS STAND

MARSHAL

DO YOU SWEAR THAT YOU WILL GIVE TRUTHFUL AND HONEST TESTIMONY

RUMMY

I DO SO SWEAR UNDER GOD AND IN THE MEMORY OF 911

JACKSON

MR. RUMSFELD, WOULD YOU TELL THE COURT IN WHAT CAPACITY YOU SERVED PRESIDENT BUSH?

RUMSFELD

WELL, YOU SEE YOU NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC, I WAS THE 13TH AND 21ST SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, I WAS ALSO THE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF AND OF COURSE, ONE SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT I WAS A US AMBASSADOR TO NATO, SPENT SOME TIME IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.-------- WOULD YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION?

JACKSON (ANNOYED)

WHAT JOB DID YOU HOLD DURING THE PRESIDENCY OF THE 43RD PRESIDENT?

RUMMY

I WAS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

JACKSON

YOU HELD THAT POSITION UNTIL JANUARY OF 2005 IS THAT CORRECT?

RUMMY

YES, THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT, HOWEVER, THERE WAS A TRANSITION PERIOD WHEN I WAS SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE NEW TEAM COMING INTO THE WHITE HOUSE WHO OF COURSE WOULD BE TAKING OVER IN JANUARY OF 2005. I AM NOT SURE IF YOU WISH TO COUNT THE TRANSITION PERIOD OR NOT,----------- DEPENDS ON ONES PERSONALITY I SUPPOSE.

JACKSON

CAN YOU TELL US THE FIRST TIME YOU DISCUSSED WITH ANYONE THE INVASION OF IRAQ?

RUMMY

THE FIRST TIME WE THOUGHT ABOUT THE INVASION OF IRAQ WAS DURING THE CLINTON ADMISTRATION, AFTER THE TERRORISTS ATTACKED OUR WONDERFUL SHIP USS COLE, KILLING MANY OF OUR BRAVE NAVY MEN. WE JUST KNEW THAT SADDAM MUST HAVE HAD A HAND IN THAT, BUT I THINK YOUR QUESTION HAD TO DO WITH WHEN DID I FIRST DISCUSS THE INVASION, ----WELL, I DON’T KNOW----TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION IT MAY HAVE BEEN------NO, WELL IF I HAD TO SAY OR PICK A DATE MAYBE IN 2000, SOMETIME DURING OUR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.

JACKSON

CAN YOU TELL US IF YOU HAD ANY DISCUSSION CONCERNING AL-QAIDA DURING THIS SAME TIME PERIOD?

RUMMY

MMMMMMM, WELL, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE DID HAVE SOME CONVERSATION WITH THE OUTGOING ADMINISTRATION CONCERNING Al-QAIDA, SECRETARY COHEN DID MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT OSAMA bin LADEN AND WE TOOK IT UNDER ADVISEMENT.

JACKSON

DID YOU RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT AL-QAIDA WAS PLANNING AN ATTACK AGAINST THE UNITED STATES AND THE ATTACK WOULD HAPPEN IN THE COMING MONTHS?

RUMMY

NO, WE HAD NO INFORMATION THAT AL-QAIDA WOULD FLY PASSENGER PLANES INTO THE TWIN TOWERS IN NEW YORK CITY DURING RUSH HOUR.

PATTON (STANDING AND LOOKING OVER AT IKE)

IKE, THIS SON OF A BITCH ON THE WITNESS STAND SOUNDS JUST LIKE THAT POMPOUS ASS MONTY, LET ME HAVE HIM FOR FIVE MINUTES ALONE AND HE WILL CUT THIS SHIT, HE WILL BE SAYING YES SIR AND NO SIR, JUST FIVE MINUTES IKE!

IKE

GEORGE SIT DOWN AND KEEP THAT MOUTH OF YOURS SHUT, DON’T YOU EVER LEARN?

JUDGE

PLEASE, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY MR. RUMSFELD, OR I WILL CONSIDER GIVING GEN. PATTON FIVE MINUTES ALONE WITH YOU. CONTINUE YOUR QUESTIONING MR. PROSECUTOR.

JACKSON

DID YOU EVER RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT OR THE VICE PRESIDENT TO PREPARE AN INVASION OF IRAQ-------YES OR NO PLEASE

RUMMY

YES

JACKSON

DID YOU RECEIVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE 9/11/2001

RUMMY

WELL-----------------------, YES

JACKSON

AFTER 9/11 WHAT WERE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS OR ORDERS CONCERNING RETALIATION?

RUMMY

I WAS ORDERED BY THE VICE PRESIDENT TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF IRAQ, AND ALSO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN.

JACKSON

WHY WERE YOU ORDERED TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF IRAQ?

RUMMY

BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT AFTER AFGHANISTAN WE WOULD FINALLY BE ABLE TO INVADE IRAQ. ALL WE NEEDED TO DO WAS TIE 9/11 TO IRAQ AND WE COULD GO AND GET SADDAM.

JACKSON

DO YOU HAVE FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE WHY SECRETARY POWELL AND PRESIDENT BUSH WENT TO THE UN BEFORE WE INVADED IRAQ, WHEN AS YOU TESTIFIED THE DECISION WAS ALREADY MADE?

RUMMY

POWELL WANTED TO GO TO THE UN, I WAS AGAINST IT, AND THE PRESIDENT SAID WHAT THE HELL, YOU CAN USE THE TIME TO GET READY. THERE WAS NO POINT IN FIGHTING POWELL AND HIS WEENY WAY OF DOING THINGS. THE PRESIDENT WAS CORRECT, I DID NEED SOME TIME TO GET US READY FOR IRAQ. SO POWELL HELPED US OUT; WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HE WAS SAYING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL WAS GARBAGE. SO WE LET HIM GO.

JURY (MOVES AROUND AND LOOKS AT EACH OTHER IN DISBELIEF)

JACKSON

YOU ARE TESTIFYING THAT YOU AND PRESIDENT BUSH KNEW THAT WHAT SEC. POWELL WAS TELLING THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS WAS UNTRUE, OR AS YOU STATED-------GARBAGE?

RUMMY

WELL, THE INTEL WAS SO VAST AND SO CONFUSING THAT IT DIDN’T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO PRESENT WHATEVER YOU WANTED. WE WANTED TO INVADE IRAQ, AND THAT IS WHAT OUR INTEL WOULD SHOW, NO DOUBTING THOMASES WERE ALLOWED NEAR THE PRESIDENT.

JACKSON

LET ME ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUTTHE ALLEGED TORTURE OF PRISONERS IN IRAQ-----WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AT ABU GHRAIB?

RUMMY

WELL, WE KNEW WE HAD PROBLEMS IN CUBA, BUT WE WERE OK THERE BECAUSE WE WERE OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS, AND OF COURSE, WE CONTROLLED WHO CAME INTO THE CAMP. WE LEFT THE INTERROGATORS ALONE AND LET THEM DO THEIR THING. WE WANTED INFORMATION AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I DID NOT CARE HOW WE GOT IT, AS LONG AS WE GOT IT. SOME OF THE INTEL PEOPLE WERE SENT TO IRAQ TO HELP, BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE OVER THERE WERE NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE. WE STARTED TO HEAR RUMORS ABOUT A FEW SOLDIERS GOING TOO FAR, I THINK THERE WERE A FEW PRISONERS WHO DIED.

JACKSON

IF YOU HAVE FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE, WHEN DID PRESIDENT BUSH LEARN OF THE ALLEGATIONS OF TORTURE?

RUMMY

FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE, WELL, ------------- I SUPPOSE ONE COULD SAY HE WAS INFORMED ALONG WITH THE VP AND MYSELF WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT SOME DIFFICULTIES IN CUBA

JACKSON

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SUICIDES AT THE PRISON CAMP IN CUBA, IS THAT CORRECT?

RUMMY

YES

JACKSON

DO YOU KNOW THE NUMBER OF SUICIDES ?

RUMMY

NO

JACKSON

IF I WAS TO SAY OVER 30, WOULD THAT BE A FAIR NUMBER GIVEN WHAT YOU DO KNOW?

RUMMY

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY COMMITTED SUICIDE

JACKSON

DID YOU KEEP ANY RECORDS OF THE NUMBER OF SUICIDES?

RUMMY

I AM SURE THERE ARE RECORDS, BUT I DID NOT KEEP TRACK OF THE TALIBAN OR AL-QAIDA WHO WANTED TO DIE, IT WAS JUST ONE LESS PRISONER TO TAKE CARE OF,----------FEEDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT

JACKSON

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PRISONERS YOU HAD AT CAMP X-RAY, IN CUBA?

RUMMY

ANYWHERE FROM 600 TO 1000 DEPENDING ON THE COMING AND GOING OF THE PRISONERS, AVERAGE ABOUT 700 OR SO, -----I THINK THAT MAY BE ABOUT RIGHT

JACKSON

DURING PRESIDENT BUSH’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TO THE NATION HE TALKED OF AL-QAIDA MEMBERS BEING ARRESTED OR MEETING A DIFFERENT FATE. HE WENT ON TO SAY LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, IN A TONE THAT APPALLED

MANY, THEY ARE NO LONGER A PROBLEM TO THE UNITED STATES AND OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES,---------- DO YOU REMEMBER THAT STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT?

RUMMY

I DO NOT REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT DURING THAT SPEECH, BUT THAT SOUNDS ABOUT CORRECT.

JACKSON

CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF THE PRISONERS, DID YOU TAKE THAT STATEMENT AS CONFIRMATION THAT YOU WERE ALLOWED A LOT OF LATITUDE WHEN INTERROGATING PRISONERS?

RUMMY

WELL,----------------LET ME THINK--------WE DID NOT CONDONE TORTURE.

JACKSON

DID YOU AUTHORIZE “STRESS AND DURESS”, INCLUDING SLEEP DEPRIVATION, DENIAL OF MEDICATION FOR BATTLE INJURIES, FORCING THEM TO STAND OR KNEEL FOR HOURS WITH HOODS ON, SUBJECTING THEM TO LOUD NOISES AND SUDDEN FLASHES OF LIGHT AND ENGAGING IN CULTURAL HUMILIATING PRACTICES SUCH AS HAVING THEM KICKED BY FEMALE OFFICERS?

RUMMY

STRESS AND DURESS ARE WELL ACCEPTED WAYS TO INTERROGATE ENEMY COMBATANTS

JACKSON

ON FEB. 12, 2002 YOU CALLED THE PRESS REPORTS ABOUT MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS “INTERNATIONAL HYPER-VENTILATION”, AND WENT ON TO SAY THAT YOU TREAT DETAINEES IN A HUMANE WAY, DO YOU REMEMBER MAKING THAT STATEMENT IN 2002?

RUMMY

I MADE SO MANY STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS THAT MAY BE ONE OF THEM---------YEA, THAT SOUNDS ABOUT WHAT I WOULD SAY.

JACKSON

THAT WAS A LIE, WAS IT NOT?

RUMMY

NO, I WAS RESPONDING TO A QUESTION, I WOULD NOT SAY I WAS LYING, JUST TRYING TO ANSWER SOME STUPID QUESTION BY A REPORTER.

PATTON (LEANING OVER TO TALK TO IKE)

SHIT, DOES THIS MAN HAVE A FUCKING SOUL?

END OF ACT 1

ACT 2

JURY BEGINS TALKING TO EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT DICK CHENEY JUST SAID.

JUDGE

ORDER IN THE COURT, MEMBERS OF THE JURY, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS------------MR.DARROW YOUR OBJECTION IS WITHOUT MERIT OR FOUNDATION, PLEASE SIT DOWN-------------MR. JACKSON YOU MAY CONTINUE.

JACKSON

MR. CHENEY WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEETING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL IN THE WHITE HOUSE MOST CONCERNED WITH?

DICK

GETTING SADDAM AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO GET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SUPPORT OUR INVASION.

JACKSON

TO THAT END ------------ GETTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SUPPORT YOUR ACTIONS IN IRAQ, WHAT DID YOU DO FIRST?

DICK

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE TOLD RUMMY TO GET A PLAN TOGETHER AND REPORT BACK IN A FEW DAYS ON WHAT WE NEEDED ON THE MILITARY SIDE, WE ALSO TOLD GEORGE TENET TO GATHER ALL INTEL THAT WOULD SUPPORT OUR GOAL OF INVADING IRAQ BY THE END OF THE YEAR AFTER THE SUMMER MONTHS. I WAS TASKED TO SET UP A GROUP WHO WOULD SUPPORT US AND THE PRESIDENT MADE IT CLEAR THAT NO DOUBTING THOMASES SHOULD BE IN KEY POSITIONS BY THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST

JACKSON

AT THAT TIME, DID YOU RUN INTO DIFFICULTY MOVING PEOPLE AROUND?

DICK

NO, WE HAD A FEW PAINS IN THE ASS LIKE RICHARD CLARK, WHO WANTED TO WORRY ABOUT AFGHANISTAN AND BIN LADEN, I TOLD HIM TO FUCK OFF AND NOT BRING ME THAT SHIT AGAIN, WE JUST MADE HIS LIFE HELL AND FINALLY AFTER 9/11 HE RETIRED. WE ALL LAUGHED ABOUT ANOTHER DOUBTING THOMAS OUT THE DOOR. THE WORD GOT AROUND VERY FAST THAT IRAQ WAS THE TARGET

JACKSON

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR PLANS AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACK?

DICK

FIRST WE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD SET US BACK AND IT DID, BUT WE KNEW THAT ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE WITH US AND WANTED REVENGE, SO WE JUST MOVED OUR TIMETABLE AND WENT INTO AFGHANISTAN FIRST, IT WAS MORE A PLUS THAN A MINUS.

JACKSON

WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER THAT FIRST MEETING ----------------AFTER 9/11, WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL?

DICK

WELL, I GOT ON THE PHONE AND LET MY FRIENDS AT HALLIBURTON KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE MORE MONEY THAN THEY EVER IMAGINED. WHEN THEY CAME TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO DISCUSS ENERGY, THEY WERE SURPRISED ABOUT WHAT I WAS TELLING THEM. FIRST AFGHANISTAN AND THEN IRAQ, THE CASH REGISTER WAS GOING NUTS, WE COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT WAS TO COME. WE HAD THOUGHT IN THE MILLIONS, BUT NOW WE COULD THINK IN THE BILLIONS. I FELT LIKE A KING GIVING HIS SUBJECTS PRECIOUS STONES FOR GIFTS. I WAS IN SEVENTH HEAVEN. WE WERE ALL GOING TO GET VERY RICH.

JACKSON

YOUR TESTIMONY IS THAT THE INVASION OF IRAQ WAS FOR PROFIT?

DICK

YES, WE HAD THE LOADED DICE AGAIN, SADDAM WAS A REAL BAD GUY, WE WOULD GO IN AND BOMB THE HELL OUT OF THE PLACE, AND MY FRIENDS WOULD GET VERY RICH REBUILDING THE NEW AND FREE IRAQ. THE CONGRESS WOULD NOT DARE SAY NO, WE COULD PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET OUR PEOPLE IN AFTER THE WAR AND THE TAX PAYERS WOULD PAY THE BILL. THIS WAS THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE.

JACKSON

IN THE YEAR 2000 WHAT WAS YOUR PAYCHECK FROM HALLIBURTON?

DICK

SOMEWHERE AROUND $40,000,000.00

JACKSON

YOU HAD SOME ACCOUNTING IRREGULARITY WHEN YOU WERE CEO OF HALLIBURTON, DO YOU KNOW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THESE IRREGULARITIES ?

DICK

YEA, THEY SAID IT WAS ABOUT $100,000,000.00

JACKSON

WHEN YOU HELD THESE ENERGY MEETINGS, CONGRESS ASKED FOR THOSE DOCUMENTS, WHY DID YOU NOT JUST TURN THEM OVER?

DICK

ARE YOU SERIOUS? THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE NO RIGHT TO SEE THEM, THEY WERE PRIVATE, AND IF IT GOT OUT WHAT WE DISCUSSED, WE ALL KNEW WE WOULD GO TO JAIL OR WORSE, GO BROKE.

JACKSON

HOW MANY PAGES DID YOU HOLD BACK FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?

DICK

I AM NOT SURE BUT SOMEWHERE AROUND 13,000 TO 14,000 PAGES.

JACKSON

DID THE SUPREME COURT SAY THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE TO SURRENDER THE PAGES?

DICK

YEA, WE WON THAT ONE------THAT IS WHY WE WERE ABLE TO PASS INFORMATION DURING THESE MEETING-S----IT WAS PERFECT.

JACKSON

HOW MUCH DID THE ENERGY COMPANIES KICK IN TO YOUR REELECTION CAMPAIGN?

DICK

I DON’T KNOW------MILLIONS TO GET BILLIONS IS WHAT I USED TO TELL THEM.

JACKSON

LETS TALK A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR OLD COMPANY, HALLIBURTON.

DID HALLIBURTON RECEIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT WHEN THE CONTRACTS WERE UP FOR BIDS?

DICK

SURE, THEY WERE MY FRIENDS, THEY KNEW ABOUT THE CONTRACTS BEFORE ANYONE, AND WE MADE IT SEEM THAT THEY WERE THE ONLY CORPORATION WHO COULD HANDLE THE JOB.

JACKSON

HALLIBURTON DID GET INTO SOME DIFFICULTY WITH THEIR CHARGES TO THE GOVERNMENT. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

DICK

WELL, THE GOD DAMN FOOLS GOT CARRIED AWAY, THEY WERE CHARGING FOR MEALS TO THE MILITARY THEY NEVER DELIVERED, I WAS PISSED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THAT. THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRICE OF GAS, BUT WE HANDLED THAT OK, BUT THE MEAL THING WAS A DISASTER FOR US, EVEN THE MEDIA WHO WE HAD UNDER OUR INFLUENCE WAS RUNNING WITH THIS STORY.

JACKSON

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WAS OVERCHARGED FOR THE MEALS?

DICK

I THINK THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL GOING ON, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD SOMEWHERE AROUND $75, 000,000 WAS RIPPED OFF--------SO STUPID!

JACKSON

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE CARLYLE GROUP, THIS IS A PRIVATE GROUP OF INVESTORS, IS THAT CORRECT?

DICK

YES.

JACKSON

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS GROUP AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM?

DICK

The offices of the Carlyle Group are on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC, midway between the White House and the Capitol building, and within a stone's throw of the headquarters of the FBI and numerous government departments. The address reflects Carlyle's position at the very center of Washington.

WE GAVE UNITED DEFENSE ABOUT $470 MILLION, A SUBSIDIARY OF CARLYLE, TO CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRUSADER. THIS PISSED OFF A LOT OF MILITARY ANALYSTS, BUT CARLUCCI AND RUMMY WANTED IT, SO THE PRESIDENT TOLD US TO OK THE PROGRAM.

JACKSON

WHO IS CARLUCCI?

DICK

HE IS THE CEO OF THE CARLYLE GROUP.

JACKSON

ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU GAVE A CONTRACT TO A GROUP BECAUSE RUMMY WAS A FRIEND OF CARLUCCI?

DICK

THAT’S THE WAY THINGS WORK IN WASHINGTON.

JACKSON

HOW DID YOU AND SEC. RUMSFELD COME TO KNOW CARLUCCI?

DICK

CARLUCCI WAS FROM THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, HE WAS SEC. OF DEFENSE AND WORKED FOR THE CIA BEFORE THAT ------------I’M SURE.

JACKSON

DOES PRESIDENT BUSH’S FATHER, THE 41ST PRESIDENT, HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE CARLYLE GROUP?

DICK

SURE, HE’S A SENIOR ADVISOR AND USES HIS CONNECTIONS TO THE ROYAL FAMILY IN SAUDI ARABIA TO GET THEM TO INVEST. THE BIN LADEN FAMILY WERE INVOLVED BUT AFTER 911, WE THOUGHT THEY SHOULD PULL OUT. TOO BAD….THEY HAD LOTS OF MONEY TO INVEST.

JACKSON

JAMES BAKER IS A MEMBER OF THE CARLYLE GROUP,IS HE NOT?

DICK

YEA, I THINK HIS TITLE IS SENIOR COUNSELOR

JACKSON

HE WAS SECRETARY OF STATE, AND SECRETARY OF TREASURY UNDER PRESIDENT REAGAN, WAS HE NOT?

DICK

YES

JACSON

HE IS ALSO DEFENDING SAUDI ARABIA AGAINST THE VICTIMS OF 911 WHO ARE SUING THE ROYAL FAMILY AND BIN LADEN FAMILY?

DICK

WELL, HIS LAW FIRM IS DEFENDING THE SAUDIS, WHICH IS ALL I KNOW ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT.

JACKSON

I AM GOING TO ASK YOU A SERIES OF QUESTIONS, PLEASE ANSWER YES OR NO.

DICK

OK, I WILL TRY

JACKSON

DID PRESIDENT BUSH DECIDE TO INVADE IRAQ BEFORE 911?

DICK

YES

JACKSON

DID PRESIDENT BUSH KNOW ABOUT THE PROFITS THAT YOU, HALLIBURTON AND THE CARLYLE GROUP WERE GOING TO MAKE ON THE WARS?

DICK

YES

JACKSON

DID PRESIDENT BUSH KNOW ABOUT THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS AT CAMP X-RAY IN CUBA?

DICK

YES

JACKSON

DID PRESIDENT BUSH KNOW ABOUT THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS AT ABU GHRAIB?

DICK

YES

JACKSON

DID PRESIDENT BUSH KNOW THAT HIS REPRESENTATIVES WERE LYING TO CONGRESS WHEN THEY APPEARED BEFORE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES?

DICK

YES

JACKSON

HAVE YOU TESTIFIED TRUTHFULLY TODAY?

DICK

YES, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY

JACKSON

YOUR HONOR, THAT IS ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE AT THIS TIME FOR MR. CHENEY, I WOULD REQUEST THE RIGHT TO RECALL THIS WITNESS AT A LATER TIME.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON, YOU WILL HAVE TO ARGUE THAT MOTION IF YOU WISH TO RECALL MR. CHENEY.

JACKSON

YOUR HONOR, THE PEOPLE REST.

JUDGE

MR. DARROW, YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR CROSS EXAMINATION OF MR. CHENEY.

DARROW

GOOD MORNING MR VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE RECORD I AM CLARENCE DARROW AND I REPRESENT THE DEFENDANT, PRESIDENT GW BUSH

DICK

GOOD MORNING

DARROW

MR. CHENEY, YOU WERE GIVEN COMPLETE IMMUNITY FOR YOUR TESTIMONY HERE TODAY, IS THAT CORRECT?

DICK

YES

DARROW

WHICH MEANS NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID, OR YOUR INVOLVEMENT, YOU CANNOT BE PROSECUTED FOR THOSE CRIMES, IS THAT CORRECT?

DICK

YES

DARROW

IN YOUR TESTIMONY YOU PUT ALL THE BLAME ON PRESIDENT BUSH FOR THE ACTION CONCERNING IRAQ, IS THAT CORRECT MR CHENEY?

DICK

NO

DARROW

WELL IT SURE SOUNDED THAT WAY TO ME. YOU ARE INNOCENT AND PRESIDENT BUSH DID ALL THESE TERRRIBLE THINGS, ISN’T THAT WHAT YOUR TESTIMONY SAYS?

DICK

NO, I ACCEPT MY PART IN THIS MESS.

DARROW

BUT YOU TESTIFIED THAT PRESIDENT BUSH MADE ALL THE DECISIONS, IS THAT RIGHT?

DICK

NO, I MADE MANY DECISIONS, BUT ALWAYS AT THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT, WE ALL SERVED THE PRESIDENT.

DARROW

LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR TESTIMONY CONCERNING IRAQ. YOU TESTIFIED THAT PRESIDENT BUSH MADE THE DECISION TO GO TO WAR DURING THE TIME YOU WERE WAITING FOR OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE 2000 ELECTION, IS THAT TRUE?

DICK

WELL, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY HEARD HIM SAY HE WANTED TO INVADE IRAQ, YES.

DARROW

DO YOU REMEMBER HIS EXACT WORDS?

DICK

NO, NOT HIS EXACT WORDS.

DARROW

HE COULD HAVE BEEN JUST TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DO AND NOT WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO, IS THAT POSSIBLE?

DICK

I GOT THE FEELING THAT IF HE WON THE ELECTION WE WERE GOING TO WAR WITH IRAQ.

DARROW

MR. CHENEY, WE ARE NOT HERE TO HEAR YOUR FEELINGS. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT PRESIDENT BUSH SAID --------LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET SADDAM?

JACKSON

OBJECTION, MR. CHENEY HAS ANSWERED THE QUESTION.

JUDGE

YOUR OBJECTION IS OVER-RULED, I WANT TO HEAR THIS.

DARROW

DO YOU NEED ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION, MR. CHENEY?

DICK

NO, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET SADDAM, BUT AFTER THE ELECTION WAS CERTIFIED THE FIRST THING HE SAID TO ME WAS THAT NOW WE CAN GO GET THAT BASTARD.

DARROW

OBJECTION, NON-RESPONSIVE.

JUDGE

MR. CHENEY, TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ASKED AND NOT ADD TO THE ANSWER.

DICK

YES, YOUR HONOR

DARROW

MR. CHENEY, IN ALL THE MEETINGS YOU HAD WITH RUMSFELD AND PRESIDENT BUSH, DID YOU EVER STATE THAT IT WAS A BAD IDEA TO INVADE IRAQ?

DICK

YES, MANY TIMES. I KNOW THAT EVERYONE THINKS THAT I WAS THE HAWK, BUT I WANTED TO INVADE AFGHANISTAN, TAKE OUT AL-QAIDA AND THE TALIBAN. I ALSO WANTED TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN AND REBUILD IT SO THAT THE ARABS WOULD SEE THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO INVADE THE MIDDLE EAST. WE COULD ALWAYS KEEP OUR EYE ON IRAQ AND INVADE LATER IF WE HAD TO, BUT NOT RIGHT AFTER AFGHANISTAN. I TOLD THE PRESIDENT IN CONFIDENCE THAT POWELL WAS CORRECT, WE SHOULD NOT DO IT YET. IT WAS HIS DECISION TO GO INTO IRAQ.

THIS CAUSES DARROW TO BE SHAKENED, HE DID NOT EXPECT THIS ANSWER FROM CHENEY AND NOW WANTS CHENEY OFF THE WITNESS STAND BEFORE HE CAN DO ANY MORE DAMAGE.

DARROW (VERY ANGRY)

IT IS YOU WHO HAS THE TIES TO HALLIBURTON, IS THAT CORRECT?

DICK

YES

DARROW

IN ADDITION, YOU STAND TO MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF THIS WAR, IS THAT NOT TRUE?

DICK

YES

DARROW

YOUR HONOR, I HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR THIS WITNESS.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON ANY RE-DIRECT?

JACKSON

NO YOUR HONOR.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON CALL YOUR NEXT WITTNESS

JACKSON

THE PEOPLE REST

JUDGE

MR. DARROW DO YOU WISH TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT?

DARROW

YOUR HONOR, WE REQUEST THAT YOU DISMISS ALL CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT BUSH, THE PROSECUTION HAS NOT PROVEN THEIR CASE.

JUDGE

YOUR MOTION IS DENIED; DO YOU WISH TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT?

DARROW

YES, YOUR HONOR WE DO.

DARROW THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD HAVE A FEW DAYS TO MAKE HIS OPENING STATEMENT, THE TURN OF EVENTS HAVE SHAKEN HIM.

DARROW

HONORED MEMBERS OF THE JURY, I SHARE MR. JACKSON’S ADMIRATION OF YOU AND I ALSO SPENT A GOOD PART OF MY LIFE TRYING TO LIVE UP TO YOUR VALUES. THE CASE BEFORE YOU IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT THAT AN ELECTED LEADER CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTS HE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE COMMITTED DURING HIS TERM OF OFFICE. YOU HAVE SET UP A SYSTEM IN OUR CONSTITUTION TO ADDRESS THIS VERY QUESTION, AND THAT IS CALLED IMPEACHMENT. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS WHERE THIS CASE BELONGS AND NOT THIS COURT. FOR YOU TO FIND PRESIDENT BUSH GUILTY YOU WOULD HAVE TO BELIEVE A MAN WHO SOLD HIS SOUL FOR THE PRICE OF FREEDOM. MR. CHENEY, ONCE A GOOD FRIEND OF THE PRESIDENT, HAS SOLD HIM OUT. HE ASKS THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT HE WAS TOTALLY INNOCENT OF ALL THINGS, YET CUTS A DEAL WITH THE PROSECUTION. YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF WHY HE WOULD CUT A DEAL IF HE HAD NOTHING TO HIDE?

WE WERE GOING TO CALL MANY WITNESSES; HOWEVER, PRESIDENT BUSH WANTS TO TESTIFY ALONE. HE BELIEVES IN AMERICA AND WILL PUT HIS FAITH IN THE HANDS OF OUR GREAT LEADERS WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO OUR BELOVED LAND; THEREFORE, I WILL CALL ONLY ONE WITTNESS.

THE DEFENSE CALLS PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, THE 43RD PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES.

JUDGE

MR. PRESIDENT, WILL YOU TAKE THE WITNESS STAND.

MARSHAL

DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH AND THE WHOLE TRUTH?

BUSH

UNDER GOD, I DO SO SWEAR.

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, LET’S GET TO THE HEART OF THESE CHARGES. WHEN DID YOU MAKE THE FINAL DECISION TO INVADE IRAQ?

BUSH

IT WAS AFTER 911, WHEN WE GAVE THE DICTATOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLY WITH THE UN RESOLUTIONS.

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, WHY DID YOU GO BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS AND ASK THEM TO ACT ON THEIR RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING IRAQ?

BUSH

MY ADVISORS THOUGHT THAT IF I MADE A PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT THE UN THEN WE STOOD A GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING THE UN TO MOVE AGAINST THE DICTATOR OF IRAQ.

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, DID YOU EVER SAY TO VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO INVADE IRAQ BEFORE YOUR APPEARANCE AT THE UN?

BUSH

NO, I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE UN, THAT IS NO SECRET, AND MAY HAVE SAID SOMETHING LIKE -------I’D LIKE TO GET HIM, BUT THE DECISION WAS NOT MADE UNTIL ALL OPTIONS WERE GONE. ALL MY ADVISORS AGREED THAT WE HAD TO GO INTO IRAQ TO PROTECT AMERICA.

DARROW

DID YOU EVER TELL SEC. RUMSFELD TO GET READY TO GO TO WAR BEFORE 911?

BUSH

NO, WHAT I DID TELL HIM WAS CHECK TO SEE IF ALL OUR OPTIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST WERE UPDATED, SO WE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IN THE FUTURE.

DARROW

AFTER 911, WHAT DID YOU TELL YOUR NATIONAL SECURITY STAFF CONCERNING AFGHANISTAN?

BUSH

I TOLD THEM TO GET TOGETHER ALL OPTIONS, WE HAD TO GO AFTER AL-QAIDA AND BIN LADEN, AND IF THE TALIBAN DID NOT GIVE HIM UP, I WANTED TO GO INTO IRAQ AND GET THAT MURDERER.

DARROW

SIR, I THINK YOU SAID IRAQ, DID YOU MEAN AFGHANISTAN?

BUSH

YES OF COURSE, BIN LADEN WAS IN AFGHANISTAN AND THAT IS WHERE WE WERE GOING, AFGHANISTAN.

DARROW

WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR GOING INTO IRAQ?

BUSH

WELL, WE KNEW HE HAD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, WE KNEW HE WAS SHOPPING AROUND THE WORLD TO GET NUKES, WE NEW THAT HE HATED ALL AMERICANS AND WOULD ATTACK US IF HE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY AND I WAS NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN. WE KNEW HE KILLED MILLIONS IN IRAQ BY GAS, AND SLAUGHTERED HIS OWN PEOPLE, THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS GUY.

DARROW

DID YOU AT ANY TIME CONSIDER THAT SOME OF YOUR STAFF ,INCLUDING THE VICE PRESIDENT, WOULD MAKE MONEY OFF THIS WAR?

BUSH

NO, I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. WE HAD TO KEEP THE PROMISES I MADE TO THOSE BRAVE FIREFIGHTERS IN NEW YORK WHEN I MET WITH THEM JUST AFTER 911. THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON FOR GOING INTO IRAQ, IT WAS FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.

DARROW

YOUR HONOR, MAY WE TAKE A SHORT RECESS?

DARROW KNOWS HE IS NOT GETTING THE ANSWERS HE HAD TOLD THE PRESIDENT TO GIVE, HE NEEDS A BREAK SO HE CAN GET THE PRESIDENT BACK ON TRACK.

JUDGE

WE WILL TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK, PLEASE BE READY TO GO AT THAT TIME.

DARROW

THANK YOU YOUR HONOR.

THE JURY MOVES AROUND AND TALKS TO EACH OTHER. DARROW IS WITH BUSH TRYING TO TELL HIM WHAT TO SAY, BUT IT MAY BE TOO LATE, SO HE TELLS THE PRESIDENT JUST TO ANSWER YES OR NO TO HIS QUESTIONS, AND THAT HE MUST ANSWER YES OR NO WHEN HE IS CROSS-EXAMINED BY JACKSON. BUSH LOOKS UPSET BUT AGREES.

JUDGE (AFTER EVERYONE IS SEATED)

YOU MAY CONTINUE MR. DARROW WITH YOUR DIRECT.

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU DID NOT KNOW THAT PRISONERS WERE BEING TORTURED AT CAMP X-RAY?

JACKSON

OBJECTION, MR. DARROW IS LEADING THE WITNESS TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT HE MAY WELL WANT TO JUST GIVE US THE ANSWERS AND SAVE SOME TIME.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON, THE LAST PART OF YOUR STATEMENT WAS UNCALLED FOR, HOWEVER MR. DARROW, TRY TO ASK QUESTIONS WITHOUT LEADING THE WITNESS.

DARROW

YES, YOUR HONOR.

MR. PRESIDENT, DID YOU EVER INDICATE TO ANYONE THAT YOU CONDONED THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS?

BUSH

NO

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, DID YOU MAKE ANY PROFIT FROM THE WARS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ?

BUSH

NO

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, DO YOU HAVE ANY DIRECT TIES TO THE CARLYLE GROUP?

BUSH

NO

DARROW

DID YOU EVER TELL ANY OF YOUR SUBORDINATES TO LIE TO CONGRESS?

BUSH

NO

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, DID YOU-----------------THAT IS ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR PRESIDENT BUSH, YOUR HONOR.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON, YOU MAY CROSS-EXAMINE PRESIDENT BUSH.

JACKSON ( GETS UP AND TAKES THE PODIUM, LOOKS OVER AT THE JURY AND SAYS

YOUR HONOR, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES IN A POSITION THAT TO CROSS EXAMINE PRESIDENT BUSH WOULD BRING MORE SHAME ON THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY, WE WILL NOT CROSS EXAMINE THIS WITNESS.

DARROW

OBJECTION----------THIS STATEMENT IS OUTRAGEOUS AND MUST BE STRUCK FROM THE RECORD.

JACKSON

YES, YOUR HONOR, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND I WITHDRAW MY STATEMENT,

HOWEVER, IN RESPECT FOR THE JURY MEMBERS WE DO NOT WISH TO CROSS EXAMINE THIS WITNESS.

JUDGE

PLEASE SIT DOWN MR.DARROW AND MR. JACKSON.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR CLOSING ARGUMENT.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

BY ROBERT H. JACKSON

THIS IS A SAD DAY FOR ME, I LOVE THIS COUNTRY CALLED AMERICA SO MUCH THAT I SPENT MY LIFE DEFENDING OUR VALUES. THE CASE YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IS MOST DIFFICULT. NO ONE HERE WANTS TO SAY THAT OUR PRESIDENT LIED ABOUT GOING TO WAR. NO ONE HERE WANTS TO SAY THAT MANY INCLUDING THE HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICALS IN OUR LAND DID TAKE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WHEN OURSOLDIERS WERE BEING KILLED. NO ONE WANTS TO SAY THAT ELECTED AND APPOINTED HIGH RANKING OFFICALS OF OUR GOVERNMENT LIED TO CONGRESS. I DO NOT WANT TO SAY------FROM THE PRESIDENT ON DOWN, THEY KNEW ABOUT PRISONERS BEING TORTURED AND DID NOTHING. I WISH I DID NOT HAVE TO SAY THESE THINGS BECAUSE EVEN AS I SAY THEM I SHUDDER AT THE IMAGE OF IT ALL.

SOME SAY I HAVE THE MOST DIFFICULT JOB, I SAY YOU HAVE THE MOST DIFFICULT JOB---------MAYBE OF ALL TIME.

I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS AND WILL ACCEPT YOUR WISDOM, AS I TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOUR ARE HERE TO SEE JUSTICE DONE, THANK YOU.

JACKSON SITS DOWN, BUT YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT A GOOD DAY FOR HIM, HE IS VERY SAD-------NOT FOR BUSH BUT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY.

JUDGE

MR DARROW, YOU MAY NOW GIVE YOUR CLOSING.

BY CLARENCE DARROW

I AGREE WITH MR. JACKSON. THIS IS A SAD DAY, WHEN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES CHOOSES NOT TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT, BUT A COURT DECIDES THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MUST HAVE A TRIAL----- THAT IS A SAD DAY IN OUR HISTORY.

TO CONVICT PRESIDENT BUSH YOU MUST BELIEVE DICK CHENEY, A JUDAS WHO SOLD HIS FRIEND FOR A FEW PIECES OF SILVER. THIS MAN IS A COWARD AND WILL NOT STAND UP AND SAY WHAT IS TRUE, HE CUT A DEAL AND PROTECTED HIS OWN ASS. PRESIDENT BUSH DOES HAVE FAULTS, LIKE ALL OF US, HE IS FALLIBLE, HE MAKES MISTAKES-------BUT YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF, WHO PROFITED FROM THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN?

WHO MADE A FINANCIAL KILLING IN IRAQ? NOT PRESIDENT BUSH, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT HE MADE A DIME ON EITHER WAR. PRESIDENT BUSH HAS TESTIFIED THAT HE WENT INTO IRAQ TO MAKE SURE IRAQ DID NOT ATTACK US. SOUNDS A LITTLE FAR-FETCHED UNTIL YOU FACTOR IN THAT A BACKWARD COUNTRY CALLED AFGHANISTAN CAUSED TWO OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS BUILDINGS TO FALL AND BECOME RUBBLE. I PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY -----IF A BACKWARD COUNTRY LIKE AFGHANISTAN COULD ATTACK US, WHAT COULD A COUNTRY THAT HAD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION DO TO US. THIS IS WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH WAS FACED WITH; WOULD YOU TAKE THE CHANCE OF ANOTHER ATTACK OR WOULD YOU ASK YOUR ADVISORS WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION AND THEN MAKE A DECISION. THAT IS WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH DID, YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH HIS DECISION BUT DON’T CONDEMN HIM FOR MAKING IT.

THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS IS MOST DISTURBING. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AFTER PUTTING IN WRITING THAT ALL PRISONERS WOULD BE TREATED HUMANELY, WOULD ALLOW HIS SUBORDINATES TO GO BEYOND WHAT HE HAS ORDERED, IF HE KNEW WHAT THEY WERE UP TO------I SAY NO!

I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I PRAY THAT YOU WHO SAT IN THE SEAT OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES WILL TELL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE JURY WHAT IT IS LIKE TO MAKE LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS EVERY DAY, NOT JUST ONCE IN A WHILE------BUT EVERY DAY, WITH THE HOPE YOU HAVE MADE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE.

I JOIN WITH MR. JACKSON AGAIN IN SAYING THAT YOU WERE BROUGHT HERE FOR A SPECIAL REASON, TO RENDER JUSTICE, AND JUSTICE DEMANDS THAT YOU BRING BACK A VERDICT OF INNOCENT OF ALL CHARGES-----I THANK YOU AND WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS.

JUDGE

THANK YOU SIR

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NORMALLY I WOULD GIVE LONG INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY; HOWEVER, LOOKING OVER AT YOU IT WOULD BE ARROGANT OF ME TO INSTRUCT YOU IN THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE. YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS CASE IN A FEW MINUTES. I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT IN THIS COURT THERE IS NO “NOT GUILTY” VERDICT, YOU MUST COME BACK WITH A VERDICT OF INNOCENT OR GUILTY.

PRESIDENT BUSH LIES IN A COMA. WHAT YOU SAW HERE TODAY WAS HIS SOUL, AND YOU ARE ONLY DECIDING HIS INNOCENCE OR GUILT IN THESE MATTERS. I WILL DECIDE THE PUNISHMENT, IF THERE IS ANY TO BE CONSIDERED.

JUDGE

YOU MAY RETIRE TO THE JURY ROOM AND DECIDE THIS CASE.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT 3

WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON, THE JURY IS COMING INTO THE JURY ROOM FROM THE COURTROOM.

THE JURY IS TALKING AS THEY COME IN. GEN. PATTON IS SPEAKING TO IKE SAYING WHAT A BUNCH OF BULLSHIT THIS IS, THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN CALLED TO SIT IN JUDGEMENT OF A PRESIDENT WHO MADE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS. IKE IS NOT RESPONDING TO PATTON BUT IS LISTENING TO HIM. ABIGAIL ADAMS AND BETSY ROSS ARE TALKING TO TEDDY ROOSEVELT AND SAYING THAT THEY CANNOT BELIEVE THAT DR. RICE TOOK THE 5TH AMENDMENT, BETSY IS STILL ANGRY OVER THAT INCIDENT. GEORGE WASHINGTON IS SAYING TO BARBARA JORDAN “CAN YOU IMAGINE WAR PROFITEERS IN THE WHITE HOUSE OR ON THE BATTLEFIELD?” BARBARA JORDAN SMILES AND SAYS, MR. PRESIDENT, OH YES I CAN.

PATTON

WELL, LET’S GET THIS OVER WITH AND SEND THIS GUY BACK TO LET HIM LIVE HIS LIFE. TO MY MIND HE HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING THAT WE HAVEN’T DONE ONE TIME OR ANOTHER IN OUR LIVES.

ADAMS

GENERAL PATTON, I HAVE TWO REQUESTS OF YOU. FIRST, WOULD YOU STOP USING THAT DISGRACEFUL LANGUAGE. MY SECOND REQUEST IS NEVER-----AND I DO MEAN NEVER ADDRESS ME AS “LADY” AGAIN. YOU WILL ADDRESS ME AS MRS. ADAMS. MAYBE IF I BEGIN TO LIKE YOU I WILL TELL YOU TO CALL ME ABIGAIL, BUT FOR NOW IT IS MRS. ADAMS.

PATTON

WELL, I‘LL BE A SON OF

IKE

GEORGE, PICK A CHAIR, SIT AND SHUT UP.

ELEANOR

THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS ELECT A FOREPERSON.

PATTON

I NOMINATE OUR FIRST PRESIDENT, GEORGE WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON

THANK YOU GEN. PATTON; HOWEVER, IN MY DAY WOMEN WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE ON JURIES. IT WOULD BE FITTING TO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE GENTLER SEX LEAD US IN THESE DELIBERATIONS, THEREFORE I DECLINE.

ADAMS

I NOMINATE ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE TIMES AND IS THE PERFECT PERSON TO KEEP US WORKING.

KING

ARE THERE ANY OTHERS WHO WISH TO VOLUNTEER TO BE FOREPERSON?

KING LOOKING AROUND

KING

THEN I SECOND THE NOMINATION OF MRS. ROOSEVELT.

JORDAN

CONGRATULATIONS TO ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. I DO NOT ENVY YOU IN THE LEAST AND WILL ASSIST IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN.

ADAMS

ALL IN FAVOR OF MRS. ROOSEVELT RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL HANDS GO UP AND MRS. ROOSEVELT SITS AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE. THE REST OF THE JURORS TAKE THEIR PLACES.

PATTON

CANWE VOTE AND GET THIS THING OVER WITH?

ELEANOR

GEN. PATTON MAY BE CORRECT ABOUT TAKING A VOTE TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT THIS MOMENT. IF YOU FIND THAT PRESIDENT BUSH IS INNOCENT OF ALL CHARGES RAISE YOUR HAND.

THERE ARE ONLY THREE HANDS THAT GO UP. PATTON, ABE AND IKE VOTE FOR INNOCENT OF ALL CHARGES.

ELEANOR

IF YOU FIND THAT PRESIDENT BUSH IS GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES RAISE YOUR HAND.

FOUR HANDS GO UP, KING, JORDAN, BETSY AND JEFFERSON.

ELEANOR

WELL, I SEE WE HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO. THREE VOTES FOR INNOCENT AND FOUR VOTES FOR GUILTY. I DO SUPPOSE THE REST OF YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES BEFORE CASTING YOUR VOTE. GEN. PATTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL WHY YOU THINK THAT PRESIDENT BUSH IS INNOCENT?

PATTON

FIRST OF ALL------YOU DO NOT TRY A PRESIDENT FOR WINNING A WAR. PRESIDENT BUSH DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

WASHINGTON

THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS, DID PRESIDENT BUSH LIE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT INVADING IRAQ? THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, INCLUDING CONGRESS, WERE TOLD THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR GOING TO WAR WAS THAT THIS SADDAM PERSON WAS A THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES. MAYBE WE SHOULD TRY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION FIRST. HOW MUCH OF A THREAT WAS HE AND WHY INVADE AT THAT PARTICULAR DATE?

IKE

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND, AND I WAS HOPING THAT RICHARD CLARK WOULD EXPLAIN TO US ABOUT HOW MUCH INTELLIGENCE THERE WAS ABOUT THIS BIN LADEN GUY. WHY DIDN’T CLARK TESTIFY?

TEDDY

I REMEMBER CHENEY GIVING DIRECT TESTIMONY THAT CLARK WAS ISOLATED AND THEN RETIRED AFTER THE ATTACK IN NEW YORK. MR. JACKSON DID MENTION CLARK IN HIS OPENING REMARKS AND CHENEY SEEMED TO VALIDATE WHAT JACKSON SAID, SO WHY HAVE CLARK IN TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

JORDAN

I THINK THAT MR. JACKSON WAS VERY SAD SPEAKING ABOUT THE THINGS HE HAD TO SAY AND WANTED TO SPARE US MORE AND MORE DETAILS.

TEDDY

WELL, ----FOR ME THIS CHENEY GUY IS A TURNCOAT AND A COWARD. I WAS FURIOUS THAT HE SAT THERE AND TURNED ON PRESIDENT BUSH. I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING ANYTHING HE SAYS.

JEFFERSON

YES TEDDY, CHENEY WAS A COWARD AND A BIT OF A WEASEL; HOWEVER WHAT HE SAID MADE A LOT OF SENSE. WHY WOULD HE LIE AND RISK LOSING HIS IMMUNITY?

KENNEDY

THERE’S THE QUESTION OF THIS NEW CONCEPT CALLED ENEMY COMBATANT THAT IS NEW EVEN FOR ME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT AND THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

PATTON

THEY ARE SPIES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOT ON THE SPOT.

ROSS

WHAT!------------------WE DON’T KNOW THAT! MY GOODNESS GENERAL, DID YOU SHOOT EVERYONE IN ITALY?

PATTON

NO, IKE WOULD HAVE HAD ME SHOT.

ELEANOR

LET’S TRY TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT CAUSE US TO FIGHT WITH ONE ANOTHER. LET’S LOOK AT THE CHARGES, TAKE ONE AT A TIME AND SEE IF THERE IS AGREEMENT ON ANY OF THEM. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY THAT APPROACH?

THERE IS A COLLECTIVE NODDING OF HEADS AND GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE DIRECTION

ELEANOR

THE FIRST CHARGE IS WAR PROFITEERING, ANYONE FROM EITHER SIDE WANT TO TACKLE THIS ONE?

PATTON

CHENEY WOULD BE THE ONE WHO MADE MONEY ON THE BODIES OF OUR SOLDIERS. I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE ME TO VOTE GUILTY ON THIS COUNT.

ROSS

THERE WAS TESTIMONY FROM CHENEY THAT THE CARLYLE GROUP MADE MONEY THROUGH THAT COMPANY WHO MADE THE CRUSADER. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WAS $470 MILLION AND PRESIDENT BUSH’S FATHER WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT GROUP. I THINK THAT HAS A BAD ODOR TO IT, DON’T YOU GENERAL?

PATTON

I DON’T LIKE IT, BUT IS IT ENOUGH TO CONVICT GW OF WAR PROFITEERING?

JEFFERSON

IT IS FOR ME.

JORDAN

ME TOO! IF YOUR FAMILY MEMBER MAKES MILLIONS ON A WAR THAT YOU DECIDED TO START, THAT’S ENOUGH FOR ME.

ELEANOR

THE BUSH FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF SELLING TO OUR ENEMIES. I REMEMBER THE GRANDFATHER, PRESCOTT BUSH, GOT INTO HOT WATER WITH FRANKLIN FOR SUPPORTING THE NAZI’S IN 1942. I DON’T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, BUT PRESCOTT WAS MANAGING PARTNER OF BROWN BROTHERS AND HARRIMAN. THE US GOVERNMENT ORDERED THE SEIZURE OF NAZI GERMANY BANKING OPERATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY, WHICH WAS BEING RUN BY PRESCOTT BUSH.

ABE

WE ARE NOT HERE TO TRY THE GRANDFATHER FOR WAR CRIMES. THIS HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH WHAT GW BUSH DID OR DID NOT ORDER AND APPROVE.

WASHINGTON

SPOKEN LIKE A LAWYER ABE, BUT YOU ARE CORRECT. WHAT PRESCOTT DID OR DID NOT DO IS NOT OUR CONCERN, HE HAS ALREADY BEEN JUDGED ON THOSE CHARGES.

ELEANOR

I ONLY BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THIS FAMILY IS NOT ABOVE MAKING MONEY DURING A WAR.

PATTON

YOU STILL HAVE NOT GIVEN ME ANYTHING TO INDICATE THAT GW MADE A PROFIT?

ELEANOR

LETS MOVE TO THE SECOND CHARGE--------LYING ABOUT GOING TO WAR.

IKE

INVADING ANOTHER COUNTRY IS ALMOST ALWAYS WRONG. YOU MUST BE VERY SURE THAT YOU AREIN IMMINENT DANGER BEFORE YOU MOVE FIRST.

ABE

PRESIDENT BUSH TESTIFIED THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THE UNITED STATES WAS IN IMMINENT DANGER, ISN’T THAT ENOUGH?

ROSS

NO

WASHINGTON

NO

ABIGAIL

NO

JORDAN

NO

KING

NO

IKE

NO

JEFFERSON

NO

TEDDY

NO

ELEANOR

NO

KENNEDY

NO

ABE

NO, AND THAT LEAVES YOU GENERAL, WHAT SAY YOU?

PATTON

I DON’T LIKE THIS, BUT I ALSO MUST SAY NO TO THE QUESTION PRESIDENT LINCOLN PUT TO US.

ELEANOR

THEN I AM ASSUMING THERE IS A GUILTY VERDICT ON THE CHARGE OF INVADING ANOTHER COUNTRY AND LYING ABOUT THE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THAT ACT?

PATTON

I AM NOT VOTING A GUILTY VERDICT ON THIS CHARGE YET, I NEED MORE FROM YOU.

ELEANOR

YES GENERAL, LET’S SEE WHERE THE OTHERS STAND AT THE MOMENT. ALL IN FAVOR OF A GUILTY VERDICT ON THIS CHARGE RAISE YOUR HANDS.

ALL HANDS GO UP AND PATTON SITS DOWN.

IKE

GEORGE, REMEMBER WHEN BOTH RUMSFELD AND CHENEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT PRESIDENT BUSH WANTED TO INVADE IRAQ BEFORE 911?

PATTON

YES, I REMEMBER THAT, IKE -------BUT I NEED SOME TIME TO THINK BEFORE I VOTE GUILTY ON THIS CHARGE. LET’S MOVE ON AND COME BACK TO THIS AT A LATER TIME.

ELEANOR

WE CAN DO THAT, GENERAL. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO GET YOU TO AGREE WITH US, YOU MUST BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU DECIDE. THE NEXT CHARGE IS MISAPPROPRIATION OF FEDERAL MONIES.

TEDDY

THIS IS A STRANGE CHARGE TO ME. IF WE FIND HIM GUILTY OF ANYTHING, WOULD NOT THIS CHARGE AUTOMATICALLY BE INCLUDED?

ABE

YES, I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT TEDDY.. LET’S MOVE ON TO ANOTHER CHARGE AND DEAL WITH THIS LATER.

ELEANOR

YES, I AGREE--------THE NEXT CHARGE IS LYING TO CONGRESS.

PATTON

NOW HERE IS A STRANGE CHARGE, LYING TO CONGRESS-------THEY ALL LIE IN CONGRESS. I HATE POLITICIANS, YOU CAN NEVER DEPEND ON THEM.

JEFFERSON

CONGRESS IS NOT ON TRIAL, GW BUSH IS ON TRIAL, DID HE LIE?

JORDAN

YES

WASHINGTON

YES

ROSS

YES

TEDDY

YES

KENNEDY

YES

IKE

YES

KING

YES

JEFFERSON

YES

ADAMS

YES

PATTON

YES

ELEANOR

YES

ABE

YES

ELEANOR

LET’S TAKE A BREAK AND STRETCH OUR LEGS.

WASHINGTON

GREAT IDEA.

THE JURY MOVES AROUND AND BREAKS INTO SMALL GROUPS, GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND TALKING ABOUT THE TRIAL.

IKE TO ABE

ABE, I REMEMBER YOU TALKING ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR WHEN YOU FIRST CAME INTO THE COURTROOM, ARE YOU STILL HAUNTED BY THAT TERRIBLE WAR?

ABE

IKE, I WATCHED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS KILL EACH OTHER, AND THERE WAS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE COST OF THAT WAR. THERE WAS SO MUCH BLOOD, THE COUNTRY NEVER GOT OVER IT, IT’S STILL DIVIDED. THE SOUTH WAS ALMOST DESTROYED, I STILL SEE THE DEAD ASKING ME WHY?

YES, I AM HAUNTED BY THE DEAD.

IKE

GOD, SOMETIMES I THINK WE WILL NEVER LEARN. WAR SOLVES NOTHING! IT MAY GIVE YOU A LITTLE TIME TO TRY AND SOLVE PROBLEMS BUT IN ITSELF, IS NEVER WORTH THE COST. I REMEMBER TALKING TO PARATROOPERS BEFORE NORMANDY AND KNOWING THAT THE ESTIMATE WAS 75% LOSSES. WE WERE LUCKY AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE ONLY 20%, BUT STILL, ONE OUT OF THE FIVE GUYS THAT I WAS TALKING TO WOULD NOT BE COMING BACK. WAR IS HELL, AND MAYBE ALL LEADERS SHOULD SPEND A MONTH IN HELL BEFORE TAKING THE REIGNS OF POWER.

LINCOLN

WELL, AT THE VERY LEAST, IT WOULD SEEM OUR HANDS WERE FORCED TO ACT. WHEN SOUTH CAROLINA SECEDED AND FIVE OTHER STATES FOLLOWED BECAUSE I WAS ELECTED, I HAD TO ACT. FORT SUMPTER WAS THE LAST CHANCE FOR PEACE, AND THEN THE SOUTH FIRED THAT SHOT. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT I WASN’T IN OFFICE YET, NOW THE WAR WAS ON A COURSE THAT NO ONE COULD STOP.

IKE

I ALSO HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT THE DEAD AND DYING. WE STOPPED THE NAZI’S AND YOU FREED THE SLAVES, WE DID SOME GOOD!

ELEANOR

WELL, SHALL WE COMPLETE OUR WORK?

THE JURY TAKES THEIR PLACE AND BEGINS ONCE AGAIN.

ELEANOR

THE NEXT CHARGE HAS TWO PARTS. ONE, THE MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS AND TWO, THE KILLING OF THE INNOCENT DURING THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ.

ROSS

THE ARTICLES THAT WE ARE TO USE IN JUDGEMENT OF THIS CASE SAY YOU CANNOT DEPORT OR ILL-TREAT THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. THE CAMP LOCATED IN CUBA SEEMS TO VIOLATE THESE ARTICLES. HOLDING PRISONERS INCOMMUNICADO FOR TWO YEARS MUST BE A VIOLATION. I DO NOT CARE WHAT STRANGE NAMES THEY COME UP WITH, THEY ARE EITHER POW’S OR THEY SHOULD NOT BE THERE AT ALL.

JEFFERSON

I HAVE NEVER MET AN ENEMY WHO WAS NOT A COMBATANT NOR A COMBATANT WHO WAS NOT AN ENEMY. THIS ENEMY COMBATANT TERM SEEMS REDUNDENT TOME.

ABE

I THINK IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO GET AROUND POW STATUS OR PRISONER STATUS.

PATTON

I AGREE.--------- IF THEY WERE IN UNIFORM THEN THEY ARE POW’S, IF THEY WERE TRYING TO MIX WITH THE CIVILIAN POPULATION THEY ARE SPIES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOT ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

ABE

EVEN WHEN THE SOUTHERN STATES SECEDED FROM THE UNION, WE TRIED TO TREAT THEM WITH DIGNITY, BUT THERE WERE TERRIBLE EXCEPTIONS. MANY OF THE PRISONERS ON BOTH SIDES DIED DURING INCARCERATION. PART OF MY TERRIBLE NIGHTMARES COME FROM A PLACE CALLED ANDERSONVILLE. GRANT STOPPED THE PRISONER EXCHANGE AND SHERMAN WAS BURNING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. THE PRISON WAS BUILT FOR 10, 000 AND ENDED UP HOUSING UP TO 40, 000 IN 1864 ALONE. THE DEATH RATE WAS AWFUL, DID I PLAY A ROLE IN THAT? COULD JEFFERSON DAVIS AND I HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP ON CHARGES, I FEAR THE ANSWER IS YES.

IKE

WE TRIED TO TREAT OUR POW’S WITH SOME SENSE OF DIGNITY ALSO. WERE THERE INCIDENTS, OF COURSE THERE WERE. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE BAD TREATMENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO KILL YOU, BUT CIVILIANS ARE ANOTHER MATTER. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE TORTURED WERE CIVILIANS. WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO WIN OVER THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF PEOPLE, WHY TORTURE THEM? THAT IS THE PART I DON’T UNDERSTAND.

KING

WAR IS INSANITY! TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND IT SEEMS LIKE A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS. HOW DO YOU LOGICALLY COMPREHEND SOMETHING THAT IS MADNESS?

ELEANOR

MAYBE WE SHOULD NOW TAKE A VOTE ON EACH CHARGE AND SEE WHERE WE STAND?

JORDAN

LETS’ DO THAT.

KENNEDY

OK, LET’S SEE WHERE WE ARE.

ELEANOR

ON THE FIRST CHARGE OF PROFITEERING, ALL VOTING INNOCENT RAISE YOUR HAND.

THERE ARE NO HANDS UP

ALL VOTING GUILTY ON THIS CHARGE RAISE YOU HAND.

ALL HANDS ARE RAISED.

ELEANOR

ON THE SECOND CHARGE, LYING ABOUT GOING TO WAR, ALL VOTING FOR INNOCENT RAISE YOU HANDS.

PATTON, IKE AND LINCOLN RAISE THEIR HANDS.

ELEANOR

ALL VOTING GUILTY RAISE YOUR HAND

WASHINGTON, ADAMS, ELEANOR, TEDDY, ROSS, JORDAN, JEFFERSON, KING AND KENNEDY RAISE THEIR HANDS.

ELEANOR

THE THIRD CHARGE IS MISAPPROPRIATION OF FEDERAL MONIES.

ALL VOTING FOR INNOCENT RAISE YOUR HAND.

NO HANDS GO UP

ALL VOTING FOR GUILTY, RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL HANDS GO UP

THE FOURTH CHARGE, LYING TO CONGRESS.

ALL VOTING INNOCENT RAISE YOUR HAND.

PATTON IS THE ONLY HAND RAISED

ALL VOTING FOR GUILTY RAISE YOUR HAND.

ELEVEN HANDS GO UP

ON THE FIFTH CHARGE, CAUSING COUNTLESS DEATHS OF INNOCENT IRAQIS DURING THE OCCUPATION

ALL VOTING INNOCENT RAISE YOUR HAND.

PATTON, IKE, ABE, WASHINGTON, TEDDY AND JEFFERSON RAISE THEIR HANDS

ALL VOTING GUILITY RAISE YOUR HAND.

ADAMS, ELEANOR, KENNEDY, ROSS, JORDAN AND KING GO UP

THE SIXTH AND LAST CHARGE IS THE MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

ALL VOTING INNOCENT RAISE YOUR HAND.

NO HANDS GO UP

ALL VOTING GUILITY RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL HANDS ARE RAISED

IF YOU WISH TO TAKE A BREAK, I WILL GO THROUGH THE LIST AND INFORM YOU SHORTLY OF WHERE WE ARE.

PATTON

YES, I CAN USE A BREAK, THIS BUSINESS IS WEARING ME OUT.

IKE

YES, I CAN USE SOME WALKING AROUND

THE JURY GETS UP AND MOVES AROUND, THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS TO HAPPEN NEXT.

JEFFERSON TALKING TO WASHINGTON

DO YOU THINK WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, PRESIDENT WASHINGTON?

WASHINGTON

YES, NO PRESIDENT SHOULD THINK OF HIMSELF AS A KING. WE MUST REMIND THE REPUBLIC THAT LEADERS SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PEOPLE.

ROSS TALKING TO ADAMS

MRS. ADAMS, DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLIC WILL SURVIVE MUCH LONGER?

ADAMS

CALL ME ABIGAIL --- YES, THE REPUBLIC WILL SURVIVE. EVERY TWO HUNDRED YEARS OR SO THERE SEEMS TO BE A CRISIS, BUT IT WILL SURVIVE.

KENNEDY TO TEDDY

THERE WERE A FEW TIMES, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO HIT ONE OF THE WITNESSES WITH THAT BIG STICK OF YOURS.

TEDDY

WELL, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU WERE RIGHT. I DID NOT LIKE THAT GUY CHENEY, OR THAT WOMAN, DR. RICE. I DID HAVE TO LAUGH WHEN BETSY ROSS WANTED TO BORROW MY STICK TO USE ON THE DOCTOR.

ELEANOR

I HAVE THE TALLY. WOULD YOU ALL TAKE YOUR PLACES AND I WILL TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE AT THE MOMENT.

ON CHARGE ONE------------------------------WAR PROFITEERING------------GUILTY(12)

ON CHARGE TWO-------------LYING ABOUT GOING TO WAR-----------INNOCENT (3) GUILTY (9)

ON CHARGE THREE----------MISAPPROPRIATION OF FEDERAL MONIES------

GUILTY (12)

ON CHARGE FOUR-----------LYING TO CONGRESS-----------------------------------

INNOCENT (1) GUILTY (11)

THE FIFTH CHARGE------------CAUSING COUNTLESS DEATHS OF INNOCENT IRAQIS DURING THE OCCUPATION-------------------------------------------------------

INNOCENT (6) GUILTY (6)

THE SIXTH CHARGE----------------THE MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS--------------

GUILTY (12)

ELEANOR

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WITH THE CHARGES WHICH DO NOT HAVE A CLEAR VERDICT?

PATTON

I CAME HERE THINKING THAT I WOULD NOT FIND PRESIDENT BUSH GUILTY OF ANYTHING, I GAVE YOU MY BEST AND HONEST DECISION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PLEASE DON’T ASK ME TO DO MORE.

WASHINGTON

I BELIEVE THAT GENERAL PATTON IS CORRECT. WE CAME TO LISTEN AND DECIDE. THOSE CHARGES THAT DO NOT HAVE 12 VOTES SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED AS UNDECIDED BY THIS JURY.

KENNEDY

I AGREE WITH GENERAL PATTON AND PRESIDENT WASHINGTON. WE HAVE DONE ENOUGH AND SHOULD ANNOUNCE OUR DECSION.

ELEANOR

ALL IN FAVOR OF ANNOUNCING OUR DECISIONS AS THEY STAND NOW, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL HANDS ARE RAISED.

WALKING INTO THE COURTROOM, ABIGAIL ADAMS WALKS UP TO GENERAL PATTON AND SAYS, “ YOU ARE A GOOD MAN GENERAL, AND YOU MAY CALL ME ABIGAIL.”

JUDGE

I UNDERSTAND YOU, THE JURY, HAVE DECIDED THIS CASE.

ELEANOR

YES, YOUR HONOR.

JUDGE

PLEASE READ YOUR DECISION TO PRESIDENT BUSH.

ELEANOR

WE HAVE FOUND PRESIDENT BUSH GUILTY ON THE FOLLOWING CHARGES:

WAR PROFITEERING

MISAPPROPRIATION OF FEDERAL MONIES

MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS

AS TO THE OTHER THREE CHARGES, WE WERE UNDECIDED AND VOTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE COULD NOT REACH A VERDICT.

JUDGE

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE. THE JURY HAS ACCOMPLISHED THEIR TASK AND NOW I WILL PASS SENTENCE UPON THE DEFENDANT.

PRESIDENT BUSH, PLEASE RISE AND HEAR THE FINAL JUDGEMENT OF THIS COURT. YOU WILL BE RETURNED AND ALLOWED TO CONTINUE YOUR LIFE, HOWEVER, WHEN YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT YOUR SOUL WILL TRAVEL TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD AND WILL BE PART OF THE SUFFERING CHILD. WHEN A BOMB IS DROPPED AND A CHILD IS KILLED YOU WILL FEEL THAT PAIN. WHEN A CHILD CRIES FOR FOOD, YOU WILL FEEL THAT HUNGER. WHEN A CHILD IS DYING FOR THE LACK OF MEDICINE, YOU WILL KNOW AND FEEL WHAT THE CHILD FEELS. YOU WILL REMEMBER THIS TRIAL AND EACH EXPERIENCE THAT YOU WILL HAVE DURING SLEEP. HOW YOU HANDLE YOUR AFFAIRS FROM THIS TIME ON WILL DETERMINE YOUR FINAL JUDGEMENT. I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU USE YOUR VERY LIMITED TIME TO EVALUATE WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE THIS DAY.

THIS IS THE END OR THE BEGINNING

BY JD WALSH COMPLETED ON 07/11/04