Israel has just indicted former Prime Minister Olmert for economic crimes that could lead to a long prison term. No one in Israel seems to be arguing that prosecuting a former PM shouldn't happen because it will tear the country apart. Peru recently sent former top dog Fulimori in jail for many years for political crimes. Nothing happened afterwards to tear Peru apart. Yet, from the MSM to the Obama Administration there is a consensus that OUR country, presumably one based on the rule of law, will fall apart if Cheney, Bush et al. are brought to justice for violating domestic and international law.
A similar argument was made after Watergate when it came to prosecuting President Nixon himself, though packing Haldeman, Mitchell and others off to jail was acceptable.
What would constitute "tearing the country apart?" Does it have any meaning whatsoever? Would millions riot if Dick Cheney went to jail? Or Bush. Or Rumsfeld? All those old white men manning the barricades for them. Not likely. Would the South secede? What is the fear exactly? No one ever wants to talk about it because it's non-existent in terms ordinary citizens would care about.
It's hard to avoid the conclusion that the national political class protects it's own when it comes to accountability for crimes. True, if you're a governer and are corrupt like many in Illinois and elewhere have been it's ok to prosecute and imprison. But at the Executive branch level even economic crimes must lead to resignation at most---Agnew. It would be great if someone like Maddow or Olbermann would devote some airtime to addressing this mystery that makes Eric Holder pull his punches and investigate only those who went beyond sanctioned illegalities to commit unsanctioned ones.