By Stowell P. Watters

Staff writer

Kennebunkport resident Laurie Dobson, running for U.S. Senate as anindependent candidate against Sen. Susan Collins, recently asked the town’sboard of selectmen to side with her and consider taking legal action against“the notorious war criminals George W. Bush and Dick Cheney,” by arresting themwhen they are in town. Dobson said she would not have the town arrest a sittingpresident but, because he frequents the town at his father’s home at Walker’sPoint, she would like to see him or Cheney arrested after their term in officeexpires or they are impeached.

“I have consulted my legal counsel and they have told me what I amasking for is not improper, it is not illegal and it is not impossible,” Dobsontold selectmen at a recent meeting. “This is something we empower citizens todo in Maine, whatever we don’t like and think is wrong we can bring up in townmeetings – it is our democratic right and privilege and one of the reasons I amproud to live in this state.”

Dobson’s main accusation against the current president is what shecalled “alleged war crimes,” the likes of which she said have resulted insimilar indictments in Germany, Japan and the city of Dublin, Ireland. She alsoreferenced a Newsweek poll which found 51 percent of Americans supportimpeachment of the current president.

She called the current war “illegal,” and said the ordinance couldlegally allow for the prosecution of Bush and Cheney as “alleged warcriminals.”

“It is not outrageous, it is advisable, prudent and even patriotic todefend our laws and treaties from being abused and ignored,” Dobson said.

Following her presentation to the board, Selectman Kristi Bryant begana wave of non-support for the issue.

“I do not feel it is within our authority,” she said.

“No, I do not want to move forward with this,” added Chairman MatLanigan.

“No, I don’t want to go anywhere with this,” said Selectman AllenDagget, ending the discussion.

Dobson ended by saying she would not stop seeking to create theordinance that would arrest the president and his second in command and thatshe will be creating a petition to collect 210 valid Kennebunkport votersignatures in hopes of creating a warrant.

“Under common law this will go forward, there are legal provisions. Iwill be proceeding with or without your help,” Dobson said, leaving the podiumat the Village Fire Station in Kennebunkport.

On Feb. 26 Dobson held a conference near Walker’s Point inKennebunkport where she told press and residents of her indictment plans, whichwere drafted by Brattleboro, Vt. political activist Kurt Daims. There she urgedonlookers to come to the Kennebunkport Board of Selectmen meeting and supporther.

Dobson said in a previous interview with the Post that her campaign fora senate seat will be represented by the symbol of a blue lobster.

“I will speak until I am blue in the face,” she said. “The lobster andI are both a rarity.”

To this affect, Dobson illustrated her campaign platform. Unlike anyother Senate candidate to her knowledge, Dobson is running a pro-impeachment,anti-war campaign. She said she is emphatically clear about her disgust of thecurrent administration and Maine Congressman Tom Allen.

“Tom Allen is regarded as the anti-war champion in current politics,yet he signs bills that provide war funding,” she previously said. “Tom Allenis a coward.”

“There are impeachable offenses that have been committed, including adirect violation of the 1862 War Profiteering Act,” she said. “Our countryfeels rotten at the core, and the only way to end this is to impeach thecurrent administration, restore constitutional law, repeal the Patriot act andend the erosion of civil liberties.”

Another leg of her campaign focuses on an immediate national healthcare program that she views as a necessity for those who have fought for thecountry. She said too many veterans have to go though an extensive waitingperiod before they receive the money they need to get well.

“When we stop spending a trillion dollars a year for perpetual war withthe rest of the world, we will have the means to pay for universal health care,and doing this is my pledge,” she wrote on her Web site and blogwww.lauriedobson.blogspot.com.

In the Senate she said she would also push for a nationwide civilprogram that would give high school graduates an option besides college or thearmy, one that would put them to work throughout America reconstructingbuildings, rebuilding those areas affected by Katrina and performing other actsof civil labor for the betterment of the country.

“We have no plan to end the war and we have no plan to address theproblems our country will face after the war,” Dobson said.

To contact Stowell P. Watters call 282-4337 ext. 219 or emailnews@kennebunkpost.com.