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TechnoratiAn Open Letter to Nancy Pelosi
Madam Speaker:
It is time to impeach George Bush and Dick Cheney.
We all know the case for doing so: the litany of this administration's offenses is long and tragic, the damage they have wrought to our nation and the principles it was founded upon profound.
And yet many of us understood - even if we did not agree - when you said "impeachment is off the table." Your case was credible, if not persuasive. The proceedings would have been disruptive, making progress in other areas difficult, and the fact that three of the last six presidents would have been impeached by the opposition party could have damaged the presidency and sunk this nation into a permanent partisan war. It could have fed the notion that impeachment proceedings were simply another political maneuver to be used by partisans to cripple their opponents, much as partisan Republicans did with Clinton. And with two years remaining, this did seem a high price to pay for getting rid of George Bush and his partners in crime. Taking the high road had a certain nobility, even if it didn't satisfy a hunger for justice many of us felt.
But now - with scarcely eighteen months left - you have no choice but to impeach Bush and Cheney regardless of the cost, because it has become increasingly clear that the very foundations of this nation have been assaulted as never before in our history, and to let that record stand would be an act of cowardice on your part and a dangerous precedent to future presidents.
Others have laid out the specific charges, and they are legion. But it is the nature and character of the offenses which leave you no choice. This administration has not simply broken specific provisions of arcane laws, or committed "misdemeanors." They have sought to fundamentally rewrite the Constitution in a manner that is more to their liking. They have systematically put the interest of a political party over the interests of the nation, committing serious crimes in the process.
The commitment to basic civil rights inherent in the Bill of Rights has been violated with a cavalier arrogance unprecedented in our Nation's history. Both the First Amendment and the Fourth Amendment have been compromised. Indeed, had it not been for the Supreme Court, these cherished provisions would have been all but consigned to history's trash heap. But we can no longer rely on them to safeguard our rights. The new Court has exhibited a reckless disregard for precedent, and a certain randomness in their interpretation of the Constitution in general and the Bill of Rights in particular.
The careful system of checks and balances, so carefully constructed in our Constitution, and so jealously guarded by elected officials throughout our history has been eviscerated by signing statements, secrecy, and lies. The de facto dictatorship of the executive has been enshrined in the theory of the "unitary executive."
This has all been done under cover of a never-ending "war" which this President and Vice-president lied the country into. Indeed, to this day, they cannot articulate a real reason for embarking on this war. The President has proffered no less than twenty-two separate justifications for it, and none has survived scrutiny. Iraq has become the ultimate - and ultimately tragic - tautology: we are there because we are there. But now, as the clarifying lens of history brings this catastrophe into sharper focus, the full cynicism and criminality of this administration's Iraq policy is emerging: we are there because of oil interests, and the political clout a war president can wield.
Finally, this administration has played fast and loose with the most fundamental principle in a democracy: the vote. Born in deceit in Florida 2000; re-elected in 2004 with the taint of voter fraud in Ohio; accused of politicization of the Justice Department - the guardian of the right to vote - in 2006, there is a rapidly growing body of credible evidence that they played an active roll in caging voters, suppressing turnout, and constructing a legal staff at Justice that would support such efforts.
All of this has been conducted under a cloak of official secrecy reminiscent of the Soviet Union. Characteristically, they have stonewalled attempts to examine their records, ignored Congressional subpoenas, and withheld information needed for Congressional oversight. Indeed, it is now known that the White House maintained a shadow e-mail system and used it for official business, and that some 500 critical e-mails from the official White House system are "missing." Meanwhile, Cheney has made the preposterous claim that he is not a part of the executive branch in order to avoid disclosing any information to the Nation's archives, making a mockery of our Constitution.
Honest men and women can no longer doubt that there is more than probable cause to impeach Bush and Cheney on the most serious of charges and the highest of crimes.
In the end, their chief offense has been nothing less than to treat the Constitution as a document of convenience. They have substituted their theory of governance for that of our founding fathers.
If you fail to impeach Bush and Cheney, you elevate the opinions of partisan hacks like Addington, Yoo, and Gonzales, over the cherished and proven principles of governance advanced by statesmen such as Adams, Jefferson, and Madison, and our nation and our democracy will forever be changed, for the worse.
Yes, impeachment is disruptive; yes, we must preserve it for only the most heinous of offenses; and yes, it will make it difficult to conduct other business.
But future presidents must know that they will be held accountable; they must know that they cannot ignore the Constitution simply by wagging the dog; they must know that Congress is vigilant and that they serve the people by jealously protecting their rights.
Fear is democracy's worst enemy, secrecy its greatest threat, but they are a despot's best friend. Despots operate in secret and thrive on the ignorance it creates. They wield fear to frighten the people and paralyze opposition.
Those who would champion freedom must have the courage to confront the fear-monger and expose his stratagems and the wisdom to know when it is necessary.
Two hundred and twenty years ago, as the constitutional convention was concluding, a lady asked Benjamin Franklin whether we had a Republic or Monarchy. Franklin's famous reply, "A Republic, if you can keep it," is as true today as it was then.
History is watching, Madam Speaker. The fate of our Republic is in your hands. We look now to you for the wisdom to know it is time, and courage to act upon it.
John Atcheson's writing has appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, The San Jose Mercury News and several other major papers. He is currently at work on a novel about global warming.
86 Comments so far
Show AllNANCY PELOSI MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!
The more money that Cindy Sheehan raises, the more accountable she becomes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUi-oIEARVQ
I don't live in the US but my country went to war with yours, and the leader of my country has recently admitted that we can't leave Iraq because of the oil situation. I really do believe, from a foreigner's point of view, that you need to impeach both Bush and Cheney in order to help restore US credibility in the eyes of the world. Bush (and others) has decimated the soft power of the US by explicit war-mongering and clumsy diplomacy. Your military power is nothing compared to what you could achieve with your soft power, as a great nation committed to equality and liberty in action as well as words, in the eyes of the rest of the world. If your country (through complacency or a flawed electoral system or fraud) could not prevent someone like Bush coming to power, that is one thing, but if you refuse to prosecute such blatant abuse of your consitution then the US is no better than any other enormous military power, drunk on its own wealth. We have some measure of hope in Nancy Pelosi, if she is a politician of the people, and we should each of us also remember that we all depend on oil in our daily lives, and should bear some measure of responsibility for the oil companies acquiring such unprecedented power world-wide, and over our respective governments: governments which should exist, at least in part, to protect us from such powerful selfish men. The funding of alternative fuel research and development must be boosted (perhaps to the tune of the cost of the war in Iraq?) and war criminals must be prosecuted. It goes hand in hand, or the same thing will happen again: people will go to war over oil.
The main point i came here to make is this: if you don't impeach, the US will not regain the trust of the wider world for generations to come.
Thanks for allowing me to post here.
To begin, there is no way that the Democrats will introduce impeachment articles because they need to save their political capital for 2008, but also because any potential case would hinge upon mountains of circumstantial evidence, not to mention turn the average American away from a party that looks like it cares more about picking a fight with the White House, rather than RUNNING THE COUNTRY in Congress, which should be more important. I come from a military family and used to think that I was a Conservative Democrat, but the party's idiotic leadership led me to "see the light and turn to the right." If there is some degree of frustration with the Democrats about the Clinton-era impeachment proceedings, they should find other ways to vent their feelings. The reality is that every war is centered on the procurement or securing of natural resources (remember why Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor?) I seem to remember it having something to do with oil..... In addition, in every war fauly intelligence exists and tends to muddle even the most effectively thought-out battle plans (Does anyone recall Clinton's sojourn in Somalia, or the countless months he stalled before acting on the genocide taking place in Kosovo?) It would seem that if we are to criticize President Bush for a war that we implicitly supported from the beginning (can anyone honestly say that Saddam Hussein had no ties to terrorism whatsoever and did not wish for the destruction of the United States?-his reign of terror HAD to come to an end), then former President Clinton, (the filth of a man that Democrats continue to glorify for his excellent surfing skills during a wave of economic prosperity) should receive every criticism for his failures to address the Civil War between the CIA and FBI and the waiting period before deciding that it might be a good idea to stop wholesale slaughter in Kosovo. Not to mention the ever-so-tiny fact that he LIED before 2 Federal Grand Juries. These are grounds for Impeachment. It saddens me that the Democratic Party has been hijacked by liberal intellectual interests that in glowing criticisms of the war distance themselves from their subjects. I recently read an article in the International Herald Tribune, and I think from the poorly-edited final paragraph I garnered that the intellectual elite at the Herald is somehow separated from the rest of America, or at least this was the author's tone. Regardless of your opinion on the war, at the end of the day we are all Americans. The Democratic Party used to symbolize this. I think that that belief system died before I was born however. Drawing from this, the continual appearance of Cindy Sheehan in the news disgusts me-she believes that somehow she will challenge Ms. Pelosi and then save the country by impeaching the President. She has dishonored the memory of her son, who very few people today can now name, because it was never about fighting for her son and attempting to find a way to make his sacrifice honorable- it was about her the entire time. These are voices Democrats must distance from themselves. Regardless of what has happened, there are still many of us who have left the flock and would like to return, but only when exceptional leadership returns-impeaching President Bush will only push us farther away. Is the war in Iraq a tragedy?-because it was poorly planned, yes. Will President Bush be remembered as the greatest President in the history of the Republic?-NO. Should he be impeached?-ABSOLUTELY NOT
John,Thanks for this open letter,I read that Shrub is refusing yet again to talk about withdrawing troops.I don't know how much pressure Cindy and the peace movement can bring to bear,but we should all call ,fax and e-mail the speaker on the same day in shifts.If she could do no other bussiness untill dealing with this ,maybe she would take a stand.
peace j.a.h.
Thank you, Fran. I'm guessing that "the misdeeds" are way worse than we know. Also, that it's going to be a long-old roller coaster ride with plenty of bumps, some grinds, and an abundance of shockeroos.
Occasional Observer: Very well said. Your letter is a gem. I can see that we are all in a process of "finding our voices," ...And learning to communicate in ways that might actually be able to be heard by others.
Each of us who learns to look inward, as well as outward, re- this learning process 'encourages' others to find their own courage, their voice and their humility. Add originality/creativity, and a heavy dose of careful, critical thinking, and the ride can begin in earnest - with a goal of reaching various necessary "tipping points." Before it's too late.
I'm thinking that these are qualities that all of us need to nurture in ourselves and one another. That is, if we're in this for the long haul.
l.j. fernandez
"...the downward descent into megalomanic hell and the psychopathological need to take the world along for the ride. We don't need to put Dick on the couch to know where his thinking is headed as his power wanes. What we need right now is a congress as preemptive as he has been."
l.j. - Appreciate your outlook here and very much agree!
DuraMater --- I believe such an international tribunal is in the works.
============
At least we're all here and thinking together!
We should impeach Nancy too!
PowerofLove July 8th, 2007 4:39 pm wrote:
"..Sadly, Demos have needed to allow the Current Occupants' treacherous motives and deeds to be seen for what they are by a frightened, distracted, and complacent America public —– At least to the point where an "average citizen" begins to think/mumble to self - the dreaded I-word, as in, "maybe it's not such a bad idea (and necessary) after all. These guys are Dangerous."
"The Demos need to appear to have the American people (or some semblance thereof) force their hand in the face of the Enormity of the Misdeeds."
I totally agree with this perception. And the American public now has the tools to make their views known and put the pressure on Pelosi and everyone in Congress. They still have the power and the tide is shifting in their direction.
Check out www.wethepeopleforpeace.org
Fran
Everyone is bitchin, but few are acting. Armchair activists are like armchair quarterbacks, they know everything except what it feels like to be in the game. Get off your ass and get to D.C. on the 23rd of July. Stand out in front of the White House and yell "I AM MAD AS HELL AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!" We can knock Pelosi and the others for their lack of action, but have we done everything we could? Have we exhausted all our options? You say you want a revolution? Quit waiting for someone else to start it. I don't care if you're white, male, female, black,gay,straight,democrat,republican,liberal,conservative,hispanic,native american,christian,pagan,islamic or jewish, if this is your country then WAKE UP. We are under attack from within. And all those other difference won't matter a whit if we don't pull together and regain control of our government.
Sang Ze - "The only way avoid catastrophe of Global Empire without representation is to stop talking nonsense of taking America back… Taking from whom and giving to whom, I venture to ask."
...............er?!!
Some may rightly argue that Pelosi and Company have good reasons for their failure to act as voters expected them to do when they were elected. But, then, they also have an obligation to explain their position to their constituents. It is this which has produced the outrage and disdain of the people for the current Congress, and it is this which may well cost them re-election in 2008. Direct and simple communication might go a long way toward restoring credibility. Where is Pelosi? Why does she and her colleagues not want to communicate with us? I believe we have the right to expect to hear from them.
"The only way to take back America is to take it away from the corporations and powerful and give back to "we the people"."
The only way avoid catastrophe of Global Empire without representation is to stop talking nonsense of taking America back... Taking from whom and giving to whom, I venture to ask. As if America ever belonged to her people save for revolutionary times, which were glossed over by Hessians of pen. Remember Whisky Rebellion, Chicago Hay Market massacre, Farmer's Party suppression, Ken State &c. Outrage is a very bad servant and understanding how things work is mandatory for every reformer.
Many a revolutionary on these fora are talking aloud against market and Capitalism, as if they are ready to forfeit their pensions, tied to market indices. These are grave times that raise grave questions. Yet, many people talk as if this or that individual or political party may do the shtick.
I suggest to use Common Dreams to get out of nicknames and talk seriously and openly. We are all under NSA surveillance any way.
Both Republicans and Democrats gave Bush his authorization for war when there was ample indication that the reasons were bogus. As much as I think Bush should face impeachment, so should all that didn't turn an about-face on the two parties in 2003. If you're still a registered Democrat or Republican, you're still part of the problem.
Impeachment is necessary, but it is not going to resolve the core problem of American politics. The only way to take back America is to take it away from the corporations and powerful and give back to "we the people". Corporations and the mega rich have taken over the political arena in order to promote and enforce their greed. It is currently impossible to be considered a candidat at any level of politics without the financial backing of the culprits who put profit & private interests at the top of the slate. BOTH parties are complicit in this travesty. The two party system should be abolished, they are both corrupt. Outlaw ALL lobbies. When politicians quit working for the CEOs and start working for the common man, America will truely be a free country (In Debt We Trust)
I'll return to the States when I can be proud of the government that SERVES it's people.
I had a dream........... politics is not a business, it is simply a management tool.
The only question I have about impeachment by the House is:
What will the Joint Chiefs do?
Cheney and Bush will turn to them before they turn in their authority. Will the military make a coupe, put tanks in the streets, murder and disappear citizens? Or will the military refuse to move against the citizens when ordered to do so by the criminals in the office?
We shall see.
This article inspired me to write an email to Ms. Pelosi urging her to impeach them, and referring her to this article (giving the tile, author, and URL address). If everyone here would do the same, it might have some impact. There may not be a whole lot we can do, but we can at least do this. http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
The author of the article talks about the horrible precedent this administration has set. Can it be that he sees that as a new angle on this whole mess? I've been calling Bush "Mr. Precedent" for over 6 years.
The Corporacrats know that folks are mad at the Corporublicans, and ready to turn them out of office. They're looking forward to throwing the folks a few crumbs of civil liberty, and then continuing the process just as it's been handed to them.
The main thing is that the corporate sponsors of both wings of our ruling class have achieved a new level of intimacy with governance, done it with zero oversight or hindrance, and convinced most Americans that the definition of "unpatriotic left-wing extremist" is someone who tells the truth about what's going on.
The Corporacrats will pick up this process where the Corporublicans have left off, and we'll call ourselves happy that they've replaced those bums we're mad at (until we're mad at the new bums). The real ownership and control of governmental decisionmaking will not change one iota.
Ms. Pelosi is well aware of who is buttering her toast. Go ahead and raise a ruckus. Tell her how you feel about it. If you've got 100K for her campaign, with the promise of more next year, she might even listen to you.
Peach McD in Durham NC
If we don't impeach we will never again have an ounce of crediability or respectablity ourselves. The future of this country demands this President be held accountable for his crimes. It has been one long assault on our system of government from the day this man took office. He has tried to rewrite the Constituion with the help of his right-wing fascist cronies. He has lied to the country about the need to go to war. He has used our military for his own private purposes. Done what ever he felt like doing at the expense of the American people. This country remindes me more of the old Soviet Union than it does the USA that I was born in. We can all thank George W Bush for that. How many more reasons do people need to call for impeachment???? If we do not hold him accountable then we are no better than he is. He is within a year and a half of being out of reach of proscution. We need to send a message loud and clear to future President's you aren't going to get away with raping and plundering the country. If we don't it will be a replay of Nixon, Bush and someone else probably worse than him (if that's possible)! I firmly believe now Nixon never should have never been pardoned by Ford. It sent the wrong kind of message to a future President. Nothing much would happen to him but having to resign in disgrace. Nixon was a monk compared to Bush. As soon as I finish here I intent on E Mailing Nancy Pelosi. If she get's enough people calling for impeachment she might do something about him!
Pelosi is a Democrat. That means the only way she'd listen to a letter like this is if you also enclosed a check for $500,000.
you nailed it LMJacaMike. no pun intended. :)
"THIS executive branch MUST KNOW that THEY WILL be HELD ACCOUNTABLE!"
Vic Anderson July 8th, 2007 3:18 pm
Amen
This is the most important factor in this sorry saga.
I still can't see it folks, how can we constantly be screeming impeachment against president Bush and let all those other congreesmen off the hook, who being privy to all the latest intel, jumped on the war wagon, leading us all into Iraq like a bunch of drunken cowboys. Mrs. Clinton, she knew and voted for war, yet she is supposedly the front running Democratic contender.
I'm a carpenter by trade and really don't get too mixed up in the fray and popular hysterics, but even us of the politicaly uneducated never doubted that this war was oil driven. We don't like paying those high prices at the pump either but common sense will tell you that with all the money being spent in Iraq we could have subsidised the American populations driving habits with a simple reimbursement through our tax return system. WE could of at least gotten some reimbursement for our costs related to getting to work. I'm sure we wouldn't have wanted the gov't to pay for our frivolousness, but our have to habits would be nice.
But anywho, we can't have equal justice if we crucify our president and let all those other folks who knew the facts, off the hook. Wouldn't be right, wouldn't make much sense. The congress said "YES,YES,YES!" in chorus of overwelming consent. IN actuality, they are the ones standing right along side the President who made it possible for us to get stuck in this pot hole. And speeking of pot, it reminds me of the old saying, "the Pot(congress) calling the kettle(the Pres.)black. I would like a sincere and honest apology from all the bastards, then hang them all out to dry and start all over again.......A-Man...LM
Bill Clinton wasn't the hero some make him out to be. He also supported the "silent" genocide of Iraqis long before the second Official invasion began. But this isn't about respect. This is about one man being impeached. For lying about letting a woman, who was not his wife, put her mouth on his penis.
How many human beings have been murdered by US soldiers at the command of BushInc? A million? How many men, women, boys and girls, have been raped, tortured, destroyed by US soldiers at the command of BushInc? Thousands and thousands? How many Iraqi children have watched their fathers and brothers "taken away" in the middle of the night, never to see their loved ones again? How many people were slaughtered in their bedrooms when US soldiers massacred Fallujah? Thousands and thousands of lives? How much depleted uranium has the military, at BushInc's command, dropped on the enviroment of Iraq? How many other creatures, cats dogs birds insects cows pigs sheep horses donkeys and others, have been slaughtered by US soldiers? Millions and millions?
And "impeachment is off the table". I'm so disgusted. Ashamed. Fed up. Sick. I'm already making plans to move out of America. It's not that I don't love the essence of this country, its people, its enviroment, its vitality, its diversity. I just can't go on living in and giving to an organization that promotes such terror and hatred toward Life.
And NO!!! I do NOT support "the troops" anymore. I felt pity for those who signed up because the believed Bin Landen attacked America. Their hearts were in the right place, at that time. But the idiots signing up for military service these days? Fools! Why should I "support" sadistic criminals who agree to partake in terror? Since when does that make me patriotic toward my country???
Dream on.
The folks in congress, whom we wishfully call our "elected representatives" are all in the same cabal. To look to them for responsible, appropriate action has become lamentably naive. The dumocrats are still afraid of King George the Wth, and are just as venal as his crew. Wouldn't want to offend any potential campaign contributors, now, would we? A highly illustrative example is Hillary, who went from boosting single-payer health care to being the second-highest paid recipient of pharma lobbying money. And she's about to buy the presidency in '08.
The only reasonable course is to vote all the bastards out and start over.
Madame Speaker,
We voted for you and you're letting us down. You are betraying us. Cindy Sheehan gets my backing in next race. She's no coward.
Friends and Loyal Americans,
A respectful suggestion _
If anyone out there is in a position to work with US city councils, which have passed resolutions condemning the Iraq war, etc., how about a more succinct resolution of REAL rebellion? Such as _
"Because George W. Bush and Richard Cheney have clearly demonstrated their incompetence, corruption and contempt for the people and Constitution of the United States of America, the city of XX(City name) hereby resolves to NO LONGER RECOGNIZE THEIR AUTHORITY AS PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. If Bush or Cheney enters XX(City name) for any reason, our law enforcement and other officials will refuse to offer them protection, and we cannot guarantee their safety."
COME ON!!! It's time to get real. Our country is in serious danger. We owe this to our children. No amount of discussion will help.
Rise up and man up. Our children and grandchildren deserve better. If we don't do something, we're letting them down, and trashing our entire legacy as a "free country."
Come on, Eugene, Oregon; come on, Ann Arbor, Michigan; come on, Boulder, Colorado; come on Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota.
Please.
Here's what I just wrote to Speaker Pelosi:
Madam Speaker,
Why won't you move to impeach Bush & Cheney? A majority of the American public wants it (unlike with President Clinton). Most Americans are more than aware of the many high crimes and misdemeanors committed in our name by this bunch.
So why?
Might it be political calculation that Democrats, running against a demoralized and unpopular Republican party, can clean up in 2008? Well, I have news for you. Many of us, the left wing of the Democratic party, are prepared NOT to support Democrats in 2008, let the chips fall where they may, if you and the rest of your party do not get in gear and do something about the abuses being perpetrated by Bush and Cheney on the Constitution and the American and Iraqi people.
I implore you to get on with the process of bringing JUSTICE back into American politics. The time for political calculus is over. DO WHAT IS RIGHT!
Sincerely,
Andrew Hedges, Rio Rancho, NM
Lobo Gris;
You took the words off my keyboard. I just posted that great CINDY SHEEHAN news on another thread on impeachment in the article on Chenney a couple of days back that is still getting comments.
Thanks Mr. Atcheson for your letter. There is no need anymore to be polite to Pelosi. There is FREIGHT TRAIN NOW SPPEEDING AT HER CALLED - - CINDY SHEEHAN !!!
Americans, friends(?), countrymen, lend me your ears! (at fifteen percent compounding, it's the best rate on the market! ;)
Does anyone remember something called the Russell Tribunal, also known as the International War Crimes Tribunal or Russell-Sartre Tribunal,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Tribunal
which examined the role of the US in South Vietnam and against North Vietnam?
What is stopping us from setting up one such tribunal to examine the roles of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Gonzalez, etc, in the light of US constitutional law? Relying on publically available information, relying on public US law - before it was butchered by these killer clowns - and finishing up with a formal submission combined with all the towns and cities' impeachment resolutions, to Congress?
I can assure you, it will be reported world-wide. The thought of that level of citizen power, is going to arouse interest. I can guarantee it. (And that's only a five minute borrowing of your ears. Sorry, it compounds daily. But it's still the best rate on the market! ;)
logrithmic July 8th, 2007 6:21 pm
"This just in - Sheehan plans to challenge Pelosi for her seat UNLESS she introduces articles of impeachment. YEAH!"
If she does I will donate and offer volunteer work for her campaign.
Lobo Gris
dutch1949 July 8th, 2007 4:11 pm
"There will be no impeachment because there are no impeachable offenses. Pelosi knows this. Reid knows this. Clinton off all people knows this."
B*llsh*t. Bush has publicly admitted to violating the 1978 FISA act and a Federal court has already ruled that in doing so he violated the 4th amendment to the Constitution. Not to mention him violating his oath of office. Then there is the case of him locking up American citizens for an extended period, three years in the case of Padilla, without ever charging him. Violations of the 5th, 6th, and 8th amendments
#
"asnet July 8th, 2007 8:39 pm
No smoking gun."
Same answer as to Dutch1949 above
Lobo Gris
Don't forget it was Always Iraq's Petroleum (our) Army Captured. There's a heafty price tag for any politician to go against that.
aquietman is absolutely correct. The "off the table" statement was one of the most politically stupid things to do in modern times. On par with the "bring em on" Bush statement.
Another thought occurs to me: politically, it's a very delicate situation for Pelosi to call for the impeachment of BOTH Bush & Cheney, because she is next in line for the Oval Office, and it might look like she is gunning for the top job. Even if it isn't true, you KNOW that's how the Rove spin machine and its shock troops in talk radio will spin it.
And their jobs will be made easier because Pelosi is a woman--easy to tap into all that free-floating anti-feminist anger and anxiety that the rank and file of Bush voters (people like my dad: white, non-college-educated males from the heartland, over a certain age) carry with them just below the surface all the time.
I believe that Rush Limbaugh et al have enjoyed the success that they have because they have capitalized on this anger and anxiety. The world has changed fast and in often frightening ways for those of my father's generation and older, especially those lacking the educational tools to comprehend what's going on with any kind of nuance or depth. Rush tells them who to be angry at: Feminists! Gays! Immigrants! Liberals!
And they buy it. I have always known my dad to be a gentle, generous man; but after he started listening to Limbaugh things started coming out of his mouth that were pure hateful spew, and had obviously not been processed through his brain first.
Once we've impeached the bastards, or prosecuted them, or otherwise hoisted them on their own petard, we need to restore the Fairness Doctrine and revoke corporate personhood, pronto -- or we will never get our democracy back. Next, publicly financed campaigns.
"The new Court has exhibited a reckless disregard for precedent, and a certain randomness in their interpretation of the Constitution in general and the Bill of Rights in particular."
There's nothing random about it: the rulings have all been designed to end any recourse that consumers and employees hurt by Big Bidness have, including free speech.
Earthian: thanks for the list of Reps with integrity and backbone. Barbara Lee speaks for me!!! (I don't know why the hell the San Franciscans who elected Pelosi aren't storming her office until she gets off her tidy white butt about this. IMPEACH!!!)
First when Dennis Kucinich pui forth HR 333 which is impeachment of Cheney, he was alone. Then 5 others endorsed the bill now it is 14.
We have to get our own Congressman to endorse or threaten him with kicking him/her out of office. Get other candidates who will endorse HR333 to run against them for office.
There are 435 Congresspeople and we have a long way to go.
Don't be so impatient and end up throwing out the wrong people- such as Pelosi for whom many of us are actually grateful and very proud to have a woman leader in the House.
How about getting Ms. Pelosi's constituents to initiate a recall?
That might get the attention of the DLC dullwits in Congress.
"But now - with scarcely eighteen months left - you have no choice but to impeach Bush and Cheney regardless of the cost, because it has become increasingly clear that the very foundations of this nation have been assaulted as never before in our history, and to let that record stand would be an act of cowardice on your part and a dangerous precedent to future presidents."
In my not-so-humble opinion, it would not only display cowardice to allow this administration to continue running our country as a dictatorship, it would also suggest a betrayal on the part of Congress not to hold the executive branch responsible for its unconstitutional behavior.
Congress has "investigative"..."subpoena"..."contempt"..."grant of immunity" and "perjury powers" to control the bureaucracy in this country; the problem lies in their unwillingness or neglect to exercise those powers.
After decades of neglecting their "oversight" responsibilities as representatives of the people, the majority in the House and Senate continue to pursue the same-as-ususal, screw-you attitude toward the people who elect them into office.
How much longer will you tolerate this B.S. before you cast a vote for a candidate who is willing to listen and respond to your voice and not the voices of the controlling elite?
Frankly, I've reached my toleration point. I WILL NOT continue to support the criminal element in this government, regardless of which party they belong to.
Enough is enough....and I have had enough!
Hey Dutch, I know it is useless to try to change people's minds, but when you bring up the term "islamofascists" it is a buzzword for the right wing nuts and although you have a right to your opinions, you really shouldn't express them when the world knows that the Islamists that want to implement Islamic law are about as far away ideologically from the real fascists that are running this country and other countries in the world. Do yourself a favor and google the definition of Fascism. It is a movement founded by Benito Mussollini (but its roots go back to a much earlier time).
FYI, the Bush/Cheny/Clinton group are so alike they cannot be seperated without surgery.
As far as your prediction about 2008, just remember whose family was financially connected with the terrorists who used airplanes to make their point, the Bush family. But that is not the point. Bush and his administration have committed crtimes against the people of this country, as well as the rest of the world. They lied about the reason for the war, about the war itself, as well as countless other ciminal offenses. In fact, their disrespect for the constitution (another thing you should google and read) is in itself criminal.
Impeach them, impeach them now, and don't stop with them, get them all. If the republican's steal the next election, Dutch, you will be happy, but I'm leaving, But if you expect things to get better, it won't matter who wins, things will get worse before they get better.
To get Bush and Cheney impeached We The People need to do our part. We need to gather in the 100's of thousands and millions and hold angry, loud, disruptive demonstrations. We have to be ready to be tear-gassed and clubbed by riot cops, as anti-Vietnam war and civil rights demonstrators were.
Maybe Ms. Pelosi doesn't want to impeach because she's afraid she will be swiftboated? What's in her closet?
IMPEACH PELOSI! "..........to defend the Constitution from ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC." You took the Oath, NANCY.
When a politician makes a statement as concrete as 'it's off the table,' they won't change their mind. Otherwise they will be called a flipflopper which can mean defeat for a politician.
I don't think she has the guts to reverse her position on impeachment after such a bold statement. And it was a stupid thing for her to say after the Dems took over, because it just gave a green light to Bush and Cheney to do whatever they wanted - there would be no consequences...
She won't act. We will have to endure these nutjobs ruining the country for another 18 months. Maybe some citizens group can then sue them for their crimes....
Impeachment is too honorable.
The people of America (and world) need an immediate FIRING, removal and sentencing of the Bush/Cheney administration and everyone of its cohorts for incompetency and crimes against the country.
Only then will a loud and clear message be sent to people who are elected to represent the American people's wishes for peace, harmony and constructive prosperity, not conflict and a declining society.
Impeachment of the President and his VP is mandatory because of what they have already done. However it is urgent in order to stop them from getting us into another un-winnable war, this time with Iran.
Madam Speaker please concur with what your constituents require from you.
"Let 's just hope Pelosi reads this "open letter", for hope is all what us "commonors" have left at this point!"
No---- JP Breeze it is not---- we can all---- all citizens, give the following message to Ms.Pelosi and the rest of the congress-----
Use your vote to impeach and hold this cabal of puppets accountable, Or I will use mine to replace you in the next election.
As all of you wax so eloquently and passionately about the clear need for impeachment, I hope you are all supporting DENNIS KUCINICH in his bid for the presidency, with cash, with verbal acclaim to friends and acquaintances, instead of the warmongering, corporate-owned Big Dollar Bunch, all Pelosi's buddies!
DENNIS KUCINICH is the ONLY one with the courage and honesty to initiate impeachment through H.Res.333. Obama, Clinton, Biden, Edwards: they all pretend Dennis isn't there when he speaks at forums, or condescend to him. Get behind him, please, if you TRULY believe in the cause for impreachment.
These other candidates need to be pressured loudly and taken solidly to task for following in corporate interest-beholden Pelosi's footsteps.....
www.kucinich.us
No smoking gun.
l.j. fernandez wrote:
"What we need right now is a congress as preemptive as he has been."
Let me add...What we need is a congress of, by and for the people, not corporate interests!
I agree enthusiastically. Let's get on with it before time runs out.
History has long observed the downward descent into megalomanic hell and the psychopathological need to take the world along for the ride. We don't need to put Dick on the couch to know where his thinking is headed as his power wanes. What we need right now is a congress as preemptive as he has been.
Excellent letter, John. I wrote this to Nancy Pelosi:
Dear Madame Speaker,
I refer you to John Atcheson's open letter at [cite].
These past six years have witnessed a relentless perversion by the Bush/Cheney administration of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it, now by stealth, now brazenly, but always by design and with a smugness born of the belief that no one will take them up on the matter.
They disgust every American raised on the ideals that made this nation great, ideals to which most of us still aspire, even as we see them trampled before our very eyes -- the more so for it!
Libby's commutation is only the most recent outrage. For me it was the last straw. I urge you to drop your position on impeachment and get on with it! Let me say this in conclusion: any Beltway consultants who advise you otherwise do not know the American heart or the good it yearns to see in its political leadership. Listen to the people.
Please!
Nancy Pelosi will be denounced now and forever not for failing to impeach the President and Vice President, but for not having the courage to really try.
For this reason alone she deserves not to be elected again. For this reason alone she deserves to be shunned by all Americans
Nancy Pelosi is accountable to AIPAC and only to AIPAC. When these "scholars" and "visiting fellows" deign to green-light the impeachment it might then happen. But they are getting everything just exactly as they want it and like it from Bush and Cheney so it will never happen.
Pelosi can also be counted upon to vote in favor of attacking Iran when ordered to do so. She has already pledged as much to AIPAC in person. From the Washington perspective, there is no legitimate competing consideration. It is how you stay in office... history, democracy, morality, statemanship, honor be damned.
IMPEACH PELOSI!
Pelosi and the Dems won't impeach because, I believe, it's not that they're cowards, but that they are as interested in maintaining the empire as much as the GOP and won't do anything to threaten it. The Democrats are just a smaller pile of the same $#!+ as the Republicans.
Revolution is nigh!
So far just about everything that has moved through congress demanding justice be served has been looked over or shot down. No guts - no glory. Pelosi knows what she has to do and now the country is watching the first female speaker of the house to make her move; to do what she was voted in to do - to SPEAK!
This just in - Sheehan plans to challenge Pelosi for her seat UNLESS she introduces articles of impeachment. YEAH!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070708/ap_on_el_ho/cindy_sheehan_pelosi_6;_ylt=AoPNaUpFByaRWDq_4IA7wdAE1v...
H.Res.333 is a bill to start the impeachment process. It was initiated by Kucinich. There are nine cosponsors:
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 6/6/2007
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 5/1/2007
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 6/28/2007
Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 6/28/2007
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 6/7/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 5/1/2007
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 6/12/2007
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 6/7/2007
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 5/10/2007
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:1:./temp/~bd80KW:@@@P|/bss/d110query.html|
Pelosi's name is nowhere to be found.
What are Pelosi's motives not to impeach? And the motives of her DLC colleagues not to impeach?
I'll speculate.
She *wants* the abuse of presidential power to stand *because* she thinks one of her corporate, militarist Democrats will be president, and will have that power in 2009.
She *agrees with* the basic foreign policy of Bush of preventative war (which Clinton did a number of times in the 1990s) and doesn't want to pursue the obvious war crime of the invasion itself as Nuremberg's "supreme international crime" of illegal aggression. Why? Because she wants that power for her party and those who offer them campaign bribes.
She is more interested in playing it safe for likely electoral successes for corporate Democrats in 2008 than she is in saving the lives of US soldiers (three per day die) and Iraqis (600 per day die). Otherwise she would pass legislation to bring the troops home or would refuse to fund the escalation of the occupying US forces. (The Constitution gives Congress the power to make the rules for the armed forces.)
If Cheney *and* Bush were impeached and convicted, she would become president. She might fear accusations of conflict of interest over principles of legal justice to prevent future high crimes by presidents.
It is hard to know her actual motives.
The superb Atcheson article makes a great case, as does the text of H.Res.333.
For progressives, the key framing I like for the upcoming election is that of Charles Derber in his book Hidden Power. He makes the case that most Democrats support the same corporate regime (born in 1980) that virtually all the Republicans support, namely corpocracy; money ruling politics; the two-party duoply; a foreign policy based on violating international laws with impunity.
But there are regime-changing Democrats, the true progressives including Kucinich and those on the list above, as well as others.
With this framing, the task for us is to oppose corporate Democrats in primaries *and* with strong Green Party opposition in actual elections via some kind of unified strategy by progressives. The unifying infrastructure does not yet exist, but it is growing. We need state progressive caucuses in every state, not just 20. And a stronger Green Party. And strong, effective progressive candidates.
Logrithmic's news about Sheehan's threat to challenge Pelosi's seat in a primary is a perfect strategy for true progressives like Sheehan.
great article and great comments by logrithmic and others
Except, I believe it's Flush Phlegmball.
According to http://www.maplight.org - Occidental Petroleum was the second largest donating organization to her campaign 2005-2006. She's on the payroll of the Attack Iran for Oil crowd. I hope that is not the mistake she waits for to impeach.
To those who seem excited that there might be a logical response to the letter printed above...don't get a brain fart trying to come up with a senator's name who would be willing to present impeachment proceedings in the Senate after it clears the House. (Ha! as if that first step would even happen!) Heck, the Senate Dems couldn't even muster enough guts among themselves back in 2000 to investigate the election. If they would have, we wouldn't be talking impeachment today, now would we???! They're a sorry, sorry bunch. Time to move on. www.gp.org
I will be sending a copy of this letter to the Speaker, to my congressman and each of my senators. I contacted the author and asked his permission to use it and he said he hopes people will send her thousands of copies.
I hope that she gets hundreds of thousands of copies. I'll email this article to friends and urge them to send out at least one copy and to email the article to their friends.
Nancy Pelosi is a coward, plain and simple! She lives up to the Jackass symbol of the Dems...
Hear hear!!!
She won't read it and she won't do it. As Tony would say, "fogeddaboutit. It ain't goin to happen."
The traffic cops are off the beat, they've told the criminals that they won't enforce the law and the criminals are running red lights right and left.
It's called permissive legislature oversight with Democrats saying, "let's play nice now."
P.S. I am no great fan of Demos who show up time and again as cowardly, asinine, spineless morons. (show me where I'm wrong here)
It's just that politics - at our current level of collective consciousness - remains "the art of the possible" and has only minor allegiance to "the art of the moral."
Prediction: Things will be getting Mighty Uncomfortable for all of us into the forseeable future. Transformation =
Dis-integration, Chaos, and then -if we're very lucky - Re-integration at a higher level of systems integrity.
PSS. Gee, I wonder what the evil Mr. Rove and his flying monkey-minions will have in store for us next?
One more detail concerning my post at 3:17 p.m. A majority of Americans now favor impeachment hearings against Bush and Cheney. Go here to see the poll:
http://www.discourse.net/archives/2007/07/impeachment_polls.html
John,
Thank you for this most sensible and articulate column. I'm particularly happy to see someone writing about the necessity for Pelosi to initially take the position that "impeachment is off the table."
It's clear that today, as always in politics, "perception is everything." You have laid out many of the valid reasons why Pelosi could not Begin her tenure with impeachment.
No doubt there remains much "impeachment fatigue" from the last most recent fiasco. The Pubics (who are, after all, actually obsessed with sex as well as power) just used Clinton's well-known weakness to entrap him. And, that's right, the "offenses" of which he was accused had nothing remotely to do with turning the U.S. into a rogue state.
I'm hoping that there are some people with brains left in the Demo party. And, that they took into account the genius of both Rove and the hugely effective Repugnican media machine.
Let's remember that as corrupt or lazy or insipid as the Demos often are, that we Don't want yet another misstep to land say a, "good-looking, morals-free, cold-as-ice-Mitt" or a "rip-em-to-shreds, truth-free Rudy" to find themselves in the Black-is- White House.
Sadly, Demos have needed to allow the Current Occupants' treacherous motives and deeds to be seen for what they are by a frightened, distracted, and complacent America public ----- At least to the point where an "average citizen" begins to think/mumble to self - the dreaded I-word, as in, "maybe it's not such a bad idea (and necessary) after all. These guys are Dangerous."
The Demos need to appear to have the American people (or some semblance thereof) force their hand in the face of the Enormity of the Misdeeds.
All of which were more or less predicable, simply by looking into King George's eyes from the very start of all this.
http://speaker.gov/contact/
Impeach Bush/Cheney NOW!!!!!
http://speaker.gov/contact/
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100
Rudyjo,
We should just impeach the entire government. Their lies are legion.
Don Alejandro,
You are exactly right. What else can they do? Declare martial law? Round up the left and imprison them? Have random house to house searches for whatever made up reason? What else can they do?????
Pelosi won't act. She can't even read.
There will be no impeachment because there are no impeachable offenses. Pelosi knows this. Reid knows this. Clinton off all people knows this.
In 1 1/2 years we will have a new president - probably a Democrat. I wouldn't worry so much about impeachment, but spend your energy on electing your chosen candidate.
I wouldn't worry about car bombs or such, because the Islamofascists will use those for lesser countries. These fascists are very patient - they spent 8 years trying to figure a way to bring down The Twin Towers, after a failed first attempt. If the timing is right, 8 years from 9/11 will put a Democrat in office. Whatever these people have in store for us will be spectacular, and sad to say, we deserve it.
You are warned
If Pelosi won't start impeachment hearings against bush and chaney, then start impeachment
hearings against Pelosi! She is failing to uphold the law as much as dick and george are.
Someone in the mainstream media should ask Nancy Pelosi just exactly what the Cheney/Bush administration would have to do to put impeachment back on the table. What line would Cheney or Bush have to cross that they have not already trampled past multiple times? Short of something like Cheney executing political rivals in the Rose Garden by shotgun blast to the face during prime time, I can't think of an answer she could give.
This is a beautifully penned, eloquent, and polite request. Mr Atcheson has exercised commendable self-restraint. But since I've had it up to my neck, I would have written to Pelosi but one sentence: Impeach those sons of bushes, you bch!
We must remember it is a two-part process. After
impeachment, then we need the Senate to hear the
case and convict.
Similar to a district attorney deciding whether or
not a conviction is possible before they decide to
indict someone? In this case it is probably even
more difficult since too many persons on the jury
are friends of the defendant.
Of course the likelihood of conviction should not
stand in the way of the House doing its part of
the job.
Excuse my cynicism, but allow me to share a comment posted to a June 29, 2007 Huffington Post article by Bob Geiger, "Pelosi On Bush Lawlessness: 'The American People Really Don't Even Know The Half Of It'"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Translation: We will proceed with all deliberate speed to create an exhaustive and comprehensive catalogue of the Bush cabal's numerous high crimes and misdemeanors, which will surely convince voters to throw themselves behind the corporatized moderate centrist Democratic presidential candidate.
But of course, we won't have time to actually bother with that icky impeachment stuff, and gee whiz, looks like we ran out the clock anyway!
Then the new Democratic president will take the predictable faux-Lincoln stance of letting bygones be bygones in favor of a new bipartisan consensus to right all those Bush-implemented wrongs!
Which, incidentally, is how Bill Clinton finessed the sticky social justice questions when he was elected. Not long ago, I read an interview in which Clinton was asked why his Department of Justice didn't pursue open legal matters in the wake of the Iran-Contra and S&L crisis scandals. He replied that a decision was made NOT to pursue those issues because it would involve keeping alive bipartisan conflicts and animosities. Since he saw his priority as building a working consensus between the parties and dispelling a strained and contentious political atmosphere, he believed that it would be counterproductive to offend and annoy Republicans by settling old scores. (I'm paraphrasing.)
It's like this scene in Casablanca:
Captain Renault: Oh no, Emil, please. A bottle of your best champagne, and put it on my bill.
Emil: Very well, sir.
Victor Laszlo: Captain, please...
Captain Renault: Oh, please, monsieur. It is a little game we play. They put it on the bill, I tear up the bill. It is very convenient.
-------------------------------------------------
So, pardon me if I'm less than enthusiastic to find that Pelosi intends to prepare a very detailed bill to present to our War Criminal-in-Chief and his henchpersons.
Mr. Atcheson and Fellow Progressives,
It is time to start expanding our "Framing" on this issue and complete the sentence (No pun intended)to:
Impeach AND PROSECUTE!
For these thugs, the embarassment in history is NOT NEARLY STRONG ENOUGH! They are International criminals who have murdered hundreds of thousands with their greed and egos.
In a perfect world, they would be tried, convicted (PLENTY of evidence!), and sentenced to life in prison or death!
In 1776 this wAs the end result for traitors AND SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT NOW!!!
THIS executive branch MUST KNOW that THEY WILL be HELD ACCOUNTABLE!
Thank you Mr. Atcheson for laying out this most excellent case, the major points of which have been volleyed around by our small community of conscience here on Commondreams.
This article is so on point! Thank you for publishing it.
The author does a great job of demonstrating why Pelosi should be compelled to begin impeachment proceedings. My problem with her rationalization is that it has no basis in reality.
Impeachment is disruptive. IT SHOULD BE.
We need to disrupt this president and his "dictatorship" agenda. His crimes and those of his administration, including Darth Cheney, cannot go unpunished. To do so would make a mockery of everything this country stands for.
It's never been a matter of partisanship. Libertarians and Goldwater conservatives are just as appalled at Bush's disregard for civil liberties as are those on the left. All of us share the common belief: We are governed by the Constitution. Any violation of the Constitution by our leaders is treason. Short and simple.
Given Bush's dismal approval ratings, it is almost self-evident that the American people would jump on any impeachment bandwagon. They'd probably want to hang the bloody fool from the nearest yardarm.
So what is Pelosi waiting for? Does she really believe that such a move would cost the Democraptic party seats in the upcoming election? On the contrary, such a move would probably result in a 40-state mandate at the presidential level and a 60 vote plurality in the Senate. Republicans and their media accomplices [Flush Blimpbaugh and Fox (fake) News] would be forced to fight to protect an unpopular president, and many would jump ship rather than fight to protect a lame duck. Those that stayed on the sinking vessel would be discredited and many might not resurface as a result.
I believe that impeachment would drive Bush's approval into the teens - the exact opposite of what happened to Clinton. And the non-stop barrage of reports coming out of Washington would trap Republicans in a net of their own making.
Pelosi had best get off her pampered bottom and issue the charge, else an independent candidate will most likely be sworn in in 2009, and Pelosi and the Democraps will be left scratching their heads at blowing a chance to, not only make history, but restore the rule of law to our country.
Let's just hope Pelosi reads this "open letter", for hope is all what us "commonors" have left at this point!
Open letter to Nancy and all her cohorts it seems to be time to pack and leave your lies and distortions have gotten the better of you.
We cannot believe what you say and cannot stand to hear any more. Goodbye
Great letter. I agree that Speaker Pelosi did what she thought was right at the time, and given the circumstances before the election. Times have changed, and the Cheney/Bush cabal are staring down Congress and the American people, taunting us to do something. This is nothing short of a coup, and Speaker Pelosi knows this. I think as the press corp begins to do its job, and pressure builds on our representatives, Speaker Pelosi will change her mind. If she doesn't we have lost.
The US Constitution was supposed to be your burden and saviour: Protect, and be protected. However, it would appear that you've let that sham of a document be well and truly buried. Just don't mention the 2nd Amendment, eh, (oops!)…I did once but I think they got away with it!
Be assured, however, that your Queen and benevolent mother now patiently awaits your return to the safety of the 2nd Amendment-less royal bosom. The kettle has been set to boil and it's nearly tea-time, pip pip. Your Majesty's door will be open wide, of course, so haste ye back, oh wayward children of Old England. You know you must…and don't forget to bring some of China's finest, though your superiors at the Eastern end of the Atlantic are no doubt somewhat resigned to having to slurp that crappy Earl Grey instead. You never could quite get it right with the tea, could you!
Badminton is right-to get any progress would take the same tactics that the civil rights demonstrators used and would also end up with beatings, jail, and possibly deaths. Is it worth those severe consequences to save our country? That is a question everyone must answer for themselves.