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Feingold Turns to Dross
In a diary entry on DailyKos, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), one of the most consistently progressive liberals in the Senate, surrendered to the Democratic Party Establishment, with an embarrassing string of lame and tired excuses for not standing for impeachment of the Bush/Cheney regime.
Feingold, who once took the lead in opposing Bush's and Cheney's abuses of power and their undermining of the Constitution with a censure motion filed in the Senate, wrote in the DailyKos diary that while he agreed that Bush and Cheney "may well have" committed "impeachable offenses," he nonetheless did not support impeachment.
His reasons offered for this bizarre turnabout sounded suspiciously like "talking points" from the Democratic Leadership Council, or from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Feingold says he worries about "The great deal of time multiple impeachment trials would take away from the Congress working on the problems of the country." But he fails to address what problems Congress is actually working on, or what problems it can even try to work on. The list is embarrassingly short. In fact, aside from the tiny and almost meaningless increase in the federal minimum wage that was passed as kind of "blood money" attached to the $120-billion Iraq War funding bill, there is nothing Congress has done in the last six months. And there is nothing they can do, because Bush can veto anything significant that the Democrats manage to pass, and even if he can't veto a bill, he can kill it with a signing statement, unless Congress impeaches him for his refusal to enact laws.
Feingold says "the time it would take for the House to consider articles of impeachment, and for the Senate to conduct multiple trials would make it very difficult, if not impossible, for Congress to do what it was elected to do - end the war and address some of the other terrible mistakes this Administration has made over the past six and a half years." Hey Russ! Wasn't Congress also elected by Americans who wanted to restore respect for the Bill of Rights and the rule of law? Also, remember that the whole Clinton impeachment process took all of four months-not a particularly long time. And again, without impeachment "on the table," Congress has done nothing to end the war in over six months, and it has not been able to do anything about addressing those "terrible mistakes" of the Bush administration.
Mistakes? We're talking about crimes here; not mistakes!
Feingold claims to be concerned about the "overuse" of impeachment. That's rich! Because Republicans clearly misused impeachment to go after President Clinton on a minor issue, Feingold is willing to let Bush and Cheney slip away with crimes that have led to the pointless deaths of almost 4000 Americans and over 600,000 innocent Iraqis? What is this man thinking? He's comparing Clinton's lie about a marital infidelity with Bush's ordering of torture? With his authorizing of kidnappings and secret international gulags? With the elimination of the 700-year-old foundation freedom from illegal incarceration known as habeas corpus? With massive secret illegal spying on Americans?
It's hard to believe these words are even coming from a man who only a year ago was out front calling for censure of the president by the Senate. If this president and vice president are not prime impeachment bait, Feingold and his colleagues should just vote out a Constitutional Amendment removing the impeachment clause, because it will never be used again.
Feingold tries to duck his leadership responsibility by claiming he has "a specific role to play as a sworn, impartial juror should an impeachment be tried in the Senate." That, however, is nonsense. In no way does the Constitution state, nor did the Founders ever imagine, that senators in an impeachment trial would be impartial in the way that petit jurors in a criminal trial must be impartial. There is no jury selection process at which biased senators are removed from the trial. All senators, with all their political baggage, are automatically part of the "jury." And they are understood to be political actors. Some would no doubt be swayed by the arguments made at trial by the House prosecutors at such a trial, if they open their minds, but they are understood to be political animals. Feingold is clearly being disingenuous here.
He has a role to play. As someone who understands the grievous crimes of this administration, Senator Feingold should be pressing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stop blocking impeachment. He should be following the honorable and courageous path being paved by California Senator Barbara Boxer, who told the Speaker that "no one can take impeachment off the table," and who warned that the U.S. is "closer to dictatorship than it has ever been in history."
One would have thought Feingold would be making the same charge, but something has turned this once honorable and courageous Senator to moral and intellectual mush.
I remember, when Sen. Paul Wellstone was tragically killed in a plane crash, thinking, "Well, at least we have Russ Feingold."
That was then. This is now. What would Sen. Wellstone be doing today? Certainly he wouldn't be ducking his responsibility to stand up in defense of the Constitution as Feingold is doing. He'd probably be traveling the country, giving rousing speeches at impeachment events.
Russ, wake up! You can't fight Bush and Cheney with bills, and they've made it clear you can't investigate them with committees and subpoenas. These two power-crazed criminals and Constitution wreckers are thumbing their noses at you and all your colleagues on both sides of the aisle. They're laughing right now at your pathetic cop-out.
There is only one possible avenue of counter-attack against these guys: impeachment.
We who are pushing for impeachment would like to have you on board, fighting for the Constitution with us, as you pledged to do when you took your oath of office, but if you are going to cave and play the cynical and cowardly game of Pelosi and the gang of corrupt leaders of your party, we'll just have to do it without you.
And you'll have to face your next election without us.
Dave Lindorff's most recent book is "The Case for Impeachment" (St. Martin's Press, 2006). His work is available at www.thiscantbehappening.net.
99 Comments so far
Show All"I guess we really ARE better off being represented by Sen. Norm Coleman."
No, but the idea that Wellstone was some kind of left-pouulist threat to the establishment, who had to be secretly assassinated like Torrijos or Lumumba (or even Huey Long) is just hooey. He looked promising initially, but just turned into another democrat - he was certainly to the right of Ted Kennedy, and far to the right of Bernie Sanders. Why haven't they been assasinated?
i knew it was a matter of time before feingold caved.
someone explain to me again why we need to elect democrats?
To successfully remove the president from office requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate. That won't happen. To impeach Bush would just be a waste of time and money when we can least afford it. It's only 553 days till he's out anyways, the impeachment trial alone would take longer. The trial would be presided over by the SC Chief Justice, a Bush appointee. Expecting justice in this case is naive at best.
http://www.officialbushcountdown.com/?gclid=CI7AjuaGr40CFSJIYQodZRGDvg
As I have indicated repeatedly, with the exception of a couple, I do not trust this whole Mafia, whether Democraps or Repugnants. People have to realize that all these career politicians are crooks. They are either in the pockets of AIPAC lobby groups or corporations.
the foundation is crumbling, but a new window treatment in the parlor should spruce things up and perhaps some new lamps in the entry way!
it's a kinder gentler fascism, but..."a rose by any other name"
A beast is stalking the earth, some think they can tame it, others think they can ride it, IT needs to be KILLED!
Inchoate,
Assuming you are right in every single claim of yours, I am sorry to say that I still disagree with you. First of all, it would set a precedent for the future presidents. If you don't impeach in the face of so much crime, what are you going to impeach for? Secondly, when the impeachment gets rolling, all the crimes will become public knowledge, and no senator or house member would dare not to join. When the shit hits the fan, Bush/Cheney will be finished, and the impeachment would succeed.
Only 500 days are left? How do you know they would not commit much more terrible crimes during that period? If you wait that long, you may not even be allowed to post a message anywhere, or even open your mouth to protest.
Say it ain't so, Russ.
I am stunned. Of all Senators, only Bernie Sanders has more cred with me than Feingold. Now even he is being subverted by the korporatists.
Next we will hear he believes nothing should be taken "off the table" with regard to Iran.
I wonder how much he takes from AIPAC...
"Alamac" above has it correctly. "Saila" has it wrong. You don't count Senate votes in deciding whether to impeach. If that had been done during the Nixon impeachment era, we'd have never had an impeachment hearing and he would have been with us two more long dangerous years. The hearings themselves convinced many Republicans in the House Judiciary Committee to join in voting articles of impeachment (one article passed unanimously!). At the start, there were only 25 House members backing impeachment, none of them Republicans. By the end of the hearings, when three articles were endorsed by the impeachment committee, it was clear Nixon would lose in the House and in the Senate. This was after winning a second term by a landslide just two years earlier. Don't tell me that the Senate vote today is a foregone conclusion!
Besides, even impeachment without removal would be important, as it would tell all future presidents that Bush's behavior is not a precedent, and is not acceptable. That would be a huge benefit and would go a long way towards protecting the Constitution.
Consider this. Clinton was not removed, just impeached, but how long do you think it will be before another president solicits a blowjob from an intern in the Oval Office? Get my point? the impeachment is itself a major deterrant to future wrongdoing.
Dave Lindorff
inchoate
you do not pursue justice because you are assured of a "win" - you pursue justice because it is just.
stop strategizing like a g-damned politician and start acting like an intelligent neighbor.
When looking for a motive, ALWAYS follow the money.
If the Democrats went forward for impeachment as the constitution requires, then their new corporate buddies would turn off the campaign money spigot.
The corporations are buying their silence with cash, knowing that the Democrats could have all the money in the world and WILL STILL LOSE the next fixed election.
What happened to him?
Used to be a stand-up guy.
Dave Lindorff,
I think you meant to say "Saila" above has it correctly. "Inchoate" has it wrong, because your argument supports mine, right?
Impeach, Indict, Convict & Deport.
We are also disappointed in Feingold here in Chester County, PA. JOIN us for an Impeachment Rally on Saturday, July 21, 1-3 p.m., Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts., West Chester, PA 19380. WEAR ORANGE if you can (alternatively, another bright color), and bring a sign - something like "HONK TO IMPEACH." Contact: ccpeacemovement@aol.com, www.ccpeace.org (The Chester County Peace Movement). WE THINK IMPEACHMENT IS THE ONLY ANSWER AND URGE EVERYONE TO JOIN US TO MOVE THE EARTH!!!
Let's leave impeachment off the table because there are only 18 months (553 days) left in Bush's term? Boy, that totally feeds into the idea that the American electoral process is nothing but devoid symbolism via the ballot box, and that our elected representatives in the House and Senate have too many other things to do besides... uh... represent the people.
Paradoxically, it seems that with every day that with every day that brings us closer to that increasingly fetishized inauguration date of January 20, 2008, the number of Americans who support impeachment of this administration increases.
July 17, 2007.
To: Senator Russ Feingold
A great many of us are very concerned and saddened, to learn about your loss. More specifically, I'm speaking about your loss of courage. For many years, you represented the people from Wisconsin, and the nation proudly. You stood up for your principles and ideas, most of the time alone.
You sure picked a hell of a time to lose your integrity. This may well be the most critical time in our history, and for you to desert us, is downright unthinkable, unpatriotic and treasonous. If you think for one minute Bush and Cheney are going to go away quietly on January 20, 2009, you are so mistaken. Your comment about having more important things to do than to take time out and impeach the president and vice president is ridiculous. These two men are loose cannons, they're taking the country down a path of self-destruction. The majority of Americans are no longer fooled by their lies, and we want them out. You're not the same guy I met in Baraboo at the fighting Bob Fest. It wouldn't be a crime for you to change your mind on this subject, in fact. It's your obligation.
As ever, Tony Gadowski
12581 Duncan Lane, unit 105
New Berlin, Wisconsin 53151
montemerrick July 17th, 2007 1:35 pm
inchoate:
"You do not pursue justice because you are assured of a "win" - you pursue justice because it is just.
Stop strategizing like a g-damned politician and start acting like an intelligent neighbor."
Precisely! It's about upholding the laws of our Constitution which were designed to support the liberties of "the People", NOT the ambitions of a corporate-controlled state.
CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES! - NOT DICTATORSHIP!
I agree with Saila. And if impeachment and hearings
did not result in a conviction, then that is good too
in a way because it shows the world clearly what truly
immoral people we have in Congress. Not doing anything
is pure, craven cowardice and appeasement to criminals.
500 and some odd days left, too much time left, if Cheney has his way (IRAN), the 2008 election will get called off and we get martial law and a 3rd term. They gotta go!
Yet another congresscritter admits he lied when taking the oath of office and becomes yet another felon. He also becomes a member of the Death Party because his actions support the continuing policies of Death being pursued by the "beacon of freedom."
How many more "lawmakers" refusing to uphold and enforce the law will it take before the general public has an epiphany realizing there is NO political party in congress that has its interest at heart?
I believe dems should not expect pelosi to initiate impeachment proceedings on her own since she would be next in line after bush and cheney. In a sense she cannot approach this conflict of interest on her own initiative but must let her collegues press the issue 'despite' her.
It is not that he changed his mind , he got a call from bodies in AIPAC , so he had to change his mind
after all he is Jwish like the 37 other senators
guess a country of 300 million with a population of 4 million 1.5% Jewish 30% of its senator are from a single ethnicity Jewish how come nobody can talk about that
"What would Sen. Wellstone be doing today?" He'd be President of the United States! No one will convince me that his plane crash was an accident, so flame on if you must. But Sen. Wellstone's courage, integrity and honesty could not be tolerated in the US of Today, so he had to go.
As recently as this spring my dream ticket for '08 was Kucinich / Feingold. Ha! Guess "they" got to ol' Russ. Wonder what they have on him, or is it a small plane scenario he fears?
Or maybe he's just being practical, and going along to get along. Ya think?
The president is going to be impeached.
The president is going to be impeached.
And the democrats who don't support impeachment will not get reelected.
Words Have Meaning, the difference between 9/11 and September 11, 2001-
http://www.wordsareimportant.com/wordshavemeaning.htm
so it goes,
This sounds like Bush saying "It's hard work." Of course there's lots to do. Maybe they should trying working. Maybe that means a little overtime/staying late at the office. Roll up your sleeves, get to work, and do it.
Contrary to most public comments, I always thought Watergate was a highlight in our history in that it proved the Constitution worked. I look at what's going on today in the same way. Our leaders are breaking so many national and international laws that it's crazy and they should be held accountable for it. I always thought Henry Kissinger should be in jail for war crimes. I think the same of the idiots currently in our Executive Branch. See how bad it will get if they are encouraged by getting away with all this. See if we ever have a fair national election again. We have to get to the bottom of all these atrocious actions so it doesn't get worse. These guys are sitting back thinking they can get away with anything. We have to show them otherwise. If Congress won't do it I agree with those that want the people to march on DC big time. Show them they can't ignore us.
"But Sen. Wellstone's courage, integrity and honesty could not be tolerated in the US of Today, so he had to go..."
You mean the same Wellstone that supported Clinton's wars in Yugoslavia and Iraq?
I understand that every politician has skeletons in their respective closets, however, the sanity of this nation rests on not being bullied by corporate cronies. Impeachment is a must. It is shown that we don't have much faith in our Congress as it is. Obviously they don't care about the people in their country if they can't even take that hint.
In this scripted age, do us a favor and impeach!
Sorry, PJD. I guess we really ARE better off being represented by Sen. Norm Coleman.
A comment regarding the AIPAC hypothesis. As an investigative reporter it galls me when people throw this out without evidence. We all know, and there is plenty of documentation to prove it, that AIPAC weilds untoward influence in Congress, but that doesn't mean you can just yell "AIPAC" every time someone in Congress does something you disagree with in the Middle East.
Russ Feingold, as far as I can recall, has been pretty much off the zionist reservation, and has been better on Israel/Palestine issues than 95 percent of Congress. Maybe he's in AIPAC's pocket, but unless you can prove that, just saying he has a jewish name is simply being a racist.
My wife is Jewish, and she supports a Palestinian state and does not support Israel as a Jewish state. I have plenty of Jewish friends (and Israeli friends too) who despise AIPAC and the Israeli right, and who support Palestinian demands.
Show me where AIPAC has bought Feingold, and I'll believe you. Otherwise, all you're doing is substituting rabid racism for thinking.
Clearly something's gotten to Feingold, but let's find out what it is and then fight him on it.
If they impeach Bush now, that will save a lot of work repairing the damage he causes in the next year. Imagine what his parting shot will be like?
And the democrats are acting in ignorance. If your roof is leaking, and you're worrying about the arrangement of the patio furniture in the backyard, maybe it isn't as important as fixing your roof. I don't know what is more important than impeachment.
The president will be impeached.
www.NotOneMore.US - Take the Pledge for Peace
Kooshy,
Thanks a million for the number 37. I have always been interested to know that, but didn't know where to find it. Any number on the House of Reps?
there won't be any impeachment, folks. you can forget it. why? cuz congress is as deep in the crimes of this gov't as the bush admin. one ex: sen. dickless durbin a few weeks ago came out and said all members of the senate intelligence committee knew that the wmd info on iraq was a fraud, but poor little dickless couldn't say anything cuz the info was "classified." that's 12 senators right there, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. all of the other crap this admin has done (ok, maybe not some of the DOJ stuff) has either been approved legislatively or allowed by the congress.
impeachment ain't gonna happen.
congress is worthless as is the admin. every election we switch back and forth between the demoRats and the recrudlicans. a silly farce that we have to endure every 2 - 4 years. democrat - republican - republican - democrat. with a few independants that get in. what an utter farce this nation is
re: Inchoate - "To impeach Bush would just be a waste of time and money when we can least afford it. It's only 553 days till he's out anyways"
How can anyone be so sure that these guys will go quietly? Anybody hear Cheney talk of retirement? (Bush has mentioned it, thankfully).
We need impeachment before martial law arrives and all pretense of democracy goes bye-bye.
Paul Wellstone was the kind of man who could restore America to greatness; a great speaker, very intelligent, down to eath, a champion of the regular working guy. He was very well liked - even by his enemies across the aisle in Congress.
This, of course, made him a huge threat to a Bush presidential run.
That's why he is gone. For a treat - check out:
http://www.assassinationscience.com/
and
http://www.questionsquestions.net/docs0209/1101_wellstone.html
and
http://lmno4p.org/wellstone.htm
A reasonable person may think:
if "they" can assassinate Paul Wellstone - "they" can assassinate anyone.
"They" probably figure that kind of reasonable thinking ought to keep everyone on good behavior and towing the line, but...
let's face it,
they can't assassinate all of us.
Besides, who would pay all the taxes to fund the liberation of the Iraqi oil wells?
Who is left? I was in strong support of Feingold and just don't believe we have the whole story. Something is amiss in Congress as they all say they have more important things to do than impeach Bush and Chaney. What are these Congressmen and women so afraid of and can't they see the writing on the wall? Impeachment should be the ticket numero uno before Bushies attack Iran.
Excellent article!
Once again it is pointed how some Democrats use "progressive" platforms and act progressive to get what they want...votes. Then, once in power they'll think nothing of talking the talk (until told by the DLC or others to back off) but refuse to walk the progressive walk.
Russ Feingold joins the long list of Democratic tricksters.
Time for a new direction, a party that does not deviate from a truly progressive platform. www.gp.org
That's it. Game over, man. Game over.
frank1569 for President. Cheneybush will be arrested on inauguration day, and by the end of the first week, every loyalbushie in every agency, department, and dark corner will be purged - and charged with crimes if possible. Every single piece of paper and bit of data not deemed actually "top secret" will be unearthed and exposed. All Halliburton contracts will be voided immediately, and a portion of the savings will be used to hire as many lawyers and investigators it takes to reveal and cure the Cheneybush cancer. Troops out of Iraq - and out of as many of the other hundred or so countries we shouldn't be - as fast as humanly possible.
And that's just week one. Oh, and Russ - no job for you.
To say I'm disappointed in Russ Feingold is the understatement of the year. Now all we have left is Jim Webb I hope he is as strong as he seems to be.When I made another post praiseing Feindgold I didn't know he had caved in for that I apologize
It's curious that Feingold says he doesn't want to impeach because he would RATHER "work[] on the problems of the country." Impeaching Bush and Cheney redresses one of the most important problems the Democratic Congress faces right now.
The fundamental corruption of our democracy by consolidating power in the Executive Branch in direct defiance of the Constitution is evidently not considered a "problem of the country."
In addition, the best way to gain traction to attack the other problems and to fix the damage done to the country in Iraq and at home by the Bush Administration is to make sure the next Administration understands the consequences of breaking the law and undermining our democracy.
Since Fiengold is smart, and this claim makes no sense, we are again left with the certainty that the real reason for the failure to impeach is not the stated reason or reasons.
The two viable explanations I have seen here are:
+ That Democrats think they will win in 2008, and wish to keep the extraordinary Executive powers Bush and Cheney have grabbed.
+ That impeachment might leave a viable Republican incumbent available for the 2008 election, and so would reduce the likelihood of Democratic vistory in 2008.
The first viable explanation above means the Democrats are no better than Republicans in pursuing power at the expense of the health of our democracy.
The second viable explanation should leave no doubt that the Democrats are weak (as if there were any doubt remaining). Essentially, this is the desire to cling to a small handicap for the other side as opposed to claiming the major victory of re-establishing accountability in the government.
Any way you cut it, it amounts to more of the same pathetic lack of leadership from Democratic leaders.
their all scared shitless, because their all dirty.
What greater role for Congress than to defend the Constitution? What other way to rein in this administration? I've argued elsewhere that their intent is to block all alternatives but impeachment and then argue that the clock is running out so why traumatize the country. It worked after Nixon and it worked with Iran-Contra.
The neo-cons are not going to go away. Each time they lose, they learn from their mistakes and start over again with a Constitution a little weaker from their last assault, the opposition a little more demoralized.
I would hope that this time the Democrats would avoid the trap and fight back, not just boast that they "minimized" the damage.
democrats are afraid the image of them destroying the presidency will come back to haunt them.
Ironically, if the president was impeached with his VP, perhaps Congress would be freed up to carry on with "progressive" causes. It appears most of their energy today is spent combating the Bush Administration.
Silly me, who would have thought Feingold would present such a compromised position?
-------
I do think the author is wrong on one point and that is -what I would call the misuse of- the word cynic as he tries to close his argument. Cynicism is good for bolstering critical thought. Go after other aspects without proclaiming the cynic guilty. Who else would come forward to challenge what is proclaimed doctrine and policy if not the cynic? Leave the cynic to pull apart the charade.
There is something a bit inconsisitent about Feingold's worry that an impeachment process would take ime away from dealing with the problems of this country. Aren't the main problems facing our nation the results of the policy of Bush and Cheney? (Here are just a few: the war in Iraq, the threat of war with Iran, the lack of enforcement of food inspection, the increasingly regressive economic policies, etc.) The only way Congress can do effective work on these issues is by ridding our nation of this corrupt, incompetent, and immoral administration. Wake up, Mr. Feingold, or else go to sleep with your apparently new found pals in the DLC!
I, too, am disappointed in Feingold.
Please consider joining us in D.C. on July 23rd. I REALLY hate to say it, but the time has come for action, not more words. The American people MUST decide.....either we do nothing and run the very real and immediate risk of dictatorship (within 500 days I might add) or we act decisively, NOW, to take back our government and our country. Waiting for our elected reps to do anything for us is, well, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. There are only so many times that one can march, write, speak, assemble etc before one begins to understand that the time for that is LONG past. It gets us nowhere because a career politician is, by their very nature, corrupt. Gone are the days when we were represented by average folks doing a public service. Politics is BIG business. There truly is only one party in this country. Damns and Repugs are simply two sides of the same coin. Doesn't really matter who you vote for.
This is why the Damns are not keen on impeachment. It would only serve to illustrate to the people the horrible truth. And it IS horrible. Our government has been bought and paid for and you KNOW that the Walmarts and Enrons of the world are calling the shots. We the People became We the Consumer a long long time ago and our current problems are a natural result of the many, many times we have turned a blind eye for the sake of expediency. Just as the Damns are trying to convince us to do right now, again.
I plan to go to D.C. on the 23rd. Not an easy trip for me. I live way up here in Vermont. I'm a working stiff and it will cost me a days pay, which I can ill afford, not to mention the gas to get there and finding a place to sleep. Of course the way things are going I'll probably end up spending the night in jail. Whatever. At this point I have to make a stand. I could not live with myself were I to sit idly by, fingers skittering over the keyboard. I have two grandchildren. What do I tell them when this country comes crashing down? "Well, I blogged and wrote to the editor. I called my senators and congressman, but they didn't listen so I just sat around and watched it happen. That's why you have to live in the U.S. of Haliburton."
Can't do it.
So, here I go. I'm too old for this shit....but I'm too young to go down without a fight.
Please think about coming to D.C.
The more of us there are, the better the chance they can't shoot us ALL.
John Nichols and Bruce Fein presented the most cogent case for impeachment, and this article futhers the argument. This is not just the most corrupt adminstration in our history, and that will at least end when they are finally out of office. However, even more important than these well- documented "high crimes and misdemeanors," however, is the precedent for a rogue executive that makes mincemeat out of the Constitutional separation of powers. The founders established impeachment to address abd prevent precisely this kind of power grab. How can Feingold ignore this? We must contact him, Pelosi, and Reid and insist that impeachment not only be "on the table, but should begin immediately. As for his claim that impeachment would take away from the time needed to address the problems of the nation, how many of those problems are a result of Bush's arrogant power grab? I am talking about the war, the pathetic response to Hurricane Katrina (due to the incompetence of his political cronies), the threat of terrorist attacks, which have increased as a result of Bush's aggressive attack and occupation of Iraq.
Yes, jp, the Moyers segment on impeachment with Fein and Nichols was superb. Go to PBS and watch it online for those who haven't seen it or read the transcript.
I agree with Dave Lindorff. (BTW, I enjoy reading your work.) Something has gone awry with Feingold and there is a reason he is making lame excuses, although I'm not sure how to find out what that reason is!
My senator, Barbara Boxer has come forward in support of impeachment, and I cannot understand Feingold's flip-flop at a time when impeachment is gaining support in this country. Bush and Cheney have broken countless laws and the time has come for Congress to act--not capitulate.
I'm sending Feingold an email pronto.
I sent this email to Feingold:
The democrats are enablers if they let Bush/Cheney out of being impeached. I cannot remember any issue in my 55 years that has left me completely giving up on all of you.
The American people WANT this to happen. Why are all of you so spineless? These guys are horrible and have committed serious crimes. WE DESERVE THIS AND NEED IT TO HEAL THIS NATION. Who cares about campaign finance reform or any other vacuous baloney you think means something, when all of you don't give a damn about the law anymore? I feel an incredible amount of venom toward our senate/house now. We have been in the streets for months and sending money to get those in other states in close elections elected. Never again will any of my money go to any democrat. You're no different fundamentally if you sit on your thumbs on this issue. Be a MAN like you have been in the past. Stop whining about how hard it is. Hey Russ, what about the kids that have died due to these lies? They didn't complain and whine about how hard it was to follow their convictions even if they were misled. sleep well chicken.
The points I would make have already been made.
Impeachment will not remove bush from office. Impeachment is a particular type of bill passed by the House of Representatives that alerts the Senate to the Constitutional requirement that it examine the eligability of a federal officer to continue filling his position due to certain information that has come to light.
Impeachment is territory belonging solely to the House, while the ensuing trial belongs solely to the Senate, with the Chief Justice of the U.S. Senate presiding over the Senate chamber instead of the Vice President. After viewing/hearing the information submitted by the House, and whatever relevant witnesses that may come forward, the Senate votes to remove or acquit the federal officer.
bush has admitted to committing impeachable offences: He knowingly commanded and authorized federal employees to violate the FISA laws of the U.S. that govern the surveillance of mail and electronic communications without a duly issued warrant. This is a criminal offence carrying a mandatory 2 year federal prison sentence for each of the 15,000 violations bush has admitted to.
There are plenty of other crimes and incompetencies bush is responsible for that make him a candidate to be impeached and removed.
The real issue is whether Congress is willing to do its duty and act. In the face of the broken FISA laws, bush is a criminal. From this time forward will the U.S. be a nation of laws, or has it become a place where privilege permits criminals to get away with their actions?
Failing to impeach bush is a tacit approval of everything bush has done. It sets a precedent that committing the same kinds of crimes in the future is acceptable.
The democrats will now be responsible when Bush attacks Iran. They have no place to hide and no excuses if they let Bush the Crazy stay in office. He and Cheney have been threatening this more and more, so it isn't like the Democrats don't know they are planning to do it.
Goodbye America, Hello Amerika.