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Calling the Question -- In the House -- on Impeaching Cheney
Broadcast media's gate-keeping "stars" have done just about everything in their power to keep the matter of presidential accountability off the radar of the American people. That was evident during the most recent Democratic presidential debate, when NBC anchors Brian Williams and Tim Russert meticulously avoided following up on Congressman Dennis Kucinich's three references to impeachment but somehow found time to grill the contenders on UFOs and what costume Barack Obama would be wearing on Halloween.
Pollsters are almost as bad. Rarely are questions about impeachment included in statewide or national surveys.
Despite the lack of media coverage, however, when citizens are asked what they think about holding members of the Bush administration to account, they respond with an enthusiasm far greater than that displayed for impeaching Richard Nixon at the height of the Watergate scandal. It is this reality -- as opposed to the state of denial fostered by so much of the media and the political class -- that Congressman Dennis Kucinich will act upon next week, when he offers a privileged resolution on the House floor to bring articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney.
Kucinich will face an uphill fight in a chamber led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat who continues to say that impeachment is "off the table."
The Ohio congressman and long-shot presidential contender may not be following the rules of engagement as dictated by major media and his party leaders. But when Kucinich raises the issue of impeachment, he will be speaking for a great mass of Americans who agree with his argument that, "Congress must hold the Vice President accountable."
How great?
A fresh poll conducted for Vermont's WCAX television station finds that citizens of that state enthusiastically believe that Congress beginning impeachment proceedings against President Bush.
Sixty-one percent of the Vermonters surveyed favor taking steps to impeach the president, while just 33% oppose doing so.
The numbers are even higher for impeaching Cheney. Sixty-four percent of Vermonters favor beginning the process of holding the vice president to account, where only 31 percent are opposed.
The greater level of support for impeaching Cheney parallels the few nationwide figures that have been ascertained. When the American Research Group conducted a national survey in early July of this year, it found that 54 percent of American adults wanted the House to begin impeachment proceedings against Cheney -- with 76 percent of Democrats, 51 percent of independents and a striking 17 percent of Republicans favoring the step.
Forty-six percent of Americans surveyed backed impeachment proceedings against Bush -- with support for impeachment at 69 percent among Democrats, 50 percent among independents and 13 percent among Republicans.
What is notable is that, when Time magazine surveyed Americans in the late spring of 1974, after the Watergate scandal had evolved into a full-scale crisis of confidence in Nixon's presidency, only 43 percent favored impeachment.
A media that actually had a sense of history, not to mention reality, would focus on the fact that Americans are more supportive of a congressional intervention to thwart Bush and Cheney's wrongdoing than they were of moves to hold Nixon to account just months before the former president resigned in disgrace.
Now, it falls to Kucinich to speak the reality that, "The momentum is building for impeachment. Millions of citizens across the nation are demanding Congress rein in the Vice President's abuse of power."
Says the congressman, "Despite this groundswell of opposition to the unconstitutional conduct of office, Vice President Cheney continues to violate the U.S. Constitution by insisting the power of the executive branch is supreme... The Vice President continues to use his office to advocate for a continued occupation of Iraq and prod our nation into a belligerent stance against Iran. If the Vice President is successful, his actions will ensure decades of disastrous consequences."
Kucinich introduced articles of impeachment against Cheney several months ago, and his H. Res. 333 has attracted almost two dozen co-sponsors. All Democrats, they are Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Brady (D-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Rep. Henry Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. James Moran (D-VA), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Rep. Albert Wynn (D-MD).
Frustrated by the refusal of Democratic leaders to set up a process for holding hearings on his proposal, Kucinich will use an arcane House rule allowing for the prodding of the process with privileged resolutions to try and force consideration. Once introduced, a privileged resolution must be addressed within two legislative days.
Kucinich is expected to offer his privileged resolution on Tuesday. He expects to continue pushing it until the House acts. That action is likely to be a successful move by Democratic leaders to table the measure. Such a vote could be instructive, however, in that it would provide a rare measure of the willingness of at least some House members to respond to the popular will -- which is that Dick Cheney be held to account.
© 2007 The Nation
310 Comments so far
Show AllI M P E A C H !
Given Bush's outrageous obstructionist behavior, be it through the veto or assinine Department Head nominations, not to mention the Iraq Occupation and its costs, that leaves little else for them to do but impeach. Impeach now.
I M P E A C H !
Not that it counts, but I vote:
IMPEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I M P E A C H !
I notice my Congressman (Loebsack) is not on the list mentioned, I've been on him since he took office, and keep reminding him he is looking more like a political shill everyday since the election. Another one is coming, just not soon enough it seems. Go DENNIS!
Too bad CSPAN 3 will be the only place to watch this on Tuesday. And most people don't get CSPAN 3, except by streaming online. I do believe that while Kucinich will be delivering his indictment of Cheney on the House floor, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be grilling Mukasey a little more on his confusion over whether or not waterboarding should be considered torture and therefore is illegal.
Tuesday should be quite a day. It is "Election Day" nationally on local issues and a National Strike has been called by a writer at Harper's magazine. Great day to stay home, keep the computer on CSPAN 3 for the Senate Mukasey hoopla and the TV on CSPAN 1 to watch Dennis Kucinich make history.
I was proud to hear Dennis Kucinich bring up impeachment at the debate this past week and I will be proud to hear him bring it up on the House floor. He is a brave and Patriotic American we should all be very proud of. I am happy to say I have contributed to his campaign.
Go Kucinich!
Let's see if it gets any coverage in the corporate media.
"Kucinich will face an uphill fight in a chamber led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ..."
Damn those Republicans. We really must elect the Democrats to take back 'our' governement. That'll fix things.
Oh! Wait a minute ...
impeach, convict, hang, quarter and force feed the scraps to Rupert Murdoch.
Again we have the nonsense polls.. x% said this and y% said that. BS!
Pelosi will not impeach either bush or Cheney. If Cheney started to murder American citizens in broad daylight in front of hundreds of witnesses she still wouldn't attempt to impeach him. Pelosi will not do her job. Period. She will sit in her chair and soak up her paychecks until she gets booted out. It was a huge mistake to elect her. She could easily be replaced by a parrot.
So now Mr. Kucinich, the only person in congress even attempting to do his/her job, is going to try to push impeachment. Since the entire congress will roll over and play dead on this issue, nothing will happen. His attempt will be a failure.
What Mr. Kucinich will gain is the remembrance that he tried. He has tried and he is still trying. I'm sure a movie will be made about him one day. They'll call it "The Last American".
Mr. Kucinich is the only clean spot in the seemingly endless sea of corruption. I salute him. Let his honor stand for the record. It's sad that it stands alone.
Sounds to me like a stunt that cannot possibly help liberals' chances of actually regaining control of the country in 2008. Voters would like an impeachment that wins, just as they like a sports team that wins. They're not gonna clap for a real impeachment effort that loses.
Yeah what the heck are they waiting for? The timidity and indecisiveness of the Democratic Party is nauseating. Can anyone say ONE PARTY STATE? Can anyone say Kabuki Theater? Potemkin Village?
Kerry was the Washington Generals of the 2004 election. Do you remember the Washington Generals? They were a basketball team that regularly played the Harlem Globetrotters. They were always supposed to lose, but (and this was the hard part) they had to look like they were serious competitors.
Today, we have a Democraptic party that doesn't even pretend anymore to be serious competitors. Instead of being the Washington Generals now they're the favored nephew of the rich uncle, with seats behind first base.
finally someone in a position of power attempts to follow the constitution and the will of the people, and it's labeled a "STUNT"????
[quote]Daniel David November 2nd, 2007 2:40 pm -- Sounds to me like a stunt that cannot possibly help liberals' chances of actually regaining control of the country in 2008. Voters would like an impeachment that wins, just as they like a sports team that wins. They're not gonna clap for a real impeachment effort that loses.[/quote]
Ergo, we should oppose an honest effort might fail and support those who refuse even to try. Brilliant! It's just too bad that you aren't advising BushCo.
By all means!!
IMPEACH THE BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEAH, FOR KUCINICH.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VOTE FOR KUCINICH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEND A "NEGATIVE" VOTE TO THE NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sierra
It gives hope to see atleast a lone presidential contender being consistent with regards to war and government accountability. He is the lone voice (probably a handful of other senators) that is speaking the "minority American language". It is the lone voice that is not succumbed to the "language of the transnational companies". The meager American public support to Kucinich only strengthens Jason Miller's diognosis of American public, which he calls "Americanistic Personality Disorder": "The essential features of Americanistic Personality Disorder include pervasive patterns of extreme self-absorption, profound and long-term lapses in empathy, a deep disregard for the well-being of others, a powerful aversion to intellectual honesty and reality, and a grossly exaggerated sense of the importance of one's self and one's nation. These patterns emerge in infancy, manifest themselves in nearly all contexts, and often become pathological.
"These patterns have also been characterized as sociopathic, or colloquially as the "Ugly American Syndrome." Note that the latter terminology carries too benign a connotation to accurately describe an individual afflicted with such a dangerous perversion of character.
For this diagnosis to be given, the individual must be deeply immersed in the flag-waving, nationalistic, and militaristic fervor derived primarily from the nearly perpetual barrage of reality warping emanations of the "mainstream media," most commonly through the medium of television. Typically indoctrinated from birth to believe that they are morally superior, exceptional human beings, these individuals suffer from severe egocentrism, a condition further engendered by the prevalence of the acutely toxic dominant paradigm known as capitalism."
Standing ovation for Dennis Kucinich!
Here's a man of whom the USA can be justly proud.
The facts supporting CONVICTION after impeachment are rock solid--in other words, the act is a WINNER. Pelosi's mission for the DLC is clear--to maintain presidential IMPUNITY.
F___ Pelosi. She has betrayed Democrats. I will not ever vote for her for anything ever.
Thank you Kucinich for having the integrity to do what the spineless Democrats and/or Congress refuse to do. We support you with this Kucinich!!!!!!!!!
Mr, David,
Are you real, or are you an A-I political-bot application that spouts, right on time, all the stuff we despise about the US political system and Democrats in particular.
I'll tell you what; I will accept the Democrat's argument of keeping impeachment off the table as a tactical political expedient, if they instead promise to:
1. Proceed with war-crimes and crimes against humanity indictments and arrest of the entire administration, the moment they step down on January 20, 2009;
2. Followed by a trial in an interntational venue such as the Hague.
This is not about politics, or "winning" it is about justice - criminals MUST be made to pay for their vile crimes, and to provide an example for others.
Kucinich is the one to watch. He's the one that represents the people, the one who can turn the tables on the war criminals.
Here's a different thought
Dennis Kucinich for President
"Strength Through Peace"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSGiVjiz5Kg
I M P E A C H, and later R E M O V E, and later I N D I C T for war crimes, and then later, S E N T E N C E to life imprisonment.
Go get em tiger!!!!
And put a tack on Nancy's seat if you get a chance.
Daniel David, that's speculation. It could also work in the Dem's favor if they use it right win or lose.
Kucinich is still a long shot, but I don't think the UFO thing hurt him that much.
Impeachment is important because this administration, with such an abysmally low approval rating, and with nothing to lose in its last days in office, poses a real threat to our national security. Nothing short of starting impeachment proceedings will curtail their last grab for power. Impeachment is long overdue and necessary for the public welfare.
Thank you Dennis!
George WW3 Bush is a three-legged stool [-an intended scatological reference!] and if, -no, *WHEN!* one of his three legs is kicked away, this abysmal moron will crumble into the heap of dog mess which is his actuality.
Please, *PLEASE* Mr Kucinich! - please keep on kicking at the *devil-incarnate* Cheney, until this vile specimen at last tumbles from power, and the world can again start to breath: ~ freed at last from the tyranny of the insane asylum which the Bush/Cheney coven represents...
PJD,
Yes, I am a real person, and not a 'bot', or even a Dem Party activist, as many imagine. I am heart-broken over the last seven years, and committed to seeing liberals and moderates regain control of America. This is done in elections, and as righteous as a Bush/Cheney impeachment might be, I don't think this one is going to either succeed or help. That's why I'm not with the "just do it anyway" crowd.
Go Dennis! And thank you!
I kinda doubt impeachment proceedings against first Cheney and then Bush could make the 110th Congress' 11% approval ratings go much lower!
Investigate, IMPEACH, convict!
[quote]PJD November 2nd, 2007 3:00 pm -- Mr, David, Are you real, or are you an A-I political-bot application ...[/quote]
The tactics reflect one of the corporate world's most highly favored strategies -- i.e., the inducement of a sense of helpless acceptance amongst the consumer base.
All too often, it works quite well. If you can be made to feel powerless to effect any changes that really matter, you're more likely to accept whatever thin gruel is on offer in place of what you know is actually needed and wanted.
Action MUST be taken to impeach Bush/Cheney. What we don't need at this point are calculating politicians simply trying to gain power and get elected through any means possible (such as avoidance of doing what is right).
What about moral/ethical/legal considerations?
Washington is digusting. Kucinich is one of our few leaders worthy of any admiration.
I've just emailed my two congress people to sign on (while berating them for not having done so already).
Impeachment has to be on the table. It has to be pursued. It might be the one way to keep this administration busy with something worthwhile so they don't bomb Iran. Oh crap! I just realized, they'd probably bomb Iran just to avoid dealing with being impeached....
How about impeaching him for knowingly harbouring terrorists (which according to Bush is the same as being a terorist)
"The officer who commands U.S. forces in northern Iraq , Maj. Gen. Benjamin Nixon , last week said he planned to do "absolutely nothing" to curb PKK activities."
not to mention that greasy little terrorist they are harbouring in Miami
The MEMORIZATION and RESPECT of the Declaration of Independence AND the USA Constitution followed EXACTLY AS WRITTEN should be required for Cabinet members and Congresspeople alike in your nation. If a person is unable to do this, he should not have the position he does. The person in Cabinet or Congress should be fired "impeached" whatever one wish to call it. Perhaps more in the world would show respect for you Americans if you jump off the high horse of hypocrisy.
This is a little off topic but how dare your President compare Osama bin Laden to Hitler and Lenin. Does George know history? lol... If Czar Nicholas II treated his people nicely and provided for their needs, Lenin would not have taken part in the 1917 revolution of Russia against Czar Nicholas II and therefore would not have happened. If France were not well...basically a**holes to the German people during their 125 year occupation of Germany - while the Jewish population lived in opulence during the same period as the rest of the German people were broke and starving - WW2 and the Holocaust would not have happened :-) I know...the truth hurts. Does it not? Myself living in Europe and being familiar with THE TRUTH perhaps spoiled my mind compared to Americans - the experts on positive morality. Your politicians would NEVER lie to you I know.
Damn, I like this guy..... so much that I just called his headquarters and gave him $75..... You can do it to!
The number is: 1-877-431-3664
If ever in U.S. Constitutional history there was a time to act on Impeachment, it is now. Of course, most Republicans in Congress will block this -- goes without saying. But I will be taking note of all the Democrats who continue to block a vital and NECESSARY investigation into the criminal activities that have taken place by this facist regime of an illegal sham of a presidency since day one! When will they honor their oaths of office??? When will they stop ignoring the will of the people??? We must DEMAND AND DEMAND AND DEMAND to be heard by Democrats, including Pelosi, and the media -- PERIOD!
IMPEACH! Cheney and Bush are war criminals. Restore the Constitution. Re-create a truly free press. End the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. Stop war moves against Iran. Power to the People! Use the people's money for the people! Veto Bush and Cheney, not health care for children.
I am glad Barbara Lee is my rep. Right on, Barbara. In the Senate, I think Barbara Boxer has the right idea and would only need some encouragement if impeachment ever moves out of the House. Feinstein, a Bush apologist and supporter of ever more reckless measures in "The War on Terror" is another story. I think she has Israel and Empire on the brain.
Will it take a mass uprising? What will it take? We have to stop these enemies of the people.
Peace, Paix, Pas, Pax, Mir, Etc.
We, the People, did this to ourselves when we did not remember Cheney and his executive powers/monarchal philosophies from way back in the Nixon administration. He has been a thorn in my side since then, especially during the Iran Contra era, the Watergate era, and now in the Bush Administration. Cheney is the rottenest apple in the Bush basket, and needs to be permanently excised from political influence in D.C. and elsewhere. He's overdue for charges of Impeachment AND war crimes. When will the electorate learn that History is supposed to teach us lessons to keep us from repeating our mistakes? Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Kucinich has the right idea...I'm happy to see that some of CA's members are on track with Dennis. This impeachment process must be in the works before we find ourselves bombing Iran. And before we go to the polls again. Bush and Cheney work secretly and they work fast...so you all better contact your senators and representatives and let your voices be heard.
is impeachment really enough?
Is it settled yet? Is everyone here now supporting his campaign? Have you given money? Time?
http://www.kucinich4president.org
Impeach? Pigs might fly too! The Democrats have no spine or ethics! They were elected on a "get out of Iraq/make Bush accountable" ticket. Once ensconced in power - forget that nonsense.
A "stunt"? Get real! Since when has it become a stunt to do what is necessary to put into effect what those who elected you want done?
"I am heart-broken over the last seven years, and committed to seeing liberals and moderates regain control of America. "
The real question is why you're not heart-broken by the GOP lite "leadership" in the so-called Democratic Party as well. Enjoy your thin gruel, I hear it tastes just like chicken that's been left out in the sun for a day or two.
I would finish here with "don't mourn, organize!" but it appears that you're more interested in following blindly then pushing for change actively. Shame on you for being such a coward.
Impeachment isn't enough. Cheney should be jailed for war profiteering and Bush should be jailed for desertion and for subverting the constitution....both should lose their fat government pensions and should lose all benefits,, like free medical care and secret service protection. Let them hire Blackwater.
Addendum. It seems the Democrats only have coward's courage, i.e., to support actions against smaller nations who have no real prospect of defending themselves against the US.
I read the passionate statements of the readers, with one notable defeatist exception of "Daniel David," to whom a few of the readers have already responded appropriately. I am impressed by the intensity of their emotions. Such a move in the House of Representatives could pry Kucinich for a breif moment from the sidelines to the center spotlight. At the very least, it could as well highlight the great divide between the people and the politicians.
All of us idealists are tired of getting slapped around by the corporate-driven, "fix-is-in" pundits. If linearity and probability can not be dwarfed by an occasional miracle, there is no hope for any of us. Will that miracle be impeachment? One thing that is certain to me as I read these statements, is that a lot of us feel very strongly and very deeply. A poll measures only numbers, and not the depth and breadth of those numbers. What is shaping up to be a solid movement toward progressive change is evident in today's readers' comments. Regardless of specifics, that is always to be considered good news.
www.raycarlson.com
Thank you Dennis!
It is nice to see that we still have someone out there with some balls!!!!
I will call my representative to tell him to vote to impeach.
PLEASE everyone, do the same!
Ralph Nader is talking to Wolf Blitzer - Wolf Blitzer being the enabler of the status quo - as I type this. Ralph Nader...RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE USA! ok...Ron Paul Dennis Kicinich and Ralph Nader will treat Americans good. All three people will put YOURSELVES FIRST if any of these three men were elected. One is a Republican (Ron Paul) one is a Democreat (Dennis Kucinich) and one is a Green (Ralph Nader). Despite the political affiliation...ANY ONE OF THESE THREE...will put YOURSELVES FIRST! Write any of their names if you have to on the ballot. Please...you need salvation from yourselves.
Clearly Kucinich is acting out of a deeply felt conviction that putting impeachment front and center (and putting himself on the front line again) is a dire necessity *right now* to underscore the very real immanence of war using nuclear weapons in Iran. I agree with Coyotita here.
All of us appreciate support when we're about to do something that requires all our courage. Even if Kucinich speaks to a largely empty House, he's still doing something that takes a lot of guts. Cheney's got a lot of clout, and he's got a lot of people running scared. I'm sure there are ways to rationalize just sitting tight and doing nothing, but Kucinich isn't buying that. Now's the time to offer him the backing that his action requires, and that's exactly why John Nichols is writing this piece, imho.
Nancy Pelosi is to the Democratic party in the USA as Ramsay MacDonald was to the Labour party in the UK: a f***ing traitor.