Holding my breath... starting....... now.

and they've waited 5 years because....

Dear Representative Pelosi:

I am sorely disappointed in your decision to take impeachment "off the table." Your capitulation to the continued crimes of the Bush administration leaves me no choice but to place my allegiances elsewhere in coming elections. The elections of 2006 were seen by many as mandate for change. Instead, we have seen political cowardice time after time by a democratic "leadership" more worried about short term political gains than protecting the nations principles and fulfilling the obligations of elected office as laid out in the Constitution of the United States.

The Bush administration has continued to engage in blatantly unconstitutional activities in the self-proclaimed "War on Terror," under the banner of the newly formed "Unitary Executive Theory." This theory, constructed by right wing members of the Alberto Gonzalez Justice Department, under the direction of the Vice President, effectively asserts the President of the United States has limitless powers in all foreign and domestic affairs in accord with his role as Commander-In-Chief. This theory has no basis in the U.S. Constitution, which implicitly gives Congress the power to "make rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval forces." In response to the "rules" imposed by Congress, President Bush has taken to releasing executive "signing statements," which effectively tell Congress that he will only comply with laws that he agrees with, while summarily ignoring those with which he finds fault. The Unitary Executive Theory is a dictatorship by any other name. The standard definition of a dictatorship is as follows: An autocratic form of absolute rule by leadership unrestricted by law, constitutions, or other social and political factors within the state. Your choice to disregard your Constitutional obligation to hold the executive branch accountable is as egregious an affront to our democracy as the deliberate overreach exhibited by the President and Vice President, perhaps even more so when one considers the cowardice involved.

Rep. John Conyers in his ongoing report of potential Bush Administration crimes:

"The misconduct found is not only serious, but widespread. The laws implicated by the Bush administration's actions include federal laws against making false statements to congress; federal laws and international treaties, such as the Geneva Convention, prohibiting torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; federal laws concerning retaliating against witnesses and other government employees; Executive Orders concerning leaking and other misuse of intelligence; federal regulations and ethical requirements governing conflicts of interest; FISA laws; communications privacy laws; the National Security Act; and the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. All told, some 26 separate laws and regulations have been implicated by the actions of various individuals within the Bush administration. Significantly, none of the misconduct has been independently reviewed by the Executive Branch, Congress or the Courts."

It has come to my attention that you have made a promise to "put impeachment back on the table" the moment you receive 10,000 hand-written letters requesting such action. In spite of the arrogance of such a request, I will gladly comply if it would, in fact, prove to be the catalyst toward such an appropriate and long-overdue event.

http://www.cindyforcongress.org/article.php?preview=1&cache=0&id=43

[T]he evidence - not politics - should determine the outcome.

And an allegedly representative democracy should ensure that the will of the electorate is reflected in its governance.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Oh Please!!! The majority of our legislative bodies are compicit in the coup that is ocurring. They have removed consitutional protections, ignored treaties, torture people which is AGAINST THE LAW!!!
The house and senate are paying little attention to substantive issues that affect the Majority of citizens, instead they sit and beg for their corporate owners. the amount of money that is in play for these sycophants is enormous, and the fact that they claim no undue influence from their economic keepers is belied by the way that they voteAs for the minimum wage hike .. it is laughable at best. and too little too late for many..
Please Let's Impeach our entire system and Start over.
I propose that to serve in the house or senate that you can only be elected if your income is within 10% of the median income for the district. This would be represetative.. also the Salary for EACH district should only pay the MEdian Income for the represenative district.
At that point we are getting representation that represents the Majority .
also if you Have worked in the legislative branches youo are BANNED FOR LIFE from ever being a lobbyist.. we need to weed the garden people..

Pdpiano "within 10% of the median income for the district" ….. "lso the Salary for EACH district should only pay the MEdian Income for the represenative district."

Hey that's some good ideals. Now if we had a way for the citizens to purpose federal laws and constitutional amendments we could probably make that happen.

Ya know, when you look at this situation, it becomes ludicrous to the extreme. Do you realize that most of this is due to an obsession with shopping? Think about it. Money=shopping. They are obsessed with money, hence they are shopping freaks. Granted, it's big ticket items like yachts, but it's still the desire to be able to go shopping when you want for the things you've been craving to own. Power in DC means the ability to manipulate events so that you can accumulate more money so you can go shopping.
Good grief.

Those Democrats right there are worth their salt.

There are 403 days 'til Jan. 20, 2009…

Pressure Pelosi. Swarming right now could be effective in this our winter of discontent.
Offer her a deal. After impeachements let her become the caretaker President who saved America. She can retire at the top of her game, a name in the history books, and go on speaking tours if she needs the money.
It would also improve the chances of electing a Democratic President next Novermber, which would make D D happy.

Support Cindy Sheehan.
Impeach Cheney and save the world.

Sorry for repeating myself again. Peace.

Sam Husseini,

They waited 5 years because...

From 2003 to end 2006, they held no power in neither House nor Senate to introduce this - or almost any - Democratic legislation. Not that I think they would have. Especially prior to 2004 Dems were scared of their own shadow (being accused of "soft" on terrorism).

That said, THERE IS NO EXCUSE for why they have done next to nothing since the 2006 elections. Well, OK, lots of excuses. Don't want to be "partisan political" in investigations into BushCo malfeasance. Don't want to enforce subpoenas, bend over backward in giving the Repubs time to respond, etc. What if the media thought they were being "mean" to BushCo?

Its all BS, and its all enforced by the Dem leadership. I'm proud that Tammy Baldwin is my Representative. Proud of Feingold as one of my Senators as well. I know people that have worked for them, and for Dave Obey (I grew up in Northern Wisconsin before moving to Madison). I think the more progressive Dems, and those willing to fight, have been told to back off for the last 11 months. Maybe Reid/Pelosi/DLC/etc think this is the smart move for the next election (blame it all on the Repubs, give 'em enough rope, keep out fund raising them, whatever). They have chosen (misguided) political expediency over upholding the Constitution or the wishes of the voters.

I've gone past angry or depressed at the Dem inaction. I am heartbroken for what has happened to our country.

The neo-cons are the drunk on power and hate abusive fathers, beating the crap out of the wife and kids

The Clintonocrats are the abused spouse, unwilling to do anything about it and in some cases holding the kids down making it easier for hubby to stomp on them

Note that the authors don't mention torture in their list of crimes to be investigated.

And they're still allowing Republicans to set the tone of the 'debate':
"We can continue to deliver on more of our agenda in the coming year while simultaneously fulfilling our constitutional duty by investigating and publicly revealing whether or not Vice President Cheney has committed high crimes and misdemeanors."

What will it take to get Democrats to understand that their PRIMARY constitutional duty at this point is to begin impeachment hearings on Cheney and Bush?

And they're still sounding weak:
"... we must now at least consider using [the power of impeachment]."

And I noticed that they say:
"not the commander-in-chief"
Back in the '70's Articles of Impeachment
were proposed by a Congress that had some
spine against the commander-in-chief.

I agree that it is their primary responsibility to
impeach both the pres and vice---nothing of importance
will happen or can happen until that is accomplished.

Also, how about a complicit Speaker of the House who took
impeachment "off the table" to protect herself and her
corporate interests...she needs to be censured and
removed from her post in case a miracle occurs and
george and dick are impeached.

Hi Sam Husseini (My dear friend): we are both idealists and
we have been working with democrats and republicans to
hold george and dick accountable for years. We both know
that Conyers was stronger for impeachment when he was
ranking member, than now when he is chairman.

Love
Cindy

so far the tally is THREE democrats who are not colluding with the Bush Crime syndicate

We need a volunteer to give Cheney a blow job so we can impeach him.

"...It would also improve the chances of electing a Democratic President next Novermber"

I didn't mean to suggest just any old product with the Democrat label. Ew!
I misspoke and misspelled. -sigh-

With a Democratic incumbent who made it into the White House with his help, the chances of Kucinich next year rise tremendously.
Being a Democrat, our special K would be both Democratic and progressive.

Also, Cindy Sheehan's campaign would not involve running against an incumbent, because Pelosi would not be running for re-election (such a step down after being Pres).

Most importantly, we need to keep Cheney busy and his finger away from the button, and you all know what I mean.

Canuck Chuck: You forgot the twenty-some-odd Reps that signed on to HR333. They are good ones too!

And, I would add that impeachment is a non-partisan issue. We ALL have lost our rights under the law and our Constitution. No matter what party. The Repugs took the same oath of office as did the Dimms. So, by rights, ALL House congress critters should be signing onto HR333. So....man the phones (toll free at 800-828-0498)! Send those e-mails! Write those letters! Tell 'em that if they don't represent the will of the people and defend the Constitution that there really is no use in having a Congress at all. Might as well disband. Bye bye.....See ya all at the soup kitchen!

Yawn again. This is just for show. The Dems work in a top-down fashion, and Pelosi ain't gonna allow this to happen. In a non-democratic structure like the Dem party, what the junior members say has no effect.

To the above ... Pelosi in the White House would be doing everything possible to cripple anything Kucinich would want to do. And what do you mean by 'chances next year'. All that's left in this campaign is now to Feb 5th. Its over then. You can't possibly think anyone would be impeached by then.

And, after the disaster that Pelosi has been in the Congreess, why on earth would anyone want her to be President? Or is this more of the fantasy I see out here that says the Dems will magically become wonderful liberal and progressives at some mysterious day in the future when they've gotten just a bit more power. That's as crazy a belief as the fundamentalists believing in the rapture.

Face facts, Pelosi and the Dem leadership don't give a damn what you think. If you flood her office with calls and letters, she'll just laugh in your face.

The Dem party relies on big contributors for the way they run their campaigns these days. That's the only constituency that they listen to. So, if you calls and letters don't have 5 or 6 figure bribes, uh donations, attached, Pelosi and the Dems will just laugh.

The only way to put pressure on Pelosi is to put so much support into the Cindy Sheehan campaign that it starts to be very, very obvious to Ms. Pelosi that her political career will soon be over if she doesn't impeach.

If Pelosi saw any of this, she might act on impeachment.

-- large numbers of voters in her district changing their registrations to leave the Democratic Party.
-- fund raising reports from the Sheehan campaign that show that she's raising some impressive amounts of money.
-- So many volunteers out in the district working for the Sheehan campaign this far out in front of the election that Pelosi is left thinking "Oh my gawd".

So, fill up Cindy's warchest. Put thousands and thousands of volunteers in the streets NOW talking to voters about the issue. Basically, show some political power. Its the only thing someone like Pelosi will respect.

Again I have one simple message for all my representatives: If you don't get off your ass and demand impeachment, you are DONE....

Right on! If we can only get the scum of the earth and leader of the current administration - Dick - to testify about anything under oath in the near future - It will be an accomplishment. Although, he obviously deserves much, much worse.

COMarc: Right on!

GO Cindy!!! The check is in the mail!

OH , LEAVE BUSH ALONE.

WE HAVE MORE PRESSING LYING AND CHEATING ISSUES IN BASEABALL

AND YES HE WAS A BASEBALL OWNER

what amazes me in the discussion about impeaching cheney is that Kucinich's name hasn't come up in any of this. he was the one who introduced articles of impeachment in the house this past April: "House Resolution 333, Articles of Impeachment Relating to Vice President Richard B. Cheney". I am glad these three reps are stepping up in favor of impeachment, but stunned that its as if Kucinich had not already stepped up in faovr of this. Will they be writing up their own articles of impeachment? Or is this a step to support Kucinich's articles? hmmm

Pelosi isn't worried about Cindy Sheehan taking her seat because Sheehan is running as an independent instead of challenging Pelosi in the Democratic primary.

In a primary challenge, Sheehan would have a good chance of beating Pelosi. The Speaker's defeat in a primary challenge from the antiwar Left would send shock waves through the Democratic Party establishment and provide a model for substantial progressive gains in the future.

However, facing Pelosi in the general election, Sheehan will lose just like Matt Gonzalez did, because most Democratic voters will vote the Party's nominee. The peace movement will have been defeated and proven a marginal force, and Pelosi's stature as a Centrist leader will be enhanced.

How about waterbording,it seems that most of the congress and especially the Rebubs approve of it,so perhaps we can get to the bottom of who is really attacking our country andsubverting it from within,after all the only thing that unites our country is our agreement with our Constitution and that is being destroyed every day by the likes of the Bush administration and their subversive accomplisses Polosi,Ried,Liberman,Emanual ect.

If impeachment is off the table, why can't it be on the front burner? Turn up the heat !

The Demoks have their orders to impeach the criminals and pull the US military out of the Middle East by election day 2008 or progressives are voting third party candidates.

Absolutely support Cindy Sheehan's bid to unseat 'corpo-liberal' Nancy Pelosi, but let's also take the time to thank Wexler, et al, for taking this stand.

The impeachment of Cheney would inevitably, I think, open a can of worms that would lead to the impeachment of Bush, the evidence so blatant that even most Republicans couldn't ignore it. This may be Wexler's plan.

Represenative Wexler was on a talk show today and said he has set up a website www.wexlerwantshearings.com He is asking that people go their and add there names. When he gets 50,000 signatures he will present it to the other members of the Judiciary Committe and they will then probably bring it up on the floor and start investagations. If you remember when Kucinich brought it up, Hoyer tried to table it and it was voted on to send to the Judiciary Committe.He said that it is time Cheney be held accountable for his actions.

Tommybones--Great letter. What do ya think about the parallels between Cheney and McCarthy, and a working hypothesis that Cheney was building on McCarthy's (and other GOP members') methods?

McCarthy held his power until he was finally stood up to successfully, which encouraged other members of congress to regrow their backbone--in both political parties, and even Eisenhower was cowed. The NIE seems to be a similar type of event/catalyst, as does the CIA TapeGate.

Those of the anti-Pelosi Army should read Juan Cole's blog about her and the comments being made, http://www.juancole.com/2007/12/pelosi-on-republicans-they-like-this.html

TREASON is what comes to mind with Bush & Chaney. anytime a person puts the country and it's people at risk for their personal Gain. Isn't there still a death Penalty in this country for doing that?

Thanks for the link PunchinJudy. I just signed and sent it to my friends and family.

ezeflyer says "we need a volunteer to give Cheney a blowjob so we can impeach him"

You might ask Idaho Senator Larry Craig.

locust: If the country must "pressure" anyone at this point, I'd say the better verb here is "dodge around", "dart behind", "override", "climb over", etc. To paraphrase King George II: They're either for impeachment or against it.

Pelosi will need to figure out a means of hiding a pro-Bush stance on the one hand, and maintaining face on the other. Wouldn't it be "nice" if those pesky Democrats went back into hiding? A lot less embarrasing for the enablers running their show.

Oh well, a locust can dream, even if it's not such a common one.

If we support Cindy Sheehan lots of good things can happen.

"However, facing Pelosi in the general election, Sheehan will lose..."
It will certainly be a lot easier for Sheehan if there is no incumbent.

So if Cheney gets impeached and Bush gives up (again - it's in his blood), who should be President, if not the House Speaker?
Byrd?
Rice?
etc.

Impeachment?

Newsflash: Democrats just gave Bush/Cheney 109 billion dollars to continue Iraq war.

"Pelosi will need to figure out a means..."

She's a politician. She could.

She also sees that the polls show that Congress's approval rating is below Bush's.

I don't like a lot of Pelosi's behavior. Before we throw her off the plank let's get her to throw a couple other guys off, first.

Divide and conquer.

I am so glad to see more and more Representatives standing behind Dennis Kucinich, author of the resolution to impeach Cheney introduced initially as H.R. 333 in April of this year and brought to the floor once again for a vote as H.R. 799.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HE00333:

By the way Kucinich is available for the position of the President of the United States, http://www.dennis4president.com.

afterdowingstreet.org has collected 134,971 votes from the public who all want impeachment.http://www.usalone.com/cgi-bin/transparency.cgi?paper=1&action=Should%20Vice%20President%20Cheney%20be%20impeached%3F

Wexler and Gutierrez should add their name to the impeachment bill as Representative Baldwin has done.

When Baldwin was in Las Vegas earlier this month my family and I joined with the Nevadans for Kucinich organizers and presented her with a handmade banner showing our appreciation for her stand.

If you want to take the movement past these comments, you can start by thanking those 23 Representatives who have joined in Dennis Kucinich's stand for the Constitution. All co-sponsors are listed at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HE00333:@@@P.

"A Democratic Congress can show that it takes its constitutional authority seriously and hold a sober investigation, which will stand in stark contrast to the kangaroo court convened by Republicans for President Clinton."

What it CAN DO and WHAT IT DOES are two different things.

Does anyone really believe the "new" Attorney General, Mukasey, is going to agree to anything Congress wants if it means impeachment for this administration's callous disregard for the truth and the United States Constitution?

Another thank-you to PunchinJudy for the link to Wexler's site.
...signed,sealed, and forwarded to others.

quirkygrrlny December 14th, 2007 5:21 pm

"What amazes me in the discussion about impeaching cheney is that Kucinich's name hasn't come up in any of this. He was the one who introduced articles of impeachment in the house this past April: "House Resolution 333, Articles of Impeachment Relating to Vice President Richard B. Cheney"."

Isn't that typical of politicians? Why did it take the publication of Scotty McClellan's book for these people to speak out and not even give Kucinich any recognition for HR 333?

Politics is what it is: A cesspool of disinformation and misinformation!

The problem with Pelosi isn't Pelosi. The Speaker of the House isn't self-proclaimed. S/he is chosen by simple majority of the House, reflecting the wider will of the House.

We need Sheehan, plus a few dozen others, all working the same team, same platform, same vision, same bloc, all running simultaneously across the country. If there's any hope for a progressive movement, it is in large-scale team building. There is no single omnipotent savior who can bail us out of everything.

Paul Bramsher,
I agree that there isn't a "single omnipotent savior," but you fail to see the significance of replacing the Speaker of the House with a grassroots activist. If Pelosi can be replaced due to her arrogance, then anyone in Congress can, and the message will not fall on deaf ears. They will have to pay atention to the base, or else they could be next. I'm talking to you, Schumer...

Impeachment isn't good enough!

Only decades of jail time will scare off other political powers from abusing their power in the same arrogant, reckless catastrophic way. The damage is incalculable. Enormous multi-levels of cascading atrocities resulting in pain, suffering, sickness and death caused by these selfish ignorant bastards! For so many people the quality of their lives have been ruined.

I hate to say this but I want them to start the hearings later on in the year (2008) so we can stretch the hearings out until 2009 so we can convict these bastards with a Democratic congress and actually make them pay a real price. A price they will never forget and neither will anyone else!

I wish that is what Conyers and Pelosi have in mind I but doubt it.

WHAT A JOKE!
KUCINICH HAS BEEN THE LONE WOLF ON THIS FROM THE START!
VOTE KUCINICH!!!!

I hate to keep repeating myself but I do believe that impeachment is off the table because chimpy AND the dick AND the toothy bitch will be facing criminal charges as soon as (or if) the dems take it all next election. Paybacks are a bitch!

Paul: There is a lot of work being done at the grass roots to throw out encumbants in the Democratic primaries. Even Daily Kos is supporting progressive candidates against the ner do wells in Congress. Cindy showed the way. And I think she has a great chance at beating Pelosi. She has the support of Dimm's and Independents across the nation. She is a true leader. My check is in the mail to her. Is yours?

Send to: Cindy for Congress, 1260 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103.

Another point: The DOJ and Mukasey cannot do anything about impeachment. Everything is done within the Congress itself. From bringing charges (the House) to holding the trial (the Senate). And even the Prez cannot commute the sentence once it is handed down. (A little reminder: Nixon, like Clinton was never convicted by the Senate)

So, IMPEACH NOW!! Call your Reps on Monday (Again) and get them to sign onto HR333, or HR799, of join up with Wexler and the other brave souls to get this out of the Judiciary Committee and onto the House floor.

Thanks for all you do. And don't give up. This may be our last chance to take back our country!