Washblog

The national outrage has been pushed to the breaking point.

Last week Rep. Grijalva of Arizona become the 23rd co-sponsor of Rep. Kucinich's HR 333, Articles of Impeachment against Dick Cheney.

Rep. Wexler, the House of Representatives super-sleuth, polled his Florida constituents and found 61% in favor of impeaching Cheney. Wexler is recommending to Nancy Pelosi and the House Judiciary Committee that hearings regarding the charges against Cheney go forward.

At the other end of the spectrum, we have Jay Inslee (D-WA) who went back to DC this fall with his ears burning. His constituents made it uncomfortably clear that impeachment was on their table. All but one of the Legislative Districts he represents have passed independent impeachment resolutions.

Inslee not only refuses to respond to his constituent's demands but has actively worked to capsize grassroots efforts to kick start impeachment from the State Legislature.

Rep. Wexler is a man with a good understanding of just what his job entails. He is the people's representative in Congress. He asks for their input and implements it. He's not their parent and they are not his children. He is a public servant not their superior.

Inslee operates by a different sort of logic. At a town meeting this fall he told us he believes his judgment trumps his constituents' desires. That fact that his constituents are less likely to have their judgment clouded by personal ambition, party politics or the siren song of "K" Street didn't seem to interest him. That his judgment and his oath of office are conflict didn't trouble him.

He fills his days pushing an energy agenda that cannot pass because he is shielding the obstacles to its passage: Bush and Cheney. He talks about domestic violence, a Japanese Memorial on Bainbridge Island, (his home) and bout holding our "soldiers close to our hearts" while he votes to fund an illegal occupation that keeps them in the Middle East.

Inslee seems content to ignore the elephant in the room; that our government is illegitimate in the minds of its citizens and in the eyes of the law.

Does Inslee think that in some distant day his constituents are going to thank him for "exercising his judgment" in allowing a dishonest men to abuse our military and suck up the collective wealth of our nation?

Does he think that we are grateful that exercising his judgment has allowed our civil rights to be ripped out of the Constitution and that the Body he sits in believes thought should become criminalized?

Does he think that we are pleased that his judgment forces our grandchildren to pay off a debt that lined the pockets of war profiteers and enabled our military to commit war crimes?

Granted there are other members of Congress equally guilty. But I didn't vote for them. I did vote for Inslee thinking he would represent me fairly and honestly.. He is my voice in Congress and I'm tired of having my interests subordinated to his "judgment".

PS If you are as disgusted as I am, give "Washington for Impeachment" a shout. Help them hold our representatives feet to the fire and educate other Americans about our rights.

http://www.washingtonforimpeachment.org/blog/index.php