Washblog

I am submitting the following resolution to the 41st Democrats LD meeting tonight in Bellevue:

http://truthsite.org/politics/ImpeachmentResolution.pdf

Furthermore, I've submitted the following guest editorial to the Seattle Times.

Even as the Bush Administration beats the drums for an insane war against Iran, Congress stands by and wrings their hands. Republicans (except for supporters of Ron Paul) continue to walk lock step behind their leaders, while many Democrats in Congress warn against excessive partisanship.

Are people numb to the truth?

This Administration has tortured in violation of the Geneva Convention; lied about the reasons for attacking Iraq;  lied about Iran's nuclear program; pursued an unjustified and disastrous war that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and nearly 4000 US soldiers; ignored and, by their incompetence, aided the real terrorists responsible for 9/11; committed the nation to years of expensive, debilitating conflict in Iraq; engaged in illegal wiretapping; held prisoners without trial; weakened our constitutional protections; corrupted federal agencies; handed out no-bid contracts to politically connected companies; outed a CIA agent; politicized the Justice Department; suppressed inconvenient evidence; withdrawn from numerous international treaties; bungled the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort; stolen elections; used signing statements to circumvent the will of Congress; engaged in obsessive secrecy; obstructed investigations; destroyed evidence; increased media concentration; exploited fear and patriotism for cynical ends; bankrupted the country; transferred hundreds of billions of dollars to the super-rich; bungled foreign, energy and environmental policies; and ignored the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and oil dependence that are the ultimate causes of terrorism and war.                                                                                                                
Given these offenses, and given Congress's failure to stop the craziness, it's no wonder that Congress' approval ratings are lower even than the President's.  Indeed, many progressives are ready to abandon the Democratic Party. Likewise, many grassroots Republicans are fed up with their leadership and are supporting protest candidates.

But there is hope that the Administration will be held accountable . Over two dozen House members have announced support for impeachment hearings against Vice-President Cheney (House Resolution 333); and Washington State Senators Oemig, Regala, Kohl-Welles, Kline, Spanel, Fairley, Kauffman, Fraser, and Prentice are introducing State Joint Memorial 8016, a resolution to request impeachment hearings against both Bush and Cheney.                                                                                                                
Some Democrats oppose impeachment because they think hearings would be a distraction from the issues that really matter. Doesn't Iran matter? Congressional Democrats have failed to end the war, failed to override the SCHIP veto, and failed to reverse the Administration's many regressive policies. About all they've "accomplished" is to condemn their ally MoveOn.org and earn themselves even lower support than the President.

Some Democrats argue that pursuing impeachment would generate sympathy for the administration, allowing the Republicans to win in November.  But the Republican impeachment of Clinton led to the (contested) defeat of Gore in 2000. Moreover, the Bush Administration has been caught red-handed again and again for matters much more consequential than sex in the Oval Office.  Administration culpability provides the Democrats with an opportunity to decimate support for the GOP.

For years the Republicans engaged in the dirtiest political tricks and the brashest rigging of elections. Why this sudden undeserved bipartisanship on the part of the Democrats?

Republicans too, if they can see beyond short term party loyalty, must realize that their party will suffer at the polls for its loyalty to the Administration.

In any case, such crass electoral calculations pale in comparison to the constitutional and ethical issues in question.  Impeachment is simply not a partisan issue. Indeed, Bruce Fein, a prominent Republican jurist who pursued impeachment of Clinton, has spoken powerfully of the need for all Americans to call this Administration into account and defend the rule of law.  

Some opponents of impeachment argue that "the votes just aren't there," especially in the Senate. But it's a good bet that support for the Administration will evaporate after Congress begins impeachment hearings. Impeachment by the House is like an indictment, and the purpose of hearings is to examine the evidence. Once the lies and crimes are confirmed under oath, even Republicans will abandon the Administration.  This is precisely what happened during the Watergate hearings.  

Even if the Senate were unable to convict, investigations will expose the truth, weaken the Administration, and deter future administrations from similar shenanigans. If Congress gives up without trying, they are being derelict in their highest duty, which is to defend the Constitution and hold even leaders accountable to the rule of law.  

by ThinkerFeeler on Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 01:42:53 PM PST

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hopefully some of us recall how our DC strategic ... ha ha ha

geniuses said to back off from impeachment cuz ...

there was so much more caving into fascists to accomplish?

Should we all send diapers to Jay and Patty so they won't have to worry about peeee-ing their pants over Democrats having spines?

rmm.

http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

by rmdSeaBos on Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 03:59:53 PM PST

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I remember the cloying tentative and timidity-based party arguments about how Impeachment would be a waste of time and how Pelosi said Impeachment was off that table.

...as if she and the spineless wonders had more important tasks to accomplish. In reality they had much more important task from which they repeatedly backed down ... again and again.

Like, how did Lincoln feel when he asked his general who wouldn't fight ... "If you're not using the Army I'd like to borrow it."

Chris Hedges recently said it best and defines why a serious Impeachment attempt, whether successful or not or whether there's time or not ... is absolutely the medicine this civics-challenged citizenry needs.

Impeachment would be like electro-shock, the cathartic that could awaken a country back to its original legitimate values.

And no, we have no more important tasks regardless of who thinks Republicans could take back congress if we divert ourselves with Impeachment.

The energy needs to go there ... more than to electing any specific democrat at any specific national or state level.

[Excerpt]

Bush will have flown from Israel to Palestine to Kuwait to Bahrain to the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia to Egypt in search of a legacy, one that he hopes will lift up his name in history.

But, isolated and deluded, he has yet to grasp that he and the United States are reviled and detested for our violence, arrogance and greed. The bands played on the tarmac. He was toasted at state dinners. But even our allies, including Kuwait and Egypt, know Bush is a danger to himself and others.

... It is the end of the road for George Bush.

The world takes less and less notice of him.

He strutted and swaggered across the stage.

He bellowed and raged. He plundered and murdered.

And now he wants to be anointed as a peacemaker.

His presidency, like his life, has been a tragic waste. But he at least he has a life.

There are tens of thousands of mute graves in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan that stand as stark testaments to his true legacy.

If he wants to redeem his time in office he should kneel before one and ask for forgiveness.

Arthur
You sure you ain't staking too much on yer theories? Not enough common sense?

by Arthur Ruger on Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 07:02:17 PM PST

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was a blast. Pam Roach totally lost it. See my report here

by On Puget Sound on Fri Jan 18, 2008 at 01:51:18 AM PST

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in that we are both military families.  I am referring to the recent impeachment hearings in Olympia where Sen. Pam Roach (R-Auburn)appeared to deliver her objection to the action of impeachment hearing.  Her objection seemed to be to the hearing taking place in state building as improper use of state resources, and to notify of her intent to register official objection.  Her objection was noted by the chair of the proceedings and the chair was ready to move on with permitting additional testimony.  Sen. Roach again asked for recognition from the chair to make some additional comments. It is those comments that compel me to make comment of my own.

Sen Roach has a son in the military, Capt John Adams Roach, USAF.  At the impeachment hearing she showed a photo of him with comments that some in the legislature, including herself, believe 'we' (I take that to mean the U.S. Administration orders for the U.S. military to be deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq)are doing some good thi