5 posts tagged “impeach cheney”

Among other things, Elizabeth Holltzman uses this article to spell out and then counter many of the arguments people have against impeachment.

Congressional leaders don't defend the administration, nor do they contend that its actions are unimpeachable or less serious than Nixon's. Instead they argue there is no time, or that impeachment proceedings would distract the Congress from other work, or divide the country. The subtext seems to be fear that impeachment could undermine Democratic election prospects in 2008.

But even these "pragmatic" arguments are wrong. Let's take them one at a time:

Insufficient time. In the case of Nixon, the House officially instructed the Judiciary Committee to act in early February 1974. The committee finished voting on articles of impeachment July 29, less than six months later. No presidential impeachment proceeding had taken place for almost 100 years, so the committee had to start from scratch, analyzing the Constitution and developing procedures for the impeachment inquiry. Now that the relevant legal spade work is done and a road map for proper impeachment proceedings exists, Congress might conduct them even faster than in 1974.

Distraction. During Watergate, the impeachment inquiry didn't prevent Congress from getting its work done. In fact, the House Judiciary Committee also worked on other matters during impeachment, just as the Senate did during its impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton.

Divisiveness. True, President Clinton's impeachment was a highly partisan process that divided the country - because most Americans didn't support it. They believed his conduct was reprehensible, but not an impeachable offense. Impeachment therefore had negative repercussions for the Republicans who instigated it.

Nixon's impeachment united the American people. The process was bipartisan, demonstrating this wasn't just a Democratic ploy to undo an election. The fairness of the process, the seriousness of purpose, the substantial evidence - all gave the public confidence that justice had been done. This reinvigorated the shared value that the rule of law and preservation of democracy are more important than any president or party.

This value is again asserting itself in grassroots impeachment movements across America. The Vermont Senate, several state Democratic parties, and many municipal governments have adopted resolutions supporting impeachment. More state legislatures would have acted except for pressure from Washington. Many polls show a majority of Americans support impeaching Cheney (a Nov. 13 American Research Group poll says 70 percent of Americans believe he abused his office), and slightly less than a majority support impeaching Bush.

Stonewalling such widespread public sentiment is itself divisive, leading at least half the country to feel their concerns about upholding the Constitution are being ignored. Only a serious airing of evidence in hearings would heal the split.

Undermining election prospects. When the impeachment process began, Nixon had just been reelected in one of the largest landslides in history. Few, if any, worried about whether impeachment was a political winner for Congress or the Democrats. Public opinion simply forced Congress' hand when Nixon fired Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. After the Judiciary Committee conducted impartial hearings and voted on impeachment, Congress' approval ratings soared. Republicans were swamped in the November 1974 elections.

Read full article in The Philadelphia Inquirer

Support impeachment?  Here are some simple actions you can take:

Support Congressman Robert Wexler's campaign for Impeachment hearings by sending a message to congress through his website:  http://wexlerwantshearings.com/

    Impeachcheney.org great information about the movement to impeach Cheney, plus more online actions for you!!!

    Cheney Impeachment Poll vote in the national Cheney Impeachment Poll

Impeach Bush and let's not forget our second in command!

First of all, yes, I'm pretty bummed about congress not passing the vote of no confidence.  What's a brother to do?  NETWORK that's what!  Yesterday I started an Impeach Cheney Myspace page.  Just out of curiosity, I invited all of the presidential candidates to be my pal, and the only one that has so far accepted is Mitt Romney.  It will be really interesting to see if whoever runs his myspace will approve the comment I tried to leave for him.

Making the myspace  page was a  direct result of actually going out with a clipboard and trying to get people to take part in the Cheney Impeachment Poll.  On Friday, I went to a hip hop show fully expecting the angry youth to heartily greet my pen, add their names to the poll, and offer to buy me  drinks.  Nope.  Clipboards in this day and age are a physical representation of the word  "sketchy".    The only thing worse than a clipboard is a cardboard sign declaring various things that you will do for food.

I've decided that I can probably get more people to sign the petitions and participate in the polls by pursuing them online.  Wish me luck and go here to take simple actions that won't hurt you a bit.

The town hall meeting on the Impeachment of Vice President Cheney was held at a nifty establishment called Charlotte Energy Solutions, which specializes in green alternatives to energy sources.

1

One of the evening's highlights was this inspiring speech given by Reverend Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus.

Charlotte Meeting Yearwood

David Swanson from  afterdowningstreet.org  also spoke and had  some great information to share.

Charlotte Meeting Swanson

9

1 comment

Here's a  picture of the panelists.  From left to right they are; David Swanson (co-founder, AfterDowningStreet.org),  Al McSurely (civil rights attorney & Grassroots Impeachment Movement), Debra Sweet (National Coordinator, World Can't Wait), Rev. Lennox Yearwood (Pres., Hip Hop Caucus),  Lauren Guy McAlpin (World Can't Wait - Greensboro).   

Here is some  audio from the West Point Impeach Cheney Rally.  First we hear one of the speakers attempting to hold a moment of silence to honor the men and women who have died in the line of duty, only to be thwarted by the pro war demonstrators.

West Point Edits Moment of Silence

West Point Edits Vet Tries to Speak

Finally, and possibly most disgusting was the rudeness and disrespect that the gathering of assholes (I mean eagles) showed to the parents of a Marine Killed in Action.

West Point Edits Parent Speaks

016_16

1 comment