Articles of Impeachment Filed Against Bush, In Congress

[Demeter]

OpEdNews.com

Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_matt_pas_061208_congresswoman_mckinn.htm


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December 8, 2006

Articles of Impeachment Filed Against Bush, In Congress

By Matt Pascarella

On Monday, gathering in a conference room in Washington D.C., Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and her advisors worked on a draft copy of the articles of impeachment against President Bush.
..At the heart of the charges contained in McKinney's articles of impeachment, is the allegation that President Bush has not upheld the oath of presidential office and is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors.

Article I states that President Bush has failed to preserve, protect and defend the constitution. Specifically cited in this article is the charge that Bush has manipulated intelligence and lied to justify war: "George Walker Bush ... in preparing the invasion of Iraq, did withhold intelligence from the Congress, by refusing to provide Congress with the full intelligence picture that he was being given, by redacting information ... and actively manipulating the intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons programs by pressuring the Central Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies."

This manipulation of intelligence was done, the charge continues, "with the intent to misinform the people and their representatives in Congress in order to gain their support for invading Iraq, denying both the people and their representatives in Congress the right to make an informed choice."

Article II, "Abuse of office and of executive privilege," states that President Bush has disregarded his oath of office by "obstructing and hindering the work of Congressional investigative bodies and by seeking to expand the scope of the powers of his office." The President has "failed to take responsibility for, investigate or discipline those responsible for an ongoing pattern of negligence, incompetence and malfeasance to the detriment of the American people."

This article continues by indicting Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in their actions to manipulate or "fix" intelligence and mislead the public about Iraq's weapons programs. Ultimately, this article calls not only for Bush's impeachment and removal from office but also asks the same actions to be taken against Cheney and Rice.

Article III states that President Bush has failed to "ensure the laws are faithfully executed" and that he has "violated the letter and spirit of laws and rules of criminal procedure used by civilian and military courts, and has violated or ignored regulatory codes and practices that carry out the law."...Specifically, McKinney cites illegal domestic spying as a result of failing to obtain warrants thereby subverting congress and the judiciary in the process: "... by circumventing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act courts established by Congress, whose express purpose is to check such abuses of executive power, provoking the presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to file a complaint and another judge to resign in protest, the said program having been subsequently ruled illegal; he has also concealed the existence of this unlawful program of spying on American citizens from the people and all but a few of their representatives in Congress, even resorting to outright public deceit."

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Will other members of congress support the action Congresswoman McKinney has brought forth?

At the table in what could be considered her impeachment "war room" the question is brought up a number of times.

Mike, an advisor to McKinney, mentions, "Conyers was supposed to have investigations. They were chomping at the bit 6 months ago to do subpoenas."

McKinney quietly replies, "Now they say they aren't even going to issue subpoenas."

Looking up from her papers she takes a deep breath, "I'm going in alone on this one because now it is all about them playing majority politics."

This is McKinney's last week as a member of congress and this act, to impeach the president, is the final resolution she will enter into the Congressional record.

For those who know anything about Cynthia McKinney it may come as no surprise that she would file this resolution as her parting gift to Congress.

McKinney is no stranger to being attacked by the media and has been isolated from her own party.

From her inquiries into election fraud in 2000 to her calls for a transparent and thorough investigation into 9-11, not to mention the widely covered run-in she had with the Capitol Hill Police, the congresswoman is aware that this resolution will likely be ignored and that she will be ruthlessly attacked upon its filing.

"What do you think they are going to do to me this time?" she asks her staff. Everyone uncomfortably shifts in their seats and after no answer comes McKinney explains, "We have to do this because this is simply the right thing to do. The American people do want to hold this man and his office accountable for the crimes they have committed and if no member of congress is willing to do it, than I will."

It is questionable as to how effective this move could be in gaining support because of her reputation as a firebrand congresswoman and because, ultimately, she is on her way out of office.

The Congresswoman and her staff realize this but hope that by filing the articles of impeachment it will, at the very least, open up a discussion on whether or not President Bush and key members of his administration have committed impeachable offenses and whether our officials should be held to account.

"My duty as a member of Congress is merely to uphold and preserve the constitution and to represent the will of my constituency. Ultimately, it isn't up to me or any other member of congress � it is up to the American people to decide."



Authors Website: http://mattpascarella.blogspot.com

Authors Bio: Matt Pascarella is a freelance journalist and producer

[antiimperialist]

1. Does it involve an investigation?

I'm for impeachment, and I have no doubts that a investigation into Bush's war crimes and violations of the constitution would result in grounds for impeachment, but we need an investigation first, for formality purposes.

[seize the time]

2. YOU GO GIRL!

YOU GO GIRL! Thank you Rep. Mckinney for having the guts to stand up and do the right thing. Thank you for picking up and running with the ball that John Conyers and Nancy Pelosi fumbled!

And Thank you for all your past work on the horror of the neglected Katrina evacuees, the State of Black America, and poverty. Thank You for keeping your eyes on the prize and not succumbing to the spin. You're one hell of a brave lady with the courage of her convictions! I'm sure we will see you back soon, fighting the good fight!

[nebenaube]

3. I want impeachment on the table!

[elocs]

4. The Watergate hearings started in May of 1973

and the articles of impeachment were passed by the House Judiciary Committee in July of 1974. You investigate first, then you pass articles of impeachment--not the other way around. Interesting that this is being done by somebody who is leaving office. Either Speaker of the House Pelosi is in charge, or she is not and she has said that impeachment is off the table and Conyers agrees with her. I am sure she has looked at all of the ramifications of impeachment instead of simply fixating on what she wants to happen. If, as Pelosi has said that impeachment is off the table, and immediately the next Congress begins to bring articles of impeachment shem might either be construed to be not in charge or a liar.