It is time for the Congress to create a Constitutional "crisis"

[kentuck]

I have come to the conclusion that there is no other way. As Dick Cheney and George W Bush thumb their noses at the Congress and at the laws of the land, what else can the people do? I pray that there are enough Democratic votes to uphold the Constitution and to hold firm to the belief that no one person is above the law, especially not the President or the Vice-President of the country.

The headlines in the papers today declare that Dick Cheney is defiant in turning over information to Congress. Congress should subpoena the records of Dick Cheney to be brought before the Congress forthwith. If he refuses, declare him in contempt of Congress and begin impeachement proceedings. If he wishes to take it to the Supreme Court, let him. That is our goal. To get the highest Court in the land to rule on their actions.

This is no time for the weak-kneed or the jellyfish. This is a time for courage and for confrontation with a runaway Executive Branch. The same applies for the law-breaking Atty-General, Alberto Gonzales. The people have a right to know and the Congress should stand firmly on that principle. It is time to confront these scofflaws.

Of course, the White House will declare that the Congress is trying to create a "constitutional crisis". Indeed, they should! And the only way to resolve a "constitutional crisis" is to get the Supreme Court to rule upon the conflict. The Supreme Court may rule against precedence and against our Constitution but, at least, we will know where we stand.

The status quo cannot continue. The war in Iraq continues. The Congress has more or less been declared irrelevant. Their polls are half of what George W Bush's polls are and they stand around dumbfounded - wondering what to do.

In another deceitful ploy, today the CIA/White House declares they are going to release hundreds of secret documents of the CIA from years gone. So they can brag that they have released more "secret" documents than any other Administration in history. Yet, they will release nothing that relates to their own activities or decisions. Not even Congress is permitted to see what they are doing.

If we are to remain a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people, Congress must insist on the right to all the information. If it necessary for national security, then it does not have to be made public, but the Congress does have the right to know what is going on. Otherwise, how can they pass laws that are for the benefit of the nation as a whole?

Please let someone in Congress read this and let them understand that the people want a confrontation. They want a "constitutional crisis" if necessary. We can go on no longer. We must see an opposition Party that is willing to fight for the people and is willing to stand up for the Constitution, even if they have to take it all the way to the Supreme Court. Wake up Clarence, you are going to finally have to earn your money.

PS...I have been away on a much needed break, but I feel this is something that needs to be said.

kentuck

[babylonsister]

1. I so agree, and was heartened to read some contempt of Congress

charges might be acted upon:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1156374&mesg_id=1156374

Some action needs to be taken to prove Dems won't take this vile behavior without a fight.

OT: I was just going to say, where have you been? You were missed! :hug:

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Specifically, what Conyers asked is "What is the POLICY of the DOJ"

He told (warned) McNulty that it is looking like the Congress is going to have to "enforce" the subpoenas, that asked McNulty what the Policy is. McNulty went into an answer that he would have to 'recuse' himself because of an investigation and completely dodged the question of what the Policy for enforcement is--even when Conyers asked again saying "I'm not asking you that. I'm asking what the Policy is."

It's almost sounding like the investigations of the DOB by the DOJ (and other agencies) has a response ready to go when Congress asked for assistance with enforcement: "We are precluded from taking any enforcement action on this matter during an on-going investigation," (or words to that effect). :shrug:

Conyers or Sanchez needs to write an open letter ASAP requesting the DOJ detail the Policy for enforcement of Congressional subpoenas. And since it is ia Policy, they should demand less than 24 hours to respond.

[TwilightGardener]

2. The Bush administration has created the crisis--

Congress just needs to respond appropriately. At this point, if George Bush took swings at reporters and passed out drunk in the Rose Garden, and Cheney showed up to his office in a Napoleon outfit and declared himself king of the empire, I'm pretty sure impeachment would still be off the table.

[eleny]

3. K&R

:hi:

[ninkasi]

4. I agree with you

How can any society function as a a stable one when their government refuses to obey the law? BushCheney have been ignoring the Constitution and the law of the land for over 6 years now, and it's past time to put their many abuses to a stop. They are the ones forcing a Constitutional crisis, but refusing to perform the duties of their offices as defined by the Constitution.

It's good to have you back, by the way, and hope your break helped you. :hi:

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. This is one reason why they have packed with SCOTUS with neocon

constitution-destroyers. At least 4 of the 9 justices would automatically decide in favor of the Bush Administration's being above the law. And the deciding fifth is shaky. One more Bushie judge and it's all over for even a pretense of democracy or rule of law. The SCOTUS is supposed to be the highest recourse of the law, but the Bushie judges are transparently anti-constitutional Bush creatures.

[welshTerrier2]

7. and a fine return it is ...

great post, Kentuck!

you can just see the shimmering of light as the jellyfish wiggle to and fro ... you can hear them cowering in the corner remembering what happened when the republicans shut down the government ... you can hear the triangulators cautioning moderation so as not to upset Hillary campaign apple cart ... you can feel the angst about listening to all those radical McGovernites who set the party back for decades ...

and you can see the approval rating for Congress at a whopping 14% ... some of these clowns are not even good at playing politics let alone addressing the real and serious problems the nation faces ... the worst administration in history, perched on the brink of catastrophe after years of republican control, and the Democrats still can't figure out how to make a little hay ...

it truly boggles the mind ...

k&r ...

[Maven]

8. The problem isn't merely weak knees

The problem is the "politics is business as usual" mentality. Our national mythology--"freedom," "democracy," etc.--has been completely divorced from the principles that once underlied it. Meanwhile, our leaders carry on with the "business" of making the laws and putting in a day's work at their "jobs." Life, death, legality, illegality--it's all just more papers to shuffle across their mahogany desks.

There is no indignation because that simply wouldn't be...professional.

Of course, I agree entirely with the thrust of your message.

[loudsue]

14. Truer words were never spoken.

Good post.

:kick:

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. Agreed, but the constitutional crisis is already here. n/t

[StatGirl]

13. It's been here since December 12, 2000. n/t

[gratuitous]

10. Yep, sooner or later you have to call a bluffer

And this administration is used to just raking in the pot without showing its cards.

We the people didn't change the power axis in Congress just so you folks could take symbolic votes. We changed things because we want things to change. Get on with it. We had one ballot to voice our opinion. So buck up, congressional Democrats, suck it up, and don't worry about fucking it up. Do the job we elected you to do, and ignore the yammering chuckleheads who were so wrong about campaign 2006. They called it wrong then, and they're wrong now when they counsel caution.

Turn these criminals out of the White House, and let's take our country back from them. This is the hard, messy, distasteful part, where we have to figuratively break their fingers to release their blood-soaked death grip on the levers of power. But it has to be done. Get on with it. Now.

[HootieMcBoob]

11. YES!!! Way past time!

:bounce:

[Marnieworld]

12. The Bush administration created the crisis

It just needs to be responded to. The whole Unitary Exacutive theory and shadow govt, they ignore subpoenas, all oversight and the DOJ is now the RNC. It has long been a constitutional crisis. When they ignored The Geneva Conventions it was unconsitutional. Secret prisions, abolishing of the Bill of rights? These people have been wiping their collective asses for years with the Consitution.

I think that candidate Gore will address all of this next year. But Congress should do it now. Cuff 'em and bring them in. Blatant war crimes, blatant domestic crimes. Any time they have to go to court they always lose. Even the conservative 4th Court of appeals overruled their whole theory of "enemy combatants" and disregard for the rule of law. What we need is a crisis attitude from the Dems but I haven't seen enough of that. They should have loud press conferences listing the crimes every week until it is understood that our entire democracy is in Jeopardy. The wheels of govt are turning to slow as people continue to die and our treasury is robbed.