Kucinich's articles of impeachment deserve a vote on the House floor

[2rth2pwr]

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to send articles of impeachment against President Bush to the Judiciary Committee for review.

The impeachment resolution’s sponsor, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, requested a recorded vote on the motion around 3 p.m. Wednesday, and 20 Republicans joined nearly all Democrats in voting to send the impeachment measure to the committee, according to a vote count on C-SPAN.

The motion passed 251-166.
...
Kucinich took to the floor of the House Monday evening to read his 35 articles of impeachment, accusing Bush of war crimes, breaking his oath of office and misleading Americans to launch an illegal invasion of Iraq. The Ohio Democrat said impeachment was the only way to keep Bush from launching another invasion of Iran.

The Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), already has before it articles of impeachment aimed at Vice President Dick Cheney. Since receiving that impeachment measure in November, the committee has done nothing.
http://rawstory.com/news08/2008/06/11/house-voting-to-send-impeachment-resolution-to-judiciary-committee/


Speaker Nancy Pelosi is sticking by her earlier pledge to make sure impeaching Bush and Cheney is an option that remains strictly “off the table.”.."Still, Kucinich's articles of impeachment deserve a vote on the House floor, rather than simply being tabled and referred to the judiciary committee. Back during the Iraq supplemental fight last spring, all sides were at least allowed to vote on their desired legislation, even if, in the end, it was a blank check that passed against the wishes of the majority of the Democratic caucus. If the progressive left is a valued member of the Democratic coalition, it should at least be allowed to register its support for impeachment on the floor of the House. The most recent poll on impeachment showed 36% of the country in favor, which probably means that a majority of the Democratic coalition is in favor. If we are passing blank checks on Iraq and bad FISA bills against the wishes of the majority of the Democratic caucus, we should at least be allowed to vote on bills like impeachment that are supported by a majority of Democrats.

It won't pass, and it won't change anything, but it will at least allow a large segment of the progressive coalition to have its voice heard on the House floor. Bring Kucinich's articles of impeachment to a full vote, and give all members of our coalition their day in the sun. "
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6296

[Breeze54]

1. Yes and it would help restore the Rule of Law in America... for everyone!!

Not just for the progressive coalition.

:kick: & Recommended

[MrCoffee]

2. Ahem...there was almost a vote on the Cheney impeachment

The House Democrats crapped themselves desperately trying to get it sent to committee.

A vote on impeachment, right now, would never ever pass. It would be ridiculous to try.

[styersc]

3. Future President Obama has put a nix on impeachment.

Why do you want to make waves?

Pushing this issue could make us look like radicals.

[MrCoffee]

4. Current Senator Obama has put a nix on impeachment, which is far worse.

[Breeze54]

6. Agreed!!

:grr:

[Breeze54]

5. OMG !!!!!!

:puke: :puke:

Why are you so :scared: to defend the Constitution?????

Gheesh!

[styersc]

11. These articles were introduced by one of Obama's former

primary opponents to embarass the candidate and distract the public from other issues.

Very soon posts that don't adhere to the agenda of getting Obama elected will be removed and posters who refuse to get in line will be eliminated from the forum.

Have you not read recently posted "Skinner Rules"?

[2rth2pwr]

13. Kucinich did this with Cheney last year. Kucinich isn't interested in harming Obama.

[Breeze54]

14. WTF are you talking about?

:silly:

That has NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!!

Go RE-Read "The Rules!!!

:crazy:

[LSK]

15. wow this is so off-base its stunning!!!

- Kucinich told his Iowa supporters to support Obama with their 2nd ballots.

- Kucinich put forward an Impeachment resolution last fall against Cheney.

Dont make such stupid posts please.

[MrCoffee]

16. Say what now?

How do the Articles of Impeachment embarass Obama?

Obama's statements about impeachment are embarrassing, not the Articles.

[styersc]

18. Your statement is exactly what I am talking about.

Raising this issue only serves to cause Democrats to argue with Democrats, an activity that has been forbidden.

Impeachment is going nowhere. Do you really think that Busha and/or Cheney will fail to serve out this term because they have been removed by an effective impeachment? The presumptive candidate has already nixed the idea.

Get in line. Surrender your beliefs and support the party's candidate without question.

Your vote is expected. Your opinion will be assigned to you.

[MrCoffee]

20. I still have no idea what you're talking about, unless you're being deeply ironic.

In which case, I'm done.

[styersc]

23. Ironic is not the correct word.

Sarcastic reaction to the slow and steady fall into two dimensional lack of dissent on a forum that used to be open to discussion of all kinds is more like it.

We used to discuss how gov't should be. Now we discuss how to get control of it and keep it without regard to what is right. We now have a different purpose then higher purpose.

[MrCoffee]

24. The scales have fallen from my eyes...

Sorry you feel that way. Maybe you should walk away for a bit. It would be a shame to get banned now, the fun's just starting.

Have a good day, huh?

[Forkboy]

21. And the moon is made of cheese.

"You could look it up!"

[NorthCarolina]

22. Kucinich is actually doing the job he is supposed to do

as a member of the US Congress. This has absolutely nothing to do with Obama.

[futureliveshere]

7. Agreed agreed agreed. This is so true.. This should be voted on.

[tnlurker]

8. I think we should have two or three months

Of televised impeachment hearings this summer on each of the 35 artlicles, then impeach in September. The Dems would win in a landslide in the fall.

[onenote]

10. not going to happen

Congress is in session for a couple of more weeks and then out for the July 4th recess. Then they are in for a few more weeks, and then gone for the August recess (through Labor Day). And then they are scheduled to adjourn in late September because they want to get home to start campaigning for the election in November.

Gas prices are spiraling towards $5. Consumer confidence in the economy is shaken. The public isn't demanding or particularly interested in an impeachment debate which will turn into a media circus, like it or not. It will not help Democrats with independent and swing voters.

There are plenty of reasons why chimpy deserves to be impeached and just as many reasons why its not going to happen, starting and ending with the fact the voters don't see it as a priority.

[onenote]

9. and yet Kucinich himself voted to refer it to committee

In fact every Democrat that voted supported referring it to committee rather than pushing for immediate consideration.

It has gone to the Judiciary Committee where, like most impeachment resolutions, it will sit. And sit. And sit.

[2rth2pwr]

12. I didn't even think to look up his vote. Holy shit.

[Breeze54]

19. He had to in order to get a vote recorded. He didn't have a quorum.

Kucinich objected to last nights voice vote because no one hung around till midnight (no quorum).

The first vote to send it to Committee will be by voice vote.

Then that gives us time to get on Conyers to bring it to the floor.

[MrCoffee]

17. Kucinich himself made the motion to refer it to committee...

and it was the proper motion to make. The problem is that the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which now has jurisdiction over the Articles, won't do anything at all with them.