IMPEACHSLAP - Democratic Underground

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Wed Nov-29-06 10:44 PM
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IMPEACHSLAP

It seems that those calling for non-impeachment don’t understand or value the process. Then there are those saying impeachment is “off the table” for their own reasons (not ours) which may include base fear.

At an Impeachment Forum chaired by Mike Malloy and hosted by the California Democratic Progressive Caucus at the CA Democratic Convention, Rep. Maxine Water expressed surprise that there was not more outcry on the subject from the public. She left the impression that CONGRESS WAS WAITING FOR US TO REACT, WHILE WE THE PEOPLE WAITED FOR THEM TO ACT.

Elizabeth De La Vega was on that panel of five and will be Thom Hartmann’s guest on 11-30-06. See http://www.thomhartmann.com

Sacramento Impeachment Forum AUDIO
http://www.radio4all.net/index.php?op=program-info&program_id=18075&nav=&

We The People. We. The. People. How does that resonate for you? Does it mean anything? Is it quaint? Is it obsolete? Is it vital?

We The People. Even The People who may be the Beautiful People, celebrity moms and movie stars and published writers and active activists all are saying to you:

You can do this. You must do this. This is the pact of the American Experiment. This mom, this actor, this writer, this activist is just a person, just like you. I got to meet both Cindy Sheehan and Sean Penn at the event where this photo was taken. Cindy Sheehan immediately threw an arm around my shoulder and drew me, side by side, into her circle of friends. Sean Penn passed me --by himself --at the end of the day, shook my hand, held it and connected. I asked both of them The Question (this was last January, 2006): How did We, in the space of a lifetime, within the lifetime memories of many here, go from Watergate and Viet Nam to Plamegate and Iraq Nam-- and how did We let it happen?

We The People. We are the government. It works if we do.

Those of us who still don’t get that --who lack information about the process, who think that savvy activists now attend only to strategery and framing and media oneupsmanship --are missing the intrinsic meaning of the American system of government and the role that The People, The Congress and The Media actually play.

AMAZing video links assortment:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/video

Impeachment

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=taxonomy/term/17

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/15168/print

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/15880/print

Don’t Impeach Bush - Impeach The President

By W. David Jenkins III, Scoop <1>

<snip>

But what these and other Democrats fail to realize is that the American people gave them majority status in hopes of returning accountability and responsibility back into government. That the Democrats would place the fear of losing power over what is best for the reinstitution of the very foundations this country was founded upon would be beyond disgraceful. Already there are people on the left who have pitifully shied away from even mentioning the “I” word for fear of being portrayed as petty or vindictive. Even in these days of impending power in Congress, the Democrats have shown that their spaghetti has yet to evolve into a spine.

The Democrats stand on the brink of making the same mistake that Bush and the Republicans have made these last years; that the American people just don’t get it. That somehow, things are “too complex” for average Americans to understand whether it be Iraq or torture or domestic spying or impeachment, hence we are expected to just trust them because they know what they’re doing. This mindset in DeeCeeVille begs the question, “Do any of these dopes know what a newspaper is? Have they fired up their computers lately?”

<snip>

Author John Nichols stated recently that we do not “impeach a man” and that the question of impeachment should not be centered on George W. Bush or Dick Cheney. Rather impeachment is a tool to insure the balance of powers and to hold those who abuse those powers accountable and it is the Congress’ responsibility to serve in the country’s best interest by protecting and upholding that balance.

Twenty years ago, we allowed a president to circumvent the legislative body by illegally funding a war that Congress had cut funding for. Top government officials sold arms to a member of the so called “axis of evil” in order to fund terrorist rebels and then lied to Congress about it. The members of Congress and the media convinced the country to allow a dangerous precedent to be set by taking no action against this grab for power and rejection of accountability in order to “protect” the citizenry from having to endure another Watergate. The inaction against those involved with Iran/Contra was a coup for people like Dick Cheney who would later strive for even more executive powers never intended for such leaders.

And now, twenty years later, this country faces an abuse of executive powers like never before, the likes of which the founding fathers feared to such a degree that they instituted the very same powers of impeachment that the Democrats now cower away from. The American people see this - we do “get it.” That’s one of the reasons why Democrats find themselves back in power.

Impeachment is not about Republicans and Democrats. Impeachment was never meant to be a form of “gotcha politics” or the equivalent of a teacher’s ruler rapping the knuckles of a student. Impeachment is not about vindication, but rather a validation that the principles of the balance of power will remain secure. If the crimes and abuses of power by the president and the vice president are allowed to continue with no accountability, then where might we find ourselves twenty years from now?

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/15828/print

"Americans Can't Handle Another Impeachment" Is Republican Propaganda. Don't Be Deceived.

By Linda Milazzo, http://www.opednews.com <1>

"Americans can't handle another impeachment." So say the supporters of George W. Bush in their anti-impeachment propaganda.

The truth is Americans CAN handle another impeachment. They CAN handle the truth. In fact, if Americans don't bring Bush and Cheney to justice after the atrocities they've committed, this nation will never reclaim its moral authority. And the people of this nation will be despised for unleashing these dangerous men on the world.

"Americans can't handle another impeachment" isn't a truth. It's a device. Like 'weapons of mass destruction.' 'A mushroom cloud.' 'Gassed his own people.' 'Sought significant quantities of uranium from A-f-r-i-c-a.' These are the sound bytes, the parroted propaganda, which brought us to war. Each is a proven lie, told time and again by well-rehearsed pundits. Verbatim delivery. Robotic form. Repeated ad nauseam by grown-up children of the damned. It sounded good for Nicholson in "A Few Good Men," but rings pretty hollow here. Americans CAN handle and probe for the truth.

<snip>

If America and Americans are to be resurrected in the eyes of the world, proper investigation of the Bush administration is a Democratic mandate. If, as I believe, incontrovertible evidence of Bush and Cheney's high crimes and misdemeanors is uncovered, impeachment proceedings should go forth. Already, prior to any Congressional investigations taking place, volumes have been written delineating the impeachable crimes of Bush and Cheney. High level symposiums have been held. Dozens of Constitutional scholars have spoken, all convinced of their guilt.

<snip>

What shocked the world most about Bill Clinton's impeachment was that he was ever impeached at all. It made a farce of our political system, and our values. Americans appeared petty and juvenile. Unable to distinguish between what was crucial to good governance and what was not. Impeaching Bill Clinton was a black mark on our history. Not against him. Against us.

But impeaching George W. Bush will be constructive for America and Americans. It will be educational. Americans will watch the proceedings and learn about the Constitution. They'll receive a long overdo lesson on the Constitutional responsibilities of their President, the balance of powers, and gain a clearer understanding of their own rights and freedoms. Americans will acquire an insight into proper governance to make them better stewards of their democracy.

America, the nation, will regain some of the moral authority diminished by Bush and Cheney. The rest of the world will know that America can distinguish between insignificant and substantial. Clinton was impeached for matters insignificant to his leadership of the nation. Bush will be impeached for matters so substantial that they caused the deaths of thousands and endangered the whole world.

=========================

list of Media Downloads
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/314/print

=========================

December 10, 2006: Human Rights and Impeachment Day
By davidswanson

December 10 is Human Rights Day, and this year we're making it Human Rights and Impeachment Day. Slogan: "Putting Impeachment on the Table."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/december10

AfterDowningStreet.org
Impeach Bush and Cheney Now!

Impeachment Books

"United States v. George W. Bush et al.," by Elizabeth de la Vega, an indictment, a presentation to a grand jury charging Bush and gang with fraud -- very well argued and documented, even entertaining.

"The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders' Cure for Royalism," by John Nichols, a masterpiece that should be required reading in every high school and college in the United States, a history and portrait of the practice of impeachment.

"Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush," by the Center for Constitutional Rights, a short book that lists and explains four (multi-part) articles of impeachment.

"The Impeachment of George W. Bush: A Practical Guide for Concerned Citizens," by Elizabeth Holtzman (former Congresswoman and member of the Nixon impeachment panel) and Cynthia L. Cooper, an excellent and readable book laying out five major grounds for impeachment of Bush, plus an extra section on Dick Cheney.

"The Case for Impeachment," by Dave Lindorff and Barbara Olshansky, an amazingly popular and extremely readable book that explains the context while also setting forth six articles of impeachment against Bush, plus an extra section on Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, and Alberto Gonzales.

"Impeach the President: The Case Against Bush and Cheney," edited by Dennis Loo and Peter Phillips, with an introduction by Howard Zinn, a wonderfully well written collection of essays organized around a list of 12 grounds for impeachment of Bush and Cheney.

"George W. Bush versus the U.S. Constitution: The Downing Street Memos and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution, and Cover-ups in the Iraq War and Illegal Domestic Spying," by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee Democratic Staff, a book that not only collects the evidence but also tells us what Congressman John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, is thinking (the full text, minus a new introduction by Joseph Wilson, is available here.)

"Verdict and Findings of Fact," by the International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration of the United States, a report that looks at five major international crimes and overlaps significantly with most lists of impeachable offenses (the full text is available at the link and can also be purchased for $10);

"Impeach Bush: A Funny Li'l Graphical Novel About the Worstest Pres'dent in the History of Forevar," a comic book account of Bush's impeachable offenses – the crimes really are self-evident, but pictures don't hurt.

"Pretensions to Empire: Notes on the Criminal Folly of the Bush Administration," by Lewis Lapham, a collection of essays from Harper's magazine, concluding with one called "The Case for Impeachment," which focuses on Rep. Conyers' report.

"The Twilight of Democracy: The Bush Plan for America," by Jennifer Van Bergen. Find out what the Bush Plan is and how it diverges from what the law and Constitution say.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

UPCOMING EVENTS

Human Rights and Impeachment Day
Dec. 10, 2006

Impeachment Weekend
Dec. 16-17, 2006

Impeachment Actions in Washington: Walk for Change
Jan. 3, 2006

Peace and Impeachment in DC
January 27 - 29, 2007

3 DAYS OF ACTION TO END THE WAR
March 17-19, 2007

Cities for Peace
Ongoing

Every Monday 7:00 – 8:00 AM - PENTAGON PEACE VIGIL
US Pentagon, at the entrance to the Pentagon Metro station.
Organized by Dorothy Day Catholic Workers.
Call 202-882-9649.

Every Thursday noon to 1:00 PM - WHITE HOUSE PEACE VIGIL
White House, Pennsylvania Ave. Washington DC
Sponsored by DC Anti-War Network.
For more info, see www.DAWNDC.net.

Every Friday Noon – 1:00 PM - WHITE HOUSE PEACE VIGIL
Every Friday at noon. Organized by the Dorothy Day Catholic Workers.
White House, Pennsylvania Ave. Washington DC (by the press)
Call 202-882-9649.

Every Friday 7:00 – 9:00 PM - WALTER REED HOSPITAL PEACE VIGIL
7200 Georgia Avenue, NW (at Elder) Washington DC.
Organized by Code Pink.
http://www.codepink4peace.org/

Every Saturday noon to 1:00 PM - U.S. CAPITOL PEACE VIGIL
U.S. Capitol Building west lawn Washington DC, A silent peace vigil
Started by Friends (Quakers) from Langley Hill.
Visit www.seekpeace.info. Info at 301-681-5126 or john.howley@verizon.net.

SIGNS FOR ANY OCCASION:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/6792

:patriot:

IMPEACE

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2815336

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

We are in a fight for our lives, for the right to NOT remain silent about things that matter. For the rights established for us by the Founders in the Constitution. If peace is the goal, and a means by which we arrive at that goal, how do we wage that fight peacefully? How do we wage peace during wartime in the face of (un)elected officials trying to usurp those rights and wage perpetual war?

Again, the Founders provided the means in the living document, the flexible, dynamic framework for governance that is the Constitution. Who are we to spit in their eye?

The System works only if we make it so. All the lame, jaded, cyncial and spoiled proclamations that not-voting is really smart --because only deluded losers still cling to the "illusion" of the system --are the hypocritical bleatings of pampered proles floating in their Matrix tubs of goo. It's time for a new generation to wake up and get a grip-- forget about strategery and "payback" and 2008 and blue dresses-- look at what is happening to your nation and In Your Name RIGHT NOW.

Those closer to the days when people fought and shed blood for the rights and privileges we (still, for now) enjoy take them more sacredly than those who learn only dusty history and tired cliches...... Some remember that Americans were told Reagan wouldn't be impeached because he was "too popular" and Clinton would be impeached because he "lied" (it was shaking his finger at the TV camera that really pissed off Americans).

Nixon!! Ancient history! But those old enough to remember were imprinted forever with the experience of the FUNCTION and the RELEVANCE of the process of investigations and hearings that were broadcast EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. ALL. DAY. EVERY. CHANNEL.

As if it was important or something. As if the process and the power of the Constitution was more important than all our little concerns or big excuses for why it just wasn't a convenient time to impeach a president.

The System works only if we make it so. The Founders provided the means to wage this battle peacefully and procedures to rein in --and if necessary, remove --anyone who would claim to be King of America.

Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.
Martin Luther King, Jr.