Why Latinos, Like Everyone Else, Want to Impeach Bush and Cheney

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Why Latinos, Like Everyone Else, Want to Impeach Bush and Cheney
Submitted by davidswanson on Fri, 2007-08-17 16:18. Impeachment

1.-No other goals that involve federal legislation are possible with Bush and Cheney in office, not the restoration or creation of new rights for immigrants, not the DREAM Act, nothing. Any decent piece of legislation will be vetoed. We must continue building a movement to achieve these goals, but not pretend they are possible with Bush and Cheney in office and on the offensive.

2.-The only thing that might put Bush and Cheney on the defensive is impeachment. This has worked many times in the past. The pressure of a looming impeachment caused President Nixon to back off and allow numerous pieces of progressive legislation to pass, including legislation ending the Vietnam War.

3.-Impeachment is the only way to end the occupation of Iraq, which disproportionately impacts Latinos. It may also be the only way to forestall an attack on Iran. And it is the only way to avoid the move to martial law that Bush and Cheney have laid the groundwork for in case of any catastrophe within the United States. Those who will be targeted first in any major crackdown or incarceration are immigrants.

4.-Bush and Cheney are creating a culture of hatred and suspicion that can only be reversed if people courageously stand up to them, not in opposition to the United States, but in defense of the U.S. Constitution. If the Democrats in Congress are not forced by the people to stand up in our defense, they will accomplish nothing, appear weak, and lose in the next elections as they did when they refused to stand up to President Reagan. If they stand strongly for justice, they will be rewarded and we will start to turn things around, even if the impeachments are unsuccessful.

5.-The case for impeachment is clear and overwhelming. Bush and Cheney have
--refused to comply with subpoenas (this was an article of impeachment passed against Nixon.
--rewritten laws with signing statements and violated the laws they gave themselves the right to violate.
--engaged in widespread wiretapping of the phone calls and emails of Americans without a warrant.
--commuted the sentence of a top official convicted of obstructing justice.
--violated the United Nations Charter by launching an illegal "War of Aggression" against Iraq without cause, used fraud to sell the war to Congress and the public, and misused government funds to begin bombing without Congressional authorization.
--violated U.S. and international law by authorizing the torture of thousands of captives, resulting in dozens of deaths, and kept prisoners hidden from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
--violated the Constitution by arbitrarily detaining Americans, legal residents, and non-Americans, without due process, without charge, and without access to counsel.
--violated the Geneva Conventions by targeting civilians, journalists, hospitals, and ambulances, and using illegal weapons, including white phosphorous, depleted uranium, and a new type of napalm.
--violated U.S. law by using paid propaganda and disinformation, selectively and misleadingly leaking classified information, and exposing the identity of a covert CIA operative working on sensitive WMD proliferation for political retribution.
--violated U.S. and state law by obstructing honest elections in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.
--failed to assist New Orleans and Gulf Coast residents after Hurricane Katrina.