Wexler Attacked for Impeachment Support - Help Respond!

[and-justice-for-all]

I just received this via email from Congressman Robert Wexler.
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Last Thursday the largest newspaper in my congressional district - the South Florida Sun-Sentinel - published an editorial lambasting my enthusiastic support for immediately holding impeachment hearings for President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Numerous letters to the editor have also criticized my support for this movement.

Below, you'll find the original Sun-Sentinel editorial, followed by my response, which was printed yesterday.

I assure you that I will not back down from this fight – no matter the consequences or political cost. The only thing that maters is that we deliver accountability for the Bush Cheney Administration and defend our government and our constitution.

If you would like to write a letter to the Sun Sentinel, you can email [e-mail].

Thank you for your continued support.

Robert Wexler

Sun-Sentinel Editorial

Impeachment not worth another minute of anybody's time
South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board

June 12, 2008

ISSUE: Some in Congress want an impeachment.

The nation does have a few pressing issues pending that could use some attention from our federal lawmakers.

Let's see. There are a couple of wars going on, unemployment is on the rise as the value of a house continues to fall, millions of Americans have no health insurance, and did we mention that gas prices are expected to hit $5 a gallon? You get the idea. And still, some in Congress feel the nation is just itching for another presidential impeachment.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, who has made a career out of eye-rolling issues like these, said this week he wants the House to consider a resolution to impeach President Bush. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach, who is smarter than this, supported the Articles of Impeachment, which won't go anywhere and thankfully have been buried in a committee not likely to hold hearings before Bush leaves office.

Last year, Kucinich led the misguided charge to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney, and Wexler supported that. In the case of Bush, Wexler called it a "sworn duty" of Congress to act.

Actually, it's nobody's sworn duty to take up any time to go after a badly battered president with only a few months left in office. This is a president so unpopular, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain won't make many public appearances with him. This is a president who is such a non-entity, peace activists didn't even
bother to protest his appearance in Berlin this week.

Nor should Congress bother with the ridiculous idea of impeachment, which Kucinich contends is warranted because Bush deceived the nation into war.

There's plenty of evidence to fuel Kucinich's ire, but not his choice of remedy. If Congress needs more things than impeachment to keep lawmakers busy, it has myriad options.

BOTTOM LINE: Get on with REAL issues.

Copyright (c) 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The Wexler Response:

The Sun-Sentinel recently ran an editorial criticizing my support for the articles of impeachment against President Bush opining that Congress should instead "get on with REAL issues" such as the Iraq war. In fact, it is this very war -- entered into following an unprecedented campaign of lies and manipulated intelligence by the Bush Administration -- that necessitates impeachment hearings. This war has cost us the lives of 4,090 US soldiers, injuries to over 30,000, and more than a trillion taxpayer dollars when it is all said and done.

It is a dark day when the Sun-Sentinel has the gall to tell the parents of the soldiers who have died in Iraq that pursuing
consequences for those that prosecuted this war of choice based on outright deception is not a "REAL" issue that Congress should address.

Sadly, the war is only the beginning. We now know that this Administration illegally ordered the torture of prisoners, obstructed justice by lying about the outing of a covert CIA agent and authorizing warrantless spying on American citizens.

No one can deny that if proven these allegations amount to High Crimes. Our failure to act sets an awful precedent and enables future Presidents to break the law and violate our Constitution without sanctions from Congress.

The Sentinel says impeachment is the wrong "remedy" for this litany of crimes. What then is the proper remedy? A harsh lecture? A strongly worded editorial? Or how about doing absolutely nothing in the face of these outrageous abuses of power?

Impeachment hearings need not distract us from other important priorities such as the economy, gas prices and bringing the troops home from Iraq. Congress can and should address all important issues - including safeguarding our constitutional rights and obligations.

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[Fovea]

1. Bush and Cheney ARE the real issue

Their governance has been pernicious and treasonous.

So many evils abroad today ooze forth from them.

[Bobbieo]

2. This "badly battered president with a few months left in office"

is still capable of tearing the hell out of my country. And he is doing it!

[timtom]

3. Done!

Here is the ltte I sent:

Have you people lost your moral and political bearings? The man you call a “badly battered president” has a very distinct trail of failures at any and all leadership attempts. He is guilty of subverting the checks and balances of the Constitution, from unauthorized phone and email spying, boldly and willfully lying to get us into illegally invading and occupying Iraq, and his ludicrous “signing statements”, which must all be declared null and void.

His ridiculous “Homeland Security” Department and his vigorous abuse of our National Guard and Fema far outstrips Clinton’s improprieties.

Congressman Wexler is an intelligent and committed patriot (as is Congressman Kucinich) who seek to see that real justice is carried out. Unlike the Kenneth Starr debacle, THIS impeachment is not a cheap political trick. It is MANDATED due to the abnegation by Bush of his sworn duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America!

[LWolf]

4. Done. n/t

[Maraya1969]

5. Done. I reminded them of how health care was a straw man's argument since

Bush just vetoed the Schip health care anyway and how Congresses hands were tied with him in office.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Letter to the Editor, sent.

A rare event for me, for a good cause.

[Kaleko]

7. Already fired off an email to the editor this morning.

:D

[pacalo]

8. Most happily done...

Dear Editor,

"Let's see. There are a couple of wars going on, unemployment is on the rise as the value of a house continues to fall, millions of Americans have no health insurance, and ... gas prices are expected to hit $5 a gallon."

For the above, you can thank the ineptitude of the Bush/Cheney administration's leadership for depleting the national treasury for a war based on lies & manipulative paranoia -- money that could have been used to allieve most of the issues mentioned in your editorial. If this isn't considered a "high crime", what is? And, yes, it is Rep. Wexler's "sworn duty" to protect & defend the Constitution from domestic enemies.

Impeachment hearings are imperative. This nation is so divided -- due to a very partisan, punitive, my-way-or-the-highway presidency --and it won't heal unless this administration is held accountable. Those who don't follow the news on a daily basis will be stunned to learn about the long list of crimes committed by this administration.

I support Rep. Wexler's impeachment effort wholeheartedly.

[and-justice-for-all]

9. Kick!

[dorkulon]

10. I can't wait to read the Sun-Sentinel's editorial when Bush invades Iran.

"Gee, y'all, where was congress?"

[PinkyisBlue]

11. Here is the letter I have sent:

I am concerned that you do not wish to hold the Bush/Cheney administration accountable for their crimes. Among other transgressions, they lied to Americans and brought about an illegal invasion, now an occupation, of an independent country. Why should they be above the law and not accountable for their crimes? If a person in Florida committed a crime, would you let him go because he was down on his luck? You should be supporting Mr. Wexler in his fight for justice, and you should be proud that he is representing your state.

[pacalo]

12. .

[Imagevision]

13. Getting Cheney & Bush on high crimes charges after leaving office is fine with me..

[and-justice-for-all]

14. kick.