Tammy Baldwin Says Bush and Cheney Should Be Impeached

[slipslidingaway]

Full statement...
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/35046

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFNmanXtZ9o
and
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x161418


Statement of Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
House Judiciary Committee Hearing on
Executive Power and Its Constitutional Limitations
July 25, 2008

"Thank you, Chairman Conyers.

On January 20, 2009, the next president and vice president of the United States will stand before the American people and take an oath of office, swearing to “…preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” This commitment and obligation is so fundamental to our democracy that our nation’s founders proscribed that oath in our Constitution. They also provided for the removal of the president and vice president for, among other things, “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Presidents and vice presidents do not take that oath in a vacuum. They are informed by the actions or inactions of past presidents and congresses, who establish precedents for the future.

Recently, journalist John Nichols, a constituent of mine, laid out an appropriate metaphor to illustrate this principle. “Let’s say that—when George Washington chopped down the cherry tree that he used the wood to make a little box. And in that box the president puts his powers. We’ve taken things out. We’ve put things in over the years. On January 20th, 2009… this administration will hand off a toolbox with more powers than any president has ever had, more power than the founders could have imagined….ho ever gets it, one of the things we know about power is that people don’t give away the tools. They don’t give them up. The only way that we take tools out of that box is if we sanction….now and say the next president cannot govern as these men have.”

What this Congress does, or chooses not to do in furthering the investigation of the serious allegations against this administration – and if just cause is found, to hold them accountable – will impact the conduct of future presidents, perhaps for generations...

As we know, the framers of our Constitution called for impeachment only in the case of high crimes and misdemeanors. The standard is purposely set high because we should not impeach for personal or political gain – only to uphold and safeguard our democracy. Sadly, in my judgment, at least two high ranking administration officials have met that standard. Although the call to impeach is one I take neither easily nor lightly, I now firmly believe that impeachment hearings are the appropriate and necessary next step."

[IntravenousDemilo]

1. I certainly agree with her. However...

... the Washington and the cherry tree and the "I cannot tell a lie" story is just a legend, so let's NOT say that as an example. Since it's based on a falsehood, Washington's having made a box made from that non-existent cherry tree is not an apt metaphor in this particular situation, where we're talking about executive lying. Besides, GW was just a colonial English lad when he didn't actually cut down the non-tree (which probably would have become non-kindling) and didn't become President of the United States until he was 57.

[slipslidingaway]

2. Understand :) n/t

[Overseas]

3. Thank you Tammy ! /nt