Bush impeachment article to get hearing

The House Judiciary Committee is gearing up for hearings July 25 that could be the closest Congress ever gets to impeaching President Bush.

After insisting that a full-scale impeachment of the president would distract from the work of Congress,  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi bowed to political reality this week and the House voted 238-180 to send one of Rep. Dennis Kucinich's articles of impeachment -- this one charging Bush with lying to the American public about the causes for the war in Iraq -- to the committee.

The catch: The committee can talk about anything deemed to be abuse of power by the president or the White House but not vote to impeach him, the first step toward removing him from office. Committee chairman John Conyers of Michigan put it this way.

Over the last seven plus years, there have been numerous credible allegations of serious misconduct by officials in the Bush administration. At the same time, the administration has adopted what many would describe as a radical view of its own powers and authorities. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I believe it is imperative that we pursue a comprehensive review commensurate to this constitutionally dangerous combination of circumstances. Next Friday's hearings will be an important part of that ongoing effort.

Kucinich filed 35 articles of impeachment with the House in June. He is expected to testify along with several academics, scholars and partisans in a two-hour hearing likely to be televised.

But the judiciary committee is not the only group gearing up. Veterans For Peace, which gathered over 23,000 signatures on an impeachment petition, has just announced that it is planning seven days of action between now and next Friday. Its chief goal: Get Congress to vote on impeachment. The group says:

After more than two months of trying to schedule a brief meeting with Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) to deliver VFP's 23,000 impeachment signatures, we politely informed the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, in writing, that we would drop by his Washington office with them.  And we would sit there until he met with us or hauled us off in handcuffs.

On June 10 VFP issued a news release explaining our intention to call on Conyers the following day.  Coincidentally (!) the morning of the 11th, his scheduler called asking, "I hear you're in town today, would you like to meet with the Congressman?"

Now the organization wants its members to call, write, e-mail and otherwise buttonhole legislators to push for a vote on impeachment. "We need as many calls, emails and letters as possible before July 25th," the group says in a press release. "Get your friends and neighbors to call."

-- Johanna Neuman

Comments

[Mike George]

Why is Nancy Pelosi so afraid of George Bush and his cronies? Complicit in his crimes? Not likely. Political blow back from a public who despises him? Even less likely. So what is it? Just being practical? Not worth the effort? Perhaps, but Bush and his cronies should be held accountable for breaking so many laws and abusing his power. And if she lets these high crimes go, what else is she letting go?

[chris]

The whole process would take longer then his remaining term, why bother/

[Bob]

It doesnt matter if he would get impeached even 1 minute before his term was over. What matters is the action that would be taken against him. Its like christmas .... every adult knows that santa IS NOT real but the presents and gifts left under the tree are thoughtful and loving. As in the same way the impeachment process would better solidify our rights to impeach a tyrant and reiterate to all politcal affiliates and associations that if this continued route of Facism continues the people WILL begin to pursue more serious actions against a growing unconstitutional government. That either though we Americans as a society have become nuttered in our political powers that we will fight and stand up against tyrants even if it takes us 20 minutes because we just got done shoving Mc Dolands down our throats and refreshing out parched mouths with Coke.

www.freedomtofacims.com
Watch the movie ... ITS FREE and very informative

[Lance Ciepiela]

Conyers now has 39 Articles of Impeachment on his lap, and each one is "privileged" meaning he needs to get to it. Instead of just talking about it he needs to get going with hearings and take a vote on impeachment.

[One of the People]

He's behaved in a treasonous manner... War for profit, outing a CIA operative, blatent lie after lie, etc., etc., etc. Pelosi is probably in bed with him, Cheney, and the oil companies.

[slimjim66]

American blood for Saudi oil . On september 11th the day the twin towers fell
the Constitution of America was tested , and this money hungry Administration
lied to the American public , in the name of fear and we as a Country believed.
the downfall was not fearing for our safety , it was believing a President
who lied himself into the White House and we as Americans did nothing
for all the lies , betrayal , and lives lost it is time to impeach , for this
has become the Constitutions last chance to voice its call for the continual
freedom of America , it is time to give the Constitution a voice .

[Juan]

No like Bush.

[Ed C.]

Stop wasting taxpayer's money and leave Bush alone. He only has 6-8 months left in the Oval Office anyway!

[michael baldrige]

Bush is a liar, thief and a cheat. Not to mention a puppet for Cheny and his cronies. Treason is one charge that stands at the top of the list for impeachment. When will Americans wake up and make this man be accountable for his actions?

Mikey B.

[Ben Briley]

Regardless of how much time W has left in the whitehoiuse, we have got to set an example for future leaders as to what can happen when you lie and decieve our nation. We were led to war while we were weak and wanting to band together as a country. As a nation that's what we're supposed to do. But when we enter into actions that this nation has stood against forever there is simply something wrong. We have an ever increasing budget deficit, an ever elusive reasoning for war in Iraq, and an administration that has habitually lied to the public. All average Americans are feeling the pinch of our economy while oil co's are basically raping us. The utility co's are deregulated, and I'm paying 98cents for a CAN of green beans at the Wal Mart because there are no options anymore. This country I am so p[roud of is in a very dangerous spiral downward. But let's keep taking care of the monster corporations that hold our mortages and let the average Joe go to hell because he was a victim of deceptive banking schemes. When will we as proud Americans fially have enough? When we're fighting for food in the streets? Every person in this once great country should be concerned, hopefully no one will visit me for disparaging remarks (joke). Also thank goodness I have no friends oversees that I might make a remark to about our corrupt administration, Forbid someone to visit me in the middle of the night and take my computer, or listen to my calls because I disagree with current policy. My ramblings done.....Everybody has to wake up!!!

The Bush Administration has had no accountability and the Democrats have allowed it.

[Brandi]

It is time to remind those that we have elected that they have sworn to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, from all enemies foreign and domestic and not a person or position.

Our hard working tax dollars pay for their salary, retirement and medical care so they are our employees.

We need to take our country back and fire them if they don't do what we want.

Impeach the Bush criminal administration!

[Armyvet]

I my opinion, Ithink Nancy Pelosi's real goal is POWER and she secretly wants to become the first woman president. She can do this if Bush and Cheney are impeached. She can do this is if Barack is elected Predident, has her as his VP, and he dies in office or is himself impeached.

[Bret]

I’ve been following the activities of the House Judiciary Committee for the past few months. They have successfully exposed Cheney’s chief of staff, David Addington along with his partner in Constitutional apathy, John Yoo. Yoo is the law school professor from Berkley who joined the Office of Legal Council back in 2001 and decided it in fact is OK to do whatever you want short of killing a detainee to get a contrived confession. Those forced confessions from Afghanistan detainees were used as evidence by the administration to justify invading Iraq. To date the estimated unofficial civilian death toll is one million people. 1,000,000 Iraqi residents dead, 4,000 + U.S. soldiers also dead and 30,000+ soldiers wounded, because of one decision based in part on torture (as defined by Geneva) induced confessions? There's your impeachment argument and then some, including talk of war crimes.
America was better than this, and our friends on the Judiciary committee are our last hope to bring the current administration to justice. God bless Conyers and his associates who still believe in the true meaning of liberty and the Constitution. It must be frustrating for them when their own party and party leadership continually betrays them and all Americans who understand the long term detrimental impact of an imperial presidency. This is not a monarchy! The President has to obey the rule of law like everyone else! Wake up blue dogs and Pelosi…you’re the last hope. And I'm a Conservative.

[Jay]

If the democrats don't pursue a vote, they are as complicit as Bush for all of his crimes that they have enabled.

Pelosi = Enabler. SET AN EXAMPLE FOR FUTURE LEADERS AND VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT.

[Ben Molnar]

Democratic reluctance to impeach Bush for many valid "crimes and misdemeanors" is puzzling. A waste of time? The Republicans had no hesitation in going ahead with impeachment proceedings against Clinton even though it was clear that he would not be convicted. All the while we were distracted from the growing threat of terrorists and Clinton accused of trying to divert the public from impeachment. For Republicans, perjury over sexual indiscretions, is an impeachable offense, but not starting a war against a country that did not threaten us. Something is wrong with this picture.

[frank Diernhammer]

his despicable lies about WMDs ,that destroyed the cradle of civilization,caused the deaths of thousands,of innocent women,children and more than 4000 young
American soldiers. Our esteem in the whole world as a freedom loving ,just nation is ruined.... and for what ????? Impeach Bush ,Rove and Cheney..For Bush alone most probably hasn't got the brains to find his outhouse at his ranch in Crawford,Texas.
P.S. Boo ... Pelosi

[Gregory]

No one is above the constitution. He MUST be impeached. If not, then it makes
no sense to convict anybody of anything. Bush should be the first one to be
looked at because he is the President!

[William]

President Bush will be one of the greatest presidents of the United States. He stood up to an enemy bent on destroying us that Clinton did not have the stomach to defeat. There is no law against profiterring, Bush is one of the most honest men in this country. Clinton and Gore were the liars from day one. Gore with his global warming scam and Clinton with the numerous foreign campaign contributions with China.

[Al]

I think lying about a war is a much graver offense than lying about hanky-panky.

[FatCat]

No time for impeachment. However, Obama will be able to, as PRESIDENT, to initiate a criminal investigation after Bush leaves office. Convict him of his felonies, seize his assets, void his benefits and let him rot in prison for all the world to see. Only then will our country gain back the credibility he eviscerated.

[chris]

its like global warming in a sense.....the more we argue about what it will cost to do what is right, the longer it will take to do what is right......the best interests of our children demand we do something about global warming NOW, and the best interests of justice require that we impeach dubya and his officials NOW too....

[Kevin]

Does the Constitution allow a president to pardon himself? Betcha that's just what W will try to do. He'll issue a sweeping pardon for himself and for every one of his neocon sycophants for any and all actions which could lead to criminal charges in the future. He'll do this on his last day in office.

Even if it's eventually declared unconstitutional for Bush to pardon himself, this determination would take years, perhaps decades, to reach. By then, evidence would have disappeared and the memories of witnesses would have faded.

Think Bill Clinton was slippery? He's got nothing on Bush, who is covered in oil and blood. My fondest hope is that once Bush and his minions are out of power, Congress will indict him and his cronies for lying about Saddam's WMDs and for taking the country into a needless war. He and Cheney should be held personally responsible for the deaths and injuries of our troops and those of the Iraqi population. I'd love to see the both of them locked up in a federal prison for the rest of their miserable lives.

[San Ying]

Hurry! Hurry!! Get the culprit before he escapes!!!

[Gary]

It would be comforting to know that Pelosi and others has enough spine to allow it to be shown that the American people are outraged at being betrayed. We do not accept the treasonous behavior that has been engaged in by the Bush administration, and that there are remedies set forth in the Constitution that will be utilized. I suggest to my fellow Republicans that when there is a cancer on the body that it must be cut out so that the entire body is not brought down by that cancer. That is is a noble thing to allow oneself to be led by the actions and words of a principled man and to support him. It is absolute hypocracy to think well of oneself while one supports the actions of a tyrant who has cost the lives of thousands and billions or trillions of dollars.

Do nothing only if you are comfortable with being betrayed, otherwise take action.