Impeach President Bush now, says Dennis Kucinich

One day before the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Rep. Dennis Kucinich is presenting a petition to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with 50,000 signatures urging the impeachment of President Bush -- adding to the 100,000 he has already filed.

Calling the Bush administration's military response to 9/11 "errant retributive justice," the Ohio Democrat called for a Commission on Truth and Reconciliation to "compel testimony and gather official documents" on why the Bush administration went to war in Iraq. In advance of a news conference today with grass-roots organizations lobbying Congress on the issue, Kucinich said:

Impeachment has been the first step in our efforts toward truth. The American people were lied to. We went to war based on lies. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. ...

In the face of a destructive war against Iraq, preparations for war against Iran, the initiation of a cold war with Russia, the inevitable destruction of our domestic economy from the extraordinary cost of a great military buildup, and the gutting of civil liberties, the call for impeachment has been the only remedy. Millions of Americans recognize this.

Kucinich's pitch comes one day before the nation mourns the death of 3,000 Americans killed on 9/11, and one day after Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington endorsed impeachment. McDermott visited Saddam Hussein's Iraq before the war, earning him the nickname "Baghdad Jim." Here's what he said:

For the last two years I've struggled with the issue of whether the House should impeach a sitting president. Next to declaring war, impeachment is the gravest matter the House of Representatives must consider. I fully understand the gut-wrenching consequences such a national debate could precipitate. Yet there is one fact we cannot over look or escape: America cannot regain its moral leadership in the world if America cannot hold its leaders accountable for their actions at home.

With Bush leaving office in about four months, and a presidential election campaign in full swing, no one in Washington seriously expects the impeachment drive to succeed. Pelosi has repeatedly taken the issue off the table, saying voters expect Congress to work on economic issues, not spend its remaining months trying to push Bush from office early.

But David Swanson, co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org, argued in a press release that impeachment is crucial to possible criminal trials against the president and Vice President Dick Cheney once they leave office.

When Cheney and Bush finally face trial in a criminal court, their first line of defense is likely to be, "We served the American people, whose representatives chose not to impeach us." If on the other hand they are impeached even after having left office, the likelihood of prosecution and of successful prosecution will increase dramatically.

-- Johanna Neuman

Comments

[Rich]

first!

[SLSmith]

Not to sound sarcastic but it is “time Americans take off their Partisan Hats and put on their CONSTITUTION hats”. Our Bill OF Rights and Constitution has been BUTCHERED in the last 8 years. And guess what, whomever is voted into office this November is going to inherit Executive Powers that borders on a Police State. Don’t believe me – do your homework. July 25, 2008 Congressional Hearings “Executive Powers and it’s Constitutional Limits” + PBS Moyers “Talk of Impeachment”. And, 3 members of the Bush Administration have refused to testify under oath (1) Bolton, (2) Harriet Miers (who is scheduled to 7/11/08 testify before the House Judiciary Committee finally after a year of legal wrangling). And let’s not forget (3) Karl Rove who has ignored a Congressional Subpoena while he sits in a Fox News booth with 435 members of Congress walking around @ both the RNC/DNC conventions. This man has no fear of the law – why is that America! WAKE UP!

[Kathleen Grasso Andersen]

Impeachment is to defend our Constitution from domestic enemies who subvert our form of gov't by cirumventing our Constitutional processes....when you lie to Congress to dupe them into a war when there is no clear and present danger, you are in contempt of our Constitution... to fail to impeach is complicity... failing to impeach is tantamount to abolishing standards of offical conduct...Is that what Democrats stand for?

[Andrew Yu-Jen Wang]

THE BEST THING BUSH & CHENEY COULD DO FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THE WORLD WOULD BE TO IMMEDIATELY RESIGN FROM OFFICE AND VOLUNTARILY COMMIT INTO PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT. IF THEY DO THIS THEY MAY LIKELY BE SAVED FROM ARREST, TRIAL AND EXECUTION UNDER INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES LAWS. FOR THEY WOULD LIKELY BE PLACED IN CONFINEMENT FOR THE REST OF THEIR NATURAL LIVES ON AN INSANITY PLEA. . . . Since the Congress refuses to impeach Bush and Cheney because of their own guilt as accessories before and after the fact to the crimes committed, We need to seek involuntary commitment of Bush and Cheney as they both pose a real and demonstrated continuing threat to the world! . . . Sample forms for petitions for involuntary commitment of Bush and Cheney are linked to this site so that We the People can take action to seek a removal from office of Bush and Cheney on grounds of mental incapacity. With sufficient financial support to sustain legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, a class action petition will be filed seeking involuntary commitment of Bush and Cheney. (Wallace, Doug (J.D.). AMERICA IN ACTION!! CRIMINAL MINDS OR INSANITY OR BOTH? (Is there any difference?). Retrieved September 10, 2008, from http://www.commit-bush-n-cheney.org/)

PETITION FOR ORDER OF INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT AND
TREATMENT OF GEORGE WALKER BUSH

[Peter Nickles]
Office of the DC Attorney General
441 4th Street NW, Suite 1060 N
Washington, DC 20001

This is a petition for the involuntary commitment for psychoanalysis and treatment of George Walker Bush President of the United States hereinafter called GWB.

This petition is based upon the the obvious condition of mental depravity of GWB as follows:

A. By way of an analysis of Megalomania from a study by Dr. Justin Frank, M.D. Washington psychiatrist in a book published June 2004, Bush on the Couch.

B. By way of a similar analysis of Adolf Hitler made by a group psychiatric diagnosis of Megalomania under contract by the Office of Strategic Services [O.S.S] Published by Henry A. Murry, M.D. October, 1943.

C. By way of Insane Delusion concerning his projected perceived bogus “terrorist” enemies of the United States as projected against Iraq, Iran, Syria and North Korea. The real enemy being GWB to himself for which we all suffer.

As a result of this mental depravity, GWB:
1. ordered approximately Four Thousand [4,000] US military personnel to their deaths.
2. caused the injury, loss of limbs, eyesight, hearing and permanent maiming of
approximately Twenty Six Thousand [26,000] US military personnel.
3. caused the deaths of an estimated Six Hundred Fifty Thousand [650,000] Iraqis.
4. Caused the destruction of billions of dollars of infrastructure of the nation of Iraq.
5. immersed the United States in debt beyond it's capacity to pay.
6. indebted future generations presently estimated at One Hundred Thousand Dollars each.
7. ingratiated the image and character of the United States without regard to its citizens.
8. intends to involve the US in a never ending war against a bogus enemy.
9. tortured and held prisoners without trial or honoring human rights.
10. violated the Constitution, Treaties , National and International laws.

For these reasons the undersigned individual alleges that GWB is a mental threat to National and World peace, safety and security and petitions the District of Columbia Attorney General to file immediately for an order of commitment.

Name ___________________ Address________________________________________
Signed ___________________ City___________________ State___________________
Date_____________________________ [See attached comparative analysis with Hitler] (Wallace, Doug (J.D.). AMERICA IN ACTION!! CRIMINAL MINDS OR INSANITY OR BOTH? (Is there any difference?). Petition to DC Attorney General. Retrieved September 10, 2008, from http://www.commit-bush-n-cheney.org/Petition%20for%20commitment%20of%20GWB-1.pdf)

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE U.S.A.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
Pentagon
Washington, DC 20001

RE: Resistance to further widening warfare

Sir:

As a member of a class of persons referred to in the Preamble of the Constitution , as We the People, the undersigned person(s) requests that you defer to the will of We the People, any further widening or escalation of military actions across the globe including but not limited to the nation of Iran as may be requested by your Commander in Chief, George Walker Bush.

Currently, effort is underway to seek involuntary confinement and treatment of the said George Walker Bush for mental disorders including but not limited to Megalomania . The same or similar mental disorders were attributed to Adolf Hitler under a diagnosis requested by the Office of Strategic Services in 1943.

German Generals had sought but were unable to deter Hitler based upon his mental disorder to the cost of 50 million casualties. Had they succeeded those “collateral” damages would have been far less.

Involuntary Commitment of Dick Cheney for insane delusions against the interests of we the people is also being sought.

In the interests of peace and justice I/we request that you order a stand down to any further orders of escalations emanating from the White House until such time as the issues of mental depredation of both Bush and Cheney have been settled.

From my/our perspective, it would be appropriate for you and all commissioned officers of the military to also request an order to determine the mental capacity of Bush to command. Can you also bring up charges for Courts Martial?

Sincerely,

Name(s)___________________________ _____________________________________
Signature(s)_______________________ ______________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
Date _______________________________ (Wallace, Doug (J.D.). AMERICA IN ACTION!! CRIMINAL MINDS OR INSANITY OR BOTH? (Is there any difference?). Letter to Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. Retrieved September 10, 2008, from http://www.commit-bush-n-cheney.org/Letter%20to%20Chairman%20Joint%20Chiefs.pdf)

Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

[Andrew Yu-Jen Wang]

Bush belongs in an insane asylum. However, his soul belongs to God. God will judge him. So says the Lord. Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

[A Gyenis]

Sorry Los Angeles Times, this article comes too little too late. Maybe that is what the intention was.

We have a president that routinely violates the constitution and international law; we have a Congress that won't hold him accountable for his crimes; and our mainstream press isn't sounding the alarm?

You cannot have a corrupted government without having a corrupted press.

While I admire Kucinich for many of his actions, such as impeachment, he ultimately yields to the democratic party leadership as opposed to his stated principles.

Vote third party, don't support the status quo.

A Gyenis
www.NotOneMore.US

[Whatever]

I'm voting third party. And supporting Cindy Sheehan with funds.

[waz]

I believe Bugliosi laid it all out for us. He could be a sociopath, explains why 4 weeks after 9/11 he said that he and Laura were having the best year of their lives.

Several college roommates and I who graduated in the mid-70s have over the years of observing the _actions_ of those megalomaniacs, W, Cheney and Rumsfeld came to very similar conclusions by 2003: they were and are sociopaths and insane.
A million innocent human beings lie dead beneath the soil of a land called Iraq. Their crime? To live under a ruler who refused to follow W's economic dictates.
The economic advisors who tried to warn W, et al, of the economic waste this invasion and occupation entailed were sacked.
And then the criminals proceeded to lie to the country and ruin those who opposed them. Pelosi is an accomplice for enabling this horrific benavior.
The rest is history...
Where are the men in white coats and butterfly nets when you need them?
God save our Republic

[Steve D.]

Sadly, I have to agree with A. Gyenis.

The press are complicit in the unlawful invasion of Iraq every bit as much as Congress. I don't remember very much mainstream journalistic integrity when we invaded. Instead, I seem to recall a lot of of flag-waving and a largely unexamined sense that we were getting back at the culprits behind 9/11.
But then, that's what was selling papers at the time.

I appreciate the fact that the L.A. Times, along with several other mainstream outlets, are finally giving impeachment some ink, but it would have made a much bigger difference years ago.

[Robin Dicken]

Whether there's time is not the point. By starting the impeachment proceedings, you take Bush's pardoning powers away. That means all of them are eligible for prosecution. That's KEY. As it is, this is the probable scenario- Bush issues blanket pardons to Cheney,the Telcos, friends and top military brass and then resigns (shortly before leaving office). Then "President" Cheny pardons Bush. Done deal. Unless we act, don't be surprised (and outraged).

[Mar]

Please do your research and read some of Hitler's earlier speeches. Change the nouns and economic events as they would apply today. What have you got? If Hitler taught us anything, he certainly should open our eyes to what is happening in this country with the McCain-Palin ticket. At the RNC they were chanting USA! USA! and it reminded me so much of USA Uber Alles! Just like "Deutschland Uber Alles!" And the number of times the US Constitution was mentioned at the RNC: How many times folks??? I can count on ONE hand. Protect it!!! Don't vote the Republican anti
constitutionalist ticket. We worked hard for this Constitution to be put put in place. Why would you ruin that??? Why?????? WAKE UP AMERICA!!! or lose it.

[sane_and_well_read]

Who cares if he's insane, (cute though kneejerk idea; he's not though, he's just full of himself, call it megalomania, narcicism, if you must -- but in truth it is simply tyranny) I don't believe that should excuse high crimes and misdemeanors, emphasis on the original, high crimes.

And yes, LA Times, thank you for listening to the millions upon millions... you know on which side your bread's buttered.

[sane_and_well_read]

PS-Follow Rep Jim McDermott (WA), now onboard; he's constructing the argument that it must happen, and by law it needn't happen by election. Necessary for further steps, and thanks, Rep Jim McDermott!

ATTN SAN FRANCISCANS: Please check out Cindy Sheehan! She is an independent running against Nancy Pelosi this Nov!