Impeachment WILL Reach the Floor of Congress

[berni_mccoy]

Conyers has a big annoucement tomorrow, Boxer has consulted with Constitutional Lawyers, and Congressman Lewis from Georgia said he would sign on as well. And this isn't the first time impeachment has been brought up this year. After Katrina and just before the Dems shut down Congress to get some answers on the phase II of the investigation into the WMD intel, at least one Representative mentioned impeachment on the house floor. With republicans fearing loss of both the house and senate next year due to Bush's failures and their own scandals, they may need to make an offering, one worthy of a sacrifice to their constituents. They sure as hell aren't headed for re-election by letting this BLATANT DISREGARD FOR LAW GO UNCHALLENGED.

(on edit: changed Senator from Georgia to Congressman Lewis from Georgia).

[FARAFIELD]

1. Not that i wouldnt like it

But what senator from GEORGIA, neither one of them would go near talk like that Chambliss and Isakson are both spineless

[berni_mccoy]

2. sorry, my bad... Congressman, not Senator

[Erika]

3. The corrupt GOP will change the rules

So none of the opposition will have an access to the microphone. The new GOP rule, think as I do or have no voice will prevail. It's their view of democracy.

[berni_mccoy]

4. Then the Dems will have to SHUT IT DOWN!

Shut DOWN CONGRESS SO NOTHING IS DONE UNTIL THE PRESIDENT IS IMPEACHED!

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Yes!

Wasn't Reid threatning that?

[Maraya1969]

7. STOP it. Please do not be negative now. My heart just leaped

when I read the OP. There is a point where people have to take a stand. Whoever tries to excuse this last offense is just as guilty and the one who did it.

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Exactly

We all have to make noise and put pressure on them and make it clear that if any republican votes in Bush's favor is a traitor and they will not get their vote if your rep is a republican. My Senator is Frist and I even raised some hell in an Email pissed off. I hardly ever Email him. I should Email my Congressman as well pissed. I'll probably wait until we start a campaign to put the pressure on.

[me b zola]

5. Let king george defend himself at the impeachment hearings!

Those will be the only hearings necessary.

[pennylane100]

6. I do not think this republican congress will go near it.

I believe our only hope of impeaching this bastard is to win back the house in 2006. The good news is that is we have a really good chance of doing that.

I thing we must do all we can to support all the progressive organizations like Move-On, ACT and of course, Howard Dean's DNC, to get as many democrats elected as possible. While this would be a good time to organize against the DLC and all the DINO's in the house and senate, it would probably make more sense to wait until we get back in power.

The only other thought I have on this is that Barbara Boxer should run for president, unless Al Gore wants the job. In that case, she can be vice-president.

[barb162]

12. that's right, we don't have the votes now

[Beam Me Up]

19. Without verifiable elections, this government is false as it stands.

Without verifiable elections, how can we consent to be governed by those so elected, regardless of which Party affiliation they have?

THIS is a national crisis of immense proportions. EVEN IF Democrats regain control of Congress, those who identify as Republicans and other Parties will no more trust that our leadership is representative than we trust theirs is now. There is no fundamental reason why our elections can not be verifiable and I see no reason to consent to government that is elected to office by anything less than transparent, verifiable election results.

Just my 2¢

[pennylane100]

21. Yes, I had forgotten the biggest threat of all,

Honest elections. I was so discouraged about what happened in Ohio in the last election when it looked like election reform had a good chance of passing.

I have a had time believing that the people of Ohio did not care about the issue, If those elections, like those when Bush was chosen, were fixed, I'm not sure what we should do next. The democratic party should take more time to work on this issue.

[WCGreen]

22. From someone who LIVES in Ohio....

The election reform failed because it was convoluted, no one understood it, and the people behind the measure didn't do anything to explain what was going on....

[info being]

30. The only reason to consent...

is that there is no real alternative.

[randyconspiracybuff]

26. But First We Must Stop Alito

Everyone, the first reaction to these new revelations is to filibuster the Alito nomination. If Alito is on the court, winning back the House and Senate will be a limited victory.

[tavalon]

29. But the great thing about the Dems trying and being stopped

is that it shows the repugs to be without honor in this culture of corruption and Dems as the crusading for a better world.

[bliss_eternal]

8. Should I be getting excited...?

:shrug:

It seems when I do, I get disappointed. Maybe I should take more of a wait and see approach?

[rwenos]

9. Time to Pass Out the Peaches

It's still pretty darned unlikely, with the Pub's controlling all the committees in the House -- which means they control the subpoena power, as well as the votes. We'd need a few RW pubbies to defect and join the Dem's, on grounds they're scared Bushie is going to go wack-o.

[Maraya1969]

10. How are these Repubs going to defend themselves? The man

has committed so many atrocities and now he has admitted one out loud like he had a right to do what ever he wanted.

There is no excuse and anyone who tries to give an excuse it going to look Anti-American!

[rwenos]

15. It'll Need to Get Worse Before Pub's Will Bolt

There's an old, crude saying about incumbent, entrenched politicians. "The only thing that'll take HIM down is for the Press boys to find him with a dead girl, or a live boy."

Bush is safe unless he is perceived to have committed a clear felony. It'll be interesting to watch the Pub's to see if the rats start running down the moorings.

[wake.up.america]

17. "Karl, Dick, Condi, Rummy, lock and load."

Bush has committed so many atrocities and now he has admitted one out loud like he had a right to do what ever he wanted.

There is no excuse and anyone who tries to give an excuse it going to look Anti-American!

Nicely put. That should be a rallying call. The President IS un American. Bush is sometime soon going to be forced to come out say, "Let's make this official, I hereby declare America a dictatorship and I ain't going anywhere. Karl, Dick, Condi, Rummy, lock and load."

[GuvWurld]

11. They don't recognize laws, they will not stand for impeachment

When considering the possibility of impeachment, it seems the obvious thing to first wonder what it would take to get enough Republicans to make it possible. It is fair to consider that a long shot. Even supposing it happens, though, I don't see how the national debate could be framed merely around high crimes and misdemeanors. Clearly there are war crime implications and in particular the War Crime Act of 1996, which Newsweek wrote about in May 2004:

Memos Reveal War Crimes Warnings

By Michael Isikoff
Newsweek
Updated: 9:14 a.m. ET May 19, 2004

May 17 - The White House's top lawyer warned more than two years ago that U.S. officials could be prosecuted for "war crimes" as a result of new and unorthodox measures used by the Bush administration in the war on terrorism, according to an internal White House memo and interviews with participants in the debate over the issue.

The concern about possible future prosecution for war crimes—and that it might even apply to Bush adminstration officials themselves— is contained in a crucial portion of an internal January 25, 2002, memo by White House counsel Alberto Gonzales obtained by NEWSWEEK. It urges President George Bush declare the war in Afghanistan, including the detention of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters, exempt from the provisions of the Geneva Convention.

In the memo, the White House lawyer focused on a little known 1996 law passed by Congress, known as the War Crimes Act, that banned any Americans from committing war crimes—defined in part as "grave breaches" of the Geneva Conventions. Noting that the law applies to "U.S. officials" and that punishments for violators "include the death penalty," Gonzales told Bush that "it was difficult to predict with confidence" how Justice Department prosecutors might apply the law in the future. This was especially the case given that some of the language in the Geneva Conventions—such as that outlawing "outrages upon personal dignity" and "inhuman treatment" of prisoners—was "undefined."

We are talking about a fascist cabal that does not respect the law. I do not think we can expect them to willingly stand trial at risk of the death penalty. Just as terror warnings regularly coincide with increased sunlight on the administration, I think we can count on the final excuse for martial law coming along when impeachment seems imminent, if not sooner.

My plan, and my call to action, are found in Blueprint For Peaceful Revolution.

[TankLV]

18. I think "Martial Law" is likelier than impeachment if it actually comes to

it.

[1776Forever]

23. Hope this is on the front page of DU - If not it should be!

Right on!!

"We are talking about a fascist cabal that does not respect the law. I do not think we can expect them to willingly stand trial at risk of the death penalty. Just as terror warnings regularly coincide with increased sunlight on the administration, I think we can count on the final excuse for martial law coming along when impeachment seems imminent, if not sooner."
:toast:

[GuvWurld]

31. This is one of those times where I sure hope I'm wrong

...but I don't think I am.

Welcome to DU 1776Forever! :hi:

[1776Forever]

34. I salute you - thanks for the welcome!

We stand together!:toast:

[GuvWurld]

36. Not Front Page, But I Gave This Its Own Thread

Since you like it so much...please give it a kick

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2325349

[newyawker99]

32. Hi 1776Forever!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[1776Forever]

35. Thank you - we stand together!

:grouphug:

[FreedomAngel82]

13. Wow!

Go John Lewis. This is great. Any republicans signing on? Hagel or Specter? Are they going to just get Bush or anybody who helped them or what?

[Jamastiene]

20. I sure hope so.

I can't help myself. Revenge at this point would be the only justice as opposed to the two being opposite one another. He has stepped over the line way too far now.

[Perky]

24. Jousting at windmills

I am not saying that it is utterly inappropriate. But remember the process.
Congress has to authorise an investigation. A special committee has to be seated. witnesses have to be called. Procedural votes undertaken.
Charges defined. Voted out of committee. All these processes are controlled by the GOP.

If Conyers does this. He is going to look like Don Quixote jousting at windmills.

At best this will be an item "under the fold". I doubt the network news even covers it.

I'd rather see Murtha leading the charge.

[malaise]

25. There was a great discussion on BBC

last night. The I word was used several times.

[LunaC]

27. I'm on your side of the argument

*Bush's approval ratings have been in the toilet for awhile for a wide range of reasons. With CongressCritters up for reelection in less than a year, they'll be listening and catering to their constituents and "The People" are pissed with this latest domestic spying outrage. I used to think we'd have to wait until after the Dems reclaimed Congress in 06, but with this latest turn of events, Impeachment is on the table in a big and dramatic way.

When Clinton was impeached, the Repugs kept screaming "rule of law...rule of law...." Well, the tide's have turned and it's time for the Criminal In Chief to face the music.

[Lerkfish]

28. murderers don't obey the law, so we shouldn't prosecute them, we should

let them go free.

think about it. That's the gist of the naysayers on impeachment.

Its time to DO THE RIGHT THING, regardless of outcome.

[pat_k]

33. Attention nattering nabobs of negativism -- We Can Win This Fight !!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5638980

[Catherine Vincent]

37. I'll believe it when I see it.

Until then I won't get my hopes up. Although impeachment is too good for *. He needs to be kicked to the curb. But I sure hope impeachment proceedings happen!