This is where we should start, rather than with Cheney: IMPEACH GONZALES.

[pnwmom]

It will allow us to do the investigation that he's stonewalling, and may even bring about his resignation. If not, Republicans may join with us to convict him in the Senate, depending on what is unearthed in the investigation. Forget about Bloch's promised investigation -- it will be a whitewashing. This is the way to go after Gonzales.

And once Gonzales goes, then it's time to move on Cheney.

IMPEACH GONZALES

NEWSDAY, April 11, 2007

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-opsha115166303apr11,0,640339.story

If Attorney General Alberto Gonzales does not resign soon, the House Judiciary Committee should start an inquiry into his possible impeachment.

There is much evidence to suggest that the attorney general perjured himself before Congress regarding the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, but no matter what Gonzales says about these cases when he testifies before the committee next week, the narrow focus of the hearings won't begin to touch the full range of grave concerns that now exist about his fidelity to the rule of law.

Congress needs to consider whether Gonzales has so abused his office by trampling on the powers of the legislative branch of government that even if he committed no felonies, he has inflicted serious injury to the Constitution.

BOSTON GLOBE, March 24, 2007

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/03/24/gonzales_should_be_impeached/

Gonzales, the nation's highest legal officer, has been point man for serial assaults against the rule of law, most recently in the crude attempt to politicize criminal prosecutions. Obstruction of a prosecution is a felony, even when committed by the attorney general. . . .

But can the House impeach the attorney general? The Constitution is clear that Congress may impeach "all civil officers of the United States." In our history, the House has impeached two presidents, and just one member of the Cabinet, William Belknap, secretary of war under president Ulysses S. Grant.

HUFFINGTON POST, March 25, 2007

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/impeach-gonzales-the-qui_b_44228.html


If the president continues trying to run out the clock on this scandal, Congress should immediately begin impeachment proceedings against Alberto Gonzales. It's the quickest way to the truth.

[The Magistrate]

1. That, Ma'am, Is An Excellent Idea!

[pnwmom]

2. Thank you, sir! n/t

[ReadTomPaine]

3. Needless to say, I agree...

"Purging Alberto" - http://journals.democraticunderground.com/ReadTomPaine

[pnwmom]

4. Great essay -- thank you.

When I googled the subject, I didn't run into the John Dean article, but I remembered it as soon as I read your essay. It's probably been in the back of my mind ever since.

[ReadTomPaine]

7. Happy to contribute! 5th rec anyone?

The more sunshine this issue gets, the better!

[pnwmom]

5. And since you mentioned it, I'm adding a link to the John Dean article here:

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20061215.html

SNIP

The way the process works is that a bill of impeachment is introduced in the House, where it is referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Acting as a grand jury, the Judiciary Committee then decides if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a full inquiry. If its members believe there is, they refer the matter to the full House for a vote, and if a majority of the House agrees, the matter is returned to the Judiciary Committee for fact-finding - compelling witnesses to testify, and compelling the production of documents. A simple majority of the Judiciary Committee can then send recommended articles of impeachment to the floor of the House, and a simple majority of the House can send them on to the Senate for trial. They are privileged, and the Senate must hold a trial.

If the movement to impeach Bush and Cheney, an outcome which simply is not going to happen, were to turn its attention to many of the other civil officers who have been involved in high crimes and misdemeanors, it might be very different. With strong prima facie evidence, the House Judiciary Committee at a minimum would have good reason to at least begin the process, and that in itself could send a powerful message.

While this is all possible in theory, it will only happen in practice if the Democrats have recovered from what CNN's Candy Crowley called their "wuss" phase, meaning, of course, their lack of backbone. The Republican Congress let Bush, Cheney & Company literally get away with murder and torture. We must all hope that the Democrats have recovered from their spinal problems, and that they will bring the invisible Congress back into play as what it is, and ought to act like: a constitutional co-equal. There would be no better way to do it than to commence impeachment proceedings against any on a potentially very long list of civil officers of the Bush Administration who should be removed from government, and disqualified from future opportunities to misuse government powers.

SNIP

[ReadTomPaine]

8. Yes, Gonzales is the perfect loose stitch to pull in the scenario Dean outlines...

He won't step down and Bush won't let him go. It'll be good for the Democratic party to take the reins of this affair and make it happen, rather than passively asking and hoping for resignation. The political ramifications would be more forceful and the result considerably more disruptive to the Bush administration. Comparatively speaking, this would be an easy goal.

[monarch]

10. "loose stitch"

I like the way you write! Is this metaphor original with you?

[ReadTomPaine]

18. Thank you!

I'm not sure of that metaphor's origins but it's one I've used before regarding Gonzales (see post #3 for a link to my first usage in this context).

[Kagemusha]

6. In a just world, this'd be great. But I doubt the Republicans will convict.

I doubt the Republicans who said Gonzales should resign would dare vote to remove him. That's too bad, because I regard impeaching Gonzales for these issues as substantially more constitutionally kosher than going after elected officials.

[frogcycle]

15. ??????

constitutionally kosher?


dammit, the Constitution specifies impeachment as the way to deal with treason or other high crimes or misdemeanors - by ELECTED OFFICIALS!!!!


You are drinking the RW koolaid.

they brought spurious, frivolous impeachment charges against Clinton, and now all of a sudden it is a cheap political ploy - "not kosher" ????

bullshit

[Kagemusha]

17. Thank you for your kind and polite reply.

I did not think I used the words "cheap political ploy" but, since you cite them, I apparently used them without knowing. I'm quite sorry for that.

[frogcycle]

22. sorry

you're right - you didn't use them - but it seems like their ploy to make it a ploy is working - even with Pelosi - and I go berserk every time I see it

the mind-manipulation is so rampant in this country, it seems like it needs to be stamped on at every turn. My apologies for jumping down your throat.

[radfringe]

9. My 2-cents

Impeachment or resignation - either way Gonzales must go

Since the US Attorney firings hit the MSM - Gonzales (and others) have presented several versions, each contradicting the other and constructing a web of lies so confusing and convoluted until it resembles something that a spider on LSD might have wove.

If Gonzales really doesn't recall anything about the firings - the questions then become:

-- How faulty is his memory? Should someone with limited memory retention capabilities be in charge of the Justice Department? Is his faulty memeory just a dodge to avoid answering questions?

-- Assuming he really didn't have anything to do with making decisions on the firings: Who was in charge of it? Who made the decisions? Why wasn't Gonzales more involved with the decision making process?

Memory problems, cover-up, dodging, lies - his testimony last week did reveal his incompetence to hold the office of Attorney General.

[pnwmom]

12. Either he's a total incompetent, or he's lying.

Either way, he should be out of the job.

[Bonhomme Richard]

11. Getting rid of him is the key to.............

getting rid of all of them.
I'm convinced.

[L. Coyote]

13. No need to do this in sequence. If justtified, just do it.

CNN is bolstering Cheney just now. And, they use a clear image of Cheney next to an out of focus image of Reid.

Cheney had a very useful quote for Republicans to apply to his impeachment resolution. Lawmakers should make decisions based on what is best for the country, not for political reasons.

[pnwmom]

26. Information unearthed during an investigation of Gonzales

could very well add to the grounds for impeaching Cheney. I think we should take the weakest link down first. Gonzales is not only the weakest link, but he's the one we'd have the greatest chance of actually convicting in the Senate.

If we try to convict Cheney and fail, we'll lose support for going after anyone else. We need to start with a winnable target first.

[ReadTomPaine]

27. Yes, any Gonzales investigation will yield a goldmine of info for other convictions

In a way this has already started to happen given recent developments in the AG scandal.

People don't like dirty cops, and the stain of corruption from this DOJ indelibly marks anyone in the GOP who's touched it.

[frogcycle]

14. Howard Fineman thinks Bloch's investigation is a smokescreen

the WH behind it; will use it to continue to stonewall congress because there is "an active investigation" which they will drag on for 20 months

[ReadTomPaine]

21. Just one look at Bloch's history tells you all you need to know

The best way to predict someone's future performance is to examine their past actions. Seen in that light, Mr Bloch seems aptly named.

Refreshingly, he is being called out on this right from the start.

[seafan]

16. Amen, amen and amen. Gonzales needs to go right now.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=175886&mesg_id=175886

[ReadTomPaine]

23. Good thread!

:thumbsup:

People have been calling for his impeachment since the Franklin raid. From Chuck Schumer to Darrell Issa, he's not well liked on either side of the legislative aisle.

Here's a link from 2006 calling for his impeachment over the illegal raid on Franklin's congressional offices;

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=87770

[MasterDarkNinja]

19. I agree, I was just wondering why no one is saying we should impeach him

[memory]

20. YES! This makes sense!

I love the analogy of Gonzales being the "loose stitch"! I think everyone but the "backwash" is outraged and wants punitive action taken on this mess of an administration, but there is so much corruption and wrongdoing that it overwhelming and there is no way to focus.

Impeaching Gonzales is possible and could very well be the unraveling and get the wool out of the eyes of the whole country!

[Dr Fate]

24. I'll take it- but wont the Dry Powder DLC types be too frightened?

I hope to be proved wrong, but I'm concernd that too many of the "moderate" (AKA conservative) DEMS will be too frightened to put up this kind of fight.

Arent they afraid that this will "energize" the Republican base- or some other excuse?

But all "kidding" aside- I would support this. If I cant get a turkey dinner, then I'll settle for a bologna sandwich.

[ReadTomPaine]

25. Alberto is certainly a slice of baloney if I've ever seen one.

Impeaching this tool will hopefully cure those currently afflicted with yellow fever. To put it another way, He's the lowest hanging fruit on the GOP's poisoned tree. One whack and he's in the basket. It doesn't get easier than this.

[Dr Fate]

28. The Dry Powder DEMS will keep this from happening too, but it makes for fun discussion.

Sometimes I think we should rename this site "Thingsdemocratswillneverdo.com"

I'm all for impeaching Gonzo- and I must say that it feels good to pretend it might happen.

Sorry to be a downer, but the frightened, timid wing of the party (who are NEVER frightened or timid when it comes to arguing with us)have probably already crafted and memorized the excuses for why we cant even do this.

"We have bigger issues to focus on" is my guess.

[ReadTomPaine]

29. Indeed, I've seen it many times myself.

You have every right to be skeptical. Don't you dare stop calling the DPD's out on this however.. you're one of the best I've read here on that point and I follow those discussions with interest. :thumbsup:

[Dr Fate]

32. Thanks- you are correct-the show must go on-sorry for being negative.

n/t

[pnwmom]

30. Have you tried contacting your reps about impeaching Gonzales?

I'm going to do it today.

[Dr Fate]

31. For you Mom, anything.

Consider it done.

;)

[Disturbed]

33. I have advocated Impeachment of Gonzo even before

the US Attorney fiasco came to the fore.

[Dr Fate]

34. I think you were on to something. Certainly now.

At the least, it will be fun wrenching various excuses out of frightened DLCers for why we cant do this either.