I've posted the following before, but with all the talk of the need to "set the stage" or "wait and see" or "do other things first" these are messages that I think need to be repeated, and repeated, and repeated -- and
I hope others help spread the warnings.
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A message to Investigations first people"We must have investigations" says one thing "we don't know enough to impeach." That statement is a lie. We know all we need to know
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Senator/10">right now. It puts us on the fascist's turf ("If the case is simple why are they having all those hearings? They're just blowing hot air. They don't have anything. If they did, they would have impeached already")
Articles and proofs that make it crystal clear to the nation that Bush and Cheney pose an intolerable threat can, and should be, introduced ASAP -- ideally in the 1st session of the new Congress (or as Senator suggests, on January 6th, since it was January 6th, 2001 that our Constitution went into breach when members of Congress failed to stand in judgment of the Florida electors.)
Whether or not they have the support of the leadership, members can take up the fight to impeach by introducing a set of articles (the most clear and convincing of the numerous charges for which we have all the proofs necessary), and then fighting to have them acted on in the committee (or committees) to which the resolution is assigned.
If they hold committee hearings to discuss the power of the case, and to make that case, fine. But, as I have described above, if they claim hearings are needed to "gather evidence" they undermine the powerful case they already have. If the minority attempts the draw things out with investigation, Dems must resist the efforts and hold fast to the "we know all we need to know" line. If they do otherwise, they undercut their case.
As with any resolution, specifics would be hammered out in committee, the process can, and should, go very fast. Sure it could get drawn out, but there is no reason to believe long is more likely than short.
Once started, the process will unfold the way it unfolds. There are infinite possibilities at each juncture. Hearings to argue the case and present evidence are probable, but may not be part of the process. The threat that Congress is getting serious about impeachment alone could be enough to motivate Bush and Cheney to implement the "exit strategy" offered by resignation, so hearings may not ever necessary.
The price of "putting off" Impeachment could be unimaginableOn September 10, 2001, there were many signs that sanity was returning. The number who believed Florida was stolen had passed 50%. Bush's approval was continuing the steady downward slide that started the day he was inaugurated. A coalition led by Democrats.com that included the National Lawyers Guild and Vincent Bugliosi was about
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2701395&mesg_id=2707042">to announce their "fall offensive" -- a campaign that that included the effort to see Scalia et al. impeached for Bush v. Gore.
Bush's claims to any semblance of legitimacy were crumbling fast.
Then the sun came up on 9/11/2001. In the weeks that followed, the countless people who were horrified by the stolen election and Bush's incredible abuses were silenced in a nation that had seemingly gone mad.
Sanity is once again returning, but we must recognize how fragile the moment is.
The urgency cannot be underestimated. Taking up the fight for impeachment now is a scary thing, but members of Congress must "Just Do It." Any day we could see another terrorist attack; Bush could declare war on Iran or Syria or North Korea or Venezuela or even Haiti; or some completely unforeseen event could make it impossible to rescue our national soul for a long time to come.