Impeachment: Which Democrats Are Blocking Us?

[helderheid]

Impeachment: Which Democrats Are Blocking Us?

Thanks to your grassroots lobbying efforts - and the leadership of Rep. John Conyers - there are now 29 co-sponsors for Conyers' Select Committee on Impeachment, H. Res. 635.
http://afterdowningstreet.org/635

That's a good start - but ALL 202 Democrats should be co-sponsors. After all, Bush deserves impeachment far more than any president in American history, and a solid majority of Americans want Congress to impeach him NOW.
http://democrats.com/bush-impeachment-polls

What's holding back the Democrats? According to reporter Dave Lindorff, "members of Congress - even firebrands like Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) - have been strong-armed behind the scenes by the Democratic National Committee not to introduce an impeachment bill in the House." The DNC chairman is Howard Dean. Ask him why he is blocking impeachment here:
http://democrats.org/page/s/contact

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also opposes impeachment, urging Democratic activists to focus instead on winning the House in November. We reject that because every single DAY that Bush remains in office is another day in which American soldiers are killed or maimed in Iraq, Iraqi civilians are killed or maimed or poisoned, prisoners in America's Gulag are tortured, America's ports are left vulnerable, our phones and computers are wiretapped, and our planet races towards climate catastrophe. Also, since a solid majority (52%-53%) of Americans support Bush's impeachment, it's both good policy and good politics. Ask Nancy Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership why they are blocking impeachment here:
http://democrats.house.gov/contact/index.cfm

Another terrific way to promote impeachment is by getting cities, counties, towns, villages, and Democratic committees to adopt impeachment resolutions. Last week, citizens of five Vermont towns overwhelmingly passed resolutions urging their Congressman, Bernie Sanders, to introduce Articles of Impeachment. His first reply was to call impeachment "impractical," but he then responded to his constituents by co-sponsoring H. Res. 635. The growing list of local resolutions favoring the impeachment of Bush and Cheney is here:
http://impeachpac.org/resolutions

Activists who are particularly savvy have embraced the "Rutland Resolution" to urge their state legislatures to submit impeachable charges directly to the U.S. House of Representatives under Section 603 of the Manual of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. This strategy is best suited to states that have strong Democratic majorities in both houses of the legislature: CA, MA, HI, RI, and VT. Learn more here:
http://www.impeachbush.tv/impeach/statehow.html

If you would like to help organize impeachment efforts in your state, county or town, join the Impeachment Working Group of Progressive Democrats of America:
http://pdamerica.org/impeach-wg.php

And be sure to urge your Representative to co-sponsor H.Res. 635:
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=8329176

Let's make impeachment our highest priority this spring - victory is possible!!

_________________

ImpeachPAC Endorses Jeeni Criscenzo

This week ImpeachPAC endorsed its third pro-impeachment candidate for Congress, Jeeni Criscenzo, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary to challenge Republican incumbent (and former car thief) Darrell Issa in California's 49th District.

Criscenzo has already been endorsed by the San Diego Imperial Counties Labor Council, Progressive Democrats of San Diego, Democracy for America Meetup #23 (San Diego), and Progressive Democrats of America (national).

Criscenzo has been a leading opponent of the Iraq War since before the invasion. She organized the Bring Their Buddies Home vigils as a non-confrontational way of showing people the human cost of war.

Her campaign website makes clear her opposition to criminal policies of the Bush regime. She wrote a blog entry on March 6, advocating impeachment of Bush and Cheney. Criscenzo has also been campaigning lately wearing an "Impeach Bush" T-shirt.



In her blog, Criscenzo wrote: "If we go back to George Washington, American presidents have attached signing statements to laws a total of 322 times up until this president. George W. Bush has done it 435 times… George W. Bush is a dictator in president's clothing. He and his cabal have raped our Constitution, depleted our treasury, sent our kids to go kill and torture other people's kids for the personal enrichment of his cronies and left the poor people of New Orleans to die or become permanently displaced, conveniently remaking that diverse Democratic city, at one of the centers of the U.S. petrochemical industry, into a white, Republican stronghold.

"The future of our country is balancing on a precarious precipice. The Bush cabal is moving full-speed ahead in their plans to establish the Global Empire of Halliburton… Our only chance to stop this nightmare is to take back Congress THIS YEAR. That means winning a majority in November AND making impeachment of Bush and Cheney our first priority."

http://impeachpac.org/?q=node/711

_________________

Take a Virtual Trip to San Diego

Steve Hopper shot a terrific video of a forum on March 3, 2006, in San Diego, in a packed auditorium on the campus of UCSD with
Mark Manning,
David Swanson,
Ann Wright,
Cindy Sheehan, and
Questions and Answers
Click a name to watch that section of the video. Or go to:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/video

_________________

Progressive Democrat Town Hall Meeting
Katrina, the War in Iraq, Impeachment and the 2006 Elections
Sunday, March 12, 2006
1:00 - 3:30 PM
The Workmen's Circle
45 E. 33rd St. in Manhattan
Speakers will include:
Tim Carpenter, PDA Executive Director
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Hip-Hop activist and PDA National Board Member
Chris Owens, Democratic Candidate for Congress/ImpeachPAC
Jonathan Tasini, Democratic Candidate for US Senate/PDA Activist
Marilyn Clement of Health Care NOW!
http://pdamerica.org/

_________________

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR IMPEACHMENT AND PEACE in CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA

Town Hall Forum on the War in Iraq
Monday, March 13, 7 p.m. McLEOD AUDITORIUM - UVA School of Nursing.

Eman Ahmad Khamas, Iraqi journalist, activist living in Baghdad, defends women’s rights, documents crimes committed by U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Lt.Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, retired from Office of the Sec. of Defense on Near East South Asia Policy, outspoken critic of the Pentagon's pre-war propaganda development.

Ray McGovern, veteran Army officer and retired 27-year CIA analyst, Co-Founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, witness at Congressional hearings on Downing Street Minutes.

Gael Murphy, cofounder of CODE PINK-Women for Peace, Board of Dir. International Occupation Watch Center, Steering Committee United for Peace and Justice,

David Swanson, cofounder of After Downing Street, Board member of Progressive Democrats of America, Washington Director of Democrats.com and Impeach PAC.

Tia Steele, member of Gold Star Families Speak Out, mother of U.S. soldier killed in Iraq.

Al Weed, Congressional candidate in Virginia’s 5th district, Veteran, opposes the Iraq war.

$5 suggested donation, no one turned away

Film: "Occupation Dreamland"
Wednesday, March 15, 7 p.m. WILSON HALL 301-University of Virginia
About a group of U.S. soldiers in Falluja. Iraq

March for Peace and Impeachment
Monday, March 20, 4 p.m. ROTUNDA to DOWNTOWN
March beginning at the Rotunda - University of Virginia - at 4 p.m. and proceeding to the Freedom of Expression Wall on the Downtown Mall near City Hall for a rally. Come prepared to buy a yard sign and carry it in the march, or bring your own posters, flags, noise makers, musical instruments.

3 YEARS TOO MANY

WAGE PEACE

Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice charlottesvillepeace.org
434 961-6278, 540 456-6028

_________________

Stop the Katrina Evictions
March 14
Demand a stop to evictions, demand trailers for survivors, and demand passage of H.R. 4197.
Press Conference: 1:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building – Room #2237
Mardi Gras Style March for Justice: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. from Capitol South Metro Stop at 12:00 p.m. to the White House
Rally & Protest at the White House: 3:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. Lafayette Park
http://www.katrinamarch.org

_________________

Sign up for these events, find others, and create your own at
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

See Also UFPJ:
http://unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?caltype=39&lcountry=&state=&search=Search

And PDA:
http://pdamerica.org/events/main-list.php



____________________


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[proud2BlibKansan]

1. As long as the repukes have a majority in Congress,

this is just a waste of time.

[babsbunny]

10. No!

Think back to a year ago and how far we have come! All the truth and all of the Repubs jumping ship! That was then, this is now! That is all I ever heard on DU a year ago, "with a Repub Congress it's a waste of time". Not anymore! I hated hearing that a year ago, and I REALLY hate hearing it now! This Is A reality!

[GuvWurld]

15. Reality? I don't think so, but not because of either party

Imagine there is sufficient Congressional support, ok? This is necessary to consider what you are proposing. So I give you that for the sake of discussion.

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 recognize any accountability to 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.

[depakid]

22. As long as there are so many DINO's

that are never held accountable when the repeatedly vote with Republicans- pretty much ANYTHING is a waste of time. They're not going to magically stop siding with the far right just because they're in the majority.

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. Even if every single Dem wanted to impeach

that still isn't enough.

[Nutmegger]

2. This needs some DU love!!!

:kick:and:thumbsup:!!!

[Poppyseedman]

3. I think the main reason is a simple one

The house Dem's know that impeachment will cost them the possibility of winning back the house in 2006

No matter how you position it, Americans don't like the President being impeached during a war.

[helderheid]

4. that may be their reasoning but it is flawed

http://democrats.com/bush-impeachment-polls

[KoKo]

5. Conyers hopes to get enough votes for a "Resolution of Inquiry" which

he said was the first step in the Harper's Panel on Impeachment shown on C-Span. But, I wonder how many votes are needed for such a Resolution?

Anyway thanks for all the links...we should definitely get working on getting a Resolution of Inquiry and pressuring our congresscritters.

[SPKrazy]

6. I Oppose Impeachment

Instead, let's elect a Dem House and Senate to undo the damage * has done

then pave the way for a Dem in 08 for the White House

If we impeach, then we either end up with Dick as Prez, or Dick steps down, and * appoints someone who then becomes the incumbent and likely front runner for the pukes

Incumbency has it's advantages, like looking presidential, people not wanting to change horses midstream (again) especially if he/she manages to attain some kind public popularity or appearance of competence

On the other hand, we have an incompetent boob, who could be impeached, but do we really want that?

Impeachment is above all a POLITICAL solution to "high crimes and misdemeanors", it isn't a prosecution.

So I agree with NOT IMPEACHING the incompetent evil bastard.

But we have to gain majorities in the house and Senate, then we have him in check and he is truly limping along until he leaves office.

[Todd B]

17. Impeachment is rediculous, IMO,

Frankly it was stupid when the Republicans did it in the 90's, and it'd be stupid to do it today.

I mean, I'd rather see Congress focus on coming up with positive plans for fixing education, healthcare, jobs, immigration, and other things which will benefit America rather then getting in to more partisan hackery with an impeachment fight while acting like school children.

Face the facts, Congress doesn't exactly have a favourable view in the eyes of the American public - if the Democrats were to gain control of the House or Senate, why not get something accomplished (or at least get the wheels in motion) for a change and show the public that things will be different with a Democratic President in 2008.

[goreo8]

35. I actually agree with you

Impeachment does not mean he will be removed from office. As much as I hate *, impeachment does not mean he will necessary step down or be removed from office. Clinton was impeached, and not removed.

While it might sound good, it doesn't really accomplish a change in the admin. We need to focus more in winning in 2006, and then in 2008 more so than impeachment.

[Meldread]

7. Any Dem who doesn't push for Impeachment is a traitor...

...not only to the Democratic Party but to America. There are no two ways about it. The majority of Americans support the Impeachment of Bush. There is no reason NOT to push for Impeachment. This means you are simply enabling them.

Impeach Bush and Impeach Cheney.

Impeach, Indict, Imprison. That should be the chant Democrats are echoing.

[Cocoa]

12. Bernie Sanders is not a traitor

in fact there ARE reasons not to push for impeachment.

http://bernie.house.gov/documents/document.asp?issueNum=4810

3/8/2006, Statement of Congressman Sanders regarding:

STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN BERNIE SANDERS REGARDING IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN FIVE TOWNS

I can very well understand why the citizens of Newfane, Putney, Dummerston, Marlboro, and Brookfield voted yesterday to support the impeachment of President Bush and ask me, as Vermont’s Congressman, to introduce those articles. It is my view that President Bush’s Administration has been a disaster for our country, and a number of actions that he has taken may very well have been illegal. The difficulty that we face is that with Republicans controlling both the House and the Senate and serving as a virtual rubber stamp for the White House, Congressional leaders have consistently refused to even hold serious hearings or investigations on any of Bush’s abuses of power or misguided decisions. Given that reality it would be impractical to talk about impeachment. For those people who are outraged by the conduct of the Bush Administration, who want serious investigations of what they have done, and who want to see the United States move in a new direction, it’s my view that all of our energy must go into the November elections with the goal of ending Republican control of the House and Senate.

[helderheid]

18. BRAVO!

:applause: :yourock:

[SPKrazy]

44. Well Now A DU'er Is Calling Me A Traitor!

Thanks


I'm tired of it from the right, now from the left

WTF?

[pinto]

8. The biggest block to impeachment, is a Republican House.

[babylonsister]

9. I think the Dems need to put up instead of shutting up.

It's not like there's not a wealth of info to make impeachment a valid option. I'm all for at least getting a good discussion going. These Dems are our representatives, and I think the majority of us would get behind them.
Maybe we could take a couple of these links and incorporate them into a project for DU activists?

[Cocoa]

11. Bernie Sanders, for one

(effectively a dem...)

I agree with Sanders's statement:

http://bernie.house.gov/documents/document.asp?issueNum=4810

3/8/2006, Statement of Congressman Sanders regarding:

STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN BERNIE SANDERS REGARDING IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN FIVE TOWNS

I can very well understand why the citizens of Newfane, Putney, Dummerston, Marlboro, and Brookfield voted yesterday to support the impeachment of President Bush and ask me, as Vermont’s Congressman, to introduce those articles. It is my view that President Bush’s Administration has been a disaster for our country, and a number of actions that he has taken may very well have been illegal. The difficulty that we face is that with Republicans controlling both the House and the Senate and serving as a virtual rubber stamp for the White House, Congressional leaders have consistently refused to even hold serious hearings or investigations on any of Bush’s abuses of power or misguided decisions. Given that reality it would be impractical to talk about impeachment. For those people who are outraged by the conduct of the Bush Administration, who want serious investigations of what they have done, and who want to see the United States move in a new direction, it’s my view that all of our energy must go into the November elections with the goal of ending Republican control of the House and Senate.

[marions ghost]

13. and what is Sanders plan B

if congress doesnt go back to a Dem majority in November?

[Cocoa]

14. for impeachment, there's no plan b

but to me it seems clear that impeaching Bush is not high on Sanders's list of priorities.

[readmoreoften]

19. But Bernie Sanders is a co-sponsor of the bill as of two days ago.

Guess he changed his mind when the ball got rollin'!

[katinmn]

32. But he also signed onto H Res 635 - the Impeachment Committee

:)

[mzmolly]

16. If we take back congress, Bush really is toast.

Unfortunately, I think drumming the impeachment drums too loud right now might only gain * sympathy and backfire. I do think we need to press hard for the big *I* after the coming elections however. ;)

[Amaryllis]

36. See this on taking back the senate:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2508077&mesg_id=2508077

and this
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x633109

[mzmolly]

37. Sorry, I think we are going to have such an overwhelming majority

in the coming elections that they will not be able to steal it.

[Leopolds Ghost]

46. You mean like in 2004?

According to the exit polls, Bush was swept out in an overwhelming landslide. Someone must have made a mistake.

[mzmolly]

47. Exit polls did not tell the entire story.

Polls going into the race were close, and in fact an average of those polls showed Bush ahead slightly.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/bush_vs_kerry.html

Exit polls might indicate is that Bush voters were rightfully embarassed.

[babylonsister]

20. This is telling, RE: impeachment. MSNBC poll -

Perhaps more people than we realize are fed-up!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2508212

[helderheid]

21. WOW!!

[babylonsister]

27. Amazing, isn't it? nt

[helderheid]

33. No kidding!! I wish his numbers would drop in Utah :(

[readmoreoften]

23. K&R + I wrote my congressman.

I live between Austin and NYC, and since my Reps in NYC are cosigners, I shot a heartfelt email out to Lloyd Doggett of Austin.

Shiela Jackson Lee, Rep. fom HOUSTON was one of the first sponsors. If we can get Texas Congresspeople to call for impeachment, I think that sends a strong statement to the world: Even Texas has been hijacked.

[Cleita]

24. I'm for it the sooner the better. Hopefully, it will never get there

and he and Cheney will resign before it happens. However, that doesn't mean that he shouldn't be tried for war crimes even after he leaves office.

[foreigncorrespondent]

25. Ya know what I see in this thread?

The typical Democratic Party way. Be gutless until we take the house back. Even though a majority of the country wants him impeached now.

It is the same with gay marriage isn't it? Just wait. Now is not the right time. Well what has this waiting brought us during the last five years? More people rather disgusted with a party without balls.

We won't be taking anything back unless we grow some balls and fast. Too many people on the left are pretty fucking pissed with those who are meant to represent them. So I say now is the right time for the Dem's to fucking put up and turn their party back into a proper opposing party, or fucking shut up and walk away from politics all together.

[babylonsister]

26. You didn't see that from me! nt

[foreigncorrespondent]

41. I know. :) (n/t)

[helderheid]

28. You hit the nail on the head. Do you think Rosa Parks waited for the right

moment? Martin Luther and Loretta Scott King?

[foreigncorrespondent]

42. Exactly! (n/t)

[Cocoa]

29. I think many people are tired of "balls"

the republcans have plenty of "balls," and I'm sick of it.

Fuck "balls," I want competence.

[foreigncorrespondent]

40. And tell me Cocoa...

...exactly what has the wait and see attitude gotten the Dem's in the last five years? Several HUGE losses that's what!

Sorry, but the way the Dem's have been acting over the last five years isn't working and one has to ask why? And the answer to that is because they shifted so far from their platform they are turning their voter base off.

You aren't gonna get your competence until the Dem's get balls and begin reaching out to the lefties who have given up on them.

You aren't gonna get your competence until the Dem's grow a spine and actually stand up to the thugs on the right.

You aren't gonna get your competence until the left stops showing a fucking defeatist attitude.

But yes, great comeback, and I agree, I would like to see competence as well, but I also realize what it is going to take to see that.

[helderheid]

43. How about spine and competence?

[bvar22]

30. It would "feel good" to impeach, but

would accomplish little. "Getting" bush* would not solve our problems. We need to target the people running this scam, not their puppets.

It might be more productive to produce a statement (contract) signed by all Democrats promising to:

1) investigate the probability of War Crimes associated with the Invasion of Iraq, and a solemn oath to prosecute to the fullest extent ANY criminality associated with the Promotion or Execution of the Iraq Invasion and Occupation.

2) Investigate and prosecute any Corporate wrongdoing and War Profiteering from the Iraq Invasion and Occupation. This would include willful participation of the CorpoMedia Network if they:
a) withheld information critical of the Invasion or the Bush Administration.
b) knowingly published or aired information they knew to be wrong.

3) Fully Investigate ALL Private Contractors (Mercenaries) engaged in Combat Security Operations in Iraq, and if they have killed ANY Innocent Iraqis (even by mistake), prosecute them , and All of their superiors at Corporate HQ for Manslaughter.
Corporate entities do NOT have the authority to KILL in OUR NAMES!




The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[helderheid]

31. Everything you list needs to happen in addition to impeachment.

[katinmn]

34. I'm hoping my rep comes around. We have 2 from MN so far

[helderheid]

39. I'm not really hopeful with my rep from Utah - He has a D after his name

but this is Utah where close to %58 still think * is doing a "heckofuh job". :eyes:

[EFerrari]

45. I'm ashamed of Nancy Pelosi and I will not stop

letting her know that.

:kick: