Also we had gone prepared to address his bill HR 811 due to come to a vote sometime within the next couple weeks but we didn't get to express our concerns on that one, since Holt was very anxious to get rid of us after it was apparent he was loosing on all fronts his decision not to support Impeachment.
I must say Linda Gochfeld and Mary Ellen Marrino did an excellent job of presenting the reasons for impeachment and even though Holt agreed this administration did numerous high crimes and misdemeanors, he still stood fast on his statement, " The support for Impeachment is not there, the American public is uneducated and do not understand what crimes have been committed. " ( my response to his statement- please give us more credit than that)
Linda explained the reasons for Impeachment as laid out in the Resolution for Impeachment , that was passed by the Princeton Democrats, and Mary Ellen presented poll data and other supportive information as to why it is necessary to impeach Bush and Cheney.
Holt kept repeating we will never see Impeachment because the Bush gang have a way of covering up their dirty deeds. Mary Ellen responded, "on most of the items in the resolution, they have already admitted to committing these crimes" .
Everytime Linda and Mary Ellen countered his statements with facts he went back to " The support for Impeachment is not there, the American public is uneducated and do not understand what crimes have been committed. "
Mary Ellen tried on numerous occasions to make him realize he has a duty to impeach and to negate the precedence set by this administration to stop the hemorrhage of our constitutional rights and liberties.
He said Conyers and Waxman will never go for impeachment and Pelosi wasn't in favor of wasting time on something they couldn't win. Besides there is no support for impeachment, the grassroots need to get out there and educate the public so there is support.
Mary Ellen handed him copies of the petitions her group had collected and said there is support out there but the news media just isn't covering it.
Mary Ellen continued, "we don't need to go to the Senate for impeachment, it can be done in the House and there should be enough votes to impeach, and at least restore checks and balances to our Constitution. "
Upon leaving the meeting, the general consensus amongst the 5 ladies who attended was the only one in that room who was uneducated was Rush Holt.
Today , as in the past the American citizenry, are way ahead of those in the DC beltway and our elected representatives have no idea of what is going on in the real world or for other reasons have chosen not to.
Although I was there for mainly moral support for these very intelligent women, I did add my 2 cents, of giving a copy of all the places that have passed resolutions or are in the midst of doing so, to show there is growing support for impeachment. And added ,last November after elections the Democrats enjoyed a 65% approval rating and now it has dropped to28% for not complying with the mandate of the people to stop the war and accountability of this administration. MaryEllen corrected me that the most recent poll showed only 14% ....and was even lower than the president's.
There was one item I did want to read to Holt, but Linda being optimistic Holt would be receptive to our request, thought maybe it would be a little strong. I know I have been harping on this fact for sometime now but we do need to remind our elected officials of exactly their duties according to their oath of office and the Constitution.
T he Oath of Office of the House of Representatives:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.
This is the central commitment of every member of the United States House of Representatives: to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Not to support and defend the American people. Not to support and defend the land itself. To support and defend the binding contract we Americans make with ourselves and each other, the American Constitution.
