Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich released the following statement upon House action today which approved his motion to refer to committee Articles of Impeachment concerning President George Bush. "The sheer volume of the Articles required a referral to provide Members with an opportunity for review," Kucinich said.
"It is now imperative that the Judiciary Committee begin a review of the 35 Articles. I will be providing supporting documentation to the committee so that it can proceed in an orderly manner. The weight of evidence contained in the Articles makes it clear that President Bush violated the Constitution and the US Code as well as International law.
"It is the House's responsibility as a co-equal branch of government to provide an effective check and balance to executive abuse of power. President Bush was principally responsible for directing the United States Armed Forces to attack Iraq," Kucinich said. "The June 5th Senate Intelligence report convinced me it was time to act."
In a report just released, the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Jay Rockefeller, said: "In making the case for war, the Administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even non-existent. As a result, the American people were led to believe that the threat from Iraq was much greater than actually existed."
"I believe that there is sufficient evidence in the Articles to support the charge that President Bush allowed, authorized and sanctioned the manipulation of intelligence by those acting under his direction and control, misleading Congress to approve a resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq. As a result over 4,000 United States soldiers have died in combat in Iraq, with tens of thousands injured, many of them permanently impaired. Over a million innocent Iraqis have perished in a war which was based on lies, a war which will cost the American taxpayers as much as three trillion dollars," Kucinich explained.
"Now it is incumbent for the Judiciary Committee to review the evidence. If it fails to hold any hearings on the resolution within the next thirty days, given the gravity of the charges and the moment, I will once again bring a similar privileged resolution of Impeachment to the House. We must not only create an historical record of the misconduct of the Bush Administration but we must make sure that any future Administration is forewarned about the Constitutionally proscribed limits of executive authority and exercise of power contravening the Constitution," he concluded.
Dennis Kucinich is a congressman from Ohio and a 2008 presidential primary candidate.
http://kucinich.us/
The best way to reach congressman Kucinich is through the information on his congressional website
I fear that you will be introducing your privileged resolution in thirty days. In the meantime...
...I'll be pressuring my congressman in the Indiana 2nd District, Joe Donnelly. All of you out there who read this I suspect will be applying the same pressure to your congressman. We have to oppose these Democrats content with not upholding their oath and okay with protecting Bush.
The atmosphere is ripe for sit-ins if not hardcore lobbying.
It's summertime and impeachment is in the air. I love it.
by
Kevin Gosztola (195 articles, 103 quicklinks, 64 diaries, 779 comments)
on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 8:07:04 PM
In the meantime, we need to CALL, FAX, EMAIL and SNAIL MAIL.
...the members of the Judiciary Committee!
We need to BIRD-DOG the members of the Judiciary Committee and let them know we mean business. We also need this list spread all over the place far and wide. We need to call and email these Judiciary members relentlessly and let them know WE THE PEOPLE WHOM THEY SERVE want IMPEACHMENT!!! Let's NOT let this one die with the Judiciary Committee again! MOMENTUM IS NEEDED! Program their phone numbers into your cell phones and call them daily!!! Email to other like minded groups.
Start NOW and FORWARD WIDELY and tell others to do the same thing!
******************************************************** THE FULL JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
by
Anita Stewart (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 22 comments)
on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 8:12:37 PM
sorry, the list didn't want to be posted here, it fell out of the comment box. However it is now listed under General News, look for the American flag.
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Meryl Ann Butler (41 articles, 31 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 305 comments)
on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 11:55:51 PM
Thank you Mr. Kucinich. I will do my part. I already wrote the two Democrats from Kentucky and Conyers. Will write the rest of the House Judiciary Committee again requesting action on these articles. Hope it helps.
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Peter Wedlund (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 154 comments)
on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 10:29:27 PM
Thank you Sen. Kucinich for recognizing the extraordinary peril due to inaction.
If the Democrat-led leadership in Congress had the guts to impeach this criminal president, they would find that not only would they have the support of a majority of the American public behind them, but also the rest of the world, likely guaranteeing a Democrat win in November for the White House.
This inaction will leave a deep and lasting national wound, rippling down to the next generation with unforseeable consequences. It is imperative for Nancy Pelosi to do what is necessary in her charge to protect the current, and future, interests of the American people, to whom she represents, in order to begin a process of national healing. And this can only start by holding the architects of these crimes in the Bush "administration" accountable to justice. History will not look back kindly otherwise.
The strength of America has always relied on the foundations set forth in its laws and Constitution. To continue to ignore those cherished laws now in the republic's time of need, is a crime in itself, and indeed possibly even a greater one.
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D W (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 42 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 12:22:09 AM
Dennis Kucinich, you are a man of courage and integrity!!
Thank you Dennis! Where would we all be without you?
Striking Iran could invoke WW III. The time is going to come when nations abroad fight back: Wars based on lies, abductions, torture etc you bet that they won't take it forever!
Is this what our politicians want??
I wrote Nancy Pelosi and told her in no uncertain terms that I will use the stroke of my pen to a) expose her voting record to the public b) see to it that she is ousted from public office c) called her a traitor d) asked her the question: If impeachment is off the table, then what is UNDER the table?
I hereby ask that readers to the same, or similar.
I also pointed out to her (duh!) that even politicians are vulnerable to death during WW III and global warming, and that no bodyguards can protect them from either one. Wake up, selfish politicians! Even you will be affected! If you care not one iota that we who are PAYING for our own demise will be suffering, maybe then for your own despiccably selfish sakes you might consider protecting your own selves?? Wake up! What fools these mortals be. Shakespeare was right.
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Kathryn Smith (90 articles, 2 quicklinks, 37 diaries, 347 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 6:41:04 AM
Please not only get to your Senators and Congressional rep. but also get to your local NPR stations and get them to cover this too. They are a public radio station and should represent the public they serve. If they want your donations then they should heed your calls.
Also, thank Dennis by donating to his congressional camapaign. Remember that without him in the House, none of this would have happened.
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Deborah Emin (13 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 58 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 9:22:55 AM
Sorry to be a party pooper, but why is Kucinich agreeing to
a procedure that basically condemns his initiative to silence and death for 30-day periods? He writes,
"...Now it is incumbent for the Judiciary Committee to review the evidence. If it fails to hold any hearings on the resolution within the next thirty days, given the gravity of the charges and the moment, I will once again bring a similar privileged resolution of Impeachment to the House..."
This will mean, as he realizes full well, that nothing will happen for 30 days. Then he'll introduce the same privileged resolution, then nothing will happen again. After a few of these cycles, we'll be up to the general election.
No one would like to see impeachment more than I would, but this does not seem like a serious plan. It seems like something designed purely for symbolic & secondary purposes -- for instance, to reduce public anger at the Democrats, for their quiet collusion in all of Bush's crimes.
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Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1121 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 11:19:45 AM
Possibly Kucinich is hoping Americans join him in taking back this country from the criminals who've usurped it .
Kucinich may have planned this very well if the rest of us take on what is ultimately our responsibility to do and that is to demand that our "leaders" do what WE want them to do - not what they want to do.
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Cheryl Abraham (13 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 143 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 11:38:00 AM
Look, Cheryl -- In 2004, Kucinich supported the prowar Kerry
and now in 2008, he's endorsed Obama, who is also a relatively prowar figure (even though many Democratic voters have trouble facing that fact). Also in 2004, Kucinich reneged on a promise to his followers to continue his fight against the Iraq War "all the way to the Convention."
In other words, though Kucinich makes many more antiwar noises than any other Democrat, he's still very loyal to his party, when push comes to shove. So, in the context of this new impeachment resolution, one is justified in being very suspicious. The thing has the look of a "stunt," not of a serious initiative. It's something that's being done for effect, not really to get rid of Bush. The desired effect is to provide an "antiwar" gloss for the Dem Party as we approach the election -- not to remove Bush. The party understands that the public is angry with them, for rolling over for Bush with no resistance to speak of, for 7 years.
When you say Kucinich's resolution "gives us 30 days" to make some supportive noises on behalf of the bill, that sounds nice, but won't amount to any more than the huge antiwar rallies did right before the Iraq invasion. We know by know that "calling your Congressman" accomplishes nothing. By now, we should be thinking in terms of stringing our congresspersons up to lamp posts for treason -- not telephoning them to beg them to defend the Constitution, which they obviously have no interest in doing.
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Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1121 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 12:06:47 PM
Pelosi threatened to take Conyers chairmanship if he investigates impeachment. Pelosi was complicent in warentless wiretap and extrodinary reditions and interigation technics as was many other members of DNC leadership. They don't want investigations thus impeachment is off the table. What we are now just begining to realize is that what we thought was our country, our rights, our constitution, our democracy has been in checkmate for over 5 years. We are running in a maze that has no cheese. Violent revolution would be the only way to get back to the rule of law. But that will take care of itself soon enough. Exactly how far from food riots do you think America is?
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erik mouse (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 97 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 12:51:28 PM
We need to get more groups like MoveON, PDA, Common Cause, People for the American way etc. actively fighting for and PUBLICISING impeachment.
Here is a message I just sent to MoveOn:
"Hello, MoveOn should be supporting Congressman Kucinichs Articles of Impeachnent and asking all the MoveOn members to call their Congressman demanding Impeachment. Also, I would happily donate hundreds of dollars to get impeachment commercials on the air. Restoring the Constitution and the rule of law in this country is easily the single most important issue this country faces. If moveOn is NOT going to forcefully join the impeachment movement please remove my name from your database as I will no longer donate or support your organization. Thank You, Kevin McCaffery"
Everyone needs to contact any and all of the above groups and demand they get involved. If we can get commercials on the air the public will start waking up and the press will not be able to ignore it.
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Kevin McCaffery (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 18 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 3:23:00 PM
In the end, Dennis Kucinich is a man... A person. Sometimes complex and contradictory; at least from our viewpoint. With loyalties and views that occasionally defy easy understanding.
That he has courage is plain for all to see. That he is willing to take on difficult and dangerous tasks no else wants is also apparent. He is part of a small minority of those who are not truly within the system, yet are still part of that system... One of the few who speaks for millions who otherwise have no voice; and one who insists that those words be entered into the public record... A record that future historians will shake their heads over: Wondering how it was possible the masses could be so under-represented and ignored in these "modern" times.... How the opinions and agendas of the few were able to trump those thousands of times their number... In a society that was supposedly ruled by democratic representative government. The historians will wonder, and note that Dennis Kucinich was one of the exceptions.
There are imo... Really, when you get down to it.... Not many rational reasons to be proud of hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. Congressman Dennis Kucinich is one of them. As a former Clevelander, I am proud to say that the tough streets that produced this man also formed me. And as an American, I am also proud that there are still political leaders like him yet in office.
And if this man has to remain in a Party that has left us behind long ago in favor of easy corporate money and to cravenly protect themselves from being the focus of the next "swift boat" raid.... If this man must do so in order to remain the unique voice in office.... Then perhaps this is not his fault: But our collective fault for not providing a Party worthy of his efforts. Even a Clevelander cannot change the entire dynamic of a society.... But it is, just possible, that one could change history.
To blame the problem on the ones actually trying to provide the solution is counterproductive and illogical.... And, frankly, smacks of sabotage, defeatism, and self-denial. To instead work WITH him and offer him support, succor, and friendship despite any minor differences… Is the only logical answer.
For Impeachment is not about Dennis Kucinich, it is ultimately about us. Are we moral individuals? Do we have the integrity and courage to stick by our professed principals and fight this out? Are we willing to take the slings and arrows, the PAC money going to our opponents, the talk radio slander, the derisive abuse in the press, the danger to our persons...? Or are we willing to allow the structure of our society, all but the paper-thin outward facade, crumble to dust… While we may remain safely unengaged, safely critical, smugly cynical; carefully “covered”… And certainly ineffectual.
by
Steve Windisch (jibbguy) (11 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 163 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 3:50:25 PM
.... From participating in the real world of politics.
No offense; but this is true: The fact is that no one cares if you leave the playground with your ball.... Because there are 10 other kids with baseballs to use.
(perhaps that's overly harsh, but please hear me out)
However, if you can convince the other 10 kids to leave with you....
I am strongly for forming an all-new Coalition Reform Third Party: One that can garner enough support to seriously make a difference; by attracting the discontented and outraged of all political stripes. I have written extensivly here at Op-Ed News on this. Imo, this is the only serious means of acheiving anything "real" in this climate without violence (which would be utterly foolish and futile).
However, this does not mean that since Representitive Kucinich does not subscribe to this belief, that i would turn my back on him when he is trying to do something important; that i also believe in.
It's about the Main Chance, the most effective course.
I am not for declaring my neighborhood as an independant state and succeeding from the city in which i live. I need water, food, electricity, sewer, and road connectivity to the other neighborhoods. I want the entire city to succeed together.... But i canot do that by pushing only the agenda of my neighborhood down their throats. They don't care about our main avenue's oak trees, they have their own trees; their own agendas.
But if we can agree on one issue, and that issue is that the Nation must change its direction, end the suppression of the media and the corporate control, and clean out the money changing lobbyists in the Temple... Then we can work together now for all our sakes, putting aside the other issues until the critical ones to our future are solved.... The ones that without solution, will stop any chance of all the other issues being resolved.
"To make the nation safe to argue in, before continuing the argument".
Alas, so far the concept i and many others suggest has gone over like a squeaker in Church. But there is some truth in it somehwere: If only that without garnering serious support from varied directions, there will be no party this next Holloween.
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Steve Windisch (jibbguy) (11 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 163 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 4:53:32 PM
PDA does have an action item at the top of their website for people to contact their Congressman to support impeachment. Now we need to get more groups involved.
I have contacted MoveOn, Common Cause and PFAW. Contact these and other groups as soon as possible demanding they get involved. (And thank PDA!)
by
Kevin McCaffery (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 18 comments)
on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 4:12:07 PM
