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Tag(s): Bugliosi Vincent; Bush GW; Conyers-John; Impeachment; Kucinich-Dennis
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July 29, 2008 at 02:49:46

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Headlined on 7/29/08:
Michael Collins: The People, the Press, and the Case for Impeachment

by Michael Collins Page 1 of 5 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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The People, the Press, and the Case for Impeachment

Support for impeachment in the past and on the hearing date. MSNBC, Zogby

House Justice Committee Hears Kucinich Resolution - Part 2

"When our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence they were not worried about political will, how much time there was, or about any parties' political future, they were just worried they were going to be hanged by the neck. But they did what was right. Now it is your time."
Elliott Adams, President, Veterans for Peace, testimony July 25, 2008

Michael Collins
Washington, DC (See Part 1)

The July 25, 2008 House Committee on the Judiciary hearings focused on the Kucinich resolution calling for the impeachment of President Bush. In his resolution, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) argues that Bush knew that the Iraqis had no weapons of mass destruction, yet claimed that they did in order to justify the March 2003 invasion. The "fraudulent misrepresentations," as they're referred to in the resolution, cost lives, compromised national security, and represented a clear abuse of constitutional power. The evidence supporting these claims is highly persuasive.

Congressional witnesses review their critique of the president. Representatives Kucinich (D-OH), Hinchey (D-NY), Miller (D-NC), and Jones (R-NC) Image: M. Collins cc

For the most part, the witness statements from House members and the panel of invited witnesses contain specific justifications for impeachment. The Kucinich resolution for impeachment, H. Res 1345, offers a concentrated body of evidence substantiating the charges and demonstrates the main charge in the resolution: the president knew that he was misrepresenting the facts about Iraq at the time he was doing it.

In the resolution, Rep. Kucinich lists corrections for each of the false assertions made by the president to justify the Iraq invasion. In addition, the resolution provides excerpted evidence and sources to support each correction of the president's fabricated rationale.

The statements in single quotes in the Kucinich resolution text below are from the president's justifications for war. From the resolution:

1. Iraq was not 'continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability.'
2. Iraq was not 'actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability.'
3. Iraq was not 'continuing to threaten the national security interests of the United States.'
4. Iraq did not have the 'willingness to attack, the United States.'
5. Iraq had no connection with the attacks of 9/11 or with al-Qaida's role in 9/11.
6. Iraq possessed no weapons of mass destruction to transfer to anyone.
7. Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction and therefore had no capability of launching a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or to provide them to international terrorists who would do so.
8. There was not a real risk of an 'extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack' because Iraq had no capability of attacking the United States.
9. The aforementioned evidence did not 'justify the use of force by the United States to defend itself' because Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction, or have the intention or capability of using the nonexistent WMDs against the United States.
10. Since there was no threat posed by Iraq to the United States, the enactment clause of the Senate Joint Resolution 45 was predicated on misstatements to Congress. H. Res. 1345 (alternate link)

The facts from that time don't come close to justifying the use of force. As demonstrated in the resolution, the president's case for war was based on "fraudulent representations made to Congress," the military, and the citizens of the United States.

See the draft of H. Res. 1345 at AfterDowingStreet.Org for direct links to the primary sources used in the resolution. The Library of Congress (THOMAS)alternate site have the official versions of the resolution, modified somewhat from the draft. and this

This information and more has been known for years to many citizens, particularly those who actively work for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. Hundreds of them waited hours to get a seat in the public hearing which accommodated less than twenty of those who had waited in line.

Citizens Share Their Wisdom - 5:00 am Early Responders on Capitol Hill

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

http://electionfraudnews.com

Michael Collins is a writer who focuses on clean elections and voting rights. See this summary of his articles plus Election 2004: The Urban Legend and groundbreaking research and commentary in "" His web site, Election Fraud News & The Money Party, offers a collection of resources and commentary on critical issues facing the country.

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16 comments

I am retired with not enough money saved to counter inflation and being forced back into the work force. I am a vet, (Vietnam era), extremely disappointed with the aggressive, imperialistic direction this country has taken in Iraq, to control and usurp it's oil, and the extent to which BOTH parties are complicit.
Nick van NesI am retired with not enough money saved to counter inflation and being forced back into the work force. I am a vet, (Vietnam era), extremely disappointed with the aggressive, imperialistic direction this country has taken in Iraq, to control and usurp it's oil, and the extent to which BOTH parties are complicit.

This article is too long

We all know what it says and agree with it. We don't have to read anymore. We want action. We want impeachment now. Yesterday. Seven years ago! The problem is we complain about our democracy to our friends and families. We preach to the choir instead of to our representatives who should be and probably would be more responsive to us if we would complain to them instead of to ourselves. They work for us. If we, the small people, don't reach out to them (phone, email, letter) our reps will end up listening to only those fat cats who do. We have ourselves to blame. It's OUR FAULT. Make the system work the way it was designed and meant to. Make a real impact and complain to them (our reps) not to us, not to each other. That's only feel good stuff, not make a difference stuff. Stay in their face. Hound them DAILY. Let them know we will hold them fully accountable. Flood their lines. Make them feel our pain and frustration. We can and will ware them down. We are running out of time to impeach, to save our country and our children.

by Nick van Nes (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 202 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 9:27:30 AM

August Adams is a CPA and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology. He is an activist striving to create a fair and just world for all.
August AdamsAugust Adams is a CPA and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology. He is an activist striving to create a fair and just world for all.

I disagree with your "reaching out" to Congress sentiment

I have written my Congressman, attended rallies and sat in on a meeting with a staffer. In every instance we receive 6-8 weeks later a "form letter"... thank you for expressing your concerns... however... we respectfully disagree.

It doesn't matter if there is a majority of people within the district because their is very little accountability. Now in our district, there is a good chance that we will be throwing this Congress person out on the curb come November.

This is a Republican area and there is a big movement to unseat this Congress person. That said, it has been a "republican" seat for a long time.

What do you do when your Congress people vote in lock step with one another throwing all reason and representation of the will of the people.

This "so called" democracy, does not have an effective means for quickly removing representatives that are not doing their jobs.

We need a rapid recall option and a way for the people to be able to vote out quickly those that are not serving the people's interests.

Barring that, this democracy is dead.

by August Adams (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 469 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 1:12:39 PM

A retired sales ad marketing trainer, escapee from the automobile business, who reads vorciously and writes whenever possible. The rest of the available time is spent doing woodworking or cooking. Lives in central TX, where the weather is great and politics are dubious. Usually logical and sensible but can be very cranky when assaulted by anybody leaning too far to the right and doesn't know it.
Ivan HentschelA retired sales ad marketing trainer, escapee from the automobile business, who reads vorciously and writes whenever possible. The rest of the available time is spent doing woodworking or cooking. Lives in central TX, where the weather is great and politics are dubious. Usually logical and sensible but can be very cranky when assaulted by anybody leaning too far to the right and doesn't know it.

I second that

This "article" is ridiculously long. And it is preaching to the choir. If I want to read a book, I'll go to the library. I wonder how many other people had interesting and helpful things to say today that the use of all of this space prevented?

by Ivan Hentschel (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 264 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 5:37:02 PM

Michael Collins is a writer who focuses on clean elections and voting rights. See this summary of his articles plus Election 2004: The Urban Legend and groundbreaking research and commentary in "" His web site, Election Fraud News & The Money Party, offers a collection of resources and commentary on critical issues facing the country.
Michael CollinsMichael Collins is a writer who focuses on clean elections and voting rights. See this summary of his articles plus Election 2004: The Urban Legend and groundbreaking research and commentary in "" His web site, Election Fraud News & The Money Party, offers a collection of resources and commentary on critical issues facing the country.

So you either read it, in which case, by your standards,

you're a glutton for punishment or you didn't, and you're commenting without being fully informed. Most people, including me, stop reading something when they feel it's not worth it.

As for this article forcing out all that useful information, you're unaware that memory digitizes what you see and vastly reduces it. Besides, memory abundant and cheaper by the year.

Why aren't you scouring OpEd for articles that you deem worthy? Think of all the great information you are missing (forcing out) by either reading (or not) this article and wasting your time commenting. In fact, you'll probably waste more time,by your standards, reading this reply and even more after that by replying to it. At least you'll learn a little something about computer memory.

by Michael Collins (107 articles, 16 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 358 comments) on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 12:22:48 AM

Wolfie

IS LIFE, LIBERTY AND FREEDOM NOT WOTH THE TIME

http://stoplying.ca/video/naomi_wolf_end_of_america.htm

by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:45:36 PM

Your faith in the system is inspiring, no doubt,

to those who manipulate you. Their lines have been flooded and before that, their elections were secured by motivated, informed, and hard working activists who come to places like OpEdNews to get information. We're out of Iraq now, right? We've solved the health insurance problem, right? The biggest election fraud is that the process doesn't present and hardly ever produces the change expressed by the people. Look at 2006.

If you knew all this information why did you continue reading? If you didn't, what is more important as a citizen than learning what is not being told.

This is about more than your "Readers Digest" proclivities. It's about having a sitting president who is so dreadful that a formal hearing of the House Committee on the Judiciary was the site where invited and nationally respected experts in the law, Fein and Bugliosi, accused him of perpetrating a "tyranny" instead of democracy and of "murder."

Hint: Next time you see this provided by OEN on every article, consider it information as to the length:

"Page 1 of 5 page(s)"

by Michael Collins (107 articles, 16 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 358 comments) on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 12:29:19 AM

B.Soc.Sci (Aus). Helped start an Organic Food Co-op and a Local Energy Transfer System (goods & services exchange, no cash). Lived near permaculture's Bill Mollison for a time, saw semi barren land transformed into gardens and orchards. Worked in a Community Support Center. Currently in NZ/ Aotearoa.
AuroraB.Soc.Sci (Aus). Helped start an Organic Food Co-op and a Local Energy Transfer System (goods & services exchange, no cash). Lived near permaculture's Bill Mollison for a time, saw semi barren land transformed into gardens and orchards. Worked in a Community Support Center. Currently in NZ/ Aotearoa.

Is gender bias delaying action on impeachment?

If Nancy Pelosi were 'Norman Schultz', for example, and was heavily built, overweight (or whatever), would we be less hesitant to accept the nonsense, the delays, stalling, fobbing off, that is being dished out by the House Chair?

“You have to understand that the Bush Administration is a criminal enterprise masquerading as a government” - Kucinich, "On Fire in California", Meryl Ann Butler.

by Aurora (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 381 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 10:32:31 AM

correction

"would we be less hesitant to accept the nonsense, the delays, stalling, fobbing off, that is being dished out.."

That should read, "would we be less accepting of ..." (etc)

by Aurora (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 381 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 3:31:03 PM

Meryl Ann Butler is an artist, author and educator who counts First Lady Dolley Payne Todd Madison as well as two signers of the Articles of Confederation among her ancestors. Mary Ball, mother of George Washington is in the ancestral lineage of Butler's great grandmother, Blanche Ball. Grateful to know that the blood of America's founding mothers and fathers runs in her veins, Butler has been newly filled with matriotism as a direct result of the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. Lest she a...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Meryl Ann ButlerMeryl Ann Butler is an artist, author and educator who counts First Lady Dolley Payne Todd Madison as well as two signers of the Articles of Confederation among her ancestors. Mary Ball, mother of George Washington is in the ancestral lineage of Butler's great grandmother, Blanche Ball. Grateful to know that the blood of America's founding mothers and fathers runs in her veins, Butler has been newly filled with matriotism as a direct result of the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. Lest she a...

to see more of bio, click on member name

A BIG PAT ON THE BACK!

Thanks for a fabulous article. I don’t think this stuff can be said too often, particularly as long as the traditional media isn’t covering much of it. And this topic can’t be reduced to a sound byte, either. I was glad to read every word. (Maybe folks who have trouble with long articles can elect to read them in short spurts. One can see exactly how long an article it is right on the first page, so deciding to read a “long” article is a conscious choice.)

So thanks for your research, and keep ‘em comin’ Mike!

by Meryl Ann Butler (49 articles, 53 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 449 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 5:58:18 PM

Thanks! and to you too for the article on Kucinich in CA

It's long past the time for the self anointed elite to snap to attention and do something about the mess they've created. They won't so it's up to citizens to find the solutions.

Kucinich is going to be a key player in all of this. From day 1 in Cleveland, the corporate interests have worked to diminish him. It continues but he helped open Pandora's Box last Friday. Explosive charges fully heard. It seemed to me that he was really in awe of where he'd brought impeachment. No ego on his part, he sat back and let things flow.

There will be more of this type of effort. Scholars are already anticiipating and trying to counter the notion of blanket pardons. We'll see how that works out but Friday was a great day for the United States.

by Michael Collins (107 articles, 16 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 358 comments) on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 2:05:28 AM

Invaluable resource

Thank you for posting this article. It is an invaluable reference and resource and as such, will be put to good use.

(I can't make much sense of a couple of the comments above. Why should OEN not include longer articles?? People can choose whichever ones they wish to read. And this one is a lot more than an "instant read" - It's one of those you can file away for longer term use, for when you need to refer again to the basic facts and figures. We're lucky to have it, imho)

by Aurora (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 381 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 6:52:59 PM

Thanks

The AfterDowingStreet.Org draft resolution with the links is priceless. The only caution is that the draft uses "lying to Congress". That was modified to state making "fraudulent misrepresentations to Congress." I can understand that since it takes the heat off the "L" word and denies opponents an easy out. Bush made "representations" to Congress and they were "fraudulent."

Having said that, those 10 points from the resolution are amazing. In 1 through 7, Kucinich demolishes the case for war totally and in 8 through 10, the logical conclusion is achieved. There is really no counter argument unless they can dispute their own sources that were used to refute their rationale for war. Quite an amazing document.

Don't know what's with the gripers upthread? Why read something if you don't like it. I tried to be helpful in my replies.

by Michael Collins (107 articles, 16 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 358 comments) on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 12:40:26 AM

Rolland (Ron) Miller is a free enterprise socialist leaning financier in his mid 60's currently working as a Realtor at Re/Max in Powell River, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. I moved here for quality of life in 2004 from Vancouver where I was born and carried on my financing and consulting business of large Residential and Commercial Real Estate projects across Canada, USA, and China since 1974 after excelling in the corporate world as a lender. I believe balance is the key word.
Rolland MillerRolland (Ron) Miller is a free enterprise socialist leaning financier in his mid 60's currently working as a Realtor at Re/Max in Powell River, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. I moved here for quality of life in 2004 from Vancouver where I was born and carried on my financing and consulting business of large Residential and Commercial Real Estate projects across Canada, USA, and China since 1974 after excelling in the corporate world as a lender. I believe balance is the key word.

The People, the Press, and the Case for I

Bravo Michael! I watched the proceedings July 25th as I thought the Bush Administration were criminals when I witnessed 9/11. It did not make sense!

Now let the people take back their government from the neocons, and remove them from society.

Impeach Bush and all his criminal supporters.

Anyone being honest cannot support the obvious criminal activity.

The World supports you.

Give us back the America we like. The one which stands for liberty, integrity, and truth.

by Rolland Miller (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 108 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:19:49 PM

Artist, Activist, Wife, Mother, Human Being
Cheryl AbrahamArtist, Activist, Wife, Mother, Human Being

Sometimes it's good to see what the other side says

Just so you know what you're up against - at least as far as opinions go. I caught this article by accident thinking it was pro-impeachment and was astounded to read what it says - I must be in some protective liberal bubble and haven't been aware enough about what the "right" have been saying lately. So here it is:

click here called "The Impeachment Hearing That Wasn't" and here is the first line:

"What would you call it when a group of Bush hating, hallucinating, antiwar liberals get together for an antiwar, Bush bashing party on the taxpayers' dime? Today, we call it a "Congressional Committee Hearing."

People - this is what we're up against. Scary isn't it?

by Cheryl Abraham (13 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 206 comments) on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:57:31 PM

Thanks. I read it.

This article was on the BuzzFlash.Com main page, as a Buzz and maybe on the main scroll. The article on the hearing by White was quite comprehensive but not everybody had equal weight rhetorically or in terms of passion and delivery. Fein and Bugliosi were magnificent. The Democrats opening statements were coordinated and carried the argument forward. I was the last person admitted to the start of the hearings (a few more got in as things went on). I'm eternally grateful for the folks at the door getting me in when I asked (they shut it as I was about to go in).

As for protesters, I have to say that my right to hear was impeded by the constant chatter of others who were admitted. I was there to observe and learn, interpret and then write about it. I saw no reason for anyone to disrupt anything. Why disrupt a hearing where the a panelist selected by the majority accused the president of "murder?" It's beyond me. That was the point, not getting thrown out, which signified nothing. I didn't comment on this in the article because to do so was to ad importance to acting out in a hearing that was a start.

As for those characters responding to the Buzz artice, they sound like ringers to me (and I've had a few over the past years). You can actually go out and buy the services of online disruptors. If they weren't so engaged, they represent a tiny minority. The polls underestimate the truth but they're still devastating. This guy and his gang have around 20% support and the truth is barely out (particularly the Iraqi civilian death total and the suicide rate for combat vets). Don't let those venomous types bother you. They're probably reading from a script.

by Michael Collins (107 articles, 16 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 358 comments) on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 1:16:23 AM

In 2004, Rady Ananda joined the growing community of citizen journalists. Initially focused on elections, she investigated the 2004 Ohio election, organizing, training and leading several forays into counties to photograph the 2004 ballots. She officially served at three recounts, including the 2004 recount. She also organized and led the team that audited Franklin County Ohio's 2006 election, proving the number of signatures did not match official results. Her work appears in three books. ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Rady AnandaIn 2004, Rady Ananda joined the growing community of citizen journalists. Initially focused on elections, she investigated the 2004 Ohio election, organizing, training and leading several forays into counties to photograph the 2004 ballots. She officially served at three recounts, including the 2004 recount. She also organized and led the team that audited Franklin County Ohio's 2006 election, proving the number of signatures did not match official results. Her work appears in three books. ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Caligula Reigns

It's amazing the efforts we United States citizens have to exert just to find the truth. Thank goodness we have reporters like Michael Collins who provide us with in-depth coverage we won't find on the corporate owned propaganda machine.

For those who don't like to read "long" articles, go watch television, where you'll get 20-seconds of info on who shot who.

by Rady Ananda (128 articles, 290 quicklinks, 37 diaries, 1130 comments) on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 2:12:12 AM