Four members of ImpeachforPeace.org met with the Honorable Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN 5th) in his Minneapolis offices Saturday morning, April 22nd to discuss the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Early in the meeting, Ellison made clear that his opinion hasn't changed since he introduced a Resolution for the impeachment of President Bush as a Minnesota State Legislator by saying: "Impeachment should be on the table".
In Washington D.C. attending sessions of Congress during the week, Ellison regularly travels home to be with his wife Kim and four children each weekend, taking some time to meet with his constituents as well.
Running a bit late, Ellison explained that he had just gotten a haircut because he "wanted to look good for our meeting", turning his head side to side to show off his barber's work. One member of IFP quipped: "It was well worth the wait".
As everyone settled into their chairs and the laughter subsided, the mood quickly grew more serious as the topic of Ellison's vote for the Veterans' Health & Iraq War Accountability Supplemental was discussed, which some in the local and national peace movement felt was a betrayal of Ellison's commitment to seeking an immediate end to the Iraq War. A sharply critical letter from an IFP member not present was read and a framed graphic called "The Impeachment Casualty Candle" was set up on the table as a reminder to everyone present of the ultimate price already paid by so many of our troops and the high stakes still facing many American families, not to mention Iraqi families:
~ Graphic Courtesy Sgt. Daniel Fearn, aka "The Impeachment Grunt"
Ellison heard the criticism and handled it well, acknowledging and empathizing with the frustrations and anger of those who want the war over and our troops home immediately yet he made it clear that many in the Peace Movement had communicated to him that they understood and supported the strategy of confronting and isolating what even the President's own Intelligence Agencies have identified as failed Iraq policies by passing a bill with a plan to end the war at some point.
Ellison called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) who had gathered just enough of a consensus among fellow House Democrats to pass the measure, "a remarkable leader" who is quickly proving herself to be a gifted "cat herder" of the various caucuses in the Democratic Party.
The topic quickly shifted to impeachment, with Rep. Ellison affirming that he is "with the impeachment movement", yet making clear that in order for him to consider supporting impeachment hearings, the charges spoken into the Congressional Record must be strongly grounded in verifiable facts and evidence as well as understood by and backed by the majority of the American people.
Not eager to be assailed by the radical right's bevy of partisan media shills as "the poster child for loonie leftists", Ellison said that the most important thing he and his fellow members of Congress need from constituents is that they "keep the drumbeat up" for impeachment.
Ellison named fellow Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) as "a good friend", saying "we talk every day" during the week in Washington. With Kucinich reputedly poised to introduce Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney this week, Ellison was measured in his commitment to join Kucinich. He made clear that he was supportive of the idea, but not if it only becomes a symbolic gesture. Ellison is only interested in seeing impeachment proceedings actually becoming a reality.
Stressing that he had not yet seen what specific charges Kucinich is intending to bring up against the Vice President, Ellison, formerly a criminal defense attorney, seemed as committed to guaranteeing the habeas corpus for Cheney that the Vice President regularly denies others.
Looking at his blackberry, Ellison said "maybe I'll give Dennis a call this weekend".
Noting that he has an activist's heart, when asked what efforts and strategies in support of impeachment might be most effective, Ellison suggested sending John Nichol's book The Genius of Impeachment, which he had read and appreciated, to members of Congress, starting with those on the House Judiciary Committee. ImpeachforPeace.org is listed in Nichol's book among the resources in Appendix 3, page 209.
Five filled out and signed Do-It-Yourself Impeachment Memorials were given to the Representative along with a bag of a few hundred more collected recently by IFP. Ellison had not heard of the DIY Impeachment and he was very interested in hearing that the Jefferson's Manual, which is an integral part of the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, allows for the initiation of articles of impeachment by an individual citizen.
Minneapolis Organizer: World Can't Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime ~~~ Co-Founder: ImpeachforPeace.org ~~~ Theatrical Entertainer and Ballroom Dance Instructor by trade
So how many times have you folks heard me advocate very forcefully that the Impeachment of War Criminals Liar in Chief George W Bush and Vice Liar Draft Dodger Delusonal Dirty Dick Cheney should be on the table? And how many of you readers here also recall that I also called for two face lying mental midget Democrat Co-President Madame Speaker Damascus Nancy Pelosi and Harmless Harry Reid Heads for their ever been fools enough to take Impeachment off the table and I renew that call for Impeachment of both War Criminals Bush & Cheney and Expellsion From Congress of Madame Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer and Harmless Harry Reid as well! Lets face it War Criminals George W Bush & Dirty Dick Cheney deserve to be hanged for their Treason,Mass Murders,War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity just as every Incumbent Democrat & Republican Deserves To Be Thrown Out Of Congress in 2008! So I feel vindicated here!
by
Ralph (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 74 comments)
on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 9:14:04 AM
I feel your pain. Your anger is well-placed. It is a righteous anger.
But let's be sure to grant these 'alleged' criminals the Due Process that they have been denying others.
We all have read enough to know they are guilty. There is enough open-source evidence to prove them guilty in the press, but that sets a bad precedent. They need to be investigated through impeachment in the House, then the largely far more conservative Senate will have to deal with a trial with most of the evidence already enough to publicly convict both Bush & Cheney.
Let's keep after 'em, and most of us here - as well as Rep. Ellison - agree that taking impeachment "off the table" was regretable, but Pelosi and Reid are allies we can win back to our side, let's not alienate them further please.
by
Mikael Rudolph (50 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 79 comments)
on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 10:20:22 AM
If Ellison is our best representation for impeachment, then the cause is lost. This is, after all, not some cute little legal game or crass political gambit -- every day of screwing around costs real lives and undermines America's position with the decent people's of the world.
Ellison's getting a haircut may be the most significant thing he's accomplished lateley, perhaps ever. We don't need another master of political reservation and posturing. We need champions of courage, intelligence and goodwill who can get beyond political gamesmanship, employ the abundaant evidence at their disposal, impeach the rascals quite fairly and squarely and present them to an international tribunal for judgment and sentencing as approriate -- all done fairly, squarely, and legally starting NOW.
One may well question how many more will die needlessly and treacherously before Ellison next has his locks trimmed. We didn't vote for the Deomcrats' hair styling. We voted for them to do the Right Thing, and expeditiously. If they don't get that message quite quickly, there is still time for a third choice in '08, and -- trust us -- we will take it!
by
Rafe Pilgrim (32 articles, 0 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 43 comments)
on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 11:51:39 AM
You wrote: "Ellison was measured in his commitment to join Kucinich. He made clear that he was supportive of the idea, but not if it only becomes a symbolic gesture. Ellison is only interested in seeing impeachment proceedings actually becoming a reality."
The refusal of Ellison (and others) to support Kucinich unconditionally assures us that Kucinich's move to impeach Cheney will never be more than a symbolic gesture. Impeachment will never become a reality if the yahoos like Ellison and Pelosi don't support it. So why didn't you ask Ellison about that?
Ellison says that Pelosi is "'a remarkable leader' who is quickly proving herself to be a gifted 'cat herder' of the various caucuses in the Democratic Party. If that's true, then we can start calling Pelosi "the head pussy" of all the pussy Democrats in Congress.
by
Jimmy Montague (3 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 61 comments)
on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 1:58:17 PM
The sanctity of the oaths of all who swear to defend the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic is at stake. Impeachment is their duty and we should demand that they are not derilect in their duty. The Constitution is more then a piece of paper
by
Sleeper (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 276 comments)
on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 2:04:58 PM
I would love to see Bush & Cheney hung on the White House Lawn. But like Impeachment, it will never happen. The War will continue as long as two Corporations profit from it.
Everyone in Congress is afraid to just pull the funding for this war because they don't want to take the blame for any repercussions that may arise from their actions. Plus they are afraid of losing votes.
Solution to ending this war. FIRE THE TWO CONTRACTORS profiting from it. Yes, Cancel the contracts to the Carlyle Group & (Cheney's buddies) Haliburton. Replace them by giving separate contracts directly to the companies now working as sub contractors & actually doing the work for both Contractors.
Never before in History has just two corporations taken on the roll of General Contractors profiting from the war & subcontracting the work. Take them out of the loop & you will see how fast this corrupted Govt. decides to resolve this mess with negotiations rather than bullets & loss of American lives.
This will give both Democrats & Republicans against the war an honorable way out of this mess Bush & the rest of the puppets have gotten us into.
I would like to see you push this in your take action Editorials in the future & keep the pressure on Congress to take such action. You will get more Voters from both sides sending Emails once they realize how to end this War.
Best Regards,
Mitch Sprague
by
Mitch LaRoche (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 22 comments)
on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 2:39:36 PM
START A PETITION TO RECALL PELOSI IN SANFRANCISO'S 8TH DISTRICT AND THE IDIOT WHO IS "ADVISING" HER AND INSTEAD OF IMPEACHING ASK FOR SEVERAL SPECIAL PROSECUTORS TO GO AFTER ALL OF THE NEO-CONS.
SHE APPARENTLY THREATENED CONYERS WITH LOSS OF HIS COMMITTEE IF HE SUPPORTS IMPEACHMENT.
SHE ALLEGEDLY RECENTLY HAD A VETERAN'S MOM ARRESTED ALA CINDY SHEEHAN/BUSH, REFUSING TO HEAR HER PETITION, PEOPLE AFRAID OF LOSING AN ELECTION ALWAYS LOSE.
I SMELL THE INFLUENCE OF THE 2000-2004 PUSSYCAT ELECTION ADVISORS GETTING READY TO BLOW ANOTHER ONE. IS IT TRUE THAT MANY WHO SUPPORTED THE 2006ERS, ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR NADER NEXT TIME, SO TICKED AT PELOSI ARE THEY?
Deregulation Killed my Cat Food contamination: the Bush legacy Allan Uthman
"Last November’s mid-term election gains for Democrats, we were told repeatedly at the time, were all about the war. Just the war, and nothing domestic. But while all eyes are supposedly focused overseas, the Bush administration has all along been quietly destroying the regulatory systems put in place by better men to protect Americans from the ravages of capitalist extremism.
Virtually every department, from the FDA to the EPA, is a shameless mockery of its former self. The Labor Department invites the eradication of whistleblower protections. The EPA lobbies against its own obligation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The FDA approves drugs against its own advice. The USDA’s lax inspection practices allow tainted produce and Mad Cow meat to enter our food supply. And now they’re killing our pets.
In every way during this pet food debacle, the FDA has served not to inform or protect consumers, but to withhold and obfuscate information, and to protect the corporations involved. At every turn, while people scrambled for information, the FDA’s stance was a cowardly defensive crouch, releasing data in drips and drabs, only when forced to by external reports.
For one, while news agencies have dutifully reported that the FDA could only confirm 14 or so deaths, those deaths were only the ones that occurred in Menu foods’ test labs after the contamination was discovered. Menu started testing the food a week after the first reported death, on February 20th, according to the FDA. It was March 16th when the recall started. Since then, the FDA has stuck to its "only 14 confirmed deaths" hokum. In fact, veterinary chain Banfield estimates that about 39,000 pets have died so far. Some of these deaths might have been averted if the FDA wasn’t consciously dragging its feet at every turn—in identifying the companies and products involved, in portraying the threat realistically rather than diminishing it, and in doing these things in a timely manner.
The big problem here is that the tainted wheat gluten was listed as "food grade"—that is, suitable for human consumption, and shipped to plants that make products for humans as well. Of course, the FDA says, of course, it has "nothing to indicate" that the stuff is in our food supply, but how can anyone believe that now, when they have been so slow to acknowledge the scale of the scandal so far?
This is the result of year after year of the Bush administration doing everything possible to cripple its own regulatory bodies—we are not safe from our own food, and the government is moving to obscure, not address, that fact. That sandwich you ate for lunch may be poisoning you, and you may never find out about it. You surely won’t if the FDA has any say in the matter.
This is deregulation. Sleeping pills that cause people to cook and drive while unconscious. Usurious interest rates that force careless youths into a lifetime of debt. An EPA that is illegally shutting down and dismantling its own libraries. Fish that give you brain damage. Pet food that kills pets. Spinach that kills people. This is the magic of the free market. This is the Reagan revolution in full ascendance. Massive multi-merged companies are in the clear. You and me? We’re on our own."
One way or the other, we've got to get rid of these psychos.
by
rabblerowzer (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 227 comments)
on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 7:32:01 AM
9 comments
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