It is doubtful there has ever been, in American history, so urgent a need for honest, impartial investigations as with the Bush administration. In the face of so much evidence that this administration has acted with disdain for the Constitution and contempt for the law, surely the Congress should be conducting hearings into the conduct of this regime.
Among the questions that should be investigated are:
**Did this administration violate its constitutional responsibilities in the way in which it led the United States into the war in Iraq (e.g. deliberate deceptions on the reasons for the war)?
**Has this administration violated the Constitution and/or the law in its programs of surveillance of American citizens?
**Has this administration violated U.S. law and/or American treaty obligations in its handling of prisoners in its "war on terror" (e.g. violations of prohibitions against torture)?
**Has this administration violated U.S. law by lying to Congress on legislative matters, thus "defrauding" the United States (e.g. deliberately fraudulent budget numbers for the prescription drug benefit)?
**Has this administration obstructed justice (e.g. the Plamegate affair)?
**Has this administration usurped powers that constitutionally belong to other branches of government, and made indefensible arguments that would subvert our constitutional system (e.g. in the 751 "signing statements")?
To many of those who have paid close attention to the information that has emerged in recent years, the evidence on these questions cries out for investigation. On many of these questions, indeed, the evidence seems sufficient for indictment. On some, it seems we know enough to convict.
But most of our countrymen have not yet reached these conclusions. The urgent business of America right now, therefore, is to subject these gangsters now ruling America to the thorough and systematic public exposure that will strip this destructive regime of its moral authority and, thereafter, of its power. For the sake of our future freedom, the American body politic needs to rise up to send a strong and clear message to future American leaders that contempt for the oath of office will not be tolerated.
The Watergate hearings accomplished this with the Nixon presidency. And similar hearings could accomplish this for the Bushite regime.
Yet nothing of the sort is happening. The majority Republican Party continues to cover up for its president, and the opposition Democratic Party runs away from even the possibility of censure, fearing that it is bad politics. The American people are not getting the help they need to see the big picture, see the pattern of lawlessness and lying that characterizes this administration's assault on our American democracy.
Do we have to stand by helplessly in the face of the corruption and cowardice of the political parties? If Congress will not hold such hearings, is there any other credible way in which they might be held?
Perhaps there is another way. And I put forward these ideas in the hopes that perhaps a popular movement can provide the impetus to put them into effect.
There are three requirements for a successful alternative form of investigative hearings: 1) credibility, 2) visibility, and 3) a defined result.
Credibility
For credibility, what we need are high quality players, and an honest deck.
Andrew Bard Schmookler's website www.nonesoblind.org is devoted to understanding the roots of America's present moral crisis and the means by which the urgent challenge of this dangerous moment can be met. Dr. Schmookler is also the author of such books as The Parable of the Tribes: The Problem of Power in Social Evolution (SUNY Press) and Debating the Good Society: A Quest to Bridge America's Moral Divide (M.I.T. Press). He also conducts regular talk-radio conversations in both red and blue states.
The answer to all of the highlighted questions posed are most definitely a big YES...but who would run any impeachment hearings in this Administration. Naturally the Repugs would not turn on their own in such an open fashion.
It will come down to some brave individuals willing and able to charge this Administration and their leader with criminal charges, this would be far more effective than impeachmnet and imprisonment a greater disgrace for an outcome.
by
Tom B. (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 14 comments)
on Monday, May 15, 2006 at 8:34:34 PM
I often get very frustrated when I read about all the laws that the President has broken.
I also get angry that theres nobody out there who has a handle on the REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS...I read that the country was founded on a REPUBLIC not a democracy..then I read that the Federal Reserve, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Capitalists along with the Neo-Cons have doubled our trouble.
Should we follow the CONSTITUTION and REMOVE ALL IN POWER AND START ALL OVER????????
When we vote It seems that its wasted on a DIEBOLD machine and that he who counts the votes rules.
by
anthny (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 39 comments)
on Monday, May 15, 2006 at 10:18:14 PM
2 comments
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