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No More Investigations Please
By David Swanson (about the author) Page 1 of 2 page(s)
For OpEdNews: David Swanson - Writer
Bush's and Cheney's crimes stand open on the table before us. Their lies about Iraqi ties to al Qaeda are on videotape and in writing, and they continue to make them to this day. Their claims about Iraqi weapons have been shown in every detail to have been, not mistakes, but lies. Their threats to and lies about Iran are on videotape. Bush being warned about Katrina and claiming he was not are on videotape. Bush lying about illegal spying and later confessing to it are on videotape. A federal court has ruled that spying to be a felony. The Supreme Court has ruled Bush and Cheney's system of detentions unconstitutional. Torture, openly advocated for by Bush and Cheney and their staffs, is documented by victims, witnesses, and public photographs. Torture was always illegal and has been repeatedly recriminalized under Bush and Cheney. Bush has reversed laws with signing statements. Those statements are posted on the White House website, and a GAO report found that with 30 percent of Bush's signing statements in which he announces his right to break laws, he has in fact proceeded to break those laws. For these and many other offenses, no investigation is needed because no better evidence is even conceivable. And rather than taking three months, the impeachment of Cheney or Bush could be completed in a day.
But the investigations that Congress has pursued at its glacial pace over the past 12 months, while thousands upon thousands died, have produced another impeachable offense, the refusal to comply with subpoenas. That is what President Richard Nixon did; and his refusal to comply with subpoenas constituted the offense cited in one of the three Articles of Impeachment approved by the House Judiciary Committee on July 27, 1974 as warranting "impeachment and trial, and removal from office."
Bush and Cheney are claiming executive privilege. Nixon also tried that one. It didn't work then; and it won't work now. Condoleezza Rice is claiming, with more frankness, that she's just not inclined to comply. Even Nancy Pelosi ought to understand by now that the removal of the threat of impeachment is what empowers the White House to ignore subpoenas, and that the threat of impeaching the White House for its stonewalling would break down the wall even before we reached impeachment.
And Bush and Cheney have gone further by announcing on July 19, 2007, that the Justice Department will not enforce any contempt of Congress proceedings. So, that alternative to impeachment would be out even if Pelosi were willing to allow a vote on it.
There are well-intentioned impeachment advocates who want to hold yet more hearings without the I word, with the idea that then the public will demand impeachment (as if the public hasn't already demanded impeachment).
These people are largely oblivious to the fact that the Congress has held dozens of hearings on impeachable offenses over the past 12 months. Holding more will do nothing but eat up the clock. Most of the ones they've already done didn't even make it onto C-Span. Most invited witnesses refused to show. Most subpoenaed witnesses refused to show. Most of the significant witnesses who have shown up have either refused to answer questions or have arrogantly asserted unconstitutional power knowing Congress would not do anything about it.
There is zero chance of new information making impeachment happen. That claim has been made over and over again as we've learned of war lies, spying, detentions, torture, murder, gang rape, political firings, signing statements, refusals to comply with subpoenas, destruction of tapes, commuting of sentences, etc.
The only thing likely to put hearings on TV or to compel witnesses to appear is to make the hearings impeachment hearings. I wish this were not the case, but it is. Congressman Jerrold Nadler held hearings on "The Constitution in Crisis" last summer. Did you know that?
My brothers and sisters, you can't crawl out from under a rock at this late date, go to one meeting, hear about good intentions to find a compromise and have confidence you're not being played. At least I wouldn't if I were you.
What will help make contempt or moderately interesting hearings happen will be unrelenting public pressure for impeachment.
Yes, we need good cops as well as bad cops in this effort. We have to talk with the committee members. But we don't have to believe every word they say or fail to do minimal research.
Contempt votes don't happen without Pelosi, and the Justice Department has already said it will not enforce anyway.
What can happen is impeachment, but the enemy is the clock. We don't have time to waste on the same things we've wasted the past few years on. I'm honestly sorry about that. It's not my fault.
If you want impeachment, insist on impeachment, and do it now.
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It's a waste of damn time ...
You go on and on about how fruitless and useless all these hearings have been on blatant crimes that should have been prosecuted long ago and then ask us to do the same damn thing we've been doing that has gotten us absolutely no results? Why? What in the hell makes you think these so-called representatives of the people give a damn about what we have to say? As far as anyone knows petitions could easily be turned into enemies lists. Somehow you're under an impression we have a government instead of a criminal organization. It's been obvious that nothing is going to make anyone impeach any of these bastards - so please explain to us why we should waste out time? Pelosi went so far last week as to laugh at our attempts to gain her attention on impeachment. She laughed at us! She publicly held our efforts up to light and laughed at the will of the people she is supposed to be up-holding! Do you understand how bad things are? Time has come for a lot more than signing petitions. Sign it anyway if you think it will make you feel better, but it won't, because none of the corrupted crooks better known as congressman and senators would dare impeach either because of intimidation or they're complicit in crimes committed, and when they don't you're going to feel even worse. If you really want to make an impact with your signature, scratch your name on a brick and aim it at their God-damn heads! by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [662 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 at 2:19:55 AM  (0+)
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Unfortunately Petitions Are A Waste Of Time
The corruption in ourovernment is so rampant that those we have elected to represent us have only one thing on their agenda - to get re-elected. The only petition we need to "sign" is the next ballot when we refuse to re-elect a single member to the House or Senate. Incumbents must be removed - the entire lot of them. This will have served the purpose of having the corproate giants who subsidize their campaigns in order to gain favors from them waste their dollars, plus will send the message to those that are in office they are there for the people and if they do not they, too, will not be re-elected. Now, is this possible? Probably not because we have too many NotSees out there (people who do not see what has been taking place), who will continue on doing what the corporate media propagandists tell them. In order to clear the entire lot out of office the vote must be so overwhelming that even the corporate vote counters cannot fix the elections. The alternative is to continue to take it in the shorts. by Dennis Kaiser (21 articles, 0 quicklinks, 36 diaries, 785 comments [181 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 at 12:18:32 PM (0+)
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What do we do - when representatives don't represent
I'm sure you have all had the experience - because people on OpEd tend to have had there eyes opened a bit - of writing, calling, petitioning and even visiting your representatives - with the standard response. Thanks for writing, I'll consider your views. Then they do what is best for their own personal pocket books and re-election funds. Corporate empowerment. The people don't get to have a say in this government. That's an American Fantasy and urban legend. On the other hand, wealthy corporate interests get direct dial lines, office access and are allowed all the arm twisting and financial pressure they can juster. They work 24/7/365 while they keep the people - their employees and the poor - "insecure". That keeps us silent, working and afraid to leave our jobs. Nice system. Makes you all warm and fuzzy - family friendly - people centered - right! Make noise, take time off to protest, talk to your fellow employees, lose your job. Looks like there will have to be a complete collapse before we work together for change. Only that will wake up the masses. To me, it's astounding, 90% of the nations wealth in the hands of the top 1% - and we all think that system is just fine. The current economic model is unsustainable - its impossible to have perpetual growth at the expense of the masses - but that's exactly what our economy is predicated on. The 1% have virtually unfettered access to our representatives - the rest of us - wait 6-8 weeks for a response that says they'll keep that in mind - translation: You've just been blown off. That is not now, nor has it ever been, any form of democracy of the people. I hope some day we might decide to try it. by August Adams (11 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 667 comments [61 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 at 12:55:21 PM (0+)
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If we don't want a monarch/dictator. . .
...WE MUST USE WHATEVER LEGAL AUTHORITY MAY REMAIN. Thank you, David, as always, for your diligence. And Dennis Kucinich, as always, for his diligence, determination, and greater courage than anyone who has run for President. This is what Patriotism looks like. I have spent a great deal of this weekend reading Charlie Savage's book, Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy. Amongst the most mind-boggling information I've come across are these 3 make-you-tear-your-hair-out's: 1. The interrogation techniques the Bush/Cheney supports come from the Korean War, when the Chinese helped the Koreans take American POWs and get them to confess to things they did not do, so they could be filmed for propaganda purposes. The U.S. responded by developing a program that prepared our soldiers for these torture techniques -- in hopes they could stop the false confessions. 50 years later, either someone forgot -- or someone who wanted propaganda remembered -- that such techniques do not result in valuable information -- they are specifically designed to drive men mad - to get them to say what you want them to say. 2. It was during the Reagan administration that a Justice Department panel was created to study the value of signing statements. One attorney stood out with his vision of using them to throw the balance of powers off to enforce a Unitary Executive, carefully, slowly, knowing Congress would resist. He recommended starting on inoffensive, ambiguous sections of bills, setting precedence along the way, so that it would be easier, as time went by to argue the case for greater and greater use. That attorney was Samuel Alito, George W. Bush's second Supreme Court appointment. 3. Bush's first Supreme Court appointment, John Roberts, Jr., had been one of the three judges who made up the appellate court that turned over a lower court ruling that said that Bush did not have the unbridled war powers to initiate military commission trials for detainees without involving Congress - by a vote of 2-1. Roberts' decisive vote also gave Bush, as commander in chief, the independent power to waive the Geneva Conventions that protected detainees in his war on terror. In preparation for his vote, Roberts met with Cheney, Gonzales, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, Andrew Card and Harriet Myers -- oh yes, and on the day the decision was handed down, George W. Bush. Four days later Mr. Bush nominated him to the Supreme Court. Now Roberts holds the most powerful, most untouchable position in the United States government -- the youngest man in this life-long position in over 200 years. When our grandchildren ask what we did in the real war of our times, the war on "We, the People," what will we say? by Barbara Bellows-TerraNova (28 articles, 1 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 84 comments) on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 at 1:03:00 PM (0+)
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PledgeToImpeach.org! IMPEACH or we STRIKE! - growing option
Please consider and act with "IMPEACH or we STRIKE!"--? i.e., www.PledgeToImpeach.org !!! A number of key organizations for impeachment have not yet taken on this easiest WeThePeople method yet: www.PledgeToImpeach.org . To be explained herein... If most all persons who participate in the hundreds of impeachment organizations across the Nation would sign on and be willing to strike if needed (and really mean it of course) with www.PledgeToImpeach.org -- and certain infrastructure Unions would do the same -- impeachment would happen - and it would happen fast. Afterall, "money talks" - money meaning shutting down to even a partial extent the already downward economy. It would only take a few days. A few sick days, vacation days, or in some cases, lose a little money for the sake of this country's justice! It would be the positive Talk of the World. But--there is a but: Anthony St. Martin, the brilliant founder of www.PledgeToImpeach.org , over the several years he has worked on this, found resistance from many key impeachment organizations, not individuals from whom he has received pledges for his method, but from impeachment and related activist organizations -- found them saying "oh but--but--we couldn't do that". The " buts" have won, so far. From WeThePeople groups... How passionately do WeThePeople want justice? Do WE run this country, or do the Executive and Congressional branches who are elected by us and paid by us to SERVE us/WeThePeople?! Didn't we employ them? Are they doing their job? NO! So, we strike---! And www.PledgeToImpeach.org -- provides the means of doing so. In addition, www.PledgeToImpeach.org needs only ONE Congressperson to back our efforts of striking. At the time of a willing Congressperson presenting our efforts to the Judciary/and/or House, we don't need TONS of signed pledges in order to start the ball rolling. We already have hundreds of Pledges from all fifty states. The more the better..... but in the end result, the effort will snowball after a Congressperson backs us and presents to the Judiciary / House. People across the Nation will be impressed with a Congressperson backing this effort...and those impeachment supporters who haven't signed on with www.PledgeToImpeach.org -- will likely do so, many of them. Indeed with the knowledge that at least one House member supports us, more people will sign on... Perhaps the near-million that signed at www.ImpeachBush.org -- will also sign and participate, then, at www.PledgeToImpeach.org. Not one Congressperson of several contacted, so far, has agreed to this; several have been approached by Anthony St. Martin (founder of PledgeToImpeach), though there has been "interest". Perhaps we gave up too soon. We asked Kucinich's staff for a meeting, but Kucinich didn't--couldn't-- respond due to such a heavy schedule, we were told; however, it was that same week last Spring that Kucinich did file the Articles of Impeachment against Cheney. True, only due to Kucinich's schedule and?, we haven't gotten a personal meeting with him. As for Rep. Wexler, we are in touch by e-mail with his Chief of Staff who isn't against the idea.... Is a meeting with him/Wexler in order, too? Another trip to D.C., meeting with Kucinich, Wexler.....and resistive Nadler. Might do the trick, as Kucinich does proceed with filing, now, the Articles of Impeachment against GWBush himself (to go along with his already filed HRes 799 for impeachment of Cheney). Courageous Kucinich. We ask you for more courage -- to back a national strike unless the Judiciary / House starts the impeachment hearings! --------------- If anyone has not signed the Pledge to Impeach [or we strike] -- please do so at www.PledgeToImpeach.org -- and please encourage any and all friends, colleagues to sign; and impeachment / activist organizations in this camp -- to sponsor and circulate this hopeful method. -------------------- Anthony, perhaps it's time to appeal to Rep. Robert Wexler to start this ball rolling -- "Impeach or we Strike"! Wexler and/or Kucinich or both and maybe others of the Judiciary who would be open. ============= NO IMPEACHMENT, THEN NO HONORING OF SUBPOENAS and NO truth/JUSTICE: My and others' calling Nadler's office didn't do the trick, completely, i.e.: I received the same old arguments from Wexler's "informed Press Person" (I was told by his office that this is to whom I'd be talking). When I pointed out to this "informed press person" and legislative ass't of sorts -- that subpoenas will not be honored under a "non-impeachment" hearing, so what's the POINT of any hearings without impeachment?--truth and justice won't be solidified then, so what's the POINT of doing a "non--impeachment" hearing, (as David Swanson says)?! Well, at least there was, suddenly, a golden silence coming from Nadler's "informed" and talkative/argumentative "Press Person". A golden silence right after asking him this (what's the POINT?! becuz Subpoenas won't be honored!) -- indeed truth in this "informed press person's" silence, right there. That's the key argument; subpoenas won't be honored UNLESS it is impeachment. So, any other "method" of "hearing" will just be a wasted charade. The threat of impeachment, getting IMPEACHMENT hearings started--(rather than mousy, sluggish "non-impeachment" dead-end waste-of-money-and-time hearings panning out psuedo-truth)--is THE argument. No need to talk about all the other stuff that much--they know the other stuff, the impeachable crimes, and they KNOW impeachment is best: but something, like corporate whatevers, is holding them back! So----- www.PledgeToImpeach.org -- could DO it! I'm ready, are you?! jyt/julieanna -- so. calif. -- P.S.: a bit more complicated approach, including recalling the Congress for ITS dereliction of duty: www.RecallTheCongress.com -- which has been on the Internet for several years now....devised by an illustrious attorney with a successful background as an activist, e.g., forcing the Mormon Church to accept all ethnicities in that "heyday of Mormon white supremacy"! Another option in tandem with www.PledgeToImpeach.org etc.: Pressure Barack Obama and/or John Edwards to come out strongly, nationally, for IMPEACHMENT: afterall, in Obama's case, he is a Constitutional lawyer--yet he spoke out against impeachment in the most pale way: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-06-28-obama-impeachment_N.htm -- MAYBE he has changed his mind since this interview of June 2007. Afterall, the Center For Constitutional Rights -- consisting of a band of competent Constitutional lawers -- came out for impeachment long ago, at least two+ years ago...! Could someone like David Swanson or other well-knowns get an appointment with Obama and his new, powerful endorser, Sen. Ted Kennedy (who used to have "impeachment" on his "subject area" list on his website, but it was mysteriously deleted about a year after the 2004 Kerry downfall/easy concession). ================= WILL AfterDowningStreet.... and WorldCantWait...... and InternationalActionCenter...... and TrueMajority...... and WorkingAssets..... and ThePen...... and www.BCIMPEACH.com ...... and The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition....... and ProgressiveDemsOfAmerica...... and Democrats.com...... and CodePink...... and ImpeachForPeace...... and the hundreds of other organizations and their members - be willing to be 100% passionate about Justice and go the full peaceful-resistance- enchilada? Can the man who walked hundreds of miles to Pelosi's Office join in? www.MarchInMyName.com (sometimes doesn't come up, so go to: http://www.marchinmyname.org/?page_id=132 ) - Prof. Nirenberg ------------ www.PledgeToImpeach.org - is an easy, safe, non-violent resistance that does not require marching, petitions, phone calling at this point (albeit they always show forth, and help)? www.PledgeToImpeach.org -- is simply signing Online that you will strike (if even needed) when called upon at the right time as necessary, by this organization run by Anthony St. Martin.... and assuming we do finally get that ONE Congressperson to present for us?! (with a box of Pledges---many which we already have---in hand during such presentation)?! ============================================== Are the above-mentioned orgs willing to circulate to their members - and passionately support the action of www.PledgeToImpeach.org ? If not, why not? Maybe I'm missing the boat, but I feel strongly to support this effort... Are these organizations willing to push this action to the fullest and most enlightened? ============================================== and possibly in tandem with www.RecallTheCongress.com ? or at least the threat of same thereof?! Please GO TO: www.PledgeToImpeach.org ! Thanks! by 2yoginijewels (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 at 3:59:06 PM (0+)
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Reply: I'm with you!
Fabulous! I'm with you, and will help spread the word. We must collect all the related groups that we can to support this effort. I will send your post around to organizations, yahoo groups, etc. Wish we still had Kucinich in the race. He was the Strength Through Peace candidate. Could there be anything better? by Pat (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 18 comments) on Monday, Jan 28, 2008 at 5:58:18 PM (0+)
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