There it is. That's the question. That's THE question that MUST be asked. I'd ask it, myself, if I were still working in broadcast journalism - anytime there was access to some person of influence. Unfortunately, nobody else, anywhere, seems to be asking it. Somebody - somewhere - most preferably on the air but in prominent print would also be good, SOMEBODY, PLEASE start asking: "And you're okay with this?"
Dick Cheney singlehandedly has raped, eviscerated, and perverted the Constitution - the Founding Document of Founding Documents, the design of checks and balances and shared power and preservation of the rights of the individual for redress against wrongs and everything else.
It's the Constitution. No biggie (at least to him). It's merely those stated principles for whose sake our government has deceitfully sent some 35-hundred Americans to die in Iraq. It's just the decree which the prevailing power mindset professes to revere so acutely that it feels compelled to push that decree's assertions upon other countries by force if necessary. It's little more than a piece of paper that spells out what makes us distinct – AND admired – as a nation, a society, and a people, from all other nations across the face of the earth. That single document is so important that it figures into the very Oaths of Office to which all our national chieftains must swear before they can begin or resume their chieftain duties. Cheney's actions as chief stick-shaker, bully, Iraq War promoter, power-grabber, and secrecy snake, are the root cause of America's recent nosedive in the eyes of the world. My mother would have said of him "he has more nerve than the guy who ate the first oyster." He lies to your face. He hides a whole lot from you – stuff you paid for (whether you wanted to or not). And he claims he's exempt from any oversight. You're not supposed to remember where his actual jurisdiction falls, anymore than you're supposed to recall that we had this kind of mess settled about 30 years ago. The escapades of Richard Nixon (another guy named Dick, ironically enough) and friends left Americans with a civics lesson for the ages – that NO ONE is above the law. Not even the president. And if the president isn't, the vice president certainly isn't, either. I don't hear a whole lot of "Amen's" from Capitol Hill at present. Are they're okay with this?
Perhaps this one overriding question can prove a key to the Democrats' present plight. Their numbers are WAY down. The honeymoon is history. They've had the leadership long enough to make a few decisive moves, and they haven't delivered. Certainly not on the war. And Heaven FORBID you bring up IMPEACHMENT as a punitive, rectifying action. Democratic presidential hopeful Christopher Dodd just told a group of constituents that there were other priorities the Dems thought were more important. They had other items on the agenda. He wouldn't touch it, thankyouverymuch. Didn't want to shake things up. Besides, Nancy Pelosi says it's still "off the table." So Dick Cheney's toxic overstepping and power-grabbing goes unchecked except for a couple of peeps out of a couple of "Heartland" Congressmen. Dennis Kucinich's HR333 calling for Dick Cheney's IMPEACHMENT inexplicably languishes on the sidelines as of this writing, with supporters still numbering in the single digits. At least Rahm Emanuel seems to be waking up. Emanuel is challenging Cheney's galling bombast that since he serves as tie-breaker in the Senate, he's exempt from executive-branch accountability because he's not part of that branch. (Um, he's not in the legislative arena either, mind you.) Emanuel says, since you're not part of that anymore, Dick, then we'll just stop funding it. Perhaps it's not entirely okay with some Dems after all. SOME. But HARDLY enough.
Cutting up one Cheney credit card won't do it, especially for a fellow as adept and long-practiced at finding other ways around something he doesn't like. By now, it's become clear to all but the most resolute denial-desperadoes that the worst evils committed by the Bush Administration trace directly back to Dick Cheney. The list includes the case for war, the rationale for torture and extraordinary rendition, the murder of habeas corpus, the illegal wiretapping of innocent Americans, the destruction of Valerie Plame's career and network of WMD trackers in a political vendetta against her whistleblower husband, the national energy policy shaped by oil titans, and more. We've felt the pain since Cheney launched the "search" for Bush's running mate that resulted in him finding himself. He thus positioned himself to start cutting the limitations on presidential power which he watched arising from Watergate as President Ford's chief-of-staff. He probably felt that he had a score to settle with the oppositional do-gooders who spoiled the power party back then. Along the way, he helped birth the Project for a New American Century whose foreign policy called for picking fights with strategic parts of the globe, pilfering the world's riches, and answering to no one. If what emits from this White House stinks like month-old ground beef rotting in the back of the fridge for several weeks, it's a safe bet Dick Cheney wiped a fingerprint on it. And the cherished secrecy he hides within is designed to keep you from finding that rotten meat until the bacteria eats straight through to the freezer. Regardless the shrinking minority of supporters polled, too much of America is still, somehow, okay with this
The description of this latter-day Rasputin in the four-part Washington Post series - sitting there, disquietingly reptilian, unblinking, chin on folded fingers, watching the World Trade Center disappear on that gut-wrenching day with NO visible reaction - was chilling to say the least. We didn't know how chilling. It's a chill we cannot sustain, or survive.
Not okay with this?
Visualize IMPEACHMENT!!! Then go DO something about it.
Take action -- click here to contact your local newspaper or congress people: IMPEACH Dick Cheney
Mary Lyon is a veteran broadcaster ad five-time Golden Mike Award winner, who has anchored, reported, and written for the Associated Press Radio Network, NBC Radio "The Source," and many Los Angeles-area stations including KRTH-FM/AM, KLOS-FM, KFWB-AM, and KTLA-TV, and occasional media analyst for ABC Radio News. She began her career as a liberal activist with the Student Coalition for Humphrey/Muskie in 1968, and helped spearhead a regional campaign, "The Power 18," to win the right to vote for 18-year-olds. She remains an advocate for liberal causes, responsibility and accountability in media, environmental education and support of the arts for children, and green living. In addition to OpEdNews, Mary writes for Democrats.us, World News Trust, and WeDemocrats.org's "We! The People" webzine. Mary is also a parenting expert, having written and illustrated the book "The Frazzled Working Woman's Practical Guide to Motherhood."
Cheney has not done his dirty single-handedly. He is aided and abetted in all that he does by Nancy Pelosi, Rahm Emanuel, and other Democratic leaders.
There are two possible remedies. !) Use the next election to throw out every single member of Congress; 2) Take a couple of million Americans to the streets of Washington DC and scare the bastards so badly that they decide to do what they swore to do when they took their oath of office.
There is no other way.
by
Jimmy Montague (3 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 61 comments)
on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 7:35:17 AM
Well, in fact, so are YOU. you'd never get a couple million Americans to the streets for this since they are demonstrated cowards. Further, you don't negotiate with the likes of Cheney et al. Pelosi, Murtha, Reid, and Conyers demonstrate what the democrat party has become. There hasn't been a real democrat since Jack Kennedy. It appears both parties have reached a point of entropy. But then, it's the system itself, the one the framers cobbled together that is dead. It has always been the case that the more wealthy among us have benifited from this so called "Democracy." The framers themselves weren't satisfied with the Constitution since none could agree on a way to construct such an instrument that would please all of the framers. These current garbage people will have to be forced out, or i suppose you could wait until '08 and "vote" them out.
by
tedbohne (87 articles, 103 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 119 comments)
on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 9:44:10 AM
Now someone please send Nancy Pelosi a bigger table. A table large enough to accomodate all of the pages of the Constitution including the impeachment provisions and her own article 6 obligation to support it.
by
Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1010 comments)
on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 9:47:12 AM
For those Americans who are not watching Paris Hilton go in and out Jail . We should fax our Senators and Congress Reps everyday. Send a copy of the Consitiution and Bill of Right of Rights. Then List every law Chenney has broken. Do this until he he is gone and is in Jail and Halibrutin is shut down
by
Gareece (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 46 comments)
on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 9:53:33 AM
I find the Vice President's assertion of confidentiality in regard to his office complex.
His latest assertion that he not part of the executive branch is a huge whopper and will reduce him to the status of a laughingstock.
Nevertheless, his assertion of confidentiality has validity. Other professions, notably law, medicine, social work, banking and journalism rely on strict rules of confidentiality to facilitate their business.
It is not difficult to defer to the Vice President's assertion that Federal Executives require also reguire such protection to facilitate the far weightier and complex issues that they must deal with.
Nevertheless, the Vice President's manifest arrogance, his mendaciousness, and his stubborn insistence on the pursuit of manifestly failed and injurious policies mean that his actions should be subjected to public scrutiny.
Perhaps impeachment proceedings are the proper forum for such a hearing, but such a course will inevitably set precedents that will grievously injure us later.
Just as we found that merely removing Saddam didn't solve the underlying problems in Iraq, if we move precipitously on ousting Cheney, we will find ourselves dealing with a much worse mess.
In my opinion, Progressives should stop fighting the battles of the past and concentrate on building a coaltion to govern our shared future.
We should work with the Democrats in the House to draft and pass a comprehensive set of measures that will move America in the right direction.
Even if Bush vetoes them all, this will provide the Contract with America needed to reassure the rank and file voter that we are serious, on their side and willing to govern.
The strength and support that we will gain from responsible legislating will redound to our credit, especially in constrast to the malfeasance of the Administration.
We should concentrate on Destroying Bush and Cheney's political power rather than on destroying them as individuals.
by
Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 556 comments)
on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 10:57:39 AM
HELP!
I am trying to get millions of the following postcard sent to officials in Washington, DC:
"IMPEACHMENT NOW!
* RICHARD B. CHENEY
* GEORGE W. BUSH" etc.
I have printed this message on "Mr. Yuck" green, #90 card stock, and pre-addressed the other side with our local representatives Washingtion addresses. I also made ones to Speaker Pelosi and Chrm. Conyers.
I cannot send my templates via this media.
If someone sent me a normal e-mail address, I could send you the Templates I have made.
Please help. Thank you C. R. Touby
113 Forest Hill Ave. Saranac Lake, NY 12983-1963 518/891-1768 cbctouby@adelphia.net
by
Toby Touby (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 21 comments)
on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 11:17:57 AM
I'm still trying to figure out how you type with straight jackets on.
Executive Orders are to be followed by whom the President wishes them to.
If he wants to exclude the VP for whatever reason, that's entirely up to him!
Immaturity and insanity is no way to stumble through life people.
Now go gather what few rational thoughts you might be able to muster and wait for the nice Secret Service agents interview as all physical threats are investigated by them.
by
Winghunter (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments)
on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 1:18:06 PM
Now if an entity of the federal or state government( Congress) requested information from me and I refused they would charge me with obstruction of justice. Even if no crime had been committed. That is essentially what they did to Martha Stewart. She was guilty of obfuscation of the facts according to a convicted felon. So what is the difference between a whole branch of our own government , the Executive Branch, refusing to cooperate with the Congress when asked to produce certain records. So what is their real problem here? Is Congress afraid to exercise it's own power . Since the Justice Department is compromised, a special prosecutor could be appointed. They have given all powers to the Executive branch and none of them deserve to represent the people. I think maybe Congress should go on a permanent recess and not bother to waste money holding investigations that just go in circles.
by
cluelessfl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 184 comments)
on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 2:06:47 PM
Articulate and passionate as always, Mary Lyon. What I like about you is you're not just a couch-potato journalist. You feel the pulse of the people, and you seek ways that we can DO SOMETHING!
A personal observation about taking a couple of million people to the streets of D.C. and scaring our elected, not to mention unelected , representatives: I didn't read that as a threat of violence. I saw it as very much in line with the people of Ukraine, Mexico, Poland -- marching in solidarity. The PTB haven't listened to our phone calls, faxes, and e-mails, and they haven't paid attention to our votes last November. So how *do* we get their attention?
Shortly after Selection 2000, I heard Vincent Bugliosi speaking in San Diego, promoting his book None Dare Call it Treason, and he said that night that history will show we should have been in the streets. He was *not* advocating violence, but strong citizen involvement in their own political process. That, of course, was before 9/11. That event served to shut down a lot of impulses in the direction of the people taking direct action.
It seems to me that a couple of million people in the streets of D.C., engaging in nonviolent protest, should serve to "scare the bastards to death." Unfortunately, I don't think such a demonstration would be allowed to happen now. And any violence, I fear, would come from those who have already shown their disdain for the Constitution and the rule of law.
With poll numbers plummeting for Bushco *and* the newly-empowered Democrats (but what are they doing with that power?), you'd think the latter would run, not walk, to the nearest bullhorn to proclaim they are "not okay with this." You'd think that they'd get it that in November 2008, We the People will not be "okay" with them unless we see them strongly upholding their oath of office.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid *are* publicly protesting that they are going to hold this administration accountable. And then they're making deals in private. Anything they say these days has a hollow, empty ring to it. I'm waiting with bated breath to see them actually take strong action on one thing they're not okay with!
And I'm wearing out my dialing finger, the only bullhorn I as a citizen have!
by
Judy Barrett (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 11 comments)
on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 2:37:27 AM
I am a member of the fastest growing party in America. I belong to the Constitution Party. We oppose the gross violations of our rights.
I believe in rights and responsibilities. With our freedom comes the responsbility of our actions. If we drive a truck or SUV we support Dick Cheney and the war machine. If we eat too much meat we support Dick Cheney and the war machine.
We can end Fascism by ending its support. We can stop using petroleum. We can obtain our energy from growing crops, wind and solar.
by
Barker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 120 comments)
on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 5:03:25 PM
11 comments
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