Overpopulation Ignorance Greed Species extinction Ozone hole Global warming Cars Buttheads Farmland depletion Nuclear proliferation All manner of pollution Ecosystem destruction War Terrorism Ann Coulter Sean Hannity My swollen prostate Insomnia Lack of snow this year TV Matt Drudge Overcrowded classrooms Orrin Hatch But, hey! I hate to be a pessimist, so I'll stop here. Joking aside, you're right, the impeachment needs to built one brick at a time, and I'm very glad to hear Conyers talking like that. Thanks for the update!

by Daniel Geery (26 articles, 95 quicklinks, 126 diaries, 912 comments [27 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 at 6:51:34 PM

Good work, Sir. I am glad to hear what you got Conyers to discuss. I believe he is a very good man, a true public servant. The Dems needed to get impeachment off of the table to move their political chances forward. I think they made the right choice. But that doesn't change our responsibility to push for thorough investigations leading to impeachment one iota. We aren't bound by political expedience so we can afford to be as idealistic as Representative Conyers must have been as he initially devoted his life to public service. Conyers is a good man, and a very, very good Congressman - one of the best - but he does not decide the course of the nation. That is our job. We lead him.

by Mikael Rudolph (50 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 79 comments) on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 at 8:33:05 PM

Way to go Rob, and glad to hear OpEd is getting noticed by the main stream media. Now its time for Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rove and others to be tossed out the same doors.

by Fred F (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 361 comments) on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 at 8:51:29 PM

Hopefully he can be Impeached before starting a war with Iran. Judging by John Conyers statements that don't sound likely, when he stated 2008 election are not that far off.

by Fred F (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 361 comments) on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 at 9:05:37 PM

But the fact is, the man broke the law. The police don't ignore a murderer because they have too many traffic jams or armed robberies (Maybe they do?). The point is that if he gets away with ignoring the rule of law (Which the conservatives are so fond of citing), they se an example for the would be dictators that follow. That answer was not good enough, not for me.

by Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 574 comments) on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 at 9:11:49 PM

There is a certain penchant in true believers to ignore input which conflicts and contradicts that belief. I see, time and again, this mythos that the new democratic majority will be a panacea and we can now all go back to sleep secure in the knowledge that the nation is, at last, in good hands again. Meet the new boss, the same as the old boss.....If only the loyalists here would explain the troubling developments in Congress like the flourishing K Street folks conducting business as usual, the quiet way Pelosi renegged on her promise to cut the huge oil subsidies to companies making almost obscene profits, the continuing attempts at collegiality with those who, when in power, refused any such attempts for years, the way we just read that Conyers dismissing impeachment as "getting in the way of important business"....What the ****, is there anything more important than justice, than prosecuting those who have looted our Treasury, destroyed our checks and balances, used the Constitution as so much toilet paper? But all is well folks, Rob can get recognised by a Senator, we are all OK here....

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 9:08:35 AM

The thought that these guys might get away with their unmitigated corruption, consummate arrogance and bringing this country to the brink of annihilation... makes me scream! We can not allow them to get off , they are laughing in our faces and all the way to the bank! Look these bastards make the Mafia look like a boyscout troop. All I hear is Cheney saying "I am the VP" yea and you know what he can do with his v and p. With so much uncertainty and fear around, I think what people want and need is answers, what will happen when we get Bush/Cheney out? I think they are willing to Impeach, I personally like the Hague, if fits the crime. Anyway, who will be in their place? What's the next step? Let the people know things will be better and we really will be able to fight terrorism, not just pretend. Why haven't there been any attacks here? First of all it is in spite of Bush not because of him. And why would they bother, Bush has given the terrorists a whole new country for a base and 136,000 targets AKA America soldiers, and they have Killed 3,016 of them. Bin Laden took the first 3,000 and Bush gave him the second 3.

by Bam M. (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 26 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 9:28:14 AM

Great work, Rob. Again, just a reminder. The impeachment thing is very problematic since if Bush is impeachable, Cheney is dead meat. That puts Madame Speaker in the White House. For progressives such a scenario is probably just fine. But what about all our unenlightened brothers and sisters? It's just currently outside the box of American thinking. But boy don't things change...

by Jim Prues (15 articles, 33 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 81 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 at 9:55:36 PM

His arguments smell like a rotting dead fish. He took an oath and now rationalizes why he shouldn't keep it. That's too bad... for all of us.

by Mark A. Goldman (81 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 243 comments) on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 at 10:28:28 PM

With a hand shake's and a smile, Rob don't let Conyer fool yah.

by Fred F (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 361 comments) on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 at 10:45:22 PM

Rob got noticed by someone important....the world is now saved. Sorry Rob but how many folks died in Iraq again today, I see, again and again good and decent folks get turned around by fame, even second hand fame. I trust you will not lose sight of the real goal here, and it isnt being remembered by some guy with some power.

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 9:14:46 AM

I think Conyers was glad to hear what I had to say to him-- both about the pissed off readers and my own hopes that he'll dig up what it takes to get the republicans do do thw walk to the whitehouse to tell Bush Cheney goodbye. Like I said. I've met him before. Now, Jane Fonda, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, I must confess. That was a bit of a thrill meeting them. But you keep it up, please, reminding me of what's important. Sometimes it's unneccessary, but it can't hurt. I love feedback.

by Rob Kall (952 articles, 4177 quicklinks, 374 diaries, 2087 comments [45 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 11:43:20 AM

When the returning hero rode his chariot through the streets of Rome one man rode with him, speaking into his ear as the crowds cheered him wildly. "You are not a God, you are only a man." The cult of personality is a sad and sorry symptom of what ails our culture. Sarandon can demand twenty million for six weeks work, teachers, whose work echoes through the corriders of time, make crap.

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 7:23:03 AM

This is one of the only times when I couldn't tell if David Swanson was being tongue-in-cheek or he actually believes that Connyers is going to do something--for a change. In a very revealing interview by several news reporters, he was asked why he voted for such reprehensible legislation such as the Patriot Act. In a moment of unguarded honesty, he motioned to the speaker and said, "Sit down, my son." His tone was humorously defferential, as if speeking to a child. He continued, "We don't (pause for emphasis) read what comes across our desks." He went on to explain that that would be an impossible feat, given the time available. Congresspeople therefore, depend upon lobbysts and others to keep them informed. What was just staggering was the fact that he actually thought the explanation was self-evident enough to warrant fraternal humor. He didn't say, "I am as distressed as are you over what went out over our signature. We must modify what we're doing," etc, etc. So don't worry about Connyers. He won't do any more than any other Congresscritter will do.

by Moss David Posner, M.D. (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 43 comments) on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 at 11:46:11 PM

But I clicked on your name and your author's page says you're a prison doctor. No wonder you are capable of dealing with reality -- you've been doing it for a living. I hope you'll chime in more often. Your kind of philosophical medicine is exactly what this country needs. If I, as a layman, had to venture a diagnosis, I'd guess we were suffering from a combination of sleeping sickness and hallucinations. Most of the time we're not awake, and when we are, we're seeing things that aren't there. :) --Mark

by Mark E. Smith (21 articles, 30 quicklinks, 100 diaries, 1325 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 12:33:11 AM

If I have this right, No 'Impeachment' because the "Statute of Limitations" is too close (Election in 08) and 'we need to be seen as caring about what is happening in our own country' (That's actually a reason For Impeachment but that is another story) and.......Caring about what is going on at home is something Only Mr. Bush can get done as there is Not another politician in Washington (been there) DC who can sign their own name(??) (to get/keep {Congresses Actions} things moving along) Is that about right? Btw Speedy reporting, good 'intel' ...Appreciate that

by Mr. Robin Parsons (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 64 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 5:55:21 AM

Impeachment is America's last chance to send a signal to the rest of the world (that currently hates us) that we can and MUST fix problems created by rogue out of control presidents. If we do not then we have lost ALL credibility on a global scale.

by Ben Marble, M.D. (23 articles, 0 quicklinks, 230 diaries, 349 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 6:08:20 AM

I have family that is part of the intelligence community so what I am about to write needs to be precluded with some explanation of that world. As in politics the military intel world is divided into two groups. In politics that division is between "hawks" and "doves." Obviously I do not need to explain that symbolism and their differences. In the intelligence communities there is a somewhat different split. There are no "doves', but there are "owls." Those who believe there are wiser ways to protect our country, uphold the Constitution, and spread democracy and freedom. The owls believe in God and country and the founding principals that established it. They will "hunt" as necessary to survive and they will protect their nest. The other group, while definitively "hawkish", are the "sharks." They are killing machines. Overwhelming force, regardless of the moral or political implications, is their modus operandi. Utlimately the ends justify the means to them. Even among those two distinct fundamental seperations there are political and spiritual divisions. I am pasting something I have written below that also appeared in OpEd News in a shorter version. I have several articles on that site, but this one in particular is important right now. The mainstream media will not publish my article, (as though I should be surprised by that LOL). The story has been vetted/fact checked by numerous individuals and it all checked out. The conclusions expressed from those facts seem to make some uncomfortable, but nobody has any better explanations. Millions are DEMANDING impeachment! Cheney and Rove are going to be handed to Congress on a silver platter by the time the Libby trial is over. The list of Crimes that Bush himself has committed keeps growing. Without Rove the right wing political propaganda attack against impeachment will not exist like it has in the past. There are no excuses unless the Democrats and even some Republicans really are truly afraid for their lives and the lives of their families. The intel community call the kind of clandestine operations that I, and others in the "know", believe are taking place - black ops. When assassination is the mission objective it is known as wet work. So I ask... Are Democrats afraid of right wing black ops doing wet work on them? Forget the "conspiracy theory" psyops framing. The facts contained below are public knowledge. Like Osama Bin Laden, the Anthrax killer remains at large. WE need to tell our Congress people that we have got their backs. This criminal enterprise must be stopped! Impeachment is Off the Table? To say "impeachment is off the table" is the equivalent of saying the Constitution, the rule of law, and democracy are no longer relevant. Maybe the Democrats are actually fearful of doing anything with good reason. The anthrax attacks were directed at ONLY the Democrats and certain segments of the Media. Fox news didn't receive any. And, oddly enough, although nobody considers the National Inquirer to be part of the media, or a threat to anyone except slandered celebrities, their corporate headquarters were targeted first. Why is that odd? They were running stories on the drunken Bush twins prior to 9/11 and about George's cocaine habit before the 2000 election. There is also the strange admission that top Republicans were taking prophylactic doses of Cipro prior to those attacks. It is also very "odd" that only prominent Democrats who are critical of this administration seem to die in tragic airplane crashes. Needless to say maybe the Dems know the Bush crime family is vengeful and capable of pure evil. That should not be an excuse for postponing impeachment, but instead should be the very reason they get started immediately with impeachment hearings and eventually lead to criminal prosecutions. I guess they are waiting for either WWIII, (that starts with Iran and Syria, then China, etc); or for those detention camps of Ollie North's to start filling up with millions of Americans who protest in demand of impeachment. It is already almost too late. If either of the above mentioned atrocities take place it [impeachment] will be virtually impossible. And God forbid they engineer or allow another catastrophic terrorist attack on American soil. At that point martial law will be instituted and George W. Bush will have the dictatorship he always wanted. In the meantime how many more soldiers and innocent Iraqis must die? How many more of our civil liberties and rights will vanish in the name of national security? How many more high crimes will be committed by this imperial president? The truly patriotic of America are demanding answers and justice right now.

by JohnNmissouri (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 40 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 7:30:56 AM

It's not only the dead and dying in Iraq that continues every day, but every day that Bush remains in office another group of public servants at every level of government and in every department are slowly being purged in favor of "true believers." It will take decades to resore good governance (relatively speaking) to what it once was.

by Mark A. Goldman (81 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 243 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 1:20:18 PM

His lust for power and control over the life and death of others, his sadism and total lack of empathy, his perverse vanity, his complete detachment from reality, etc., are obvious for all to see. You might say Bush is a textbook case of "malignant narcissism": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malignant_narcissism That the U.S. Congress would continue to allow someone so demonstrably mentally and morally incompetent, to occupy the most powerful office in the world, in spite of what he's already done and is threatening yet to do, is pathetic beyond words...words simply fail me. As I see it, an attack on Iran, especially an attack using nuclear weapons, would be an act of madness that the rest of the world likely cannot and will not ignore. If he would attack a non-nuclear country with nuclear weapons, being completely indifferent to the unimaginable consequences, e.g., potentially spreading a cloud of deadly radioactive debris over a wide area, being completely indifferent to the killings of only God knows how many innocent people, then how does anyone know his next attack won't be against Russia or China? What would any reasonable person be forced to do if there was a known serial killer living down the street, and the cops were ignoring him as he continued to wax worse and worse? IOW, won't there eventually come a point where the rest of the world will have to unite in action against America if America doesn't take care of this problem? Does Conyers et al. really want to help a madman destroy America?

by jpsmith123 (3 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 286 comments [27 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 9:19:15 AM

I've been pondering for YEARS now, "Where ARE the County Designated Mental Health Professionals in WA DC when we need them so badly?????" Does it not seem painfully obvious to the whole planet the Current Occupant is a danger to others & therefore a danger to self? He needs to be put in a nice safe place with lovely linens & nothing else to do but play war games in his study. Get him a game board for his hospital room & put our country back into reality???? Get Shooter an adjacent suite?

by Blue (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 1:26:23 PM

Glad you got some face time with Conyers Rob, but (and I say this with tremendous respect for you and the awesome work you do) you let him off WAY too easy. We don't need any more investigations. We need action on the mountain of evidence that already exists, compiled by Conyers himself! Remember that little 354 page report that he issued last year? It's called "The Constitution in Crisis: The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution, Coverups in the Iraq War, and Illegal Domestic Surveillance". TABLE OF CONTENTS (pdf) FULL REPORT (pdf-27mb) Any further claims of the need for "investigations" are nothing but stall tactics. Our Congress needs to grow a spine and start honoring their oath. NOW.

by John Perry (31 articles, 32 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 81 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 10:59:46 AM

It must be remembered that Article II, Section 4 of the US Constitution :

Section 4 - Disqualification The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

is bigger than George Walker Bush, or even George Walker Bush and Richard Bruce Cheney put together. This was the device decided upon by the founders of the US Republic to keep the Executive, with its inherent tendency to aggrandise its power at the cost of the other branches of government, and not least the people, honest. The founders had had experience with the Unitary Executive of another George - George III of the house of Hanover, and they were aware of how the governments of the other European states of the time functioned. The major argument against impeachment has always been that use of this instrument risks tearing the country apart at a critical time - all times being critical for a country engaged in imperial adventures. But if this instrument cannot be used in so flagrant a case as that of Messers Bush and Cheney, then it must be recognised that the US Constitution no longer serves the citizens and residents of that state as a protection against tyranny, and that these citizens will either have to use other, extra-legal methods to restore the Republic from the ashes of the Empire, or see that empire come clattering down through the work of others. This latter promises to be a bloody process, and it is doubtful whether humanity would survive it. For that reason, I hope that the citizens and residents of the United States will bend their shoulders to the wheel, and throw the bums out - and then send them to a new Nürnberg Tribunal, to be judged for their Crimes against the Peace, War Crimes, and Crimes against Humanity. Such a dénouement would have an effect upon not only the US, but upon the rest of the world comparable only to that of the establishment of the Republic more than two centuries ago. What a warning it would be to tyrants and would-be tyrants around the whole world ! Perhaps that is why our corporate masters and their captive press (not to mention CIA assassins) will do all in their power to prevent it.... Henri

by mhenriday (0 articles, 17 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 157 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 12:16:08 PM

I, too, attended the demonstration on Jan. 27, 2007, at the D. C. Mall, where I noticed a number of posters calling for impeachment. I was toting an attractive yard sign, strung across my chest; its message: IMPEACH HIM. The sign (funded in the public interest by the Washington Area Impeachment Fund -- http://www.waifllc.org ) caught the attention of a German TV-news crew, who chose to interview me about my presence at the event. Ironic, isn't it? -- our witnessing these two citizens of a former fascist government (the Third Reich) come face-to-face with Amerika's two-party version of fascism in the 21st century. Our going forward with impeaching both Bu$ch and Cheezey constitutes both our birthright and our solemn duty. If Congress were to expend as much time fulfilling this duty as they spent on trying to deny the wishes of brain-dead Terry Schiavo in Florida, then we probably wouldn't be having this e-conversation right now. http://www.bushbusines.com/impeachment%20news.htm

by LarryWBryant (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 58 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 12:42:17 PM

There were probably tens of thousands of impeachment signs. It was almost the meta message for the event. And it made me feel good. I just think there are a lot of ways to skin a cat. As long as we end up getting Bush-Cheney out of office before 2009 arrives, I'll be happy-- preferably before 2008.

by Rob Kall (952 articles, 4177 quicklinks, 374 diaries, 2087 comments [45 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 6:40:33 AM

If we do not impeach we leave the door open for the next would be despot.

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 31, 2007 at 6:19:15 PM

I need an answer to this one. If you take an oath to uphold the Constitution and then you attempt to destroy the Constitution is that a high crime and/or misdemeanor or an act of treason. Does treason only apply to aide to foreign governments in time of war, or can it mean violating the Constitution and Geneva Convention at any time. Seems there should not be a statue of limitations on treason, nor do you have to hold office when prosecuted. I know there are some legal eagles out there who can answer this. Who can prosecute for treason. Congress or the FBI.

by cluelessfl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 188 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 1:54:16 PM

It would be comforting to believe, as Rob Kall says, that the Democrats are proceding slowly, methodically towards impeachment and avoiding any premature action that will only fizzle out. But if you prove to be right, it will be the first time the Democrats have not betrayed us. After the mass upsurge of labor in the 30's, the rise of the CIO and the passage of the Wagner labor relations act, the Democrats betrayed us in the 1940's as soon as the mass protests that had won the concessions died down. They passed the Taft Hartley Act which has led to the steady decline of the labor movement up to the present. And I say the DEMOCRATS passed it because, even if the Republicans had all been magically removed from Congress, the majority of Democrats voted for it so Taft Hartley would have passed without any Republican help. Clinton promised to admit the Haitian refugees who were fleeing Haiti in leaky boats during the election. But after he was elected, Clinton immediately reneged and intered the Haitian refugees off shore. ACT-UP had to picket Clinton everywhere he appeared before he finally admitted the refugees with AIDS, some of whom had as few as seven T cells left, to the United States and modern medical care. Clinton promised to end the ban on Gays and Lesbians in the military. But after he was elected, slick, slippery Willie again almost immediately reneged and gave us "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which resulted in even more Gays and Lesbians being thrown out of the Military. In this case, the Democrats turned out to be the greater evil instead of the lesser evil. I guess we can all be glad that Bush, Sr. didn't defeat Clinton in 1992 or Bob Dole in 1996. Because if either of those two things had happened, Bush, Sr. or Dole would have ended welfare as we know it! The first Gulf War, while it was started by Bush, was continued by Clinton, who also carried out th subsequent blockaide of Iraq, which resulted, according to U.N. estimates, in the death of at least 500,000 Iraqis. We had all better stay in the streets demanding impeachment, immediate withdrawal from Iraq, and an investigation of the stolen elections of 2000 and 2004 as well as a real investigation of 9/11. We won't deserve the consequences if we let the Democrats fool us again but we will have brought the consequences on ourselves. Robert Halfhill

by rhalfhill (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 325 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 2:50:04 PM

I totally agree with Ben Marble's comment - this is the only way to restore the world's perspective of the USA!! I thought the rally in Washington yesterday was vital and is the first step to gaining support to impeach and/or charge Bush and Cheney as War Criminals. The man Bush is an ego-maniac and must be stopped at all cost.

by Patrinka (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 13 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 3:12:22 PM

In my comment above, I mistyped the URL at the end: here's the correct spelling: http://www.bushbusiness.com/impeachment%20news.htm And here's another pertinent URL: http://www.impeachthem.com P.S.: thank all you other posters for adding your worthy comments to this discussion.

by LarryWBryant (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 58 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 3:23:49 PM

I know Conyers already has the case built and written to impeach Bush. Conyers took the oath too. He is Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. By not following through on the impeachment of Bush, Conyers is committing treason. These stalling tactics with the Editor are proof of his treason on top of his own written report. It is time that emails be sent to him to tell him of this fact. If he does not bring it up in the Judiciay Committee in two weeks for a vote, it is time he is charged with treason and placed at Gitmo.

by Sue (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 6:21:03 PM

Rob Kall still believes the myths about democracy. The United States, Rob, is not a democracy. If it was, Bush would never have been placed in office to run a rampage over the middle east. He wouldn't have been able to burn the constitution. He would have been stopped years ago in his tracks, through impeachment, and war crimes prosecution. You have bought into a fraud. There is no accountability when it comes to defending the neo-fascistic system, because it is a bi-partisan project. The imperial consensus remains protected. Crimes against foreign nations aren't considered crimes. The congress therefore is a protection racket, shielding war criminals from prosecution. This is not new, and should not be news to anyone who writes about politics. There is a fraudulent world view promulgated by corporate media and by a lot of Democrat blogs, like this one, where the people in charge are de facto benign and interested in pursuing a benevolent agenda. All of modern history disputes this view. Their own voting records dispute this view. As far as the Democratic Party -- the Democratic majority senate gave Bush Jr. his war powers in Iraq. The Democratic senate also capitulated and allowed a complete cover up of the high treason of September 11th 2001. Even though senator Bob Graham came out and said that one or more nations assisted the terrorists of 9-11, he has remained gagged and unable/unwilling to tell us who the nations were (Pakistan/Israel/Saudi/Britain), and in what ways they assisted the 9-11 terrorists (funding, training, personnel +?). Now we have a Democratic Party on board with a war of agression against Iran, with nuclear weapons most likely. These are potentially holocaust level crimes that can escalate into armageddon. The only way to stop the imminent nuclear attack on Iran is through impeaching the regime, but of course that is "off the table" for some reason that has nothing to do with justice, accountability, honesty or even reason. I get tired of repeating myself about this miserable state of the empire, but some supposedly intelligent individuals don't seem to ever learn reality. Clinton's sanctions killed 1.5 million Iraqis, mostly children and the sick and elderly. Bush's war crimes have killed 650,000 Iraqis, with the blessing of both major parties in Congress. Nixon killed 3 million Vietnamese and tens of thousands of US conscripted servicemen. They weren't going to impeach him for any of that, however. War crimes by American leaders aren't crimes here. This is a nazi like state of faux superiority and invulnerability. Both parties participate, and both are responsible for crimes against humanity. They expose their culpability and criminality regularly, as in "impeachment is off the table," yet millions of deluded Democrats can't put 1 and 1 together. John Doraemi is sick of it all. http://crimesofthestate.blogspot.com/

by johndoraemi (17 articles, 12 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 166 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 8:14:11 PM

It isn't a democracy because the American people don't give a damn about democracy. Greed! That's all they're interested in. What percent of the eligible voters in my state of California bothered to vote in the last election? 41%. If they'd lived in China as I had for four years and witnessed the Tianamen Massacre, they'd feel differently.

by eagleeye (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 32 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 10:02:00 PM

"I get tired of repeating myself about this miserable state of the empire, but some supposedly intelligent individuals don't seem to ever learn reality." Never tire, never stop speaking the truth, believe that , eventuallly, the people of this nation will heed these words.

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Thursday, Feb 1, 2007 at 5:49:30 PM

Rob, I so appreciate all you do and that you went to WDC for the protest against the 'surge' (of Bush's madness). And I realize that Conyers and Pelosi want to get some very important legislation enacted to reverse the hideous damage that Bush, Cheney, the Republicans and the Corporate Criminals have done to this country and the world. BUT! THE LAW IS THE LAW! THESE ARE MASS-MURDERERS-FOR-PROFIT. MINDLESS, INDIFFERENT LIARS,THIEVES AND KILLERS. THEY HAVE ADMITTED THEIR CRIMES. THEIR CRIMES HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOCUMENTED. THEY SHOULD BE MARCHED OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE IMMEDIATELY, IN HANDCUFFS, AND PLACED SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN DO NO MORE DAMAGE, WHILE THE INVESTIGATIONS COMMENCE, IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDS, AND THEN THEY CAN BE TAKEN TO THEIR ARRAIGNMENTS IN ORANGE JUMP SUITS! This Congress under estimates the American People. When the People begin to realize the extent and the horror of Bush's, Cheney's, Rumsfeld's, Rice's, Ashcroft's, Gonzalez's and our military's crimes, including 9/11, no president will ever again be able to commit crimes without oversight. IMPEACHMENT SAYS WE'RE SORRY. THIS COUNTRY AND THE WORLD NEED THESE IMPEACHMENTS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATION AND IMPEACHMENT WRITES THEIR CRIMES INTO HISTORY. IF IT'S NOT WRITTEN, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. Impeachment is the only way we can take back our democracy, our constitution and our government. It's the only way we can save our collective lives, because the world will never forget, unless we do this, and NOW! IMPEACH, PROSECUTE, IMPRISON...NOW! THE WORLD CAN'T WAIT!!!

by Lucille Moyer (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments) on Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 11:48:44 PM

Rob, I agree that it is reasonable to interpret Conyer's coy response to the question of impeachment as an intent to let investigations unify public opinion against Bush and lead us to impeachment. If this is the case, this still is inadequate. First, we have to stop further damage, e.g., use of nuclear weapons and Iran. Secondly, we have to make sure that the investigations include 9-11. A majority of Americans doubt the official story and nearly a majority, myself included, believe that elements within our government were complicit in the murder of 3,000 citizens. This is unacceptable and hardly any other issue could be more important and worthy of investigation. Peter Hollings

by phollings (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments) on Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 4:31:05 AM

Rob, I agree that it is reasonable to interpret Conyer's coy response to the question of impeachment as an intent to let investigations unify public opinion against Bush and lead us to impeachment.

A CBS (corporate mainstream media owned by Viacom, not something that many progressives or people on the left bother with) poll this week said that 87% of Americans want Bush impeached. How much more unification of public opinion does Congress need? 99%? 120%? Anyone who remembers Iran-Contra knows that the reason for Congressional investigations instead of impeachment (which starts with an investigation as soon as the Resolution of Impeachment is introduced), is that anyone who testifies before a Congressional committee is given immunity. That means that they cannot be prosecuted for anything they truthfully tell the committee. If Bush and Cheney go before a Conyers committee and swear under oath, "I committed war crimes. I violated the public trust. I violated the law and I violated the Constitution," then they can no longer be tried or punished for any crimes they admit to. The Democrats first said that impeachment was off the table. When that didn't fly, they said, okay we'll have some committee investigations. They're protecting Bush and Cheney. Why shouldn't they? They not only approved of everything Bush and Cheney did, but they voted for it, funded it, and if they have any Halliburton stock in their portfolios, profited from it. They like the way Bush gave them all tax breaks (they're all millionaires, by the way, except for the billionaires), and they have no objection to torture as national policy. Maybe they're worried about being anthraxed, but I doubt it. For all we know the DLC might have put out some of the contracts on Democrats themselves, particularly the ones who were too liberal and didn't support Bush. Because there has been so much pressure on Democrats to end the war, stop the torture, and impeach Bush and Cheney, Arianna Huffington gave top billing a few days ago to Frank Luntz, a Republican operative in the same style as Karl Rove. A hate fest ensued, with HuffPo readers filling page after page with hundreds of comments about what a slime Luntz is. Their joy at having a Republican to kick around instead of having to answer the tough questions about why they're still supporting the war and opposing impeachment, was palpable. See, they screamed with delight, we don't have to think about our responsibilities and obligations, we can bring in somebody worse and focus all the attention on him. We don't have to impeach because Frank Luntz called us names. We don't have to end the war because Frank Luntz insulted Barbara Boxer. We can still blame the Republicans for everything we do, or we can blame Ralph Nader. That's the ticket -- we can't impeach Bush or end the war because Ralph Nader was on the ballot in 2004. And we'll never be able to impeach or end the war, but it is all Nader's fault, because if he hadn't been on the ballot, there wouldn't be any war. See how easy it is to shirk responsibility when you're a Democrat and have consistently voted for war? We need impeachment, but Congress won't do it. All three branches of government are complicit and all three need to be impeached, everyone on the Supreme Court who violated the Constitution by disregarding the will of the voters and installing Bush, everyone in the Bush White House, and everyone in Congress who continued to vote for the war after they knew that there were no WMDs and that Sadaam and Iraq had nothing to do with Al Queda or 9/11. Do you really think that the Democrats who gave Bush 32 standing ovations at his first State of the Union, and are continuing to give him standing ovations today, are going to impeach him? They love him. They adore him. He's one of them. Rich, elite, powerful. It's you they don't feel comfortable around, particularly when you ask them disrespectful questions like why they don't impeach Bush or end the war. That's none of your business. Their stock portfolios are their business and you're not. You can't afford to join their clubs and they wouldn't have you to dinner, but Bush is one of them and they know that he has their interests at heart. You don't. You just care about people like you, who really ought to be in jail for being so unpleasantly beneath them. Really. You (or more precisely Diebold and ES&S voting machines) elected them, so just leave things to them and don't try to tell them what to do. The country is going in the right direction, they've voted themselves huge salary increases, and their investments in defense corporations have doubled and tripled every year for the past six years. You're just complaining because you weren't born to wealth and didn't have money to invest in defense corporations -- otherwise you'd understand that everything is really great and why we should stay the course. --Mark

by Mark E. Smith (21 articles, 30 quicklinks, 100 diaries, 1325 comments) on Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 6:53:52 AM

I cannot express my dismay at the Democrats taking impeachment off the table. I did not understand the need to promise this to Bush/Cheney unless they were somehow blocking Democratic control of the legislative branch in 2006. It almost seemed like a quid pro quo. Still I hate being so damn paranoid and keeping trying to tell myself that democracy will prevail. Unfortunately, the Bush/Cheney administration has virtually ignored the Congress since the election. In December, there is the signing statement on searching through US Postal mail. This is followed by the simultaneous release of alterations to the Army manual seeming to allow domestic wiretapping while the unconstitutional FISA court is brought on board for the current program, but no details of that court order are available. They ignore military commanders of every stripe and are sending more troops to Iraq. There appears to be a military build up against Iran as well. From where I sit, Bush/Cheney/Rove are operating as if the November election never happened. Why? Because the biggest weapon the legislative branch has is not going to be used. Bush/Cheney only understand the ruthless execution of power and impeachment is all there is! These proceedings need to start very soon. We need to at least hamstring this administration defending itself from impeachment so they cannot expand their militaristic foreign policy. Conyers attitude is very, very disturbing. The Democrats have a sworn, fiduciary responsibility to pursue impeachment if crimes have been committed and there are surely crimes to be investigated and since I still believe in the Bill of Rights...Bush/Cheney are guilty until proven innocent, but...I smell something real funky here and do not understand why the Democrats will not turn over that stinky rock and show us all what is festering there. I am sorry to say this Mr. Kall, but I am very disappointed that you did not put Mr. Conyers feet to the fire a little more on these very issues. Peace, aw

by ARichardWatson (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 16 comments) on Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 9:55:18 AM

Rob, Not bad reading on Robopednews, today. I read Jayne Stahl's column, I read Dennis Kucinich's article and I just read your article. I agree with all three very good articles. Rob, the right has its right wing nuts and the left has its left wing nuts. I hope you stay right where you are. The last thing we need is the impeach George W. Bush. Take him and Cheney off the table and what have you done but allow the giant corporations to send in the next clone to keep the same things happening: tax cuts for the rich, destruction of a graduated income tax, exclusion of the lower middle and lower economical families from higher education, breaking of international treaties at whim, no health care for almost one fourth of our citizens, continual attacks on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Do not allow those on the left to change your position. We want hearings and we want a lot of them. I do not care if Bush is ever impeached. He is zilch, a zero, a nobodaddy. It is the Halliburton, the Defense Industries, the Banking Industries, the Medical industry, the insurance cartels. We must have hearings to get behind "K" Street into the exalted vaults of the paid mercenaries and into the files of those who pay them. Until then it will make no difference whether it is the Republican Party, the Democrat, Party, the Green Party, the Libertarians, the Nazi Party or the Communist Party. The same evilness will still be lurking in their dark caverns manipulating us like secret puppeteer.

by pratliff94 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 972 comments) on Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 2:06:15 PM

Oh Pratliffe where to begin? Why prosecute a bank robber, after all another will come along and rob again.The same for murderers, we will just see, sooner rather than later, another killing, so why bother prosecuting? Either you believe in right and wrong, in a system of justice, in punishment for those who defraud the public trust in such a blatant manner or you do not. I cannot imagine failing to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, soemone who, by use of lies and distortions, propaganda and decpetion, murders three thousand of our children, by some accounts six hundred thousand Iraqis, and all for a profitable bottom line for his friends and contributors. How can you?

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Friday, Feb 2, 2007 at 5:42:25 PM

The Judiciary committee should have 1000 subpeonas issued by August. Waiting for Bush to leave is not in the best interest of the nation.

by GitarChris (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 142 comments) on Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 9:30:57 PM