Too many people are thinking about impeachment as an act aimed at removing the president. And it's true, that is one aspect of the impeachment process. But that's putting the cart before the horse. The most important reason to impeach is to open up hearings-- hearings that Bush is not allowed to claim presidential privilege to block subpoenas.
Dealing with the most secretive white house admin in history, it is certain that most congressionial hearings will be impeded to great extreme. We've already seen this over and over again.
The Whitehouse, Bush and Cheney are hiding from and blocking the truth on so many fronts.
We know that when aggressive hearings on any subject are held, concrete results are produced. Look at the Gonzales hearings. They worked to get rid of Gonzales and to cast much more light on attorneygate. I don't think it is a coincidence that Pete Domenici is not running for senate again. He's another victim of the hearings, or should I say, "positive result?"
Congressional hearings are the THE answer to exposing corruption, fraud and criminal and treasonous acts.
There's one problem. Bushco can block too many of the subpoenas.
Fortunately, there's a solution.
Holding impeachment hearings.
Before the congress actually acts to impeach, it holds hearings. There is one difference between usual hearings and impeachment hearings. Presidential privelege to refuse to allow testimony is not allowed.
You heard that right. The president cannot block witnesses from testifying when the hearings are about impeachment.
I'm not sure if an impeachment hearing for the vice president precludes the president from blocking testimony. But if Bush tries to do it, that would be excellent reason to include Bush in the impeachment hearings also.
There shouldn't be a hurry to vote on impeaching Bush or Cheney. There SHOULD be a hurry to start holding impeachment hearings. Before the house of representatives actually holds a vote on impeachment, it must hold hearings. This is where the findings come out. This is where we learn in detail about the abuses, the crimes, the treason that we suspect occurred.
There are so many ongoing congressional hearings that are being blocked by the Bush administration. How many of them would be opened wide if they were held in coordination with impeachment hearings? The answer is-- a whole lot.
This is a different way of thinking about impeachment-- as a process, not an outcome. The process is the aspect of impeachment that is most important in healing America. It is the process that will clearly, step-by-step, reveal the abuses and crimes, the lies and deceptions. As I've been saying for over a year (Nov. 13, 2006 Ultimately, Republicans Will Force Bush/Cheney Resignation,) hearings will start with lower level workers. They will turn over higher level power brokers who will, ultimately, to protect themselves, testify against those at the top of committed the worst offenses.
Ultimately, I believe that congress will never even have to hold an impeachment vote. Cheney, once evidence appears, will resign "for medical reasons, with a note for his doctor.The Democrats WILL have to approve a VP replacement, proposed by Bush. The Republicans will make sure Bush does not appoint an intolerable one. And Bush will not appoint a presidential candidate. He'll appoint a senior statesman, perhaps John Warner or James Baker, or even his father, George Herbert Walker Bush. Or he may go for an appointment that will give him a place in history that is positive-- by appointing a woman, a black or a Latino.
Next , as I wrote, over a year ago, the Republicans will take "THE WALK" to the Whitehouse, just as they did with Dick Nixon, and demand that Bush resign. No vote, just an exit on a helicopter.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
To learn more about me and OpEdNews.com, check out this article.
and there are Rob's quotes, here.
To Watch me on youtube, having a lively conversation with John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary committee, click here Now, wouldn't you like to see me on the political news shows, representing progressives. If so, tell your favorite shows to bring me on and refer them to this youtube video
My radio show, The Rob Kall Show, runs 9-10 PM EST Wednesday evenings, on AM 1360, WNJC and is archived on www.whiterosesociety.org Or listen to it streaming, live at either www.wnjc1360.com or here.
A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
-My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.
I am right there with you on this in thought and theory, you are absolutely right however, when you have a Congress willing to pass things like the Patriot Act and HR 1955, S1959 one has to wonder how *real* any Impeachment Hearings could be. I signed Wexler's petition, I blog about hearings, I talk about it in the street and at the grocery store, so I am doing my part, but honestly I am disheartened with the processes.
There was a time I believed in the process. After the 2000 election I began to doubt, after the 2004 election I knew I had reason, and that's without adding 911 into the mix. Today? I feel they own it all. From the courts to the media this Administration runs the show. I hope there is no encore, it's time for us, we the People to give the final curtain call.
To any readers...
Wherever you draw strength and courage from, whatever empowers you to stand...please do. It is way past time. Whatever your hot button issue with Bush is, it doesn't need to be the same as mine for us to stand side by side against this. We cannot discriminate against each others ideas and beliefs if we hope to bring change. We can only embrace the common denominator of being fed up and find our way TOGETHER from there.
by
Cheri Roberts (16 articles, 15 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 435 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 12:30:01 PM
It is better that we use the word INVESTIGATE than impeach because impeachment can't happen without an investigation first. Including enforcement of subpeonas. Cheney has ignored more than one supeona for information. Support/encourage Congress people to do this.
by
zephyr (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 64 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 1:21:16 PM
Wexler is calling for HEARINGS on the Judiciary Committee
That is exactly what should happen now. And Rob is exactly right is seeing this as a process.
There are a number of things that have to happen to successful remove a President from office and it is the enumeration of each of those steps that often makes people think that the outcome has got to be unlikely. But each step has a logic of its own.
Give those members of the House Judiciary Committee like Wexler who are wanting to push forward support, like you would give a flag carrier support at a pivotal moment in a battle when confidence matters and you can become part of a successful surge.
It is possible to get impeachment hearings in the House Judiciary Committe and it is possible to get Conyers support or Conyers out of the way. And it is possible to create news that the media has to report. But enough people have to become part of a surge when the strategic moment is right and right now the moment is right.
by
Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1010 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 2:00:57 PM
I agree that impeachment is necesary and for several reasons. If the blatant acts of the usurpation of power committed by Bush stand there will be a blight upon this nation that will not heal. It will be an invitation to future administrations to commit similar actions as the track record will indicate it is easily accomplished. The reputation of the United States, while already in the toilet ( thanks Georgie and Dick), would be somewhat rescued by proceeding with such a trial.
I do not agree that we must trick ourselves into disclosure through a subterfuge, the need to impeach stands alone and needs no such argument or apology. I reluctantly and with great sadness offer that , however much it is needed, however loudly justice cries out to be heard, we will never see the House bring charges against Cheney or Bush, not unless there is such a great revelation of misdeed that even our complicit Congress cannot fail to hear it.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 2:34:02 PM
Please clarify Ardee and/or please don't give up too early
"I agree that impeachment is necesary and for several reasons. If the blatant acts of the usurpation of power committed by Bush stand there will be a blight upon this nation that will not heal. It will be an invitation to future administrations to commit similar actions as the track record will indicate it is easily accomplished."
Yes!
"The reputation of the United States, while already in the toilet ( thanks Georgie and Dick), would be somewhat rescued by proceeding with such a trial."
This somewhat understates the case for impeachment (justice through the rule of law) from the standpoint of foreigners as it would greatly restore confidence in the American system of justice and in the American people to foreigners who would not give a fig for what party political thralls of either side say. I don't think many Americans who are used to thinking in terms of Republican and Democratic pseudo tribal loyalties really appreciate that to foreigners Americans are bunched together and judged together. When terrorists attack Americans they don't sort out the Republicans from the Democrats. When pollsters discover rising anti-American sentiment they don't look for anti-democrat or anti-republican sentiment from foreigners.
From the standpoint of taking the wind out of the sails of those who would recruit terrorists to attack Americans a demonstration of REAL American justice would be very hard to spin. I don't think terrorist recruiters could do it. If I was a terrorist recruiter I don't know how I would convince large numbers of intelligent memeoids to attack Americans when those Americans had demonstrated the justice of their system with impeachment that would be recorded in the worlds media. From the standpoint of reducing terrorism aimed at Americans I can think of nothing better that Americans could do. And it doesn't involve a loss of anything to Americans except that they set aside silly tribal party loyalties for long enough to look at the big picture of whether they want to keep the US Constitution as an intact contract between them.
"I do not agree that we must trick ourselves into disclosure through a subterfuge, the need to impeach stands alone and needs no such argument or apology."
Can you please elaborate on what you mean Ardee by "trick ourselves into disclosure through a subterfuge"? Are you actually afraid that your name might become known and appear on some hypothetical watchlist or something? If so I think you are too fearful too early. This Presidential administration is just a negative trend towards the sort of Presidential administration that might arise in the future where you'd have to be that afraid. That dark future can still be headed off. Impeachment would be a great way to head that off. Using the power of free speach and the power of assembly that you Americans currently still have, you still can head that dark future off. But only if enough of you do use the power you have as citizens and apply that power through your system.
"I reluctantly and with great sadness offer that , however much it is needed, however loudly justice cries out to be heard, we will never see the House bring charges against Cheney or Bush, not unless there is such a great revelation of misdeed that even our complicit Congress cannot fail to hear it."
The great revelation of misdeed is already there for those intelligent and diligent enough to look for it. The invasion of Iraq was a manifest breach of domestic and international law. The Presidential order to invade itself is the high crime.
What I suspect you really mean is that the great revelation must come in the sort of form that a lot of ordinary Americans can process. And you are right that numbers matter and so ordinary American processing matters. But impeachment HEARINGS are exactly the way to bring those esoterics into the processing capabilities and attention of the ordinary American.
Don't give into fear Ardee. Things are not yet that bad. And they need not get that bad.
If Americans give into fear then two things will happen. Their politicians will see that they have and will give them more fear to deal with. And foreigners will see that the American citizens have abrogated their responsibility to keep their politicians to the rule of law and being already effectively in the outlaws position with respect to Americans foreigners will increasing (logically and rationally) take up terrorism as a way to change American policy. Whether terrorism (which is always politically oriented and frequently arises from the desperation of having no lesser lawful recourse) becomes commonplace really does depend on what American citizens do now with respect to this current administration (Bush and Cheney) and with respect to upholding their professed values as a nation of laws.
Lets say for the sake of argument that the 9-11 truthers are right and 9-11 was an inside job. Impeaching Cheney for the reasons Wexler wants hearings would start the process of questioning. And it is that process of questioning that both Rob and the 9-11 truthers are right to encourage. The 9-11 truthers would do well to get behind the push to impeach Cheney by signing onto the Wexler petition and testing some of the Democratic Judicial Committee members bona fides with letters calling for the impeachment of Cheney on Wexlers grounds which have more momentum currently as a first step.
by
Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1010 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 3:49:25 PM
Please clarify Ardee and/or please don't give up too early
Thanks for the response, Brett and I never give up.
"I agree that impeachment is necesary and for several reasons. If the blatant acts of the usurpation of power committed by Bush stand there will be a blight upon this nation that will not heal. It will be an invitation to future administrations to commit similar actions as the track record will indicate it is easily accomplished."
Yes!
This somewhat understates the case for impeachment (justice through the rule of law) from the standpoint of foreigners as it would greatly restore confidence in the American system of justice and in the American people to foreigners who would not give a fig for what party political thralls of either side say. I don't think many Americans who are used to thinking in terms of Republican and Democratic pseudo tribal loyalties really appreciate that to foreigners Americans are bunched together and judged together. When terrorists attack Americans they don't sort out the Republicans from the Democrats. When pollsters discover rising anti-American sentiment they don't look for anti-democrat or anti-republican sentiment from foreigners.
From the standpoint of taking the wind out of the sails of those who would recruit terrorists to attack Americans a demonstration of REAL American justice would be very hard to spin. I don't think terrorist recruiters could do it. If I was a terrorist recruiter I don't know how I would convince large numbers of intelligent memeoids to attack Americans when those Americans had demonstrated the justice of their system with impeachment that would be recorded in the worlds media. From the standpoint of reducing terrorism aimed at Americans I can think of nothing better that Americans could do. And it doesn't involve a loss of anything to Americans except that they set aside silly tribal party loyalties for long enough to look at the big picture of whether they want to keep the US Constitution as an intact contract between them.
You and I differ in a fundamental way on the question of what motivates both so-called acts of "terrorism"and why this nation is hated. Most such actions are more acts of nationalism in that the acts are committed to end Western imperialism and its associated evils in the nation from which the "terrorist" arises. Concommitenlty so-called hatred of America stems not from some guy hated you and me but from that persons seeing no hope for employment, medication for his ailing child, food for his family and the basics of life, all in the name of you owning an Ipod....hmmmm.
"I do not agree that we must trick ourselves into disclosure through a subterfuge, the need to impeach stands alone and needs no such argument or apology."
Can you please elaborate on what you mean Ardee by "trick ourselves into disclosure through a subterfuge"? Are you actually afraid that your name might become known and appear on some hypothetical watchlist or something? If so I think you are too fearful too early. This Presidential administration is just a negative trend towards the sort of Presidential administration that might arise in the future where you'd have to be that afraid. That dark future can still be headed off. Impeachment would be a great way to head that off. Using the power of free speach and the power of assembly that you Americans currently still have, you still can head that dark future off. But only if enough of you do use the power you have as citizens and apply that power through your system.
I refer to Rob's article and its seeming need to find reasons other than justice for impeachment proceedings to move forward.
"I reluctantly and with great sadness offer that , however much it is needed, however loudly justice cries out to be heard, we will never see the House bring charges against Cheney or Bush, not unless there is such a great revelation of misdeed that even our complicit Congress cannot fail to hear it."
The great revelation of misdeed is already there for those intelligent and diligent enough to look for it. The invasion of Iraq was a manifest breach of domestic and international law. The Presidential order to invade itself is the high crime.
What I suspect you really mean is that the great revelation must come in the sort of form that a lot of ordinary Americans can process. And you are right that numbers matter and so ordinary American processing matters. But impeachment HEARINGS are exactly the way to bring those esoterics into the processing capabilities and attention of the ordinary American.
Don't give into fear Ardee. Things are not yet that bad. And they need not get that bad.
Again, I am far from afraid. I also think that I associate with rednecks ( so called) far more than most here, both in my blue collar job and my associations with fisherman, hunters and farmers. Just yesterday I sat in a jet boat eating lunch while waiting for the salmon in a certain hole on the upper Sacto River to calm down from the boat traffic and fishing pressure ( we ultimately got five nice fish!) and talked to the guys in the next boat. They spoke of the fears of a Clinton Presidency and the incompetence of a coming Democratic majority in both the Legislature and the White House and ironically spoke to things that George Bush wrought as if it were those democrats who did them...a lot of truth there in fact.
Anyway, continue to question everything, to broaden your experiental driven opinion, and good luck with that.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 9:06:27 AM
Congratulations and good luck to you for your ceaseless efforts in defending and promoting the Truth. As long as there are people like you around, there is hope for the US to recover its luster that is so much tarnished couresy of them unelected brainless crooked liars who shouldn't have been there in the first place.
Cautious optimism is warranted though given Congress's complicity in all and every criminal activities of this administration including the shameful 9/11 set-up and the subsequent cover-up. But there is hope that the ongoing incessant and ever-increasing push from without by diligent Truthers will trigger off an implosion within the corrupt and rotten structure of the political system in this country. Somehow it is ready for self-demolition just waiting for the coup de grace igniting spark.
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ramsheyi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 460 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 3:36:03 PM
I think you are right on the money, Rob. If Bush moves to quash anything with regard to an impeachment hearing, he has opened himself up to obstruction of justice charges. Obstruction of Justice is the prosecutor's friend. Simply lying to investigators or destroying evidence is obstruction of justice. Martha Stewart was nailed for falsifying her trading records. Scooter Libby "obstructed" an investigation of the leak that exposed Valerie Plame. Nixon would have been impeached and most certainly removed for having "obstructed" the Watergate inquiry. If Congress holds "impeachment hearings", there will be numerous opportunities for Bush to screw up --and he will.
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Len Hart (131 articles, 172 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 543 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 3:37:29 PM
I don't think the impeachment proceedings will get as far as you say, but it would be great to get some of these secrets out in the open. And I hope that they DO get as far as you say.
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Frank Staheli (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 30 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 4:52:29 PM
Great Article Rob, I agree. We have to do something even when Pelosi and Reid stand in the way, by continuing funding to this War. In fact we should also have hearings on the crimes that Reid and Pelosi have committed. The American People don't know that Reid and Pelosi are being paid off. They have agreements that if they don't prosecute Bush, Bush will not expose their corruption. I support impeachment of Bush, because he has done things far more extreme and worse than any other sitting President, and any other impeached President. What choice do we have? There is non. We have to go forward and Impeach.
by
Dom Jermano (20 articles, 0 quicklinks, 40 diaries, 930 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 7:04:26 PM
I hadn't seen it but I just watched it and I think it sums up the issues in a way that is obviously not just about stupid party politics or the next stupid Presidential horserace election that is miles off but is being offered as entertainment well. Thanks.
This is a good resource to know about. It can be posted about. Which is probably what Naomi had in mind when she gave her talk. ie. She was likely mindful that she was propagating a tool (message content plus media for delivery in one package) that could be used as a sort of readily transmissable antidote against the closing of an open society. Or at least the individual minds in that open society.
Always good to find another Sleeper that is an individual mind and concerned citizen for his/her own open society.
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Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1010 comments)
on Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 3:24:33 AM
have you done anything to help the effort? We can all do the armchair speculating game! If you have not done so, I encourage you to sign Wexler's petition, send letters to the members of the Judiciary Com. , letters to local and national newspapers, phone calls to congressmen/women, spread the word, encourage your friends and family to sign the petition and pick up their phones and pens!!!
There is momentum! Now is the time for everyone to act to the best of their ability to make sure hearings become possible. We need to remind our elected officials of their duty to uphold their oathes of office. They need to know we are watching. They need to know we will not tolerate lawlessness and complicity in the halls of our government...
Send letters to Conyers (as Brett suggested) and ask him to step down, resign, hand over the reigns to someone who WILL initiate hearings!!!
Each one of us should do everything we possibly can to contribute to the swelling Impeachment Movement! PUSH PUSH PUSH!!!
The negative speculation and pissy attitudes will do nothing for us but defeat us. We can rest when we get this boulder to the top of the hill... the future is reliant upon us... what will we say that we have done?
Each day, do something positive to contribute to the process of getting an investigation and hearings underway!
If we don't... we've only ourselves to blame for what has happened and all that will happen.
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C.Bid (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 678 comments)
on Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 12:21:55 AM
The clock says 5 to midnight and it is in the last dwindling minutes that people clamor for impeachment. Well certainly they will oblige you as there is no time left in which to carry it out. It will sit there languishing until Chaney is long gone.
this should have been brought forth way back when 99% of Americans were clamoring for war in Iraq while the rest of the world looked on (saying these Americans are animals)
In the fury for war and revenge the dreams of man slipped away from America into the night where they reside to this day only now to be grasped back into the American stream of thoughts
How easily the masters of America have duped the populace how easy the sheep are ridden over the cliffs .
all it takes for your masters to prevail is a spark.
currently the concentration death camps await you ,the Mexicans in place only a spark is awaited for .
The Asses and the Dumbos all in a diametrical ballet to the end
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dave stanley (5 articles, 1 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 286 comments)
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 11:56:36 PM
but the 5 minutes to midnight sounds like a metaphor to me and an inappropriate one.
Just as there are no statutes of limitations on serious crimes like murder there is no statute of limitations on war crimes unless the Congress provides them effectively by granting retrospective immunity and the Supreme Court doesn't over rule the congress on behalf of a "plantiff" in good standing.
Effectively, politically, Bush can be impeached and removed from office any time up until the Presidential election. We are not 5 minutes away from the Presidential election date which as a foreigner I understand occurs in November next year we are 11 months away.
Perhaps you can clarify why you think the clock says 5 minutes to midnight from your viewing position.
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Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1010 comments)
on Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 4:04:24 AM
It is essential that these crimes are not hidden from the people behind the cloak of National Security. It is essential that we do not allow our shadow government to continue to rob taxpayer money to finance their crimes. It is essential that we expose the abomenation of how corporate money has been used to unsurp "WE THE PEOPLE".
It is essential that we expose the hypocracy of a disserter in chief who could not be there to sacrifice for his country sending the young to WAR and extending their contracts beyond their contractual obligations.
It is essential that the expert in deferment making literally millions off the Blood of those who back up their patriotism with real risks be exposed for the elitest Greed that it is.
They do not have the stomach for that fight. They only know how to hide and run. The need the Corporate SS (Blackwater) to keep the people in line. Mercenaries fight for money not for a cause. They are not bound to serve the Constitution only to collect the pirates booty offered t
