The Democrats aren't going to do anything differently than they already have.

The U.S. has come to the end of our economic rope and is holding on to the knot.

The ice is so thin that the Dems fear any movement would simply collapse the remaining economy and they would then be culpable for their actions.

It is much easier to stand by and blame Bush and Cheny for all that is wrong and vindicate the 540 in Congress as innocent bystanders who were powerless under Bush's intellect and cunning. Geez!

Ya see what telling the truth did for Paul and Kucinich.

by Mike Folkerth (120 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 566 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 9:08:24 AM

  (0+)

Mike - I hear what you're saying, but the moment you accept what the enemy - in this case the Dems - want you to believe you've joined the team.

Rob - Good piece. Regarding the Dems being "criminally insane," though, I would suggest that's letting them off the hook a little too easily. Let's just call their behavior criminal and leave it at that - accomplices at best.

cbw

by Cheryl Biren-Wright (30 articles, 41 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 485 comments [7 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:06:48 AM

  (0+)

I'm not sure what you believe that I am accepting? Please expound.

And do I have little faith in our current leaders in Congress...not really, I have none.

by Mike Folkerth (120 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 566 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:27:37 AM

  (0+)

first, i was joking about the "joining" them part - sorry, i know that wouldn't be the case. and, like you, i don't have faith in them, but i do have faith in us.

your message just seemed to me kinda like why bother, they're not going to do anything anyway, if you speak the truth you'll get dismissed and marginalized.

i'm a believer in the power of the people and while it will always be an uphill battle, when pushed, push back harder - that's all.  the dems want us to stop pushing and your comment seemed to suggest that it wasn't worth pushing.

i apologize if i offended you.

by Cheryl Biren-Wright (30 articles, 41 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 485 comments [7 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:06:00 AM

  (0+)

that you don't think I consider the Pelosi Reid crew innocent victims. I was thinking like that about a year ago, and it lasted a few months. Now, like I said, I consider them criminally negligent at best,  enablers or accomplices more likely.

by Rob Kall (952 articles, 4177 quicklinks, 374 diaries, 2087 comments [45 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:31:52 AM

  (0+)

i know you don't think that rob.

as a former mental health professional the use of the word "insane" to me suggests something beyond ones own control. i just wanted to throw out another word that reflects the active choices they're making and not making.

by Cheryl Biren-Wright (30 articles, 41 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 485 comments [7 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:10:24 AM

  (0+)

I think the correct term may be sociopathic. Here are some traits of the sociopath:

1. Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
2. Do not perceive that anything is wrong with them
3. Authoritarian
4. Secretive
5. Paranoid
6. Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seek out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
7. Conventional appearance
8. Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
9. Exercise despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
10. Have an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore need their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
11. Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
12. Incapable of real human attachment to another
13. Unable to feel remorse or guilt
14. Extreme narcissism and grandiose
15. May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)

Sociopaths also tend to gravitate to positions of power, of which they are the least qualified to fill. Hence, our political system. The people least qualified to fill positions of power and influence are the ones that run for office and win. They win because they are good liars, and if they have the money and influence of others that have the same global agenda of ruling the world, they rise to the top.

One of the main things to remember about this type of personality is that there is no cure. A sociopath will not change. There is no effective treatment for this disorder. To change, one must admit that there is a problem. By his/her very nature, the sociopath does not think there is anything wrong with his/her behavior.

by Barbara Peterson (73 articles, 109 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 541 comments [98 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:38:11 PM

  (0+)

They're contemptuous of those who seek to understand them because they privately believe all people are whores.  All people have a price at which their morals will mean nothing to them.  The psychopath (Hare's term) perceives himself as different insofar as he's aware of his own tendencies in that direction.  He admits to them, if only privately, and in some cases, even glorifies them.  Pathetically, he can't find anything wrong with himself if he's just like everyone else.  This is a collectivist in the final analysis, and collectivists become authoritarians in an effort to control the sacred consensus.  (An individualist whose rights were sufficiently protected would simply make his own decisions, not dupe others into making them.)  Of course, all authoritarians are going to be secretive and paranoid.  They instinctively know it wouldn't be possible for everyone to willingly and genuinely agree with them all the time (or even most of it), so they watch for so-called traitors or terrorists.  As their paranoia overwhelms them through snowballing complications, enslaving others becomes a dangerously addictive remedy.  They can't quit without panicking. Despotic control over every aspect of a victim's life becomes counterintuitive or self-contradictory insofar as they want those victims OUT of their lives, period.  They make their victims appear responsible for the predicament they may privately feel, out of impenetrable confusion, they brought on themselves.  (Human relations are not that simple in reality.)  Sadly, willing victims are utterly despised by these people.  Why can't their marks see through the scams?  Why don't people get it?  They must all be stupid.  The human race is insufferably stupid.....and so on (a rant).  FREEDOM is what totalitarians crave, but they can't conceive of it as Ron Paul does.  Freedom, it seems, can only exist through the total elimination of burdensome victims.  Remorse and guilt are incomprehensible to the perpetrators at this stage of the game because all significant players were for sale, and were therefore immune to their own remorse.  The "psychopath" (as if this was a permanent malady of some sort) simply recreated his or her childhood in most cases.  He or she probably never knew anyone who couldn't be described as a player.  In a wasteland like that, narcissism is all you have to live for, and you're going to be insatiable as a natural outcome of malnutrition.  Yes, there is such a thing as psychological malnutrition.   

by Amber Larson (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 13 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 10:34:02 PM

  (0+)

That sounds a lot like Hillary to me. Is the whole dang government corrupt and sociopathic? I certainly wouldn't be a bit surprised.

We must do something and quick.

by b2008 (4 articles, 2 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 43 comments) on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 at 7:50:14 AM

  (0+)

Isn't it just about as likely in the event of impeachment hearings that Bush/Cheney would find a cause to invade Iran, start World War III, and then suspend the November elections and declare martial law?  This is the scenario Ralph Nader laid out in a youtube video a month or so ago as one Massachusetts rep's excuse for not pursuing hearings.  His conclusion was that whether congressional democrats believe that scenario is possible or not, things may be "a lot scarier than we thought."

by Petercapecod (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 7:25:45 PM

  (0+)

The Congress is no more criminally insane than the Bush/Cheney regime.  Barry Goldwater made a comment about cutting off the Eastern part of the US(including DC) and letting it drift out to sea.  An idea whose time has definitely come!  How can we, as reasonable human beings, look any politician in the eye and believe anything they say?  How can they live in DC with all of the portraits and statues of truly great Americans and not give a damn about this country and her people?  Pond Scum has more ethics, integrity, and honor than those elected to Congress and the administration.  A little over eight years ago most of these very same people impeached Clinton for lying about a sexual screwup.  Now they are refusing to even investigate Cheney/Bush for what would have to amount to the crimes of the centuries.  Pelosi and crew must have taken a ton of payoffs to continue to hide the "tables"  I have never heard excuses so lame.  It is like they are calling in sick on a sunny day.  "It's too late"!  My arse!  The only thing it may be too late about is the chances this country has of surviving it's own government.  The rest of the world must look at us and wonder if anyone is home!  We all must be nuts to allow this crap to continue!  Political "debates" have removed anyone who dares to speak the truth or address our problems.  They would rather show a bunch of wimps b*tch slapping each other(I mean this in the nicest way)!  I have a great deal of frustration in my personal life from diseases that I and my wife are suffering from but the frustration I have from our countries sad dilema crushes those with ease.  We desparately need another Teddy Roosevelt, Abe Lincoln. or George Washington.  No one presently running for president has the combination of integrity, honor, ethics, charisma, trust, morals, or other required qualities to be electable and lead this country out of the darkness we find ourselves sinking into.  How did this Hell happen?  We all have played some part in it and we all must rise to a much higher standard if we are ever to recover from it.

by Hayesml47 (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 540 comments [10 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:19:57 AM

  (0+)

The arguments for not impeaching are about winning the next election and not being divisive. 

If those arguments are used now when the impeachable offences include aggressive invasions (of foreign countries) and torture (of foreign nationals) foreigners must know that they will always apply in future so long as there are two major parties that see beating each other as the largest consideration. 

The problem for foreigners is that the situation of taking impeachment off the table essentially as a political tool altogether which is the way that folk like Nadler talk (when he suggests the founders didn't anticipate political parties) leaves the US Presidency as a role that Americans will pass back and forth between the parties giving the President of either party the capacity to set aside the rule of both domestic and internation law.

When Presidents know that they will not be impeached and they have Presidential pardon power they can use the office to grant illegal (against treaty) commercial favours to American corporations and American corporations will know that too.

The end result is that for foreigners it looks like the Americans are creating a position of untouchability that can be used against them despite that Americans have given their word not to do certain things - like aggressively invade and like torture.

All the argument by Democrats for not impeaching can be read as effective arguments for being able to reneg on international agreements using the position of the Presidency.  Foreigners don't vote but they are not disinterested and they are not ultimately powerless against America.  

Americans are giving foreigners very good reasons to want to hurt Americans in order to teach Americans a lesson and to remind them that there are reasons that humans agreed to treaties not allowing aggressive wars or torture.  Pelosi and Reid and yes even John Conyers and Nadler will be partially responsible for some of the anti-Americanism that is aimed at Americans in future - anti-Americanism ranging from the petty to the lethal and unlawful, because of what they are failing to do.

In considering so hard and so exclusively the domestic political situation only and only in the short term Pelosi, Reid, Conyers and Nadler are complicit in selling out the national interests of American citizens in the longer term.  

The rest of the world is not going to welcome back a sheepish America that has a knew President but has not repudiated the actions of the previous one because the rest of the world will, with good reason suspect that America wants to reserve the right to break laws with impugnity for itself.  The rest of the world is not that fond of America and doesn't have that much good faith to entend it.

Actions have consequences. Bad behavior is remembered. Invasions and torture unrepudiated is remembered.  

by Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 1308 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 6:49:18 AM

  (0+)

It was California that Goldwater wished cut off and allowed to drift .....

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 7:01:25 AM

  (0+)

I don't know if you had time to see the video I gave you as a responce to your article on "bio-Politics", but it explains our system and prepares you for the next era, the new age we are donning.  I'd like to suggest, from a tip in the Democrat Debates, Dennis Kucinich sayiung he has seen a UFO.

Imagine Bush saying the USA has contact with alien life.  Think 9-11 was big? 

by Jeanette Doney (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 307 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:21:01 AM

  (0+)

I'm not sure how serious your intent is here, but there is a body of evidence that suggests that the next 9-11 type event will be the final one needed to complete the coup, and force everyone to seek government protection from a new invader - one from a hoaxed threat from outer space.

by Bill Cain (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 434 comments [67 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:08:09 AM

  (0+)

I take it all with allot of salt, (because Murphy's Law happens more often than not)  including the UFOs because I have never seen one, and I do not want to see one, that said, it appears to be very soon we are going to get an announcement about alien life because such an announcement would be a 9-11 event...imagine what that doee to religion.  poof

by Jeanette Doney (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 307 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 2:09:31 PM

  (0+)

and similar documents. Impeding the duties of Commander-in -Chief in the times of War on Terror, how can that be interpreted, may I ask?  I said many times that the proper way to attack Bush would be not impeachment( though I would love it) but  judicial attack, a lawsuit and the best case was Katrina.  Otherwise, watch  my lips- if anyone in Congress even  mentiones that impeachment thing, his  family members would suddenly  become members of the sleeper Al- Qaeda cell ( no matter that Al Qaeda does not exist). You people see  pretty naive to me:  the machine is not built to stay still, it rusts  that way.  The Congresspeople must do what they can do: put moratorium on ALL bills for the Y 2008 and start dismantling ther machine starting from Patriot Act  and DHS while at the same time- support and   push for the Louisiana to .. quietly  open a criminal case on Cheney and Brown on Katrina. Congress must also revoke the Condi (that would be easy) and..  start bringing the troops back. 

There is also one more way: Congress can open an investigation on Bush's sanity as well  as Cheney's.

by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [130 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:29:06 AM

  (0+)

I know you mean well, but this is exactly what I object to by the Conservatives -- fanning the flames of FEAR.  Let's stop and think rationally for a moment.  Congress has some work to do to help stimulate the economy and prevent it from slipping too deeply into recession.  They need to calm the jitters of not only our own public, but Markets worldwide.  Right now, that is a more important objective than impeachment.  Claiming Bush and Cheney will do more damage this year is hyperbole we don't need.  I think the Dems will keep them in check and prevent any additional gross damage like another war or another inappropriate appointment.  Committee chairmen in Congress will continue to subpeana people and documents to try and force accountability among the Executive branch and Departments in Government.  That is progress.

Should Bush and Cheney be held accountable for their actions?  You bet they should.  Will they be?  Realistically, probably not and that will be the biggest failure of the Democrats, Pelosi and Reid in particular.  We all want a government more accountable and transparent.  We aren't going to get that with Bush or Cheney.  However, right now we need to look beyond them.  They are almost out of office.  Dems need to prevent them from doing more damage until that day, and meanwhile we need to select a LEADER who can move us forward starting in Jan. 2009.  This doesn't have to be a lost year if damage is minimized, the economy is put back on track and people are given hope that next year will be better with Democrats in charge.  Anytime you fan the flames of FEAR, paticularly when people are already uncertain and worried about the future, you make the situation worse.  I think we can do better.  Real programs and initiatives can be put forth to calm people's fears that move us forward and that should be our goal.

by Peter Wedlund (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 211 comments [7 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:37:51 AM

  (0+)

You want the congress to give the citizenry a soporific to calm them down and make them feel safe? Bullshit! Sounds like DLC talk to me.

America needs to wake the f*ck up, not get calm and relaxed. And if you don't get that then you 're part of the problem.

Fortunately, tens of millions of former Bush supporters  have already woken up.

Now, we need to wake up the Dem congress, which is clearly taking those soporific drugs you prescribed for the rest of us. 

by Rob Kall (952 articles, 4177 quicklinks, 374 diaries, 2087 comments [45 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:48:12 AM

  (0+)

Peter Wedlund has some points, Rob.  Politically, you cannot sell pure fear when it can mean freefall in an economy that takes virtually everyone down.  Fear is a brake on progess.

By the way, James BAKER is NOT our savior!!  Hello!?!

Wexler is one now we need to support.  He is showing uncommon courage. He has made clear he is looking at opening issues beyond the three semi-wimpy articles in the current Kucinich bill to impeach Cheney. What I see could be catalytic is ADDING A FOURTH ARTICLE re the 9/11 acts of Cheney and his LIES to the 9/11 Commission!

Many Americans are now unaware, and this may include you, Rob, of the testimony of Sec. of Transportation, Norman Mineta, who was WITH CHENEY from 9:20 that morning and watched Cheney watch the plane coming into DC airspace (which was "the plane... coming into the Pentagon") without any interdiction being ordered.

Once this is common knowledge, Cheney is toast faster than stale bread in your kitchen appliance.  The members of the House Judiciary Committee are possibly as ignorant as the average American and THEY are shocked and horrified when they learn about what Mineta told the commission and how the commission ignored it.

So, realistically and practically, the way forward right now is FORCING THAT FOURTH ARTICLE.  It breaks the media blockade as a bonus and things happen a LOT FASTER than if the present bill is left unamended.

We must take this to Repubs as well as Dems.  Until impeachment is FORCED to be bi-partisan, it will languish.  Lamar Smith, the ranking member (R/San Antonio) now knows.  The best SINGLE PLACE NOW to apply PRESSURE is exactly there.  1 800 828-0498 gets the Capitol switchboard.  Ask for Lamar Smith and tell his staff you know he knows about what Mineta told the commission and ask what he is going to do about it.

Surprising things can happen when a few people take a highly focused action.  Real people are still in places where their own call of conscience can change their own behaviors.  Make the Smith call today.  We might be surprised by him calling a press conference to announce he is supporting Wexler's call for hearings! 

by Carl Weis (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 23 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 1:08:31 PM

  (0+)

Right on Carl. Here's the vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDfdOwt2v3Y

by John Perry (31 articles, 32 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 81 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 5:47:58 PM

  (0+)

I for one don't trust that theory and don't want to look back in '09 and say "see I told you so" because there will be a lot of dead people who won't be able to hear a thing.

by tjb (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 255 comments [9 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:10:06 AM

  (0+)

"I think the Dems will keep them in check and prevent any additional gross damage."

Past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior. What on God's green earth leads you to believe they will "keep them in check?"

"Committee chairmen in Congress will continue to subpeana people and documents to try and force accountability among the Executive branch and Departments in Government.  That is progress."

And the Bush administration will continue to ignore the subpoenas and why shouldn't they? Like weak parents, the Dems haven't even threatened to take the car keys.

"However, right now we need to look beyond them.  They are almost out of office.  Dems need to prevent them from doing more damage until that day, and meanwhile we need to select a LEADER who can move us forward starting in Jan. 2009."

If these candidates can't show true leadership while in Congress what makes you think they're miraculously going to do so on January 20, 2009?

"and people are given hope that next year will be better with Democrats in charge." 

Just like the 2006 campaign promises? Do you remember 2007?

"Anytime you fan the flames of FEAR, paticularly when people are already uncertain and worried about the future, you make the situation worse."

 Fan the Flames Rob. Fan the F'n Flames!

by Cheryl Biren-Wright (30 articles, 41 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 485 comments [7 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:32:47 AM

  (0+)

EVERY MEMBER AND SENATOR IN CONGRESS-- ALL 373 OF THEM - WHO VOTED TO GIVE BUSH HIS VERY OWN WAR POWERS FOR IRAQ IS GUILITY OF VIOLATING HIS/HER OATH TO UP HOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND IS GUILITY OF VIOIALATING 18 USC 241-- CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE CITIZEN RIGHTS OF U.S. SOLDIERS TO BE SENT TO WAR ONLY ON THE EXPRESSED ORDER OF CONGRESS.

THAT IS, CONGRESS AND THIS PRESIDENT USED AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL FEDERAL STATUTE TO VIOLATE AND OVERRIDE THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND, CONSPIRING TO COMMIT FELONY MURDER OF U.S. SOLDIERS IN VIOIATION OF 18 USC 241.

      18 USC SEC 241

      TITLE 18- CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

      PART 1- CRIMES

STATURE

IF TWO OR MORE PERSONS CONSPIRE TO INJURE, OPPRESS, THREATEN, OR INTIMIDATE ANY PERSON IN ANY STATE, TERRITORY, COMMONWEALTH, , POSSESSION, OR DISTRICT IN THE FREE EXERCISE OR ENJOYMENT OF ANY RIGHT OR PRIVILRGE SECURED TO HIM BY THE CONSTITUTION OR LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, 

THEY SHALL BE FINNED UNDER THIS TITLE OR OMPRISONED NOT MORE THAN TEN YEARS, OR BOTH, AND IF DEATH RESULTS FROM THE ACTS COMMITTED IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION OR IF SUCH ACTS INCLUDE KIDNAPPING OR ON ATTEMPT TO KIDNAP, AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE , OR AN ATTEMPT TO KILL THEY SHALL BE FINED UNDER THIS TITLE OR IMPRISONED FOR ANY TERM OF YEARS OR FOR LIFE, OR BOTH, A OR MAY BE SENTENCED TO DEATH;

NOWHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION IS ANY BRANCH EXCEPT CONGRESS GIVEN THE POWER TO DECLARE WAR.

SO HOW CAN CONGRESS START IMPEACMENT OF ANYBODY, WHEN THEY ARE JUST AS GUILITY , 

by RICHARD SHADE (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 460 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 3:29:31 AM

  (0+)

I don't post much on message boards.  I only speak when I have something to say that I think could contribute to the betterment of the country.

 Folks, its time to quit with the politics and begin with the patriotism - not patriotism as in cheerleading and high school civics - but patriotism as in absolute candor without malice.

 I've written two piecs this morning and one last week revolving around the weaknesses of BOTH the Democrats and Republicans - who comprise the only real party in Washington - THE MONEY PARTY.

 Rob makes a lot of that same point.

 The real problem is not whether there is a Republican or Democrat at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington.  THe problem is a combination of 30 years of failed policies of BOTH parties.  There are many who brag about the Clinton Administration and I sincerely believe that economically we enjoyed a few good years because of six primary examples of good economic policy since 1979.  By the way, those six were six of only nine policies which have shonw to have both short term substance and long term success.  But even within the Clinton years, there were terrible mistakes made in the name of politics.

While none of us want economic isolation - I think all of us want to take care of America first with a sustainable economy.  Post 9/11, our efforts have been made with borrowed money from our chief competitors and with policy that only telescoped policy that favored other natioins and economies over our own.

 There is an adjustment at hand and it's not a simple "profit sharing" adjustment.

In AMerica, we have lots of young folks so enamored with the cheerleading of Washington that they have staked their entire economic lives on little to no equity.  We have young and old living beyond their means; with debt increasing exponentially and equity dissappearing right before our eyes.

 In the 60s and 70s I was an economic development specialist with the Department of Commerce following an entry into the job front as a college educator and banker.  I was dang good at it.

It was then that I saw both demand driven and supply driven economic theory practiced.  Either would work to a slight extent, if there was a basic balance within the economic structure.  But there is not today.

 With a nosediving dollar; true inflation (not political but economic inflation) at 9.3% and a prime rate that is now a full four points below true inflation, the stimulus envisioned by the Bush Administration will not work because it does not drifve the kind of investment necessary to fix the basic underlying problems.

But casting blame JUST on President Bush is not acceptable if you really want a solution.

 The Democratic Congress has also failed miserably to lead and establish the kind of sound policy required - in the vacuum of such from the Bush Administration.

by Bill Burkett (16 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 22 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:46:23 AM

  (0+)

Nothing can be done in a positive way now unless the machine or internal terror is dismantled. No good initiatives  would be able to go through. Accepting the crisis by announcing that no Bills will be  discussed in the Y2008  will be the first step to stop the machine.  Otherwise we will have the criss forever. The Congress must  openly declare that it will use the Y2008 for slef- cleaning and  the cleaning must start with hearings on  ALL Bush- created institutions with criminal justice   being used.

by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [130 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:01:09 AM

  (0+)

Start the impeachment hearings and run them throughout the election year, with daily Repug witnesses dragged on to the TV set to let everyone on Earth know who these thugs are and what they have done to America. It doesn't matter if they are impeachable in the Senate. Perhaps, after long hearings even the GOPs in the Senate would vote Yes, or cause resignations at 1600.

The point being if nothing is done, it appears nothing wrong has been done and sets a terrible and dangerous precedent for future generations.

-dusty  

by Dusty Nathan (18 articles, 0 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 69 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:58:39 AM

  (0+)

We knew, but we didn't care that our government was using evangelism, covert actions, military interventions, rigged elections, assassinations, economic blackmail, and every other tactic it could all over the world so that Rockefeller and his associates and their multinational corporations, along with the organizations he founded like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, could own and control the world. Until the JFK assassination, we were benefitting from it economically and every consumer in America felt privileged to have more than the people we were stealing from.

The chickens have now come home to roost. Anyone who has read Naomi Klein's book, "The Shock Doctrine," is aware of what we've done and how our fascist government became nothing more than the armed forces of predatory and disaster capitalism.

Our Constitution was deeply flawed to begin with, and the elites took advantage of that all along, except for the New Deal, instituted to fend off revolution and totally revoked by the Chicago Boys. Article 1, Section 5, says that Congress alone has the power to judge the elections, returns, and qualifications of members. Only Congress can remove a sitting member. So when our rigged elections install candidates who are mere shills for the military-industial-intelligence-media complex, and they are not responsive to their constituents because they don't need our votes and cannot be recalled or impeached, and they refuse to impeach Cheney and Bush, there is really nothing that we can do -- except wait for the next rigged election. And when we prove conclusively that an election was stolen, the media calls us sore losers and conspiracy theorists, the Democratic and Republican parties refuse to listen, investigate, or act (why would they mess up the good thing they've got going?), and all we can do is grumble and gripe.

We cannot hold our legislators accountable, and they in turn will not hold anyone else accountable.

A total economic collapse is way overdue. Did we think that we could keep polluting and destroying the planet and committing war crimes, genocide, torture, and crimes against humanity forever with no pay-back? That we were God's chosen people so it was okay for us to do the Devil's work?

Everyone in Congress is at least a millionaire, if not a billionaire. Their stock portfolios have doubled and tripled in value every year that Bush has been in office, and that's all they cared about. And if there is an economic collapse, they'll be out trying to buy up everything they can for pennies on the dollar. These are not human beings, they're capitalists -- they care only about profits, not about people.

Can Congress be saved? Perhaps, if there was one good man or woman there. Is there one who is so much opposed to war crimes that they have refused to remain in any political party whose leadership supports the war? One who would not throw their support to whoever their party's nominee is, no matter how pro-war? One who not only isn't a war-profiteer, but refuses to associate with war profiteers?

Didn't think so.

So, it is election time again. Don't worry about the economy. Join the frenzy, the mob psychosis, the mass hysteria, the seasonal dementia, and tell everyone who you intend to vote for in the rigged elections. Google "Vote Rescue Radio" and listen to the archive of this Sunday's broadcast. The voting machines won't work unless the results of the election are pre-programmed into them BEFORE the election. And it is your civic duty to vote in these elections because if you don't vote you can't complain, even if the results have to be known and programmed into the machines BEFORE the elections in order for the machines to work. And there is nobody to complain to. The courts are stacked and Congress couldn't care less.

But you still have your job (or was it outsourced?), your home (or did you get caught in the mortgage debacle?), your car (if you can afford the gas), and your big-screen TV (so you can watch the candidates), so why should you care any more than Congress does? There's money to be made, gold in them thar hills, Milton Friedman rules, and anyone who doesn't think so is a Commie-loving Islamo-terrorist.

The chickens, as Ward Churchill predicted, are coming home to roost.

And I hope that I don't live much longer, because I'm tired of living in a fascist country with oblivious people who use positive psychology to avoid facing the reality of what we have done and are continuing to do to the planet and to all living things on earth in our greed and selfishness.

There is no punishment adequate for us, because we acquiesced and collaborated in the deaths of over a million innocent people in Iraq, and millions of people all over the world before that. The worst that can happen will still be too good for us.

And you know it is true.

by Mark E. Smith (21 articles, 30 quicklinks, 100 diaries, 1325 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:02:38 AM

  (0+)

Americans are a deluded people. They would like to believe they're innocent. But every time you buy clothes made in a sweat-shop in China, blood diamonds from Africa, vegetables picked by immigrants from a grocery you're contributing to crimes committed so we can maintain "our American way of life".

Some life. Al Capone lived high-on-the-hog till he had to face his consequences.

When your nation spends more money on weapons than the rest of the world combined it has to tell you something. We're not a "peace-loving nation" we would like to think we are. You don't spend more money on destruction than construction and call yourself peaceful. We're a war-mongering, war-profiteering, greedy, selfish, spoiled lot that is about to experience something we have never experienced before - and it isn't going to be pretty.

Well, no sins go unpunished forever and sooner or later you pay for those sins. We just happened to pay later, which is only going to make the pay-back more horrific.

And there isn't anyone or thing that's going to "save" us. Not James Baker (please), not whomever gets in office in 08', not even impeachment, as much as I'd like to see it, it would only gain us some measure of honor back, but do nothing to starve-off the calamity that is unfolding.

If any of three things happen, which look like they will, we're cooked. The economic collapse, bombing of Iran or a "false flag" attack. Any or all of these would be enough to push us over the edge and allow for enactment of totalitarian dictates already on books and before we can assimilate what has happened half of us will be imprisoned and the other half will be dead.

And if any of you don't think it can happen there are people alive today that have witnessed this before that can tell you it can.

We have lived in a "dream world" for a long time. The dream I'm afraid is over. We're about to wake-up to a reality most of us are not prepared for or equipped to handle. The great cleansing is about to take place. For there are truths out here that no one wishes to speak about or even think about.

One truth is we have far too many people on this planet than it can sustain even with an abundance of oil. Well, we're running out of oil and when we get to the last few drops, within the neat few years, about 90% of the people on this planet are going to have to go. Cold hard fact. And there is no substitute that's going to replace oil. Even if mankind had used all his collective intelligence to have anticipated the problem at the start of the Industrial Revolution, we'd still be hard-put to have saved humanity form this inevitability. And we've been anything but "intelligent" or good stewards.

No, I'm afraid the party's over. Time to pay the fiddler - only there's nothing to pay him with and he's not going to be happy.

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 1:04:27 PM

  (0+)

I missed your point somewhere. What is it that you suggest to revive the economy? How does the highest consumptive nation on earth become sustainable in a finite world? How do the young people pay off $62 Trillion in funded and unfunded government debt?

There is point in which to call a spade a spade and I think may have arrived.

by Mike Folkerth (120 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 566 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:05:48 AM

  (0+)

Well we know Rob what it really is and of course you are right. It is a sad day in America when politics overshadow genuine issues, especially when those issues are a detriment to the nation's wellbeing. 

I think many fear that by pushing forth with the impeachment process, they will lose conservative votes and hurt their chances of winning the white house. Also the republicans will never stand up. Of course the dems inaction is just as damning, ignores their base supporters who demand action and may yet prove themselves in the congressional elections two years down the road.

by Michael Shaw (12 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 439 comments [16 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:42:14 AM

  (0+)

and then it came out that he and Robert Gates have been pushing the NATO commanders around.  My latest is oped news piece is ACTUALLY about the delusional nature of the criminality of Richard Cheney.

 There are congressional representative on the armed forces and intellgence committees who are briefed regularly and they KNOW what is going on.

 The big whigs are in Delhi (the leading world psychopaths) drawing up plans to change the UN Security Council!!

The crimes and corruption that ALL these major players have wrought is going to end a bloody civil war. I've seen the legal arguments for a war crimes tribunal for all those who have been COMPLICIT IN WAR CRIMES in the United States Congress - who have know it is an illegal war, have known all along about breaking Geneva and DID IT ANYWAY . keep voting money to commit WAR CRIMES.

 This will not "sound" nice - but these characters - criminal insanity or not should swing from a rope for their CRIMES.

 Criminally insane?  You bethca!!  Psychopaths with no consciences?  You betcha.

 And because I am on a rant - that goes for Ron Paul, too. I am sick to death of one or another Congressman NOT being guilty, they are all guilty but the hypocrasy of waving the US Constitution around while not pursuing impeachment as the LEGAL REMEDY sickens me right to my core.  Does he really not care about a single American's rights?  Or about all those dead and damaged in the Middle East - he's just a schill and a dangerous one at that.

 As for the democrats, it simply unacceptable for them to take an oath and then NOT uphold it . I saw that video of the meeting in CA when impeachment protesters were told that they were "Worse than Bush" several times .   IS THIS CRIMINAL DELUSION OR WHAT?? 

rant over ... I've vented and feel a bit better. But I am sick of these criminal characters and all the suffering they cause and I cannot help myself.
 There will be HELL TO PAY for the economic crash that is occuring, that was entirely predictable (and it's gonna get FAR worse folks!  Much!) and yet they sit there and play games with the RePUGS about a "stimulus package". 

 Nancy Pelosi is another Joe Leiberman.  She should be endorsing McCain, that's her "match".   OH, I will be SO glad to see the tail end of her!! Her disrespect of Wexler was another barf bag moment and highly insulting to ME.

by ladybroadoak (39 articles, 20 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 394 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:42:50 AM

  (0+)

As for the democrats, it simply unacceptable for them to take an oath and then NOT uphold it . I saw that video of the meeting in CA when impeachment protesters were told that they were "Worse than Bush" several times .   IS THIS CRIMINAL DELUSION OR WHAT?? 

By any chance do you have a link to that? Must have missed it.

Would appreciate it

by RLAnchors (7 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 39 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 5:27:15 PM

  (0+)

Not really. You have forgotten your history. The Secretary of War during the Grant Presidency was impeached and imprisoned after he was out of office. So it holds that after the next election most of the Republics will be out of office and Democrats will again have a large enough majority (2/3)to proceed with articles of impeachment and make them stick. Patience, Jackass, patience.

by olddemocrat (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:12:08 PM

  (0+)

Sorry, but congress cannot impeach a president after he leaves office. Bush may be investigated or indicted, although unlikely, after he leaves by a special prosecutor or the Justice Dept., but it is much more likely that we will have an Iran-Contra Affair, dog and pony show to cover Bush’s High Crimes and implicate some stoolie, such as the Reagan administration did with Oliver North.

Patience, in this case, is not a virtue.

-Frank J . Ranelli, Associate Editor

by Frank J. Ranelli (66 articles, 143 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 383 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 1:16:11 PM

  (0+)

Treason has no statute of limitations.  The cabal could and should be prosecuted for it. Better to begin the impeachment process immediately, on which to base treason.

 All of congress is complicit, save perhaps Paul, Kucinich, Wexler,and their supporters, but that said, where are their floor speeches to: end the wars today, brings troops home today, pay Iraq and Afghanistan reparartions today, make an Iraq-Afghanistan Marshall plan today; call for US wage and price controls to stave off depression today; freeze mortgage collections to prevent homelessness as needed today; freeze gas prices for same today; mandate national health care today; mandate a jobs program today;dissolve the CIA today; plan for US basic needs security for all today;and on and on...I know, we will not hear them.  No one supports all of these ideas...yet.

Every congressman/woman not fighting for these results should be challenged in 2008 by someone who will. 

I will.  I am running.  Find someone to run in your district and state today!

 Harold Burbank

Burbank for Congress 08

US House 5th District, CT

by harold burbank (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 10 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 2:01:08 PM

  (0+)

Congress has an obligation to clear the record of crimes committed by any administration.  Pardoning has been a practice by new administrations, such as Ford did, but it still leaves crimes committed unanswered and makes justice a frivilous nusiance. This is our problem, and we need to address this, not only from this administration but from an American Historical Past that has given most politicians the free from jail card, because past administrations have gotten away with worse.

We are going to stop this practice: see this link:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_dom_jerm_071221_impeachment_phobia_o.htm

Also see this link in concern who will become President. That fact that Nancy would table Impeachment also gives the impression her tabling would be for her to become President. Anyone think that perhaps she doesn't table it is because she doesn't want the job? Which would leave us with Congess to appoint the new President and Vice. I would look to Charles Grassley, Robert Byrd, or Richard Lugar, Mitch McConnell, until the torch is passed between Political parties from the election.

http://www2.jsonline.com/news/nat/ap/sep03/ap-presidential-su092003.asp

Furthermore the Impeachment proceedings will not take anything away from the elections, but become a platform to the Election Process. In fact it should be an automatic process of Impeachment, because our system has been riddled with crimes from prior administrations that go unchecked, and go without having justice served. Freedom and elections are not the ability to use our political process to get away with crimes, committed. Impeachment needs to sit front and center in any election cycle as the generator toward legitimacy and currency toward deciding candidates. Those who dismiss impeachment are those whom we don't need in the White House because they show their disregard to the Constitution, and the need to respect the process of Justice in our courts.

by Dom Jermano (20 articles, 0 quicklinks, 40 diaries, 930 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 9:04:28 PM

  (0+)

James Baker? The man who was sent to Florida in 2000 to make sure bush got in office. The same James Baker with deep interests in the Caryle Group. Who has played a significant behind the sceens iroll in nearly every bush policy, father and son. The same James Baker that was with binLaden family members on 9/11? Is this the man your think should be put in charge? Have you lost your mind?

I don't know where the hell you're coming from on this one, normally I respect what you have to say, but James Baker? Why don't you just give the keys to the vault to the crooks and be done with it?

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:17:46 PM

  (0+)

we're talking about a republican replacement for Cheney, who will become president after bush is impeached. Who? He better be very smart and capable of getting things done. And he can't be a potential presidential candidate.

by Rob Kall (952 articles, 4177 quicklinks, 374 diaries, 2087 comments [45 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:41:04 PM

  (0+)

John Warner who is retiring not perfect but acceptable

by tjb (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 255 comments [9 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:59:17 PM

  (0+)

dictates that Pelosi would take over if both bush & cheney were put out - but that is only mildly better than what we already have.

I don't hold much hope that they'll be impeachment, as richly as they deserve it and more, or that anyone put in office in 08' in our rigged elections will "save" us, or for that matter even if we'll have an election.

Any of three things could happen, and look very likely to happen, that could throw us into a tailspin we'll never pull out of. The economy collapsing, attacking Iran or another "false flag" attack. Any or all of these are enough to create enough chaos for "emergency measures" to be enacted and dictates already in place to destroy what's left of our so-called democratic/republic will be put in play.

Call me paranoid, but I'd be a little less so if history wasn't a good judge to go by. If any or all of those three happen changes could occur so fast that we won't have time to react. Everything the Patriot Act, Military Commission Act, Homegrown Terrorism and Violent Radicalization Act, Homeland Security, FEMA and "presidential dictates" have rendered are there and ready to go. And nothing or no one has made any significant challenge to any of them to stop the worst from happening. And if there's one thing we can count on with bush&co. - worst will happening.

You are absolutely right about one thing and have every reason to be extremely worried - there is plenty of time for bush&co. to do a lot more damage and I have no doubt they will.

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 1:37:45 PM

  (0+)

Cheney will resign. Bush will appoint a replacement to be approved by congress. Then, it will take some republican senators going to Bush telling him he has to resign or they'll vote him out. That will only happen if a republican VP replaces Bush.

Warner might work as a place filler. But we need more-- someone smart enough to actually help heal and protect the nation. Baker is a right winger-- a known factor, but he's smart enough to maybe help start fixing what Bush and Cheney have broken.

by Rob Kall (952 articles, 4177 quicklinks, 374 diaries, 2087 comments [45 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 5:04:51 PM

  (0+)

Once, or if, cheney goes enough dirt will be exposed that bush will have to leave too. But all of this is one BIG "if".

Pelosi is as dense as a rain-forest. She's wouldn't impeach if bush & cheney  started shooting children for sport on the White House lawn. So I really don't see this going anywhere. It's just something else for us to steam about.

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 6:30:34 PM

  (0+)

yes, pelosi "took impeachment off the table," and conyers is certainly following her lead. yes, she sets the tone for the house, but she does not single-handedly have control whether bush/cheney are impeached or not. to say she can't  or won't impeach is a bit off kilter.

for the record, there are currently - at least - 9 members of the house judiciary committee who have either signed on to kucinich's h. res. 333/799 and/or supported wexler's call to begin impeachment hearings. (there are 25 total sponsors of h. res. 333). in the last few weeks more and more reps are stepping forward and speaking with stronger language on this issue. why? cuz they are feeling emboldened by the strength of the movement. they are seeing wexler's praises sung.

screw pelosi. focus on the house judiciary where she does NOT sit. besides, did anyone see her at the press conference last friday? she looked like she is about to crack (i don't mean on impeachment - just crack in general), she could barely form a complete sentence. she's feeling the pressure.

for those that repeat the mantra, that it will never happen, that's fine for you to think that. but, what good is it doing? really? how does that help anything? so you can say told ya so? these guys need to keep feeling the heat whether it happens or not.

so, if i may be so bold as to borrow a line from tom paine -

"lead, follow or get out of the way."

by Cheryl Biren-Wright (30 articles, 41 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 485 comments [7 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 8:46:59 PM

  (0+)

Rob.

by George Washington (188 articles, 27 quicklinks, 189 diaries, 219 comments [17 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:23:47 PM

  (0+)

Perhaps the Dem leadership in congress is criminally insane, but we can't overlook a huge component of stupidity in the mix.

The Dems in congress still believe themselves to be bulletproof on Election Day, and I can't imagine how they could be more delusional. By that day, the fetid pile of dung that remains of our national economy, not to mention the world's economy, will be staring us in the face and demanding accountability. At that point, such niceties as whose fault it is will be irrelevant. If you are an incumbent, it will be your ass.

That is why I believe that Dems will win the White House in '08 and lose their feeble majority in congress. A timely display of spinal rectitude, for instance initiating impeachment proceedings, may serve to deflect some  blame and cushion their fall. It may even leave them with some bargaining power, although they keep crying that they have none of that with a majority in both houses.

That scenario's development would leave us with an effectively divided government, able to provide us with nothing better than legislative gridlock. That would provide transnational corporatists with what they desire most; ineffective, weak government with no capacity to properly regulate the market.

Whether corporatists can acheive this with a dysfunctional government, an allied goverment (as we have seen for the last thirty five years), or no government at all, it's all the same to them. It gives them a free hand with their agenda. Their agenda is economic hegemony over one and all. There is no political philosophy. It's just about the buck, and how yours can be made to be theirs.

by John Sanchez Jr. (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 25 diaries, 1791 comments [148 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:37:01 PM

  (0+)

The way the congress can help America is to get Cheney, then Bush out, and put someone in who can function competently and intelligently-- maybe James Baker. Yes, he is a Republican. But he is competent and it is not possible to put a Democrat in. That will have to wait.

James Baker is a private citizen.  Nancy Pelosi is third in line of succession. 

by Maxwell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 409 comments [85 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:45:39 PM

  (0+)

Rob’s article is accurate, significant and gravely true. While many comments point out the scores of transgressions, usurpations and the outright criminal activity during the Bush years, there is a more simple and core reason that impeachment will not happen – even for Cheney.

Her name is Nancy Pelosi. Look tomorrow for my article explaining why and what can be done.

-Frank J. Ranelli, Associate Editor

by Frank J. Ranelli (66 articles, 143 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 383 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:46:22 PM

  (0+)

should be 3rd in line for impeachment.

Who takes over after her?

Actually, I don't think we need impeachment, or even an election - a revolution seems more in order.

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 1:50:42 PM

  (0+)

Pelosi ...

by Maxwell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 409 comments [85 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 3:47:53 PM

  (0+)

 Pelosi is actually 2nd "in-line" after Bush:

Per the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. § 19);

1 Vice President Richard B. Cheney
2 Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi
3 President Pro Tempore of the Senate Robert Byrd
4 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
5 Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson
6 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
7 Attorney General Michael Mukasey
8 Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne
— Secretary of Agriculture Charles Conner (acting)‡
— Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez (non-natural)†
— Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao (non-natural)†
9 Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt
10 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson
11 Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters
12 Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman
13 Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
14 Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake
15 Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff

-Frank J. Ranelli, Associate Editor

by Frank J. Ranelli (66 articles, 143 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 383 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 2:35:16 AM

  (0+)

Byrd -- now that I could get enthusiastic about.  He's 90 years old and may have Alzheimer's, but it would still be a huge improvement.

by Gregg Gordon (26 articles, 47 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 199 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 7:12:23 AM

  (0+)

As old as the Constitution and foursquare behind it.

by John Sanchez Jr. (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 25 diaries, 1791 comments [148 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 8:16:38 AM

  (0+)

Rob,

    Fan the flames, Brother!

    Your article and all the comments are a sign that the truth has not yet been extinguished.

I'm more and more convinced that the blogs are the last free speech before the machine silences them, too. Until then,  FAN THE FLAMES!

by Jay Farrington (13 articles, 2 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 236 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:50:03 PM

  (0+)

As much as I despise the incredible damage that Bush and Cheney have inflicted on this country and on the world, I'm nonetheless compelled to say -- with all due respect -- that impeachment is no longer a practical option, now that BushCo has only one year left in power.

I's no longer a practical option for the following reasons:

1) We're now in the thick of the 2008 campaign to choose a successor to Bush & Cheney. Impeachment now will distract attention from the campaign -- and make the Democrats look overly vindictive at a time when even Republicans know deep down that if the economy tanks -- as I fully expect it will -- they can kiss the White House bye-bye, no matter who they nominate. It's been an immutable fact of life in American politics since 1932 that when the economy goes south, the party in power at the White House loses.

2) The world has already written off BushCo as hopeless and has already shifted into marking-time mode, counting down the days until BushCo's tenure ends. This has been made all the more evident by the flat rejection by the world's financial markets of BushCo's economic stimulus plan and by the cold dismissal of Dubyah's Middle East peace offensive by both the Palestinians and even some Israelis.

3) Except for the "war on terror," The Republican candidates have gone to great pains to distance themselves from BushCo on the campaign trail -- and isnt it interesting that they keep invoking Ronald Reagan. Let's see -- it's been 28 years since Reagan was elected. An entire generation has been born and has grown up since Reagan was elected. America was a very different country 28 years ago than it is now, so why are the GOPers revisiting the distant past?

4) Lest we forget, the Republicans turned impeachment into a cheap, sleazy exercise in hyperpartisanship in 1999 with their outrageous attempt to oust Bill Clinton for his personal sexual pecadilloes that had nothing to do with his job as president, instead of any real abuses of executive power -- and the Democrats simply aren't willing to go down that road.    

Simply put, under the circumstances that I've outlined above, impeachment ain't gonna happen; it's too late now.  It's time to let it go, Rob. I have.   

by Skeeter Sanders (32 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 78 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:56:28 PM

  (0+)

then you never really had it to begin with.

it's about the constitution, our civil liberties, our standing in the world, the balance of power in government, the extraordinary power grab by the exective office which in the hands of either party should scare the sh*t out of anyone half-conscious. that was the problem with the clinton impeachment it was partisan. as rep wexler, a member of the judiciary, has said members of Congress who are calling for impeachment hearings are capable of conducting sober proceedings.

what you did was lay out all the b/s talking points of pelosi, conyers, reid, hoyer and the rest who lack courage and conviction and who in the end will wind up hurting their party even more. they're more worried about what the republicans will say than their own base. most importantly, they are failing to live up to their oath of office to support and defend the constitution.

If we face your "reality" on impeachment we will have effectively crowned a king.

by Cheryl Biren-Wright (30 articles, 41 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 485 comments [7 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 1:11:59 PM

  (0+)

That logic only works if gaining the White House is the only goal.

Without at least starting impeachment how will the US regain it's standing in the world?

Do you really think that as soon as BuscCo leaves office that the rest of the world will start placing faith in the USA because there is someone new in the White House?

Unless we show that we are willing to to hold these criminals (Bush&Cheney) liable for their crimes then nothing has changed.

All we will have proved is that we are willing to allow liars, cheats, traitors, and murderers run rampant in our government. By our own inaction we are OK'ing Bush & Cheney's actions. After all boys will be boys - right?

Lies - WMD"S, Links to Al Queda, Link to 911, Seeking nuclear material, ect

Cheats - vote caging in Florida that gave, the 2000 (non)election

Traitors - outing a covert CIA Agent which in turn risked the lives of any other operatives that were known associates

Murderers - Almost 4000 of our own dead, near 1 million Iraqi's dead in a war we were lied into and are refusing to get out of.

But hey I'm sure the rest of the world will forget all about that when Bush leaves for his 100,000 acres that he purchased in Paraguay.

by RLAnchors (7 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 39 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 5:53:00 PM

  (0+)

  As a mental health proffessional, I can honestly tell you that both of them are suffering from a bonefide mental illness, Antisocial Personality Disorder. For more on this log onto http://absurdnotions.blog.com  . I believe we need to psychologically test future candidates, so this crap never happens again.

by Rick Mason (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 26 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 1:31:46 PM

  (0+)

Obama is a congressman and Ms. Clinton is a senator. The Patriot Act, War funding, HR 1955 and The Warner Act have eliminated our civil rights as we know them.

I suggest you read that legislation, see how the two candidates listed above voted on that legislation and tell me who is "going to stand up?"

Dennis and Ron Paul are the only ones who will and they are not permitted to stand up.

by tom storey (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 58 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 1:40:43 PM

  (0+)

is a senator

by Cheryl Biren-Wright (30 articles, 41 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 485 comments [7 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 4:24:57 PM

  (0+)

Rob:

Enjoy your website and columns daily! Thanks for the insights, as always.

The problems with the Democrats I believe, as someone 55 years old and old enough to have lived through the 60s, really began, post World War II, time period when I was only 11 yrs old. 1963. JFK's assassination. The Democrats, other than a few like Huey Long and a few members of Congress were willing to call the JFK hit for what it was, a coup. To say nothing of the very possible complicity of LBJ in at least knowing JFK was going to be hit and did nothing about it. LBJs thurst for power was well documented. The Dems didn't call for investigations of JFK until many years after the fact, 1976 to be exact. I believe because of this fact, along with the usual explanation that it would be "for the best interest of the country" if people didn't know the truth, thatt the criminal conspiracy that murdered JFK had to be supressed.

Sound familiar? This pattern would repeat itself in the many ensuing scandals in which this "crime family" including the Bush's and many, many others, took over our government for profiteering, exploitation and pure greed and power.

Next came Watergate. Again, the Dems decided, not tobust this crew of criminals. They let Nixon off the hook, (one might say with impeachment) and the war profiteers, who gave us the Vietnam war and supporters there of (Cheney, Rumsfield, Armitage, Secord, etc.) were again let off the hook by the Democratic leadership. They gave us Ford, put Daddy Bush in at CIA and all was well. The country was "healed."

Next chance to bust the Republican mafia came during Iran/Contra.and the Reagan/Daddy Bush years when Bush ran the county while Ronnie napped. Caught dead in their tracks with more war profiteering and downright treason in selling arms to Iran, October Suprise, etc.......not to say the drug dealing CIA factions also revealed in great length....what did the Dems do? Barely got an investigation (Walsh) and again, blew a major chance to bust this crime family type operation of war and now major drug profiteering. Al again, for presumably "the better of the repubic."

 Need another one? How about during daddy Bush's term....after the many scandals of Iran/Contra did Bill Clinton investigate and prosecute the many crimes of Daddy Bush and his gang of profiteers? S & L Scandal (who was the Democratic VP candidate with Dukakis against Bush? Lloyd Bentson, knee-deep in the Texas S&L part of the bank scandal!)... or BCCI  (can you say Democratic involvement within Carter's administration) exposed it for Democrats and for all to see. But again, there was not a peep from Clinton's administration and again, the same Neo-con conspirators were let off the hook and came back during GW's reign. This fact of Bill Clinton's complicity in the misdeeds of Bush and leads one to believe there was a "deal" made. Keep us out of jail and we'll let your wife one day become President!

Now we're being asked to elect another Clinton, who as we all know, will not bust the Bushiess for their glaringly unconstitutional actions and war crimes. Think Wolf Blitzer will ask Hillary if she'll prosecute Bush and his cronies? Do you think she would anyway? Not a prayer. This is the Democratic "leadership" problem. Hillary is the representative of the big monied interests of the Democratic Party and as far as I can tell, so will Obama be the same (hoping against hope?). At least we haven't heard anything so radical from Obama, that he would hold the criminals responsible.

The Democrats, whether in power in Congess or not, have never busted the criminal elements within the Republican Party who take advantage of every opportunity to cash in when they're in office. The Dems have let them off the hook continually. When you see, even the Speaker of the House writing off impeachment over obvious, glaring, unconstituational improprieties it cannot be even more obvious that the fix is in for this next election cycle, again.

As you have said repeatedly in your columns. It's either ignorance or complicity. I say, from history, that it must be complicity. It is one thing to feign ignorance or to say, "it's all for the better of the country if we don't impeach or prosecute" and another to continually ignore the reality on the ground.

 The Dems have had many chances to bust the criminal conspiracy that is the Republican Party. They party, for what it's worth, should be outlawed to operate. Taken down constituationally as a political party overtaken by theives and thugs, willing to trash our constitution for more power, more money and influence. Accountability, and not just in words, is not in the Democratic view, good for the country obviously. History has shown this to be true. And this time, with the draconian laws put in place by the Bush administration, we have lots to be concerned about for the future of our repulic.

 Thanks for listening.

 Dwight Loop, Mill Valley, California

by Fredrick (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 3:22:32 PM

  (0+)

It is because you do not happen to be one of the people mistakenly subjected to extraordinary rendition and being subjected to torture without trial or charges at this very moment in a secret prison, that you have written off impeachment and are willing to wait. And because you have no empathy for those innocent people being tortured.

I linked this article on another website and there is a discussion going on below it there that you should read:

http://www.care2.com/news/member/101933861/611329

by Mark E. Smith (21 articles, 30 quicklinks, 100 diaries, 1325 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 4:08:55 PM

  (0+)

In many natural healing circles it has been found that during great hardship a meditative affirmation/chant can help. Please repeat after me: VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH In order to speed up the healing process, it is also recommeneded that you do this meditative affirmation/chant as often as you possibly can until election day, at which time you VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH.

by Susan Rapp (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 16 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 5:25:07 PM

  (0+)

VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH 
VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH 
VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH 
VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH 
VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH 

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!That   feels   goooood!!!!!!!!!!!

It's so easy to focus on what's wrong, since there is so much, so wrong.  I think I could learn much from the man we both really want in the White House.

by Sha Llel (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 90 comments) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:51:48 PM

  (0+)

What are we the people waiting for?????? REMEMBER ROME BURNED AND THE PEOPLE DID NOTHING. THEY ALL DIED. same thing will happen here.what does it take for everyone to understand er need a Rebellion. The folks in Washington dont get it. They never will get it. Washington is to far gone.CORPORATE AMERICA RUNS OUR GOVERNMENT AND THE POLITICANS. we are talking about trillions of dollars being passed around. this group is organized crime at its best.no one will listen to you or me. we are pons. people need to organize and run all these politicans out of Washington D.C. JOHN ADAMS SAID remember democracy never last long. it soon waste,exhausts and murders itself. there never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT. "TO ANNOUNCE that we are to stand by the president right or wrong .... is not only unpatriotic and servile but is morally treasonable to the american public. GET WITH IT REBELL.

by vincent passiatore (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 185 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 7:36:55 PM

  (0+)

He himself called his candidacy a long shot.

He calls himself "the only real Democrat." that means that he is the only Democrat in Congress who holds his positions and that he has no support whatsoever within the Democratic leadership.

In '04 he threw his support to warmonger John Kerry.

He has already suggested that people vote for Obama, and stated that Hillary and Obama are his friends. What sort of peace activist has war criminal friends?

Kucinich is a shill. He is a very good shill -- the best in the business. But he will not leave the Democratic Party no matter what they do, and he will support the Democratic nominee no matter who it is.

So his values are not real values and he doesn't mean what he says. My party right or wrong, or my friends war criminals or not, is not the position of an ethical person.

I'm no saint and I'm not even a particularly good person. But if my party supports a war of aggression and I don't, it is no longer my party, and if I learn that a friend is a war criminal, they are no longer my friend.

Kuncinich cannot say the same.

Yes, the Democrats are criminally insane, but they have millions of people who are also criminally insane who intend to vote for them.

I want an end to the war crimes, an end to torture, and an end to disaster capitalism. I won't vote for war criminals even if one is a lesser war criminal than their war criminal opponent. I won't vote in rigged elections where votes are tallied on machines that won't work unless the results of the election are preprogrammed into them BEFORE the election.

I'm not claiming to be sane. I'm as crazy as the next guy. But like the old joke says, just because I'm crazy doesn't mean I'm stupid.

by Mark E. Smith (21 articles, 30 quicklinks, 100 diaries, 1325 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 4:00:49 AM

  (0+)

I wish that impeachment would solve our many ills, however, lately, it seems that Neo-conservatism is also taking root in Europe. Yesterday, I noted that NATO now believes that they should have 'first-strike capability using a nuclear deterrent" This seems to come right out of Bush and Cheney's philosophy, "Neo-conservatism For Dummies" which seems to be the agenda driving American and world politics.

One factor that should drive impeachment is refusing to allow another President to take office with the power that is now amassed under the concept of a "unitary executive." If we don't impeach, what message does that send to the next President? Giving Bush and Cheney a pass for their crimes against humanity is a guarantee that it will happen again, and it could mean that their policies will continue unabated even after they are out of office. The damage to the Supreme Court will take how long to fix?

Pelosi is a coward and traitor to the Democratic Congress and the people of the US, and since she knew of the torture and kept her mouth closed, its easy to conclude that "impeachment was taken off the table" in part to cover-up her own criminal culpability. History will one day portray Pelosi as the modern-day "Benedict Arnold" and I have hopes that her betrayal of the people and the Democratic Party will put an end to her career of sleeping with the enemy.

 America is finally waking-up, and only impeachment will help to mitigate the final damage that Bush and Cheney are wrecking upon our country, and now they are in "over-drive" as they attempt to bleed every penny out of our treasury before they formally leave office. In this last year of the Presidency is when both present the most danger to the free world, as neither one of them believes they will have to account for the various crimes they have committed, and are smug in their belief they are "above the law."

The patient (America) is in critical condition. We have to stop the bleeding before it becomes fatal - and only impeachment will allow us to begin healing America and there's no guarantee the patient can be saved. The nation has cancer, and only radical surgery in the form of impeachment will offer any chance of turning this country around.

William Cormier 

by William Cormier (152 articles, 11 quicklinks, 21 diaries, 418 comments [9 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 4:52:55 AM

  (0+)

Is the Dem Congress Criminally Insane?

Short answer- NO !

However should the question be, Are the U.S. Congress cowards ?

 And you'll find the answer- YES.

More to the point, why is it, that people outside the U.S. can see what's staring everyone in the face, yet U.S. citizens inside America simply cannot see the wood for the trees.

WTF ? For cryin out loud, when will you people wake up ?

You have a CRIMINAL Protection Racket running your country, a Congress that's so terrified the slightest thing they do to antagonise the criminals in charge will result in Anthrax in their mail, their relatives or their offspring suffering mysterious accidents or deaths. Such as planes mysteriously falling out of the sky. Or worse, falling through plate glass windows from skyscrapers, or even the real unquestionable one, drug over dose.

You've already seen/heard members of Congress who voiced their opposition to the criminal crowd in control, you've also witnessed the swift boating of these dissenters,(how much support have these people received either from Congress or the people ?) yet Americans still fail to receive the message.

Rest assured the dissenters have not failed, as can be witnessed by their remarkable turnaround.

I'll make a prediction, the very FIRST Congress man/woman who sticks to their beliefs and opposes the criminals, and soundly persues their beliefs, will be soundly villified and swiftboated,(the good citizens will swallow up this villification without question) if this doesn't get the message across, watch what happens to their liveihood, health,families,relatives. Why would/should anyone stand up and take these people on ALONE ?  Where is their support from Congress and the People ? Afterall, aren't they acting on the behalf of those people ?

It takes courage and strong beliefs to maintain a stand against such criminals,(witness the Mafia in Italy, how long the battle's been raging there, and still not won) do Americans have the courage and fortitude to take on these crooks and war criminals ? I seriously doubt it. Does their Congress ? No way, they'd much rather sit quietly until their retirement comes up, grab their money and turn their backs on the whole sordid deal.

Does this mean they are traitors ? Sure, without a doubt, but then whos' going to do anything about it ? Not the crooks in charge, and not the people either. So what does that leave the late land of hope and glory ?

Let's face it folks, isn't this the heart of Capitalism, America has always been a bastion for protection rackets, it's now just become a country run by the rackateers.

by Eddy Schmid (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 234 comments [17 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 4:54:04 AM

  (0+)

meaning, I thought them cowards. But they are worse than cowards. They are enablers, complicit in continuing the Iraq occupation and the Bush Cheney criminal administration. Sorry, but cowardly as an excuse does not cut it anymore.

by Rob Kall (952 articles, 4177 quicklinks, 374 diaries, 2087 comments [45 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 6:51:02 AM

  (0+)

If they were just cowards, they wouldn't be posturing about how hard they are on "defense." They wouldn't be sending other people's kids off to die.

Democratic Senator Olver, if he was just afraid of being anthraxed or assassinated, would tell the 80%+ of his constituents who want him to support impeachment: "I am your representative. I will carry out your will and represent you by signing on to impeachment. But I expect retaliation. If I am killed or members of my family are killed, I want you to understand that this is because I am choosing to represent you instead of doing the bidding of the Chicago Boys. I ask your protection. Please safeguard my family and myself. I ask for a mere thousand volunteers to stand guard at my home, accompany my family and kids shopping, to school, and wherever they go, and to protect my local and Washington offices. I am with you and I will do what you elected me to do, but I need your protection."

Instead, he brushed them off and figuratively spit in their faces with his arrogance. He doesn't give a damn what his constituents want, he wants whats good for his investment portfolio and that means BushCo wars. He's not a coward, he's a war profiteer. He like most of the Democrats, is pro-war, pro-torture, and anti-human rights. 

Only a totally fearless person can spit in the face of 80% of their constituents. Any one of them could assassinate him or one of his family members more easily than a CIA death squad could, as they are his neighbors. They don't have to infiltrate his neighborhood, they live there. They don't have to watch his kids' schools, their kids go to the same schools. They don't have to case the grocery stores, they already shop there. He has no fear whatsoever. He is complicit in war crimes and he, like all the other war criminals, has no fear of justice, vengeance, or divine retribution. He's a well-paid cog in a killing machine and he loves it. 

Nanci Pelosi, Harry Reid, John Kerry, and most of the other Democrats do also. People don't vote for torture and genocide because they are cowards. A coward would be afraid to do that and would simply resign (for personal reasons). Because when you vote for torture and genocide, you are endangering your life every bit as much as if you had voted against it and maybe more so. These are strong, fearless war criminals. They're not just bureaucrats following orders and doing their jobs out of fear, they are the people giving the orders. 

They believe that they are above the law and that nobody can touch them. They are, as Rob correctly wrote, psychopaths, not cowards.

by Mark E. Smith (21 articles, 30 quicklinks, 100 diaries, 1325 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 2:46:57 PM

  (0+)

"The democrats in congress got together and agreed that they would reject impeachment with the excuse that it would keep them from getting things done."

Like they're getting anything done now.

Have to also join those appalled by your endorsement of James Baker -- lawyer for Exxon and Saudi Arabia, largely responsible for sticking us with Bush in the first place.  Oh, he's competent alright.  Dracula was competent too, and at much the same thing.

by Gregg Gordon (26 articles, 47 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 199 comments) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 7:21:01 AM

  (0+)

the last time this nation was this upset, we grabbed the British by the balls and drove them from our country.

While I am all for talking things out and democratic process, there comes a time in a nation's history that we are given a choice.  Status Quo or Change.

The truth is that the powers that be on both sides of the isle will NEVER, let me repeat, NEVER give up the power and control that they have garnished.  The ONLY real threat to the conduct of this administration, and any that may follow, is that the people can rise up and not only vote them from office, but hang them from a tree if required.

Even God when the stench of Sodom became so bad that even he could not stand it any longer destroyed the city.  Well I do not know about you, but my nose hairs are falling out along with the ones on the top of my head.

by Michael Morris (20 articles, 0 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 316 comments [4 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 8:40:03 AM

  (0+)

The Democratic Congress is just as complicit as the Bush Administration. Our system is set up to move slowly.  Problem is that the level of inherent corruption.  The power of lobbyists, corporate interests and the financial elite - that can work 24/7/365 leave the average person powerless.  Add to that the fact that people are working longer hours, don't take their vacations and that worker insecurity is at an all time high - with massive outsourcing from the bottom up - and falling wages - falling standard of livings for most Americans.

The democrats should be held to the same standard - they are not doing their jobs - we should be able to recall them and remove them.

I have no faith in Congress, little in the "changes" any of the Presidential Candidates are offering.  The state of our nation is sad. 

Love to hear something hopeful. 

by August Adams (11 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 583 comments [11 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 10:40:00 PM

  (0+)