LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
2010 Webby Award Winner for Best Political Blog
 
February 18, 2012
Log in / Register

 Choose a size
Text Size

Most Read

Déjà Pooh

Truthdigger of the Week: Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis

This Gay Man Represented the President

Apple's China Comes Home to Haunt Us

What's Really at Stake in 2012

Most Comments
Most Emailed

Reports
 * NEW! * The Lowdown on Fracking
 * NEW! * The .0000063% Election

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture
 * NEW! * Déjà Pooh

Digs
Financial Meltdown 101

Truthdig Bazaar more items

 
Ear to the Ground

How to Put Impeachment Back on the Table

Email this item Email    Print this item Print   

Posted on Jan 26, 2007
Bush
nialler9

Former Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman writes in The Nation that in the year since she called for Bush’s impeachment, the case against him has only gotten stronger. Just because Nancy Pelosi has taken impeachment off the table, Holtzman argues, doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen.

  • Read Truthdig’s interview with Elizabeth Holtzman
  •  

  • Read Truthdig’s interview with John Dean on impeachment

  • The Nation:

    Public anger at Bush has been mounting. On November 7 voters swept away Republican control of the House and Senate. The President’s poll numbers continue to drop.

    These facts should signal a propitious moment for impeachment proceedings to start. Yet House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has taken impeachment “off the table.” (Impeachment proceedings must commence in the House of Representatives.) Her position doesn’t mean impeachment is dead; it simply means a different route to it has to be pursued. Congressional investigations must start, and public pressure must build to make the House act.

    This is no different from what took place during Watergate. In 1973 impeachment was not “on the table” for many months while President Nixon’s cover-up unraveled, even though Democrats controlled the House and Senate. But when Nixon fired the special prosecutor to avoid making his White House tapes public, the American people were outraged and put impeachment on the table, demanding that Congress act. That can happen again.

    Congressional and other investigations that previously found serious misconduct in the Nixon White House made the public’s angry reaction to the firing of the special prosecutor—and the House response with impeachment proceedings—virtually inevitable. Early in 1973, once it appeared that the cover-up might involve the White House, the Senate created a select committee to investigate. The committee held hearings and uncovered critical evidence, including the existence of a White House taping system that could resolve the issue of presidential complicity. The Senate also forced the Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Watergate. Other committees looked into related matters. None of the investigations were prompted by the idea of impeachment. Still, they laid the groundwork for it—and the evidence they turned up was used by the House impeachment panel to prepare articles of impeachment against Nixon.

    The same approach can govern now. Senate and House committees must commence serious investigations that could uncover more evidence to support impeachment. The investigations should ascertain the full extent of the President’s deceptions, exaggerations and lies that drove us into the Iraq War. (They can simply in effect resurrect Republican Senator Howard Baker’s famous questions about Richard Nixon: “What did the President know and when did he know it?”) Congress should also explore the wiretapping that has violated the FISA law, the President’s role in mistreatment of detainees and his gross indifference to the catastrophe facing the residents of New Orleans from Katrina.

    Read more

    More Below the Ad

    Advertisement


    Comments

    Are you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.

    By bobby hollis, February 20, 2007 at 8:23 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    The comparisons to Watergate or Monika have so little to do with Bush and Cheney . I can’t fathom these could be considered in the same league . Bush and Cheney , in my opinion should have every dollar they have , taken from them . Their passports too They should live out their lives on social security income . Any money they receive should be taxed at 99%. No Clinton Kennebunkport free mansions. What they have done to my country is what makes me have these mean thoughts.
      Every citizen deserves Justice. He has committed treason in broad daylight ,documented by his own signing. In earlier times they would be hung by the neck until dead.    IMPEACH THE SCONDRELS and prosecute them for their crimes.            Thank you for this space to vent my frustations.

    Report this

    By Marc Strassman, January 30, 2007 at 12:08 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    You can now read New Mexico Senate Joint Resolution 5, calling for the impeachment of Bush-Cheney, as well as listen to an exclusive 28-minute phone interview with SJR5 co-sponsor Gerald Ortiz y Pino, at:
    http://www.etopiamedia.net/newearth/pages/tic/tic2-5551212.html
    You can also access it directly on the Impeachment Channel, at:
    http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid452319921
    and syndicate the Impeachment Channel to one or more additional web pages by going to:
    http://admin.brightcove.com/syndication/?offer=k0SG2Ht6osC9TbDEvZtpZg==
    Regards,

    Marc Strassman
    Executive Producer
    Impeachment Channel
    http://www.etopiamedia.net/newearth/pages/tic/tic0-5551212.html/
    Etopia News web site:  http://www.etopiamedia.net

    Report this

    By libhomo, January 29, 2007 at 5:57 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Bush has confessed to illegal wiretapping while television cameras were rolling.  There just isn’t a factual basis for opposing impeachment.

    Report this

    By Toby, January 29, 2007 at 5:16 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Dear Paul In The Right [Wing]

    Always good to hear from a “patriot”.

    No doubt you are even now rushing to get your affairs in order so you can enlist and go fight in Iraq.

    God speed.

    Almost forgot, IMPEACH!

    Report this

    By paul, January 29, 2007 at 2:41 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    To Toby’s of 1/29.

    Let me be sure I understand.  We are at war.  Your quote “People are dieing.”  Therefore, according to your logic, we should get out of Iraq and impeach Bush.  DAAAhhh??  What did I miss?  Toby. People died in WWII.  People always die in wars. In WWII, we were no more threatened here in the contiental US by Germans, than we are now by terrorists taking us on in Iraq.  In fact, these terrorists already hit us on 9/11.  Did you forget already?  The US fought to free France in WWII.  People died there, Toby.  Should we have left after we lost troops, but before France was freed?  Should we have impeached FDR?  Thank God, you’re just a another crazed liberal blogger and not setting policy.

    Paul
    In the Right

    Report this

    By Toby, January 29, 2007 at 9:12 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Enjoyed reading comments, particularly Comment #49981 by Outraged

    We the people sent a message to congress last November. They got part of it ... end the war. But failed to grasp how serious we are. The people, including more than a few republicans threw the republican majority out of office. Why?

    Because we are sick and tired of corruption, because we are sick and tired of wasteful spending, because we are sick and tired of rubber-stamping, because we are sick and tired of NO ACCOUNTABILITY, because we are sick and tired of being LIED too!

    They got that message, now we need to re-send them the message they DIDN’T get. We REALLY want the war to end!

    We don’t want platitudes, resolutions and a “menagerie” of wannabee presidents saying it! We want them to DO IT!

    WE WANT THE WAR IN IRAQ TO END!

    They know the administration has no intention of doing anything different than escalating to stay the course. They know that. They know the administration believes their will over-rides the will of the people. They know that.

    Therefore, the only real option they have is IMPEACHMENT. And, they know that too.

    So, it falls to we the people to get the message to them ... we know you know and we are tired of waiting!
    WE WANT BOTH!
    IMPEACH!
    END THE WAR!

    GET ON WITH IT!
    PEOPLE ARE DIEING!

    Report this

    By Marc Strassman, January 27, 2007 at 4:25 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Dear impeachment supporter,

    Announcing the launch of the Impeachment Channel with “Vietnam-Iraq: lies, exposes, smears, indictments, impeachment”

    listen to a comparison of how both the Vietnam and Iraq wars were incited by lies, exposed by Establishmentarians who were smeared by White House thugs, leading to cover-ups, special prosecutors, indictments, sacrificial fall-guys, and eventual impeachment, on the newly-launched Impeachment Channel, at:

    http://www.etopiamedia.net/newearth/pages/tic/tic0-5551212.html

    Regards,

    Marc Strassman
    Executive Producer
    Impeachment Channel
    http://www.etopiamedia.net/newearth/pages/tic/tic0-5551212.html/

    Report this

    By Daniel Johnston, January 27, 2007 at 2:45 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    I supported the impeachment proceedings of Bush/Cheney for years.  I recognize that they could be impeached for multiple reasons, not just the disaster of Iraq.

    But I’m starting to feel dismayed.  The newly controlled Democratic Congress are acting cowardly.  The law doesn’t seem to apply to this administration.  This country is a mess.

    Report this

    By 127001, January 27, 2007 at 1:19 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Impeach.

    Report this

    By Outraged, January 27, 2007 at 12:21 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Investigations into Bush/Cheney practices have only begun. For those involved “hang in there America is behind you.”  I talk to the PEOPLE, conservative and liberal alike and I do not find support for this “team”.  From what I can ascertain the PEOPLE do not want any more of it!  The PEOPLE are what America is about.  They say you can’t fight city hall, I say you cannot fight the PEOPLE and win.  Imagine if you will America without her PEOPLE.  America is nothing without her PEOPLE.  Make sure “AMERICA’S” voice is heard.  Impeach Bush/Cheney & Co who say America is here whether we are here or not.  Do not be mislead, the PEOPLE are America.

    Report this

    By C.P.T.L., January 26, 2007 at 8:26 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Among the many arguments for impeachment one of the best is that it would make official that there was malfeasance and the extent of it. In a country where the media is too timid to call a lie a lie and the national discourse can be diverted and stymied by the introduction of base questions such as: should we torture? kidnap suspects and hold them without trial? limit Habeas Corpus? we need to get a grip on who we are and what we stand for. One doesn’t know how to fix a problem until they can identify it. And we know that there are more than we can identify - 750 signing statements to start with, prewar intel… it goes on and on. We have rights to get back because they were taken, in secret, for no decent reason and everyone with a high school education knows the America they care about has taken a few steps toward dictatorship. We need to impeach President Bush and to run Cheney out of office because the work isn’t going to do itself and impeachment is where it starts.

    Report this

    By Spinoza, January 26, 2007 at 7:43 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    The crimes of Bush are in part international in nature. He should be tried in an International court.

    Our country is in grave danger, we are all in grave danger.The right wing is still on the march and the liberals are selling out as usual.  If there were justice Bush and Cheney would be hanging from lamposts like Mussolini was.

    Please see Democracy Now for Friday January 26th.

    Report this

    By DennisD, January 26, 2007 at 7:24 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    By Congress not impeaching Bu$h they are condoning his actions and should be seen as nothing more than co-conspirators.
    If not IMPEACHMENT NOW? WHEN?
    Just what the hell do you have to do in government to be held accountable for anything besides get a BJ? What’s next from our illustrious Congress - a NON-BINDING IMPEACHMENT. Whoopee - the whole world is LOL at us for allowing this charade to go on.

    Report this

    By hotpotatomash, January 26, 2007 at 1:44 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    GET EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS ON THE RECORD THAT BY NOT IMPEACHING BUSH/CHENEY THEY ARE IMPLICITLY SUPPORTING WAR WITH IRAN AND THE REPERCUSSIONS THAT FOLLOW.

    Report this

    By Don Stivers, January 26, 2007 at 1:26 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Look!  Our President and HIS administration lied about things that resulted in the death of innocents.

    HE was given the authority to make the desision to wage war by Congress if HE deemed it necessary.  People relied on information given by HIS office to give HIM authority.  HE did not wait for the UN weapons inspectors to finish their work.  HE arrogantly strutted around calling himself a “WAR” President. 

    If lying about a sexual episode between two consenting adults is reason for Impeachment, then lying about weapons of mass destruction is an Impeachable offence.

    Where is the JUSTICE for those who have died for HIS arrogance?

    Impeach HIM and anybody else tied to HIS decieving and convict HIM for war crimes.  Did not Saddam Hussien get hung for war crimes committed against the Kurds?  This president ordered in our best weapons against the Iraqis and even as commander in chief allowed phosphorous weapons against innocents.  Phosphorous weapons are against International Law. 

    The BUCK STOPS WITH GEORGE W. BUSH!

    Sincerely, Don Stivers

    Report this

    By Jon B, January 26, 2007 at 1:13 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    In election, candidates talk about issues that are paramount importance to PEOPLE and the nation. Did Pelosi ask and/or tell people why the impeachment is off the table? This is downright pathetic.

    Report this

    By Jackie T. Gabel, January 26, 2007 at 12:11 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    RE: • Comment #49819 by Steve Hammons  on  1/26  at  7:09 am — “Impeachment coud be “winning the battle but losing the war.”

    >>> agreed

    that’s why you’ve got to go for the puppet masters - to get to them you’ve got to put the puppets in the doc and show them the noose - their offenses are treason - that’s the charge - when they start flipping on their handlers - charge them all - the shadow handlers are who you’re really after - these are the ones reeking havoc in the world, ultimately under the direction of the New World Oligarcy, mob of global financiers - it’s a private army of black-ops/psy-ops forces — think Black Water - think Waffen SS - the quickest way to get them? 911Truth - End War Of Terror

    Report this

    By Ellis, January 26, 2007 at 12:10 pm Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Has it dawned on anyone that Bush is just plain mentally ill and should be removed from office on that basis alone ?? Can’t we force a psychiatric evaluation of this deranged man ?? He shows many signs of psychosis….why don’t more people see this ??

    Report this

    By chuck i, January 26, 2007 at 11:57 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    IMPEACH HIM FOR THE BLOODSHED IN IRAQ. IMPEACH HIM FOR NOT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA & CONGRESS. IMPEACH HIM FOR MISMANAGING THE PRESIDENCY! CHENEY HAS TO GO TOO. HE’S WORSE THAN BUSH. THEY ARE KILLERS.

    Report this

    By C Quil, January 26, 2007 at 11:14 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    If Bush and Cheney were both impeached, isn’t the Speaker of the House the next in line?

    Now that would be a two-for-one - first female speaker and first female president, all in one year.

    Go on - impeach. It’ll feel great.

    Report this

    By Lefty, January 26, 2007 at 11:01 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    To Steve Hammons:

    If Bush and Cheney were impeached, convicted and removed from office, Nancy Pelosi would become President.  Whether she would pardon them is another issue.

    Having said that, if the grotesque acts of this putative president and his administration - among other things, falsifying evidence and lying to Congress and the world as a subterfuge for a war for profit, wasting national treasury on this fraudulent war, the deaths of U.S. soldiers and mass murder of Iraqi civilians on this fraudulent war, torture and murder of allegedly suspected terrorists held indefinitely in secret forign prisons, illegal spying on U.S. citizens, and now the purposeful delay of aid to Louisiana following Katrina because the governor is Democratic - are not grounds for impeachment, conviction, removal and severe punishment, then there never have been grounds to impeach a president, there never will be, and the numerous references to impeachment in the U.S. Constitution are meaningless surplusage.

    Report this

    By felicity, January 26, 2007 at 10:54 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Starting impeachment proceedings, regardless of where they lead, would most likely do much to restore our image in the world.  We, by way of Bush, have lost the hearts and minds of the rest of the world. Others may not hate us as much as they hate Bush, but we end up in his corner because we tolerate him.

    The most effective way we can counter terrorism is to be seen as a friend rather than a foe.  People don’t usually kill people they like.  Duh!

    Report this

    By trantieungoc, January 26, 2007 at 10:50 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Just kick at his butt then show him the exit. Impeachment needs a lot of bureaucratic works and wastes tax payer money.

    We really do not need a scarecrow as president !

    Report this

    By George S Semsel, January 26, 2007 at 10:46 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    As long as the weak-kneed congress continues to pass non-binding resolutions, there will be no impeachment. On the contrary, such congressional inactions will only lead to a much stronger executive branch which can only see such weakness as carte blance to do as it pleases.

    Report this

    By Margaret Currey, January 26, 2007 at 9:50 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    I think this president should get out of office, but to impeach someone just because a war is not winnable may not be the way to go, Johnson started a war in Vietnam, should we have gone there, did not lies make more men die than should have?

    I think that if everyone wanted the man impeached they should let congress know, but this man has two more years left, and who would replace him, and I believe this man will not go quitely he will fight and then the business of fixing a lot of damage will go unfixed.

    I think Congress should work on undoing the damage that this president/vice president have done.  Of course if people would have listened to Powell maybe the whole war would not have started.

    Congress voted to go to war, so can a president be impeached if he is following congress?

    On the other hand if he vetos everything congress sends him or if he uses his sighning statements than that would be a clear sign that he is trying to become a dictator.  People should remember that this “Emperor has no clothes”, I believe that he might see the light that the Republicians in Congress are shinging in his direction and change his mind on some of his concepts.

    But personally I think he should be taken out of office before he does more harm.

    Margaret from Vancouver, Washington

    Report this

    By BoDo, January 26, 2007 at 8:41 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Why is this an issue?  The man has not only committed crimes—and crimes are de facto impeachable offenses—he has openly boasted of them!  He has openly boasted of subverting the Constitution, another impeachable offense!

    To not impeach this man is to give up all pretense of the rule of law.  Impeach him, impeach Cheney, impeach Scalia.  If we have the remotest hope of presenting ourselves as a country where the law matters, they must be impeached.

    Oh, who am I kidding?  The laws don’t matter here.  You can shoot a kid on your doorstep because you’re “scared” and get away with it, and in Florida you can basically shoot anyone you want and get off if you claim to have felt threatened.  We have become a vast junkyard where the mangy dogs snarl and tear at one another.  And the vast majority is proud of
    that.  Shame, shame, shame, shame, shame.

    Report this

    By Goffredo, January 26, 2007 at 8:17 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Call Jim Webb, he’ll get things rolling on the impeachment process. 

    If Bush were to be impeached and had to leave office, would Fox News shut down, too?  What a bonus that would be…

    Report this

    By Steve Hammons, January 26, 2007 at 7:09 am Link to this comment
    (Unregistered commenter)

    There are definitely grounds for Americans to want Bush (and Cheney, and their associates) out of government.

    However, if Bush was impeached, Cheney would be president. If Cheney was also removed for some reason (like former Vice President Spiro Agnew under Nixon), some other Republican would be appointed.

    Then, most likely, pardons would be granted to Bush, Cheney and all of their associates (like former President Gerald Ford did for Nixon).

    This could short-circuit criminal (and civil)legal actions that probably will take place when many of these people leave office.

    Impeachment coud be “winning the battle but losing the war.” This issue is addressed in the article below:

    Going in circles: Vietnam, Iraq, calls for impeachment

    Steve Hammons
    American Chronicle
    January 12, 2007

    http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=19080

    Report this

    Add Your Comment

    Posts by unregistered readers are moderated. Posts by members
    are published immediately. Why wait? Register today!






                            Number of characters remaining: 4000

    Are you a human? Retype the word you see here.

         

    Please read and abide by our comment policy.
    By submitting this comment, you agree to this site's terms and conditions.

    Newsletter

    Get Truthdig in your inbox


     
     
     
    Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
    Copyright © 2012 Truthdig, L.L.C. All rights reserved.