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The following are excerpts of the Articles of Impeachment filed against Richard Nixon, before he resigned. Let's compare those reasons for impeachment to the Bush Administration's conduct. 1. Agents of Nixon's Re-election Campaign broke into the Democratic National Party Headquarters . (Vs. Agents of the Republican Senate leadership recently broke into computer files of the Democratic Senate leadership.)
2. Nixon Administration officials, using powers of his high office, delayed and obstructed investigations of unlawful activities and made false or misleading statements to investigators, and withheld relevant evidence from them. (Vs. the Bush Administration has delayed, impeded and obstructed investigations by the 9-11 Committee.)
3. Nixon misused the CIA and other Federal agencies to engage in unlawful activities. (Vs. Bush Administration mis-used intelligence information to justify a "preemptive war," and identified a "deep cover" CIA agent for political purposes.)
4. Nixon made false or misleading public statements to deceive the people of the United States into believing that a thorough and complete investigation had been conducted with respect to allegations of misconduct of Administration officials. (Vs. Bush Administration gave false and misleading public statements to deceive the public into supporting a "preemptive war" in Iraq)
5. Nixon misused the FBI and other executive personnel, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens. (Vs. Bush Administration violations of constitutional rights under the Patriot Act, such as holding a U.S. citizen indefinitely without charges).
6. Nixon has failed without lawful cause to produce papers and recordings that were subpeonaed by investigators. (Vs. Bush Administration has avoided providing subpeonaed information on 9-11 to the full 9-11 Committee).
"In all of this, Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States. Wherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office."
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