Has It Finally Happened? Is He On His Way Out?

[ThomWV]

Will today be seen as the first day on the road to impeachment? Today's events certainly seem to point that way.

A President who has no respect for the law and factions within the Congress who will try to make law by edict, abandoning debate.

I pray the American people will not stand for it. I have called my Senator's (Byrd) office in Washington and thanked him for his denouncement of this facist regime. I encouraged his office to support any effort in the House of Representatives for impeachment. I am sure I was not the first person to suggest that.

Please let today be the day.

[LSparkle]

1. Cliche away: From your keyboard to God's ears ...

I feel the backlash coming and BOY DOES IT FEEL GOOD!

[ClassWarrior]

2. That thought crossed my mind as I listened to him** stammer this a.m.

:fingerscrossed:

NGU.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. For what end? Cheney to be President?

I don't get the glee.

[Vincardog]

6. Cheney goes first. The end is to end the fascist rule of our government

[FreedomAngel82]

29. They all have to go

This could be the step to opening up hearings. 9/11, stolen election of 2000 and 2004, Halliburton contracts, lying about Iraq etc. They all have to go.

[Vincardog]

41. TOO TRUE

[SoFlaJet]

7. your point being what?

it's not like he isn't running it all now anyway-get the figurehead and then the next one down the line

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Maybe we can get rid of the whole gang...

ala Nixon/Agnew.

[TheCowsCameHome]

18. One small victory at a time, my friend.

Patience.

[Cobalt Violet]

4. Either he is impeached or we have a dictator.

It's one or the other. People who don't want him impeached want a dictator and not a constitutional republic.

[Birthmark]

16. I agree, Cobal Violet

The true Americans must show up now. Bush threw down the gauntlet today and dared Congress to assert itself. If Congress fails, it will make itself irrelevant and leave Bush the uncontested King of America.

[FreedomAngel82]

31. I was listening

last night to Laura Flanders who was talking to some Congress guy and he was saying he was going to get an investigator on the case. I hope so! I think his name was Madler or something like that.

[lumpy]

44. Nadler ?

nt

[marylanddem]

5. I don't know but something feels different.... n/t

[phantom power]

8. They've lost their mystique of invulnerability.

Too many people have figured out they're just liars and crooks. And the Dems smell the blood.

[Canuckistanian]

10. They really seem to be pedalling furiously on this one

So many ridiculous talking points out there, so many appearances by Condi...

They were obviously caught with their pants down with this one.

The only deciding factor is... Does America care that they're being spied on?

[FreedomAngel82]

32. I think so

I think the only people who don't care are the freeper types and fundies who are adoring and almost at the point of worshipping him. I think us average Americans are pretty pissed.

[dragon_hour]

11. Boxer's Checking it out...

Senator says she's asked for opinions on Bush impeachment
RAW STORY

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has become the first in the Senate to raise consideration of impeachment of President George W. Bush for authorizing spying on Americans without warrants, RAW STORY has learned.

In a release issued this evening, Boxer said she's asked "four presidential scholars" for their opinion on impeachment after former White Housel counsel John Dean -- made famous by his role in revealing the Watergate tapes -- asserted that President Bush had 'admitted' to an 'impeachable offense.'

Boxer isn't the first congressmember today to float the word. Earlier today, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) said Bush should be impeached if he broke the law in the spying program. The liberal California senator has tangled with Bush before -- earlier this year, she challenged the president's Ohio electoral votes.


Boxer's statement, acquired by RAW STORY, follows.

#
BOXER ASKS PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS ABOUT FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL’S STATEMENT THAT BUSH ADMITTED TO AN ‘IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE’

Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today asked four presidential scholars for their opinion on former White House Counsel John Dean’s statement that President Bush admitted to an “impeachable offense” when he said he authorized the National Security Agency to spy on Americans without getting a warrant from a judge.

Boxer said, “I take very seriously Mr. Dean’s comments, as I view him to be an expert on Presidential abuse of power. I am expecting a full airing of this matter by the Senate in the very near future.”

Boxer’s letter is as follows:

#
On December 16, along with the rest of America, I learned that President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to spy on Americans without getting a warrant from a judge. President Bush underscored his support for this action in his press conference today.

On Sunday, December 18, former White House Counsel John Dean and I participated in a public discussion that covered many issues, including this surveillance. Mr. Dean, who was President Nixon’s counsel at the time of Watergate, said that President Bush is “the first President to admit to an impeachable offense.” Today, Mr. Dean confirmed his statement.

This startling assertion by Mr. Dean is especially poignant because he experienced first hand the executive abuse of power and a presidential scandal arising from the surveillance of American citizens.

Given your constitutional expertise, particularly in the area of presidential impeachment, I am writing to ask for your comments and thoughts on Mr. Dean’s statement.

Unchecked surveillance of American citizens is troubling to both me and many of my constituents. I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator:kick:

[newyawker99]

21. Hi dragon_hour!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[FreedomAngel82]

35. Welcome to DU dragon_hour!

[FreedomAngel82]

34. Go Boxer!

Wow! She's amazing. First person to oppose the EC votes and now this! :loveya: Go Boxer!!

[katinmn]

39. Sen. Boxer is always in step with us

if not one step ahead.

[in_cog_ni_to]

43. If she runs for Prez...she has my money, time, efforts and vote!

Boxer ROCKS!

[onehandle]

12. Not unless we take back Congress.

Hate to burst anyone's bubble, but the GOP leadership won't let Impeachment get to the floor.

[Ladyhawk]

19. And then we must talk about DIEBOLD, ES&S, Sequoia, etc.

It always comes back to this. I'm still not 100% sure the 2004 election was stolen, but since these machines are not secure, they should not be used. I'm beginning to think all my energies will be spent on this issue as soon as some medical things clear up for me.

[Conker]

13. I wouldn't get so excited if I were you.

In a CNN poll 41% of people feel the spying is justified.I am sure its even closer to %50 on other MSM polls (MSNBC,Faux).I guarantee you that Bush will never be impeached.We can hope and try, but there is just no way it will happen.I've have been hoping forever that he will get impeached, but it's just not very likely.Look at all the horrible things he has already done and gotten away with.What's worse is the Democrats don't control any of the branches of gov. or the media.We are fighting in a losing battle.

[onehandle]

15. Hello. 2006.

It's within our grasp. We retake Congress and Bush is history.

Even without wiretapping.

Nice try.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. Last I Checked CNN Polls Had No Bearing On Articles Of Impeachment

And I also don't recall there being a special election to vote if the public wants the articles to go forward or not.

What I do recall, is that if enough members of congress consider there to be grounds the impeachment process begins.

Tough challenge? Maybe. More likely to get enough votes with each further nail in his coffin? You bet.

[shadowlight]

33. eep

[The2ndWheel]

14. Didn't people say that

with the DSM? Or the covert tax funded reporters? Or the manipulated call for war? Or the election? Or the other election? Or the other election? Or the global network of secret prisons? Or the torture pictures? Or the PDB?

It'll be something else next month I'm sure.

I know, people are pissed about spying. Well, form a commission to look into it, have a few press conferences, most importantly let some time pass(perfect that we have not one, but two big days coming within a week of each other), and you've got another, "what was that story about again?", moment for everyone to barely remember.

[mmonk]

17. They control all three branches of government,

much of the judiciary, and the press. We have to be forceful in demanding impeachment from our representatives or rebel.

[Bloodblister Bob]

20. Majority of Americans too stupid, scared, or apathetic to care. nt

[Mz Pip]

22. Won't happen

I suspect that enough people don't really have a problem with our govenrment spying on its citizens. The way this has been framed by BushCo they are spying on little bin Ladens who want to kill us all. So that doesn't really seem to trouble people. It should but it won't. Then the stakes will be raised and before you know it our government will be spying on people who express dissent. It may already be happening but we'll never know because they ain't telling. And BushCo will justify it.

I think the government is already spying on more than just people with links to bin Laden. We can't prove it and even if we could BushCo would spin it about protecting us from terrorists who might somehow have infiltrated peace groups or anti-abortion groups or even Democratic action groups.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[FreedomAngel82]

24. One can hope anyways

I think it's up to us anyways to keep pushing the issue. We can't give up and we have to encourage everyone to write their people or call or whatever you feel comfortable doing with. Even if they are powerful republicans like my reps are. We have to show them we mean business and our government is still of the people, by the people and for the people. They can't steal it anymore from us and bully us around. To those who do show they are on the side of the law reward with praise, money etc. It's up to us and we have to get the word out that we mean business and we're not going to take it anymore! Let every progressive radio show know we mean business and anyone else who is pissed off about it can join us whether you're a progressive in the sense in any way or not. We can make it happen! And I think so too if even conservatives like Bob Barr are pissed off about it.

[ClassWarrior]

27. Keep hope alive Angel!

B-):thumbsup:

NGU.

[Doctor_J]

25. shyeahright

Pass the bong when you're done, Thom.

[NightOwwl]

26. Why is a small plane crash preempting Spy news?

This is not a huge airline. This is terrible, of course, but would something like this normally override EVERYTHING ELSE?

I smell Rove. Not having anything to do with the crash, but definitely pushing the story.

[Justice Is Comin]

28. Just be patient.

Let the investigations progress. The tsumani is coming. It's coming. And I wouldn't want to be close to shore when it hits.

[WilliamPitt]

30. No

Bush will serve every day of his term (unless we take back Congress after '06, which changes the math).

You think the power brokers are worried about bad press? They aren't. The oil companies posted world-record-breaking profits this year. The defense contractors are raking it in.

Bush isn't going anywhere, because he is still making money for these people. The press doesn't matter. They are securing their financial supremacy - the 1% of the 1% - for the next several generations. George is helping them do that. He stays, and the news be damned.

[dragon_hour]

36. He's right

And we need to get more Republicans OUT of office in 06 so that every day will be a living hell for him until he's impeached and the neocons reduced to complete and utter blithering impotence.

[progressoid]

37. Nope - this will all cool off over the holiday break.

Not to mention the obvious problem of a Republican controlled congress.

[ananda]

38. Even Dershowitz says * broke the law.

This was on Wolf Blitzer a few minutes ago.

All Wolf said in repy was: the debate will continue.

Debate!!??

What's to debate?

Dershowitz also said that * was playing Supreme Court
roulette, the idea being that by the time this came to
SCOTUS again, it would be back with enough of his
ideologues to support his unchecked power.

Very very scary...

[stevedeshazer]

40. You have a great senator

Today just might be the day.

[Silverhair]

42. Actually, he has gotten an upward bump in the polls.

Most Americans are approving of the spying. They see him as doing something to protect America.

Remember, that in past times of war fear, Presidents have greatly exceeded their authorities, or have had friendly congresses to pass unconstitutional laws that increased their power.

In WWI, Wilson has his AG organize American citizens to spy on each other, looking for unpatriotic behavior. Tens of thousands joined. Laws were passed making criticism of the gov't illegal. And there was widespread approval of those measures.

It isn't new.

[Quixote1818]

47. The polls I have seen, say just the opposite

Do you support the spying program Bush is defending?
No 62%
Yes 38%

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20051219091909990001&ncid=NWS00010000000001

I saw another poll about getting a warrant that was around 80% to 20% in favor of a Judge granting a warrant for spying. Only 20% favored what Bush is doing.

[longship]

45. Once they start pulling at the scab...

It's going to be very difficult to stop. It starts with the NSA spy deal, and the whole bleeding, festering, puss-filled wound on our Republic is going to be exposed.

[roguevalley]

46. Jeffrey Toobin says he has no legal rights. Impeachment. THe

worst part is, Cheney is number two, Ted "Uncle Satan" Stevens is number two UNLESS we win the elections of 2006.

[progressoid]

48. Umm, I think Denny Hastert comes before Stevens

The Vice President Richard Cheney
Speaker of the House John Dennis Hastert
President pro tempore of the Senate Ted Stevens
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of the Treasury John Snow
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns
Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez
Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson
Secretary of Transportation Norman Yoshio Mineta
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson
Secretary of Homeland Security4 Michael Chertoff