Impeachment: I just received an email from Congressman Wexler

[99th_Monkey]

Wexler's on the move for Impeachment ... it sounds like Mukasey's transparently sorry-ass stonewalling in Judiciary the past few days -- while flatly refusing to enforce subpoenas of Miers and Bolton -- is pissing off more and more Democrats (and even some Republicans) by the day.

Wexler even sounds somewhat hopeful of getting even more Congress members on board for impeachment...based on Mukasey's shameful and arrogant behavior. Wexler has already rounded up 16 Congressional signers to a letter to John Conyers at http://www.wexlerforcongress.com/news.asp?ItemID=230 ... and within the past few months Wexler's gotten over 220,000 petition signers from the public in support of Impeachment on his website http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com

We can help by signing the petition if you haven't already, and especially by calling your Congressmen/women to turn this into a stampede for impeaching the criminals in the WH. You can contact your Congression Representatives here: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

*********My email from Wexler***********

Dear (Impeachment Monkey),

Our Constitution is under threat and the most basic principle of checks and balances is being undermined. Not since Watergate has a president so openly disregarded the will of Congress.

During hearings in the Judiciary Committee yesterday, I told Attorney General Michael Mukasey that I called for impeachment hearings because of the stonewalling and blatant abuses of the Bush Administration. He responded by stating that he will NOT enforce a contempt of Congress citation against Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten for refusing to testify before Congress. The video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7M9sjRLCtQ

Alberto Gonzales may be long gone, but the Bush Administration continues its executive overreach with the new Attorney General.

We can debate the need for Impeachment hearings. We can argue its effects on the election or our agenda. But one thing is abundantly clear:

If Congress' right to require testimony is undermined, then our country's leaders - Democrat, Republican, or Independent - will be immune from accountability.

The power of the subpoena - to call officials before us - is one of the most fundamental safeguards in our system of government. To have it effectively discarded - by virtue of the President instructing Administration officials to ignore a congressional subpoenas and not even appear before Congress - is unprecedented. The idea that the Attorney General would willingly defend this position - despite Congress' constitutional right to call such witnesses, is outrageous.

Impeachment hearings could render this moot: The President, Vice President, and all officials under them would no longer invoke executive privilege. There would be no more smokescreens.

In one week, I will be delivering my letter calling for impeachment hearings to Chairman John Conyers. Already, 16 Members of Congress have joined my call, including 3 Judiciary Committee members. I am hopeful for more in the coming days, but it is important for you to reach out to your representative in Congress to express how you feel. You can view the current list of signers, here: http://www.wexlerforcongress.com/news.asp?ItemID=230

I do not know how Congress will react, but I do know this: I will pursue this course aggressively. I will not compromise away the constitutional role of Congress. Your support is invaluable. Please know that I am working everyday to ensure that the Bush Administration is held accountable.

Please continue to support this movement at http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com.

Yours truly,

Congressman Robert Wexler

[Ian David]

1. FINALLY! AT LONG FUCKING LAST! n/t

[Ian David]

2. If Clinton had waterboarded Monica, the Republicans would have ammended the constitution...

to give Bill a third term.

[fascisthunter]

3. I've Given my support.....

So, I'll believe it when I see it.

[bluestdogest]

4. Pursuing impeachment at this point would ill-advised.

Therefore, impeachment will not be pursued.

(Bets anyone?)

[99th_Monkey]

5. "Ill-advised" to have a modicum of accountability? Why pray tell? -nt

[bluestdogest]

6. If you are looking for accountability, you will not find it in Washington.

Those people have one thing on their mind...re-election. And impeachment will not help them reach that goal.

[99th_Monkey]

7. I think they and you are wrong about that.. recent polls show 52% know

that Cheney has committed impeachable crimes. The genie is out of the bottle as far as the public is concerned.

[bluestdogest]

8. Yeah, and 80% of the people were for Iraq when it began.

The sheeple prefer American Idol to impeachment. As a result, impeachment would go 30% for, 75% against in a couple of weeks. And that would doom the Democratic party in November.

Impeachment will not happen and I am willing to bet on it.

[99th_Monkey]

9. Apples & Oranges

the 80% who went along with Iraq war were fed LIES to come to their position, which is VERY different
that a majority view or position based on TRUTH and sound legal arguments ... hell, Conyers himself
wrote a book to that effect.

but when a majority already KNOW the truth, then once the truth is broadcast live and on the front pages
from the Impeachment Hearing testimony, most of the still-deluded minority (both in Congress and the
public) will be soon come around and be forced into going along with impeachment to save their political asses.

[bluestdogest]

10. I cannot believe that you BELIEVE that "a majority already know the truth;"

for they do not. Hell, most do not even know the name of their own rep. Furthermore, impeachment is so far beyond the realm of reality that it is not even in the realm of hypothetical.

Besides that, bush is the lamest duckest of all time; therefore, the DC Dems will not waste their time.

Re-election is the only thing that matters...until they are re-elected. And then...well...then they must begin planning for the next campaign.

[Leopolds Ghost]

11. If Bush is such a lame duck, why is Congress about to vote to retroactively legalize his crimes

And thereby legitimize Mukasey's stonewalling on the telecom spying of Americans?

[bluestdogest]

12. Crimes...? When did being an idiot become a crime?

Hell, by that standard, we are a nation of criminals.

[mmonk]

16. When an idiot breaks laws, is in contempt of congress (illegal),

breaks duly noted treaties that bind the United States (a crime), when an executive branch ignores laws passed by congress (a crime), when an executive branch engages in cruel and unusual punishment (a crime), etc.. If you do not understand the rule of law and the constitution or you believe the executive entertains the right to ignore both statutes and constitutional duties and constraints, you shouldn't call bush an idiot.

[bluestdogest]

17. Ok, sheriff mmonk...when are you going to execute your power to make a citizen arrest?

After all, it is your responsibility.

I understand the law quite well and as far as the Constitution goes--it has been null and void since 1861.

(The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.)

[Psyop Samurai]

22. Looks like we have a new resident expert aboard...

...one with an intriguing signature line too. :eyes:

Not worth your time, mmonk.

[mmonk]

15. Bush is the most successful "lame duck" presidency I've ever seen.

No laws apply to them and they can still get immunity from crimes with help from a congress in opposition control. This is why this will be my last voting election. I will fight fascism through NGO's created to defend the people from tyranny.

[bluestdogest]

18. Whatever you say, sheriff.

[mmonk]

13. Yes, I have that email as well.

I've been glad Wexler has joined the impeachment cause. It adds pressure on Conyers and others to do the job they once supported before their chairmanships were threatened. It may give them enough courage to go ahead and not fear Pelosi and Hoyer.

[Echo In Light]

14. I don't see it happening, although I support it 110%

[L. Coyote]

19. 224,428 whooo, whooo, the signatures are piling high, approaching a quarter million!!

[L. Coyote]

20. REC + VIDEOS now on DU = Rep. Wexler questions AG Mukasey

Thanks for the video heads up.
That's Wexler's second video post now.

Rep. Wexler questions AG Mukasey VIDEO on DU
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=92189&mesg_id=92189

Rep. Wexler Wants Cheney Impeachment Hearings
02:26 ***** Added: 1 month ago ***** Views: 91,247
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x76160

Here is the "official" :rofl: DU LiveBlog Thread of the entire hearing:

***** View LIVE Webcast ***** HOUSE Oversight Hearing DoJ Mukasey ******
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2829051

http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com

[L. Coyote]

21. K & R & Impeach two too REC this UP

[JNelson6563]

23. I think Congressman Wexler is great.

I will never forget his tireless efforts on behalf of his disenfranchised constituents during the elction theft of 2000. I remember seeing him on TV, every political show wanted him on as he was in the thick of it, he battled on and on and it was so clear how exhausted he was. I still marvel at it to this day and will always be willing to support him as he continues to take bold, principled stands.

You go Congressman! :patriot:

Julie

[Matariki]

24. You have to wonder what the Democratic majority was thinking when they confirmed Mukasey.

Like this was going to be a surprise. I'm really losing faith in the intelligence and foresight of our elected officials.

Hope Impeachment finally has some legs.

[L. Coyote]

25. 224,933 Several Senators voted with the minority party, esp. Schumer & Feinstein

who offered his name up before Bush nominated. I don't think we will ever know the real reasons for this cross-over voting.

[L. Coyote]

26. 225,090 and climbing .... Hooray WEXLER !!

[L. Coyote]

27. More Members of Congress Added to Letter to Chairman Conyers = "Impeachment hearings will allow for.

New members of Congress added to letter to Chairman Conyers
Congressman Wexler urges support for Cheney Impeachment Hearings
http://www.wexlerforcongress.com/news.asp?ItemID=230


The following members of Congress have joined as signatories to my letter to Chairman Conyers in support of Cheney Impeachment Hearings:

(*= member of the Judiciary Committee)

Baldwin, Tammy, WI, 2nd *
Capuano, Michael E., MA, 8th
Clarke, Yvette D., NY, 11th
Clay, Wm. Lacy, MO, 1st
Cohen, Steve, TN, 9th *
Farr, Sam, CA, 17th
Grijalva, Raúl M., AZ, 7th
Gutierrez, Luis V., IL, 4th *
Kucinich, Dennis J., OH, 10th
Lee, Barbara, CA, 9th
Moore, Gwen, WI, 4th
Moran, James P., VA, 8th
Thompson, Mike, CA, 1st
Towns, Edolphus, NY, 10th
Woolsey, Lynn, CA, 6th
Wexler, Robert, FL, 19th *
Wynn, Albert Russell, MD, 4th



(LETTER TO CHAIRMAN CONYERS)

January 16, 2008

John Conyers, Jr., Chairman
House Judiciary Committee
2138 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Conyers:

You have been a tireless champion of providing oversight to an Administration that has run roughshod over our constitution, that operates with no limits on executive branch authority and one that has repeatedly flouted the investigations and oversight the 110th Congress has tried to provide over the past year. We have the greatest respect for the work you have done and believe that impeachment hearings pertaining to Vice President Cheney are the best way to move that work forward.

Impeachment hearings will allow for the exact kind of oversight that you and the Democratic leadership have provided regarding the actions of the Administration but without the opportunity for the Bush Administration to ignore lawful requests for information, refuse subpoenas and effectively limit its own oversight.

Impeachment hearings can provide the opportunity to cut through the executive privilege defenses and force this Administration to answer a Congress it has clearly chosen to ignore. We know you would agree that as Members of Congress, we can not allow legitimate oversight to be thwarted or such a dangerous precedent to stand.

The charges against the Vice President relate to the core actions of this Administration, its unlawful behavior and its abuse of power. We are concerned with alleged crimes that are central to his duties of Vice President, including credible allegations of abuse of power that if proven may well constitute high crimes and misdemeanors under our constitution. As you know, the charges against Vice President Cheney include providing Congress and the American people false intelligence leading up to the Iraq war, the revelation of the identity of a covert agent for political retaliation, and the illegal wiretapping of American citizens.

We trust that you will hold a sober investigation and let the facts determine the outcome as you have as Chairman this past year. We sincerely believe that impeachment hearings are the appropriate and necessary next step given what we have seen of this Administration. Chairman Conyers, we are respectfully asking you join us and concerned citizens around the country in supporting impeachment hearings.

Sincerely,

[L. Coyote]

28. 225,666 ... KICK