Two Essays On Morality Of Impeachment: "Why Struggle For Impeachment?" & "Impeachment & Patriotism"

[Hissyspit]

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/ticia/2007/apr/03/why_struggle_for_impeachment_part_1

Ticia's Blog
Why Struggle for Impeachment?
By Ticia | bio
7 of 7 people recommend this blog entry.

I offer the following rationale for everyday citizens who are considering acting to impeach the president, the vice president, and the attorney general of the United States.

Let me say, at the outset, that the common practice of defending inaction on the basis of perceived "low" likelihood of impeachment success is unethical. We must struggle toward what is right. Insofar as it depends on us, we must not only act earnestly and truthfully, but also justly. Actions toward impeachment are as much about us -- our children and a new direction for America -- as they are about those in power who have abused us, our faith, and our trust.

Acting toward impeachment is about taking our conscience and our country back by using the legal remedy provided by the Constitution. Indeed, impeachment is the lawful remedy provided to the People by our founders, empowering us to hold corrupt leaders to account between elections. It is the way the Constitution provides for us to heal our nation. A candidate's stance on impeachment is a measuring stick we must now apply to anyone, from any party, who aspires to high office and who seeks our trust, our treasure, and our votes.

To recap, now: Under the leadership of Bush and Cheney, for patently false reasons -- as delineated here by Behan -- the United States has:

• invaded and occupied a sovereign nation without provocation
  
• killed hundreds of thousands of its citizens
  
• driven millions more from their homes as refugees
  
• tortured prisoners
  
• destroyed the country's economy and infrastructure
  
• fomented a vicious sectarian civil war
  
• sacrificed over 3,200 American soldiers
  
• squandered half a trillion dollars
  
• dangerously destabilized the Middle East
  
• besmirched our country's character
  
• and defamed every American citizen

http://www.alaskareport.com/z45663.htm

Impeachment and Patriotism
April 2, 2007
By Richard W. Behan

We the American people would not do what George Bush and Richard Cheney have done in Iraq, all of it in our name.

We would not, for utterly fabricated reasons, invade and occupy a sovereign country without provocation, killing hundreds of thousands of its citizens, driving millions more from their homes as refugees, torturing prisoners, destroying the country's economy and infrastructure, fomenting a vicious sectarian civil war, sacrificing 3,200 American lives, squandering half a trillion dollars, dangerously destabilizing the Middle East, blackening our country's character, and defaming every American citizen.

- snip -

The huge disconnect between who we are and what our government is doing in Iraq is painfully apparent, and the gap is insuperable. It is imperative, therefore, that we hold the President and Vice President accountable not only for breaking domestic and international laws, but for violating the ethical and institutional essence of America and the ideals of her people. To rescue our country's elemental decency and to assure the security of its governing principles, it is our patriotic duty to impeach George Bush and Richard Cheney.

- snip -

There is a glaring explanation for this timid behavior: the obscenely premature launch of the 2008 presidential campaign. The leadership of both parties and a dozen presidential candidates-many from the Senate--game the system, jockey for advantage and favorable imagery, and refuse to attack head-on the greatest episodes of Presidential malfeasance in the nation's history.

MORE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard W. Behan lives and writes on Lopez Island, off the northwest coast of Washington state. He is the author of Plundered Promise: Capitalism, Politics, and the Fate of the Federal Lands (Island Press, 2001) and he is working on his next book, To Provide Against Invasions: Corporate Dominion and America's Derelict Democracy. He can be reached at [e-mail].

[mmonk]

1. Nominated.

'nuff said.

[cyberpj]

2. That list pounds it home. I will - but I suggest we ALL use it in a letter to the editor this week.

HIT EM WHEN THEY'RE DOWN.

[AndyTiedye]

3. IMPEACH NOW!

[Hissyspit]

4. .

[Time for change]

5. Very nice essays

If Congress fails to impeach they are setting a terrible precedent.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

6. I fully agree with both. The failure to apply legal remedy to this abuse of power,...

,...pretty much ensures the same abuse will repeat itself, most likely even sooner and with greater repercussions.

Justice was not fully applied to the remnants of the Nixon and Reagan administrations. We are paying the price, now. Next time, the price will be far greater. There simply can NOT be a next time.

[chknltl]

7. Yes Indeed. Thank You for posting.

I earlier sent my reasons for impeachment to my senators Patty Murry and Jay Inslee and Jim McDermott. I know Jim has no problems with ridding our govenment of the bfee. I know that Senators Murry and Inslee are against impeachment...senator Murry even sent me a fine form letter detailing her reasons! I've been looking for a better rebuff and here it is X2! Thanks.
c

[chknltl]

8. And I add:

If the above posted reasons are NOT good enough for WE THE PEOPLE to seek impeachment then what is? How much further must an American President and Vice President go in order to qualify? Do they need to kill 6 million "non Christians" again TOO???? At some future point America may be faced with impeachment of their President and/or Vice President, how much higher do YOU my fellow Americans want to set that bar for them? That bar is being set right now by YOUR action or inaction! I am writing my Senators again with my urgings for impeachment...join me. :patriot: