MoveOn Ad Calls For Bybee's Impeachment

Weighing further into the debate over the use of torture by the Bush administration, MoveOn.org released a video on Thursday calling for the impeachment of Jay Bybee, one of the authors of the infamous torture memos and currently a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

"Jay Bybee was responsible for secret memos authorizing the Bush-era torture program," reads the script. "And today he is serving as a federal judge. It is time for Congress to impeach Judge Bybee."

The group blasted out the video in an email to its five million members, urging them to sign a petition to persuade Congress to strip away Bybee's appointment to the court. Last week, MoveOn put out a similar ad, though with the focus aimed at launching an investigation into the authorization of torture and with former vice president Dick Cheney included among the targets.

The issue of investigations has clearly not died down since then nor has criticism of Bybee's place on the court, despite his assertions that he regrets writing the memos. This past weekend, John Podesta, co-chairman of President Obama's transition team and head of the Center for American Progress, called on Congress to commence impeachment hearings against Bybee, if he didn't voluntarily resign. It was, to date, the closest Obama confidant to come out in favor of impeachment.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[HLL]

Bybee broke the law when he legalized torture for Bush. He knew it when he did it. The US is a signatory of the Geneva Conventions which outlines International law for humanitarian concerns. Torture is a crime against humanity.

In 1946, the Nuremberg Military Tribunals sentenced judges and doctors to life imprisonment for their crimes against humanity during WWI, despite their "regrets" and the "I was only following orders" plea.

Bybee should be indicted, impeached and disbarred.

[kwinter]

"Bybee broke the law when he legalized torture for Bush."

He didn't legalized torture. The memos were written to provide cover for the administration.
I agree, he should be impeached and disbarred, but let's stick with facts.
Attorneys don't have the power to change laws.

[Genep34]

He and his fellow Bush enablers will be to blame when our soldiers are tortured in the same way by our enemies. They have garaunteed this will happen and they have assured that we have no moral or ethical recourse.

They will also be at fault when we get hit again.

[Genep34]

Impeach then indict

[obamagal]

I co-sign everyone who echoes the word 'impeach'.

I'm linking a DailyKos article and recommend it. It has to do with an FBI memo (now on the ACLU website) that Jason Leopold of 'The Public Record' has found. It states in part:

"...We are aware that prior to a revision in policy last week, an Executive Order signed by President Bush authorized the following interrogation techniques among others sleep "management," use of MWDs (military working dogs), "stress positions" such as half squats, "environmental manipulation" such as the use of loud music, sensory deprivation through the use of hoods, etc."

Links:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/5/1/726660/-Released-FBI-Memo-Documents-Bush-Ordering-Torture
http://www.pubrecord.org/torture/868-fbi-e-mail-says-bush-authorized-abuse-of-iraqis.html
http://www.aclu.org/torturefoia/released/FBI.121504.4940_4941.pdf
___________________

I hope HP and Rachel Maddow, KO etc. pick this up. (I can see a few great interviews in my mind - one with Jonathan Turley, the other, John Dean.)
Links:

[GOP4MoreTears]

Impeach the creep!

[sueno]

Thank you Moveon.org!

[cbeenthere]

He knows what he did and he has had his chance to step down himself; I just signed the petition.

[cbeenthere]

And let us not forget all the detainees who were held without charges. He did not stew over that as far as I know. Yet, there were judges on the bench who were dealing with this right from the beginning who were concerned and dealing with this injustice.

[argyle]

While MoveOn is completely on track here, after that politically idiotic and self-immolating Petraeus ad I am completely mistrustful of their political instincts and believe their name is more harmful to the progressive cause than their work is helpful.

[brandnewstuff]

Shameful he is still on the bench!-
Shameful this man has no conscience otherwise he would have stpped down.

[Manx]

Why has Harry Reid, the so-called "leader" of the Senate been so quiet about the torture scandal.
Is Mormon Reid trying to protect his fellow Mormon, Jay Bybee?

[Jaybot]

Harry Reid is concerned about the large block of Republican Mormons in Nevada that dutifully vote for him rather than the obvious partisan choice. So, yes he is.

[OKSunny]

The moral questions aside, I really feel that torture does not work....Si­nce I'm not really familiar with the statistics, I can only go on how I think I would react if I was being tortured..­..If I didn't know anything, I'd make something up just to get it to stop; and if I did know something like a terrorist plot attack, well then I'd probably do something "really bad" and *shock* L I E !!!!!!
I think these guys probably talk about what do if they get caught & came up with a fake story.
Give me a break torture-supporters; you’re telling me these are the worst guys on Earth, but they are going to tell us the truth?
Do they have pictures/videos/ recordings of these guys sitting around and plotting or putting together a bomb that says "TO AMERICA" on it?
Maybe I’m missing something, maybe I’m naive? I’m no CIA agent.....­.I really think that this has a lot to do with a bunch of guys getting together and playing GI-Joe , wanting to play war games and shoot big guns.
Why does anything think torture would really work? It seems so obvious, put yourself in their shoes; wouldn't you lie or make something up?

[ssfahrer]

Just remember, 'torture' was being done to those who'd think nothing of doing the same to Americans if and when they had the chance to do so. Therefore, these folks who authorized it, performed it, etc. should be given the praise they deserve for doing onto others as others would do unto them....

[AmericanWarrior]

You are a christian I'll bet.

[QuietLightTraveler]

He would never have been allowed to be appointed if something like this was discovered before his appointment. If there is even a hint of improper reading of the law this guy should be tossed out and I think we would we would be fortunate to get rid of him. There are plenty of better people waiting to take his place. I have seen too many bad judges on the bench. They are arrogant characters who sometimes think they can do whatever they want with their legal nonsense. It's time for Judge Bybee to go Bye Bye.

[aercolini]

I think he should resign, but I don't see any grounds for impeachment. He was appointed after the memos were written. He hasn't been charged with any crime yet, and even if he were, it's difficult to see what kind of crime he would be charged with, conspiracy to torture I guess. Congress knew he was head of the OLC though, they could have asked his position on waterboarding. The Constitution makes it very difficult to impeach Article III judges. They serve for periods of good behavior, and he hasn't behaved badly since he was appointed.

[Grunty1]

He wrote memos stating that crime is legal. Sounds like grounds to remove a judge from power to me!

[flossophy]

lol... they know their audience. Moveon has descended to new lows. I'm enjoying their continued irrelevance.

[Cookie100]

This isn't drudge troll, you move on

[hortonhearsawho2]

teamsarah speaks out...in vain, no less...

[AndThenOneDay]

Try not to confuse irrelevance to you with irrelevance.

[AndThenOneDay]

PS. How are you celebrating May Day, Lev Davidovich?