Cheney Impeachment: Wexler Claims 100K Signatures

The following piece was produced by HuffPost's OffTheBus.

Last Friday, Representative Robert Wexler, along with Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Luis Gutierrez, called for impeachment trials against Vice President Dick Cheney. In that email he announced that he had put up a website to gather signatures.

"If we can get 50,000 or even more people to sign up in support of this effort I will report back to each and every Democratic colleague of mine the true power that exists behind this movement."

Well, congrats Congressman. Five days later you have 100,000 signatures. Josh Rogin, your press guy, said that the Congressman was "very surprised, but he knew from traveling around Florida how passionate people were, but [we got to 50,000] faster than imagined."

He also said 'the MSM is greeting [the press releases] with a yawn.'

The Washington Post'sPolitical Hour online chat dismisses the whole idea of impeachment as a viable topic to cover because in, the reporter's opinion ,it won't happen.

Winnipeg, Canada: Can you explain why the move by three members of the judiciary committee for impeachment hearings against the Vice President has not received much media attention? I didn't see anything in the online Washington Post, for instance. Rep. Wexler apparently has gathered 80,000 signatures supporting his position on his website. This appears to be big news to me.

Michael Abramowitz: To be quite honest, I am not aware of whether we have written about this. We have gotten these questions in one form or another over several years: Impeachment is not going to be happening under this Congress, even if there are some lawmamakers [sic] who think it is a good idea. So the media moves on to other things.

The Miami Herald finally posted Wexler, et. al.'s letter today and has received a bunch of comments, mostly egging on Wexler. (Two local Florida papers, the Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post have covered the issue.

Well, Congressman, I was interested in what 100,000 people (and counting) think. And as a potential constituent (for full disclosure - yes, I just moved into his district) I want to know what you are going to do next.

The Congressman is flying back from China tonight. Tomorrow night Rep. Wexler will be appearing on Florida Progressive Radio (blogtalkradio.com) at 9pm EST to discuss his next steps.

Rogin, Rep. Wexler's press guy, gave me a hint about what the Congressman will say. He said, "The goal is to go to Conyers and the leadership. This shows how many people are desperate for accountability." But he also said the new goal is 250,000.

I hope that the next steps will include more than just announcing a new goal for the number of signatures. If not, his efforts will look like another attention grabbing online scheme and sound a bit like a boy crying wolf. We'll find out tomorrow. I'll be listening.

Comments

[ohiodanny]

The Wexlerwantshearings.com which will bring VP Cheney before the Congress is the "Most important issue of day". Please send this page out to all your friends and family and ask them to sign the petition. When the Congress gets Cheney in front of them and asks the important questions the entire GOP will take a fall. This hearing will make the Clinton Impeachment hearings seem like a story from Disney Land.
I urge you to put it on your front page every day Ms. Huffington.
Democrats will win the Presidency and take full control of the Senate/Congress when we expose what really happened in Iraq.
God Bless America!

[SaintN]

Arrrest Bush & Cheney for Murder and Treason!

Seeing thats theres piles of documented evidence to indict Bush & Cheny for "War Crimes" and treason why waste time fiddling around with a useless impeachment? I mean after all,the impeachment of Bill Clinton didn't amount to any kind of censure let alone punishment.

[LORISNJ]

I have signed up and I support Wexler in the impeachment effort ------

BUT WOULD IT HAVE KILLED YOU "OFF-THE-BUS" PEOPLE TO MENTION, JUST ONCE THAT THE WEXLER EFFORT WAS DRIVEN (PUN INTENDED) BY KUCINICH'S ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT?


HUFFINGTON POST IS REALLY STARTING TO PISS ME OFF ABOUT KUCINICH - YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN THE MSM, BUT JUST LIKE NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, AND FOX; THE CITIZENS ONLY HAVE HILLARY, OBAMA, & EDWARDS AS VIABLE CANDIDATES -AND THAT ISN'T TRUE, KUCINICH IS ELECTABLE BUT NOT IF HE IS ALL BUT IGNORED ON STORIES WHERE HE SHOULD FIGURE PROMINENTLY.


Strength through Peace - Dennis Kucinich '08

(I am reposting this since the original was posted at 9:35 this morning and still has not showed up)

[LORISNJ]

I have signed up and I support Wexler in the impeachment effort ------

BUT WOULD HAVE KILLED YOU "OFF-THE-BUS" PEOPLE TO MENTION, JUST ONCE THAT THE WEXLER EFFORT WAS DRIVEN (PUN INTENDED) BY KUCINICH'S ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT?


HUFFINGTON POST IS REALLY STARTING TO PISS ME OFF ABOUT KUCINICH - YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN THE MSM, BUT JUST LIKE NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, AND FOX; THE CITIZENS ONLY HAVE HILLARY, OBAMA, & EDWARDS AS VIABLE CANDIDATES -AND THAT ISN'T TRUE, KUCINICH IS ELECTABLE BUT NOT IF HE IS ALL BUT IGNORED ON STORIES WHERE HE SHOULD FIGURE PROMINENTLY.


Strength through Peace - Dennis Kucinich '08

[EyeWantOneNation]

I just listened to Rep. Wexler speak on blogtalkradio for 1 hour. The man is very sincere...very realistic about this being an uphill battle...but can be done!!

He went from asking for 50,000 support votes on the web to 250,000 so he can take all the numbers he can get to his collegues.Main point is we need to get more people in Congress to support the call for hearings. Go see your Rep. when they're home for the Christmas recess!!
Very interesting hour, for sure!!!

[el35]

I'm for impeaching both Bush and Cheney. Where do I sign?

[tdterry1999]

Couldn't you just see Pelosi and Reid as President and V.P.They could put up curtians in the White House And make some land deal's in LAS VEGAS.Then they could finish screwing up the country for George Bush.The Good times are ahead.

[Steamboater]

My sister sent me this E-mail today that she got from Rep. Wexler as she's in charge of the democratic headquarters in Boca Raton. Florida.

Dear Lynn,

Tonight I will appear live on Blog Radio to discuss the tremendous momentum generated by your support for Cheney Impeachment Hearings. I will articulate our next moves and how we can translate this enthusiasm into concrete steps toward impeachment hearings.

Hope you can join me.


Robert


Congressman Wexler Live on Blog Radio:

WHEN: Thursday, December 20, 9:00 pm (EST)/6:00 pm (PST)


WHERE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fpc (a link will be posted at www.wexlerwantshearings.com and www.wexlerforcongress.com)


WHO: Rep. Wexler will appear live on Florida Progressive Radio with host Kenneth Quinnell of the Florida Netroots Caucus, Bob Fertick of Democrats.com, as well as Dave Lindorf, author of "The Case for Impeachment," and David Swanson with AfterDowningStreet.org.


Congressman Wexler will also be appearing on the Ed Schultz Show today at 12:30 pm (EST) to discuss the tremendous success of WexlerWantsHearings.com and the 110,000 people who have signed up to support impeachment hearings for Vice President Cheney.

Paid for by "Wexler for Congress"

[MBFLA]

Why is this not front page news in every paper in America including Huffington? This is three members of the House Judiciary Committee calling for impeachment hearings and over 100,000 people supporting that in a few days with very little media coverage.
I guess "the people" are chopped liver!

[Tankan]

Why does Dick Dillinger not look worried!

Does he know something that the public don't?

Has he got impeachment covered from all angles, including the future.

[milo9]

Recent events seem to indicate that with 100,000 signatures and $2.50 you can get a tall coffee of the day from starbucks.

[ms.understood]

Add mine because I'd like to make it 101K!

[Ragtimer]

What a sad state (nation) of affairs.
What a way to watch the end of a once wanton great nation.

Isn't it curious how the leaders whom all proposed a peaceful approach to resolve conflicts and for the people to assert non violent protest to influence policies of peace and equanimity for the nation (world) were all assassinated (or will be) while no one ever tries to do the same to the fascists in control? ( except for the CIA doing it to other country leaders).

Isn't it curious how the wisdom (!) of the whole of congress and 350 million people can be outweighed by the arrogance, belligerent, and stupidity of one (so called) president?

Woa are we.

[deminmo]

One thing I am sure of, if you sit on your hands
doing nothing, then you will get exactly that.
Right now there is at least 4 people in
Washington who have the guts to do something.
If impeachment doesn't happen, then so be it,
at least I can say I supported the people who
wanted to make a difference.

[dantanna]

the least congress should do is to investigate through impeachment procedures and hopefully impeach this bastard