Dennis Kucinich Makes History Again -- Impeach Bush!

Representative Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, just finished reading on the House floor a 35-count impeachment resolution against President George W. Bush. Kucinich's lengthy and detailed indictment of this wayward president is the most thorough and powerful case made to date. He outlined a litany of high crimes and misdemeanors and showed without a shadow of a doubt that George W. Bush deserves to be impeached and removed from office. Kucinich made clear that Bush has violated his oath of office and his Constitutional duty that the laws be "faithfully executed."

Kucinich's impeachment resolution comes after the shocking revelations contained in the 107-page Senate Intelligence Committee's report that confirmed, once and for all, (and with the vote of two Republican Senators), that President Bush lied the American people into war. There can be no more dire and serious offense than a president lying to his fellow Americans on issues of war and peace. Bush should be impeached forthwith. The House Judiciary Committee should vote on the Kucinich resolution and split it up into Articles of Impeachment. All the committee needs is one Article to impeach Bush, Kucinich has provided dozens of potential Articles.

I've agreed all along with the Center for Constitutional Rights and other groups on the need to impeach Bush. It is not a "political" issue; it is a Constitutional issue. He must be impeached and removed from office even if the proceedings don't start until January. The Democrats chickened out on impeachment when they took the Congress in January 2007. That was the most disillusioning decision of the 110th Congress -- taking impeachment "off the table." It was also giving the Congress's consent to Bush's behavior.

People will scream about how impeachment might backfire on the election of 2008. But that was never the issue. The president is guilty of grave crimes against the republic and should be held accountable. He does not have to be found guilty in a court of law; impeachment has a different standard. Bush has committed crimes against the nation. There are 4,100 dead Americans and 500,000 to 1 million dead Iraqis as a result of his lies and deceit. The Scott McClellan book just drives home everything the Intelligence Committee uncovered. It is time for the truth! If Bush can keep the prospect of attacking Iran "on the table," then the Congress should keep impeachment on the table too.

Thank you Dennis Kucinich. You once again demonstrated that you are the most courageous and principled member of Congress.

Comments

[katzooks]

In response to the post below, requesting a link to text of Kucinich's 35 articles of impeachment of Bush, this is not yet available, but should be posted here when available:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-dantoni/dennis-kucinich-sums-it-u_b_106176.html

For now, there are portions of Kucinich's C-Span speech available roundabout the internet, including this 5+-minute video of the start of his speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qy3z7XWtQc

Remember, in April 2007, Kucinich proposed articles for the impeachment of Cheney (available here: http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=3750 ). This effort failed primarily due to lack of support. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly voiced oppposition to these impeachment proceedings, on the grounds that it would be divisive and most likely unsuccessful. My question: Whose arse are we trying to protect here?

Fact is, due to conflicts of interest within both political parties, the only force that will keep these impeachment proceeding from failing will be fullscale public outcry. Grassroots. That's you and me. Please call your congressional representatives today. Call Speaker Pelosi, call John Conyers, call Robert Wexler and ask them to co-sponsor Dennis' call for impeachment. Demand impeachment hearings NOW for Bush and Cheney!
Capitol Hill Switchboard:
[phone] , [phone]

[DrVeruju]

Also email your contact list with the links and ask them to keep the chain going. Congresspeople should each receive hundreds of thousands of emails, letters, faxes and telephone calls.

[Johnnn]

The impeachment of Cheney for related matters, especially conflicts of interest, if these are impeachable offenses, should be investigated.

[ceu]

Kucinich introduced a resolution to impeach Cheney back in April, 2007. Unfortunately, the committee has not acted on that resolution
.

[Thorn]

A hollow, pointless, profoundly late call for impeachment is "making history"? I wish you were kidding.

[RoloTomassi]

Unfortunately, we all realize that you are not kidding, although I can't imagine how you can logically come to that conclusion....

Have you looked at what Kucinich presented? If so, please define how any of it is "hollow."

IMO--using GOP standards for what is legitimate for pursuing impeachment--if lying about getting a blowjob from an intern qualifies, then certainly lying about justifications to wage WAR [which actually has costs beyond sending a dress to the dry cleaners] more than qualifies.

But I do await your undoubtedly profound thoughts on how these charges are "hollow."

[Thorn]

You're right. I only know what Kucinich has said, not this precise bill. Let's drop "hollow." I assume you agree with "pointless" and "profoundly late"?

[axcelis]

Just got a letter from Congessman Wexler calling for hearings again, paid for by his re-election campaign. I responded with this... please help spread it if you think its a good idea.

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

Is Congressman Robert Wexler just an opportunist - raising money and name recognition by "playing" the tough guy? Or is Wexler a man of ACTION? Will Wexler continue to "call for" action, or will he TAKE action?

We all agree that impeachment investigations must begin. But calling for things has not moved impeachment forward.

Wexler must begin working with Kucinich on his new impeachment articles, and must use the grassroots and blogs to help him PUBLICALLY TARGET MEMBERS OF CONGRESS EACH WEEK TO JOIN HIM. If the targeted member will not co-sign, he or she must understand that their legacy will be one of INACTION in the face of CRISIS, no better or worse than the actions of Bush which led to the crisis in the first place.

Make a final targeted list, and give it to Davis Swanson, Daily KOS, Huffington Post, etc. Or create a web site, and let us all join in the targeting of representatives. Time's running out. We need a master list to be made right now that will be cast in stone for generations to come. Who are the moral leaders of the day? Who falls on the side of justice and rule of law, and who just sat there and did nothing, paving the way for future abuse of power?

[RoloTomassi]

I got the same message; I don't really see the point in trying to direct Wexler's efforts, as he knows the games that have to be played in DC to accomplish anything. But hey, give it a try, and if you get a positive response [as he does usually respond to such messages from his constituents], then you've at least been placated on a personal level.

My last response from him was a bit disappointing [it concerned market loopholes in energy trading], as he deftly side-stepped the issue altogether.

But hey, it never hurts to try.

[gro]

If the Democratic leadership doesn't want to uphold the US Constitution, it's time for new leadership.
It is past time to hold all politicians accountable.
The US press has failed miserably. The owners only care for more money, just like the winners of no-bid contracts and the sponsors of corporate written 'laws'.
What profit is there in US sponsored torture? How does the country benefit from a corrupt judicial system? When will the traitors who revealed the identity of a US covert agent be held responsible?

[shamanbart]

Yes -- you've got to admire and support Kucinich for his steadfast refusal to stand aside while this President and staff continually break the law.

But -- I hope he revises the articles because if he succeeded in impeaching the Pres., then Cheney would be Pres. -- albeit for only a few months. The articles should include Bush and Cheney , who is equally complicit.

IMPEACH BUSH and CHENEY 08!

[live by the golden rule]

Yes, he already introduced articles vs. Cheney. see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJYbgouqlMw

[TomSongs]

IMPEACH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBRYW-kZPZg

[sdk]

I think that many progressives have always supported impeachment hearings. It would improve Democratic popularity.

But, political viability should not really be the main concern. If Bush et al. has committed impeachable offenses, then he should be impeached. Let the political fall out fall where it may.

McCain and much of Congress were enablers to these crimes. But, the administration has the most to lose from these hearings.

[QD]

Impeaching Bush can't possibly help McCain's campaign except to force McCain to break with Bush once and for all. That would be good for McCain, Obama and the country as a whole.

We have avoided impeaching Bush for years because it wasn't convenient. McClellan's new book makes it impossible to ignore the truth we have all seen. Bush and his friends have done horrible things in our names. We must make it clear to ourselves and the world what kind of nation we are.

Bush is our President - whether we like it or not - and it is our responsibility to hold him and his administration accountable for genocide and torture.

[clarkbarr]

Please, does anyone know of a link that displays all of the articles Dennis proposed?

[stellanoir]

Here ya go . . .

http://chun.afterdowningstreet.org/amomentoftruth.pdf

[vcsmith]

Start here:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/

http://chun.afterdowningstreet.org/amomentoftruth.pdf

http://www.democrats.com/kucinich-introduces-35-articles-of-impeachment-against-george-w-bush

[CanadianAmerican]

How can beating McCain not be an issue? Is it worth impeaching Bush if it leads to at least 4 years of McCain?

[RoloTomassi]

Worrying about a victory by McCain is a strawman that isn't worth real consideration; if anything, sincere efforts at impeachment would add to the democratic roster with new voters, voters who would be inspired by the fact that congress finally got off of its ass and did something to address the gross criminality of BushCo.

With the polls reflecting that America is disgusted with BushCo, their criminal war, and their responsibility for the tanking economy, worrying about losing to McCain is more of the same timidity over political concerns that has crippled the congress in the first place.

When we have a 2-to-1 democratic voter turnout for presidential primaries, it is a sure sign that voters have become bold enough to get out and express their anger with the powers in DC; failing to show reciprocal action when the opportunity arises is, IMO, far more offensive than playing it safe.

[jdevienne]

CanadianAmerican is right. To say that the 2008 election "was never the issue" is pure-minded but reckless.
Maybe it is worth taking the risk that impeachment would backfire on the election, but I don't think that risk can be dismissed out of hand.
Meanwhile the idea of criminal prosecutions for Bush and others, unlike impeachment, could be pursued either before or after the election.