35 Reasons You Must Call [phone]

On June 10, 2008, Dennis Kucinich introduced 35 Articles of Impeachment against George W. Bush.

On June 11, 2008, they were referred to the Judiciary Committee. According to NPR, the Associated Press and the like, they were sent there to die.

That's too bad.

Because George Bush has committed "high crimes and misdemeanors." Impeachable offenses. A lot of them.

He, and his administration, have also created a cloud of confusion and obfuscation around everything that's happened in his administration. Every investigation has ground to a halt, lost in corporate lawyers tricks -- refusal to hand over documents, lost documents, redacted documents, officials who can't remember, or, at last resort, refuse to answer subpoenas.

According to the Articles of Impeachment:
• The administration consciously lied about the reasons to go to war.
• Conspired to create a secret propaganda campaign to go to war.
• Failed to meet the terms set out in the bill that allowed the president to go to war, thereby making the war illegal.
• Failed to meet the terms set by international law for war, therefore engaging in a "war of aggression," a war crime.
• Engaged in Torture
• Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives
• Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to "Black Sites" Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture
• Imprisoning Children
• Failure, as the occupying power, to protect the civilian population of Iraq.
• Providing immunity for criminal acts by contractors, thereby condoning murder, rape and other crimes.
• Spied on Americans without warrants.
• Intentionally subverting and refusing to enforce laws through signing statements.
• Tampering with Free and Fair Elections,
• Corruption of the Administration of Justice
• Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001
• Denial of Habeas Corpus

Among other things.

Many of these are on the record as true.

If Congress says the hell with it, too much trouble to bring that up, and we don't want to look vindictive, and just shrugs its shoulders, that makes them co-conspirators.

The man who will now make the decision to stash the charges on the shelf until after January, 2009, when Bush is gone, or to open up hearings, is John Conyers.

John Conyers phone number is [phone]

Larry Beinhart is the author of Wag the Dog, The Librarian, and Fog Facts: Searching for Truth in the Land of Spin. All available at nationbooks.org. His new novel: SALVATION BOULEVARD will be published in September, 2008, by Nation Books

Comments

[EyesWideOpen]

I will be calling Representative Conyers on Monday.

With regard to this:
========================
justice should only be sought when it's politically expedient...?
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I don't mind waiting until after the election. The main thing is that the impeachment proceedings be scheduled for the day after the inauguration of Barack Obama!
Impeach Impeach Impeach! No president and vice-president in history have deserved it more.

[ElkoJohn]

`
after two impeachments (Nixon & Clinton)
the rulers of the Dems & Repubs got together
and made a gentlemen's & gentlewomen's agreement . ( thug's ?)
not to impeach each others presidents
both parties are funded by the rich & powerful
and the rich and powerful don't want impeachments
further,
the Dems agreed to advocate tax cuts for the working class
and the Repubs agreed to advocate tax cuts for the rich
other that that
no difference . . .
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS DEAD
RIP.

[WorkingClass]

Some of the House Democrats are worth keeping. The Bush collaborators, the corporatists and the blue dogs are quislings. Right now we are busy getting rid of the Republicans. The quislings are next.

[scooperss]

No they aren't. If you start saying some are worth keeping then voters will say "he means mine."
Complete control by either party is a mistake and if the voters haven't learned that by now, they truly deserve the names sheep and kool-aid drinkers. And that goes for both major parties.

[krm1255]

I agree wholeheartedly that Bush should be impeached, but they need to be careful to get Cheney at the same time so he doesn't become the president.

[michiganvoter]

Thank you, Mr. Beinhart, for your call to action for those of us who are outraged, yet unsure how to have an impact.

My question to you is what happens if this is not resolved while this administration remains in office? Can any action be taken once they are out of the White House? How might that happen?

[ohnoyoudidnot!]

I think we've all read here on HuffPo that Pelosi and other Dems don't want to have an impeachment ongoing at the same time as the elections.

So, justice should only be sought when it's politically expedient...?

[mamacita]

This is so sad--only 7 comments. What will it take to get Americans off their butts and in the streets? This is why the Bush administration feels comfortable in virtually "Up yours!" to the people of the United States. This is why Congress says impeachment--or any other means of holding this gang accountable--is off the table. None of them feel it necessary to fulfill their obligation to their oath of office to serve the American people because they don't have to, and we don't care.

[Titonwan]

How ironic is it, that to push for punishment, we will be making the phone company more money. As far as looking vindictive, I don't think so. The french might have looked a little vindictive when they drug out all the nazi collaborators into the streets to shave their heads (and much worse), but then again, I got a some sheep shears I'll loan to the cause (and some rope). If we let them slide, it will just be a temptation for future presidents to do the same. John Woo- there's a special place in hell for your wormy tactics, buddy. Atwater, Rumsfeld, Rice, Cheney and Smirkey should all be held accountable. If it's not completed by this year, so what. I can't think of a better way to spend the winter months but to watch these insects fry. Go Barack. Go America.

[TimeJumper]

I thought this was the 21st century? Why waste time via the telephone when you can contact the esteemed Congressman by email.
http://www.house.gov/conyers/

[Titonwan]

It's called psychology. I only E-mail if I can't call. I only call if I can't have a face to face. People are a lot braver if they have time (and/or distance) to think things through. A phone call would be more intimidating (persuasive). Protesting in front of his office would be more effective still. Anything you do will be better than NOTHING! Come on! I've seen the power of bunches of people rallying to a cause. It works IF you get involved. You can thank Arianna for having a place like this to discuss real problems and possible solutions. This man is offering one and it is GOLD.

[Musicalita]

I just went onto the website to send an email to the Congressman, and he only accepts emails from residents in Michigan! So, it appears that phoning is the way to go.

[ohnoyoudidnot!]

Conyers only accepts email from his constituents in Michigan.

[Dap]

Congress must pass legislation agreeing to sign on to a treaty with the world criminal court and President Obama must sign that legislation.

Then turn all evidence of criminal actions by the Bu$h administration over to the international court at the Hague. Period. Done deal, and we can wash our hands of this crew.

[MelFamy]

We must bring these thugs before a court of law. Our standing in the world depends on it. Gerald Ford did us no favor by pardoning Nixon; he merely bandaged a festering sore, and the current mess is his legacy. This time let's do it right. Impeach, indict, try, and sentence. Let the wheels of justice grind away!

[BADEN]

I understand they looked it over and can't find any TIME LIMIT on the impeachment process.

I also understand a World Court just may be a proper venue in January 2009.

"In 1997, Congressional legislation became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former presidents for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the former president leaves office"
http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/protection.shtml