Dennis Kucinich Sums It Up

Dennis Kucinich deserves our thanks today.

I'm not a disgruntled supporter from the primaries. I agreed with most of what he had to say, but it was obvious he wasn't going to be the nominee.

No, he deserves our thanks and gratitude for standing on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this afternoon and reading the thirty-five Articles of Impeachment of George W. Bush.

Even those who say, "We must look forward, we know how bad the Bush administration has been, but why waste our time on this," must stop and listen.

The breadth and length of Kucinich's articles are astonishing. They sum up Bush's evil reign succinctly and to hear them recited been said on the floor of Congress makes me wonder how American could have possibly put up with this despotic murderer and thief for so long.

He should be impeached and removed. He won't be. I can understand why the current Democratic leadership, in its myopic lack of vision takes what they think is the safe political stance. I also understand that they don't want to distract the electorate during an election.

But 75% of the American public thinks he's a rotten president and a large percentage of that public think he's the worst president in American history.

I don't think we should shut up about that.

Bush should not be able to just leave office and slink on back to Texas or Kuwait or wherever he's going to end up and live off the millions made from the blood of American soldiers.

Is there anybody here who wouldn't send him to jail?

I know our nightmare is about to be over, but I do not forgive.

Will update links as they become available.

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Comments

[BlueOnBlue]

Dennis Kucinich for Vice President

Obama/Kucinich 08

[BlueOnBlue]

The ticket...

http://www.observer.com/files/imagecache/article/files/barackobamadenniskucinich.jpg

He certainly makes Obama look taller, doesn't he?

[Sundialsvc4]

I do not agree with the glum assessment, "he won't be."

It is illegal for him NOT to be. Anyone who puts such a law-enforcement duty "off the table" has ... broken the law.

Here's why... Suppose you're standing in the courtroom where a Grand Jury panel of five judges is reviewing cases. One of them says, "Oh, this one's for Larry the Knife... dismissed." How many criminals are in that courtroom? Answer: five.

What these judges are doing is ... obstructing justice. Having probable cause to believe that a law has been broken, they are refusing to allow criminal proceedings, and by doing so, they are shielding that criminal from any threat of prosecution. They are aiding-and-abetting those crimes.

The Constitution declares, in Article 2 Section 4, that " 'any civil officer' SHALL BE Impeached ..." and this is clearly an imperative verb-phrase. It's not "MAY."

If the House has probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed by "any civil officer," whether that crime is a "high crime" or merely a "misdemeanor," then the House has an imperative legal duty under "the Supreme Law of the Land" to timely enter into Impeachment proceedings, and the Senate also has a timely duty to judge the case.

The Constitution says that we shall have "equal protection under the law," and for there to be "equal" there must be "protection." Which means "law." Which means "law enforcement."

Period.

[KBAR]

Then haul Dennis's jugearedass up on charges for giving aid and comfort to the enemy in a time of war. You all know the statements he has may at home and abroad.

[bouyant]

So you are happy to be losing your freedom via the Patriot Act because you clearly don't believe in "freedom of speech"....

[IslandGyal]

I agree, few people are putting together that 4100+ people LOST their lives and thousands of people have be injured and maimed, and thousands of families affected by this Warmonger-in-Chief.

[gladys46]

For all those who say, nothing will happen, senate has no spin, etc., etc.,

This is exactly what murderous despots rely upon .... APATHY!

[madhatter123]

If you all feel as strongly as you suggest here, then take the time to write your representatives and express your support for impeachment. Whether or not it goes forward, you will make your voices heard. I have written my senators and implored them to stand up and hold this Administration accountable. For my children's sake, for all Americans, and to renew our status in this world. That these men will step away from the havoc they have wreaked on our nation and the deaths of 1000's of our soldiers and Iraqis they have wrought without cause makes my stomach churn on a daily basis. Speak up, America and remember our government is "by the people and for the people".

[scooperss]

It's Congress, not a king's court.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080610/cm_csm/yedwards;_ylt=Aqk8FHmYH_O.ddXFBFumgF6s0NUE

[katzooks]

You can now read the text of the Dennis Kucinich's 35 articles of impeachment of Bush, available here:

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

Voice your support for these proceedings via the phone numbers in a previous post, below, or put it writing. Urge your Representative and Senators to support these proceedings via the "Support Rep. Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment" letter at:

http://www.democrats.com/35-articles-of-impeachment

[divineorder]

Done. Thanks for the link to urge Reps and Sens. Went a step further and wrote letter to the NYT.

[WorkingClass]

Your wasting your time and embarrassing yourself. Your *representatives* have already decided among themselves for reasons we are not privy to that they will make no move to impeach.

[barackobama4prez]

Then fight back against the reps! Damn it what has happened to this country? We have been docile so long we don't know how to fight. We are the only country in the world who sits back and lets the gov't. get away with...whatever they want to do.

[YankeeCanuck]

We are privy to the main reasons. They are:
1 Impeachment proceedings would shut down the government for 16 months-- in a time of crisis.
2The Senate has a one-vote majority on a good day and it would take 75, not 51 votes.
3 There are no key Repubs who are willing to pay GWB a "visit" as in Nixon's time, and tell him it's over.

I was told by one of our Senatorsthat they are looking forward to criminal proceedings. More lasting than getting thrown out or forced out of office.

Still, Kucinich has made an historic statement. Yes, we the people want accountability and this is an important step.

[JohnDewey]

It is neither a waste of time nor an embarrassment to attempt to defend & uphold the Constitution. A majority of our legislators, on the other hand, are embarrassing time-wasters.

Think of the cock-eyed view of justice you have absorbed. You view activism in favour of impeachment as an embarrassment and the position of the Democratic Party leadership as, what, respectable, laudatory, commendable, correct?

I'm with Goldwater on this one; extremism in defense of liberty is no vice.

[katzooks]

This is truly a David and Goliath story. Wish I were a political cartoonist. Can't even count on two hands the number of heads I'd have to draw on Goliath.

Fact is, this impeachment proceeding against Bush will fail, the same way Kucinich's April 2007 impeachment efforts against Cheney http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=3750 failed, unless WE, THE PEOPLE, speak up. Our politicians, for whatever reasons you want to assign, will not do this for us. Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly voiced her opposition to these proceedings, on the grounds that they will be divisive and likely unsuccessful.

The only force that will keep these impeachment proceedings alive 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]

[Krikkit]

Impeachment must be brought by the House, but the actual prosecution of the charges must take place in the Senate. This could turn out to be a tragic miscalculation because there aren't enough votes in the Senate to secure a conviction, so if it gets that far, Bush could be let off scott free.

It would have been much better to wait until he has stepped down from the high office before bringing charges.

This is stupid, stupid, stupid.

[gladys46]

Stupid is G.W.Bush, Inc.! And just how are you so certain that there aren't enough votes in the Senate!!

For all those americans and Iraqis who perished ... I hope the votes are there! It's the least that may be done for them and our country!! We are at moral ground zero home and abroad!

Surely that can't make you happy ... surely not me!

[Sundialsvc4]

A Grand Jury's lawful duty is to determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed. The role of the House of Representatives is that of Grand Jury.

It is not the Grand Jury's duty to determine what will subsequently happen in Court, and the Grand Jury is not permitted even to consider such things.

The Senate, also, is not a Court of Law: the civil-officer, once impeached, is bound over to the Court of Law (the Judiciary) on the strength of the House's indictment, and only then is the accused party's guilt or innocence determined, "by a jury of his peers." However, innocent or guilty, the accused has been expelled from his or her Office and has been barred from ever holding public office again.

I assert flatly that the House of Representatives is bound by law to convene for the consideration of Articles of Impeachment ... and that every Member of the House is likewise bound by law to submit them to the Floor if he or she has probable cause to believe.

Bottom line: this is Law Enforcement, not a popularity contest. It has nothing to do with Politics.

Right now, there are 300 million Plaintiffs who demand their Protection Under the Law.

[divineorder]

I am one of the Plaintiffs, and I agree with this message.

[rmreddicks]

Sundial -

"However, innocent or guilty, the accused has been expelled from his or her Office and has been barred from ever holding public office again."

Correct me if I'm wrong but if someone such as a sitting president is impeached but found innocent I don't believe they are "expelled....and (have) been barred".

[researcher]

many will call dennis unpatroitic that is the sad part of this country

with imperialists and war mongers unless you are with them then you are unpatroitic

never forget the worst of these war mongers are the evangels

the evangels dont have a clue how radical jesus was for his time

he would be put to death if he did return like they want

who would put him to death; an evangel bet on it

as far as forgive; politicans are only a reflection of the majority of the voters

best kept secret in america

we americans prefer to blame politicans than look into a mirror

[Sundialsvc4]

You know, we hear such things on "the media," but I don't believe it and neither should you. After all, isn't that what "propaganda" and "crowd psychology" is all about? Truisms... sophistry... appealing words that are so appealing that people just accept them at face-value, especially when encouraged to believe that "that's just the way it is" or "everyone else is doing it."

If the Constitution of the United States is, and is to be, "the Supreme Law of the Land," then it had damn well better be consistently enforced.

"The Constitution: it's not just a good idea, it's The Law."

[Excander]

The 35 articles summing up 35 independent occurences of impeachable acts will make any citizen, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation scathingly mad. The current corporatist system with it's spheres of power interests marianeting our political system, is the only reason these crimes were allowed to proceed. Get the corporate conglomerate money out of Washington. Prosecute the current administration for treason and undo the restructuring of government checks and balances ammended by them.

Thank You Representative Kucinich for having character in tandem with a spine.

Truth and Justice - without of which, no democracy can survive.

[Indoboy7]

The american public has displayed an attention span (with the length)like that of a gnat when it comes to political matters. JUST WIN, BABY has been their "mantra".Critical thinking is just too tiresome for most: It is just so much easier to follow a preacher (and send him money to live off comfortably.)who tells them the way things SHOULD be, never mind that that preacher is a devil in disguise.(something that takes time to unfold, by then it is too late..).Dubbya's pre-election videoclip showing him declaring that God had told him he wanted him to be President SHOULD have send shivers up evrybody's spine( not just mine and afew 1000 other americans).G.W.Bush continues to be revealed as the mental midget that he has been all of his life. He is the ultimate showcase for what money can buy in the US we have seen for the past 7+ years.All his actions have been made infinitely worse by the brainless, gutless, and fawning, Yes men/women he surrounded himself with..It is only fitting that the YOUNG PEOPLE of america are finally taking interest in their future...

[AwakeinOregon]

Beautiful. Priceless. The youth of America is Exactly what is needed. Minds that are still free to think and question and challenge the norm and what makes no sense. Awake, alive minds. What a blessing and offer of hope.

[mlaiuppa]

Good. Does this mean they're part of the record and thereby also public record? Let them be a permanent part of history and a big part of the "Bush Legacy".

I only wish The Hague would take them all.

[Simpletruthiness]

Thank that is what I have been saying. I hope they at least try on principle. I think it can hopefully at least serve as a minimal deterrent to the next morally bankrupt crew who might have similar ideas. This is ridiculous. We all need to right our congressman and say hey what the hell.

[Sundialsvc4]

Since Re. Kucinich is a Member of Congress, let him place 35 Articles of Impeachment onto the Floor.

The Constitution then requires the House to convene to consider the 35 Articles.

Furthermore, if any other "civil officer" has probably committed a high-crime or a misdemeanor (it could be a very long list...) then the Duty is the same.

[Dolphyn]

Yes, the Articles of Impeachment are in the Congressional Record beginning here:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?position=all&page=H5088&dbname=2008_record'

Also available here:
http://chun.afterdowningstreet.org/amomentoftruth.pdf

[PaulPeete]

Thanks Tom! I saw him on CSpan, the man has the tenacity of a pitbull, and the brains of a true patriot. My candidate is Obama but Kusinich has my political perspective; throw the bums out!

[thinker&reader]

I just watched on CSPAN - thank you Kucinich!

[booksnmore4you]

Good points he made and a good show. It ain't goin' no where, though. No one thinks they should spend their political capital on this at this time, and they are very well probably right.

[strifeknot]

Not impeaching sends the message that the executive branch can literally get away with murder, that it can do absolutely any horrific thing it wants without fear of being held accountable for it.

Why didn't the Democratic leadership push for this when they were given a mandate in 2006 to start changing things? Not only did they fail to hold Bush accountable, they continued as accomplices in his terrible domestic and foreign policies by rolling over and writing a blank check for him, just as they did when they were the minority party. Totally gutless.

[mindyinmoab]

They can all still be held accountable when they are out of office, without ability to pardon each other. Impeaching Bush leaves Cheney in charge. Think he wouldn't pardon Bush? Also, I already have great concern that if Obama does win the election, marshall law will be imposed before Jan 20th keeping the criminals in the white house.

[Sundialsvc4]

Democrat or Republican, they have voted the same. There's a morass of "aiding and abetting" here. But nevertheless... when Law Enforcement is at stake, you're not being "gutless." You're breaking the law yourself.

[katmeyster]

The reason the impeachment should go forward is because we the people need to check executive power. I am a very strong Obama supporter, don't get me wrong, but I do not want anyone in the executive branch to have unchecked, monarchical, power. Besides the fact that Bush and Cheney should be sitting in prison right now for all the reasons Kucinich stated, the people must remain vigilant in requiring that the limits of power written into the Constitution remain. It was a very serious mistake when Pelosi took impeachment off the table, and I appreciate everything Kucinich is doing -- he was my first choice for President. Thank you.