Waxman on impeachment

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/28958

Waxman Wimps Out on Impeachment
Submitted by davidswanson on Tue, 2007-11-27 03:56. Congress | Impeachment

From Henry Waxman:

Thank you for contacting me to express your strong
opposition to the policies of the Bush White House and your
support for impeachment. I appreciate having the benefit of your
view on this issue and the opportunity to share my thinking with
you.

As you know, on November 6, 2007, Representative
Dennis Kucinich offered a privileged resolution on the House
floor to bring up H.Res. 333, which would impeach Vice
President Cheney. I joined a majority of the House in a 218-194
vote to refer the privileged resolution to the Judiciary Committee,
which is the committee of jurisdiction.

I do not take impeachment lightly. Having been elected
to the House in 1974 on the heels of the resignation of President
Nixon, I fully understand the gravity of the impeachment process.
And having served in the House during the partisan and political
campaign that pursued the impeachment of President Clinton, I
have seen the detriment of its abuse.

While I recognize the eagerness of Representative
Kucinich and other supporters of impeachment to move this
resolution swiftly, I believe the House has a constitutional and
institutional responsibility to handle such resolutions and their
underlying accusations with due process and regular order. That
is why I voted to refer the measure back to the House Judiciary
Committee for its evaluation and consideration.

In addition to concerns about process, I personally believe
that impeachment is not a successful strategy for challenging the
Bush Administration. On a practical level there aren't enough
votes in the House or the Senate for impeachment or a
conviction. Furthermore, pursuing impeachment would polarize
our country at a time when Americans are unifying across party
lines to oppose the President's policies in Iraq. It does not make
sense to divert attention and focus on a losing strategy against an
administration that will be out of office next year.

As Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform I am committed to holding this
Administration accountable for its actions. I believe the best way
to do so is by restoring the essential checks and balances that
languished during previous congresses. I am determined to fully
investigate acts of misconduct and misjudgment and learn from
the Administration's mistakes so that we can fix our policies and
prevent future abuses.

For more about my work in Congress, or to sign up for
periodic e-mail updates, please visit http://oversight.house.gov and
http://www.waxman.house.gov.

Thank you again for contacting me and please be in touch
on issues of concern.

With kind regards, I am

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman
Member of Congress.

almost cheney-like in that way, but without the gun.

it still seems that impeachment is the best way to prevent future abuses, though.

on the Hill than we are privvy to... or so I hope. Why the hell do they keep talking about how much time it would take? If they had done this last January, and put it up for a vote, it would be done and perhaps we would have an interim govt in place now.

May our constitution survive this admin so I can read the real story someday when it hits the bestseller list. If there is still a bestseller list.

have their way, we are polarized because they are not holding them accountable.

That's the biggest stumbling block dems have in understanding their govt - they want to believe that at least one of the Name Brand's is on their side. Good luck with that delusion...

And it will...

I say we get everyone of these mealy-mouthed bastards out of office in the next election.

Um, Henry? That was after you voted to table the bill!

Straight talk indeed.

-Hoot

All I want to know is that if this is true:

In addition to concerns about process, I personally believe
that impeachment is not a successful strategy for challenging the
Bush Administration.

Then what IS the strategy?

Then this:

I am determined to fully
investigate acts of misconduct and misjudgment and learn from
the Administration's mistakes so that we can fix our policies and
prevent future abuses.


Well, looks to me as if Waxman is only after future criminals and not the current ones in the White House. I'm not disappointed. I'm angry.