Committee hears about trying Bush

Committee hears about trying Bush
Witnesses cite abuse of power
Tom Ramstack - July 26, 2008 - http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/26/committee-hears-about-trying-bush/


Democratic and liberal supporters of impeaching President Bush told the House Judiciary Committee Friday that his behavior toward Congress and the war in Iraq justifies removing him from office.

But the panel's chairman downplayed implications that the hearing could start the process of removing Mr. Bush from office.

"To the regret of many, this is not an impeachment hearing," said Rep. John Conyers Jr., Michigan Democrat, noting that the House would have to approve any hearings that could move formally on impeachment.

Some Democratic members of the committee, plus many in the audience, were more enthusiastic, accusing Mr. Bush of misleading Americans to justify the Iraq war, violating federal law by authorizing torture on detainees and ignoring the authority of Congress to investigate purported abuses.

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Democrat and sponsor of impeachment resolutions against Mr. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, called the Iraq war "totally unnecessary, unprovoked and unjustified."

"The decision before us is whether to demand accountability for one of the gravest injustices imaginable," Mr. Kucinich said in his testimony as a witness.

His testimony was applauded ..............

It would go nowhere. Did you hear the Repugs on the committee? Even if the House successfully voted for impeachment, it would go nowhere in the Senate. The Repugs would simple close ranks and filibuster if necessary. Then we progressives could all feel good about impeaching Bush but he would remain in office (as Clinton did) and all we would succeed in doing is raising the hackles of the right-wing and thus motivate them to get out the vote for McSame.

When the American people are made aware of Bush's crimes, they will demand impeachment.

I say we go forward and impeach both Bush & Cheney!

And then put their fat asses in a prison!

The Republicon legislators were waving around theories already disproven about Iraqi WMD to try to defend Bush's actions.

The Republicon effete, laughing consultants on the second panel said that a president's criminal behavior needed to benefit him personally in order to be impeachable. Clinton sex lie = personal, impeachable. Bush WMD lie = led to mass murder, but hey, it wasn't personal, so gee, let it go.

The other laughing elitist Republicon consultant said other presidents had taken the country to war without congressional approval and we didn't impeach them, so why do it this time? To which I reply-- ALL THE MORE REASON NOT TO LET THIS CRIMINAL GANG GO UNPUNISHED THIS TIME.

Some people even argued that impeachment shouldn't be done because it would appear partisan, and could get ugly in an election year. Oh yeah, FOR WHO? And please never mind the 91 filibusters the Republicons have done since 2006 to obstruct Democratic legislation -- those may appear partisan, but don't forget, it is only DEMOCRATS that are obligated to appear bipartisan.

We investigate, we hold hearings, we collect evidence but we don't formally charge anyone or indict anyone until AFTER Bus is out of office so he can't pardon anyone. If he issues "preemptive pardons" then it's an admission of guilt. Once Bush is out of office, THEN bring indictments against all of them!

Please note, however, that there is nothing stopping States or "citizen committees" from voting for or calling for impeachment (Got that info from Howard Zinn). If you're so gun-ho for impeachment NOW, do that instead of waiting for Congress to act?