Hey Olympia, let's impeach Bush/Cheney

topic : impeachment

A group of Thurston County residents is joining thousands of citizens from across the country in calling for an impeachment investigation of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. These men have defied our nation's Constitution and violated their oaths of office to such an extent that we can no longer remain silent.

The Citizens Movement to Impeach Bush/Cheney's intention is to educate the public concerning the impeachable offenses and to urge the removal of George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney from office. They have started holding informational meetings to discuss the impeachable offenses, the impeachment process and how citizens can become involved. They have also launched a petition drive.

The group is using a documentary prepared by the Center for Constitutional Rights, How to Impeach a President, which focuses on four impeachable offenses. These are: 1) Justified the war in Iraq using fraudulent evidence, 2) Dismissed civil liberties and tortured prisoners, 3) Performed illegal wiretapping of citizens, 4) Refused to obey more than 750 laws by using "signing statements."

"While the list of violations of law that represent impeachable offenses is long," said Jerry Smith, a member of the group, "we have chosen these four that represent the greatest threat to our form of government. If left unchallenged, these actions would permanently alter the balance of power in ways the signers of the Constitution intended to prohibit." He stressed that impeachment is not about politics nor is it about whether people like or dislike Bush and Cheney. This is about protecting and defending the Constitution from those who would create an all-powerful executive branch.

The impeachment process begins with an investigation into these crimes. The House of Represenatives appoints a select committee to conduct this investigation; this non-partisan committee is comprised of ten Republicans and ten Democrats. This committee reviews each of the offenses; if they find there is sufficient evidence, the Senate conducts the equivalent of a trial to determine whether the President and Vice-President are guilty. The President and Vice President will have defense attorneys, and the Senate will appoint a prosecutor. All 100 Senators will be the jury. If guilty, they will be removed from office.

Impeachment is a remedy, not a punishment. It enables the Congress to check a President who believes he is above the law. The House has only impeached three presidents. Most recently, the House impeached Clinton but the Senate did not find him guilty. Nixon won a landslide victory in 1972 but the House impeached him because of his criminal activities associated with Watergate; he resigned from office in 1974 before the process was completed.

A citizens' impeachment movement sends a strong message to our lawmakers in Congress who have been unwilling to protect the Constitution. Citizens have the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. Cities and states also have the right to send an impeachment resolution to the House of Representatives to begin an impeachment process. A number of cities have passed impeachment resolutions; some cities and some states have impeachment resolutions pending.

There is no dispute that Bush/Cheney have committed these four offenses, the group asserts. "The Constitution in Crisis," a recent report issued by Representative John Conyers, lists the specific laws and Constitutional provisions that have been violated, along with relevant evidence. Conyers told reporters that he held hearings because he did not want anyone to be able to say, "we did not know" that the current administration was dismantling the Constitution. The evidence is everywhere, he stated.

The Citizens' Movement to Impeach Bush/Cheney is just beginning to get organized. They meet on Mondays from 7:00 -- 8:00 p.m. at the Thurston County Courthouse, Building 2, Room 230. If you are interested in more information about their actions or obtaining a petition, contacting them at: impeachbush@riseup.net .

Attend a showing of How to Impeach a President at Traditions on Tuesday, September 19 at 7pm. Facilitated discussion will follow.