Saturday, July 14, 2007
About Impeachment
This morning it occurred to me to write a little essay about the question, "Can the war in Iraq be won?" My simple answer is, "Yes, but it will take at least ten years and a much larger army than the one we now have." End of subject; there's nothing more to be said about it. So, what to write about?
Last night I watched the PBS program "Bill Moyers' Journal." Bill had Bruce Fein and John Nichols discussing the proposition that President Bush and Vice President Cheney should be impeached. I had previously thought that impeachment of those two now would be like locking the barn door after the horse was stolen. Mr. Fein, in particular, presented a compelling case in favor of impeachment.
His argument is that the Bush administration has committed several offenses against the federal constitution: warrantless wire taps, denial of habeas corpus for the prisoners at Guantanamo, lying to Congress, refusal to allow administration members to testify to Congress, and so on. It is very important to Mr. Fein that these unconstitutional and illegal practices should not become precedents for future presidents to use. He asked, do we want a President Hillary Clinton, a President Rudy Giuliani, a President McCain, a President Edwards, or any other ambitious politician from having these powers? If not, we should now take action to censure the current President for doing these things. We must have the House draw up and pass a bill of impeachment in which these crimes are itemized. We will thus make it clear that future Presidents are forbidden to act as unaccountable monarchs rather than elected and accountable presidents.
I must say that his argument convinced me. Although the horse is gone, we can recover the saddle, the reins, and the buggy. Future Presidents must be made to understand that the Presidency is not unaccountable and must respect and cooperate with the Congress.
Now, where do I go to sign a petition for impeachment?
Last night I watched the PBS program "Bill Moyers' Journal." Bill had Bruce Fein and John Nichols discussing the proposition that President Bush and Vice President Cheney should be impeached. I had previously thought that impeachment of those two now would be like locking the barn door after the horse was stolen. Mr. Fein, in particular, presented a compelling case in favor of impeachment.
His argument is that the Bush administration has committed several offenses against the federal constitution: warrantless wire taps, denial of habeas corpus for the prisoners at Guantanamo, lying to Congress, refusal to allow administration members to testify to Congress, and so on. It is very important to Mr. Fein that these unconstitutional and illegal practices should not become precedents for future presidents to use. He asked, do we want a President Hillary Clinton, a President Rudy Giuliani, a President McCain, a President Edwards, or any other ambitious politician from having these powers? If not, we should now take action to censure the current President for doing these things. We must have the House draw up and pass a bill of impeachment in which these crimes are itemized. We will thus make it clear that future Presidents are forbidden to act as unaccountable monarchs rather than elected and accountable presidents.
I must say that his argument convinced me. Although the horse is gone, we can recover the saddle, the reins, and the buggy. Future Presidents must be made to understand that the Presidency is not unaccountable and must respect and cooperate with the Congress.
Now, where do I go to sign a petition for impeachment?
Labels: Bruce Fein, impeachment, John Nichols, lying to Congress, precedent for future presidents, warrantless wire taps
