Moyers on Impeachment
I wish I had found time to jostle you over Bill Moyers' Journal tonight on PBS. This was on the subject of impeachment, and featured both John Nichols and Bruce Fein. The show was terrific, albeit something like a political high colonic, and hence not an experience anyone would choose out of the blue.
But we're not "out of the blue" here now, are we? We're well past into the black (or red, in accounting terms), as I see it, with a reckless administration profoundly intent on expanding the power of the executive branch of government. Leaving aside the disempowerment (and ineptitude) of the current squatters in that house of white (including those who occupy it but claim they are not subject to house rules), this expansion of executive branch power is not something our country can possibly accept. I don't want the next Executive, regardless of party, to be dreaming of their unfettered reign like the dickhead has been.
I recently read Nichol's book "The Genius of Impeachment" and found it very persuasive. In my opinion, impeachment activity is essential.
From my recent news-searching though, I have come to a bit of an understanding with Ms. Pelosi. She might be the worst candidate to actually take the initiative on impeachment (i.e. I*2, the only way it actually works), since she would, should the process proceed to full fruition, be the one to take over that house-that-so-badly-needs-whiting.
It isn't just that it would be unseemly - I have the impression it could potentially lead to cries and possible actions related to conflict of interest. The sort of thing we are decrying right now in the DOJ and thus should not be sullied with ourselves.
So we need another one or more proponents. (And, yes, we need Nancy to climb down off her pedestal and quietly find room for the "I" word.) Ideally this would include a Republican of conscience, if only there was one. Lacking that, any old Dem might do. I believe my Mr. McDermott, a wily actor if ever there was one, is due for a contact. Please strongly consider contacting your representative also.
It was a great bit of reporting, well above the norm for prime-time boob-tube. I hope if you did not see it you can still track it down:
A public opinion poll from the American Research Group recently reported that more than four in ten Americans — 45% — favor impeachment hearings for President Bush and more than half — 54% — favored impeachment for Vice President Cheney.
Unhappiness about the war in Iraq isn't the only cause of the unsettled feelings of the electorate. Recent events like President Bush's pardoning of Scooter Libby, the refusal of Vice President Cheney's office to surrender emails under subpoena to Congress and the President's prohibition of testimony of former White House counsel Harriet E. Miers in front of the House Judiciary Committee have caused unease over claims of "executive privilege." In addition, many of the White House anti-terror initiatives and procedures — from the status of "enemy combatants" in Guantanamo to warrantless wiretapping — have come under legal scrutiny in Congress and the courts.
Bill Moyers gets perspective on the role of impeachment in American political life from Constitutional scholar Bruce Fein, who wrote the first article of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, and THE NATION's John Nichols, author of THE GENIUS OF IMPEACHMENT.
"The founding fathers expected an executive who tried to overreach and expected the executive would be hampered and curtailed by the legislative branch... They [Congress] have basically renounced — walked away from their responsibility to oversee and check." — Bruce Fein
"On January 20th, 2009, if George Bush and Dick Cheney are not appropriately held to account this Administration will hand off a toolbox with more powers than any President has ever had, more powers than the founders could have imagined. And that box may be handed to Hillary Clinton or it may be handed to Mitt Romney or Barack Obama or someone else. But whoever gets it, one of the things we know about power is that people don't give away the tools." — John Nichols
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But we're not "out of the blue" here now, are we? We're well past into the black (or red, in accounting terms), as I see it, with a reckless administration profoundly intent on expanding the power of the executive branch of government. Leaving aside the disempowerment (and ineptitude) of the current squatters in that house of white (including those who occupy it but claim they are not subject to house rules), this expansion of executive branch power is not something our country can possibly accept. I don't want the next Executive, regardless of party, to be dreaming of their unfettered reign like the dickhead has been.
I recently read Nichol's book "The Genius of Impeachment" and found it very persuasive. In my opinion, impeachment activity is essential.
From my recent news-searching though, I have come to a bit of an understanding with Ms. Pelosi. She might be the worst candidate to actually take the initiative on impeachment (i.e. I*2, the only way it actually works), since she would, should the process proceed to full fruition, be the one to take over that house-that-so-badly-needs-whiting.
It isn't just that it would be unseemly - I have the impression it could potentially lead to cries and possible actions related to conflict of interest. The sort of thing we are decrying right now in the DOJ and thus should not be sullied with ourselves.
So we need another one or more proponents. (And, yes, we need Nancy to climb down off her pedestal and quietly find room for the "I" word.) Ideally this would include a Republican of conscience, if only there was one. Lacking that, any old Dem might do. I believe my Mr. McDermott, a wily actor if ever there was one, is due for a contact. Please strongly consider contacting your representative also.
It was a great bit of reporting, well above the norm for prime-time boob-tube. I hope if you did not see it you can still track it down:
A public opinion poll from the American Research Group recently reported that more than four in ten Americans — 45% — favor impeachment hearings for President Bush and more than half — 54% — favored impeachment for Vice President Cheney.
Unhappiness about the war in Iraq isn't the only cause of the unsettled feelings of the electorate. Recent events like President Bush's pardoning of Scooter Libby, the refusal of Vice President Cheney's office to surrender emails under subpoena to Congress and the President's prohibition of testimony of former White House counsel Harriet E. Miers in front of the House Judiciary Committee have caused unease over claims of "executive privilege." In addition, many of the White House anti-terror initiatives and procedures — from the status of "enemy combatants" in Guantanamo to warrantless wiretapping — have come under legal scrutiny in Congress and the courts.
Bill Moyers gets perspective on the role of impeachment in American political life from Constitutional scholar Bruce Fein, who wrote the first article of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, and THE NATION's John Nichols, author of THE GENIUS OF IMPEACHMENT.
"The founding fathers expected an executive who tried to overreach and expected the executive would be hampered and curtailed by the legislative branch... They [Congress] have basically renounced — walked away from their responsibility to oversee and check." — Bruce Fein
"On January 20th, 2009, if George Bush and Dick Cheney are not appropriately held to account this Administration will hand off a toolbox with more powers than any President has ever had, more powers than the founders could have imagined. And that box may be handed to Hillary Clinton or it may be handed to Mitt Romney or Barack Obama or someone else. But whoever gets it, one of the things we know about power is that people don't give away the tools." — John Nichols
-clip-
posted by Sir Gumbo at 10:12 PM
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