There have been two impeachments of Presidents in the history of The United States. We all remember the most recent one and its shameless political motivation. The one prior to it, of Andrew Johnson, was equally political and almost as frivolous, though set against the background of difficult times historically.
Here now, in the case of the Cheney/Bush administration, the Democratic leadership is sidestepping the issue of impeachment because of anxiety about politics. Yet in this case we are dealing with SUBSTANTIVE abuses of office that deal with the very foundation of the Constitutional architecture of this Republic.
If we fail to punish this administration we will leave in place the laws, interpretations of laws, and the precedents that a future administration more devious and sinister than this country has yet seen could abuse in ways too horrible to imagine.
Go to any Republican and ask them if they want Hillary Clinton to have the same tools that this administration is allowing itself. Would they like Hillary Clinton to take care of the countries business behind closed doors with no oversight? Would they like Hillary Clinton to be able to monitor electronic communications? And if not Hillary, what about some far future administration who’s values we cannot predict or foresee? What if it was a Socialist administration? Would Republicans like these tools in place then?
It is our duty to future generations of Americans to protect the foundational elements of our Democracy. And the only clear way to do that is to, by Impeachment, clearly demonstrate that the political perversions espoused by this administration are not acceptable to The American people, right or left, and in the ensuing administration to strive to ensure that all of these interpretations and precedents are removed, and all these laws modified to ensure their respect for our Constitutional principles.
So I believe the talk of impeachment is not frivolous. It is in fact a duty we now have as citizens to voice that desire to our representatives in Congress.
In my personal view, the following are the principle reasons for impeachment, and I believe that impeachment should include Cheney first, then Bush, then Gonzalez:
The application of the concept of the unitary executive which violates the stated belief of our founders that The House Of Representatives should be considered first among equal branches of government.
The promotion of the radical political concept that the office of the Vice President is not part of the executive branch, and therefore is not subject to oversight.
The manipulation of intelligence and information to promote in the public’s opinion a desire to invade Iraq.
The intentional abuse of The Justice Department to protect political allies.
The abuse of the nation’s regulatory process to protect economic allies.