Impeachment In All But Name: Scandal in the Bush Administration
Posted on March 17, 2007
24 Comments | buzz-it! | Huff it!
The new Democratic Congress is finally getting down to some of the business for which it was elected. I don’t want to make light of the things already accomplished. There were business items long overdue that had to be taken care of in the first few weeks. To a large degree, these items were “low hanging fruit,” items that had only minimal opposition and could be passed quickly. Some of the “first 100 hours” reforms passed in the House include:
- Ethics reform,
- An increase in the federal minimum wage for the first time in 10 years,
- Enactment of the 9-11 commission’s recommendations,
- Expanded stem-cell research,
- Government negotiation of prices with prescription drug companies,
- Student loan interest rates cut in half,
- The elimination of billions in subsidies for big oil companies.
It is to the leadership’s credit that before becoming bogged down in contentious issues that they should clear away what could be quickly accomplished. Efforts to hold the administration accountable will meet with much stiffer opposition.
All but the bluest of the blue dog Democrats are on record against the war, but so far have not been able to get past Republicans in the Senate. Ending the war should remain Congress’s first priority, but again, it would be foolish to get bogged down on the one issue, even one so important as this. Instead, we are beginning to see, through many hearings and inquiries, the wearing away of the administration’s armor. When in time the cronyism, incompetence, corruption, and contempt for democracy and the American people of the current administration is fully exposed, all reasonable alternatives become, once again, possible.
Last week, through his connection to the Libby verdict, Vice President Cheney was under fire. This week Attorney General Alberto Gonzales wishes he had it so easy, now being investigated on at least three separate issues.
The serious but esoteric question of the firing of at least 8 U.S. Attorneys grew some legs this week, further questions are being asked about warrantless spying on American citizens, and especially about his role in blocking an independent investigation of the wiretapping. Last week’s revelation of the FBI’s abuse of “National Security Letters,” still requires further investigation.
Investigations of Karl Rove’s involvement in the Valerie Plame Wilson affair, as well as the U.S. Attorney firings are only getting started.
Activists are calling on Congress to impeach the president and Dick Cheney. I’m fully sympathetic with those feelings. But, when the Republican opposition is still unwilling to bring our troops home from a vastly unpopular war, and have been successful blocking legislation for that purpose, the writing is on the wall against the more controversial and less concrete goal of holding impeachment hearings.
In the current election cycle, removing Bush and Cheney from office, given the time it will take, will serve the public interest only marginally more than a clean election. Impeachment might provide some [read immense] satisfaction to those who have watched this administration trample American values and spit on the Constitution. Holding Bush / Cheney to account for the last 6 years and more will do approximately the same thing. Exposing their contempt for ordinary Americans, demonstrated in their actions, will take away much of their support and render them mostly harmless—and mostly harmless is pretty good in today’s politics.
When we look at the meaning of impeachment, that of exposing the misconduct of office holders and holding them to account, Democrats need mostly to do what they’ve begun to do: hold hearings and press conferences, doggedly turning up all available examples of administration malfeasance. Actual crimes uncovered should be prosecuted. The argument of executive power allowing the president to do what is criminal should be thoroughly discredited. If public servants and the media bring the truth to light, the administration, through past and present actions, will impeach itself.
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24 Responses to “Impeachment In All But Name: Scandal in the Bush Administration”
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Mr. McCarty,
Thank you for your work on this subject. Indeed the exposing of this plethora of crimes (92 separate investigations and counting) is ongoing and every day brings a new truth ‘to light’ that those of us paying close attention have been screaming about for years.
I do have to take issue with one point, being a founding member of one of those activist groups you are “sympathetic” toward: http://www.ImpeachforPeace.org:
“… when the Republican opposition is still unwilling to bring our troops home from a vastly unpopular war, and have been successful blocking legislation for that purpose, the writing is on the wall against the more controversial and less concrete goal of holding impeachment hearings.”
The long overdue impeachment hearings themselves will bring all of these impeachable crimes together under one roof and through one prism. Once the evidence and testimony is spoken into the Congressional Record, first Representatives, then Senators will have to decide for themselves if they are willing to let their precarious political futures ride with these domestic enemies to the Constitution of the United States who have infested our White House or on the side of justice, peace and liberty for all – indeed, on the side of America and her people.
I say force the issue and make our public servants each publicly choose their loyalty – either on the side of party, power, profit and these criminals or on the side of justice, truth and human decency – and then let the American electorate sort them out in 2008 and beyond.
Mikael,
I do not see what you see, but I hope you are the one who is correct.
[...] I was moved more by the comments that suggest the issue should be addressed honestly and cleanly. While I suggested the administration would impeach themselves by their actions, a formal impeachment process initiated by a bipartisan vote in congress would be the best course. I would not argue against that. While I doubt we can move enough Republicans today to do the right thing, I obliquely suggested that the present scandals will increase the chances for impeachment: When, in time, the cronyism, incompetence, corruption, and contempt for democracy and the American p… [...]
I think almost everyone is missing the biggest point. The entire purpose of justice and punishment. We must not only hold criminals in the highest offices accountable, but in terms of treason, war crimes, and war profiteering, they absoulutely must be prosecuted to THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.
After all, the only oath the g.w. took when he was appointed by the supreme court was, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
He only made us one promise, y’all, and he broke it in the worst way possible- trading American (and Iraqi) blood for profit.
If we do not defend our Constitution by punishing those who threaten it, especially those in who we place our highest trust, in the most severe manner allowed by law, it will be sooner that later that others will be tempted by the same easy profit. This nation can not survive another administration such as this.
…especially those in WHOM we place our highest trust,…
Sorry, y’all, I know better.
(also, absoulutely is msp)
You know, it’s awfully Machiavelian to think it, but it’s not realy in the Democratic party’s interest to *win* the argument about the war. This issue is a stinkbomb, one which is never going to be a political asset to the GOP again, and one on which the GOP gets farther and farther from the public will with each day that passes.
If this is still an issue in 2008, the GOP is going to get creamed.
SO why help them escape the noose? If the democratic party wins this issue, the GOP will utter a silent sigh of relief while loudly shrieking that the democrats lost the war.
So why help them? If the Democrats try hard to end the war but lose, they can blame the republicans, and ask for a bigger majority so they can do the public’s will with being impeded.
With a stinkbomb of an issue like this one, the best move is to make sure it’s tied good and tight to the GOP’s tail.
While it’s nice to think that this administration can be held in check for the next two years, legality and the opinions of the American people have never held much sway with this regime.
Almost everything that Bush chided the Clinton administration about, Bush has done threefold with considerably worse results. Corruption, nation-building, activist foreign policy, hubris–is there any doubt that the final indignity will be a rash of pardons for all the felons connected with this White House?
I assume that the only way to prevent this, short of Bush declaring that he will not issue pardons (good luck with that one), would be to impeach or seriously curtail the power of the WH to issue pardons.
Simon Southey,
That may be the cynical way to look at it, but the majority of us Democrats are more interested in saving lives and fixing the problem than political gain.
As we have been telling the Republicans all this time, Country before Party!
If we all had your view it would be a bit hypocritical wouldn’t it?
It isn’t about politics, it is about right vs wrong. Decent Republicans long ago abandoned Cheney and Bush because of their numerous criminal abuses of our nation and our world. Virtually all of the remaining Republicans who still support them do so because they are misinformed by the mainstream media regarding the truth. The only Republicans left after these are the functionaries within the national party and the twice-unelected administration itself. The real questions have nothing to do with Party, but everything to do with Country. Patriotism means doing what is right, not what is politically expedient. Republicans who have had and do have the courage to stand up against Cheney and Bush and their policys are supported and applauded by Democrats and everyone else, and neither their party affiliation nor their patriotism is questioned, rather it is admired and respected all the more because of the courage and honesty required to take that stance. People have every right to be Republicans if they so choose; it does not give them any right to defend the indefensible, and the same goes for Democrats or any other party. This is what is known as the American way, referring to the fact that we pledge allegiance to our Flag, not to our party. “My country right or wrong” is wilful ignorance and unpatriotic. “My country must be honestly criticised and our course corrected when wrong” is totally patriotic. There is all the difference in the world between those two views of our duty to our beloved nation. We correct our nation and it’s leaders when wrong precisely because we love our country and care more than anything for it’s well-being before our own, which in any case is dependent upon having a country (and world) worth living in to begin with. If you do have an open mind, then try thinking about it this way if you do not already, and you will be able to see why it is so.
Impeachment is the only way to reinstate the rule of law in America. If Bush and Cheney are not impeached, convicted, and sent to prison for the crap they’ve pulled on America, future administrations will feel free to pull the same crap. That truth should be self-evident to anybody. If it isn’t self-evident to you (whoever you are), the word that best describes you is “trimmer,” and you are part of the problem.
Interesting, Mr. Montague. I’ve never been called one of those before. I have no idea what it is I’ve been called. The tone suggests it’s pretty bad. Sorry you feel that way. Sorrier still that you feel like you need to attack strangers to score your points. It seems unfortunate, as we seem to approximately agree on what should happen. My post is about what seems to be happening and what I think may happen.
The rule going forward is personal attacks will be deleted. Comments that more or less respectfully disagree, well argued or not, will be posted. Agreements, corrections, additions, and efforts to help sharpen my points are always welcome.
interesting perspective — “impeachment in all but name.” it’s true that a nation-wide sigh of relief that finally someone (oh, like, say, Congress, for example) is investigating and exposing all the criminal negligence and malevolence of Bush & his minions (and puppet-masters).
at the same time — I have to wonder — where is the real accountability for the real crimes? (like an illegal war in a country that had nothing to do with terrorism against the USA, where hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed)
yes, there’s nepotism, cronyism, corruption, trashing the Constitution (at, it seems, every possible turn)…..
but for Congress simply to notice this stuff, get a few administration officials fired or forced into resignation — where is the accountability? a few careers temporarily (witness the Messiah-like resurrection of Tom Delay this week!) embarassed?
even impeachment isn’t enough for George Bush and Dick Cheney — post-impeachment, they get to retire on their juicy pensions while ordinary Americans will go broke footing the bill for their misadventures in Iraq.
impeachment is a slap on the wrist for a couple of naughty teenagers.
I say, throw the bums out — and not only that — turn ‘em over to the Hague and try them as the treasonous war criminals they really are.
maybe then, maybe, we’d see some real sense of justice done and accountability enforced.
It is sad that “mostly harmless” still equates to continued wasting of lives in Iraq.
If you want enough Republicans to come around towards impeachment
You bring the bloody thing to the floor of the house and proceed to show to the public every heinous crime that has been committed.
There is overwhelming evidence that will outrage
the public so much so that most Republicans wouldnt dare vote no.
I agree. Impeachment would be counterproductive at this point. Accountability is what people want and are getting. I would not be surprised if these investigations lead to far worse consequence for this administration – very serious criminal activity.
WRONG!
Impeachment is essential, if our rapidly eroding republic is to survive.
It’s not revenge. It’s not even a concern for justice.
Rather, impeachment is the ONLY path that can demonstrate that we have a Congress that remains “representative.” Impeachment (or bringing the troops home immediately) is perhaps the only action Congress has at its disposal to show its public that money-politics and multi-national corporate interests do not totally control them, –against the public’s interest.
A more-cynical-than-ever, bipartisan public now wonders more openly, more explicitly than ever before, –IS THE PROCESS TOTALLY CORRUPTED? Time for Congress to demonstrate that it represents its people.
Robb,
Thanks for a truly thoughtful comment. That addressing the failings of the administration speaks to the relevance of Congress, and more, to the public faith in our government is one of the strongest arguments I can imagine for truly extraordinary action against a president. The Republicans tried to make impeachment ordinary, trying a sitting president for hiding his personal foibles.
My own post is about what I observe happening and what I think may happen. Few would be more gratified than I would be if Bush could be removed and something like a super majority of the public agreed that such an action was just and correct.
Like you, I believe that government must be by the consent of the people and it must represent the views of the people. I also believe that leadership is required. Followership seems to happen whether or not you have an actual leader. Somehow we have to get people to see the crimes of the administration and the scale of those crimes.
The process I observe and describe, whereby the crimes are first exposed and broadly discussed could very well lead to impeachment or even prosecutions.
Most people want to skip a few steps and get down to the floggings. I would only support figurative floggings. I would also suggest that the case still has to be made for the benefit of the folks who have not been on board from the beginning.
The impatient will also want to remember that prosecution is not limited to the time when the current administration is in power. That is to say, we are not limited by the current time frame.
The truth is often very simple, straightforward and unextraordinary. That is why quite forgot my intended comment when I read LIBERTY’s comment (above):
“It isn’t about politics, it is about right vs wrong. . . The real questions have nothing to do with Party, but everything to do with Country. Patriotism means doing what is right, not what is politically expedient . . . . People have every right to be Republicans if they so choose; it does not give them any right to defend the indefensible, and the same goes for Democrats or any other party. This is what is known as the American way, referring to the fact that we pledge allegiance to our Flag, not to our party . . . . There is all the difference in the world between those two views of our duty to our beloved nation . . . .”
I have become so fatigued with the argument that it’s the Democrats’ fault for not doing / saying X, Y, or Z. This is the most tiresome reaction I have gotten in the last half decade of my reaching out across the political spectrum, on the Net or in person. Politics is no longer some kind of arena-football wherein we walk across the 50 yard-line after regular intervals and shake hands in congratulations or commiserations. It may have been that way before 9-11-01. But after 3-20-03, politics is no longer a zero-sum-game between the Republican and Democratic parties. This new politics is the process where Americans together try to work out together what is the best country. Country first, party affiliation is way down the list.
Bravo, LIBERTY!
MBO provides a methodology to achieve the goal of getting to point X when you have to start from Point B; yeah, yeah, I know; all MBAs have to know that – Right? Wrong! What is ‘Really’ point X, is it the Bill of Impeachment for Dubbya & Cheney or is it the crinminal indictments which will follow when they are removed from office and lose their “Executive privilege”?
Only those that desperately wish to ingore the multitude of crimes, incompetence, outright thievery, blatant unconstitutional acts, one after the other, etc, etc, etc. Yet the ill that these charlatans have done will live long after they are gone and for that reason the methodology used to accomplish their downfall s/b MBO; don’t worry Dubbya won’t recognize it. Start backwards from accomplishing the goal of Impeachment and catalogue the many investigative hearing conclusions that will be tracking sinultaneously while starting so disparately just because some will need the information and testimony produced by earlier hearings to fill the gaps and produce the “rest of the story’.
Healing from a serious injury takes time and effort and America and the majority of citizens must endure the aches and pains of a prolonged recovery, to convince us that we have indeed, gotten over this illness and injury; hopefully by this process we will become immunized against reinfection for more than several generations.
There are some issues that, in truth, are grey, however the profound moral issues that Dubbya and his incompetent fanatics trampled into the ground under the guise of “Keeping Terrorists from America” are not grey – they are black or white. George Orwell wrote his book almost two decades before this current administration came to power, but he described their methods exactly; and those methods worked until the balancing act got too tiring and they got too arrogant. They got caught, and caught, and caught by the ‘little people’ they so despise.
So let’s get cracking on the process of impeaching these arrogant,lying, dispicable terrorists and Dream Stealers – one hearing after the other, after the other, after the other until even the most fanatical worshiper, Rush Limbaugh, gets on the train and leaves public broadcasting.
Your article had many good points. There is one, however, that you should revisit. Impeachment proceedings commencing immediately would instantly bring his ability to do further damage to a screeching halt! Military action against Iran would finally be off the table.
C Bond: Thanks for the comment. I don’t argue against impeachment. I’m suggesting that, little by little, it’s already happening. Introducing articles of impeachment on the floors of congress will not necessarily tie this president’s hands. Impeachment is the formal beginning of a process. We’ve seen this administration defy the public will at every turn, right down from behaving as if he had a mandate when the Supreme Court installed him based on a misguided 5-4. As long as George W. Bush has power he will abuse it. Yes, it is past time for him to go. (It always has been.) The case has to be made, and I believe it is being made every day.
Let’s see, a successful impeachment leads to a new president…and that would be…Dick Cheney?
Good point, in fact now’s the time…before the next election happens and we see again how important the “ticket” is. By the way, Cheney would immediatly step down for “health reasons” and who’s left?
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