Cong. Rangel Calls On Congress to Impeach Rumsfeld

[Lori Price CLG]

Cong. Rangel Calls on Congress to Impeach Secretary Rumsfeld

Korean War Combat Veteran says withholding information from the President (sic), Congress, and the public, about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners is a "high crime and misdemeanor"

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2004 -- Cong. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), a member of Congress since 1971 and a Korean war combat veteran, today called for the impeachment of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld unless he resigns or President (sic) Bush removes him from office.

He announced he was drafting articles of impeachment and made the following remarks on the House floor during the debate on a House resolution concerning the torture of Iraqi prisoners: ...

"Several months ago, I called for the resignation of the Secretary of
Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, because I thought that, as a major architect of this war, he was fighting this war with other people's children. And when Rumsfeld said he did not know whether we were winning or losing the war; when he said he did not know if we were creating more terrorists than we were killing; when he said that we had no plan to end the war and that it was a slog - I, as a former combat veteran, thought: Is this the kind leadership that we can expect from the Secretary of Defense?"

<snip>

-Lori Price

[lovedems]

1. I wonder how much support he will get.

It is the house after all. They are a slimy bunch of republicans.

Edit: apparently the republicans think the pentagon are more then capable of investigating themselves. They (of course) are not eager for a bipartisan, independent investigation. That is what I gathered from the news. So, if they have anything to say about this, this will swept under the rug quickly.

[Nlighten1]

18. 95 to 3?

I know he is in the house but it isn't much better there.

[dArKeR]

2. There's more cause to impeach Bush than Clinton's kiss to an intern.

Our entire media is a part of a Shadow Government. Murdoch is the Son of Satan.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Post the full statement please

and I listened he is also implying the President

CONG. RANGEL CALLS ON
CONGRESS TO IMPEACH
DEFENSE SECRETARY RUMSFELD

Korean War Combat Veteran says withholding information from the President, Congress, and the public, about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners is a “high crime and misdemeanor”

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2004 -- Cong. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), a member of Congress since 1971 and a Korean war combat veteran, today called for the impeachment of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld unless he resigns or President Bush removes him from office.

He announced he was drafting articles of impeachment and made the following remarks on the House floor during the debate on a House resolution concerning the torture of Iraqi prisoners:

“This is a very difficult time for me. I find it difficult to rise in opposition to this Resolution. I do it because there just does not seem to be enough outrage involved with what is being said.

“We should not have to apologize for our brave men and women. We should not have to apologize for what the Executive Branch or the Congress has or has not done. We should not be put in this position!

“Several months ago, I called for the resignation of the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, because I thought that, as a major architect of this war, he was fighting this war with other people's children. And when Rumsfeld said he did not know whether we were winning or losing the war; when he said he did not know if we were creating more terrorists than we were killing; when he said that we had no plan to end the war and that it was a slog - I, as a former combat veteran, thought: Is this the kind leadership that we can expect from the Secretary of Defense?

“America and the Military deserve better than this. He should resign. And now the information we receive is that a climate has been created where a handful of people have committed these atrocities against humankind. In an atmosphere where all of the people in Iraq have been demonized; where it appears to Americans and to our military that the people in Iraq are responsible for September 11 and causing us pain; where Secretary Rumsfeld did have information months ago on these atrocities and kept it from the President, kept it from the Congress, and kept it from the American people - I think that this rises to the point that it is a high crime and misdemeanor if he disappointed the President, kept information from the Congress and kept this information from the American people.

“I think America and the world want us to show the outrage not with rhetoric but with action! And, if the President does not fire Secretary Rumsfeld, or if he does not resign, I think it is the responsibility of this Congress to file articles of impeachment and force him to out of office. Then, the whole world will know - not just the military - not just Americans, but the whole world will know what we stand for!

“If people can say 'mission accomplished' when it looks like there is victory, and then we see atrocities like this and it happens on someone's watch; if they do not have the dignity to say I am sorry and move on - then, we have the responsibility under our Constitution to remove these people from office.

“He kept the information away from Congress. We have the responsibility for oversight and to prepare the Articles of Impeachment today.”

Congressman Rangel originally introduced a resolution calling for the resignation of Secretary Rumsfeld on November 7, 2003.

Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution gives the U.S. House of Representatives “the sole Power of Impeachment.” Article II, Section 4 allows for the impeachment of “all civil Officers of the United States.” So far, only one cabinet member has been impeached. In 1876, Secretary of War William Worth Belknap was impeached for bribery. Belknap later resigned.

[Lori Price CLG]

5. ...aren't we supposed to snip to four paragraphs?

I thought we were not supposed to post the entire article, due to forum rules. ?

-Lori

[maddezmom]

7. not sure, but I think you can copy press releases

no copyright...

[Tellurian]

4. About Ding Dang Time!

CONG. RANGEL CALLS ON CONGRESS TO IMPEACH DEFENSE SECRETARY RUMSFELD

official version.. from link

Korean War Combat Veteran says withholding information from the President, Congress, and the public, about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners is a “high crime and misdemeanor”


WASHINGTON, May 6, 2004 -- Cong. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), a member of Congress since 1971 and a Korean war combat veteran, today called for the impeachment of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld unless he resigns or President Bush removes him from office.

“This is a very difficult time for me. I find it difficult to rise in opposition to this Resolution. I do it because there just does not seem to be enough outrage involved with what is being said.

“We should not have to apologize for our brave men and women. We should not have to apologize for what the Executive Branch or the Congress has or has not done. We should not be put in this position!


http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny15_rangel/CBRRum... ...

[JohnOneillsMemory]

6. Good start!! Bush* defends Rummy and he's the next to go!

I can't imagine swing voters thinking "yeah, this is good. Let's have 4 more years of this debacle."

The neocon plan to use the world's largest arsenal to acquire the world's largest fuel supply is jamming on outrage and their inability to be human beings.

Are we ready to evolve yet or are we going to keep trying to use bombs to make friends?

It's as simple as knocking on doors instead of kicking them in.

[Tellurian]

16. Errrr..Which John O'Neil is your moniker..

The JO'N CIA agent?

or the JO'N Kerry antagonist Veteran?

[JohnOneillsMemory]

21. Good point. I memorialize the dead FBI agent, not the living Kerry basher.

Thanks for noticing the need for distinction. It is confusing to have this name indicate very different agendas.

[Trillo]

8. Yay, Rangel ! (n/t)

[bushgottago]

9. How will he explain ...

It will be interesting to see how he explains why he kept it secret from Bush.

[Disturbed]

12. I don't think he did keep it secret.

I think it's a protection measure. The toady Scotty has said Chimp didn't know until the photos came out in the Media. Come on folks! Does anyone believe that? Maybe Rumdumb will need to stick to that story that Chimp wasn't informed. If so, Rumdumb has to be fired, resign or be impeached to find out if he did in fact committ a crime or crimes. Let's see if anyone else in Conngress has some stones.

[truhavoc]

13. I don't know how realistic "The West Wing" is, but...

If the real White House works even remotely like the white house on the tv show, then it is obvious that they KNOW what is going to be on the press way before it happens...otherwise is Scotty not doing his job?? This is ANOTHER lie from bush and co.

[Lugnut]

14. If he, *, didn't know....

Why didn't he? Isn't he the CIC? As the CIC is this how he's doing his job? If he did know it's even worse. So what is he....ineffective and incompetent or complicit?

[symbolman]

10. What I got from this was that Rangel was talking about

BUSH BEING IMPEACHED.

"And, if the President does not fire Secretary Rumsfeld, or if he does not resign, I think it is the responsibility of this Congress to file articles of impeachment and force him to out of office."

[IndianaGreen]

11. Why stop there? Impeach Bush and Cheney!

Impeach everyone responsible for our being in Iraq today, and then vote to rescind IWR and bring the troops home NOW.

[KAZ]

15. No, then you're looking at President Delay.

We need to win the damn election.

[belle]

19. aaaaarrrrghhhh. clearly that won't do.

[IndianaGreen]

22. You mean President Hastert, the Speaker of the House

Some things cannot wait for artificial deadlines such as elections and inaugurals. This is one of those things were partisanship must give way to what is best to the national interest. Bush and Cheney must be impeached if you want to salvage anything out of what is left of the Republic.

If Bush gets another term, whether by DIEBOLD or SCOTUS or other means, you won't be able to mention the "impeachment" word because then you will be accused of being a sore loser. The time to impeach is NOW. The time to withdraw from Iraq is also NOW.

[Just Me]

17. I am "in love",...completely,...with Rangel's passion.

He is becoming a "hero" for me.

This man has consistently and passionately expressed the absolute BEST of the human spirit!!!!

I love this man, so much.

[goforit]

20. Why stop there........impeach the whole Cabal!!!

1776............Ring on!!!!!