Impeachment is the Only Way They Don’t Get Away With Torture

[babylonsister]

Impeachment is the Only Way They Don’t Get Away With Torture

by clammyc
Fri Apr 18th, 2008 at 05:32:47 PM EST

United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 2: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

Emphasis mine.

Impeachment at this juncture and based on the revelations over, regardless of the arguments against it, is a moral imperative. Bush will no doubt pardon anyone that has any connection to any wrongdoings, and even though Obama and Clinton talk about investigating the crimes committed in this administration, I think we all probably know how difficult it will be to get anything meaningful done in that respect, although if either of them do, I will be so very pleasantly surprised.

That being said, the arguments of “not enough time” or “not enough votes” all melt away when compared to the implications and consequences of ignoring and tacitly approving of torture. Torture is the most heinous and sadistic of acts that I can possibly think of. I would be willing to be there are millions, nay, tens of millions of Americans who agree with me. Yet, for us tens of millions, we will be known as “those people who torture”.

And it will not be forgotten, nor will anybody be forgiven (not to mention our troops being at greater risk for being tortured if captured).

Illegal wiretapping, while a violation of the Constitution and most certainly an impeachable offense, is not a crime against humanity. Outing an entire covert network of nuclear proliferation tracking, certainly more impeachable than lying about a blowjob, was never something that most people could understand how directly they were impacted by that. Ignoring subpoenas, destroying evidence of torture, lying to Congress and misleading the American people wasn’t something that apparently caught on in terms of anyone in Congress caring enough to pursue.

But torture is different.

more...

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2008/4/18/172332/627

[guyanakoolaid]

1. Agreed. K&R

To not bring their lawlessness and crimes against humanity to justice is to be complicit.

I'm talking to you, Pelosi.

I'll rec every impeachment thread I see, we need to keep fighting, and show our representatives that the will of the people favors justice, and will no longer sit on the sidelines while they do nothing.

[The Stranger]

2. Oh, Nancy (to the tune of "Mandy")

Oh, Nancy,
You held us and kept from impeaching,
And you fucked us all,
Oh, Nancy,
The Republic was fucked by your protecting them,
And we need you today,
Oh, Nancy.

[Demeter]

3. Torture, Among Other Misdemeanors!

There has got to be a clear and permanent message sent out to those who would be Bush.

[Solly Mack]

4. well, that and prison terms

k/r

[chknltl]

5. K and R and added my name to the ACLU petition link....

...demanding that a special prosecutor be assigned to investigate this matter. I urge everyone reading this to do likewise.

btw Thank you babylonsister. You are one of the DU's tireless important sources for things which truly matter. My hat is off to you for all you do for us.
:toast: to :patriot:babylonsister :patriot:

[IntravenousDemilo]

6. I agree, but do you know what might be even more delicious?

This is something Al Franken came up with. After the new, heavily Democratic Congress is sworn in next January, the new Reps and Sens should do straight up-and-down impeachment and immediate removal votes of both Cheney and Bush about three days before they're to leave office, and then swear President Pelosi in, or whoever has her job after the election, for the last 72 hours.

Why do this? Mostly just because they can. And also so that whichever Democrat the new president is, his or her term in office won't get soiled by rubbing up against the end of the Bush years. Plus, it would mean no pardons from the Chief Executive for people like Libby or Delay or Abramoff or...

[Senator]

7. Sadly, That's Just Franken's Schizophrenic Form Of Impeachophobia

It allows him the pretense of being for impeachment without requiring him to actually demand that it be undertaken now.

If he's really serious about this he needs to be asked to explain the beauty of his "later-on solution" to the Gitmo detainee-victims, and the troops that remain in harm's way, though NOT, eventually, to a tribunal at The Hague -- but that's only because while currently being a political leader, he is not bound by the treaty responsibilities of a US government official (morally, he's on his own).

Functionally, his drivel is no different than the other rationalizations for inaction that come mumbling out of those surrounded by DC-Dem Strategerists.

Although, being non-dismissive in nature, it may even be more demeaning and dishonest.

==

[PerpetuallyDazed]

8. I totally misread this!

thinking it said, "Impeachment is the only way WE get away with torture" like, on THEM... wishful thinking?

[L. Coyote]

9. K & R & Impeach two too

[Fireweed247]

10. Yes!

:applause:
although they should have been impeached long ago!

www.peacecandidates.com