Reply #61: The burden is on them. They took an oath.

[pat_k]

When we elect Members of Congress, we are asking them to serve as our voice and are delegating power and responsibility to use their best judgment to serve the common good. We when it comes to defending the Constitution, the Congressional oath puts the burden on them.

We take oaths and commit to do tough things in advance for a reason. An oath is an expression of our determination act in accordance with our values no matter how difficult the circumstances. If we expected it to be a cakewalk for members of Congress to defend the Constitution, we wouldn't require them to take the Congressional oath.

For your consideration (although there is some overlap with the general points in reply to you above, these points are specific to their duty):

1. When the Constitution is under attack, Members of Congress are sworn to defend it. The question before members in the current crisis is this: "Are Bush and Cheney an intolerable threat to the Constitution?"


2. Numerous charges against Bush and Cheney are well known to the public. Elected bodies, good government organizations, and countless individual citizens have examined the evidence and judged Bush and Cheney to be an intolerable threat to our constitutional democracy.


3. When charges that officials are abusing their power to subvert the Constitution are brought to their attention, Members of Congress have a duty to judge the charges -- to either dismiss the charges as baseless or take defensive action to remove the threat. They bear responsibility for damage done each day that they unnecessarily put off their duty to judge.
   
   The limbo of "I don't know" is not an escape. Vague claims to "need more information" are no better than the limbo of "I don't know." If they believe they need something more to make a judgment, they must actively seek it. If they are unable to get what they need, they must render judgment on the information at hand.


4. Members of Congress are aware of the most common charges against Bush and Cheney, the evidence cited, and the conclusions.


5. Everything necessary to make an irrefutable case for impeachment is available in the public record as described in http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Senator/10">this journal entry. Any one of the crimes described is all that is needed to conclude that Bush and Cheney are an intolerable threat to the Constitution.


6. When the Constitution is threatened, their Congressional oath calls for Congressional action. For example, formally calling on the House to take up impeachment by introducing Articles of Impeachment for consideration.


7. Their oath is an individual oath. Their duty an individual duty. The failure of their colleagues to act cannot excuse their own failure.