My thoughts on Impeachment! Focus on the WAR!!!

[jackbourassa]

I believe it is important if only for posterity to impeach George W. Bush.

But I think that we are focusing too much on this spying case. I agree that if Bush broke the law, that this should be one of the articles of impeachment. But I believe that the impeachment charges must encompass much more than just this newest spying flap.

It must include the lies he told to get America involved in this war against Iraq. That, in my opinion, is the more serious of the "crimes" he has committed. Taking a country to war is the most extreme thing any President can do. Thus, to fabricate reasons to go to war is the greatest crime any President can commit.

Things we may focus on:

1) The fact that the neocons and Bush, well before the Sept. 11 attacks, were planning a war against Iraq. On this issue I think there are important pieces of evidence. First, the memo's and speeches of the neo-cons themselves; second, Cheney's oil commission (what did he promise to whom).

2) Journalists on the payroll. We know for example that the Bush Administration paid off journalists (Armstrong, who has said there were others as well) to help along his re-election campaign. I think it is fair to assume, given the media's glee about going to war, that many were bribed to write stories pushing along Administration lies. The one thing that has always raised an eyebrow with me is that of Judith Miller. Don't forget that she is the journalist who wrote the infamous aluminum tube story. Which she got from the White House, which has since been bullshit. Even if she wasn't on the "payroll" there is no doubt that she got a false story from the White House.

3) The Plame CIA leak thing. The significance of this story is not so much of who said what to whom. It is that an effort was under way to undermine those who publically challenged the official White House line. Anyone who offered an opinion that differed from the White House push for war (and who exposed the lies that they told) were subject to personal destruction.

Other issues we may focus on:

1) Torture. Abu Griab and Gitmo in Cuba. Was this the official policy of the White House? There is reason to believe it was.

2) Wiretaps against anti-war activists and those who opposed Bush's policy.

3) The Red Alerts during the election. Isn't it funny that there were all these increased terror alerts during the election (including one just a day after the Democratic convention), but none since the reelection.

What all of this points to is a pattern of behavior by the Administration. A pattern of using the tragedy of September 11th to basically do whatever they want. What they wanted was:

1) A war against Iraq.

2) Winning re-election.

3) Destroy anyone who got in their way.

That to me is the greatest of the crimes. So don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that the wiretaps are unimportant. Only that we should look at the bigger picture, which to me is how this administration abused its power to ultimately get what it wanted. This may be the greatest crime committed by any President in US history.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. I agree with all of your points

ALL of these issues are so major, it's hard to place one before another. The only reason that the spying is the best issue for impeachment is because the law is so clear-cut, their defenses are so feeble and demonstrably wrong, and we have a confession.
It really provides a good "cut to the chase" case.

[joannc]

2. I agree with both of your posts

[HereSince1628]

3. All that is true, but unlike many of the scandals this one is simple

to understand. Most people openly opine that they do not want a president who violates the constitution and breaks the law.

Of all the offenses Bush has committed it IS, so far as we know, the one with the clearest case for wrong-doing. And it has pushed a wedge into Republican congressional unity. Consequently it is the one most likely to generate the formal investigation that will educate everyong as to why this president is dangerous.

This one is going to fade away soon. For a week there have been continuing drips, none of the drips have made the story better for the WH. It also has a trojan horse quality and Bush's abuse of power is going to be popping in the Patriot Act reconsideration, the final debate on the intelligence act, the Alito confirmation attempt, etc.

[sduncang]

4. Agreed...BUT

very unlikely a Republican Congress would impeach a sitting Republican President. The impact of the aforementioned issues will be felt at the ballot box, which could result with our side winning a majority in the House in 2006. Should that occur, then impeachment may loom.

[jackbourassa]

5. Republicans won't impeach him

We will, when we win the midterms.