Four clear legal arguments for impeachment

[kpete]

Four clear legal arguments for impeachment
by profmarcus
Mon Mar 06, 2006 at 03:29:34 AM PDT


I'm glad somebody who knows what they're talking about is on the case...

The case for the impeachment of President Bush is arguably the strongest in American history. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) makes this amply clear in its recent book, a concise indictment of President Bush that lays out four clear legal arguments that point to impeachment as a necessary remedy for the gross violation of our Constitution. The Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush covers illegal wiretapping, torture, rendition, detention and the Iraq war. An appendix compares the impeachment proceedings of Andrew Johnson, Nixon and Clinton to the comparatively more powerful case against Bush.

this following snippet voices my sentiments precisely...

Arguments against the president's violation of the Constitution have not resulted in any reform or change in behavior. Public shaming and the threat of legal action often work to keep politicians in line. But President Bush is vocally disinterested in the public's approval of his agenda. Furthermore, he views the law, as evidenced by torture and detainee litigation, as mutable suggestion. For such a president, legal recourse is largely ineffectual -- unless Americans and Congress reclaim the power of the law to remove the offending parties.

As Ratner told AlterNet, "While our battles against illegal wiretaps and Guantanamo are critical for trying to get back legality, until we get rid of what I consider a criminal administration, we will not be able to go back to even a semblance of civil liberties and human rights.".

nearly 6 years of trying to apply the brakes on this train have been fruitless... quite the contrary, in fact, as the train seems to be continually gathering speed... impeachment is a long, tortuous, expensive and possibly empty effort which, nonetheless, seems to be our only alternative... i simply cannot comprehend how much more damage the u.s. will suffer if bush completes his term of office...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/6/52934/59895
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ccr/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2702

[H2O Man]

1. The Center for Constitutional Rights

is one of the best advocates for keeping this nation a constitutional democracy. Though not as well known as the ACLU, they do some of the most important work in the country.

[hootinholler]

7. Perhaps they have different missions?

The ACLU's mission is to fight rights violations at the grassroots level and occaisionally they get cases that proceede to the national awareness level and into the USSC.

I'm unaware of the CCR's mission, perhaps you can provide some pointers for me?

-Hoot

[H2O Man]

8. They coordinate efforts.

The ACLU is larger, with more chapters, but the CCR does a lot of very important cases that are less likely to get the headlines. CCR has helped on Native American sovereignty issues over the years. Bill Kunstler was perhaps their most high-profile attorney, and he always was interested in assisting traditional causes.

[katty]

14. doing great work

[badgerpup]

2. OK...so what do we do...

..to help them do their job and get Bush impeached, indicted and convicted? Soon, preferably?

[Disturbed]

3. Impeachment is a trial.

If found guilty of the various charges the only outcome can be dismissle from office. Afterwards, a person can be charged with a crime or crimes by a Federal Court.

[mcscajun]

4. Impeachment is the equivalent of an indictment. The trial in the Senate

follows a successful impeachment in the House.

Once removed from office, the former President could then be indicted and tried on charges in Federal or State courts.

[mcscajun]

5. Unless and until we get control of the House and Senate, not much to do

State legislatures, private citizens, Corporate Media, and public interest groups can howl all we want about impeachment. Unless we have the votes in Congress, we're not getting anywhere. If enough Republicans were to feel the heat from their constituents (the real ones, not citizen-constituents) then maybe we wouldn't have to wait.

[jasmeel]

9. The problem with this is our votes may not be counted correctly

come 2006. We have no assurance that they will.

[mcscajun]

13. Indeed, we don't have any assurance. That doesn't change the premise,

though.

Without control, we're nowhere. It sucks, but there you are.

[Poiuyt]

16. I just saw Michael Ratner, president of the CCR on CSPAN during the

impeachment forum sponsored by Harpers. Ratner said that it is our job to get into the streets and get in the faces of our Congressional Representatives and make sure they know our views. We are the ones who will have to make this a movement. Congress need to know that impeachment is what we want and what we DEMAND.

[AndyA]

6. If we wait long enough, Bush will rewrite the laws to prohibit

Impeachment of a sitting President. He'll say it's necessary during war time. No doubt, he's already got it ready to go, just waiting for the right moment to slip it through.

Something must be done - QUICKLY!

[infogirl]

10. Maybe we can get the votes counted and impeachment

will come....because Clint Curtis is running in FLA, the vote program whistleblower...check out his website www.clintcurtis.com
No one is going anywhere without him! Only a true vote count, will give us the seats to impeach!

[Kurovski]

11. K&R. Thanks, kpete

one of the very best posts I've seen on the impeachment topic here at DU.

I'd love to see it on every front page in America.

[iconoclastNYC]

12. Great article.

Too bad we have a weak leadership who is afraid of its shadow.

[yellowdogmi]

15. Thanks Kpete!

This may be a good place to help on the process. We have to raise awareness and dog everyone in congress to make this happen. The link below only applies to the wiretapping aspect of the case for impeachment but it is a one stop link that may do some good. I would mention in your postings to your congressional representatives and senators that you support HR 635 that would create a commitee to investigate impeachable acts.

http://www.millionphonemarch.com/wiretap_hearing.php