I just posted this to my critter

[nadinbrzezinski]

July 13, 2007

Today we are at a critical stage in the history of this country. It is time to put impeachment back on the table. I know the party is afraid of the 25%, best case, that would love to get rid of the US Constitution. So far, they have succeeded. (Oh and contempt of congress and arrest by the Sergeant at Arms of Harriet Miers is not optional, but required).

The events of this week should prove to you that this President believes he is above the law. This is not unlike the hot summer of ’74.

Now a little history is in order. The Democrats could chew gum and walk at the same time back then. Yep, they were able to prosecute an investigation and lead the country. I know, history is harsh mistress, since it helps to put a lie to the talking points.

Now Senator Boxer said it well the other day. We are very close to a dictatorship. It is time to either do your job as our representatives, or get out of the way. Yes, the people are pissed. And many of us are considering our choices... the republican (known entities), the Democrat, who lacks a spine, or a third party.... the greens are starting to look appealing at this time. Oh, and I fear I am not the only one having those thoughts right now.

Now on to another matter. The Rush Holt bill regarding voting has been changed. It said originally that the code had to be opened to public scrutiny, but now it will be open “only to qualified individuals who will have to sign an NDA.” I guess Microsoft and the rest of the Corporations who OWN the country struck again and rewritten a bill to benefit THEM. What was the name Mussolini used...oh yes Fascism which is best defined as corporatism. (Damn history degree)

I have a simple suggestion. Canada does it, Mexico does it, Germany does it... and it is very simple. It is called PAPER, and an X... and the cost... printing of the ballots. How about that? Perhaps you should pick up a copy of Greg Palast’s Armed Madhouse... read about caging lists and how Jim Crow is now in the ballot box. Oh and let me tell you something. People no longer believe in the integrity of the vote. They will continue to show up, in spite of it.

Lastly... we need public financing of elections... and my usual rant, bring the troops home NOW.

Sincerely


_____________________

And I encourage all of you to write, call, pester. they work for us... make sure they understand that

[Madspirit]

1. k&r...n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Good letter

from the name of your post, I thought you meant you'd written a letter to your pet. I was thinking that my cat would appreciate this letter and understand it better than the conman who supposedly represents my district (a repuke, of course).

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. We can impeach NOW!

All of their lies and deceit have been recorded, revealed and unraveled on videotape.

ITMFsA!

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/24608

Why We Need More Investigations Like Cheney Needs More Power
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-07-12 19:51. Evidence | Impeachment

Their crimes stand open on the table before us. Their lies about Iraqi ties to al Qaeda are on videotape and in writing, and they continue to make them to this day. Their claims about Iraqi weapons have been shown in every detail to have been, not mistakes, but lies. Their threats to Iran are on videotape. Bush being warned about Katrina and claiming he was not are on videotape. Bush lying about illegal spying and later confessing to it are on videotape. A federal court has ruled that spying to be a felony. The Supreme Court has ruled Bush and Cheney's system of detentions unconstitutional. Torture, openly advocated for by Bush and Cheney and their staffs, is documented by victims, witnesses, and public photographs. Torture was always illegal and has been repeatedly recriminalized under Bush and Cheney. Bush has reversed laws with signing statements. Those statements are posted on the White House website, and a GAO report found that with 30 percent of Bush's signing statements in which he announces his right to break laws, he has in fact proceeded to break those laws. For these and many other offenses, no investigation is needed because no better evidence is even conceivable. And rather than taking three months, the impeachment of Cheney or Bush could be completed in a day.
But the investigations that Congress has pursued at its glacial pace over the past six months, while thousands upon thousands died, have produced another impeachable offense, the refusal to comply with subpoenas. That is what President Richard Nixon did; and his refusal to comply with subpoenas constituted the offense cited in one of the three Articles of Impeachment approved by the House Judiciary Committee on July 27, 1974 as warranting "impeachment and trial, and removal from office."
Bush and Cheney are claiming executive privilege. Nixon also tried that one. It didn't work then; and it won't work now. Condoleezza Rice is claiming, with more frankness, that she's just not inclined to comply. Even Nancy Pelosi ought to understand by now that the removal of the threat of impeachment is what empowers the White House to ignore subpoenas, and that the threat of impeaching the White House for its stonewalling would break down the wall even before we reached impeachment.

[emilyg]

4. #5 with pleasure

[truedelphi]

5. Can't think of anything to add. K & R'ed

[eridani]

6. Impeachment is way simpler than paper ballots in the US

Canada, Mexico and Germany don't have to vote for 20-50 different people. All they have to do is to vote for party slates. That's why it's simple there.

My state legislative district has parts of five different cities (each with its own city council and school board), three different congressional districts and four different county council districts. If you want to claim that you can do complex and repetitive work accurately for 16 hours straight, I just don't believe you. It took three full weeks for a full hand count of just one statewide race in Washingon in 2004. How long do you think it would take to do all the jurisdictions in the state that way?

[AntiFascist]

7. K&R, but I just received this response from my critter....

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for initiating impeachment proceedings against President Bush and Vice President Cheney. As your Representative in Washington , I appreciate hearing from you.

<snip>

The new Democratic majority in Congress has pushed forward with an ambitious agenda to address these many failings. Most importantly, we have tried to overcome Republican resistance to bringing the war in Iraq to an end. We have moved legislation to enact all the recommendations by the 9/11 Commission, improve ethical standards in Washington , implement a new national energy policy, raise the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years, make college more affordable and strengthen our healthcare system. And that is just in the first 6 months. I assure you that we are committed to taking our country in a new direction.

<snip>

One can disagree with her assessment, but I believe Speaker Pelosi is acting in what she believes is the best long term interests of our country. I know her decision has been met with a great deal of frustration among those of us implacably opposed to the Administration and its agenda. And while I completely share that frustration, I have a great deal of respect for the Speaker after having worked closely with her for nearly 10 years. And so, after much consideration, I have decided to respect the Speaker's decision on this issue and not cosponsor any impeachment legislation at this time.

Needless to say, I will be sending a counter-response stating that I probably wouldn't be donating to any Democratic campaigns this time around, unless these feelings change. It should be a matter of priority that the Administration cannot continue to place itself above the law. By putting pressure on Cheney with respect to impeachment, it will likely result in a faster pullout of Iraq. This could save $100s of billions in future military spending, avoid a useless and self-destructive conflict with Iran, and ultimately provide for all the programs that Democrats are fighting for now.

[glitch]

8. Good answer. And tell your critter you look forward to supporting their challenger in the primary nt