Maverick NH Repub: "Not Only Should Bush/Cheney Be Impeached-They Should Be Tried As War Criminals"

[kpete]

Maverick Republican Drops WC Bomb on Bush/Cheney

................

The most remarkable moment came late in the afternoon when Republican House member Steve Vaillancourt strode into the room to testify. After passing out copies of the second chapter of Patrick Buchanan's "Day of Reckoning"- as supporting evidence, Vaillancourt opened his remarks quoting "fools rush in where wise men fear to tread"-, and it sounded like a set up to condemn a rush to impeach. But instead he said that Betty Hall is neither fool nor wise man, but is a model of courage and that her impeachment resolution should be supported.

And then the fun began.

Member Vaillancourt then gave a short history lesson, telling the committee that until Bush/Cheney, America had never engaged in an offensive war , and pointing out that the Truman, Eisenhower. Kennedy and Reagan "Doctrines"- had all been based on defense and had not been offensive in nature. Warming to the subject, he delved into the ramifications of Bush/Cheney's actions, saying that their reckless foreign policy has been anti-American, unconstitutional, and ruinously costly to the nation.

He was fairly thundering by the time that he pronounced that not only should Bush and Cheney be impeached, but also they should be tried as war criminals in a Nuremburg style trial for crimes against humanity. He flatly stated that the war in Iraq has provided grounds for war crimes charges against the President and Vice President. And there was not one word of protest from a single committee member. They may or may not support this resolution to impeach, but there seems to be no one left with a credible argument to defend Bush/Cheney.

Vaillancourt said that he spoke not as a Republican, a New Hampshire citizen or an American, but as a member of humanity. His remarks made a common sense plea for an honest appraisal of our current political situation, for the acknowledgement that we have a duty to act as a decent and responsible people, and that principle be the governing factor of our government's actions. These are all values that should, and once did, cut across party lines. If the current political parties have forgotten this, and become so degraded as to allow the lawlessness and criminality of this administration to go unchecked, the people have not.

more at:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_dan_dewa_080220_maverick_republican_.htm

[wtmusic]

1. Well, well.

amazing.

[ixion]

2. many of us have been saying this since the beginning, it is sad

that it takes a 'maverick' rethug to say something before it begins to become credible.

[LakeSamish706]

3. Holy crap... When you get Republicans voicing this you know there might...

be a game about to be played here. Go get em Repubs. and lets hope the Dems will get on board with this...

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

4. I'll be damned!!! HOOO-RAHHH!!!!

:patriot:

[tekisui]

5. Let's hope it's one of many pukes and Dems to join the call!

[wtmusic]

6. Unfortunately it's the New Hampshire STATE house

Gotta start somewhere.

[tekisui]

7. I missed that, I though it was in the US House. Well, it's a start.

[Senator]

8. How Many Repubs Does It Take To Make Impeachment "Bipartisan" ??

Practically speaking, very very few.

It took the possiblity of sitting in the WH for McCain to sell his tortured soul. Others may not be so quick to join the conga line to hell. Particularly to carry the historical water for a (p)resident whose approval rating dropped under 20% the minute his regime admitted to being guilty of drowning torture.

Remember, a two thirds vote in the Senate has already been achieved on torture. And today's (non-beltway) reality is diametrically opposite to the reality of the Clinton farce. Opposite results may well be MOST likely.

But regardless of the politics, impeachment remains our ONLY moral, patriotic option.

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[DCKit]

9. It was the admission of torture that lost them 12% between polls????

So the remaining 19% are complete zombies (or sociopaths), the 12% he lost last week are so f*ing stupid it had to served up on a silver platter and the 11% before that had to be personally, financially harmed before they decided they no longer liked 43*.

I didn't make the connection because, until just now, I didn't believe that any of my fellow citizens were THAT stupid. Thanks for setting me straight, but I think I'm having a stroke.

[Senator]

11. Remember, Pavlovian denial is literal, not virtual, "killing kookaid"

For many of the neofascist lemmings this was not some "straw that broke the camel's back." Belief People don't operate like that. They're trained to deny and deny, right up to (and sometimes past) the point of life and death.

And I'm not sure the 19% is truly rock bottom. It takes time for reality to permeate. Some will cling to the "but it was only 3" virtual fig leaf. Other may not.

But it may be that the remaining number are just those willing to lie to pollsters. That's the part many don't "figure into" the poll results. People who know the truth full well but just lie to "liberal media polling people." The thing is that none of these types are likely to rise up in any backlash against impeachment. People simply don't defend war criminals.

Why Pelosi, Reid, and the rest of the DC Dem "leadership" continue to do so is beyond me.

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[ClayZ]

10. Good! K and R

[malaise]

12. Wow

All that's left is for history to condemn these war criminals. Even their own are jumping ship. IMPEACH!

[zanne]

13. HE WAS ONE OF MY CLASSMATES!

In grammar school, I sat right behind him in Sister Bernice's class! I remember the back of his head very well.