[Kickinthegob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Zardoz', 'N')ot that I think he's wrong, though. Seems like a good summation of the sorry state of American politics

[Pike]

is too soon to tell whether the Bush administration's flagrant disregard of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution will result in his censure or impeachment. The Republican majority in Congress, as well as the historical fact that no President has been impeached during a time of active military engagement, would seem to make either course a difficult proposition politically
The Case for Impeaching the President

[Shadizar]

I've sent strong worded letters to my representatives in the U.S. Senate regarding this issue. I have no expectations that the Congress will act on the blatant violations of the Bush administration.
Republicans have no desire to impeach Bush. Democrats I think fear that any attempt to impeach him will result in a backlash for them.
Further, media coverage has COMPLETELY switched over to the immigration issue. There is no longer any coverage that I have seen about issues regarding the Bush administration's conduct.

Perhaps when this current firestorm of immigration coverage is over the mass media will cover constitutional infractions again. I doubt it. I hope they will though.
The Congress has totally ceeded their responsibility of oversight. Republicans and Democrats both. The Supreme Court is useless and impotent (imminent domain...). I'm not encouraged by the path our country has taken.

[coyote]

I agree. I'm all for impeachment, but I don't see it happening.

[Doly]

If you Americans thought you lived in a democracy: How many people in recent polls are in favour of starting a impeachment process? And is it happening?

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shadizar', 'I')'ve sent strong worded letters to my representatives in the U.S. Senate regarding this issue.

[0mar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shadizar', 'I')'ve sent strong worded letters to my representatives in the U.S. Senate regarding this issue.

[gg3]

Doly, in point of fact, polls repeatedly show that slightly more than half of Americans believe that if Bush violated specific laws, he should be brought up for impeachment.
For me there are three impeachable offenses: a) Lying to Congress to get us into a war, which, given the death and destruction of warfare, is perhaps the most grave offense a president can commit. b) Violating FISA by ordering NSA to engage in domestic surveillance. c) Violating the 4th Amendment and relevant statutes by calling upon the Justice Department to enable warrantless searches of domestic properties.

With regard to (b), Bush has already admitted he did it, and stated that he would continue to do it. This after repeatedly making statements to the effect that all domestic interceptions required warrants and that his Administration was complying with the law. So, he knew the law, he stated he committed acts that broke the law, and then he stated he would continue to commit acts the broke the law.
Sorry folks, but I don't care if it's a Republican, a Democrat, or a Purple People Eater, but that kind of blatant disregard of the law cannot be allowed to stand. We are "a nation of laws, not of men," by which is meant, no one is above the law, period.

He had an opportunity to support a Congressionally sponsored expansion of FISA, and turned it down.
In my opinion if he had circumvented FISA once for a period of three to six months while actively seeking appropriate legislation, that would have been acceptable. But repeatedly signing those extensions every 45 days after turning down Congressional offers to amend the law: that is the action of a person who believes he is not accountable to the law. And claiming that he would continue to do the deed, i.e. violate the law, demonstrates an attitude that criminal court judges call "recalcitrance," i.e. contempt for the law.

A president who is in fact above the law, is in essence a dictator. A president who believes himself to be above the law, is a dictator in the making. That is anathema to our system of government and to the core premise of our Republic.
We cannot have that type of behavior and that type of attitude on the part of our leaders. No exceptions. Impeachment is the proper legal remedy, and we can let the system work the way the Founders intended.

Frankly it sucks bigtime. It's tragic. It hurts to watch, and it hurts to carry around the knowledge and the feeling that we have to go that route. It's as painful as chemotherapy, but given the diagnosis, there is no other alternative.
Congress as presently constituted, is not capable of doing what's necessary, so we will have to make some changes in November. Responsible Republicans will join with Democrats in voting for candidates who will restore the balance of power: this time, voting for Democrats is about voting for checks and balances.

I can only hope that after this is over, we will have learned something and grown somewhat, and that no future president will stray over the line from a strong executive to a breaker of laws.

As for going through this in wartime, we have had changes of administration in wartime before, including during WW2, and we were not weakened thereby. In fact our ability to stand by our Constitutional system, even in times of emergency, is the measure of our strength.

[virgincrude]

As a thoroughly anti-Bush anti-war liberal European ( I'm hopefull you'll join one of those petitions you're talking about and push the impeachment process by sheer wheight of numbers;
www.impeachbush.org
www.afterdowningstreet.org
wwwalternet.org

please do something! Most of Europe is wishing somebody would get this guy removed and make the world a safer place!

[Fishman]

You Liberals have me just rolling in the floor!
The war, even if Bush knew there was no WMD, we needed you guys to go along for a job that needed to be done years ago.
The NSA spying, Democrats knew about it, did nothing (inplied consent) and still have offered up nothing of substance to stop it (clear consent). Even the more liberal Senators recognize compromise of rights for a period of time is a longstanding tradition during war. Pick up a history book.
Impeachment, GO FOR IT! Guaranteed Republican president for another 8 years. The Democrats complain but they offer NOTHING in leadership.
2006 Senate and House races, lucky if you guys pick up 3 seats.
Oh the the European, love your comments, perhaps you should get back to work to save your pitiful economy. Love those swings in thinking as the terrorist attack you!
Love you guys, don't think liberalism will survive peak oil however.

[coyote]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fishman', 'T')he war, even if Bush knew there was no WMD, we needed you guys to go along for a job that needed to be done years ago.

[bartholland]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fishman', 'O')h the the European, love your comments, perhaps you should get back to work to save your pitiful economy.

[clifman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gg3', 'D')oly, in point of fact, polls repeatedly show that slightly more than half of Americans believe that if Bush violated specific laws, he should be brought up for impeachment.

[virgincrude]

Fishman, I'm so pleased to see you laughing, and it warms my heart to know you love liberals and europeans (I'm sure you know so many, and obviously you know how the use of the word liberal changes meaning as soon as you cross the Atlantic!) May I take this opportunity to thank you and return your feelings warmly. From my bottom.

[coyote]

Calling all Republicans, Democrats, and anybody who gives a damn about the Constitution of the United States of America and the ethical responsibilities of those who are sworn to uphold and defend it...

This is a fantastic article by Carl Bernstein, one of the big whistleblowers of Watergate; it's one of the best articles I've read in a while. It's long, but well worth spending a few minutes on. The author is calling, not for an impeachment of the President, which he believes is premature; but for a full bipartisan Congressional investigation -- just like Watergate.

Vanity Fair: Senate Hearings on Bush, Now

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carl Bernstein', 'H')ow much evidence is there to justify such action?

Certainly enough to form a consensus around a national imperative: to learn what this president and his vice president knew and when they knew it; to determine what the Bush administration has done under the guise of national security; and to find out who did what, whether legal or illegal, unconstitutional or merely under the wire, in ignorance or incompetence or with good reason, while the administration barricaded itself behind the most Draconian secrecy and disingenuous information policies of the modern presidential era.

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('coyote', '.')..This is a fantastic article by Carl Bernstein, one of the big whistleblowers of Watergate; it's one of the best articles I've read in a while. It's long, but well worth spending a few minutes on.

[Mesuge]

You don't pull off action like false flag 9/11 and military grade anthrax attacks
or permanent base in Iraq just for the fun of it! Those jackals ment serious business for a longterm future, so this scribbler has no chance what so ever in a situation where the marginalized Congress is not even able to get together dozens votes to censure Bush.. So to even think about serious investigation or impeachment is an illusion. More wars and concentration camps are comming guys..

[seahorse2]

On the political front, Mesuge, I fear you are right. Its very telling that Cheney refused to step down as Vice-President during the 2004 Presidential election, when all polls showed if Bush had a new VP running mate, he was a sure winner. Further, its very telling that Rummy now refuses to quit and Bush won't get rid of him, even though it would be the best thing for the Republican party for him to go in this election year with a failing war. As one Republican running for Congress this year said, he wishes the President would give them something to run on, but he won't. That's why I still fear an attack on Iran before Bush leaves in 2008, bc the Neocons/PNAC (i.e. Cheney and Rummy) are still in the driver's seat and not leaving, despite all the criticism and despite this new "General's revolt." They will hunker down in the Berlin Bunker broadcasting their "we are winning" message right to the moment they all take suicide pills.

[Kez]

I think impeachment, censure, etc. is a waste of time. It will take a very long time to come to fruition for one since both the senate and the house are controlled by republicans, and his presidency will be near the end by then.

Assuming it does happen, then Cheney would be president, or the Speaker of the House. Then let's assume it's the Speaker, and he does decent for the remaining year of Bush's term. That means he'll probably be elected as the next president since he will have a decent record, and mass name recognition, going against 10 democrats all fighting for their nomination, and no doubt backstabbing the heck out of each other.

So there is a strong possibility that getting Bush impeached will only lead to the Speaker becoming the next president for 4 years plus the end of Bush's term.

It would be a better strategy for the democrats to get support in their local communities to get senators and representatives elected to replace the republicans. Then let the next presidential race be 10 repubs vs 10 democrats, and the dems will have much more control of congress, and possibly a majority in one of the chambers. The democrats already have so much ammunition to throw against Bush, why replace him? More screw ups from him bring the dem. party closer to victory in the next election.

Going on and on about impeachment is just going to anger the base of the republicans. Don't anger them, just reveal all of Bush's screw ups during the next fight. Better yet, let the 10 republicans that will fight for the nomination reveal them for you, because no doubt some will support Bush, the war, etc., and some won't.

[Grimnir]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kez', 'I') think impeachment, censure, etc. is a waste of time. It will take a very long time to come to fruition for one since both the senate and the house are controlled by republicans, and his presidency will be near the end by then.