It Makes No Sense Not to Impeach Cheney-Do It Now

[Leonidas]

Cheney lawyer claims Congress has no authority over vice-president | World news | guardian.co.uk


This claim by Cheney's office and the contempt of Congress he's engaging in leave the door wide open to impeachment. It should be done immediately. It is necessary to begin restoring the constitutional powers the exec branch has usurped and apparently it's the only way to investigate the massive illegal behavior of Cheney.

There's no point going after Bush, but this would be just as useful in many ways.

It's the only responsible thing to do at this point. The Republic is at stake.

[Joe Hoya]

Chances of getting a conviction in the Senate? About 0%.

Only nine more months.

[Leonidas]

I think it's not important whether he can be convicted. It is important that the House do an impeachment hearing so that it can investigate his behavior and that of his subordinates in a way that can't be evaded through supercilious claims of immunity and willful misinterpretations of the Constitution. The message has to be sent that even making the kinds of arguments that he and his aide Addington have made constitute a high crime/misdemeanor. If Cheney and Bush's assertions of executive power and privilege remain unchallenged then, in effect, they are precedents that stand.

The worst thing that could happen is that they could leave office with their claims intact and that later politicians and the courts could say (if such behavior continues on or is tried again), "Hey, nobody challenged it before, so that's an argument that this behavior was acceptable."

Further, an impeachment proceeding would change the present political campaign from one about phony non-issues to one about real issues of policy and abuse of power. The candidates would have to declare on these issues of executive power and talk politics instead of PR and image BS.

[DanteHicks]

Wait, when did Cheney get a BJ?

[Leonidas]

Originally Posted by DanteHicks

Wait, when did Cheney get a BJ?

Remember the "girl" from his fishing trip relected in his sunglesses?

[SicSemprTyranis]

Yes impeach Cheney...an OJ retrial would have a better chance of happening.

People should work to VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE rather than chasing the pipe dream of impeachment. I know he is termed out, but thats what you do when people aren't doing anything overtly illegal but rather something more unethical.

The Republicans went down this pathetic road in 1998 and it got them nothing....

[Leonidas]

Originally Posted by SicSemprTyranis

People should work to VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE rather than chasing the pipe dream of impeachment. I know he is termed out, but thats what you do when people aren't doing anything overtly illegal but rather something more unethical.

So he can't be voted out of office then right?

I don't think you get the "high crimes and misdemeanors" thin SST. You don't get impeached because you committed an ordinary crime. You get impeached for subverting the Constitution; for violating the trust and responsibilites of your office. That's not just "unethical," that's like an attempt to destroy the Republic or to abuse the power of one's office.

Nixon wasn't going to be impeached (before he resigned) because he sponsored a burglary. He was going down for violating his constitutional duties and abusing the powers of his office. Cheney is the poster boy for impeachable behavior and if the power isn't used against him then forever after other abusers and subverters will be able to whine, "Dick did it too and nobody was mean to him!"

If you want Hillary Clinton or John McCain, or who knows who else in the future, in the White House with the powers that Bush and Cheney have claimed for their offices then that is the only reason to be against the use of the constitutional remedy of impeachment.

The balance of powers needs to be restored or we're all screwed six ways from Sunday on the Constitutional front.


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