National Lawyers Guild Votes for Impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney

WASHINGTON - November 6 - The National Lawyers Guild voted unanimously and enthusiastically for the impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney at its national convention in Washington, DC. The resolution lists more than a dozen high crimes and misdemeanors of the Bush and Cheney administration and "calls upon the U.S. House of Representatives to immediately initiate impeachment proceedings, to investigate the charges, and if the investigation supports the charges, to vote to impeach George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney as provided in the Constitution of the United States of America."

The resolution provides for an NLG Impeachment Committee open to all members that will help organize and coordinate events at the local, state, and national level to build public participation in the campaign to initiate impeachment investigation, impeachment, and removal of Bush and Cheney from office without further delay.

The resolution calls on all other state and national bar associations, state and local government bodies, community organizations, labor unions, and all other citizen associations to adopt similar resolutions and to use all their resources to build the campaign demanding that Congress initiate impeachment investigation, impeach, and remove Bush and Cheney from office.

The full text of the resolution can be found at
http://nlg.org/convention/2007%20Resolutions/Impeachment%20resolution.pdf

Calling the Question — In the House — on Impeaching Cheney
by John Nichols | Published on Friday, November 2, 2007 by The Nation

Broadcast media’s gate-keeping “stars” have done just about everything in their power to keep the matter of presidential accountability off the radar of the American people. That was evident during the most recent Democratic presidential debate, when NBC anchors Brian Williams and Tim Russert meticulously avoided following up on Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s three references to impeachment but somehow found time to grill the contenders on UFOs and what costume Barack Obama would be wearing on Halloween.

Pollsters are almost as bad. Rarely are questions about impeachment included in statewide or national surveys.

Despite the lack of media coverage, however, when citizens are asked what they think about holding members of the Bush administration to account, they respond with an enthusiasm far greater than that displayed for impeaching Richard Nixon at the height of the Watergate scandal. It is this reality — as opposed to the state of denial fostered by so much of the media and the political class — that Congressman Dennis Kucinich will act upon next week, when he offers a privileged resolution on the House floor to bring articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney.

Kucinich will face an uphill fight in a chamber led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat who continues to say that impeachment is “off the table.”

BEACH IMPEACH 4, Oct. 7 at 11am at the Berkeley Marina 1500 impeachers and our very special guest, Cindy Sheehan, will spell out for Congress what exactly IS on the table.

More Special Guests:
Cynthia McKinney(former US Representative from Georgia)
Michelle Shocked(popular musician)
Time: Sunday, October 7, 2007 - 12:00pm PST

Beach Impeach III
Impeach!
Reason = Treason

Is Peace or Impeachment Possible?
By David Swanson, www.afterdowningstreet.org/possible
[Remarks at September 15, 2007, impeachment rally in Miami, Fla., organized by www.floridaimpeach.org ]

It's great to see such a crowd and so many groups represented. I especially want to thank Veterans for Peace. Dave Cline was a great leader and will be badly missed. We should all go out and do as much as he did with his admirable life.

On a lighter note, I went to a party yesterday in Washington, D.C. You might think we have very little to celebrate, but this was a party to say goodbye and good riddance to Alberto Gonzales!

You won’t hear much about it on the news, but a bill had been introduced in July to impeach Gonzales, and it was gaining support during the August recess. In fact a bunch of Congress Members added their names to the list of cosponsors this month even though Gonzales had already announced his resignation. This was not the first time that an effort to impeach helped force out an unjust attorney general. An effort to impeach Richard Nixon forced him out as well. An effort to impeach Harry Truman led to the Supreme Court checking his abuses of power. In fact the threat of impeachment is usually enough to restore a level of justice and democracy in Washington, D.C. A promise not to impeach, on the other hand, tends to encourage abuses of power and is itself an unconstitutional abuse of power.

On September 7th from 3:00 to 6:00pm Sacramento will come together at the west steps of the capitol to let their voices be heard in opposition to the White House's continued insistence that the occupation of Iraq is necessary.

There will be many speakers from our own peace community as well as Richard Becker the dynamic speaker from ANSWER Coalition, Guillermo Durgin from the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Harry Wang from Physicians for Social Responsibility, Leuren Moret from Scientists for Indigenious People (Leuren is an expert on deleted uranium), and many many more.

There will be musicians singing original politically charged compositions. Sacramento is kicking off a nationwide surge of protests in response to the evaluation of the war by Gen. Pretraius and congress's relentless hunger for more funding. The following organizations have endorsed this action: Sacramento For Democracy, Sacramento Coalition to End the War , Physicians for Social Responsibility, Scientists for Indiginious People, Grandmothers for Peace, ANSWER (act now to end war and racism), Code Pink, Sacramento Area Peace Action, Chico Peace and Justice Center, Peace and Freedom Party, Teach Peace Foundation, California Faculty Association, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Davis Unitarian Universalists, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Davis Area Peace Action and more......

This rally is called "The People's Rally to End the War" Let us make it just that!!
Time: Friday, September 7, 2007 - 4:00pm PST

The next meeting of the non-partisan "Defenders of the Constitution" group will be Aug. 16th, 7 - 9pm, Blanchard Room, Davis Library, 315 E. 14th St. We'll be discussing the status of our petition to impeach Bush & Cheney, as well as the details of delivering the petition to Congressman Mike Thompson's staff (scheduled for Aug. 30th).

We urge people throughout the 7 counties that make up Thompson's district to participate.

For more information, contact: defendconstitution@gmail.com

Petition to Defend the ConstitutionBy Impeaching Bush and Cheney To: Representative Mike Thompson and Speaker Nancy Pelosi

We are faced with a Constitutional crisis that threatens the integrity and future of our democracy. Bush and Cheney have created an imperial presidency by repeatedly disregarding the rule of law, usurping powers and weakening our constitutional guarantees.
Time: Thursday, August 16, 2007 - 8:00pm PST

Sheehan Arrested in Impeachment Protest
Anti-War Activist Cindy Sheehan Arrested While Calling for Bush's Impeachment
By NATASHA T. METZLER Associated Press Writer | The Associated Press | WASHINGTON

Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Monday at the Capitol for disorderly conduct, shortly after saying she would run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the California Democrat's refusal to try to impeach President Bush.

Sheehan was taken into custody inside Rep. John Conyers' office, where she had spent an hour imploring him to launch impeachment proceedings against Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Conyers, D-Mich., chairs the House Judiciary Committee, where any impeachment effort would have to begin.

"The Democrats will not hold this administration accountable, so we have to hold the Democrats accountable," Sheehan said outside of Conyers' office after the meeting. "And I for one am going to step up to the plate and run against Nancy Pelosi."

Conyers: 3 More Congress Members and I'll Impeach
http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/24962
By David Swanson

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers has said that if three more Congress Members get behind impeachment he will start the impeachment proceedings.

I was a guest today on Bree Walker's radio show. She's the progressive radio host from San Diego who purchased Cindy Sheehan's land from her in Crawford, Texas.

Bree attended an event on Friday in San Diego at which Congressman Conyers spoke about impeachment. Her report was extremely interesting. I had already heard reports that Conyers had said: "What are we waiting for? Let's take these two guys out!" But, of course, what we're waiting for is John Conyers. Is he ready to act? It was hard to tell from that comment. In January, Conyers spoke at a huge rally on the National Mall and declared "We can fire them!" but later explained that what he meant was that we could wait for two years and Bush and Cheney's terms would end. Was this week's remark just more empty rhetoric?

It appears to be more than that.

The Best Reasons Not to Impeach, And Why They're Wrong
By David Swanson | December 7, 2006

Political questions are tricky and complicated. Sometimes causes that are just and good must take a backseat to other priorities or long-term strategies. Setting all such perfectly reasonable considerations aside for a moment, I'd like you to ask yourself a simple yes or no question: Do you think President Bush has committed one or more impeachable offenses?

If you said no, I want to talk to you for a second. If you said yes, let's talk in just a minute – but stick around for this first, you'll enjoy it.

"Bush has not committed perjury."

Among those who believe Bush has not committed any impeachable offenses, the most common reason is that he has not lied under oath. But impeachment is a political, not a legal, process – Congress is not obliged to let Bush off on any such technicality. And, in any case, it's a technicality that makes no sense, because perjury is one crime among many. Impeachment is the penalty for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The Constitution says nothing about perjury as a ground for impeachment. And it is a crime to mislead or to defraud Congress, whether or not you do so under oath. When Diane Sawyer asked Bush on television why he had made the claims he had about Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction, he replied:

You can sign a petition to be delivered to Congress here: http://impeachcheney.org/

Cindy for Congress?
Cindy Sheehan

Well, the cat got out of the bag early as they so often will do. I was going to announce on July 10th (my 50th birthday) before our Journey for Humanity that I would run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca) if she didn't put impeachment back on the table before our tour reached DC on July 23rd. Impeachment was never hers to take off the table as it is a Constitutional remedy for BushCo, not an optional smorgasbord choice. However, the story was leaked to the AP and we couldn't keep the big announcement under wrap.

The feedback I have been receiving since then has been about three to one positive and supportive. Some people have offered to quit their jobs to move to California's 8th to help my possible campaign. People are lining up to donate and help and I am again very grateful and touched beyond belief by the generosity and energy of my fellow Americans.

Perhaps it is time that we re-read the Declaration of Independence very carefully. As our country creeps closer towards a dictatorship and fascism, we better wake up before it's too late.

Violations of the FISA Act (illegal wiretapping / spying on Americans), Presidential signing statements ("unitary executive powers"), launching an illegal war of aggression against Iraq without cause, kidnap and torture, rendition, obstruction of justice, criminal negligence in responding to the Katrina disaster, war profiteering, over one trillion dollar cost in the occupation of Iraq, Guantanamo, etc...

We are taught in school to respect and revere our Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, under the Bush regime, if one were to write the Declaration of Independence today, they would be locked up in Guantanamo for eternity without a trial.

Quotes of particular note (emphasis is mine):

"...That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,..."

..."But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

You can substitute "present King of Great Britain" with "pResident George W. Bush".

"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States."

"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good."

"He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people."

"He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries."

Can you say, Unitary Executive Powers?

"For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever."

You can substitute "foreign Mercenaries" with "domestic Mercenaries".

"He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."

NPR has an audio recording of the Declaration of Independence here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11703583

The full text is below:
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Commuting Scooter
http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/24255
By David Swanson

George Mason (1725-1792), the father of the Bill of Rights (1791-2002), argued at the Constitutional Convention in favor of providing the House of Representatives the power of impeachment by pointing out that the President might use his pardoning power to "pardon crimes which were advised by himself" or, before indictment or conviction, "to stop inquiry and prevent detection."

James Madison (1751-1836), the father of the U.S. Constitution (1788-2007), added that "if the President be connected, in any suspicious manner, with any person, and there be grounds to believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him; they can remove him if found guilty."

Of course, Bush has long been connected in a suspicious manner to Dick Cheney, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, and others. Madison would probably have called for Bush's impeachment when Bush first refused to investigate or hold anyone accountable for leaking Valerie Plame's identity, or rather when Bush lied us into the war in the first place, or when he confessed to illegal spying, or when he detained people without charge and tortured them, or when he overturned laws with signing statements or refused to comply with
subpoenas, and so on and so forth. Madison wouldn't have wanted to see his Constitution tossed aside until the moment Bush commuted Libby's sentence. But he certainly would have acted now if not before.

Contact Obama About Impeachment Statements
http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p=1193
June 29th, 2007

Important Impeachment Action
This is a very important action. Call Obama’s office and ask if the Senator does not believe that Bush and Cheney’s actions are not “grave” breaches of presidential authority, does this mean that the Senator would use signing statements and violate FISA when he is president?

Obama Against Impeachment Of Bush, Cheney Despite Shortcomings
6/29/2007 1:21:18 AM Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Thursday that despite a string of political shortcomings he sees in the Bush administration, he was opposed to impeachment of either President George Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney.

Obama said impeachment should be reserved for “grave” breaches of the president’s authority, although he has been distressed by the “loose ethical standards, the secrecy and incompetence” of a “variety of characters” in the administration.

“There’s a way to bring an end to those practices, you know: vote the bums out,” the presidential candidate said, without naming Bush or Cheney. “That’s how our system is designed.”
http://www.rttnews.com/FOREX/politicalnews.asp?vid=0&item=3

Senator Obama
Washington D.C. Office
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2854
(202) 228-4260 fax

July 4: Honk to Impeach!

Americans celebrate July 4 as a day of patriotism, but the true spirit of July 4 has been lost. After all, July 4, 1776 was the day our Founding Fathers declared the American Revolution against King George.

So let's use this July 4 to declare our independence from King George W - and let's make some noise!

Local impeachment activists report great success holding signs at busy intersections that say "HONK TO IMPEACH!" Most of the drivers who pass these signs are delighted to honk - which makes them happy and makes our activists happy too. Best of all, the drivers and pedestrians discover how much support there is for impeachment - something they never knew because the Corporate Media won't tell them or even conduct a poll. Here's a great report from Bob Feuer of Great Barrington, Mass: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/honktoimpeach-1
Time: Wednesday, July 4, 2007 - 11:00am PST

Please watch this 2nd video from filmmaker Robert Greenwald (Iraq for Sale, OutFoxed, etc...) on why Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should be impeached.

Then sign the petition here: http://impeachgonzales.org/
If you have already signed it, then please ask everyone you know to sign it as well.

If George Bush won't fire U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, then Congress can.

Demand Congress impeach Gonzales now:
http://www.ImpeachGonzales.org

Watch Robert Greenwald's new video and sign the Impeach Alberto Gonzales petition today

First, Alberto Gonzales and Karl Rove worked together to fire at least seven U.S. Attorneys because they weren't "loyal Bushies" and pushed several others to resign in an unethical crusade to make the U.S. Justice Department a partisan arm of the Bush administration.

Then they worked together to cover it up.

Gonzales went so far as to testify to Congress that he "was not involved in seeing any memos, was not involved in any discussions going on." When White House e-mails exposed his involvement, Gonzales changed his tune in an interview with 60 Minutes then changed his tune again by hiding behind, "I don't recall" more then 60 times in his second Congressional testimony. Time's up for Alberto Gonzales!

Putting Impeachment On the Table
by Jeff Cohen 5.17.2007

From my perch as a consultant to Progressive Democrats of America, I see mounting pressure to put impeachment on the table. Momentum is building due to continuous revelations of an imperial White House bent on undermining our system of justice (now, with sick-bed coercion).

Among citizens and elected officials, including Members of Congress, there is growing sentiment that this reckless Administration is a threat to our Constitutional system.

And that Bush and Cheney must be aggressively investigated - "with appropriate remedies and punishment, including impeachment," in the words of a tough resolution passed by the California Democratic Party 18 days ago. The California resolution took aim at Bush/Cheney for using false information to invade Iraq, torture, warrantless wiretaps and suspending Habeas Corpus.

Thursday, May 17, 6:30 - 8:30pm - Impeachment Town Hall Forum with guest speaker Elizabeth de la Vega, former Federal Prosecutor, author and expert on impeachment. CSUS, University Union, Foothill Suite, 3rd Fl.
Time: Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 7:30pm PST