Impeachment By Spring: March update
There’s lots happening that is tilling the ground for possible impeachment.
- First there was the trial of Scooter Libby. The trial itself put a lot of new evidence in the public eye that put a “cloud” over the office of Vice President, which is my best guess for the phrase of the year, comparable to John Dean’s “cancer on the presidency” remark in the early days of Watergate. The trial, of course, culminated in a verdict of guilty on 4 of 5 counts on March 6, making the Vice President’s former Chief of Staff a convicted felon, and leaving everyone to wonder why he lied. In a press conference after the verdict was announced, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald announced that no further indictments were planned, but he practically invited Congress to pick up where he has left off.
- The very next day, on March 6, a team of representatives of PDH and ADA/Hawaii met with Rep. Neil Abercrombie’s chief of staff, Amy Asselbaye, to find out his views on impeachment. We were disappointed to learn that Rep. Abercrombie is not much interested in impeachment at this time. Nevertheless, we have arranged for a meeting with Rep. Abercrombie in early April to follow up on this. This team consisted of members of the HI-01 impeachment committee.
- The very next day, on March 7, Congressman Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said that he wants Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald to testify before his committee about his investigation into the leak of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame-Wilson’s identity. Plame-Wilson, Waxman’s office said, has agreed to testify before Congress on March 16. The Libby trial left more loose ends dangling than a Steve Bochko episode of Hill Street Blues, so there’s plenty of work to do.
- Meanwhile, massive anti-war actions throughout the country on March 17-19 will loudly raise the impeachment demand. Here in Hawaii, there are plans for the March 17th protest in Honolulu:
- 3 pm: Anti-war rally at Ala Moana Park. Gather at Picnic Area No. 1 near the corner of Atkinson and Ala Moana (across from Macy’s). Poets, speakers and info tables. PDH is planning to be there. Get there early to meet friends, listen to the speakers, and get the sign you want to carry.
- 4 pm: March on Ala Moana Blvd
- 5:30 (or when march returns): Concert begins.
- What about parking? March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day and is also the day of the Dragon Boat races at Ala Moana. So parking is going to be tight. There’s parking at Ala Moana, but be aware that security guards may stop you if you’re carrying an anti-war sign or banner. Consider the bus, biking, and carpool if you can.
The momentum is building towards April 28, national impeachment day! If this happens, which it absolutely can, then we might be surprised to see a breaking of the impeachment logjam by May or June and the beginning of those Judiciary Committee hearings.
However, with the Waxman hearings beginning next week, things could accelerate faster than this!
Stay tuned!
Bob Schacht
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The mechanics of this process are like those of a tsunami. The rumblings may not seem to be that strong, but the momentum will be building. Congressman Waxman is no paper-weight. As the content of his committee hearings become public knowledge, public sentiment will crescendo for impeachment. The Democratic leadership will not move on this until they get a clear signal from a large number of their constituents. Then the “tsunmai” will hit the White House with full force. It is not reasonable to expect the person who will assume the Presidency upon the removal of the President and the VP to be the standard-bearer for impeachment. That would appear to be presumptuous on her part.
Comment by George — March 10, 2007 @ 6:06 am
I think that more and more “average Americans” are warming up to the idea of impeachment. I am hearing it talked about in circles that I normally wouldn’t expect. Let’s try to get a good turn out on the 17th and sell our Impeach buttons and stickers to as many of them as possible! I think we should also move forward with the idea of a teach-in/forum on the grounds for impeachment. Any constitutional scholars out there that want to help?
Comment by rachel — March 10, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Hi, Big news. I just worked with my State Senator Les Ihara Jr. to introduce a Sentate Concurent Resolution for impeachement of Bush and Cheney. Here is the link http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/Bills/SCR83_.htm
Also here is the link for if you would like to track it, check this status page occassionally. It will show you if any hearings are scheduled.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus2.asp?billno=SCR83
I’d like to be sure everyone at the rally knows about it and asked the Senator if he could make it but we just foudn out about the rally and you just found out about the news. Let me know ASAP!
My email address is attached to the post.
Matthew Lopresti
Comment by Matthew Lopresti — March 16, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
Great news Matthew!
I will definitely be tracking that one!
Comment by rachel — March 16, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
I vividly remember the Impeachment proceedings in Congress against Nixon. Given what has been transpiring in the last week (in various House committees), we seem to be in a “video replay” of the events of 1974.
Matt Lo Presti’s post is great news. Senator Ihara should be commended for taking this first step.
Comment by George — March 22, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
GOP Senator: Impeachment An Option For Bush
Lott Says Senate Won’t Pass Iraq Timetable
POSTED: 4:35 pm EDT March 25, 2007
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WASHINGTON (AP) — With his go-it-alone approach on Iraq, President George W. Bush is flouting Congress and the public, so angering lawmakers that some consider impeachment an option over his war policy, a senator from Bush’s own party said Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican leader harshly criticized House Democrats for setting an “artificial date” for withdrawing troops from Iraq and said he believes Republicans have enough votes to prevent passage of a similar bill in the Senate.
“We need to put that kind of decision in the hands of our commanders who are there on the ground with the men and women,” said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss. “For Congress to impose an artificial date of any kind is totally irresponsible.”
GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a frequent critic of the war, stopped short of calling for Bush’s impeachment. But he made clear that some lawmakers viewed that as an option should Bush choose to push ahead despite public sentiment against the war.
“Any president who says, I don’t care, or I will not respond to what the people of this country are saying about Iraq or anything else, or I don’t care what the Congress does, I am going to proceed — if a president really believes that, then there are — what I was pointing out, there are ways to deal with that,” said Hagel, who is considering a 2008 presidential run.
The White House had no immediate reaction Sunday to Hagel’s comments.
The Senate planned to begin debate Monday on a war spending bill that would set a nonbinding goal of March 31, 2008, for the removal of combat troops.
That comes after the House narrowly passed a bill Friday that would pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year but would require that combat troops come home from Iraq before September 2008 — or earlier if the Iraqi government did not meet certain requirements.
On Sunday, Hagel said he was bothered by Bush’s apparent disregard of congressional sentiment on Iraq, such as his decision to send additional troops. He said lawmakers now stood ready to stand up to the president when necessary.
In the April edition of Esquire magazine, Hagel described Bush as someone who doesn’t believe he’s accountable to anyone. “He’s not accountable anymore, which isn’t totally true. You can impeach him, and before this is over, you might see calls for his impeachment. I don’t know. It depends on how this goes,” Hagel told the magazine.
In his weekly address Saturday, Bush accused Democrats of partisanship in the House vote and said it would cut the number of troops below a level that U.S. military commanders say they need. Vice President Dick Cheney also accused Democrats of undermining U.S. troops in Iraq and of sending a message to terrorists that America will retreat in the face danger.
“We have clearly a situation where the president has lost the confidence of the American people in his war effort,” Hagel said. “It is now time, going into the fifth year of that effort, for the Congress to step forward and be part of setting some boundaries and some conditions as to our involvement.”
“This is not a monarchy,” he added, referring to the possibility that some lawmakers may seek impeachment. “There are ways to deal with it. And I would hope the president understands that.”
Lott said setting withdrawal dates is a futile and potentially dangerous exercise because Bush has made clear he will veto any such legislation.
“There are members in the Senate in both parties that are not comfortable with how things have gone in Iraq,” Lott said. “But they understand that artificial timetables, even as goals, are a problem. …We will try to take out the arbitrary dates.”
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said the Senate bill seeks to heed the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group by setting a goal of withdrawing some troops while leaving others behind to train the Iraqi army for border patrol and other missions.
“That, combined with a very aggressive, diplomatic effort in the region is what we’re going to need to have,” he said.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said she believed that setting a timetable was appropriate but declined to predict whether it would garner enough Senate votes to pass.
“People of this country have spoken overwhelmingly. It’s been constant now,” Feinstein said. “They want us out. It is time for the Senate to weigh in. I hope we will have the votes.”
Hagel spoke on ABC’s “This Week,” Feinstein and Lott appeared on “Fox News Sunday,” and Nelson was on CNN’s “Late Edition.”
Comment by George — March 25, 2007 @ 2:07 pm