Wexler Still Working Towards Hearings...Can You Help?

c/o The Politico

Rep. Robert Wexler is still working towards getting hearings started for VP Dick Cheney.  I don't think I'm violating any confidences to say that the support he's seen from the netroots has been really stunning to him.  We have close to 200,000 signatures at WexlerWantsHearings.com and now he's looking for some of his fellow Congresspeople to join him in calling for hearings.  Rep. Wexler sent this to C&L:

In our efforts to push for hearings on Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment for Dick Cheney, we have run into a number of different obstacles.  Some of them , naturally, relate to the debate within my party as to the need for Impeachment and/or its effect on the agenda. 

While I have been making my case for impeachment hearings to my colleagues (and will do so on the House floor this evening) and disagree with those opposing them, there is at least a rationale for the debate on either side.

The virtual media blackout, however, has no rationale.  I am perplexed and dismayed at the fact that - with so much at stake - the mainstream media still largely continues to ignore this movement.  Few papers in the country have reported on it.  Few columnists have acknowledged it.

I understand that some in the media feel this movement will fail - but when three, and now four, Judiciary Committee members call for impeachment... that should at least warrant space at some point over four weeks.

Without public reaction, however, there is little incentive for the media to change its ways.   I urge all of you to continue to put pressure on national and local media alike to give attention to this movement.  The Netroots has been critical in the outreach effort.  I hope that continues over the coming days.

If you haven't already signed on to www.WexlerWantsHearings.com, please do so.

Congressman Robert Wexler

Democrats.com has more: 

In support of this action, PDA is asking that you make a phone call to your member of Congress on Wednesday, January 16 especially if your representative is a member of the House Judiciary Committee). Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, and ask to speak to your Congress member (find your representative here). Tell them it is high time to hold Cheney accountable for his high crimes and misdemeanors.

A recent poll by the American Research Group, indicates that 54% of Americans want impeachment hearings to begin for Cheney, and 45% want hearings for Bush. That's an astounding number since Speaker Pelosi took impeachment off the table and the corporate media has refused to inform the electorate on this issue.

So please, make a call-(202) 224-3121--to your member of Congress on Wednesday January 16, and demand they uphold their sworn duty to uphold the Constitution and begin impeachment proceedings against Vice President Cheney--send them an email, too!

 Wexler appeared on Thom Hartmann's show this morning (you can listen to the archives at the link) and a cogent point was made.  I think many of us are frustrated by what we see as blatant law breaking and impatience for Congress (especially when Nancy Pelosi said that "impeachment was off the table").  However, there's a nuance that may be more palatable for gun-shy politicians who are insulated inside the DC bubble: tell them that you will support them in calling for hearings--not impeachment.  Let the chips fall where they may.  It's important to note that prior to the hearings of Nixon's Watergate scandal, the Republican majority and many Democrats all opposed impeachment.  It was only during the discovery of the tapes during the hearings that it became untenable for the House to continue to protect Nixon.   Certainly, it's not as satisfying in immediacy as many of us would like, but the process may ensure a more united Congress.



Login or Register to post comments.

68 comments

Impeach Bush, Torture Cheney

put both on trail for war crimes and treason.

throw the book at the entire bush administration!

My only worry is that this will be spun as "Robert Wexler was unable to get the 250,000 votes asked for by senate majority leader Harry Reid" therefore it was a failure. Call me a cynic but this is 21st century America.

Rep Wexler, you make me proud to be a Florida Democrat. Thank you!

Impeach. Indict. Imprison.

I'm in.

...

I already signed and stand behind him.

Why don't we wait until a Democrat is in the White House and then they will most definitely prosecute them for war crimes.

In case you didn't catch that. It's sarcasm.

http://www.freeatlast2008.com/

WaPo at 2:17 PM this afternoon: White House Tape Recycling May Have Erased Controversial E-Mails
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR200801...

Pat Leahy will wag his finger vigorously.

I signed, now I will probably put on the "list" so traveling will be a bitch at security checkpoints.

Signed, sealed and delivered.

p.s.I have seven veils and can dance if anyone wants a head or two delivered after the public hanging. (I can dream, can't I?)

How many signatures does he have now?

Madam Speaker was enthusiastic about holding the applause down, wasn't she?

Lock 'em up & double Gitmo their asses.

1000 links to Impeachment in 24 Hours

I am a solid believe in saturation of message. So if you believe impeachment should be on the table and actively pursued simply put up some links to impeachment tonight anywhere on the web: Sidebars, Blogrolls, Signatures, Email Signatures, New posts, diaries and essays, search engines, directories, bookmarking sites, etc.

And you can get a widget that leads to Wexler's site here.

believe(r)

The virtual media blackout, however, has no rationale. I am perplexed and dismayed at the fact that - with so much at stake - the mainstream media still largely continues to ignore this movement. Few papers in the country have reported on it. Few columnists have acknowledged it.

He's just saying that he's "perplexed and dismayed" right. Like he doesn't know that Dead Eye Dick prolly goes golfing with the the handful of right wing bastards that own the MSM, right?

Go Wexler! Right on!

bush and cheney, worst administration ever!

Issue: Ugly American?

Europeans appear weary and wary of President Bush.
More than 5,500 Europeans told this to Harris Interactive in a poll conducted for the International Herald Tribune and a French television station. The survey showed that Mr. Bush's reputation is tanking.

The approval rating of President George W. Bush on an approval scale of zero to 100 in each of the five European countries surveyed is a single digit. Italy, 8 percent approve of Bush; the UK, 7 percent; Spain, 7 percent; Germany, 5 percent; France, 3 percent.

The same 5,500 respondents in the same five countries were also asked this question: "How much of a threat does the United States pose to peace among nations of the world?" In all five countries, majorities responded that the U.S. poses a, quote-unquote, "major threat to world peace."

http://www.mclaughlin.com/library/transcript.asp?id=635

I hope the Dem congresscritters realize by now that the media is adamantly opposed to reporting any grassroots movements against this admin.

Helena Montana @ 8:

WaPo at 2:17 PM this afternoon: White House Tape Recycling May Have Erased Controversial E-Mails
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR200801...

Pat Leahy will wag his finger vigorously.

I can just envision the Bush presidential library...........nothing in it but a copy of My Pet Goat and a codpiece.

Great speech.

We need him in the Senate.

Everything reflecto said and double. It is such a shame that so many blogs that spent so much invective and photoshop talent skewering cheney before the ‘06 election are now silent about Impeachment. If these so-called progressives could get together and rally their readers to marshall 500,000 emails about FISA, why can’t they do as much about Impeachment? Are they now afraid of embarrassing their candidate fave? Do they think it will be too much of a distraction from all those investigative hearings? Or will it keep us from getting out of Iraq? L-f’in-OL!
The truth is, not impeaching cheney/bush is the easiest way for dems and their sycophants in the blogosphere to evade questions about the dems responsibility in the administration crimes. And after last night’s candidate kissy-face, You can expect exactly zilch about the bush crimes next year. Thank you Nicole, for putting impeachment back on the intertube table (maybe impeachment is only for girls!).

Everybody print out fliers with the impeachment web site and post them at universities.

I signed weeks ago.

What? The Fox News Channel didn't cover this live?

And have endless "fair and balanced" coverage? - Gretchen - doocy - Kilmeade?

Where's Billo? Where's Hannity? Where's that little shit colmes?

Signed. Trying to get my family and friends to now...

Why is our Liberal Corporate media engaged in an information blackout on the impeachment of the treacherous Dick Cheney? I say, the person to ask is Republican head of the FCC Kevin Martin. He's busy deregulating media ownership restrictions opening the door to greater media consolidation and unfettered control by corporate interests of our highly valuable publicly owned broadcast spectrum. The Corporate Media will brook no challenge to their financial interests and the political party that does their bidding. An impeachment of Dick Cheney could seriously undermine Republican political fortunes, exposing the corruption and malfeasance of the Bush regime and the party as a whole.

I signed the petition. I am being a realist thought. I do not believe this will go anywhere. I have had my hopes up too many times to be let down just again. Great if it moves forward, just not holding my breath.

The fear in Pelosi's voice leads me to believe this movement can be a success!

"The gallery will refrain from applauding."

Ha ha Madame Speaker...they ALREADY applauded! It's OUR house and we will applaud when truth speaks!

Snowball @ 27:

Why is our Liberal Corporate media engaged in an information blackout on the impeachment of the treacherous Dick Cheney? I say, the person to ask is Republican head of the FCC Kevin Martin. He's busy deregulating media ownership restrictions opening the door to greater media consolidation and unfettered control by corporate interests of our highly valuable publicly owned broadcast spectrum. The Corporate Media will brook no challenge to their financial interests and the political party that does their bidding. An impeachment of Dick Cheney could seriously undermine Republican political fortunes, exposing the corruption and malfeasance of the Bush regime and the party as a whole.

I concur. I've been trying to blow the horn on Martin's snake ass as much as I could. I've contacted media matters, huffington post, NPR you name it. This turd needs the spotlight trained on him until he melts.

Actually, check out http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com/ and look at the totals, then refresh after a few minutes...it's really going up fast. I've got my hopes crushed too but I have a good feeling about this.

1) Call the toll-free number: 1-800-828-0498 (ask the operator to connect you to your congressperson).

2) Call all the members of the House Judiciary: http://judiciary.house.gov/CommitteeMembership.aspx (let them know you're talking to all your friends and relatives and they support impeachment hearings too.)

3) Call local radio shows and bring up impeachment. Most Americans are completely and totally unaware of HR333. If they knew they'd become energized and supportive.

4) Place this message on as many messageboards as possible. Local newspaper messageboards are prime real estate!

Repeat all four steps daily! Don't stop!

Way to go, Wexler! Thank you for showing more courage than almost every other Democrat in Congress.

Nothing will happen.

Although i feel this is So So long over due and i Applaud Rep. Wexlers attempt to follow through on this imperative issue facing us as a country and as a people. I think everyone including Crooks and Liars ought to look at his voting record on Bush's HR1955 Bill.
If fact look at all our Representatives votes on HR1955.
It will truly open your Eyes

Can we change Speakers in mid stream? Clearly Wexler doesn't have tablephobia. Pelosi was put in power primarily to stop the Bush regime's war and hold them accountable. She has not even put forth the effort to do what Wexler is doing in listening to the voice of the American people.

Recall Pelosi!! Speaker Wexler now!!!

[Off topic-Sitemonitor]

He calls it out, sign petition with others and lobby Judiciary Cmmt.

[Off topic. You know better than to spam multiple threads with the same off topic post-Sitemonitor]

Wexler and Kucinich seem to understand the gravity of the crimes committed in the name of the United States. The importance of this investigation can not be stressed enough. From the 2000 elections, Diebold, to 9/11 and the Patriot Act, The Iraq Occupation, the selling of arms to both sides in the Middle East conflict, kidnap, torture & eavesdropping, lying under oath, outing a CIA agent, contempt of Congress and knowingly misleading the American people into an illegal and undeclared war.

The illegitimate cabal who hack our elections and have corrupted the entire government and infrastructure need to be brought to answer for their actions. The industrial war complex, the corporate prison industrial complex, the media corporations, ect. Dick Cheney should be the first of a long line of investigations. If not, we can no longer boast about how great we are as a country. No justice and soon there will be no peace. Stand up and take the power back.. IMPEACH CHENEY NOW!!!

redx @ 38:

He calls it out, sign petition with others and lobby Judiciary Cmmt.

I called every member of the judiciary committee in support of Impeachment. I signed several petitions and I look forward to having my name written into the record. I also told them all that not investigating could be construed as obstruction of justice, dereliction of duty, breach of oath and complicity. Will see if we still have a Republic soon enough, I guess.

It is a sad day in this country when so few of our elected representatives have the strength of character to stand up and do the right thing. I hope Wexler, Kucinich, Dodd, and the handful of others who have stood for right will be acknowledged for their courage in the future. And I hope those who have betrayed our trust so unabashedly will pay a price for that betrayal.

Wexler says others say it is too late. Impeachment should have been on the table during the first four years and Congress will be shamed by history because of their inaction. The time is now and those few that do not get on board will be exposed as spineless politicos that have no buisiness representing true Americans. People that care about America, not the bottom line.

the leadership are status quoists trying to keep us as a nation of men instead of a nation of laws. Please tell your friends and relatives about Wexler's site

AMERICA,

Let it be known that WE THE PEOPLE who stand along side of our NATIONS Constituton; that ARE the ARMOR that protected OUR CIVIL LIBERTY and are designed to shield us from the DOMESTIC "ENEMIES" of OUR treasured and uniquely designed (for our people's) DEMOCRACY..............WILL NOT BE compromised and defeated by those who's intent in destroying , dismantlng or reMAKE it to serve for only the purpose of advancing CORPORATE INTEREST.

ON-LINE patriots are in a UNIQUE place in participating in this vital conditions. WE HAVE that unique opportunity in voicing our oppositions. If you do not WANT to TOLERATE the continued lawlessness......and want ACCOUNTABIITY; then lets make it KNOWN that CRIMINALs will have NO place in our government. WE MUST unite and SUPPORT IMPEACHMENT hearing and end this EXPANSION of power of the BUSH/CHENEY regime before this dangerous condition becomes inherited to the next President. The dominating power must be the REIGN of LAW and our Nation's Constitution. The reign MUST not be a KING

IT only takes less than ONE minute to sign Congressman Wexler's petition and demanding your Congress to support IMPEACHMENThearing. This ONE MINUTE is vital to our future and the RETURN on this invested time is our CONTINUED CIVIL liberties.

Proud American @ 44:

AMERICA,

Let it be known that WE THE PEOPLE who stand along side of our NATIONS Constituton; that ARE the ARMOR that protected OUR CIVIL LIBERTY and are designed to shield us from the DOMESTIC "ENEMIES" of OUR treasured and uniquely designed (for our people's) DEMOCRACY..............WILL NOT BE compromised and defeated by those who's intent in destroying , dismantlng or reMAKE it to serve for only the purpose of advancing CORPORATE INTEREST.

ON-LINE patriots are in a UNIQUE place in participating in this vital conditions. WE HAVE that unique opportunity in voicing our oppositions. If you do not WANT to TOLERATE the continued lawlessness......and want ACCOUNTABIITY; then lets make it KNOWN that CRIMINALs will have NO place in our government. WE MUST unite and SUPPORT IMPEACHMENT hearing and end this EXPANSION of power of the BUSH/CHENEY regime before this dangerous condition becomes inherited to the next President. The dominating power must be the REIGN of LAW and our Nation's Constitution. The reign MUST not be a KING

IT only takes less than ONE minute to sign Congressman Wexler's petition and demanding your Congress to support IMPEACHMENThearing. This ONE MINUTE is vital to our future and the RETURN on this invested time is our CONTINUED CIVIL liberties.

It is OBVIOUS that there ONLY ONE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE that UNDERSTAND this. It is Dennis Kuciich. He himself understand OPPRESSION....... for we are WITNESSING.....it with our OWN EYES......

Don't be mistaken that IT would NEVER happen to YOU......when it is Already happening. Watch Dennis Kucinich...........HE IS fighting for HIS rights as WELL AS FOR OURS.

The TOP-TIER (NOT ONE) has yet to PROVE (IN ACTIONS) that IT will protect, defend OUR CONSTITUTION or perform their DUTY to utilize such laws (as IMPEACHMENT) to prevent tyranny in our nation.

NOT one stood against the principles of DEMOCRACY in fighting for EQUALITY....particularly in the MOST publicized OPPRESSIONS of DENNIS KUCINICH and RON PAUL. The ARE FALSE HOPE of "CHANGE". Their rhetorics are similar to Nancy Pelosi failed promises....."DRAIN THE SWAMP" of corruptions.....

OPEN YOUR EYE and WATCH what is ACTUALLY happening

Whether this leads to conviction or not does not really matter that much. Just the fact that impeachment may be underway will prevent the chimp from a blanket pardon for those criminals before his term ends.

Why is this not on CNN, MSNBC, or in the MSM ie Washington Post, CNN, NY Times??

even Keith O didn't cover it this evening, very disappointing....Nancy must have sprinkled neopub dust on him at one of those debates.

up to 197,000 signed up and counting...

neopubs run in fear, where is dick these days? in another undisclosed bunker hiding from reality until der furher georgie gets back from his oil/drug trip to the mideast?

Sarcasm Mode:

Why is Wexler wasting our time with this nutty fringe "stunt" of "preserving protecting and defending the constitution?"

I mean, he might make Democrats unpopular among critical swing voters! Doesn't he see that?

No, this is grossly irresponsible.

Disgust Mode:
Hmmfff...

Okay Dems, this is it. If this movement fails by a significant margin then there's no "maybe" about it: history WILL hold you complicit in...

torture
illegal war
treason
abuse of power
contempt
perjury
destruction of evidence

Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday and for the rest of your lives.

Wexler for President!

Pelosi is a waste of space - get rid of her!!!!

I just wrote my complicit do nothing of a congressman and demanded he support impeachment.

This congress is a disgrace!

Impeach Cheney, then impeach Bush! Then vote against the incumbent! Every complicit person holding political office must be removed!

America genuinely needs the political equivalent of the French revolution.

I'm pleased that Wexler is taking this on, but truthfully have no confidence that Cheney or Bush will EVER be held accountable for ANYTHING. Hate to be so pessimistic, but things are that bad. The media is now officially a tool of the right wing and power brokers in Washington. They virtually report nothing on this. They're all in bed with the defense industry and many members of Congress.

I'am in ,
In for the penny , in for the pound .

I don't normally advertise for anyone, but we can do more for the cause by advertising while driving around town. I have a variety of car magnets that I display on my car as I drive through Houston. I switch them out depending on the current dispicable acts being perpetrated on us by our own government. Believe it or not, here in Texas of all places, people will make supportive comments and/or ask questions at red lights and parking lots. I have among my collection an impeachment car magnet that I will display today. Instead of blogging, why not spend a few dollars on one or two choice car magnets and get the message out beyond our crowd and into among the masses. I get mine from stampandshout.org but I'm sure they're available through other outlets as well. Right here on C&L, we're preaching to the choir. Let's get the word out and help Kucinich and Wexler do what we all want to have happen. "Be the change ...." (Ghandi).

Tell me that the MSM is not "owned" by the current administration when a call in Congress for impeachment
of the VP is not even mentioned in any newspaper. I even went to Huffpo this morning and no mention of Wexlers address in the Senate asking for impeachment hearings there either. Will we be hearing about it on the TV tonight? I doubt it. Perhaps only Countdown will even mention it.

The corporate media doesn't cover the impeachment movement because they benefit from ignoring it. When they lose money for not covering salient issues, they'll reconsider. But for the most part, the corporate media is part of the problem, and they cannot be trusted to simply convey the message that there is a movement afoot to impeach Cheney, for whom they likely owe billions in favors. Given that media corporations are owned by defense contractors and other large interests, there won't be any attention to impeachment issues, period.

Most Congresspeople either know this already, or they are immersed in the myth that, if the corporate press doesn't report it, then the news item simply isn't important enough to acknowledge (IOW, they're ignorant.). Either way, it's going to be a struggle to get anything done when you're canoeing upstream without a paddle, and you're in water owned by a corporate press that has a monopoly on paddles and won't give you one.

Joe in L.A. @ 42:

redx @ 38:

He calls it out, sign petition with others and lobby Judiciary Cmmt.

I called every member of the judiciary committee in support of Impeachment. I signed several petitions and I look forward to having my name written into the record. I also told them all that not investigating could be construed as obstruction of justice, dereliction of duty, breach of oath and complicity. Will see if we still have a Republic soon enough, I guess.

"Not investigating" also means that you're not blackballed for getting donations to your next campaign for re-election. It also means that you may get named to chair an important committee that can bring federal dollars to your district.

Dairy farms are known for their "smell of money." The Beltway has a similar odor.

I say IMPEACH.

I ask "What agenda" are you protecting? Duck and Cover from the republicans?

The only thing I ask is this: Impeach Cheney first. He is more dangerous than the clown boy.

OUT OF TIME?

DOES THAT MEAN OUR COUNTRY IS DONE, COOKED, OVER?

BECAUSE FOR ME "OUT OF TIME" MEANS GAME OVER.

And I don't want to play a new game with criminals in charge again.

Not Democratic criminals OR republican ones.

I must admit I'm pessimistic on impeachment ... even though I signed the petition and just got through calling my congressman ... funny the guy that answered the phone stuttered when I told him HR 333 was for impeachment ... he put me on hold for a moment ... then told me the person that reports on the JC was not in and he took my mailing info to send me a response on the matter ... I wonder if others have been calling on this?

... anyway I was listening to Richard Greene last night ... he has a Rev. Linsey Williams on who has a book out ... who claims he worked with the elite 1% and he sat in many a board meeting where they came up with the plan to control the masses with oil ... they own congress, the MSM and they are the ones that say impeachment is off the table ...
... that is why corporate media won't cover it ... they own the media ... and the voting machines thanks to the government.

... this Williams fella said that these elite believe they have a GOD GIVEN RIGHT to control the masses ... and oil is the way to do it ...

... if they had impeachment hearings it would not only expose the war crimes committed by the illegitimate bush regime, but war crimes committed by the 1% that controls congress. They will make sure that will never happen.

I don't know what we can do ... we that are politically conscious news consumers know the danger ...and our numbers are small ... but the complacent masses ... whose only interest are American Idol, football or whatever distractions corporate media uses to dumb down America ... seem to be happy with things just the way they are ... and that's what the elite depend on ...

Base on that ... there will be no impeachment ... but I will still fight ... and do what I can ... it's the least I can do for this country ...

Yes, we have to be realistic. There is little chance that articles of impeachment will be drawn up and there is practically no chance that Cheney would be convicted.

That does not, however, excuse us from our duty to investigate and to provide a clear public record of the facts.

The idea that party breakdowns and projected votes determines the viability of an effort is okay when you're talking about the legislative agenda or horse-trading on issues like tax cuts and education funding.

It is most decidedly not okay and is in fact dereliction of duty to apply that logic to basic functions of the office.

Congress has a duty to investigate, not to satisfy our desire to see criminals brought to justice but to endow history with the facts.

It's their duty. The likelihood of conviction plays NO ROLE in determining the necessity of impeachment.

I have watched as an Attorney General perjored himself before the senate and apparently because he has resigned he gets a get out of jail free card. Frankly. You can have your impeachment. It wont go anywhere at all. Bush will then just say... "Heh heh heh what are they going to do impeach me?". This after the republicans in the senate save his ass. NO. I want true accountability. I want them on trial in criminal court for fraud, negligent homicide and maybe even warcrimes, post term. I also want the Liar Gonzales on trial for Perjury. Is this so much to ask from a country that is supposed to abide by its laws?

Wexler's Impeach Cheney Petition tops 200,000
January 17, 2008
Filed under: Impeachment Progress News, Florida — Mikael @ 4:48 pm
A surge in online petition signers since Florida Representative Robert Wexler's appearance on the House floor Tuesday evening calling for impeachment hearings to commence against Vice President Dick Cheney has boosted the Wexler Petition past 190,000 and suddenly up to over 202,000. If you have not yet signed, go to www.WexlerWantsHearings.com and add your name to the list of those who feel an immediate investigation of Cheney's highly suspicious pre-war activities is warranted.

If you have already signed, send the link www.WexlerWantsHearings.com to ten of your friends and encourage them to join this rapidly growing list.
As of this evening, January 17, 2008, 205266 have signed up and counting...
(Click here to sign the petition)

http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=4490

Fein v. Tomasky Impeachment Debate: You Be the Judge
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2008-01-17 18:07. Impeachment | Video and Audio

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/30201#comment

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Impeachment Debate Has Clear Winner
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2008-01-17 14:53. Impeachment
Listen to the AUDIO REPORT HERE From WCHL 1360, and you'll find that the anti-impeachment debater ended up favoring impeachemnt. Below is a newspaper account.
Carrboro talks impeachment: 250 attend debate at Century Center
By Cheryl Johnston Sadgrove, Charlotte News and Observer
CARRBORO - Michael Tomasky had a tough gig Tuesday night in Carrboro.
The Washington journalist took the anti-impeachment side of a debate in the Century Center auditorium packed with more than 250 citizens who seemed adamant that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney should be removed from office.
Tomasky faced Bruce Fein, a constitutional lawyer who believes that both men should be impeached for breaching the U.S. Constitution.
Fein laid out his case first: Ultimately the democracy the United States enjoys will fail if citizens do not defend it by rebuking Bush and Cheney for taking on more executive power than the Constitution allows and for violating it in several ways.
"You cannot have a democracy when the government operates in secrecy. It's an oxymoron," Fein said.
Tomasky drew a laugh by beginning his remarks with a plea for southern hospitality, acknowledging that there wouldn't be much support in the room for his side of the debate.
Then he argued that while he agreed on the violations of the Constitution, it is not realistic for the audience to believe they can persuade the national Democratic leadership to pursue impeachment in an election year.
Few in the audience appeared persuaded by Tomasky's stance on the reality of the political situation.
"Not at all," said Marcie Ferris as the debate wrapped up. "I think Americans have been so beaten down by this administration. It's all this fear-mongering."
Ron Wildt, 45, made the trip from Morrisville to attend.
"We're the ones who are ultimately responsible for what our government is like, and we need to stand up and hold representatives accountable, to protect it for our kids and grandkids," Wildt said.
The debate was organized by the Coalition for the Constitution, a Carrboro-based group that has not been daunted by the lack of national momentum on impeachment proceedings.
Hodding Carter III, a UNC-Chapel Hill professor of leadership and public policy, moderated the event. He pointed out that the debate had a twist, with a Republican arguing for impeachment and a Democrat arguing against.
Fein played that point to his advantage, calling on Democrats and Republicans alike to put the Constitution ahead of party politics.
Tomasky explained that if Democrats did take on impeachment, they would likely lose seats in the House, and therefore the possibility of making progress on other important issues such as national healthcare.
"I think it's more important, on balance, to think about the future of the country more broadly," Tomasky said.
Bette Smith, 74, said her opinions weren't changed by the debate. Smith said she voted for Bush the first time around, but she is concerned about the actions he has taken and how the United States is now viewed by other nations around the world.
Sue Morrison, 50, said she was surprised that there wasn't more diversity in the audience, either by age or ethnicity. The audience was by large white and graying.
"I don't think we can take these ideas further without raising national consciousness," Morrison said.
That seems to be the tricky part.
Audience members asked Fein and Tomasky for ideas on how to get the American public more engaged in the impeachment topic. With many more Americans now tuned into the primaries, neither debater could come up with the golden ticket.
cheryl.sadgrove@newsobserver.com or (919) 932-2005

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/30188

Robert wexler has always struck me as being one of the coolest people in Congress, someone who has credibility & integrity. I did sign his petition today.

68 comments

Login or Register to post comments.