Political Crossfire Forums

[Dookiestix]

Quote: Articles of Impeachment against Bush and Cheney
by Eternal Hope

Fri Nov 24, 2006 at 04:10:20 PM PST

If we are to impeach, we must impeach both Bush and Cheney. It will not do any good for us to impeach Bush and have Cheney take the Oval Office and pick someone just as radical as he is. It will also not do any good for us to impeach just Cheney and allow Bush to groom John "I'm not knowledgeable" McCain for the 2008 election. Therefore, we must simultaneously impeach both of them so that the 3rd person in succession, Nancy Pelosi, would become the next President of the United States.

What remains to be done is for us to work out articles of impeachment against the President. Others may surface after the Democrats begin their job of investigating and getting to the bottom of the matter. If the Bush administration obstructs or lies to the Congressional Committee chairs, those could in and of themselves be grounds for impeachment and removal of Bush and Cheney.

In the meantime, here are the following 14 possible articles of impeachment against the President and Vice President.

Eternal Hope's diary

1. Leaking classified information by disclosing the identity of Valerie Plame to reporters.

The President and Vice President unlawfully leaked classified information, the identity of a Non-official Cover, Valerie (Wilson) Plame, to a person or persons not authorized to receive such information, namely, Robert Novak, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, and Matt Cooper, a reporter for Time Magazine.

Law violated:

National Security Act of 1947.

Quote: Whoever, having or having had authorized access to classified information that identifies a covert agent, intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent’s intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(b) Whoever, as a result of having authorized access to classified information, learns the identity of a covert agent and intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent’s intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

© Whoever, in the course of a pattern of activities intended to identify and expose covert agents and with reason to believe that such activities would impair or impede the foreign intelligence activities of the United States, discloses any information that identifies an individual as a covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such individual and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such individual’s classified intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

(d) A term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be consecutive to any other sentence of imprisonment.

2. Lying to congress -- passing false information about Iraq's WMD capacities.

George Bush and Dick Cheney passed false information to Congress about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capabilities, to wit, their possession of chemical weapons, biological weapons, and delivery systems. Furthermore, George Bush and Dick Cheney passed false information to Congress by falsely stating that Iraq was an imminent threat to the United States and that military action was therefore necessary.

Law violated:

18 USC 1001.

Quote: Whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
3. Extraordinary Renditions.

George Bush and Dick Cheney authorized the arrest and transporting of prisoners to secret jails in Morocco, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Eastern Europe for detention and torture without trial.

Law violated:

6th Amendment of the Constitution.

Quote: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
4. Detentions without Trial.

George Bush and Dick Cheney detained thousands of people at Guantanamo Bay without the possibility of trial and without access to effective counsel.

Law violated:

6th Amendment (see above).

5. Torture.

George Bush and Dick Cheney either ordered or caused other foreign countries to perform torture on suspects illegally detained under sections 3 and 4 of these articles.

Law violated:

8th Amendment.

Quote: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
6. Misappropriation of Funds.

George Bush and Dick Cheney diverted funds from Afghanistan to Iraq as documented in Bob Woodward's "Plan of attack" and failed to notify Congress of such appropriations.

Law violated:

Iraq Liberation Act of 1998.

Quote: The President shall notify the congressional committees specified in section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 at least 15 days in advance of each obligation of assistance under this section in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under section 634A.
7. Bombing Iraq without Congressional Approval.

George Bush and Dick Cheney authorized over 21,000 bombing missions on Iraq without Congressional approval before passage of the Iraq War Resolution in October 11th, 2002.

Law violated:

Article I, US Constitution.

Quote: To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;
8. Conspiracy to pass false information.

George Bush and Dick Cheney conspired to pass false information about the nature of the intelligence on Iraq to the US Congress in conjunction with British Prime Minister Tony Blair for the purposes of triggering a war with Iraq as documented in the Downing Street Minutes.

Law violated:

18 USC 1001 (see above).

9. Lying about Niger connection.

George Bush and Dick Cheney lied to Congress at the State of the Union and elsewhere by falsely stating that Iraq had procured Uranium from Niger.

Law violated:

18 USC 1001 (see above).

10. Contempt of Congress.

George Bush and Dick Cheney showed a contempt of Congress by stating their intentions to violate laws passed by Congress or cause others to do so over 750 times.

11. Illegal wiretaps.

George Bush and Dick Cheney repeatedly bypassed the court system by ordering wiretaps without authorization from judges and without obtaining a warrant.

Law violated:

4th Amendment

Quote: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
12. Concealment of the existance or nature of Domestic Intelligence Programs.

George Bush and Dick Cheney concealed the nature and extent of the JPEN program, used for the purpose of domestic intelligence.

Law violated:

18 USC 1505

Quote: Whoever, with intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance, in whole or in part, with any civil investigative demand duly and properly made under the Antitrust Civil Process Act, willfully withholds, misrepresents, removes from any place, conceals, covers up, destroys, mutilates, alters, or by other means falsifies any documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony, which is the subject of such demand; or attempts to do so or solicits another to do so; or
Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress—
Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.
13. Destruction of Evidence.

George Bush and Dick Cheney destroyed evidence in conjunction with Plamegate.

Law violated:

18 USC 1505 (see above).

14. The use of White Phosphorus in Iraq.

George Bush and Dick Cheney authorized the use of White Phosphorus in Iraq in November 2004 during the Fallujah offensive.

Law violated:

US Army Field Manual, Chapter 5, section 3.

Quote: (4) Burster Type White phosphorus (WP M110A2) rounds burn with intense heat and emit dense white smoke. They may be used as the initial rounds in the smokescreen to rapidly create smoke or against material targets, such as Class V sites or logistic sites. It is against the law of land warfare to employ WP against personnel targets.
Certainly a far cry from lying in a Grand Jury about sex, is it not?

What do you think? The number of violations stacked up against the Bush administration is rather stunning. Does anyone think that at some point, if things truly get bad enough for the Bush administration (Cheney is now asking help from the Saudis because of their extroardinary screw-ups), and as Iraq continues to spiral into absolute chaos and death, that the American people will have finally had enough with the failed policies of this group of cronies? When is enough going to be enough?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/11/24/17048/677

[Deemoore]

Go for it.

The President overstepped the authority of his office on several occasions and I feel it is vital that those acts be dealt with appropriately in order to restore the balance of power in our government and remind our future presidents that the American people will not let this land be overtaken by a dictatorship.

[Lumina]

I oppose it. Diversionary, counterproductive waste of time that is doomed to failure.

[AceKingQueenJack]

The President has not put the American people in danger, except the soldiers who willingly took that risk by choosing that occupation. He has not shown the lack of ability to fufill his duties, or has breaken any laws that justify impeachment. If you're planning on saying "any broken law justifies impeachment," i can guarantee you every single president that has owned a car has gone over the set speed limit.

[Thrilla]

most of that list is horsedung.... but if people wish to push the issue.. i'll certainly be entertained by the spectacle

[Dookiestix]

Thrilla wrote: most of that list is horsedung.... but if people wish to push the issue.. i'll certainly be entertained by the spectacle
Glad to hear you'd rather be entertained than to address the individual offenses by this administration.

Now THERE'S a spectacle. :lol:

[Lumina]

Thrilla wrote: most of that list is horsedung.... but if people wish to push the issue.. i'll certainly be entertained by the spectacle

Spectacle it would be. But so destructive too.

[baleyg]

Well.. if a repeat of the Clinton- incident is to be avoided - and it's a point it should be a political problem for the senate to dismiss the impeachment - then Congress needs to make some fundamental decisions on how to treat laws and statutes, and how committees are supposed to operate. This shouldn't be impossible, even if it would take some time.

And that probably shouldn't be a reason to not have either oversight or actual investigations and, you know, /work/, in Congress - since it possibly could lead to impeachment (and a waste of time, etc).

I mean - the problem Congress has now, is that unless the Supreme Court will reverse some of the categorical permissions given to the president (the military commissions act, for instance), or the authority the executive has given itself through liberal interpretations of what Congress "really" meant (the authorization to use force in Afghanistan) - then the President has the power. With Congress' permission.

[beachbum bob]

many more important issues to address..besides keeping the republican embarrassment of bush and cheney front and center for the next 2 years of investigations and hearings into the actual wrongdoing will be far more productive...who were those guys agin in Cheney's energy task force that figured Big OIL needed more american taxpayer subsidies??

can't wait

[callous]

Why impeach people who are only the messengers of policy made by other people?

The damage has been done. I'm sick and tired of politely waiting for murderers to finish their job before I dutifully prosecute.

[Thrilla]

Dookiestix wrote: Thrilla wrote: most of that list is horsedung.... but if people wish to push the issue.. i'll certainly be entertained by the spectacle
Glad to hear you'd rather be entertained than to address the individual offenses by this administration.

Now THERE'S a spectacle. :lol: i wouldnt mind investigations into #2 and #11.. the rest are trumped up horsedung

[Lumina]

I want what is good for our nation. Impeachment hearings, while quite the spectacle, would accomplish nothing productive.

[beachbum bob]

Lumina wrote: I want what is good for our nation. Impeachment hearings, while quite the spectacle, would accomplish nothing productive.

democrats have to rise against the temptations that the republicans would not....
impeachment is a not needed...too many other issues more pressing

[Thrilla]

Quote: democrats have to rise against the temptations that the republicans would not....
impeachment is a not needed...too many other issues more pressing i knew it.. Democrats are soft on crime :lol: :lol:

[baleyg]

Thrilla wrote: Quote: democrats have to rise against the temptations that the republicans would not....
impeachment is a not needed...too many other issues more pressing i knew it.. Democrats are soft on crime :lol: :lol:
:lol: *whee* [wipes tear]

[Zadoc]

Any democrat who supports impeechment is an idiot. That's right, I called you an idiot. If you're going to believe in idiotic doctrine for the rest of your lives, then you may as well get used to it now.

Why are democrats who support impeechment idiots?

It's the absolute worst thing that we could possibly do. At the moment, the White House is completely marginalized for the next two years as long as the republicans don't do something smart, like have Cheney resign and replace him with someone who can win an election.

The democrats have control of both houses of Congress and can now govern. They are also virtually unbeatable in 2008, no matter who wins the nomination.

The last thing that we need to happen is for a political coup to remove the legitimate elected leadership and install a democrat as president.

If anyone thinks that's a good idea, other than a republican who thinks that might be their party's only chance to win in 2008, you're an idiot.

[californian conservative]

Thrilla wrote: Dookiestix wrote: Thrilla wrote: most of that list is horsedung.... but if people wish to push the issue.. i'll certainly be entertained by the spectacle
Glad to hear you'd rather be entertained than to address the individual offenses by this administration.

Now THERE'S a spectacle. :lol: i wouldnt mind investigations into #2 and #11.. the rest are trumped up horsedung

I agree that most of that is B.S. now as to #2 and #11 it would be impossible to know, let alone prove, whether or not they knew it was crap when they presented it.

[Zadoc]

Thrilla wrote: most of that list is horsedung....

I have serious doubts that you are even able to comprehend the concepts contained in the post that you are eliquently referring to as "horsedung," and as evidence of this, I submit the forum, publically, that you are unable to perform the following two tasks:

1. Identify which parts of the list are and are not "horsedung."

2. State why or why not they are "horesedung."

[Nathyn]

Lumina wrote: I oppose it. Diversionary, counterproductive waste of time that is doomed to failure.
"omg blowjob!!"

[cap'n queasy]

You had to know this dead horse was going to get the whipping of it's life.

:lol:

Typical.