Dennis Kucinich's doomed impeachment bid

By GottaLaff

While I understand the reasons put forth against impeachment, I strongly feel that the House Judiciary should set a precedent here. We can't let the Bush administration open the door so that others can follow their criminal lead. Congress must act like the branch of government it is, and use their powers of oversight while they still have them:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An apparently doomed bid to impeach President George W. Bush, largely on charges of misleading the U.S. into the Iraq war, was referred on Wednesday to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.

On a 251-166 vote, the House sent 35 articles of impeachment introduced by Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio to the panel where they are expected to die.

251 people apparently agree (including 20 Republicans) that this country cannot do without things like, you know, habeas corpus. Nor can torture become acceptable, nor can illegal invasions, deception, cover-ups, and on, and on....

House Democratic leaders have repeatedly said, since winning control of the chamber in the 2006 elections, that they would not consider any effort to remove Bush from office.

They have argued such an attempt would likely fail in the closely divided Congress and distract from efforts to enact their ambitious legislative agenda.

It can't fail if it educates and awakens a lulled America. It can't fail if it follows and hopefully enforces the rule of law. It can't fail if it prevents future abuses of power. It can't fail if it opens the door to justice... maybe even in a court of criminal law.

Kucinich said he plans to rally public support to pressure the Judiciary Committee to hold hearings, and for Congress to impeach Bush before the president's term ends in January.

Kucinich accuses Bush of a host of violations, including making a false case for the Iraq war, illegally spying on Americans and authorizing torture of terror suspects. The White House denies any wrongdoing.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer defended Democrats' actions, saying they had increased oversight of the administration and for the first time held Bush accountable.

Oh goody. Bush was held "accountable". Hearings have been abundant, words have been said, fists have been shaken in the air, shock has been expressed, press conferences have been staged.

But, imagine, just imagine, what we could do with actual testimony. The only way to hold this bunch of thugs "accountable" is to actually make them speak, on the record, under oath, and on CSPAN for all the world to see.

Or at least get the ball rolling, instead of shrugging it off by saying that justice must take a back seat to a legislative agenda. Or is the real reason the tantalizing prospect of possible complicity of those legislators who are terrified of what might be revealed during the impeachment process?