November 6, 2007
The Impeachment of Vice President Cheney (Ron Christie)
Just when you thought the Democrats in charge of running the House of Representatives had received the message that the American people wanted them to govern, not posture, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) brought a resolution to the floor today in an effort to impeach the vice president. Now, I happen to like the congressman personally — he’s quirky, to be sure, but very passionate about his beliefs, something I respect. Having worked with Kucinich over the years when I was a member of former Rep. John Kasich’s (R-Ohio) staff, we got along rather well — a relationship that I’ve enjoyed to this day.
But impeaching the vice president of the United States? C’mon! There is a reason that the congressional approval rating is more than a dozen points lower than President Bush’s: They haven’t accomplished a darn thing all year. With constant bickering, the Congress has failed to send the president appropriations bills to fund the government for fiscal 2008 — a fiscal year that started Oct. 1. House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) indicated this week that the Congress could be in session up until the week of Christmas. Lovely.
Not to be outdone, the House Judiciary Committee has cleared the way for the full House to vote on whether to hold White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers in contempt of Congress for their “refusal” to release documents relating to the dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys nearly a year ago. Never mind that such hirings and firings are at the complete discretion of the president for any reason, or no reason, whatsoever. Imagine the outrage if President Bush called on the office of Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) to obtain information regarding the personnel decisions of the congressman’s personal and committee staffs.
So, while there is a vacancy at the Justice Department for an attorney general, while Congress has refused to send bills funding the United States government for the current fiscal year and while our troops require vital resources to wage the war on terror — the Congress continues to dither on senseless resolutions to impeach the vice president. And they wonder why politicians are held in such low regard.
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Maybe he thinks Dick Cheney is an alien.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — November 6, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
What diversionary nonsense. At least Christie is learning to be a little amiable, rather than the hostility of the past.
To cite Congressional productivity as an excuse to not impeach, is ridiculous. The job of Congress is oversight. If this President and his henchman VP would stop commiting crimes, then there wouldn't be a need to exercise oversight. It seems that the ball is in their court.
Where are you getting this nonsense about what the people want from Congress. The truth, and not the cable TV pundit truth is that, the people disapprove of the Congress because there is not enough of a majority by the Democrats to undo the garbage that has been dealt to the American people. You folks love to ignore the rules of our legislative body to spin this crap, but there are some people in this country who actually know something about how government works. Take it to the FOX News fools. We laugh it off.
The cable news pundit truth aside, this administration, among its many crimes, has attempted to subjugate the judiciary with the prosecutors firing. We have actually seen administration officials ignore subpoenas to appear. The lesson to everyone else in our country is that defiance of law is OK. If this is all normal poitics, then why the fear?
The deeds of this administration are so nefarious, that they fail to realize that questions like the one above get asked. Immunity for wat and from what? If things are on the up and up, then why not cooperate? Executive privelege? They know damn well that this doesn't apply to non national security matters. This arrogance must be put in check, otherwise we might have President Hillary acting in the same fashion.
Ron Christie will be screaming "IMPEACHMENT" at thedrop of a hat.
Comment by Chris Calbi — November 6, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
The more these useless idiots attempt to do things they have no chance of accomplishing, the lower their reputation goes. Let them try to do the impossible and fail, over and over again.
Comment by Igor R. — November 6, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Good job Pelosi. They won't follow you anywhere. Simply great! And we thought the Republicans were bad. It's going to be an interesting election next year.
Comment by John B — November 6, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
What about the merits of the impeachment resolution? Did you decide not to even discuss the merits, or lack there of? How lame and obviously partisan can you be Ron? No wonder we Americans like making fun of neocons.
No way in hell is Congress wasting time by debating the impeachment resolution. That is crazy, tired neocon rhetoric. What about the time and money Cheney has wasted LYING this country in to a senseless "war" (colonization)
So basically Ron, you're saying impeachment in not necessary and congress is wasting a lot of time. Yet I bet you supported impeaching Clinton for lying about a sexual trist. You're a rank hypocrit.
I told you weeks ago to tell Darth I wanted his resignation. See, Ron, you are wasting time by not telling him.
It's obvious Ron puts party before Constitution. Treasonous behavior?
Comment by Lester Fields — November 6, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
"There is a reason that the congressional approval rating is more than a dozen points lower than President Bush’s: They haven’t accomplished a darn thing all year."
Well, an obvious way for Congress to both actually accomplish something, and judging by the polls probably boost their approval rating well past 50%, would be to impeach Cheney and Bush.
Since everything this administration has done that undermines America will have to be scrapped ASAP, why not start with the heads now and work our way down?
Comment by quousque — November 6, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
Dennis may be short in stature,but he is a bigger man than Steny Hoyer
Comment by patty — November 7, 2007 @ 9:23 am
You Republicans can keep talking, but here's the data. Current polling shows that 50% of all Americans "strongly disapprove" of the President. 24% of those polled are Republicans. Again you can crow and divert all you want, but you are through as a viable political party.
Bush's approval of 24% is lower than Richard Nixon's at the point that he resigned. Cheney is at 9%.
It s*cks to be you, right now.
Comment by Chris Calbi — November 7, 2007 @ 10:51 am
Ron, Igor and RR;
Why not impeach Dick Cheney? Because of his lies, the US has lost over 3800 men and women in a bogus war. We have spent close to 600 billion dollars for this same fiasco and America's prestige and influence has waned. You repubs were hot and heavy about impeaching Bill Clinton over a blow job which didn't get anyone killed but you complain about impeaching a man that has done more daage to America than a blowjob ever could. You folks are just plain sick. If you go to the MSNBC poll on impeaching Bush/Cheney were over 580,000 people have responded, you'll find that 89% want to impeach. Here is the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904/
It must suck to be wrong all the time, doesn't it Ron.
Comment by Mike Coleman — November 7, 2007 @ 11:59 am
Its ok for Republicans to impeach, but not for the DEMOCRATS ??? doesnt make sense does it? maybe the Republicans should try to work with the Democrats instead of fighting with them (HINT) Bush should get his head out of the Sand, and Cheney is———–fill that in with what ever.
Comment by Jim Parker — November 7, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Kucinich, along with the boldly courageous Keith Olbermann, are among the few who have the gonads to speak truth to power. The impeachment process for Bash/Chinny should have been started long ago. We've allowed them to hijack our nation and put us into a very precarious position on the world scene; the torture issue is just the tip of the iceberg warranting impeachment. Alas, Pelosi, Inc. will not proceed with impeachment proceedings because they are more interested in trying to preserve something they think they have then to stand up for the real values they were elected to promote. That's where the Dems have fallen down. But the real reason why Congressional approval ratings are so low is because they continue to let Bash/Chinny push them around despite holding majorities in both houses.
Comment by Rex Hamann — November 7, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Just a clarification – or omitted fact. Last year’s Republican Congress did not have the 2007 spending done until… not Oct, not Nov, not even before the Congress ended session. The Appropriation bill did not get completed until the next session ( the Democratically controlled Congress). So, certainly an Appropriations bill coming late in the year is not desirable, let’s keep it in perspective. This type of “stuff” is why Americans are frustrated with us.
Comment by Daniel Webster — November 7, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
GOP flip flops - the proof is in the pudding as they say - it's been reported what the GOP decided to do (PLAY POLITICS - reverse their votes to do a 'gotcha' on Dems). It's in WRITING as such.
The GOP either admit they were playing politics in the HOUSE OF REP's or they admit they flip-flopped when Kucinich does another Privilege Resolution - and rest assured - he will.
Most Dems were fighting the motion - it was the GOP that forced the issue.
I can see the Dem's commercials in 2008 now:
THIS MAN FIRST 'SUPPORTED' THE IMPEACHMENT OF DICK CHENEY - THEN HE REVERSED HIS VOTE LATER.
SORT OF LIKE THE FAMOUS KERRY AD - "I VOTED FOR THE BILL BEFORE I VOTED AGAINST IT.
Coonsey's View
Political Blog
http://www.freewebs.com/coonsey/
Comment by Coonsey — November 7, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
It's been 231 years since our Forefather's drafted the doctrine for which our Representation is held accountable to. The author of this article may not have been around for all those years, but it's definitely certain his limited understanding of the intent of our Forefather's is seriously lacking. The Constitution was writtn based on the experiences of men who dealt with Imperialistic governance at the hands of the British. They gave us their best knowledge of what is and what should never be in order to avoid the same circumstances they suffered. You know, the whole those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it thing. To suggest that our Leaders cannot or should not use the powers of our Law, to maintain the Rule of Law, is preposterous.
Comment by scottyurb — November 7, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
Mike, Dick Cheney shouldn't be impeached because he has done nothing illegal. It's that simple. On top of it he is a courageous public servant dedicated to protecting this country, not a Dart Vader caricature or the worthless Bubba who sold his country out for Chinese campaign contribution. Sticking cigars into interns was the least of his problems.
Comment by Igor R. — November 7, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
Too bad you don't get it BUT afterall, you are a republican…
Comment by P KIRBY — November 7, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Igor, brush up on the law. Cheney has been recorded on multiple video spots from television, saying things about Saddam and Iraq, about Iraq and it's weapons, about Iraq and Al Quaeda that are clearly willful lies.
that, in and of itself, is good for conviction on one article of impeachment.
Comment by Chris Calbi — November 7, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
Congress is unpopular because it is seen as knuckling under to Bush.
Impeaching Cheney will remove this perception.
Impeaching Cheney will also go a long way toward restoring integrity in American government.
Comment by robert chapman — November 7, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
What about the merits of the impeachment resolution? Did you decide not to even discuss the merits, or lack there of? How lame and obviously partisan can you be Ron? No wonder we Americans like making fun of neocons.
No way in hell is Congress wasting time by debating the impeachment resolution. That is crazy, tired neocon rhetoric. What about the time and money Cheney has wasted LYING this country in to a senseless war.
So basically Ron, you’re saying impeachment in not necessary and congress is wasting a lot of time. Yet I bet you supported impeaching Clinton for lying about a sexual trist. You’re a rank hypocrit.
Impeach Dick Cheney? I say yes because of his lies, the US has lost over 3800 men and women in a bogus
Iraq war.
We have spent close to 800 billion dollars for this same fiasco and America’s prestige and influence has waned. You repubs were hot and heavy about impeaching Bill Clinton which didn’t get anyone killed but you complain about impeaching a man that has done more daage to America than ever possible. You folks are just plain sick, as you do not want to face the thruth. If you go to the MSNBC poll on impeaching Bush/Cheney were over 580,000 people have responded, you’ll find that 89% want to impeach. Here Ron is the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904/
You Republicans can keep talking, but here’s the data. Current polling shows that 50% of all Americans “strongly disapprove” of the President. 24% of those polled are Republicans. Again you can crow and divert all you want, but you are through as a viable political party.
Bush’s approval of 24% is lower than Richard Nixon’s at the point that he resigned. Cheney is at 9%.
So Ron next time you rightr an article get your facts correct and don't leave out the thruth as the Bush/Chenney administration has done for the past 6 yesrs, thank God the Dems are in control of both the House and the Senate, now we the people will finally learn the secrets of this Bush administration and how they are riuining our country.
John Marchese
Henderson, Nevada
Comment by John Marchese — November 8, 2007 @ 3:36 am
John M. — The whole point of Republicans switching their vote was to make Democrats debate the issue of impeachment of Chaney. This isn't the first time Democrats brought up legislation and then were afraid to debate it. Some months ago, Charlie Rangle introduced legislation to bring back the draft. The Republicans called for a debate and vote on the issue and the Democrats backed down, cowards that they are.
Comment by John Simmons — November 8, 2007 @ 10:36 am
Igor;
Dick Cheney is a good public servant? Man, I have no idea what you are smoking but it has to be illegal. Here are some of the reasons that Cheney should be impeached:
1. http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/09/16/1549258
2.
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/shutupcheney.html
3.
http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2007/04/07/why-dick-cheney-lies/
4.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/101605Z.shtml
Igor, there are plenty more reasons to impeach Dick. He still has ties to Halliburton and the no-bid contract that they recieved was directed by his office. His outing of Valerie Plame-Wilson to get back at her husband for calling Dick on his lies about Uranium from Africa is another.
Comment by Mike Coleman — November 8, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Mike, he stated his opinions about Iraq. The rest of the stuff is worthless allegations.
Comment by Igor R. — November 8, 2007 @ 11:48 am
Deny science, deny videotapes, deny speech transcripts. Man oh man! The sky is red, and the grass is purple.
Comment by Chris Calbi — November 8, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
Igor;
Cheney didn't state an opinion, he stated it as fact. One of his quotes was that “it's been pretty well confirmed that he [Atta] did go to Prague and he did meet with a senior official of the Iraqi intelligence service in Czechoslovakia last April, several months before the attack.”
http://www.counterpunch.org/hans06262004.html
So you trying to lie for him now doesn't wash.
Comment by Mike Coleman — November 8, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Mike, things are never confirmed with 100% certainty in intelligence. Just like nobody really knows if Iran has 3 months or 10 years before they have the bomb, if sources like "Curve Ball" or whoever are telling you stuff, you vet it the best way you can and then act. Murderous dictators operating terrorist training camps and leading inspectors by the nose make it easy not to trust them.
Comment by Igor R. — November 8, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Ron,
Why all the yelling? Impeachment is simply a public firing that precludes the miscreants from returning.
Others above have provided but a small partial list of crimes committed by this Administration. Americans overwhelmingly want these investigations to go forward, and the rule of law applied where crimes have or are being committed. Have you read the Constitution? It states no one is above the law.
Do you consider Bruce Fein, Larry Wilkerson, and John Dean among many others- all Republicans-also a "little quirky"?
Comment by Gloria M Dolan — November 9, 2007 @ 1:16 am
Impeachment hearings in the House are simply the way to determine if impeachment is warranted. The Senate will consider the findings to decide whether to impeach.
There are serious reasons for the House to hold the hearings on Cheney. Actual proof that he committed high crimes is not needed to take this first step - rather it may or may not be the result of this step.
Rep. Wexler and two of his colleagues recognize this: www.wexlerwantshearings.com
Comment by Anna — December 29, 2007 @ 9:48 pm