The Impeachment of George W. Bush

After a slight hiatus (hey, it was the holidays!), the I-word is returning to political discussions. The media could seemingly care less for the most part, but the story of President Bush's warrantless domestic wiretapping has remained a major issue and more and more Americans are learning the facts and are likely uneasy about the President's powergrabbing (in addition to all his previous offenses). It's caused political thinkers to requestion seemingly settled issues, such as whether the President does truly intend to adhere to the McCain torture ban, since he's set the precedent that national security concerns put him above the law. The issue also certainly played a big role in this week's confirmation hearings for Judge Alito. The fragile status of checks and balances is known to be at stake.

One of the best articles on this issue (and one that will likely be buzzed about quite a bit) has just been published in The Nation, by former Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman. As someone on the Committee who voted for Nixon's impeachment, she makes the case for the impeachment for President Bush. She also discusses the steps that should be taken to energize the American public toward this goal and to get Congress to fulfill its duty to rein in the President. Print it out, read it, and act.

The Nation (Elizabeth Holtzman): The Impeachment of George W. Bush

Finally, it has started. People have begun to speak of impeaching President George W. Bush--not in hushed whispers but openly, in newspapers, on the Internet, in ordinary conversations and even in Congress. As a former member of Congress who sat on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon, I believe they are right to do so...

...The framers of our Constitution feared executive power run amok and provided the remedy of impeachment to protect against it. While impeachment is a last resort, and must never be lightly undertaken (a principle ignored during the proceedings against President Bill Clinton), neither can Congress shirk its responsibility to use that tool to safeguard our democracy. No President can be permitted to commit high crimes and misdemeanors with impunity.

But impeachment and removal from office will not happen unless the American people are convinced of its necessity after a full and fair inquiry into the facts and law is conducted. That inquiry must commence now...

One (hopefully not futile) way to act is to contact your Congressional representatives and your Senators to express your concern about the President's action and to ask for his/her support on impeachment if the President cannot be controlled by the law and the Congress. Nothing fancy is required. One letter may not make a difference, but a lot of them can.

[Related links-
-Analysis of the Legality of the Secret NSA Warrantless Electronic Surveillance Program

-Elizabeth Holtzman--from Nixon to Bush & the Case for Impeachment

-Elizabeth Holtzman: The Nation's Impeachment Brief]