The Moral Imperative for Impeachment

I was all set to call this post something stupid, like “Raw and Uncensured” or some nonsense like that, but I think we all know that we’re past that bullshit.

I’m glad Russ Feingold is at least making some kind of noise about holding Bush and Cheney accountable for their breathtaking catalogue of malfeasance, but I don’t think anyone here thinks that censure goes nearly far enough. Censure wasn’t even considered sufficiently potent discipline for Bill Clinton – you may remember that MoveOn.org started as a drive to censure (rather than impeach) Clinton and "move on." Censure is the kind of nice, bi-partisan nod towards oversight that everyone in Washington can get behind - and move on. But let’s face it: the only real course of action left is impeachment, and not for the Bush administration’s past crimes, but rather to prevent their future crimes.

Until recently, I didn’t take speculation about Bush taking a swipe at Iran too seriously. We don't have the troops, we don't have the money, there's no public support for it, it would be suicidal and stupid and insane, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. People smarter and more level headed than me are starting to become legitimately concerned, though, so now I am too. This is why we can’t waste any time with censure and must proceed to impeachment: censure will not sufficiently gum up the works to prevent any future bloodbaths the Bush administration may want to foist on us. Impeachment might.

There’s no shortage of reasons to impeach and the political will appears to be coalescing. There may be some concern among our elected leaders that impeachment proceedings might cause the mechanisms of government to grind to a halt – but hell, that’s exactly what I’m counting on. The Republican dominated Congress did nothing to slow Bush’s rush into the Iraq War, and while the Democrats now control both houses their majority in the Senate is not large enough to stop a march towards military conflict with Iran dead in its tracks. The only sensible alternative – if Congressional Democrats are serious about steering America off the disastrous course we're currently navigating - is impeachment. And if we’re serious about peace then we must be impelled to push the Democratic leadership to impeach Bush and Cheney.

It's easy and tempting to imagine impeachment will be a first step towards righting the wrongs we have committed in Iraq, as the first step towards sending Bush and Cheney to The Hague. But really, there’s no righting the wrongs we have done to Iraq and no one from this administration is ever going to stand trial for war crimes. We can, however, still take action to preserve the future. NTodd’s Nancygram campaign is a great start. We’re all clever people, I’m sure we can come up with more ideas. Whatever you’re going to do, now is the time to do it.

(Cross posted at A Blog Named Sue)

Comments

[jman_nyc]

but...we dont have the votes. how would this work?

[NTodd]

Get. The. Votes.

[Dan]

We need to convince conservatives on this too:

http://pruningshears.squarespace.com/pruning-shears/2007/7/20/calling-conservative-patriots.html

[Molly Ivors]

We can get the votes, but via an incremental process of committee hearings and public debate. You are exactly right that public opinion is shifting, but it may not have shifted enough, yet. Petraeus-like, I think we may be there by the fall.

[liberal]

...but I don’t think anyone here thinks that censure goes nearly far enough.

Agreed. But also, I assume the impeachment process would bring along a lot more subpoena action than censure.

Christ, I haven't heard anyone talk about the aluminum tubes nonsense in a long time.

[Potato Head]

Government would be brought to a standstill? What do people think it is now, between Bush Administration incompetence and Republican obstructionism? Impeachment proceedings would be the one leglislative initiative that might actually go somewhere.

And I'm not talking about the final vote to convict, though, if the Democrats did their job laying out the evidentiary record and the Bushies weren't able to once again blow off any and all subpoenas, I'd like to see, when push comes to shove, how many WINO Republicans would want to affix their names for all eternity to a vote to acquit these motherfuckers.

[Mellifluous]

Arthur, too:
http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/2007/07/still-another-call-to-activism-prove-me.html

[RM Scarrow]

Right on; I wrote an essay on impeachment as a moral and political prerogative a couple weeks ago.

http://neuecolossus.squarespace.com/journal/2007/7/10/but-isnt-it-an-argument-for-impeachment-as-a-moral-and-polit.html

[rjones2818]

On censure, I guess this is what Russ thinks can get done, or he's using it as a diversion to slow down the drive for impeachment. Either way, it doesn't show 'brave' thinking by the Good Senator.

[John Singer Sargent]

Impeachment.

Then send them to the Hague.

[dan mcenroe]

You are exactly right that public opinion is shifting, but it may not have shifted enough, yet. Petraeus-like, I think we may be there by the fall.

I'm willing to give it a FU.

[Hopper]

no one from this administration is ever going to stand trial for war crimes.

Never say never. Impeachment is certainly merited; but nothing short of war crimes trials will do ultimate justice.

[victoid]

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[victoid]

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[FRANKIE SAYS IMPEACH : THE T-SHIRT]

No time to RELAX.

IMPEACH - before they decide you can't.

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