Brattleboro (VT) Reformer: "Move To Impeach Not Another Distraction"

[Hissyspit]

http://www.reformer.com/editorials/ci_7401778

Move to impeach not another distraction
Reformer.com

Thursday, November 8
Tuesday's attempt by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, to introduce a motion calling for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney was a perfect illustration of why Congress has a lower approval rating than President Bush. Under House rules, Kucinich offered a privileged resolution calling for impeachment. That meant the full House had two days to consider Kucinich's motion.

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Little news coveragewas devoted to this vote, and what there was focused more on the politics than the substance of what happened. While both parties accused the other of playing partisan games, the reality is that this was the first real attempt to highlight the misdeeds of the Bush administration and force the Democrats to take a stand on impeaching Bush and Cheney.

And caught in the middle of this was Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt.

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While Welch and other Democrats continue to talk about impeachment being a distraction to more important priorities, such as ending the war in Iraq, the reality is that the Democrats haven't figured out yet that none of the issues they hold dear will be accomplished until Bush and Cheney are removed from office.

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More unpopular than Nixon. That's where President Bush is right now. And Vice President Cheney is even more unpopular. Yet the Democrats are still frightened of these men and afraid to confront them. That's why, as disliked as Bush and Cheney are, voters give the Democratic-led Congress even lower marks.

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Under House rules, Kucinich or any other member could introduce a motion for impeachment every day that Congress is in session. We think that sounds like a good idea. The administration has committed many crimes that rise to the level of impeachment -- chief among them lying about the need to invade Iraq and sending this country into war based upon those lies. But Congress will not carry out its constitutional duties.

Bush and Cheney must not be allowed to leave office without being held accountable for their behavior. History will not look at the current members of Congress kindly if they fail to do what is right and necessary to preserve our democracy.

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