My Letter For Dennis Kucinich To Take To Pelosi

[mntleo2]

Dear Ms Pelosi and Other Congressional Members:


I recently moved from Seattle to Kenmore, Washington and I have attended several meetings with my representatives, both fine progressives (Jim McDermott and Jay Enslee). I have heard all the arguments you and others have against impeachment. From what I have heard they are these:

1. You are too busy and overwhelmed because there is a big mess left to you, thanks to the Republican rubber stamping when they were a majority.
2. Some of you are understaffed
3. The time is short and there is much left to do
4. The drum beating for going to war in Iran is getting louder
5. Americans might get mad at you for "wasting your time". like what happened after the Clinton debacle over a blow job

All those are good arguments except there is ONE good argument against all these: The Bush administration has seriously violated the Constitution and this needs to be addressed ASAP. My answers to your arguments are here:

1. There is nothing more serious and important to American than violating the Constitution and causing imbalance in the 3 branches of government along with willfully doing war crimes in our name.
2. If you can vote for billions of war funding to unsecured and no-contract companies like Haliburton and Blackwater to waste and even lose billions of our tax dollars in Iraq, you can vote yourselves more money for staffing
3. If you had a spine, you would impeach Cheney who is behind the Iran drumbeating and then it would be silenced
5. This impeachment proposition is is far more important than the silly, pretentious impeachment of Clinton. Maybe you need to read your Constitution more closely and LISTEN to your constituents. Yes, some Americans might be mad because they think you are wasting your time, but the information coming out with impeachment hearings will be enough to make ANY true patriot angry. The information is out there, go and make the mainstream media report it with some serious inquiries that hold this administration accountable. .

Finally at the Webblog Firedoglake (http:/firedoglake.com ) a couple weeks ago we had a wonderful book chat with John Dean about what can be done now and later with the crimes these officials have blatantly committed. . You can read the chat here: http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/14/fdl-book-salon-we... /.

My burning question to Mr Dean was this:

" I am concerned about how we can get Democrats to play by the rules. It seems like they have already been doing that and are "trumped" by people who make up new rules as they go along and then yell, "sorry, you lost!" Or when someone plays by the "new" rules, people feign outrage and they are, "Shocked, shocked I tell you!" Impeachment seems to be the only way to get the message across that We The People do not approve of these tactics, but the Dems don't even want to play by THAT rule they say it is "off the table." I am discouraged and frustrated that Dems won't even enforce the rules already there.

What can we do about this and will there be "retroactive" things that can be done after this administration gets out of office, or is during their term time the only chance we have to make them accountable?

Cat In Seattle "

Mr Dean replied with this:

"No. 42: QUESTION: What can we do about this and will there be "retroactive" things that can be done after this administration gets out of office, or is during their term time the only chance we have to make them accountable?

ANSWER: First re your comment. Do not be discouraged or disappointed for then they win. They want you to go away. Yes, there will be "retroactive" active things — if the Dems win in 2008. This will be the first thing the new president does. But if these process issues are not in play in 2008, as I believe they must be, then not all the clean up works that needs to be undertake will be. The issues I raise in BG are not only winning issues for the campaign in 2008 but they are essential fixes that must be undertaken..."

So why, if you are so busy and understaffed and if these are the *only reasons* you can't impeach now, then oh why are you and the Democratic Party not saying that these crimes will be addressed if the Democrats take over in 2008? Are you scared that this might cause you harm when a majority of Americans of both parties want this administration held accountable and many of us want impeachment to happen? I believe the opposite will happen, you will be considered heroes. Furthermore if you think this issue is over, you are wrong. We fellow Republicans and Democrats are not "going away" Ms Pelosi, oh no! We are your boss and we want this issue to be addressed. Now!

VERY sincerely yours,
Cat In Seattle

[lonestarnot]

1. Excellent letter!

:applause:

[w8liftinglady]

2. Great letter-I hope others are inspired by you

[bdamomma]

3. you should also send this to the House Judiciary Committee

[cooolandrew]

4. Fantastic idea because I imagine she's very handy with the delete key...

... He should verbally read it to her too, in case she files it under bin.

[fasttense]

5. I heard on Thom Hartmann the other day that Kucinich wanted us to send him e-mails

and he would take them to congress. But I went on his website and I could only find a site for his constituents (you needed a zip code and other info). Do you happen to know the site Kucinich mentioned yesterday?

[fasttense]

11. Never mind, I found it.

Here it is if anyone else would like to write an e-mail to Kucinich.

[e-mail]

[H2O Man]

6. Nominated.

Thank you.

[Lyric]

7. My letter too:

Dear Congressman Kucinich and Speaker Pelosi,

I am a resident of the state of West Virginia, and a lifelong Democrat. I wanted to let you know that I am 1000% supportive of the proceedings to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney, and would also support impeachment against President Bush. There is absolutely no doubt that both of them committed "high crimes and misdemeanors" while in office, and I am counting on you and your fellow Congresspeople to end this national nightmare.

Yes, impeachment is a long, drawn-out, painful process. Yes, it hurts the nation. But the hurt is the same kind of hurt that you sustain when a physician painstakingly removes a cancer. The hurt heals, and you are healthier for it in the end. This administration is the most dangerous, most divisive, most foul group of people who have ever controlled the Executive Branch, and we are suffering for it. We are weary and embattled, but we are not beaten into submission. You shouldn't be either.

Impeachment is also important because it sends a clear message to those who would abuse their offices of public trust, damage our national reputation, compromise our civil liberties, and attempt to keep us all in a state of government-induced fear. Please don't make the mistake of thinking that the low public approval ratings for Congress are a reason to refrain from impeachment. We disapprove because you *haven't* done it yet. Your approval ratings will improve dramatically when you take a stand and give We The People the day of reckoning that we deserve.

You were elected to be our leaders and our voice. Most of the time, elected officials (who are better-informed than the average person) can afford to ignore public opinion and do what *they* think is best. That's what a republic form of government is all about, and we usually trust you to do what's best, even when we disagree with you. But this is one of those rare moments in history where ignoring the outrage of the American people and "playing it safe" is not a wise course. You aren't doing the Democratic Party's chances of regaining the Presidency any favors by refusing to listen to the voice of the people on this issue.

The nation is waiting for the healing to begin. We're out here yelling at the top of our lungs, telling you what we *need* you to do in order for that healing to start. Are you listening? Do you hear us?

Sincerely,
Brandy H*****

[mntleo2]

8. Thanks!

I really do hope this impeachment goes forward and we have to stay on these people

Cat In Seattle

[KharmaTrain]

9. Hoyer Is The Problem

I wssn't too happy when Pelosi selected him over Murtha as Majority Leader...he's been behind a lot of the things Pelosi gets blamed for. He was the one who couln't rush fast enough to the podium the other day to klll Kucinich's resolution and then bungled it. I think it's time people took a closer look at him.

Remember, during the Repugnican days, the power in the House wasn't with Hastert, it was with the Majority Leader...be it DeLay or Armey. The Speaker, by "precedence" doesn't advocate policy...especially when it comes to impeachment, since she could directy benefit from such an action (if both boooosh and cheney is removed), but Hoyer is the one who plays "point man" in this game. He directs the bill to the floor, whips the votes and gets things done.

No pass on some of the things Pelosi has said or done, but she gets a lot of the scorn here, yet Hoyer escapes almost any mention. If people are looking for a more Progressive House in the future, a challenge to Hoyer would be a very good start.

[smoogatz]

10. The Democratic "leadership" or lack thereof is the problem.

It's Pelosi, Hoyer, Reid and many of the committee chairs in the House and Senate. You have to wonder what the Bush/Cheney dictatorship has on them and their families. I find their all-but universal impulse to lie down and let Bush piss on them appalling.

[KharmaTrain]

12. Blue Dogs Help

Reid really has no majority to work with...other than the ability to set the Senate agenda. Without 60 votes he can't even go to the bathroom.

The problem that has been reported about leadership is the changing nature of the party and the large number of new members who were elected in "purple" or "red" areas. Many of these people are "skitish" to say the least as most see tough re-elections ahead and leadership fears that if these people lose, then so goes the majority. That's poor strategy...but that's what's directing how things are being done.

The ultimate problem is Repugnican obstructionism. Virtually every bill passed out of the House...from college tuition assistance to medicare reform to ENDA and so on has been stonewalled in the Senate by a group of 11 or so Senators who prevent up or down votes and 17 who don't have the guts to overturn a booshie veto (and he's vetoing everything). Leadership is damned if they do, damned if they don't.

[smoogatz]

14. If that's the case, better to be damned if you do. n/t

[mntleo2]

13. Sounds like a great idea! n/t

[troubleinwinter]

15. A very important excerpt from a post by H2Oman:

(note: The Ervin Committee Report was the Senate report resulting from impeachment investigations of Nixon/Watergate, which led to Nixon's resignation)

In the "Introduction" to the historic Ervin Committee Report, it notes that one of the critical functions of the Congress is "to inform the public of any wrongdoing or abuses" of power they find the members of the executive office have committed. (see pages 39-42)

This congressional duty "should be preferred even to its legislation function," according to President Woodrow Wilson (Congressional Government; page 303). This view, which the Ervin Committee said "cannot be over-emphasized," is also a well-documented part of case law as determined in two USSC cases: {2} Watkins v. United States, 354 US 178, 200 (1957); and {2} United States v. Rumely, 345 US 41, 43 (1953).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2227148&mesg_id=2227148

I remember those days when congress did not shirk their Costitutional duties.

I included the excerpt in my letter to Conyers... as Conyers was a member of the Judiciary Committee in its 1974 hearings on the Nixon Waterate impeachment!

[mntleo2]

17. Thanks for the added info!

...I think this is important to remind these people. We are entitled to the information and we also deserve to see some action!

Cat

[hootinholler]

16. Some of us are angry because they are wasting thier time by not impeaching!

Not that impeachment would be a waste of time. Impeachment gets the ball rolling to be able to clean this mess up.

-Hoot

[mntleo2]

18. A-men to that! n/t

Cat

[asdjrocky]

19. Impeachment = The peoples business

wonderful letter