FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's time for Congress to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
So says George McGovern, the Democratic Party's 1972 candidate for president.
In an editorial in yesterday's Washington Post, McGovern writes that although the chances of impeachment are unlikely, the facts most definitely point in that direction: "Bush and Cheney are clearly guilty of numerous impeachable offenses. They have repeatedly violated the Constitution. They have transgressed national and international law. They have lied to the American people time after time. Their conduct and their barbaric policies have reduced our beloved country to a historic low in the eyes of people around the world. These are truly 'high crimes and misdemeanors,' to use the constitutional standard."
McGovern points to specific instances, like Iraq, which he calls a "murderous, illegal, nonsensical war"; the administration's strategy to encourage a climate of fear; denying prisoners of war habeas corpus and shipping them off to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and other countries; and the administration's dismal response to Hurricane Katrina.
In fact, McGovern insists that the case against impeaching the current president and vice president is far stronger than was the case against President Nixon. He goes so far as to say the U.S. would be "much more secure and productive" under a Nixon presidency than what we have today.
But, as we all know, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi long ago took impeachment "off the table”. And, even though there are some in the House who are calling for an immediate start to hearings, don't hold your breath.
Here’s my question to you: Why won't Congress impeach President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Chris from Ithaca, New York writes:
Dear Jack, The Democratic Congress will not move on impeachment because we have nothing but cowards in Washington. The Congress changed because the American people wanted change. Instead we have gotten Republican light. There is no change in Washington, only slaves to big business, oil and imperialism. Washington stinks.
Eric from Moss Beach, California writes:
The collaborators who gave Bush everything they wanted won’t condemn themselves by impeaching him. They have no principles, no morals. They are politicians to their slimy cores. They all deserve defeat in the next election. Democrat, Republican, makes no difference. They have betrayed their oath. They have betrayed their country. They are scum.
Scott writes:
Why won't we impeach Bush and Cheney? Because this country is over, that's why. We're done. The crooks, special interests and the corporations have won.
Vel from Colorado Springs writes:
The Democratic Congress won't impeach the president or vice president simply because they are more concerned with winning back the White House. It would be too timely and too costly. Bush has destroyed our reputation abroad and done nothing domestically. The Democrats believe the damage is done, and the Bush administration will handily go down as one of, if not the, worst in history. That's good enough for them!
Rori writes:
It's not going to happen. Everyone knows you need corporate sponsors to get anything done in Washington.
Sally from Alexandria, Virginia writes:
Because all they did was cause death, destruction, torture, defiling of the Constitution and decimation of our finances. Thank goodness they didn't have sex with an intern.