Impeach them already

I finally feel like I have to throw my two cents into this whole impeachment debate after reading two things. First, a great post by Phydeaux Speaks and an article in the magazine Tikkun (I would post this as well, but it is only available in the hard copy of the magazine and not online). The article in Tikkun interviews three different Congressmen, all of whom are democrats, about the issue of impeachment of the president or the VP. I am going to briefly highlight the interviews and then add my own thoughts. The first interview is with Dennis Kucinich who we all know has introduced the articles of impeachment for he who shall not be named and strongly feels we need to impeach these bastards already (my words not his). The next interview is with Jim Moran of VA. Moran feels that while these two have violated habeas corpus and Congress needs to step in to ensure that the prisoners at Guantanamo are being treated fairly, he also feels the the lack of co-sponsorship for either John Coyers articles of impeachment against Bush or Kucinich's against the other one, means they are doomed to failure. He said he signed onto both articles out of principle and believes that these two should be impeached, but is essentially scared of the media machine of the right and that they will say Congress is wasting our tax money. Finally, Mel Watt from my home state of NC is interviewed. He says that he feels that impeachment is a waste of Congress's time and that they should focus on other things like stronger oversight.

Now, Kucinich and Moran perfectly illustrate Phydeaux's first two types of people and their thoughts on impeachment. Kucinich wants to get rid of Bush and Co., while Moran is afraid of the backlash from this attempt, although he says he would support it. Watt is the interesting one here in my opinion. He fits in another category that Phydeaux doesn't mention, the Democrat, who like Traitor Joe, has totally and utterly gone over to the dark side (excuse the Star Wars reference) and is now attempting to protect the president and his interests, but also appear to still be a good Democrat by saying he may not vote to extend the money for the war, but he does understand others moral conflict over the issue.

Since Kucinich has introduced this resolution to impeach Cheney, we need to make our Congressmen realize that they need to follow through on this. Whether the president or vice president ever are impeached is a separate issue, they need to realize that they will be accountable for their actions. This administration has been able to do as they please with no one holding them accountable, isn't that the job of the Legislative branch to act as a check-and-balance for the Executive branch as outlined in our Constitution? Shouldn't we expect our Congress to hold the Executive branch accountable for what they say and do? I didn't agree with the impeachment hearing for Clinton, but wasn't he impeached for lying? Haven't Cheney and Bush lied much more than Clinton and about something that is so much more important than a stain on a dress, the deaths of thousands on troops and innocent civilians? Moran says that the Democrats are not as extreme as the Republicans and that explains why Clinton was impeached and Bush and Co. haven't been. Well, then maybe what we need is more radical Democrats, ones who aren't afraid of the Republicans and Fox News, Democrats who are willing to stand up for their own beliefs and the wishes of their constituents, and Democrats who are willing to take on the hard fight even if it means losing the support of those that don't support them anyway. That is where the Republicans win over the Democrats every time, they have a strong base who may be radical, but will vote on their core issues and will force those issues to be addressed. We need a Democratic party that pushes more to the left and forces its issues to be discussed not just the issues of the opposition.