In the UK, the mere insinuation of social malfeasance can humiliate a public official enough to tender his or her resignation.

However, in the US, the rule of law is supreme. And thus it is not a case of people acting “in good faith,” but rather of what the law allows them to get away with. Further, the American societal structure encourages such “deal-making” and often tolerates (even encourages) what would, in other cultures, be professional suicide.

Thus, as many persons have mentioned, the ONLY solution is through a distributed effort to impose ACTION, rather than resort to social pressure in the vain attempts that the persons in questions will recuse themselves out of self-dignity or personal humiliation — for they have none and could care less, so long as they are acting within the structures sound within their respective legal frameworks (let’s not even get on the topic of what they consider legal).

Thus, action is where the rubber meets the pavement.

1. In Democratic districts, contact your representatives stating that failure to impose the Constitutional checks and balances (and thus bringing impeachment back to the table) WILL constitute a collective loss of votes. It cannot be a single or even scattered individuals but rather a concerted and directed effort to do mass callings and mailings. Essentially, to take a page from the Republican playbook, since IT WORKS.

2. In Republican districts, to fight fire with fire. You have already lost your civil liberties and your ability to trust your government. So why are you being such a wimp in defending your Constitutional rights? You are afraid you will lose your dignity and self-respect if you fight dirty, never mind the fact that while you fight clean your enemy is throwing sand in your face seducing your wife and stealing your money behind your back. Wise up.

3. Always insist on action. Where does the rubber meet the pavement? Funding. Votes. These must be targeted, as the Republicans have been doing all along. I’m not saying caging lists, but rather concerted efforts to get out the vote, to pre-emptively inform blacks and latinos and lower-income neighborhoods that they will NOT risk deportation or incarceration when they vote, that they will be approached by intimidating official-looking persons who have NOTHING to do with legitimate government, etc.

4. Be on the offensive. They’re not going to give you your country back, this great land of ours they have stolen from us. It is up to use to TAKE IT BACK. And be aware, they will not relinquish it without a fight. But do you want your children to grow only ever knowing of the Dream of America as some ancient myth, or as the country it should be and can be?

5. Think pro-actively. I’m sure there are progressive businessmen and other people of means who would be willing to bankroll a concerted effort to reach out to disenfranchised voters, to participate in the act of democracy, rather than simply relish the usurption of rights through the systematic buying of congressmen.

Thus, the onus is on creating mechanisms by which the “right thing” is profitable, both to the individual and to society.

Is this possible? Only if a dedicated people hold true to their ideals, and only if they are able to spread this vision of America to others. Can it be done? I don’t think we have a choice… it MUST be done.

When Miers was asked to appear before Congress to investigate on the firing of public prosecutors, Bush issued an order to refuse the appearance.

When Paul Wilson went out to trash the propaganda of Iraq & Niger Uranium scandal, Bush Administration went out bashing him and leaked the secret of his wife’s CIA connection.

When Scotty Libby was to serve his sentence in prison related to the leak of CIA operative, Bush issued a decree ‘pardoning’ him.

I am sure Christian fundamentalista will continue to argue that he has done nothing wrong (as long as he can issue presidential decree to deny the evidence and witness from appearing). And they are 100% dead right especially when the Democrats are led by someone who argued that impeachment was off the table.

I agree and the beauty of this is that it will only take a simple majority in the house. Let’s do this with both Meiers and Taylor. Throw their asses in jail and then see if they are willing to talk.

Write Nancy Pelosi and tell her to use “inherent contempt” with both Meiers and Taylor:

http://speaker.gov/contact/

http://judiciary.house.gov/Contact.aspx

Flood Pelosi with letters quoting USC 18 Sec 1505 & 1515(b) demanding impeachment for these felonies.

Mine is already hand written and waiting in the out box.

I’m sending mine with a ($1.00) return reciept.

Has The Prez not broken a law here???

“Under this process, the procedure for holding a person in contempt involves only the chamber concerned. Following a contempt citation, the person cited for contempt is arrested by the Sergeant-at-Arms for the House or Senate, brought to the floor of the chamber, held to answer charges by the presiding officer, and then subject to punishment that the House may dictate (usually imprisonment for punishment reasons, imprisonment for coercive effect, or release from the contempt citation.)”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Congress

Bush won’t do that because then he’d have to explain in court his reasons – and get the court to agree with him. That raises a vulnerability this administration has consistely avoided. Should a federal district judge such as oh, Judge Walton, not agree with Shrub, that decision opens a huge can of worms, forcing Shrub to appeal to the DC Circuit. Even though it’s now a conservative old boys’ club, it still might not agree with Shrub; ditto even Roberts’ S.Ct.

The only other way for Harriet legitimately to avoid testifying is by invoking her Fifth Amendment privilege not to incriminate herself in a criminal matter. Should she raise that defense, it would have the concurrent effect of knocking down most of Bush’s privilege claims, since most of them do not trump the need to investigate crimes.

Congress needs to take the gloves off. Its popularity is dropping precisely because they haven’t done so.

Traitor Ronnie and my Master Satan