Feingold: ‘Grounds for impeachment can be made’ against Bybee.
Feingold: ‘Grounds for impeachment can be made’ against Bybee.
In 2003, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) voted against confirming OLC torture memo author Jay Bybee to the 9th Circuit Court, one of only 19 Democrats to do so. At the time, Feingold noted “the failure of the administration to provide any of his numerous OLC opinions to the Judiciary Committee for review.” Today, in the wake of the release of Bybee’s torture memos, Feingold said that there are certainly “grounds for impeachment” against Bybee:
The idea that one of the architects of this perversion of the law is now sitting on the federal bench is very troubling. The memos offer some of the most explicit evidence yet that Mr. Bybee and others authorized torture and they suggest that grounds for impeachment can be made. Clearly, the Justice Department has the responsibility to investigate this matter further. As a Senator, I would be a juror in any impeachment trial so I don’t want to reach a conclusion until all the evidence is before me.
Please join our campaign calling on Congress to begin impeachment hearings against Jay Bybee.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
ConservativeForProgress Says:
Sounds like this juror should be disqualfied because he has already reached a conclusion
Much like the Republicans disqualified themselves before voting on impeachment of Bill Clinton.
April 21st, 2009 at 3:36 pmAs a lifetime resident of Wisconsin, let me say how proud I am of Russ Feingold. I wish we had a Democratic party full of Feingolds.
April 21st, 2009 at 3:36 pmGo Feingold…git’r dun…
April 21st, 2009 at 3:37 pmCFP has reading issues.
The Senator said, ‘I don’t want to reach a conclusion until all the evidence is in front of me’.
The part the Troll assumes is because Sen. Feingold agrees we have grounds for impeachment.
We need Feingold & Kucinich to grab the BS by the horns here. They appear to be some of the few who don’t already have their heads firmly implanted up some mega-corporations posterior.
April 21st, 2009 at 3:38 pmI wish I could just squeeze you and hug you and pound on the Recommend link under your post. I would click that thing 1000 times!!!
April 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pmGlad Russ is my senator! He’s the very best the nation has.
Remember when the dems left him standing with his d**k in his hand when he tried to simply censor Bush over wire-tapping? (Which is on of my major reasons for contempt of the current/recent democrats.)
“As a Senator, I would be a juror in any impeachment trial so I don’t want to reach a conclusion until all the evidence is before me.”
April 21st, 2009 at 3:44 pmA class statement if ever one was.
That’s my Senator! Yay, Russ!
April 21st, 2009 at 3:46 pmConservativeForProgress Says:
We have overwhelming evidence, including a confession from the architect of torture, Dick Cheney. Tricky Dick II claimed yesterday on Fox News, that torture is not against the law because it is effective. Growing marijuana is an effective way to make money, but just because it is effective, does not make it legal.
It’s going to be difficult to find any jurors that have not already reached a conclusion, given how much information about Bush’s torture program is already out there. The question is how much more is there we don’t yet know.
April 21st, 2009 at 3:48 pmIf the Dems could learn from Feingold, then this country can really be a great place.
April 21st, 2009 at 3:48 pmBush and his admin dropped a huge ball of shit in the ocean and the tsunami is finally reaching the shore of the human conscience. As it gets closer it will get larger and the only way to quash it will be to make those responsible for it accountable.
April 21st, 2009 at 3:58 pmThis is so exciting. I was so let down when Obama was talking like he was not going to prosecute this war crime, and now, just one day later, a glimmer of hope.
Let there be justice in the United States of America.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:02 pmI agree with Levi the Dungbeetle . I too am a WI resident and I voted for Senator Feingold. He seems to be one of the few who legislates using logic, reason, and a healthy respect for the law.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:02 pmDump Reid and appoint Feingold.
That’s change I can believe in…
April 21st, 2009 at 4:03 pmIt’s easy to reach a conclusion when the perpetrators go around bragging about their crimes. We have extensive records, written by the criminals themselves, which detail exactly which atrosities were to be committed, and how to commit those crimes. To my knowledge, none of these monsters have denied anything.
BTW ConservativeForProgress, did you know that your name is an oxymoron.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:03 pmjerseyboyblue Says:
Sure they could learn much from Sen. Feingold. But the first thing they’d have to learn is how to suppress their greed. Russ is not bought and paid for by ANYONE. He’s his own man…really. The union in which I belong tried to give him a campaign contribution. He gave it back! (With hopes we would support him anyway.)
April 21st, 2009 at 4:04 pmBush, channey, all the staff of lawyers and rove and bush cabinet members should be charged and thrown in jail.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:07 pmNow I can sleep a little bit better knowing that impeachment proceedings will be starting against Bybee knowing that he will never serve on the US Supreme Court. As well as prosecuting those involve with the memos.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:15 pmThe US’s TORTURE PROGRAM is a WAR CRIME, but the invasion and occupation of Iraq and afegahnistan (Obama’s War!) is also a WAR CRIME!
April 21st, 2009 at 4:17 pmIn 2003, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) voted against confirming OLC torture memo author Jay Bybee to the 9th Circuit Court, one of only 19 Democrats to do so.
Fantastic Feingold! Now if the rest of the Democratic Congress would get their a$$es in gear…
April 21st, 2009 at 4:18 pmsacopenapa Says:
Afghanistan is not Obama’s war you stupid troll. It’s America’s war, thanks to George Bush and 40 years of arrogant US foreign policy.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:21 pmBush’s gated community is looking like it will be crowded.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:22 pmSen. Feingold is a true Democrat and liberal with an honorable heart and the bravery to stand up for what’s right. I have long admired him as well as the Wisconsonians (hope that’s the correct term) who had the sense to elect him to the Senate. I am pleased as punch to see he voted against Bybee and is now looking into impeachment.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:35 pmAs another life long Wisconsin resident, I am glad Russ Feingold is one of my Senators. His record is exemplary. The only thing I wish is he would speak up more frequently. And loudly. The Dems are in sad need of strong, positive leadership in Congress so Senator, please stand up and show them how it can be done.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:37 pmAnd, he steps to that phony patriot, Peggy Noonan:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/21/feingold-unloads-on-peggy_n_189473.html
Thank you, Sen. Feingold.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:43 pmI loves me some Russ Feingold. I wish he was my Senator.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:48 pmI would love to ditch Feinstein in California for Feingold.
Feingold has rarely, if ever disappointed me. Sadly he seems to be of a dying breed of fighting Dem–that’s big D to you trolls.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:50 pmPennsylvanianne Says:
“Wisconsonians (hope that’s the correct term)”
Wisconsinites would be technically correct…but “Cheeseheads” would work for most of us.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:57 pmThere is no legal standard required for impeachment.
The Senate can impeach somebody for looking at them funny, if the votes are there. There is no legal or logical requirement whatsoever written into the code of law. All it takes are the votes.
Mind you, most Senators will want some ammunition for their vote, usually in the form of a prior censure or investigative conclusion. But the notion that someone has to be convicted of a crime before they can be impeached, is flatly false.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:06 pmWisconsin was the birthplace of the Progressive movement with Senator ‘Fightin’ Bob LaFollete. I’m proud and happy to know we have at least one Senator with class and honor carrying on the tradition.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:07 pm(Sidebar Hoodathunktick)
Although I’ve never vored for him… we could do much worse than Kohl.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:10 pmHey I made up a new word…vored!
(That was voted of course)
April 21st, 2009 at 5:11 pmWhat I don’t get is why these politicians need to find “all the evidence?”
Right now we/they have irrefutable evidence in hand that leaves no doubt that bybee is neither qualified nor fit to serve as a federal judge.
– His legal reasoning is faulty and violates the principles set forth in the Constitution.
– His moral and ethical character are reprehensible.
– His understanding of international law and the existing treaty obligations with foreign nations is unacceptable.
– Worst of all, as someone who puts himself forth as a professional lawyer, his inability to recognize his own shortcomings and how those disqualify him from providing legal opinions endangers our system of Justice.
This evidence was deliberately withheld from Congress and the American People as he went through his confirmation hearings by the administration, while bybee himself hid behind the claims of executive priviledge and national security that were so abused by the bush-2 regime.
Why should Congress sit around and wait while an obvious mad-man sits on the federal bench, a place where he can continue to do additional damage to our Constitution, our nation and its Citizens.
We don’t need a 2-year investigation for this one, boys and girls.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:19 pmMycelium Says:(Sidebar Hoodathunktick)
Although I’ve never vored for him… we could do much worse than Kohl.
To certain degree, true. But we could do a heck of a lot better. Herbie is a dilettante. But ever so much better than Ryan.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:27 pmHoodathunktick Says: “To certain degree, true. But we could do a heck of a lot better. Herbie is a dilettante. But ever so much better than Ryan.”
Agreed, I’m certainly no fan of Herbie. He doesn’t do much. Neither helping or hurting.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:38 pmGo Russ!
April 21st, 2009 at 6:03 pmDobbs is a mile behind the president so he’s calling the president a flip-flopper and he’s giving in on something. What a miserable ill-informed program.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:04 pmGo Russ!
April 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pmLooks like they need to create another fellowship at the Hoover Institution, Heritage Foundation, AEI or Bush Library–safe houses for superannuated war criminals, thugs and crooks.
April 21st, 2009 at 10:05 pmApe-Man Says:
…so he’s calling the president a flip-flopper…
Might as well call him a flibbergibbit! Or something equally rendered meaningless by history.
.
AlexLawyer Says:
-safe houses for superannuated war criminals, thugs and crooks.
G. Gordon Libby under glass, anyone?
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 am