Bybee lobbies Nevada congressional delegation ‘to tell his side of the story.’
Bybee lobbies Nevada congressional delegation ‘to tell his side of the story.’
The Las Vegas Sun reports that torture architect — and 9th Circuit appellate judge — Jay Bybee has reached out to members of Nevada’s congressional delegation “to tell his side of the story.” Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Shelley Berkley (D-NV) have both been contacted by representatives of Bybee:
Titus said Wednesday that no meeting has been scheduled. But she said she hopes to hear Bybee out — and to share her concerns.
“I’d like to hear from him if he thinks he made the right decision interpreting the law and doing the job as he saw it defined,” Titus said Wednesday. “But I also will not hesitate to make it clear to him that I absolutely disagree with his interpretation. The United States is not a country of torture.” […]
Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley’s office was also contacted by Bybee’s representative in April. Berkley’s spokesman said the two have not met, and he was unsure whether they would.
“This was torture, in her mind,” spokesman David Cherry said. “I don’t know if there’s anything he could say to her at this point that would change her thinking.”
While Bybee is interested in talking to Nevada’s delegation, he refuses to respond to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy’s (D-VT) invitation to give testimony before the committee. A New York Times editorial today again calls for the impeachment of Bybee. “The memos he wrote or signed made it clear that he was not fit to make judgments about the law and the Constitution,” the NYT writes. “Congress should remove him.”
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Podesta Calls For Bybee Impeachment On CNN, Delivers Your Petitions To Congress
Podesta Calls For Bybee Impeachment On CNN, Delivers Your Petitions To Congress
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union this morning, Center for American Progress Action Fund President and CEO John Podesta called on Congress to commence impeachment hearings against Jay Bybee, should he decide not to voluntarily resign his seat on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Podesta said:
The one thing I disagree with you and David [Gergen] about is I do think there’s a distinction between going back and prosecuting in criminal courts the actors who were involved in these memos and letting Judge Bybee continue to sit on a court one step removed from the Supreme Court. He’s acting and listening to cases, making judgments of others, and we know he authorized things that were illegal under U.S. law and violated the U.S. obligations under international treaties.
If he would do the right thing, he should just simply resign. If he doesn’t, I think this is one matter where he continues to sit — he doesn’t have the moral or legal authority to continue to do that. And I think a simple matter would be to remove him from office.
Podesta added that he suspects the White House doesn’t agree with the call for impeaching Bybee. The other panelists — David Gergen and former Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein — disagreed with the call for impeachment. Watch it:
Also, Podesta delivered a letter this morning to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), laying out the case for impeaching Bybee.
The letter (pdf) informed Conyers that ThinkProgress has collected nearly 20,000 signatures from concerned citizens “who have expressed their deep-felt and sincere desire to see that Judge Bybee is held to account for authorizing torture.” Podesta’s letter affixed the names of everyone who signed our petition calling on Congress to begin impeachment hearings against Bybee. (It required 71 three-column double-sided pages.)
Thanks for all your help! This could not have been possible without the support of all of you who signed the petition. If you have not already done so, please consider joining the effort by clicking here.
Read Podesta’s full letter below: More »
McCaskill on impeaching Jay Bybee: ‘I think we have to look at it.’
McCaskill on impeaching Jay Bybee: ‘I think we have to look at it.’
This morning on Fox News, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) said that, while she agreed with President Obama’s decision not to prosecute CIA agents who carried out torture, more scrutiny needs to be directed at the “lawyers who gave this advice”:
What’s scary to me, Chris, is that one of them got a lifetime appointment on a federal bench. Yikes! You know, a lawyer that’s responsible for this kind of advice that clearly went too far in terms of stretching what our law is. It worries me that he’s sitting on the federal bench right now.
She then said she doesn’t want to “look in the rearview mirror.” Asked by host Chris Wallace whether she would favor the impeachment of the judge, Jay Bybee, McCaskill responded, “I don’t know. I think we have to look at it.” Watch it:
Steve Benen writes, “The question shouldn’t be whether to impeach Jay Bybee, but rather, how quickly the impeachment hearings can begin.”
NYT editorial calls for impeachment of Judge Jay Bybee.
NYT editorial calls for impeachment of Judge Jay Bybee.
In his capacity as former head of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), Jay Bybee’s “name appears as the author of the August 1, 2002 memo justifying and authorizing clear acts of torture by the CIA.” For his willingness to engage in torturous legal reasoning, Bybee was awarded a lifetime seat on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals by President Bush. The Senate confirmed him with a 74-19 vote. The New York Times writes that the newly-released OLC torture memos make it appropriate for Congress to reconsider its decision to approve Bybee:
These memos make it clear that Mr. Bybee is unfit for a job that requires legal judgment and a respect for the Constitution. Congress should impeach him.
The California Democratic Party, which is holding its convention next weekend, will consider “a resolution from grassroots activists calling for Jay Bybee’s impeachment.”
Right-wing ‘tea party’ protest in Orlando features signs calling for the impeachment of President Obama.
Right-wing ‘tea party’ protest in Orlando features signs calling for the impeachment of President Obama.
After accepting illegal and unethical behavior for years from President Bush, the right wing has finally come around to advocating for the impeachment of a President. On Sat. March 21, more than 4,000 people gathered in Orlando for a “tea party” protest to denounce what they called “wasteful Washington spending.” The Orlando Sentinel quoted one attendee saying, “They need to shove that bum out,” referring to Obama. The signs that were distributed said “Obama Bin Lyin’ IMPEACH NOW”:
The “tea party” protests nationwide are being coordinated by the conservative public relations firm Freedom Works, which is run by former Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX). The tea parties are also being supported by Newt Gingrich, through his organization American Solutions For Winning the Future. Members of Congress, such as Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH), have appeared at previous rallies. In addition, Fox News’ Glenn Beck promotes the protests, and has launched a website publicizing the events.
There will be no White House ‘impeach Bush’ ornament after all.
There will be no White House ‘impeach Bush’ ornament after all.
This morning, the Washington Post reported that Seattle-based artist Deborah Lawrence would have her ornament hung on the White House Christmas tree. The ornament saluted Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) for attempting to impeach Bush. Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for First Lady Laura Bush, reported this afternoon that the ornament would not be displayed:
“It’s inappropriate and it’s not being hung,” she said. She said that when asked about the issue yesterday, the White House tree decorations were not complete. “We reviewed the ornament along with all the [other] ornaments, and Mrs. Bush deemed it inappropriate for the holiday tree.”
Lawrence responded, “Oh, dear. This doesn’t really surprise me. But it’s disappointing that I won’t get to see it on the tree.”
White House will hang ‘impeach Bush’ ornament on its Christmas tree.
White House will hang ‘impeach Bush’ ornament on its Christmas tree.
When Laura Bush asked members of Congress to pick local artists to decorate the White House Christmas tree, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) turned to a local arts organization who assigned the task to Deborah Lawrence. The Seattle-based artist said, “I was at first nauseated, then realized it was an opportunity to highlight Jim McDermott because he’s a hero of mine.” So Lawrence, who frequently combines politics and satire in her work, covered a nine-inch ball “with swirly red and white stripes — and, in tiny glued-on text, salutes the Democratic congressman’s support for a resolution to impeach President Bush.” (HT: HuffPost)
Nadler: In a ‘just system,’ Bush ‘would be impeached.’
Nadler: In a ‘just system,’ Bush ‘would be impeached.’
Today, on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who has held several hearings on the Bush administration’s torture program, said that President Bush has committed “impeachable offenses”:
NADLER: If we had a just system and it weren’t overly political, the president would be impeached. I think he has committed impeachable offenses.
Watch it:
Yesterday, House Judiciary Committee chairman John Conyers (D-MI) said that he may allow Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) to present his impeachment articles against Bush before the August recess. “We’re not doing impeachment, but he can talk about it,” he said.
Kucinich introduces article of impeachment against Bush.
Kucinich introduces article of impeachment against Bush.
On the House floor this afternoon, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) introduced an article of impeachment against President Bush “for high crimes and misdemeanors” and “deceiving Congress with fabricated threats of Iraq WMDs to fraudulently obtain support for an authorization of the use of military force against Iraq.” Watch part of his speech:
While the House tabled previous articles of impeachment against Bush offered by Kucinich, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) suggested this morning that the Judiciary Committee may “have some hearings” on Kucinich’s new impeachment resolution.
Transcript: More »
After Impeaching Clinton, McCain Now Dismisses Idea Of Impeaching Bush: ‘I Do Not Agree With It’
After Impeaching Clinton, McCain Now Dismisses Idea Of Impeaching Bush: ‘I Do Not Agree With It’
Today during a town hall event at Xavier University, an attendee forced Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to respond to Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s (D-OH) impeachment articles against President Bush. McCain immediately brushed off the question, saying that he opposes them:
QUESTIONER: I appreciate this opportunity, Mr. McCain, to ask you a question. Part one is regards to the articles of impeachment brought up by Kucinich for Bush. What your stance is on that, regards to manipulated intelligence to form the policy. [...]
McCAIN: First of all, I do not agree with quote, articles of impeachment, and I can assure the majorities of both parties in both houses would not agree either.
Yet in 1999, he voted for the impeachment of President Clinton. At the time, McCain stressed that a president must be held “accountable to the rule of law“:
Presidents are not ordinary citizens. They are extraordinary, in that they are vested with so much more authority and power than the rest of us. We have a right; indeed, we have an obligation, to hold them strictly accountable to the rule of law. [...]
It is self-evident to us all, I hope, that we cannot overlook, dismiss or diminish the obstruction of justice by the very person we charge with taking care that the laws are faithfully executed. It is self-evident to me.
Even a “good friend” of McCain’s, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), has raised the possibility of impeachment if the Bush administration attacks Iran. McCain is likely avoiding this subject because he too wants to bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran.
Lou Dobbs finds his reason to impeach Bush… food safety.
Lou Dobbs finds his reason to impeach Bush… food safety.
Last night on his TV show, CNN host Lou Dobbs expressed frustration and anger at the incompetence with which the Bush administration has handled food safety in this country. Federal health officials have learned of 106 more cases of salmonella linked to tainted tomatoes, putting the outbreak’s toll at 383 and counting. “I know there is a great deal of frustration” that the mystery hasn’t been solved, said Dr. David Acheson, the FDA’s associate commissioner for foods. “We’re continuing to work flat-out.” Last night, Dobbs lashed out:
You know, I have heard a lot of reasons over the years as to why George W. Bush should be impeached. For them to leave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in this state, its leadership in this sorry condition and to have no capacity apparently or will to protect the American consumer – that is alone to me sufficient reason to impeach a president who has made this agency possible and has ripped its guts out in its ability to protect the American consumer. It’s insane what is going on here.
Watch it:
Kucinich vows more impeachment articles.
Kucinich vows more impeachment articles.
In a new interview with the Washington Post, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) said that he will be giving the House Judiciary Committee 30 days to act on his 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush, otherwise he will go back to the House floor with double as many:
“The minute the leadership said ‘this is dead on arrival’ I said that I hope they believe in life after death; because I’m coming back with it,” Kucinich vowed in an interview with the Sleuth this week. “It’s not gonna die. Because I’ll come back with more articles. Not 35, but perhaps 60 articles.“
Watch the full interview with Kucinich here.
Boehner blames ‘left-wing bloggers’ for impeachment efforts.
Boehner blames ‘left-wing bloggers’ for impeachment efforts.
On Monday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) introduced 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush. Today, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) dismissed the call for impeachment as the efforts of “left-wing bloggers“:
This is just another example of the Democratic leadership in the House indulging trivial and silly conspiracy theories from left-wing bloggers, rather than working with Republicans to deal with the real issues facing the American people.
But impeachment is more popular than Boehner would like to admit. A July 2007 poll found that 46 percent of voters in favor beginning impeachment proceedings against President Bush. Furthermore, a 2005 poll said 42 percent of voters say that “if it is found that President Bush did not tell the truth about his reasons for going to war with Iraq, Congress should hold him accountable through impeachment.”
Breaking: Kucinich introduces articles of impeachment against Bush.
Breaking: Kucinich introduces articles of impeachment against Bush.
This evening on the House floor, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is presenting 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush to Congress. “The first article Kucinich presented regarded the war in Iraq. ‘Article 1: Creating a secret propaganda campaign to manufacture a false case for war against Iraq.’”
UPDATE: Video of a portion of Kucinich’s speech:
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) writes on impeachment:
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) writes on impeachment:
“If we fail to take action to either impeach or repair the damage, then the next president will ‘inherit’ unchecked powers. Unchecked powers are unacceptable no matter who is president.”
UPDATE: “Nine out of 23 Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee favor starting impeachment hearings against Vice-President Dick Cheney. Six of the nine are co-sponsors of H.R. 799, which contains three articles of impeachment,” according to CounterPunch.
Wexler: Cheney impeachment ‘far stronger than Watergate.’
Wexler: Cheney impeachment ‘far stronger than Watergate.’
Last night, Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) took to the House floor to urge the House Judiciary Committee to begin impeachment hearings into Vice President Cheney for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Wexler, who has already acquired nearly 190,000 supporters through his website, explained his next steps:
Tomorrow, I will deliver these names to my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee with a letter to my friend, Chairman Conyers, calling for hearings. I will ask my colleagues to sign this letter … Continuing every day for months, I will publish in the Congressional Record several thousand names of supporters who signed up.
History demands that we take action, because the case against Vice President Cheney is far stronger than the illegality surrounding Watergate.
Watch Wexler’s speech:
“In the history of our nation, we have never encountered a moment where the actions of a President or a Vice President have more strongly demanded the use of the power of impeachment,” Wexler said last night.
George McGovern calls for impeachment.
George McGovern calls for impeachment.
In today’s Washington Post, former presidential candidate George McGovern calls for Bush and Cheney’s impeachment:
After the 1972 presidential election, I stood clear of calls to impeach President Richard M. Nixon for his misconduct during the campaign. I thought that my joining the impeachment effort would be seen as an expression of personal vengeance toward the president who had defeated me.
Today I have made a different choice. [...]
I have not been heavily involved in singing the praises of the Nixon administration. But the case for impeaching Bush and Cheney is far stronger than was the case against Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew after the 1972 election. The nation would be much more secure and productive under a Nixon presidency than with Bush. Indeed, has any administration in our national history been so damaging as the Bush-Cheney era?
Wexler On Impeachment: ‘This Is Not The Lunatic Fringe — This Is Mainstream America’
Wexler On Impeachment: ‘This Is Not The Lunatic Fringe — This Is Mainstream America’
Today on the Ed Schultz Show, Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) discussed his effort to increase public pressure for the commencement of impeachment hearings against Vice President Dick Cheney. Wexler has launched a website — WexlerWantsHearings.com — to collect signatures in support of his call.
Wexler explained that he launched his website after traditional media outlets rejected an op-ed he had written with his colleagues Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI):
We laid out precisely why the House Judiciary Committee should open up hearings. … And we set out in an op-ed why we should do it, and none of the major newspapers in the country — the New York Times or the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the LA Times — they chose not to run it.
I thought it was a fairly significant statement by the mainstream media that when members of the House Judiciary Committee lay out a credible claim for why impeachment hearings should begin regarding the Vice President of the United States, and they refuse to run it, then we decided well we would start this website…and see what the feeling was in terms of mainstream America.
Listen to it:
Wexler said he has been “astonished” by the outpouring of support — over 100,000 have signed up in five days. He said he plans to write a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) in early January, asking him to begin start impeachment hearings.
“This is not the lunatic fringe — this is mainstream America,” Wexler said. These are “people that believe in the very patriotic vision, and they’re all very upset about what they see as the abuse of power by this administration and the failure of Congress to hold them accountable.”
Majority believe Bush has committed impeachable offenses.
Majority believe Bush has committed impeachable offenses.
A new American Research Group poll finds that 55 percent of voters believe President Bush has “abused his powers” in a manner that rises “to the level of impeachable offenses under the Constitution,” yet just 34 percent believe he should actually be impeached. Fifty-two percent say that Vice President Cheney has similarly abused his powers, with 43 percent supporting impeachment.
Cheney impeachment measure advances.
Cheney impeachment measure advances.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s (D-OH) resolution to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney advanced in the House today due largely to the backing of House Republicans. Kucinich’s measure “failed to win the backing of the House leadership,” and when a vote came to table the impeachment resolution, conservatives voted against it before they voted for it:
Midway through the vote, with instructions from the GOP leadership, Republicans one by one changed their votes from yes — to kill the resolution — to no, trying to force the chamber into a debate and an up-or-down vote on the proposal.
At one point there were 290 votes to table. After the turnaround, the final vote was 251-162 against tabling, with 165 Republicans voting against it.
“We’re going to help them out, to explain themselves,” said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas. “We’re going to give them their day in court.”
UPDATE: The House just voted 218-194 to send Kucinich’s impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, thus killing the bill and preventing a debate on impeachment.
UPDATE II: CapNewsNet has video of the activity on the House floor today.
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