This week as General Petraeus gives a report to Congress on the military strategy in Iraq, thousands of Americans are gathering in Washington DC to insist on ending the occupation and to demand the impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.
Because of this administration’s lies to Congress and the American people and their violation of civil liberty, a growing number of U.S. Representatives now support a resolution to impeach.
Impeachment is comparable to indictment and is totally feasible because it requires just a majority vote in the Democrat controlled House. The lower house of the legislature impeaches (brings the indictment) and the upper house conducts the trial. Conviction may be more difficult because it requires ratification by two-thirds of all Senators present. Removal from office is mandated only if there is a conviction (e.g. Clinton was impeached but not convicted).
Even without a guarantee of conviction, Americans should demand of their Representatives that impeachment be put back on the table. It’s important to send the message to this and future administrations, that the rule of law must be followed and those who break it will be held accountable. Abuse of power and failure to honor their oath to uphold the Constitution will not be tolerated. It would also send a message to the world that the majority of us don’t support this administration or its policies.
It’s time for Americans to stand up to over-reaching executive power, illegal spying, torture, destruction of Habeus Corpus, obstruction of justice and war profiteering. It’s our responsibility to protect our freedom and take back our country from those who are shoving us in the wrong direction.
If you care about America, and can’t make the march to Washington, join the Roaring Fork Peace Coalition’s red, white and blue “Impeach for Peace and Freedom” party in Sayre Park, Glenwood Springs, Saturday September 15th 1-4pm. There will be live music by Jimmy Ibbotson, petitions and info, cake, and games for the kids…all free! Bring a sign or make one there.
Let’s show Bush and Cheney who the real deciders are!
Roaring Fork Peace Coalition
Steering Committee;
Eve Booth
Jim Chenoweth
Jan and Pat Girardot
John and Susan Gorman
Sue Gray
Sheila Markowitz
• 3. reckless G | September 13th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Michael,
While we’re on the topic of censoring (or not). I’ve noticed that while you may not eliminate a post outright, you do perform a sort of censorship by your choice to promote or not promote a post on the Aspen Post homepage. For instance, this post got a promo, but my “Impeach for Peace and Freedom” post did not.
It’s your blogsite and your choice of course, I’m just making an observation. I don’t want to get accused of being anti-democratic.
Sue
• 5. Michael Conniff | September 14th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Sue:
You have got to be be kidding me!
Not only do I promote your impeachment meeting Saturday, but I make it the lead blog! What more do you want?
If one of your posts hasn’t been featured, it was inadvertent. But not featuring something is not censorship. And I’m amazed that you would feel slighted, given the preponderance of coverage we’ve given your blogs and your posts.
Methinks maybe you’re looking for trouble that isn’t really there.
Best, Michael!
But I wrote that before you featured it on the home page. Would you have if I hadn’t complained?
Anyway you’re right about the plugs, you have given me a lot of publicity on your show. Please forgive my paranoia; I’ve had some bad experiences with this impeachment thing. First US Bank, then other businesses not wanting to display our poster ads, KDNK refusing to announce this event, newspaper editors failing to publish our letters.
Americans are so afraid of what our government will do to them or their fellow citizens will think of them, that they refuse to be part of something that is integral to our Constitution. The founding fathers put impeachment in the Constitution for just such an occasion as the shenanigans the Bush administration has been pulling, but the American people are too fearful to use it.
I just hope people wake up and get some courage before it’s too late.
Sue,
I don’t think that it is so much a fear of government is it a fear of (US Bank, KDNK, other businesses not displaying your posters, etc.) losing business. All these organizations are in “for profit” business, and therefore are not going to jeopardize or risk even the lose of one customer for some groups agenda, no matter how justified you may think the cause is.
It is lucky that in this new age, you do have the opportunity to post on these blog sites which did not exist a few years ago. I know and understand what you and your group is trying to do, even if I don’t agree with it, at least I have an understanding of it due to your posts here. If all I had to go by were the letters to the editor and those responses, I would surely think your organization is some fringe group bent on some whacked out agenda.
I’m not sure this can over be overcome in the short term, but maybe given your persistence people will understand your message better and some of these initial reaction can be dealt with….but who knows.
[I don't think that it is so much a fear of government is it a fear of (US Bank, KDNK, other businesses not displaying your posters, etc.) losing business. All these organizations are in "for profit" business, and therefore are not going to jeopardize or risk even the lose of one customer for some groups agenda, no matter how justified you may think the cause is.]
KDNK is NOT a for profit business. In the interest of keeping the license, they are not allowed to express editiorial opinions or issue politically charged announcements. They are allowed to play syndicated shows such as “Democracy Now” and “Jim Hightower.” I was asked to discontinue making political comments, integrated with music, to humour and illustrate with some “color,” my points. Republicans have been after these types of licenses for years. That they exist at all, even though neutered by conservatives, is liberal. Naturally, I was very disappointed, in that you just can’t necessarily say what you want, even beyond George Carlins seven banned words. Silenced? You bet your sweet bippy.