The Cheney impeachment issue is something that s not going away, and in my opinion, ought to be considered on its merits. Unfortunately, the powers that be (Pelosi et al.) are acting to stifle any consideration of the merits, regardless of illegality or the very real potential of further illegal administration activity. I guess the salient point is that the allegations leveled in H.R. 333, sponsored by Dennis Kucinich, are supported by credible evidence, and the Democrat-controlled House steadfastly refuses to even hold hearings on the issue.
In an effort to show our "leaders" where the population stands on this issue, I have written the following two letters; one to my Congresswoman, Susan Davis, and the other to Congressman Conyers, the proverbial gatekeeper on the hearings issue. Enjoy!
Jim
January 3, 2008
VIA FACSIMILE ONLY
Congresswoman Susan Davis
4305 University Avenue
Suite 515
San Diego, CA 92105
Phone: (619) 280-5353
Fax: (619) 280-5311
U.S. House of Representatives
1526 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2040
Fax: (202) 225-2948
Dear Congresswoman Davis,
I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your action in co-sponsoring House Joint Resolution no. 64, clarifying that President Bush does not have authority to go to war with Iran. As I am sure you would agree, the last thing this country needs is another ill-conceived war based upon hyped misinformation. As the recent National Intelligence Estimate shows, Bush administration rhetoric far outpaced any actual threat posed by Iran. Your leadership in signing on to this bill as a co-sponsor is greatly appreciated!
I am also writing to request that you support H.R. 333 regarding the impeachment of Richard. B. Cheney. To briefly summarize, the bill charges the Cheney 1) misled Congress and the American people about the threat of Iraq’s alleged WMDs, 2) misled Congress and the American people by hyping a false Iraq-Al Qaeda link, and 3) hyped a false Iranian threat in an effort to drum up support for yet another disastrous war. Although this bill has been banished to committee in hopes that it will die a quiet death, the American people deserve better.
I’ve heard many reasons why impeachment would purportedly be unwise. However, I have yet to hear any credible argument that the allegations leveled against Cheney are untrue, or that these crimes would not support impeachment. I recognize that you are not a member of the judiciary committee, but that is not to say that you are powerless in this matter. You could sign on as a co-sponsor, and more importantly, you could formally request that Congressman Conyers to hold hearings on the bill. I understand that your support may not tip the scales in favor of hearings on this bill, but to say and do nothing will achieve nothing.
Sincerely,
James H. Pyle
January 3, 2008
VIA FACSIMILE AND U.S. MAIL
Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax
Dear Congressmen Conyers,
Although I am not a resident of your district, I wanted to write and thank you for your efforts in opposing the Iraq war, and for introducing House Resolution Nos. 635 (to create a select committee to investigate the run-up to the Iraq war), 636 (to censure President Bush), 637 (to censure Vice-President Cheney), and 3541 (to affirm America’s rejection of torture). Each of these bills show that you stand for the rule of law.
Unfortunately, every one of the above-referenced bills was referred to committee, where it died a silent death. Accordingly, I was surprised and dismayed to learn that you, as chair of the House Judiciary Committee, have sentenced H.R. 333, relating to the impeachment of Vice-President Cheney, to die a quiet death.
As I read the December 20, 2007 transcript of your interview with Amy Goodman, my disappointment turned to outrage. Your explanation as to why you will not hold hearings on the bill is not that the allegations lack merit, or that misleading the country into war is not an impeachable offense. Rather, your explanation seems to be that it is a large task to be accomplished in a relatively short amount of time, and that it won’t play well on the news, thereby hindering the electoral chances of the Democratic party. These are unsatisfactory excuses.
Though I have no doubt that Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic leadership have applied an enormous amount of pressure to keep the lid on this bill, it is against the will of the American people. In a recent survey by the American Research Group, 54% of those surveyed support the impeachment of Dick Cheney. Given Congress’ current approval rating of 32%, Americans are not impressed by what they see from Congress today.
The irony here is that despite your efforts to establish a committee to look into the misinformation campaign by the Bush administration leading to the Iraq war, you now have the power to hold hearings on this very issue. Instead of sending a message through censure, you could shine the disinfecting light of public discourse on the administration’s lies. That you now choose to shrink from the challenge facing you speaks volumes, and casts your earlier efforts in a light that shows them as feigned outrage calculated to score political points. Please do the right thing and hold hearings on this important issue.
Sincerely,
James H. Pyle
