Kucinich announces impeachment charges against Cheney

Stokes

Kucinich announces impeachment charges against Vice President Cheney
Michael Roston
Published: Tuesday April 24, 2007

Update: The Articles of Impeachment themselves are now available, and can be accessed at a link at the bottom of the story.

After a series of delays, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a candidate for president in 2008, announced a series of charges against Vice President Dick Cheney in Washington, DC, late in the day. Kucinich alleged that the Vice President had committed a series of impeachable offenses, and he was therefore introducing Articles of Impeachment against Cheney in the Congress today.

Kucinich started off by reading the opening words of the Declaration of Independence, arguing they were "instructive at this moment."

"Whenever any government official becomes destructive of the founding purposes, that official must be held accountable," he said.

The Ohio Democrat's move intended to provide a "defense of the rights of American people to have a government that is honest and peaceful."

Kucinich excoriated the Vice President who he called "a driving force for taking us into war against Iraq under false pretenses, and is once again rattling sabers of war against Iran, with the same intent to drive America into war, again based on false pretenses."

The Ohio Congressman, who is running for president for the second time, noted three charges in his Articles of Impeachment, which were submitted as House Resolution 333. The first concerned manipulation of intelligence about Iraq's threat to the US. The second concerned manipulation of intelligence on the Iraq-Al-Qaida relationship. The last concerned what he called having "openly threatened aggression against the Republic of Iran."

Kucinich claimed the charges were "deeply researched," in the press conference, and insisted that his accusations were not just a political stunt.

"This is not brought forth lightly. I've carefully weighed the options available to Members of Congress, and I have found this path the path that is most important to take," he explained.

Kucinich dodged a question about whether or not he had the support of fellow Members of Congress, and claimed the Articles were just now being examined by Congress members, and "you can't expect anyone to make a snap judgment."

He also said that he was only introducing the resolution, and not going to try and persuade Members of Congress to join him

"I'm not promoting it," he told Wolf Blitzer on CNN's Situation Room.

The former Cleveland Mayor further acknowledged in the press conference that he had not recently spoken with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on the matter. Pelosi had said last year that impeach was "off the table."

In a conference call with today, the Speaker went further, telling RAW STORY that "President Bush was not worth it," because impeachment proceedings would be a distraction from passing Democratic policies that would ensure the party's future political victory.

"We will do more work to make for our own reelection, and maintain a Democratic Congress, and have a Democratic President," she said. "And frankly, for impeachment, George W. Bush is just not worth it. We have great work to do for the American people."

He also acknowledged that he had not yet discussed his charges with Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, whose committee must consider whether or not to forward the articles on to Congress.

A reporter asked Kucinich why the Vice President should be impeached, and not President George W. Bush.

"There is a very practical reason - each and every charge relates to Vice President Cheney's conduct or misconduct in office," he said. But he added, "It is very important that we start with Mr. Cheney because if we were to start with the President, Mr. Cheney would then become president.

He also noted, "We'd have to go through the constitutional agony of impeaching two presidents consecutively."

The full Articles themselves, a large collection of PDF documents, are accessible at Congressman Kucinich's website.

source: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Kucinich_announces_impeachment_charges_against_Vice_0424.html
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**Brother Adam** · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:10 pm Post subject:

Well, Conyers should pass the effort through the judiciary committee, but will Pelosi and her cronies actually do anything about it?
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“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

-James Madison

Police officers acquitted for beating a 64 yr old man recently in New Orleans. In the words of their defense attorney "all he had to do was comply"....and they wouldn't have fractured his face.

**aeroplane** · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:32 am Post subject:

Pepper · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:03 pm Post subject:

I have a different idea of why impeachment won't be supported. First of all Pelosi said for months she wouldn't seek an impeachment against the current administration. The logic is that an impeachment proccess is long and time consuming which would reduce the resources available for Democrats to do their jobs. I think the Democratic strategy is to focus resources on winning the election for President which will affect more change.
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**Ferre** · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:32 pm Post subject:

When they win the elections we still are in the same old shit, it won't make any difference. Btw, that Clinton woman gives me the creeps.
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Nachtschattenreich · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 3:40 pm Post subject:

The idea of the Non-Inhaling One being the First Sir in the White House may indeed provoke such feelings.

BTW, Monica Clinton has graduated on the third-person effect:

Pepper · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject:

**Brother Adam** · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:54 pm Post subject:

I still feel impeachment is necessary. There has to be something that sends a message not only to those in power, but to the mass of lemmings that have no clue what is really happening around here. The people need to hear the message loud and clear over and over again before any will start to de-program.

I agree when Ferre says that things will be no different. Too many people are throwing all their energy at the fortified front line defense which is the politicians. How many times will we cut the puppet from the strings and beat it like a pinata while the puppet masters laugh and dangle another expendable toy in front of our faces?

The money is the answer. It's the root of all their power, yet in reality it's physical existence is a worthless waste of paper and ink.
_________________
-Brother Adam (we are all one family)

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

-James Madison

Police officers acquitted for beating a 64 yr old man recently in New Orleans. In the words of their defense attorney "all he had to do was comply"....and they wouldn't have fractured his face.

**aeroplane** · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:22 am Post subject:

Nachtschattenreich · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:26 pm Post subject:

Pepper -