Has Impeachment Actually Begun and We Simply Haven't Caught On To It Yet?

[ThomWV]

Considering the hearings that are coming up; looks at Unconstitutional activity, Hatch Act violations galore, obstruction of Justice, misuse of intelligence apparatus, one might get the impression that what we are seeing is a gathering of evidence sufficient to proceed with Impeachment. Otherwise what is the point of all the Hearings? One might ask that question of Henry Waxman or John Conyers, maybe even pose it to Nancy Pelosi: if the hearings are being held and evidence of high crimes, if not treason itself (are the perpetrators of a coup not traitors?), then what use will be made of that evidence? Are the hearings held simply to embarrass those who have no respect for the rule of law or is there some other point to having them?

Impeach!

[Nunyabiz]

1. We can only hope

There are at least 25 Impeachable offenses committed by both Bush and Cheney.
They have committed Treason, War Crimes, Crimes against humanity and so many high crimes the list would look like a book.
All the evidence is there and well documented.

Impeachment is the only answer.

[havocmom]

2. Wouldn't be surprised. With such a slim majority, DEMs on Hill had to hear resounding chorus from us

so they could point to the public outcry. It gives them validity to throw in the faces of the RW noise machine.

[givemebackmycountry]

3. I think our side is building a snowball at the top of the hill...

And all of these things that ThomWV has mentioned in the OP are in that snowball.
Sooner or later, the weight of that snowball is going to start it rolling down the hill.
Once that happens, it may be unstoppable.

We can only hope.

[radfringe]

4. need to work quickly with snowballs

before they melt. but then again, with a big enough melting snowball we can have a flood?

[Uben]

5. Actually, no.

Impeachment preceeds investigation, as a rule. Of course, there has to be reasonable cause for impeachment, which I think is well documented. Impeachment would rake away Bush's salary and secret service assignment. He would have to foot the bill for his own protection. Of course, a couple of pallets of that cash that disappeared inhIraq would take care of that.

[ThomWV]

9. May I use your phrase?

I think a lot more use should be made of your phrase 'pallets of that cash that disappeared in Iraq'. Would you mind if I stole it?

[onenote]

13. investigations before and after -- the Watergate model

In the Nixon impeachment, the Senate Select Committee was enpaneled in Feb 1973 to investigate the break-in and related matters. The impeachment process had not yet started. That Committee's work, along with the Saturday Night Massacre, eventually (around nine months later) led to the House authorizing an impeachment inquiry in November 1973, which ultimately led to articles of impeachment being approved by the Judiciary in July 1974.

In other words, impeachment does not necessarily precede investigation. Investigation may lead to the impeachment process (which may entail further investigation prior to a vote).

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

6. If nothing else, a record backing an impeachment is being made.

Regardless of opinions, otherwise, I personally believe this nation will only heal if impeachment and indictments take place.

[Uben]

8. I agree

Impeachment would heal the nation and give justice a boost in the arm. But, nit just Bush...Cheney and Gonza;es would have to be in the mix for completion. It is the only way we can get the rest of the world back together with us. War crimes trials would be a bonus!

[ThomWV]

11. Or it might be thought of as the facts being brought together in the Congress

The facts needed to impeach are out there all right but they haven't been pulled into sworn testimony or gathered in one place. That seems to be happening now in a pretty big way, to tell the truth.

[mudesi]

7. At this point, it's probably the only way for the Democrats to redeem themselves

For the sake of all that is Just, let's hope you're right.

[liberal N proud]

10. Maybe they are doing an end around so as to expose the lies so completely

so the the republicons and public couldn't do any thing but demand impeachment.

[ccpup]

12. I think you're right

and I've been saying this all along: with investigation after investigation, the evidence mounts so that those who are paying even the slightest attention realize that, without a doubt, Impeachable Offenses have been committed. When the Dems move to Impeach, it'll be very difficult for the repugs to scream that there is no "mountain" when they're buried at the bottom of it.

I think this "caging" Griffin-Rove thingy-ma-bob is gonna be HUGE! (or is that HUGH?)

[MNDemNY]

14. Yes it does seem

that every tree the Dems bark up has got a cat in it.

[VP505]

15. I have thought for some time

now that its going to be the Republics that will impeach Bu$h, they (congress critters and Senators up for re-election) have the most to loose if Bu$h is allowed to finish his term. All the Dem's need do is investigate and bring forth all the wrong doing and at some point the Republics will go into damage control mode and do what it takes to salvage what's left of their party. Perhaps Pelosi and Reid realize that and that's why "impeachment is off the table", they are giving Bu$h and his cronies enough rope so that when their party has had enough THEY will be the ones to hang Bu$h/Cheney.

[Individualist]

16. key question: "...what use will be made of that evidence."

Hearings and investigations accomplish nothing unless there are follow-up actions.

[gordianot]

17. The crimes committed by this administration are on the order of organized crime.

They own judges, courts, military apparatus, manipulate vast sums of money, control the news media and have a core support of 28% of the population. After a while it is easy to become numb at the grand span of the many crimes. Criminal behavior has become the norm and the people who are supposed to make the laws have little desire or ability to enforce the laws. Future generations (if Constitutional Rights are restored) will wonder why this mess was allowed to happen at the start of the 21st Century.

[mmonk]

18. DK entered articles of impeachment on Cheney.

Only he and those that have signed onto it have done anything. The rest are hearings ala Iran Contra.