World-News

CounterPunch
by Dave Lindorff

Time is short, but even at this late date, it would be a simple matter to impeach the president on some issues. As several of Friday’s witnesses pointed out, President Bush has essentially dared Congress to act, admitting that he openly violated the FISA law — a felony, and openly admitting that he has refused to enact laws passed by the Congress, claiming a power — unitary executive authority — not even mentioned in the Constitution. He has openly admitted to having known about, and approved, ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ devised by his subordinates — techniques like waterboarding which clearly violate the Geneva Conventions and US law. No hearings would be required to establish these high crimes and misdemeanors. They could simply be voted on by an Impeachment Committee and sent to the full House for a vote. Even if there were no time for a Senate trial, the simple act of impeaching the president for one or more abuses of power would serve notice on future presidents that future such abuses would not be tolerated. Failure to do so, and allowing this administration to leave office unimpeached, would send the opposite message: that Congress is no longer a co-equal branch of government, but is merely a consultative body, at best, and that a president is in effect a dictator...

http://counterpunch.org/lindorff07302008.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp



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