Another day, another story like this.
The problem is clear. It's not that there are individuals like Dick Cheney who think we can improve the world by escalating the war in the middle east.
It's that they have too much power.
Power that they stole, since in our democracy you have to be elected by voters, not rigged ballots and a partisan court.
And once you're elected, you have to obey the law.
Return this man and the rest of his administration to civilian life, where they can do no further harm.
Impeach Cheney.
Now.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Friday, August 10, 2007
Saturday, August 4, 2007
We're not going away
But you are, to spend your recess campaigning.
What an appropriate word for such an infantile congressional majority.
With a majority of Americans supporting impeachment and opposing the war, and the bully pulpit of being one of the highest-polling Democratic political candidates out there, you have done nothing in congress to call to account the criminals running our country.
And you and the rest of the DLC are about to walk away from Washington while they finish shredding all their emails, "forgetting" all the meetings they're currently having while they're working on God knows what illegal scheme that we'll only find out about three years from now when it's too late to do anything about it.
That would be pathetic, except that also, people are dying and our economy is hitting a brick wall. Since you're so obviously interested in the Democratic party winning the presidency, how is a Democrat president going to explain to voters in 2012 that it's not your fault we'll still be in Iraq, gas will be over $10/gallon, and the global economy will be in recession?
How about running on the right policies, instead of what beltway pundits think is going to win the next election?
And that starts with a commitment to democracy and the rule of law. A commitment you apparently left behind when you ran outside for "recess".
Have fun without our votes.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
What an appropriate word for such an infantile congressional majority.
With a majority of Americans supporting impeachment and opposing the war, and the bully pulpit of being one of the highest-polling Democratic political candidates out there, you have done nothing in congress to call to account the criminals running our country.
And you and the rest of the DLC are about to walk away from Washington while they finish shredding all their emails, "forgetting" all the meetings they're currently having while they're working on God knows what illegal scheme that we'll only find out about three years from now when it's too late to do anything about it.
That would be pathetic, except that also, people are dying and our economy is hitting a brick wall. Since you're so obviously interested in the Democratic party winning the presidency, how is a Democrat president going to explain to voters in 2012 that it's not your fault we'll still be in Iraq, gas will be over $10/gallon, and the global economy will be in recession?
How about running on the right policies, instead of what beltway pundits think is going to win the next election?
And that starts with a commitment to democracy and the rule of law. A commitment you apparently left behind when you ran outside for "recess".
Have fun without our votes.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Thursday, August 2, 2007
OK, we get it
Anxious to project the image of a commander-in-chief, you're rattling sabers at Pakistan:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/01/wobama101.xml
Your justification is that Al Qaeda killed over 3,000 innocent Americans.
What about the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis who have died because of an illegal war that our own administration lied to us to justify?
You're ready to send troops to Pakistan to capture or kill people associated with the 9/11 hijackers, but you're not ready to send a piece of paper to the criminals who have hijacked our government, informing them that they have been impeached.
We get it.
You don't oppose these administration policies at all. You want a "unitary executive". You want to be that all-powerful executive! Why else could you possibly want to stand idly by while our government is destroyed from within?
Prove me wrong.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/01/wobama101.xml
Your justification is that Al Qaeda killed over 3,000 innocent Americans.
What about the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis who have died because of an illegal war that our own administration lied to us to justify?
You're ready to send troops to Pakistan to capture or kill people associated with the 9/11 hijackers, but you're not ready to send a piece of paper to the criminals who have hijacked our government, informing them that they have been impeached.
We get it.
You don't oppose these administration policies at all. You want a "unitary executive". You want to be that all-powerful executive! Why else could you possibly want to stand idly by while our government is destroyed from within?
Prove me wrong.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Monday, July 30, 2007
How about starting with Gonzales?
Subject: How about starting with Gonzales?
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Date: July 30 2007 7:14:05 PM CDT
Your colleagues in the house seem to think that's a good idea.
After all, the guy perjured himself in front of the judiciary committee, so it's a slam-dunk case.
To borrow a phrase I heard somewhere.
Every day the DLC's position looks more and more complicit. You can wait, or you can lead. It could make the difference between holding the administration accountable and doing irreparable harm to our democracy.
Gonzales and company are rubbing America's noses in the DLC's unwillingness to impeach them.
Are you going to help them, to score political points, or are you going to put a stop to this criminal behavior?
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Date: July 30 2007 7:14:05 PM CDT
Your colleagues in the house seem to think that's a good idea.
After all, the guy perjured himself in front of the judiciary committee, so it's a slam-dunk case.
To borrow a phrase I heard somewhere.
Every day the DLC's position looks more and more complicit. You can wait, or you can lead. It could make the difference between holding the administration accountable and doing irreparable harm to our democracy.
Gonzales and company are rubbing America's noses in the DLC's unwillingness to impeach them.
Are you going to help them, to score political points, or are you going to put a stop to this criminal behavior?
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Saturday, July 28, 2007
What part of "impeach" don't you understand?
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: What part of "impeach" don't you understand?
Date: July 28 2007 4:53:03 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
I know, you're a senator.
But you spend all your time campaigning, for what I'm not sure.
It's certainly not a campaign to hold Bush, Cheney, Gonzales, and the lot to account for their crimes.
It's high time you were running that kind of campaign.
You know, because it's in the public interest. Just ask this citizen.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: What part of "impeach" don't you understand?
Date: July 28 2007 4:53:03 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
I know, you're a senator.
But you spend all your time campaigning, for what I'm not sure.
It's certainly not a campaign to hold Bush, Cheney, Gonzales, and the lot to account for their crimes.
It's high time you were running that kind of campaign.
You know, because it's in the public interest. Just ask this citizen.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Credibility collapse
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: Credibility collapse
Date: July 26, 2007 8:06:08 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Gonzales's performance yesterday should leave no doubt that this administration is deliberately deceiving the American people.
And in fact, Gonzales and other administration officials are lying under oath--exactly what Clinton was impeached for--even though Republicans "didn't have the votes."
Gonzales has to go, along with the rest of these crooks.
It doesn't have to be "time-consuming", and with Republicans like Arlen Specter entering their frustration into the record--his response to Gonzales "you expect us to believe that?" is exactly what most of America is thinking--Democrats like you are widening your credibility gap to the point where we're starting to ask you the same sort of questions.
For many voters who are fed up with the Democrats, "electability" is the only virtue you all have left. But you're rapidly shoveling even your "electability" into the abyss.
I'm going to keep writing to you. But you're not going to listen.
And in 2008 when we run against both corporate parties, you're going to miss all those votes you so disingenuously think you're entitled to.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: Credibility collapse
Date: July 26, 2007 8:06:08 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Gonzales's performance yesterday should leave no doubt that this administration is deliberately deceiving the American people.
And in fact, Gonzales and other administration officials are lying under oath--exactly what Clinton was impeached for--even though Republicans "didn't have the votes."
Gonzales has to go, along with the rest of these crooks.
It doesn't have to be "time-consuming", and with Republicans like Arlen Specter entering their frustration into the record--his response to Gonzales "you expect us to believe that?" is exactly what most of America is thinking--Democrats like you are widening your credibility gap to the point where we're starting to ask you the same sort of questions.
For many voters who are fed up with the Democrats, "electability" is the only virtue you all have left. But you're rapidly shoveling even your "electability" into the abyss.
I'm going to keep writing to you. But you're not going to listen.
And in 2008 when we run against both corporate parties, you're going to miss all those votes you so disingenuously think you're entitled to.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Conyers doesn't have the votes? Get him the votes!
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: Conyers doesn't have the votes? Get him the votes!
Date: July 24, 2007 7:19:02 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
With the spectacle of anti-war candidate Cindy Sheehan being arrested after meeting with John Conyers, you and the rest of the Democratic leadership are on thin ice.
John Conyers's argument against impeachment is that he doesn't have the votes.
Not that the administration aren't criminals, but that he doesn't have the votes.
Well, then get him the votes!
If you're such an influential leader, and you want to inspire people to serve their constitution, then lead us towards accountability.
Make the case for impeachment. If you're such a great orator and have such a compelling vision, then it's high time you included accountability to the rule of law in that vision.
Or else it's not vision. It's blindness.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: Conyers doesn't have the votes? Get him the votes!
Date: July 24, 2007 7:19:02 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
With the spectacle of anti-war candidate Cindy Sheehan being arrested after meeting with John Conyers, you and the rest of the Democratic leadership are on thin ice.
John Conyers's argument against impeachment is that he doesn't have the votes.
Not that the administration aren't criminals, but that he doesn't have the votes.
Well, then get him the votes!
If you're such an influential leader, and you want to inspire people to serve their constitution, then lead us towards accountability.
Make the case for impeachment. If you're such a great orator and have such a compelling vision, then it's high time you included accountability to the rule of law in that vision.
Or else it's not vision. It's blindness.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Monday, July 23, 2007
Can you hear us now?
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: Can you hear us now?
Date: July 23, 2007 8:44:23 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
The din of calls for impeachment grows louder every day. This tiny blog and my (almost) daily emails to you (which you never respond to) are joining millions of other emails and phone calls, and hundreds of editorials and opinion pieces.
I hear some buzz that Conyers, fed up with administration stonewalling, is nearly ready to pull the trigger on impeachment--he just needs a few more house members to sign on to HB 333.
I imagine he'd find your support equally convincing.
The "impeachment moment" is at hand, and with it your chance to redeem yourself.
Now.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: Can you hear us now?
Date: July 23, 2007 8:44:23 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
The din of calls for impeachment grows louder every day. This tiny blog and my (almost) daily emails to you (which you never respond to) are joining millions of other emails and phone calls, and hundreds of editorials and opinion pieces.
I hear some buzz that Conyers, fed up with administration stonewalling, is nearly ready to pull the trigger on impeachment--he just needs a few more house members to sign on to HB 333.
I imagine he'd find your support equally convincing.
The "impeachment moment" is at hand, and with it your chance to redeem yourself.
Now.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Saturday, July 21, 2007
President Cheney
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: President Cheney
Date: July 21, 2007 9:46:03 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Now Cheney is president.
Like that changes anything.
We've had enough of these criminals running the white house.
But what are you doing about it? By allowing the Bush administration to act with impunity under the metastasizing doctrine of "executive privilege", you're in effect granting the executive branch line item veto on the constitution. If you don't impeach, your oath to uphold the constitution is as phony as Cheney's was.
President Cheney.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: President Cheney
Date: July 21, 2007 9:46:03 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Now Cheney is president.
Like that changes anything.
We've had enough of these criminals running the white house.
But what are you doing about it? By allowing the Bush administration to act with impunity under the metastasizing doctrine of "executive privilege", you're in effect granting the executive branch line item veto on the constitution. If you don't impeach, your oath to uphold the constitution is as phony as Cheney's was.
President Cheney.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Friday, July 20, 2007
Guess what? Contempt of congress isn't going to work
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: Guess what? Contempt of congress isn't going to work
Date: July 20, 2007 8:20:24 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Surprise surprise, the Bush administration now claims it has no obligation to pursue contempt of congress charges, if it has invoked the ever-expanding unconstitutional notion of "executive privilege".
This leaves Democrats with very few options for holding the administration to account for its crimes and attempts to cover them up.
Except impeachment.
Thank you for voting against confirming Gonzales. Now finish the job and support impeachment of his bosses. It's time to step up to the plate and get it done.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: Guess what? Contempt of congress isn't going to work
Date: July 20, 2007 8:20:24 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Surprise surprise, the Bush administration now claims it has no obligation to pursue contempt of congress charges, if it has invoked the ever-expanding unconstitutional notion of "executive privilege".
This leaves Democrats with very few options for holding the administration to account for its crimes and attempts to cover them up.
Except impeachment.
Thank you for voting against confirming Gonzales. Now finish the job and support impeachment of his bosses. It's time to step up to the plate and get it done.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Et tu, Durbin
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: Et tu, Durbin
Date: July 18, 2007 10:41:21 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Today a number of local peace activists spoke to Dick Durbin by telephone on the subject of Iraq. I wasn't able to be on the call but word spread pretty quickly about what he said.
• No impeachment (it's "too time consuming"--as if that is somehow more important than upholding the constitution!)
• No funding cut to the war (don't want to be accused of "not supporting our troops", so you vote to finance war crimes).
• No withdrawal (just "redeployment" leaving substantial US troop presence in the Middle East, all but ensuring more war).
In short, utter complicity with the Bush administration's criminal war. The exact same line you're taking, Mr. "Audacity of Hope".
It is indeed audacious to hope for you to place the people's interests above your party's. What is not audacious, but rather the simple responsibility of every citizen who believes in this democracy, is to demand that you either hold Bush and Cheney accountable for their betrayal of the people by supporting their impeachment, or else resign so that someone willing to do that can take your place.
We're coming to Washington by the thousands. The blood of Bush and Cheney's crimes is on your hands now. It will not be on ours.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: Et tu, Durbin
Date: July 18, 2007 10:41:21 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Today a number of local peace activists spoke to Dick Durbin by telephone on the subject of Iraq. I wasn't able to be on the call but word spread pretty quickly about what he said.
• No impeachment (it's "too time consuming"--as if that is somehow more important than upholding the constitution!)
• No funding cut to the war (don't want to be accused of "not supporting our troops", so you vote to finance war crimes).
• No withdrawal (just "redeployment" leaving substantial US troop presence in the Middle East, all but ensuring more war).
In short, utter complicity with the Bush administration's criminal war. The exact same line you're taking, Mr. "Audacity of Hope".
It is indeed audacious to hope for you to place the people's interests above your party's. What is not audacious, but rather the simple responsibility of every citizen who believes in this democracy, is to demand that you either hold Bush and Cheney accountable for their betrayal of the people by supporting their impeachment, or else resign so that someone willing to do that can take your place.
We're coming to Washington by the thousands. The blood of Bush and Cheney's crimes is on your hands now. It will not be on ours.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Why not work around the clock to impeach?
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: Why not work around the clock to impeach?
Date: July 17, 2007 11:08:14 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Much has been made of Reid's 30-hour debate session on a "redeployment" amendment.
Meanwhile Harriet Miers is again refusing to appear before the judicial committee, facing contempt of congress charges, clearly on orders from Bush and Cheney. Their objective in stonewalling is a cover-up.
Remember Watergate? Nixon resigned in shame for covering up lesser crimes.
Bush and Cheney have no shame. The only option is to impeach. Now.
Where are you?
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: Why not work around the clock to impeach?
Date: July 17, 2007 11:08:14 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Much has been made of Reid's 30-hour debate session on a "redeployment" amendment.
Meanwhile Harriet Miers is again refusing to appear before the judicial committee, facing contempt of congress charges, clearly on orders from Bush and Cheney. Their objective in stonewalling is a cover-up.
Remember Watergate? Nixon resigned in shame for covering up lesser crimes.
Bush and Cheney have no shame. The only option is to impeach. Now.
Where are you?
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Monday, July 16, 2007
Who the hell are you, anyway?
What would George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have to do to convince you of what everyone else can see: that they have committed high crimes and misdemeanors and are rapidly making off with what's left of our democracy?
What if they dissolved congress? Maybe then you'd notice?
It's getting really tiring to write you every day about impeachment, but fortunately I have lots and lots of help.
For instance check this out:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/07/16/2555/
It's like I wrote it myself. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling that I'm not the only one who holds this fringe, radical view. You know, the one that over 50% of Americans agree with.
What about the news that Bush is starting to warm to the idea of war with Iran? Do you still think we should bomb them?
Just who the hell are you, anyway? You're a Democrat who doesn't believe in democracy, and find violence "unacceptable" except when it is.
Maybe I'll emulate you by telling you I'm going to vote for you, and then not doing it. It would serve you right.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
What if they dissolved congress? Maybe then you'd notice?
It's getting really tiring to write you every day about impeachment, but fortunately I have lots and lots of help.
For instance check this out:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/07/16/2555/
It's like I wrote it myself. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling that I'm not the only one who holds this fringe, radical view. You know, the one that over 50% of Americans agree with.
What about the news that Bush is starting to warm to the idea of war with Iran? Do you still think we should bomb them?
Just who the hell are you, anyway? You're a Democrat who doesn't believe in democracy, and find violence "unacceptable" except when it is.
Maybe I'll emulate you by telling you I'm going to vote for you, and then not doing it. It would serve you right.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Sunday, July 15, 2007
You said it: the violence must stop
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: You said it: the violence must stop
Date: July 15, 2007 4:02:06 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
I read today that you're concerned about the "epidemic of violence" in our inner cities, saying "the violence is unacceptable and it's got to stop.
I agree with you that violence is unacceptable and it's got to stop.
One of the biggest proponents of violence in the United States is the Bush administration, who have thwarted the constitution in order to launch an illegal occupation of Iraq that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and swept up thousands of others into a network of secret prisons in which they are detained indefinitely without charge and tortured.
You can stop this by saying to the administration: your epidemic of violence has got to stop. You must get these criminals "off the streets" of Washington by supporting the immediate impeachment of Bush and Cheney.
I can't see how you can rail against violence in the inner cities and simultaneously allow the Bush administration's violence, which is on a massive scale over a period of many years, to continue unchallenged. You need to get off the campaign trail, get back to Washington, and join the growing number of congressional leaders who won't let these atrocious crimes continue for one more day. If you really oppose violence, go after the criminals who are taking over our government. If you don't, before long there will be no nation left to "get back on the right track."
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: You said it: the violence must stop
Date: July 15, 2007 4:02:06 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
I read today that you're concerned about the "epidemic of violence" in our inner cities, saying "the violence is unacceptable and it's got to stop.
I agree with you that violence is unacceptable and it's got to stop.
One of the biggest proponents of violence in the United States is the Bush administration, who have thwarted the constitution in order to launch an illegal occupation of Iraq that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and swept up thousands of others into a network of secret prisons in which they are detained indefinitely without charge and tortured.
You can stop this by saying to the administration: your epidemic of violence has got to stop. You must get these criminals "off the streets" of Washington by supporting the immediate impeachment of Bush and Cheney.
I can't see how you can rail against violence in the inner cities and simultaneously allow the Bush administration's violence, which is on a massive scale over a period of many years, to continue unchallenged. You need to get off the campaign trail, get back to Washington, and join the growing number of congressional leaders who won't let these atrocious crimes continue for one more day. If you really oppose violence, go after the criminals who are taking over our government. If you don't, before long there will be no nation left to "get back on the right track."
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Obama: Aren't you going to impeach Bush and Cheney?
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: Aren't you going to impeach Bush and Cheney?
Date: July 14, 2007 12:17:52 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Talking to some of your supporters, I get the impression that you're a visionary leader.
But your sole response when I wrote to you as part of the majority of Americans who want impeachment was to suggest to me that impeachment wouldn't serve "our [sic] ultimate objective."
My question for you is just who are you including in your notion of "our" ultimate objective?
Because it's not the 50%+ of us who want Cheney impeached.
Rather I have to conclude, unless you change your mind, that what you mean by "our" is the DLC and the ultimate objective you're talking about is your ultimate objective, which must not have much to do with upholding the constitution, since it apparently entails allowing criminals to occupy the white house.
I want you to know in no uncertain terms that I and the rest of the 50%+ of Americans who want impeachment have a different objective, and it's the one that should matter to you, if you're seriously proposing representing us.
It is absolutely irresponsible for you to suggest that we're part of your complicity with the Bush administration's crimes. You must impeach, and if you don't, you have no right to claim you speak for us on that issue.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: Aren't you going to impeach Bush and Cheney?
Date: July 14, 2007 12:17:52 PM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Talking to some of your supporters, I get the impression that you're a visionary leader.
But your sole response when I wrote to you as part of the majority of Americans who want impeachment was to suggest to me that impeachment wouldn't serve "our [sic] ultimate objective."
My question for you is just who are you including in your notion of "our" ultimate objective?
Because it's not the 50%+ of us who want Cheney impeached.
Rather I have to conclude, unless you change your mind, that what you mean by "our" is the DLC and the ultimate objective you're talking about is your ultimate objective, which must not have much to do with upholding the constitution, since it apparently entails allowing criminals to occupy the white house.
I want you to know in no uncertain terms that I and the rest of the 50%+ of Americans who want impeachment have a different objective, and it's the one that should matter to you, if you're seriously proposing representing us.
It is absolutely irresponsible for you to suggest that we're part of your complicity with the Bush administration's crimes. You must impeach, and if you don't, you have no right to claim you speak for us on that issue.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Friday, July 13, 2007
Obama: IMPEACH NOW
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: IMPEACH NOW
Date: July 13, 2007 8:06:47 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Tick, tick, tick.
Another day has gone by with criminals occupying the white house, complete with the spectacle of Harriet Miers contemptuously refusing to appear for a subpoena as part of the administration's ongoing cover-up.
But you and Pelosi haven't budged on impeachment.
Public sentiment is rapidly turning into anger and desperation, and we're seeing reports like this one pointing to the "stalemate" in Washington:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/12/AR2007071202368.html?hpid=topnews
The stalemate is precisely because not only do criminals occupy the white house, but Republicans in congress continue to vote to support the administration, making overriding a veto a practical impossibility. But with the administration brazenly flaunting its criminality every day, these Republican congressmen and women are nothing less than accomplices to war crimes.
And so are you and Pelosi, as long as you continue to refuse to hold Bush, Cheney, and the rest of the senior officials at the white house to account.
I'm going to write you every day about this. I will not vote for any member of the 110th congress if you fail to impeach Bush and Cheney. And I will join others in taking to the streets to demand that you do your job and uphold the constitution you swore to serve.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: IMPEACH NOW
Date: July 13, 2007 8:06:47 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Tick, tick, tick.
Another day has gone by with criminals occupying the white house, complete with the spectacle of Harriet Miers contemptuously refusing to appear for a subpoena as part of the administration's ongoing cover-up.
But you and Pelosi haven't budged on impeachment.
Public sentiment is rapidly turning into anger and desperation, and we're seeing reports like this one pointing to the "stalemate" in Washington:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/12/AR2007071202368.html?hpid=topnews
The stalemate is precisely because not only do criminals occupy the white house, but Republicans in congress continue to vote to support the administration, making overriding a veto a practical impossibility. But with the administration brazenly flaunting its criminality every day, these Republican congressmen and women are nothing less than accomplices to war crimes.
And so are you and Pelosi, as long as you continue to refuse to hold Bush, Cheney, and the rest of the senior officials at the white house to account.
I'm going to write you every day about this. I will not vote for any member of the 110th congress if you fail to impeach Bush and Cheney. And I will join others in taking to the streets to demand that you do your job and uphold the constitution you swore to serve.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Obama: IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY! YESTERDAY!
From: futrelle@shout.net
Subject: IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY! YESTERDAY!
Date: July 12, 2007 9:30:25 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Last year I did something I had never done before--I showed up at my annual township meeting. It's generally not well-attended, but this time it was packed. We were all there to put a referendum on the ballot calling for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. Why? Because of their illegal occupation of Iraq based on lies.
The referendum passed, getting over 58% of the vote, as did similar measures calling for complete withdrawal from Iraq and an end to Illinois National Guard deployments to Iraq:
http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/results/2006/docs/nov/11_07_2006_summary.pdf
Since that election, the case for impeachment has grown stronger, not weaker, but your position parrots the DLC's "impeachment is off the table" policy.
My question for you is this: how many more crimes will you and the DLC allow Bush and Cheney to commit and cover up before you hold them accountable? And if you refuse to hold them accountable, how will you convince us that you are not complicit in these crimes?
Let's think about history, briefly.
In 1998 Bill Clinton was impeached for lying about a blow job.
That established a precedent! And now the DLC is in effect saying that rigging elections and illegally occupying a country based on fabricated threats doesn't rise to the same level of criminality?
How can you seriously propose that we elect you to lead a democracy that has imprisoned 2,000,000 citizens on lesser crimes after having allowed Bush & Co. to get away with mass murder?
And how can you seriously propose to represent the 50%+ of Americans who disagree with the DLC that Cheney should be impeached? The people are leading. When will you follow us? If not now, when? If not ever, then why on earth should we support you?
I've heard your argument that impeachment wouldn't serve our "ultimate objective" of "getting the nation back on the right track." Since when is allowing criminals to run the white house "getting the nation back on the right track?"
If you actually read the election results I linked to (I'm sure you won't), you'll notice my name. I ran for county office in 2006 on an anti-war, pro-impeachment platform and even though I had never run for office before, I came within 8 points of winning. The nation is watching you and other Democrats very closely. If you don't do something about the constitutional crisis we're currently experiencing, you're doing to see your Democratic majority crumble from the bottom up. If I was just interested in winning elections, I'd keep my mouth shut and let you all run your party into the ground. But I'm not. I care about democracy itself. Do you?
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Subject: IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY! YESTERDAY!
Date: July 12, 2007 9:30:25 AM CDT
To: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Last year I did something I had never done before--I showed up at my annual township meeting. It's generally not well-attended, but this time it was packed. We were all there to put a referendum on the ballot calling for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. Why? Because of their illegal occupation of Iraq based on lies.
The referendum passed, getting over 58% of the vote, as did similar measures calling for complete withdrawal from Iraq and an end to Illinois National Guard deployments to Iraq:
http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/results/2006/docs/nov/11_07_2006_summary.pdf
Since that election, the case for impeachment has grown stronger, not weaker, but your position parrots the DLC's "impeachment is off the table" policy.
My question for you is this: how many more crimes will you and the DLC allow Bush and Cheney to commit and cover up before you hold them accountable? And if you refuse to hold them accountable, how will you convince us that you are not complicit in these crimes?
Let's think about history, briefly.
In 1998 Bill Clinton was impeached for lying about a blow job.
That established a precedent! And now the DLC is in effect saying that rigging elections and illegally occupying a country based on fabricated threats doesn't rise to the same level of criminality?
How can you seriously propose that we elect you to lead a democracy that has imprisoned 2,000,000 citizens on lesser crimes after having allowed Bush & Co. to get away with mass murder?
And how can you seriously propose to represent the 50%+ of Americans who disagree with the DLC that Cheney should be impeached? The people are leading. When will you follow us? If not now, when? If not ever, then why on earth should we support you?
I've heard your argument that impeachment wouldn't serve our "ultimate objective" of "getting the nation back on the right track." Since when is allowing criminals to run the white house "getting the nation back on the right track?"
If you actually read the election results I linked to (I'm sure you won't), you'll notice my name. I ran for county office in 2006 on an anti-war, pro-impeachment platform and even though I had never run for office before, I came within 8 points of winning. The nation is watching you and other Democrats very closely. If you don't do something about the constitutional crisis we're currently experiencing, you're doing to see your Democratic majority crumble from the bottom up. If I was just interested in winning elections, I'd keep my mouth shut and let you all run your party into the ground. But I'm not. I care about democracy itself. Do you?
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
My letter to Obama, his response, my plan
My name is Joe Futrelle and I'm from Urbana, IL. Barack Obama is one of my senators and the most prominent presidential candidate from Illinois. In 2006 I worked with other Urbana residents to put a referendum on the ballot calling for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney for lying to the American people and illegally occupying Iraq. The referendum passed with over 58% of the vote.
Democrats also won control of both houses in congress, but the DLC immediately "took impeachment off the table." Since then things have gotten much, much worse. So a couple of days ago I wrote to all my representatives asking them to impeach Bush and Cheney.
Obama was the only one who responded. Here is his response:
Obama's position has not changed one iota in spite of the appalling revelations and provocations by the Bush administration just this week. So I wrote him back:
This time I got no response. So I hatched a plan to write Obama every day about impeachment, until he changes his mind. This is not because I expect him to--I plan to support Green Party candidates in 2008, and I am considering running for local office as a Green (I ran for Champaign County Board in 2006 and got 25% of the vote)--but rather to show Obama supporters that until Obama supports impeachment he is an accomplice to the Bush administration's destruction of our constitutional democracy.
Whether or not I succeed in writing a letter a day, I hope the ones I do write will be useful to people for understanding why impeachment being "off the table" should be off the table, and destroying the myth that Obama is a visionary leader. At the moment, he's taking orders from Pelosi on this issue, and ignoring the people he claims to represent.
If Obama responds, I'll post his response. But I don't expect him to.
Peace.
Democrats also won control of both houses in congress, but the DLC immediately "took impeachment off the table." Since then things have gotten much, much worse. So a couple of days ago I wrote to all my representatives asking them to impeach Bush and Cheney.
Obama was the only one who responded. Here is his response:
Dear Joe:
Thank you for contacting me to voice your frustration that a number of high ranking Bush Administration officials seem to act as if they are above the law. The Scooter Libby trial is a case in point.
Mr. Libby, Vice President Cheney's former Chief of Staff, was recently convicted on four felony counts of perjury and obstruction of justice for his involvement in the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's name, and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. I appreciate the point that Mr. Libby "did not act alone," and I expect most observers of his trial would agree. The fact that this case ended with so many unanswered questions and only this one conviction is troubling.
The testimony of Administration officials and members of the press in the Libby trial suggest the leak of Ms. Plame's name was part of a concentrated effort to discredit an individual critical of Administration policy. The determination to settle political scores at the risk of national security considerations should not be tolerated.
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald - one of the nation's toughest and most independent U.S. Attorneys - maintained that he could not file additional charges in the "leak case" because of Mr. Libby's obstruction. I understand why this frustrates so many Americans. In our system of government, all parties responsible for any wrongdoing should be held accountable for their actions. President Bush's decision to commute the sentence of Scooter Libby only compounds this frustration.
While I know many Americans share your strong feelings, I do not think that, in this closely divided Congress, options like calling for impeachment of the President or the Vice President serve our ultimate objective, which is getting the country back on the right track. The Democratic Party, by vote of the people, took back the majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the November elections. That result has provided Democrats in Congress with more than just subpoena powers or the Speaker's gavel. For the first time in over a decade, we have the opportunity to set the agenda and lead the policy debate, and we have a responsibility to do something constructive with that opportunity.
I fully support the Senate Judiciary Committee's ongoing efforts to conduct intensive, bipartisan oversight of the executive branch, particularly in light of recent testimony about illegal wiretapping programs and the firing of nine U.S. attorneys. This testimony continues to raise deeply troubling questions about political undermining of the rule of law, and I commend the Judiciary Committee for demanding lawfulness and accountability.
In this last election, we saw people from Montana to Rhode Island respond to a message of common purpose and progress. On the campaign trail last fall, I saw people respond to a shared desire to educate our kids, grow our economy, care for the vulnerable and expand a culture of tolerance and diversity. I heard a call for progress, not partisanship or political gamesmanship. Americans are ready for a more civil and responsible style of leadership than the kind we have seen on Capitol Hill in recent years. Americans expect and deserve leaders who will focus on meeting the needs of their constituents and working together to solve the most pressing problems we face as a nation.
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address climate change, reform our health care system, and end a war in Iraq that should not have been waged. I hope this Congress continues to make a priority of moving beyond the confrontational tactics that have stymied progress on so many important issues. Americans are ready for progress -- and they deserve nothing less.
Thank you again for writing. Please stay in touch in the days ahead.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
United States Senator
Obama's position has not changed one iota in spite of the appalling revelations and provocations by the Bush administration just this week. So I wrote him back:
With all due respect, our democracy and the rule of law itself is at stake if we allow the Bush administration's illegal war and election-rigging to stand. They are criminals and it is the congress's responsibility to impeach Bush and Cheney. Given that over 50% of Americans support impeaching Cheney, I think it is irrelevant how "partisan" such a move appears inside the beltway. People will die if we continue to allow this administration to prosecute its illegal war, and it's hard to imagine anything more divisive than allowing these crimes to continue against the will of the American people and in defiance of the constitution we all believe should be upheld.
There is no room for compromise with criminals. They must be accountable to the rule of law, and it is your responsibility as a member of the legislature to ensure that this happens. I don't care if you're running for president and want to appease moderates and conservatives. This is no time for that kind of politics. It's time for you to do your job. After all, you took the same oath to uphold the same constitution.
--
Joe Futrelle
Person
This time I got no response. So I hatched a plan to write Obama every day about impeachment, until he changes his mind. This is not because I expect him to--I plan to support Green Party candidates in 2008, and I am considering running for local office as a Green (I ran for Champaign County Board in 2006 and got 25% of the vote)--but rather to show Obama supporters that until Obama supports impeachment he is an accomplice to the Bush administration's destruction of our constitutional democracy.
Whether or not I succeed in writing a letter a day, I hope the ones I do write will be useful to people for understanding why impeachment being "off the table" should be off the table, and destroying the myth that Obama is a visionary leader. At the moment, he's taking orders from Pelosi on this issue, and ignoring the people he claims to represent.
If Obama responds, I'll post his response. But I don't expect him to.
Peace.
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