The amazing lack of response from our elected officials to our call for impeachment hearings suggests it might be due in part to the flaccid ignorance of the majority of our citizens.  98% of citizens have no idea about what the Constitution does for them and what they have lost due to the actions of the Bush/Cheney regime.  The politicos stand to benefit from Bush/Cheney’s expansion of Presidential powers, as do the corporate funders of the electoral process.  The press seems to be stifled in their pocket as well. 
What recourse have I as a citizen if my efforts and the efforts of tens of thousands of my fellow citizens who share the outrage at the abuses of the Constitution committed by the Bush administration cannot move our Representatives in the Congress to undertake investigations into the many credible allegations of impeachable offense?
How will the men who led us into a tragic and foolish adventure in Iraq, who failed to care for the victims of hurricane Katrina, who illegally spy upon us, who vindictively expose undercover intelligence agents, who politically dismiss attorneys in the Justice Department, who claim the right to torture, kidnap, and deny the ancient right of habeas corpus – how will these men be called to account?
If our representatives cannot bring themselves to honor their oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution as their first responsibility, if the press refuses to call this treasonous betrayal to the attention of the voters, who seem unconcerned about what they do not understand – what action will enlighten a sufficient number of citizens to apply the pressure necessary to move Press and Politician to principled action?
Many attribute much of Bush’s early popularity to his “common man” persona.  One aspect of this “common man” persona is unfortunately shared by much of the world, and now comes back to diminish us in the eyes of the world.  Bush’s “with us or against us” bravado, meant to present a tough, uncompromising stance against “terrorists”, has a “blow back”.  The World, regarding America and Americans from their “common man” point of view, has begun to believe that the failure of the American Citizenry, through their democratically elected representatives, to censure, repudiate and IMPEACH George W. Bush and Richard Cheney must mean that We The People are “with ‘em” – that we support waterboarding, preemptive aggression, kidnapping, warrantless domestic surveillance, and all the other horrors that will leave these men vulnerable to prosecution for war crimes when they leave office.

Indeed every one of us who has not repeatedly petitioned his congressperson, demanding that they honor their oath of office, and that they immediately instigate hearings into the many recognized allegations of impeachable offence, demonstrates his support for the crimes and failings of these men.

Has citizen Hillary Clinton, has citizen Barak Obama, has citizen Ted Kennedy or John McCain petitioned their congressperson with such a demand?  Their oath of office is to protect and defend the Constitution – not their office, not their political party, not their legislative agenda – The Constitution!

posted by William H. Bassett on 4-29-08 at 10:23 PM