Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) responds about Impeachment

portrait.jpgby Mikael Rudolph – ImpeachforPeace.org

Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA) had joined the national Democratic Party’s discouraging of impeachment efforts in Washington State when an impeachment resolution was being debated in Olympia recently. As a former resident of Rep. Inslee’s district with family still living on Bainbridge Island where he lives, I had challenged his suppression of justice efforts in an open letter which was published here and elsewhere. I just received Rep. Inslee’s thoughtful response.

I recognize Rep. Inslee’s staunch anti-war efforts and many other stands that show his commitment to representing his constituents and the country admirably as well as his noting that multiple investigations are underway in congress. I don’t agree, however that the investigations suffice in lieu of impeachment of both President Bush and Vice President Cheney and do not accept any excuse that Cheney may wind up as President. If that is a fear, then Rep. Inslee should join with Rep. Kucinich and his co-signers in the push to impeach Cheney first, then go after Bush – refusing to accept any Bush appointee to replace Cheney as long as the Bush impeachment proceedings are in process.

Here is Rep. Inslee’s response to my earlier letter:

From: Office of Congressman Jay Inslee
Date: May 9, 2007 5:03:05 PM CDT
To: (Mikael Rudolph’s personal e-mail)
Subject: From Congressman Jay Inslee

Dear Mr. Rudolph:

There is good reason to contact me regarding State Senate Joint Memorial 8016.  I appreciate hearing from you.

I despise the problems and harm that George Bush has inflicted upon our country.  No one has more strongly opposed this administration’s incompetent and damaging polices than I have.  As you know, I fought against the authorization for this president to invade Iraq, even though the measure at the time was popular.  Since that vote, I have stood up to President Bush on every turn during his misguided adventure in Iraq. 

In addition to voting against this war from the start, I support full congressional investigations into all aspects of the Iraq War and other legally questionable acts of the administration.  I believe the American people deserve answers about the use of prewar intelligence, and Congress must do its job of oversight and investigation on this and the slew of other outrages.

Washington State Senator Eric Oemig recently introduced Senate Joint Memorial 8016 to the Washington State Legislature calling on Congress to investigate and consider the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.  There has been some misinformation regarding my visit to Olympia.  I visited the legislature in late February at the invitation of the House Labor and Commerce Committee to give an update on Congress and to voice my support for legislation to help workers organize unions.  I was working in Washington, DC on global warming legislation and on ways to help stop the Iraq war on Thursday, March 1, 2007, the date of the Committee hearing for Senator Oemig’s legislation, S.J. 8016.

Senator Oemig has said that his resolution is not about impeachment, it is about investigating the Bush Administration.  Unfortunately, the senator and others may have been unaware of the over 97 hearings and investigations that this Congress has held since January of this year on subject of Iraq and other transgressions by this administration.  Let me assure you, we are investigating this presidency and any accusation to the contrary is patently false. 

Filing articles of impeachment is not necessary to investigate the administration and hold it accountable.  It concerns me that a resolution to impeach the president, though satisfying, could stunt our progress and have a negative effect on our effort to stop President Bush’s multiple errors.  Judiciary Chairman Conyers, a firm opponent of the war, has stated that no impeachment will take place for this reason.  The Washington State Legislature may do as it chooses in terms of passing resolutions that advocate for impeachment of the president, and I do not have any problems with that.  But, it should be noted that such resolutions have no more compulsory legal impact on Congress than a similar resolution passed by a school board, chamber of commerce, or Rotary Club. 

Currently, efforts to remove the United States from the Iraq war are gaining bipartisan strength.  Impeachment proceedings would rally support for the president.  It should be noted that in addition to myself, other staunch war opponents share this general view including U.S. Reps. Lynn Woolsey, John Conyers, and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.  We should not do anything to encourage people to rally to the defense of George W. Bush. He does not deserve it.
 
Finally, If President Bush were removed from office, Vice President Dick Cheney could become president.  It is highly improbable, if not impossible, that both would be impeached and removed from office at exactly the same time due to the fact the the Constitution mandates a separate impeachment trial for the president of the United States, even if both parties are named under the same articles of impeachment. 

Regardless, another vice president would be appointed by the choosing of the current administration.  This process would not result in Nancy Pelosi becoming president.  
You may be pleased to know that in addition to my efforts to stop this war, I have been working to hold the administration accountable.  For example, I lead a measure in the 109th Congress during the House of Representatives’ consideration of the FY2007 Department of Defense appropriations bill that would prohibit funds appropriated from being used to engage in electronic surveillance in the United States, unless as directed by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA). Unfortunately this amendment was narrowly defeated by a margin of 207-219. You may access more information about this amendment on my Web site at http://www.house.gov/inslee/issues/privacy/warrantless_spying_vote.html.

Rest assured that I will continue to monitor the actions of the White House and keep you abreast of any information you might find useful. As always, I will be vigilant in the protection of our civil liberties and constitutional rights.

Please continue to contact me about the issues that concern you, as I both need and welcome your thoughts and ideas. As a service to my constituents, I maintain a website which contains valuable resources and information on Congressional activities. Please feel free to visit the website at http://www.house.gov/inslee for information on recent issues and to learn more about the services my office provides.

I encourage you to contact me via email, telephone, or fax, because security measures are causing House offices to experience delays in receiving postal mail.  My email address is: [email protected].  Please be sure to include your full name and address, including your zip code, in your message.

Very truly yours,
JAY INSLEE ҬMember of Congress
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Click here and encourage Inslee to Impeach..

2 Comments

  1. July 4, 2007
    A Patriot’s Message
    The hammer falls on the Constitution of the United States of America. Our freedom and Democracy, our sovereignty as a nation is coming to an end.
    The politically appointed neoconservatives in Justice sneer at Habeas Corpus; Geneva Convention; worker, consumer and investor protection; education; affirmative action; individual rights and “entitlements” like Social Security and health care.
    The corporate neo-con conspirators (Establishment) have their own agenda of a New World Order; W.T.O; N.A.F.T.A; immigration; globalization and “free trade”; military seizure of foreign oil fields; employing a private army of mercenaries and propagandist; “dealing” with Afghanistan Opium drug lords harboring Osama Bin Laden and financing Al Qaeda.
    The ideal corporate model is “Communism” where individual freedom and democracy are mute. The board of directors rule. The corporate neo-cons hate our regulatory government, Constitution and Individual Rights.
    Our Federal Government is purposely bankrupt by war/trade debt and the ideal corporate nation, China, are carrying trillions of dollars of our debt. Communist China and their junior corporate American partner’s technically own the”U.S.A” resulting in “Globalization” and loss of sovereignty. Mission accomplished. The surge strategy is not to win the war but to pump oil and further indebt U.S.A to Communist China. Patriots, sign on! Impeach Bush, Cheney and nullify their Supreme Court appointments!

  2. There are so many errors of judgement in his response. Washington passing a resolution to impeach bush or Cheney has the same legal effect as a resolution introduced by a U.S. House Rep. He’s obviously never read the U.S. House Rules.
    Also, investigations into crimes is not accountability unless it’s backed up by consequences. In this case, the consequence required is impeachment. Especially since investigations ALREADY COMPLETED by Conyers show sufficient wrongdoing for impeachment proceedings to begin.
    Thirdly, he talks about how the current administration would get to choose a successor to Cheney/Bush. Yes, but they would have to have the Senate confirm that choice. And with the current make up of the Senate, it would not be a neocon. In order to get 100% of Republicans, and at least 1 or 2 dems, it would have to be a middle-of-the-political-spectrum candidate. Especially since, when they appointed him/her, the country would be in the middle of a political climate where all the offenses the current administration committed would be being revealed for all the world to see.
    What truly angers me is that Inslee knows this. He’s attempting to sell this bill of goods to the public because it sounds reasonable, even though he knows it to be based on false assumptions. If I know these things, surely he does. He just realizes that the general public doesn’t, and is playing the public as fools. Don’t fall for it.

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