Princeton NJ: Overwhelming Vote for Impeachment

After Downing Street — Overwhelming Vote for Impeachment in Princeton NJ
Prominent Speakers Cite Evidence of High Crimes and Misdemeanors

Close to 100 people attended a panel by experts on impeachment June 10 where members of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) voted overwhelmingly for a resolution of impeachment against Bush and Cheney. The vote was 31-13, and is the first vote for impeachment in NJ. Organized by the PCDO’s Impeachment Task Force, the regular meeting of the PCDO was swelled by many other concerned area residents.

David Lindorff, co-author of “The Case for Impeachment” with Barbara Olshanski, Esq. argued, “The Constitution is at risk and that the primary offenses have no need for further investigation since they are publicly admitted. Thus, Congress could vote immediately to impeach the President for these offenses.”

1. The President has stated that he does not have to enforce laws passed by Congress in 100’s of signing statements. Bush’s statements are contrary to the Constitution which provides that Congress enacts laws and the Executive enforces them.
2. The Bush Administration wiretapped and monitored American citizens on the Internet in violation of the FISA ACT, enacted in 1978 after Nixon was impeached for wiretapping. A Federal Judge in Michigan in July 2006 ruled that President Bush was committing a Class A felony and violating the Bill of Rights by wiretapping American citizens without a warrant.
3. Torture was authorized by the President despite warning by the Attorney General that this is a serious crime, actually a capital offense, under US and international law. He cited evidence that at least 100 people have died under US torture. This policy has led to serious international repercussions and the fact that enemy combatants will not surrender, as they did in other wars where they knew they would be treated humanely.

Resolution on Impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney (6/10/07)

Submitted by Linda Gochfeld and Mary Ellen Marino Co-chairs, Impeachment Task Force

WHEREAS, George Bush and Dick Cheney, as President and Vice President, have sworn to protect the Constitution of the United States, but instead have acted so as to undermine the Constitution, meeting the definition of “high crimes and misdemeanors” which Constitutionally justifies impeachment;

WHEREAS, among their offenses are the following:

1. Making false statements to Congress and the American people in order to justify the Iraq War;
2. Invading a country which was not a threat to the U.S., incurring great and ongoing destruction of life, the loss of international support, and increased threat to our security;
3. Violating the Constitution and international law by imprisoning people arbitrarily and secretly without trial, and subjecting these prisoners to abuse and torture;
4. Subverting the Constitution and abusing Presidential authority by asserting a “Unitary Executive” principle of unlimited presidential powers, using “signing statements” to disobey hundreds of laws passed by Congress, and promulgating “counter-terrorist” laws which violate civil liberties;
5. Performing electronic surveillance of US citizens without court approval, violating the law;
6. Involvement directly or indirectly in widespread election irregularities, raising serious questions about the validity of their election and reelection;
7. Failing to enforce laws of fiduciary responsibility; allowing major corruption in military contracting, (e.g. no-bid contracts with Halliburton, Cheney’s previous employer); failing to enforce laws protecting the environment, workers and consumers; and regularly appointing officials who are unqualified, either by virtue of experience or conflict of interest, thereby risking public safety and welfare as in Hurricane Katrina.

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party is the only organized opposition party in the United States, and thus has a special obligation to take a strong position in the face of these clearly recognized abuses by the Republican Administration;

WHEREAS, Democratic Parties in thirteen (13) states and numerous localities have now passed resolutions to support the impeachment of Bush and Cheney for these offenses;

WHEREAS, since these actions pose an imminent threat to our Constitutional rights, democracy and the rule of law, they must be addressed immediately by the strongest possible means, i.e. impeachment proceedings. If these crimes are allowed to continue unchecked, the future of democracy in America will be seriously damaged;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Princeton Community Democratic Organization supports Congressional action that will lead to the impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney for their offenses against the US Constitution and the American people.

New Jersey has three regional impeach groups aiming to introduce and pass a state resolution for impeachment. They are North Jersey Impeach at www.impeachthem.com, Central Jersey Impeach Group which organized this forum, and the South Jersey Impeach Group.

Rob Kall, publisher of OpEdNews.com, noted that the current Kucinich bill to impeach Cheney first is similar to the forced resignation of Nixon’s Vice President Spiro Agnew. He said that was the beginning of the end, which is starting now as “Republicans will go to the White House and tell them to go.” He discussed the role of the media in distorting the news and recommended Keith Olbermann on MSNBC as one of the few media truth-tellers.

Mark Crispin Miller, a professor of media studies at NYU and author of Fooled Again: The Real Case for Electoral Reform asserted that Bush has never actually been elected, since his book cites proof of massive fraud in the elections of 2000, 2004 and 2006. “If we take our laws seriously, we must impeach.” Miller says that the Attorney General scandal is further proof the Bush administration’s effort to subvert democracy. “If we believe in America and its radical democratic experiment, we have no choice, impeachment is a patriotic obligation.” Miller reassured the audience that Bush is the most unpopular President ever and that the media are a “cartel” of five companies, not a reflection of the American people.

Miller argued that the Administration is not conservative but radical and “fundamentally hostile to American democracy. They don’t believe in government, fiscal prudence, or separation of powers, they favor corporate welfare and want to destroy the separation of church and state”. Bush, himself, says, “God speaks through me” and shares fanatic Christian beliefs about invading Iran for Biblical reasons. Rather than improving national security, Miller said that the Administration did nothing when repeatedly warned about 9/11, Katrina , Iraq ‘s chaos after our takeover, that the war would create more terrorism.

When questioned about the practicality of impeachment, Lindorff explained that “The Founding Fathers wanted it to be easy to impeach in the House, in order to strongly condemn actions. But they made removal from office more difficult. He also noted for those concerned about the effects on the 2008 election, “Democrats made out like bandits on Nixon. Despite his winning by a landslide in 1972, he lost by impeachment hearings beginning May 1973 that gripped the country, and resulted in his resignation in August 1974.” He also stressed that Democrats make sure that impeachment becomes a bipartisan effort, which has already started as Republicans are turning against Bush and Cheney.

About the speakers:

Mark Crispin Miller, author of Bush Dyslexicon and professor of Media Studies at NYU, has a new paperback version of Fooled Again: The Real Case for Electoral Reform. The new edition has a 100 page “Afterward” detailing the new evidence of massive electoral fraud.

David Lindorff, co-author of The Case for Impeachment with Barbara Olshanski, Esq. Is a veteran investigative reporter who first broke the story of the device on Bush’s back during the 2004 debate and the Ashcroft Operation Tipster which as being implemented by the private “America’s Most Wanted.”

Rob Kall, founder of OpEdNews, published 1200 articles a month from prominent experts as well as ordinary people like those in the local audience.

(Original Article)

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