An open letter to Minnesota’s Congressional and Senatorial Delegation

Special to IFP
by Dan Dittmann

Recently there has been much going on within Minnesota attracting national attention. As recently reported by major media outlets, Minnesotans have witnessed blizzards, droughts, wild fires, flash flooding, and a major bridge collapse all in the course of a few months.

These events are unfortunate and tragic; there is no debate about this. However, these events, as well as other natural disasters and accidents around the country are serving to cloud and over shadow the growing anger toward the administration of George W. Bush.

Individuals and organizations at all levels are calling for the immediate impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney. For over two years, the call for impeachment has been growing, yet, the legislative branch has remained silent or in many cases, complicit to the administration. Support for impeachment comes from all sides of the political spectrum and includes present and former presidential candidates. Impeachment is also supported by groups such as the National Lawyers Guild, the Green Party National Committee, Veterans for Peace, Impeach for Peace, and After Downing Street to name a few.

Impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney is not a decision anyone has come to easily. Seldom does a week go by where another impeachable offense is not reported in our national media. House Resolution 333 of the 110th Congress, which focuses on the conduct of Richard Cheney outlines more than a half dozen such offenses. Additionally, George W. Bush and administration officials have lied before Congress and to the American people to wage a preemptive war under false pretenses, violated international treaties, destabilized international relations, and subverted the United States Constitution while dangerously expanding the powers of the executive branch.

Compounding the matter, the legislative branch has been at best, asleep at the wheel or at worst complicit. Recent legislation such as the FISA act, the Military Commissions act of 2006 as well as the Patriot acts 1 & 2 could not have been enacted without congressional approval.

Be it resolved, Minnesotans as well as the American public demand Congress reassert its Constitutional authority and Constitutional obligation to question and hold the administration of George W. Bush accountable through the initiation of impeachment proceedings.

Be it further resolved, legislation, which has been passed into law with the intent to infringe upon civil liberties, be stricken. Since the fall of 2001, legislation which is unnecessary at best and dangerous at worst has been passed into law under the guise of keeping America safe. All laws concerning the security of America must be reevaluated. Contrary to assertions, “the terrorists” do not hate us for our freedom, but they do have the power to scare us into legislating our freedoms away. By that metric, “the terrorists” are winning.

Concluding, Minnesotans and Americans alike are angry at the way our country has had its image tarnished under George W. Bush’s administration. The crimes committed by George W. Bush, Richard Cheney as well as administration officials are more than adequate to warrant impeachment. Congress must act through the initiation of impeachment proceedings.

Understandably, impeachment is something that should not be rushed into. For this reason, I am challenging each and every one of you to hold hearings within your district on the impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney. Those who refuse should resign. No longer will it be acceptable to place personal and political ambitions ahead of your constitutionally sworn obligation to America.

Dan Dittmann
5th Congressional District Resident
Former 1st and 2nd Congressional District Resident