We all know what the final move is—impeachment. Checkmate.
We are all focusing on that final move. What isn’t as clear are the moves leading up to checkmate. The Judiciary Committees issue subpoenas. Bush defies them. Then what?
There is a firestorm of media coverage and public outrage is—where? Bush fires Gonzales and the story—rages?—drizzles away? Next week, or the week after, there is a new story.
A standard chess problem will give a board position and an instruction such as "Checkmate in five moves." Find the solution and checkmate is inevitable.
I’ll restate my question. The Judiciary Committees issue subpoenas. Bush defies them. Then what?
The courts are useless here. As stated elsewhere, they would likely say that it is between Congress and the President. Even if they didn’t, the time frame for resolution would likely be somewhere in the middle of the next President’s term. So this becomes a real Constitutional crisis. Checks and balances, legislative vs. executive power. Impeachment isn’t the next move, it’s the last move.
In sustaining our outrage, in urging Congress to stronger action, let’s not forget that.
What comes next is up to our leaders in Congress and the willingness of the public to pay attention. Let’s hope our leaders have both the brains and the courage to see it through. We can do our part by helping the public to pay attention.
As an approach to a solution, I would suggest that a series of bi-partisan actions is necessary. The first, which is already in play, is the repeal of the Justice Department power grab. Each step must be calibrated so that a Bush response produces the necessary conditions for a stronger response, and perhaps the override of a Bush veto. This needs to be about Congress vs. the President, not Democrats vs. Republicans.
Checkmate in five moves?
(I have been adding my voice in comments for several years, but this is my first diary.)