In his response today to my email encouraging the impeachment of Bush and Cheney and the support of Kucinich's HR333-Bill now before the HJC, Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) invoked a response reminiscent of capitulating Hillary at the last debate. It seems that the Democratic members of Congress have adopted doubletalk as their universal language whereby they say one thing but do another and even freely capitulate on issues within the same letter or speech. A look at Salazar's position(s) on the issues with commentary after the break.
Let me first say that I share your concerns and frustrations regarding many of the Bush Administration’s actions and policies. On a wide range of critical issues, including the war in Iraq, our nation’s long-term fiscal outlook, and the response to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, this Administration has taken our country in the wrong direction and failed to fulfill its responsibilities to the American people.
While I certainly understand the desire of many Americans to see the Administration held to account for its actions, I believe there are more constructive ways to accomplish this goal than impeachment or censure. With Democrats now in control of Congress, we have an opportunity to exercise our important oversight responsibilities by vigorously and responsibly investigating many of this Administration’s alleged abuses. My colleagues and I are firmly committed to doing just that.
Alright so Salazar doesn't believe in impeachment or censure as a method of holding the Bush Administration accountable for its actions. Salazar believes in "oversight" by "vigorously and responsibly investigating many of this Administration's alleged abuses." Alleged abuses? It seems that Senator Salazar is not convinced that any evidence of perjury, obstruction, political sabotage, or even war crimes have come to the surface as of yet. Why investigate the "alleged abuses", Senator, if impeachment and prosecution are not acceptable methods of accountability to you? Oh but wait a minute, it seems that the Senator has been just teasing us as he and his constituents have already commenced their investigations.
In fact, we have already made considerable progress toward that end. In the first seven months of the new Congress, Democrats have investigated, among other things, the flawed intelligence that led us into Iraq as well as the overall conduct of the war; the cronyism that has pervaded the awarding of many government contracts; the politicization of the Justice Department; the intolerable conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center; and alleged corruption within the student loan industry. We have also succeeded in forcing changes to the leadership of some of our most important federal agencies – the most recent example being the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, which I and several of my Democratic colleagues had been calling for.
And thus Senator Salazar apparently has discovered that some of the "abuses" are not "alleged" but are proven to exist, I think. Not that any of the now proven "abuses" would warrant impeachment or even censure.
You can be assured that my colleagues and I will continue to do everything within our power to stand up to the Bush Administration when its actions and policies threaten the future direction of our nation, and to hold members of the Administration accountable for their past abuses and failures.
Everything within your power, Senator, except impeachment? You are going to "stand up (for) to the Bush Administration" by continuing the war funding which you have voted in favor of consistently? You are going to "hold members of the Administration accountable for their past abuses and failures" by letting members of this Administration, like Gonzales, resign from office? I can't believe that even you, Senator Salazar, would dare to take credit for that. Did I miss something? Your "more constructive" methods of holding Bush and Cheney and this Administration "accountable" are what exactly? Just exactly when were you going to reveal the findings of your "investigations" and are your investigations and revelations an end in and of themselves? Do you suggest that all Americans can take solace in the fact that you and other members of Congress are planning to embarass this Administration with your findings just before they leave office, or just after?
I suggest Senator Salazar that there are too many Trojan Horses like yourself in the Congress who doubletalk on issues but take no discernable action on behalf of the true Democratic Party comprised of private American citizens. Congressman Kucinich has introduced a Bill in the House that represents the first attempt by Congress to hold this Administration accountable for its actions through impeachment and he was opposed by Speaker Pelosi and the majority of the House Democrats. It is small wonder that Americans view the Democratic majority in Congress in lower esteem than the most unpopular President in modern times.