McGovern has but one word of advice for Dick Cheney - Resign.
I love it when they keep it simple.
McGovern Friday for the Nation:
"What we have learned about how he has conducted himself leaves no doubt that he should be out of office," McGovern says of Cheney. "If he had any respect for the Constitution or the country, he would resign."
(...)
"There is no question in my mind that Cheney has committed impeachable offenses. So has George Bush," argues McGovern. "Bush is much more impeachable than Richard Nixon was. That's been clear for some time. There does not seem to be much sentiment for impeachment in Congress now, but around the country people are fed up with this administration."
(emphasis mine)
McGovern has also provided some of the most exacting recent criticism of this administration:
Mr. President, would not you and all the rest of us do well to ponder the farewell words of President Eisenhower: "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of the unwarranted influence of the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."
Finally, Mr. President, I ask have you kept your oath of office to uphold the Constitution when you use what you call the war on terrorism to undermine the Bill of Rights? On what constitutional theory do you seize and imprison suspects without charge, sometimes torturing them in foreign jails? On what constitutional or legal basis have you tapped the phones of Americans without approval of the courts as required by law? Are you above the Constitution, above the law, and above the Geneva accords? If we are fighting for freedom in Iraq as you say, why are you so indifferent to protecting liberty here in America?
All I can say is thank goodness for Senator McGovern and all other elder statesmen of his quality. I can only hope against hope that our generation produces men of equal wisdom. I understand the frustration some feel that our current elected leaders cannot always see things with such clarity.
In the wake of the Libby verdict, it is clear that Dick Cheney has no place left in public service. To paraphrase some of their oft-used terms, this man is not fit to be "a heartbeat away" from the Presidency. McGovern has it right, if Dick Cheney had any sense of decency or honor he would at this point step aside, "for the good of the country".
That Cheney will not resign from office is an obvious assumption. Will our leaders follow the advice of McGovern, Mayor Anderson, countless other public figures and most importantly - the essence of the rule of law, and impeach those who need to be held accountable?