What do we do about the commutation? The coverup of the coverup? Here's what I did:
And tomorrow I'm going to gather even more signatures in support of impeachment.
What did you do?
Dear Congresswoman Davis,
As I was frenetically scouring blogs and news sites for more details yesterday, a friend called to make sure I had heard the news. We talked a bit and he said he hoped this would get the Congress to put an end to the president's ability to commute. I understood - but I disagreed. In the first place, of course, this is a power granted by the constitution, so putting a stop to it would require an amendment, and - well, simply, that's not going to happen. But even if it were possible - I don't want to take away that power.
The power of commutation was wisely embedded in our constitution as a check of one of our three (not four) branches of government, the executive, over another, the judicial. It protects our country from a judiciary run amok. This is important, and I value this check, no matter how much the current president may abuse it.
Our constitution, as you know, establishes many such powers to ensure that no one branch of government can assume absolute power; our nation was founded in reaction to the absolute power of the English monarchy, and its founders determined to establish a system where no such power could arise. Thus, three co-equal branches of government, with each serving to keep the next in check. Rock, scissors, paper.
I need hardly remind you of the most salient of the checks established by our constitution - but of course I shall, and of course that check is impeachment. George W. Bush's abuse of the power of commutation - his commutation of Irving "Scooter" Libby's sentence illustrates yet again the pervasive corruption of his administration; it is a coverup of the coverup. Libby lied to cover up the crimes of Bush and Cheney, in outing covert CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson, and the president has just commuted Libby's sentence to further obstruct justice. This is of course outrageous; it is criminal; and by God it is impeachable.
Will you please, at long last, realize the extent to which the Bush administration has subverted our constitution and betrayed our nation? Will you please stop pretending we can "work with" this criminal administration? Will you please acknowledge that the right course of action is to investigate, impeach, and remove from office George W. Bush and Dick Cheney? You can no longer claim that there is more important work for the Congress - for Republican obstructionism is obviously preventing such work from going forward, regardless. I cannot believe that you still operate under any kind of illusion that the administration will deal with you in the Congress, or we citizens, in anything resembling good faith.
It is time to get on board with impeachment. Please start by signing on as a cosponsor to Congressman Kucinich's bill to impeach Dick Cheney. Thank you for your time.
Peace,
--Carl Manaster
manaster@pobox.com