It's the shortest day of the year. Our ancient ancestors feared these dark days when the sun rises and sets at its most southern point, but the Winter Solstice
is also the ultimate symbol for hope – this is the darkest it will get – every day from here on will get brighter as the promise of spring grows ever closer.
Despite the media whitewash, things do seem to be about as bad as they can get for our nation. Every day brings new revelations of corruption and illegal activities within the current administration. Even loyal Republicans are beginning to break from their lockstep approval when confronted with the arrogant mindset that thinks it’s permissible to torture prisoners and spy on US citizens.
Almost 230 years ago our Founders believed that “we the people” could form a more perfect union. That was their vision, but it has never been a given. In every generation there have been forces of power and greed that seek to deny the people what was so clearly defined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. In these dark days our generation is realizing that the highest levels of our government have been infested with corruption and arrogance that is systematically dismantling the foundation of our nation.
Today, I decided to honor these few precious hours of daylight by reading the Constitution of the United States of America – the very core of who we are as a people. What an elegant, unambiguous masterpiece our Founders crafted! Back in grade school, when we had to memorize the preamble to the Constitution, most of us were too young to appreciate the full implications of what we were reciting. Today, with the perspective of age and the insight of experience, I marvel that men of a time so different from ours could have had the wisdom and foresight to create such a timeless and just structure for governing. You don't have to be a lawyer to appreciate what they bequeathed to us.
Now it's our turn, “we the people”, to reclaim our democracy and defend our Constitution. Our weapons are there to be read in that remarkable document that defines the framework of our society. Let us wield them with courage and perseverance as we march forward toward brighter days.
I invite you to read these words from our Constitution and then call on your legislators to honor their oath to support it: CensureBush.org
Excerpts from
The Constitution of the United States
of America
We the people of the United States,
in order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article I, Sec. 2: The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
Article I, Sec. 3: The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present.
Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States: but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.
Article II, Sec. 1: In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, andthe Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability,
both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
Article II, Sec. 1: Before he (the President) enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Article II, Sec. 4: The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
<font size="2">Article VI: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers,both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution.</font>
Go to CensureBush.org to support legislation introduced by Congressman John
Conyers that would censure President Bush and Vice President Cheney and create
a select committee to investigate the Administration's possible crimes and
make recommendations regarding grounds for impeachment.