RFK Lives posted an interesting diary about their conversation with a hill staffer recently, in which s/he points out that Dems have waited for 12 years to re-take the majority on the hill, and they want to work on passing good laws rather impeach the bastids in the White House.
Fair enough – legislators want to legislate. They’ve been chomping at the bit to take over and pass good laws that will help millions of Americans. They want to feel like they matter again after spending 12 years on the sidelines & I can totally understand all that having worked on the Hill once upon a time. But those legislators took an oath to uphold the Constitution and our Constitution’s under attack by Bush, Cheney and Gonzo.
I don’t give a shit about what they want to do – they took an oath and it’s high time they lived up to that oath and at least set up impeachment hearings to look into the crimes of BushCo.
I took this very same oath when I worked on the Hill. Everyone swears to it – even a lowly staffer like me...
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
Each and every one of our CongressCritters took this same oath – word for word. They are honor-bound to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and folks it’s under attack right now. Signing statements and refusals to comply with Congressional subpoenas – which are destroying our system of checks & balances in government, warrentless domestic spying, ignoring the right of habeas corpus... the list goes on and on and on. If those subpoenas get sent to the courts we’ll very likely lose given the way Bush has stacked the bench with Federalist Society neocons. The only way to deal with this is through impeachment.
Frankly, I don’t care what our CongressCritters would rather do.
It’s time they did their job and at the very least held hearings.
So if I had just 5 minutes with my CongressCritter, I’d remind him that he has a duty to protect and defend our Constitution and the only way to do that is to at least start hearings to investigate the high crimes & misdemeanors of this Administration. It doesn’t come down to what they want to do – they have a fiduciary responsiblity to defend the Constitution, period.
Despite all those other diaries telling us Pelosi’s said this or impeachment’s impossible blah blah blah, we should still contact our CongressCritters and try to get a face to face while they’re home for the 4th, to make our case for impeachment. Ask them what it’s going to take for them to FINALLY sign on to this bill as a co-sponsor.
Consider this an ACTION diary you guys. Call your CongressCritter now (1-800-828-0498) and ask them - no DEMAND that they co-sponsor H Res 333. Tell them it's time to impeach Dick Cheney.
While you're at it - send this email to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ...
Dear Speaker Pelosi -
I urge you to support H Res 333. The Resolution to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney.
Thank You
Call your CongressCritter (1-800-828-0498).
Send Pelosi an email
Call Pelosi at 202-225-4965 in DC
San Francisco Office - (415) 556-4862
Tell her to put impeachment BACK on the freakin’ table.
The July 4th holiday is coming up and our CongressCritters are going to be home for a few days. Call their District Office right now, and see if you can get an appointment for face time with your CongressCritter to discuss the WH refusal to comply with Congressional subpoenas, and what they plan to do about. Bring friends, neighbors & family with you and get together ahead of time to map out what you're going to say if you get an appointment.
If the CongressCritter's not available then ask to meet with their staffer who deals with the judiciary / justice issues.
Explain that the option of taking this to the courts is a non-starter given the way Congress has allowed Bush to stack the courts with Federalist Society neocons, and that the only option at this point is impeachment.
Tell them the reason for your visit is to urge them to co-sponsor and fight to pass H Res 333.
And if they won't agree to a meeting then take it to the streets. Get a few friends, neighbors & family together and picket their disctrict office(s). Invite the press and local media.
My mom took part in an event at her CongressCritter’s office – Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) after his staffer wouldn’t meet with them to discuss bringing habeas corpus back to the table on June 26th. About 40 grannies. No media. The Oakland Press sent a photographer but that’s about it. No worries - The Raging Grannies rocked on anyway...
Raging Grannies at Knollenger’s Office on YouTube
Check it out – they’re great and hey... it just might inspire you to take on your CongressCritter if they’re dumb enough to toe the WH line on this shite.
And don’t ya just LOVE the hats?
Rock on folks – let’s take it to them in their districts over the 4th!!!!!
If you don’t know who your CongressCritter is, go to Congress.org, where you can plug in your zip code and it links you to your Congresscritters...
Congress.org
Use it - find your CongressCritters' sites and BOOKMARK the "contact me" page.