Censuring Bush Is Not Enough!

An open letter to Senator Russell D. Feingold, of Wisconsin, highlightling the ineptitude of censuring the president and why impeachment is the proper instrument for accountability.


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Tuesday, July 24, 2007


The Honorable Russell D. Feingold
United States Senate
506 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4904
DC Phone: 202-224-5323
DC Fax: 202-224-2725


Dear Senator Feingold,


With all due respect and support for restoring the rule of law, if these transgressions (listed below) are not impeachable, what usurpations do rise to the level of a High Crime? Is impeachment optional in the face of such blatant and incontrovertible evidence, or does not the Constitution stipulate Congress must act?

Bush/Cheney Offenses:

- The assertion that Iraq was linked to al-Qaeda;
- The claim that Iraq harbored weapons of mass destruction that threatened the U.S.;
- The knowingly false declaration in the 2003 State of the Union Address that Saddam Hussein tried to purchase yellow-cake uranium from Niger;
- Insufficient war planning;
- The failure to protect troops and preserve the military;
- Fiscal mismanagement of the war.
- The implementation of the illegal, domestic wiretapping program and for misleading the American people regarding the legality of the warrantless program;
- The use of military commissions;
- Redefining torture;
- The politicization of the U.S. Attorney scandal;
- The refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas.

The only proper instrument for accountability -- when a president becomes despotic in his actions -- is impeachment, trial, and removal for failure to respect and honor the Constitution and faithfully execute the laws of the land.

Impeachment is a just and necessary remedy and I disagree that it takes away from other work Congress should and can be doing. When you have a president who openly flouts and disobeys the law, intentionally attempts to erase the separation of powers of our tripartite government and assume dictatorial powers, no work, as has been the case so far, except for the minimum wage bill, will be accomplished!

Here's the simple reason why: No matter what legislation Congress passes, Bush will veto it, ignore it, or add a dubious “signing statement”, making unilateral claims he may ignore it or claim the bill is "unconstitutional", plainly bypassing the judicial process of the Supreme Court, as well. As many historians have appropriately point out, not even King George III of England had or assumed these kinds of tyrannical powers.

I fully understand that impeachment starts in the House of Representatives, but it is also your solemn duty, as much as it there's, to ensure the Constitution is respected and the laws of the land rule our country, not an imperial president who ignores them or invalidates them.

Censuring Bush and Cheney is a start, but there must be far more significant consequences for these abuses of power, or the actions of Bush and Cheney will simply become historical precedence for future abuses by future presidents, Republican or Democratic.

The fabric of democracy is feeling the strain and we must unburden our country from a despotic president and a dangerous vice-president who uses fear and subjugation to rule by and not the rule of law to govern our nation.



Frank J. Ranelli