Impeachment: I'm asking you. Do you think it's time?
I admit, at first I was excited -- I thought perhaps Dennis was asking about he himself getting impeached.
Instead, and predictably, Kucinich is asking: whether you think impeachment of Bush is an appropriate decision. He doesn't say exactly who he wants this feedback from -- his Congressional constituents or prospective presidential voters? Anyway, here's some of Dennis' message:
Today is the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq. We know it was wrong to go into this war and it's wrong to stay in.
Do we? Reasonable people disagree on whether it was "wrong to go into this war." But what about whether it is "wrong to stay in"? This is very much an open question and, I believe, a very difficult conclusion to come to even if you think it was wrong to "go into this war."
Kucinich also assumes the reader shares his impression that the US freely chose to go into this war. It's true that the US chose the time and place of this engagement. But it did so, whether you agree with the wisdom or not, as part of a larger effort to combat terrorism and its root causes. And that war is a war the US is in whether it wants to be or not.
For four years I have been working to end this war, including leading the effort to cut off continued funding for the war. There is enough money to bring our troops home and we should do that.
"There is enough money to bring our troops home and we should do that." What the heck does this mean? Is he referring to current attempts to reward Congressmen with pork barrell spending in exchange for opposing the war? If so, I guess I can see how it would cost a lot of money to "bring our troops home." That's a lot of people to pay off!
Or perhaps Kucinich is referring to the possibility of funding some sort of international/UN coalition of peacekeepers and how much that might cost. That kind of undermines the argument not to fund the war, doesn't it?
But the Bush administration, with the help of some in Congress, wants to pour more money into this war. Worse than that, the Bush administration now is signaling its intention to wage war with Iran. We cannot allow that to happen. So I'm asking you. Do you think it's time? I'm talking about time for impeachment. I ask because we are now have a condition in this country where we are told to take impeachment off the table, and keep on the table a U.S. military attack against Iran.
OK, stop. Impeachment? For what exactly? You can't impeach someone because you don't like something they did or might do. You have to provide evidence of a crime. If Dennis has it, I'd like to see it. And don't tell me this is an "illegal war" when it was authorized by Congress. Kucinich might think it was unwise, but that doesn't make it illegal.
This situation calls for us to reconsider very deeply the moment that we're in – where our Constitution is being trashed, where international law is being violated, where our hopes and dreams for the education of our children, for the health of our people, for housing, for our veterans, are being set aside as we go deeper and deeper into war. We need a whole discussion in America. And with your help, we're about to have one.
Uh-huh. The Constitution is being "trashed." It is? Kucinich sounds like a guy who couldn't even make the high school debate team -- all bluster, zero evidence. International law is violated? Where and how? Guantanamo? Please cite some international law that applies, and while you are at it please cite where it says the US is subservient to it. Hopes and dreams for the education of children? Dennis, go back to sociology class and read how security is a prerequisite for society. Housing? Are you kidding? Who says housing in a problem? Show me the evidence that the "housing" situation is poor or at least poor compared to past decades. Veterans? Dennis, do you have any poll numbers regarding your support among veterans?
Dennis claims that, "We need a whole discussion in America." How unbelievably condescending. Apparently Dennis does not think there's been enough discussion about these matters in the past 5 1/2 years. He doesn't appear to think voters might have considered these issues during the 3 Congressional and one Presidential election since 9/11. He doesn't seem to recall world debate at the UN or across the globe. He must not pay very close attention to newspapers, television, radio, or the internet. Or maybe he just discounts all that because that debate largely ignored him.
We're four years into Iraq and over five since 9/11 and finally Dennis wants to have a big discussion with us. Hey thanks Dennis. Keep up the good work.
Me personally, I've tried to discuss this with Dennis several times by voting against him.
Here's the rest of Kucinich's email. It ends with the real purpose of the impeachment talk -- to raise money. No surprise there.
Please go to my website, and watch the video posted today, "Impeachment: I'm asking you. Do you think it's time?" ... http://kucinich.us/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?q=195831&u=310
You may find the printed transcript of this video at ... http://kucinich.us/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?q=195831&u=311
Or you can see this video on my YouTube site, at ... http://kucinich.us/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?q=195831&u=312
Once you've watched or read this statement, please send me your comments. Over this past weekend there were thousands of demonstrations against this war being waged by the President with the consent of Congress. This must stop.
Then talk to your friends, family, and neighbors. Get them together for a house party to discuss this war, and our options to stop it. Click here for information on a house party kit.
Please join with me on this day by signaling your continued support for ending this war. Your voice is important.
And so is your contribution. We need your help to carry our message forward. Our goal is to raise $50 million for this campaign, $50 at a time from one million concerned Americans: http://kucinich.us/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?q=195831&u=314;id=1
Be One of a Million. Please contribute today to show your support for ending this war.
posted by Michael at 2:59 PM
0 comments
