Why aren't more Americans supporting impeachment hearings for Cheney?

Question

Impeachment hearings are only proper when significant allegations exist that the President or Vice-President, or others civil officers, committed actions - within their official duties - that constitute 'High Crimes and Misdemeanors.' The allegations against Clinton - involving a personal affair - never reached this threshold. The serious charges against Cheney involve alleged crimes that are central to his duties of Vice-President; namely war and peace, the widespread violations of civil liberties, and the security of the United States and our covert agents.

This is no longer a partisan issue; conservatives and liberals see the damage done to our constitution by Bush and Cheneh.

Visit http://www.wexlerwantsanswers.com

I'm sorry; the correct web address is:

http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com

Answer 1

Write your Congressman and DEMAND it. (see second link)

Three senior members of the House Judiciary Committee have called for the immediate opening of impeachment hearings for Vice President Richard Cheney.

Democrats Robert Wexler of Florida, Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin on Friday distributed a statement, "A Case for Hearings," that declares, "The issues at hand are too serious to ignore, including credible allegations of abuse of power that if proven may well constitute high crimes and misdemeanors under our constitution. The charges against Vice President Cheney relate to his deceptive actions leading up to the Iraq war, the revelation of the identity of a covert agent for political retaliation, and the illegal wiretapping of American citizens."

In particular, the Judiciary Committee members cite the recent revelation by former White House press secretary Scott McClellan that the Vice President and his staff purposefully gave him false information about the outing of Valerie Plame Wilson as a covert agent as part of a White House campaign to discredit her husband, former Ambassador Joe Wilson. On the basis of McClellan's statements, Wexler, Gutierrez and Baldwin say, "it is even more important for Congress to investigate what may have been an intentional obstruction of justice." The three House members argue that, "Congress should call Mr. McClellan to testify about what he described as being asked to ‘unknowingly [pass] along false information.'"

Adding to the sense of urgency, the members note that "recent revelations have shown that the Administration including Vice President Cheney may have again manipulated and exaggerated evidence about weapons of mass destruction -- this time about Iran's nuclear capabilities."

Although Wexler, Gutierrez and Baldwin are close to Judiciary Committee chair John Conyers, getting the Michigan Democrat to open hearings on impeachment will not necessarily be easy. Though Conyers was a leader in suggesting during the last Congress that both President Bush and Vice President Cheney had committed impeachable offenses, he has been under immense pressure from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, to keep Constitutional remedies for executive excesses "off the table" in this Congress.

It is notable, however, that Baldwin maintains warm relations with Pelosi and that Wexler, a veteran member of the Judiciary Committee has historically had an amiable and effective working relationship with Conyers. There is no question that Conyers, who voted to keep open the impeachment debate on November 7, has been looking for a way to explore the charges against Cheney. The move by three of his key allies on the committee may provide the chairman with the opening he seeks, although it is likely he will need to hear from more committee members before making any kind of break with Pelosi -- or perhaps convincing her that holding hearings on Cheney's high crimes and misdemeanors is different from putting a Bush impeachment move on the table.

The most important immediate development, however, is the assertion of an "ask" for supporters of impeachment. Pulled in many directions in recent months, campaigners for presidential and vice presidential accountability have focused their attention on supporting a House proposal by Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nod, to impeach Cheney. When Kucinich forced consideration of his resolution on November 7, Pelosi and her allies used procedural moves to get it sent to the Judiciary Committee for consideration. Pelosi's hope was that the proposal would disappear into the committee's files.

The call for hearings by Wexler, Gutierrez and Baldwin puts impeachment on the table, at least as far as activists are concerned, creating a pressure point that can serve as a reply when House Democrats who are critical of Bush but cautious about impeachment ask: "What do you want me to do?" The answer can now be: "Back the call for Judiciary Committee hearings on whether to impeach Dick Cheney?"

"Some of us were in Congress during the impeachment hearings of President Clinton. We spent a year and a half listening to testimony about President Clinton's personal relations. This must not be the model for impeachment inquires. A Democratic Congress can show that it takes its constitutional authority seriously and hold a sober investigation, which will stand in stark contrast to the kangaroo court convened by Republicans for President Clinton. In fact, the worst legacy of the Clinton impeachment - where the GOP pursued trumped up and insignificant allegations - would be that it discourages future Congresses from examining credible and significant allegations of a constitutional nature when they arise," write Wexler, Gutierrez and Baldwin.

"The charges against Vice President Cheney are not personal," the House members add. "They go to the core of the actions of this Administration, and deserve consideration in a way the Clinton scandal never did. The American people understand this, and a majority support hearings according to a November 13 poll by the American Research Group. In fact, 70 percent of voters say that Vice President Cheney has abused his powers and 43 percent say that he should be removed from office right now. The American people understand the magnitude of what has been done and what is at stake if we fail to act. It is time for Congress to catch up."

Arguing that hearings need not distract Congress, Wexler, Gutierrez and Baldwin note that the focus is on Cheney for a reason: "These hearings involve the possible impeachment of the Vice President -- not our commander in chief -- and the resulting impact on the nation's business and attention would be significantly less than the Clinton Presidential impeachment hearings."

They also argue, correctly, that the hearings are necessary if Congress is to restore its position in the Constitutionally-defined system of checks and balances.

"Holding hearings would put the evidence on the table, and the evidence -- not politics -- should determine the outcome," the Judiciary Committee members explain. "Even if the hearings do not lead to removal from office, putting these grievous abuses on the record is important for the sake of history. For an Administration that has consistently skirted the constitution and asserted that it is above the law, it is imperative for Congress to make clear that we do not accept this dangerous precedent. Our Founding Fathers provided Congress the power of impeachment for just this reason, and we must now at least consider using it."

Answer 2

There are not enough votes in the Senate to remove them. Once the new Congress starts in January, the Dems have enough votes to impeach in the House (simple majority), but then they would stand trial in the Senate, where it will take a 2/3 majority to convict and remove from office. They don't have enough votes for that. It would take at least 16 Repubs to vote in favor of conviction, and that would never happen.

Answer 3

Because many americans voted for this person twice! For some reason a right winger will choose to roast in hell before admitting that they were wrong. Both Cheney and Bush should be impeached!
If this were a Democratic led presidency that got us into this mess in Iraq you can believe that they would be under impeachment proceedings right at this moment. The continued sitting in office of this Right Wing Republican Administration is a reflection of the strengh of the Nationalist movement of the Republican Party.
Thanks

Answer 4

*sigh* Tired of explaining so I'll just hit the points for you folk that just can't seem to get it through your head.

Wexler is an extremist idiot who has no clue.

Cheney has committed no impeachable crime nor has bush.

You really should look up the definition of insanity. Most Americans are smart enough to realize these facts and therefore don't share this ignorant opinion.

Answer 5

"The allegations against Clinton - involving a personal affair", OK let's correct this one right now.

He perjured himself under oath, which is no allegation, but fact.

As for VP Cheney, Pelosi would have rung him up already if there were any actual charges.

There aren't

She didn't

Get over it already.

Answer 6

Daibatok, I suggest you heed to the 5 last respondents, I would simply agree with them. I consider them good political analysts....good. Must you know that IMPEACHMENT IS NOT A LEGAL PROCESS BUT A POLITICAL PROCESS AND ISSUE....ONLY UPON THE SUBJECT IS IMPEACHED, THEN IT BECOMES A LEGAL PROCESS TO PROCEED....AND MIND YOU, ITS A DIVISIVE POLITICAL PROCESSes...DIVIDING THE PEOPLE...NOT SO PRACTICAL IN THIS CRITICAL ECONOMIC CHALLENGING TIME OF THE AMERICANS INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY...

...IT WILL ONLY SLIDE FURTHER THE volatile ECONOMY OF THE freedom SUPREME POWER...AND WILL OR MAY PULL THE NATION INTO UNHOLY HOUR OF DOOM....

Relax, don't let other aspiring devil advocates pull further Americans to the drain....impeaching anybody now in the higher echelon....is simply an act of....I just quote the other good respondent's word: STUPIDITY....and IF I may add....suicidal act in the wrong timing !!!

Americans I believe (an imperative and primordial acts) must take this time TILL NEXT 6 YEARS a united stand ...TO LOVE ONE'S COUNTRY AND PEOPLE, FOREMOST....TO SAVE THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS SHARE STILL THE PRESTIGE AND SENSE OF PRIDE FOR BEING AMERICANS...STILL STANDING GOOD TILL THIS TIME....I BELIEVE!!!

Answer 7

Everybody knows it is nothing but part of the endless Democrat assault, designed to fool waivering Dem voters who might vote more to the right this next time.

Answer 8

Most Americans don't know what's going on, and Congress is afraid of him. Otherwise, it would have been done already.

Answer 9

We need real crimes to have been committed and not what you read in some liberal rag.

Answer 10

Because it is useless, would you have impeached Al Capone?
No!
you need an Elliot Ness to take care of this criminals.