The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #92714   Message #2385653
Posted By: Amos
10-Jul-08 - 09:44 AM
Thread Name: BS: A Declaration of Impeachment
Subject: RE: BS: A Declaration of Impeachment
Here's the text of the letter that Kucinoch sent out today:

"Dear Colleague:

At President Bush's request, Congress passed an authorization for the use of military force against Iraq on October 16, 2002. At least a dozen key material representations made to Congress by the President in that authorization, in furtherance of Congressional action, were false at the time they were made. The breadth and depth of the President's misrepresentations do not argue for incompetency as a defense, but for deceit as an impeachable offense.

We have arrived at a teachable moment in our Constitutional history. Congress must insist on accountability. We must regain our rightful role as a co-equal branch of government charged with providing a check and balance to Executive abuse of power. In Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, our Founders placed the war power in the hands of the House of Representatives. This separation of powers was expressly intended to prevent a President from unilaterally summoning troops to war in the manner of a king.

Are we willing to respect our institution, our Constitution and ourselves? Will this President, at last, be held accountable for lying to Congress to gain authorization for the use of force against Iraq? Will we allow future Presidents to take office knowing they can commit the same acts with impunity?

Tomorrow I will bring forth a single article of impeachment which reviews the factual misrepresentations the President made to Congress to induce a favorable vote for the authorization for war.

The only question that remains is - - will we do anything about it?"