Cindy Sheehan is running as an independent for Congress against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Ms. Sheehan recently sent the following email to her supporters:
“This past week, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Oh) historically and courageously introduced 35 articles of impeachment against (p)Resident George W. Bush. Repeated calls to Speaker Pelosi’s offices gave many of us the assurance that impeachment was still off her ‘table.’ The latest absolutely frivolous reason is that impeachment would be ‘divisive.’
“Hello!? The constitution (of our what now has become a rogue nation) DIVIDES our federal government into three distinct branches that were set up to be “checks and balances” on each other. This week, we also witnessed the Supreme Court place a legal check on BushCo by overturning provisions in the Military Commissions Act. Does Ms. Pelosi believe that the nearly eight years of the most criminal administration (and that’s saying something) in US history has been divisive to our country? The founders placed tensions in our founding document to uphold the rule of law and oftentimes divisions are productive when the rule of law is followed.
“She has also claimed that she trampled all over our constitution because the House is trying to ‘change course in Iraq.’ This is the most laughable excuse, unless one considers appropriating over half a trillion dollars and the deaths of 1100 American troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis (since she has been in ‘charge’) is a new direction.
“Last Wednesday (June 11th) when the House voted to send the articles to be buried and for all intents and purposes killed in the House Judiciary Committee EVERY DEMOCRAT voted to do this. A simple majority is needed to send the indictment of the president or vice president to the Senate, where there does seem to be an insurmountable 2/3rds vote need to convict and remove from office, but Pelosi’s ‘not enough votes in the House, and Senate,’ is probably one of the lamest excuses. The vote on Wednesday was proof that the Dems can vote in a block and it is NOT Ms. Pelosi’s job to worry about what happens in the Senate. The closer this nation gets to impeachment, the more healing can begin to happen and the reps that courageously stand up for our country and the rule of law will be honored in posterity, but the ones that do not will be vilified by a future that is bereft of peace and justice.
“Instead of offering us silly justifications for abdicating her constitutional obligations, I challenge Ms. Pelosi to answer each and every one of the 35 charges that Dennis leveled against George Bush and explain, in writing with the same attention to detail that Dennis gave to the articles, why her good buddy, George, is not guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors (if not treason). I would like to see her put foth constitutional and legal arguments befitting the stature of her office.
“One of the statements defending Nancy’s lack of oversight that I find to be the most dismissive and abhorrent to 4100 American families is that George Bush is not ‘worth it.’ What is he worth? A retirement from politics where he slinks off scott-free to Texas with his pointy tail tucked between his legs, (or by some reports, Paraguay), where he will be able to bike and/or clear brush to his heart’s content while millions of people suffer from his regimes’ scorched earth policies?
“If George is not ‘worth’ Ms Pelosi’s troubles, then I want to suggest to her billions of beings that are ‘worth it:’ My new grandson, Jonah, and his peers who deserve a world where peace and prosperity are the norm: not war, poverty, famine and violence.
“A few of the articles (torture, war, and warrantless spying, for some) definitely implicate the Democrats as much as BushCo and the Republicans, but for future justice, impeachment must be instituted immediately or Ms. Pelosi must cogently and speedily answer the American public as to why she refuses do her duty. We are sick of tired platitudes, sound bites and talking points.
“We demand answers.”
4 responses so far ↓
1 Ellison Horne // Jun 14, 2008 at 12:58 am
Cindy Sheehan is an American hero!
If the Democrats in Congress continue to push aside impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney, I’m strongly considering giving my support to a Third Party–likely Nader.
As an African American, I have made considerable effort in supporting Sen. Obama. However, if impeachment continues to be “off the tableâ€, so will be my support for Mr. Obama.
Many of our nation’s Black brothers and sisters are in the prison system for committing far less harm to our society than President Bush and his Neo-Con-men in the White House (who signed the Project for the New American Century manifesto for world domination at all cost).
Yet, to those incarcerated, as well as to the larger public, how do we justify our nation’s conduct regarding crime and punishment when the Bush administration has, in effect, usurped our Constitution.
Additionally, Speaker Nancy Pelosi should be investigated for aiding the Bush administration, stating in a recent letter to me, “I believe impeachment proceedings against Vice President Dick Cheney will distract us from our mission…â€.
Well, to Ms. Pelosi and all those who are relentlessly enabling this epic tragedy of senseless death, shattered lives, broken families, mind-numbing abuses of our hard-earned tax dollars, savage corporate exploitation; I say, JUSTICE IS NO DISTRACTION! There is no justice without impeachment!
Many in Congress and the Senate had the same intelligence as the White House administration, yet their conclusions were vastly different and, as it turns out, shockingly correct.
The press, which as we now know from Bill Moyers’ insightful PBS documentary, “Buying the Warâ€, rather than giving us the benefit of being watch-dog, instead served as lap-dog to the Bush White House—providing no real means for adequate public scrutiny.
The Congressional Black Caucus stood in the House on the eve of the invasion on Iraq and made fact-based, rational, and passionate presentations pleading with the President not to invade Iraq.
Sadly, most Americans to this day still do not know about those presentations because the mainstream press never reported that historic event.
It is now time for us, all of us, to speak up to our elected officials in the name of justice. Our laws say we are entitled to impeachment proceedings, and our morality demands it.
Because we were fooled into war with Iraq, there are so many in this country who weep at the mere sight of the empty chair at the dinner table, knowing their loved one will never return to break bread in the sacred fellowship of family.
To me, this issue runs much deeper than race. This is about the essence of justice, coming from the heart of democracy, a democracy which we still strive to achieve.
By overriding what polls reveal as a huge majority of the nation favoring impeachment, the Democrats are robbing the American public of a tremendous opportunity to grow in its civic stewardship by learning what really happened to us, and how never to allow it again. They are robbing us of our ability to bring justice to bear against those who perpetrated this monstrous misadventure. And more importantly, the Democrats are robbing our nation of the opportunity to heal from the devastating impact of this massive tyranny and death.
Indeed, justice is no distraction. There will be no justice without impeachment!
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2 Ellison Horne // Jun 14, 2008 at 1:08 am
I mentioned, most Americans to this day still do not know about the Congressional Black Caucus presentations that were given on the eve of the U.S. led invasion of Iraq because the mainstream press never reported that historic event.
Nevertheless, I shall forever remember that night in 2003, while watching C-SPAN—those powerful words, with truth and humanity from Black Caucus member Rep. Maxine Waters:
“Mr. President, you cannot substitute a preemptive strike on Saddam Hussein for finding the terrorists. We want the terrorists to be found….
We want to secure the homeland. We are worried that you have been diverted, that you are about to do this preemptive strike without the documentation….
Yes, every country should be able to defend itself, but we are in no danger from Iraq. As a matter of fact, that is probably one of the weakest points on the globe for us to attack. We are not threatened by Saddam Hussein….
What we see and we are witnessing is the mismanagement of America. Someone today criticized Senator Daschle because he talked about the diplomatic disaster. Mr. President, it is a diplomatic disaster. We are watching before our very eyes the mismanagement of our beloved country. Our schools are falling apart. You said you wished to leave no child behind, but, Mr. President, you have not funded assistance to education that will have our children in the best possible situations where they can learn. Our health care system has fallen apart. In my city, in my county we are closing healthcare clinics. We are closing hospitals….
Mr. President, you are not able to tell us what this war is going to cost and what the cleanup, what the revitalization, the reconstruction of Iraq is going to cost. The American people need to know where our dollars are going. The American people need to understand the cost of this war and why….
Mr. President, we must raise these questions. We must raise these questions because we are patriots. We are folks who love this country. We are folks who have stood by this country no matter what, and we will continue to stand by this country. We will continue to stand by our soldiers. But, Mr. President, you are going to have to account for the leadership that you are giving, and I say to you and all those who are advising you, be it Wolfowitz, be it Secretary of State Colin Powell, be it Condoleezza Rice, be it Karl Rove, or any of those in the inner circle, you are going to be held responsible for what takes place in this world, what takes place with this preemptive strike, what takes place with our soldiers and our families….”
It is now time for us, all of us, to speak up in the name of justice. Our laws say we are entitled to impeachment proceedings, and our morality demands it.
3 Jerry S. // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:40 pm
“Many of our nation’s Black brothers and sisters are in the prison system for committing far less harm to our society than President Bush and his Neo-Con-men in the White House (who signed the Project for the New American Century manifesto for world domination at all cost).”
I agree with that 100%!
Sadly friend, Obama won’t be allowed to “change”very much especially in foreign affairs. He and McSame are handled by the same people who control foreign policy (hence most policy) and who have controlled it for multiple decades.These people are all in key positions in both campaigns. Neither man would be where they are if it wasn’t so!
Support Nader or McKinney! You’ll feel MUCH better about yourself when you grow old…
4 LaineR // Jun 16, 2008 at 4:41 pm
How is Sheehan doing on collecting signatures for ballot access? Richard on ballot-access seems to think she will not meet the signatre requirements and that supporters may have to write in.
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