[Peace-discussion] FW: Article in LA Times Today Covering Our "Impeachment Fourth of July" Inauguration and Event
Byron De Lear
byron@globalpeacesolution.org
Thu, 5 Jul 2007 17:04:32 -0700
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A place to push impeachment
An office opens near the Beverly Center to organize activists seeking the
ouster of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
By Howard Blume, Times Staff Writer
July 5, 2007
If President Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney were ever to be impeached,
their foes could cite this Independence Day as a milestone - the day that
the nation's first "impeachment headquarters" opened its doors in a
storefront near the Beverly Center.
"This is an impeachment 4th of July," Byron De Lear, a Green Party activist,
said Wednesday. He called removing Bush and Cheney "a patriotic duty to
restore the integrity of the United States."
Those assembled cited various Bush actions or policies, including "lies that
led the U.S. into war."
They also said that Bush--Cheney policies precipitated torture, illegal
spying on American citizens, and the curtailment of privacy and civil rights
in the name of fighting terrorism.
The latest irritant was the president's decision to commute the prison
sentence of former Cheney aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, whom a jury
convicted of obstructing justice.
"Isn't it ironic that Paris Hilton will spend more days in jail than Libby?"
said De Lear.
The day's star power was provided by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), who
had vigorously defended then-President Bill Clinton when he faced
impeachment in 1998.
"This is one of the most important efforts this country has ever seen," said
Waters, speaking to about 300 gathered for a noon rally at nearby La Cienega
Park.
In an interview, she added: "We can make changes through organizing. If the
numbers are in the streets, Congress will listen."
Any impeachment motion - ultimately voted on by the House of Representatives
- would have to pass through the House Judiciary Committee, to which Waters
belongs.
Organizers could not definitively name another "pro-impeach" representative
on that committee.
In the House at large, they tally 14 like-minded lawmakers, most of whom
have signed on to articles of impeachment against Cheney that were
introduced by Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), who is running for president.
When asked who might lead the cause in the Senate, Waters paused, then said
she would have to defer that question for now.
In the end, removing Bush or Cheney from office would require a two-thirds
vote by the Senate.
In the mid-term elections, many more Democrats - and some Republicans -
spoke out against the war, including some who had originally voted to permit
the Bush administration to invade Iraq.
But concluding the war and impeaching Bush don't look like compatible
policies to most members of Congress, said progressive Democratic columnist
Harold Meyerson, executive editor of the American Prospect, in a telephone
interview.
"Impeachment is a distraction since it's not going to happen," said
Meyerson.
"At the root of this is the notion that Bush lied us into war and that's
been out there 4 1/2 years. Impeachment would stop everything else in
Congress and the Democrats think they actually need to accomplish stuff
instead of fighting unwinnable battles, especially with poll numbers falling
for Congress. The main thing is to defeat Republicans electorally."
Republican analyst Arnold Steinberg said an impeachment drive would help his
side: "This gambit will excite the leftist base but marginalize reasonable
Democrats and alienate independent voters - and motivate Republicans. I can
only say, 'Grow up and get a life.' Or, better yet, 'Go for it.' You'll end
up sinking Democratic Party prospects for 2008."
Critics seeking to define the headquarters opening as a conclave of the
political fringe could point out the largely middle-aged, deeply left-wing
audience or the accordion player in floppy shoes who opened the rally with a
version of "America" that substituted "siblinghood" for "brotherhood."
But the audience also included fresh recruits Trevor Torquato, 19, and
Lauren Kuzma, 17, of Murrieta.
"I'm actually new to politics," said Torquato. "I'm here to be educated. I'm
going to register with the Green Party today."
"I'm just hoping all of this will get Bush out of office," said Lauren, "so
we can get our troops out of Iraq. They don't really talk about that in
school. They talk about past history, not what's going on now."
The impeachment center was sponsored by Progressive Democrats of Los
Angeles, Westside Greens, Santa Monica Democratic Club and the Los Angeles
Greens.
Activists plan to meet every Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the 3rd Street
storefront, where they'll stuff envelopes, do phone banking, spread the word
about http://www.bcimpeach.com and make plans to circulate petitions and
lobby elected officials. They report that 79 municipalities and townships
nationwide have passed impeachment resolutions.
Former Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, who spoke at the event, insisted that
principles ought to trump narrow political imperatives. "Leadership requires
that people step out," she said. "It is not hopeless. Stand up. Do something
for your rights."
howard.blume@latimes.com
<http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-impeach5jul05,1,5
735365.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california>
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-impeach5jul05,1,57
35365.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california
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<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D2><FONT face=3DArial><FONT =
size=3D4><SPAN=20
class=3D415100300-06072007></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT =
size=3D2><FONT=20
face=3DArial><FONT size=3D4><SPAN=20
class=3D415100300-06072007></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT =
size=3D2><FONT=20
face=3DArial><FONT size=3D4><SPAN=20
class=3D415100300-06072007></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D4><SPAN=20
class=3D415100300-06072007> </SPAN><STRONG>A place to push=20
impeachment</STRONG></FONT><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D415100300-06072007><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D415100300-06072007> </SPAN>An office opens near the Beverly =
Center to=20
organize activists seeking the ouster of President Bush and Vice =
President=20
Cheney.<BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>By Howard Blume, Times Staff =
Writer<BR>July 5,=20
2007</FONT></DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<DIV><BR>If President Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney were ever to be =
impeached, their foes could cite this Independence Day as a milestone =
— the day=20
that the nation's first "impeachment headquarters" opened its doors in a =
storefront near the Beverly Center.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"This is an impeachment 4th of July," =
Byron De=20
Lear, a Green Party activist, said Wednesday. He called removing Bush =
and Cheney=20
"a patriotic duty to restore the integrity of the United =
States."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Those assembled cited various Bush =
actions or=20
policies, including "lies that led the U.S. into war."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>They also said that Bush--Cheney =
policies=20
precipitated torture, illegal spying on American citizens, and the =
curtailment=20
of privacy and civil rights in the name of fighting =
terrorism.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The latest irritant was the president's =
decision to=20
commute the prison sentence of former Cheney aide I. Lewis "Scooter" =
Libby, whom=20
a jury convicted of obstructing justice.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"Isn't it ironic that Paris Hilton will =
spend more=20
days in jail than Libby?" said De Lear.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The day's star power was provided by =
Rep. Maxine=20
Waters (D-Los Angeles), who had vigorously defended then-President Bill =
Clinton=20
when he faced impeachment in 1998.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"This is one of the most important =
efforts this=20
country has ever seen," said Waters, speaking to about 300 gathered for =
a noon=20
rally at nearby La Cienega Park.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>In an interview, she added: "We can =
make changes=20
through organizing. If the numbers are in the streets, Congress will=20
listen."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Any impeachment motion — =
ultimately voted on by the=20
House of Representatives — would have to pass through the House =
Judiciary=20
Committee, to which Waters belongs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Organizers could not definitively name =
another=20
"pro-impeach" representative on that committee.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>In the House at large, they tally 14 =
like-minded=20
lawmakers, most of whom have signed on to articles of impeachment =
against Cheney=20
that were introduced by Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), who is running for=20
president.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>When asked who might lead the cause in =
the Senate,=20
Waters paused, then said she would have to defer that question for=20
now.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>In the end, removing Bush or Cheney =
from office=20
would require a two-thirds vote by the Senate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>In the mid-term elections, many more =
Democrats —=20
and some Republicans — spoke out against the war, including some =
who had=20
originally voted to permit the Bush administration to invade =
Iraq.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>But concluding the war and impeaching =
Bush don't=20
look like compatible policies to most members of Congress, said =
progressive=20
Democratic columnist Harold Meyerson, executive editor of the American =
Prospect,=20
in a telephone interview.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"Impeachment is a distraction since =
it's not going=20
to happen," said Meyerson.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"At the root of this is the notion that =
Bush lied=20
us into war and that's been out there 4 1/2 years. Impeachment would =
stop=20
everything else in Congress and the Democrats think they actually need =
to=20
accomplish stuff instead of fighting unwinnable battles, especially with =
poll=20
numbers falling for Congress. The main thing is to defeat Republicans=20
electorally."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Republican analyst Arnold Steinberg =
said an=20
impeachment drive would help his side: "This gambit will excite the =
leftist base=20
but marginalize reasonable Democrats and alienate independent voters =
— and=20
motivate Republicans. I can only say, 'Grow up and get a life.' Or, =
better yet,=20
'Go for it.' You'll end up sinking Democratic Party prospects for=20
2008."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Critics seeking to define the =
headquarters opening=20
as a conclave of the political fringe could point out the largely =
middle-aged,=20
deeply left-wing audience or the accordion player in floppy shoes who =
opened the=20
rally with a version of "America" that substituted "siblinghood" for=20
"brotherhood."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>But the audience also included fresh =
recruits=20
Trevor Torquato, 19, and Lauren Kuzma, 17, of Murrieta.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"I'm actually new to politics," said =
Torquato. "I'm=20
here to be educated. I'm going to register with the Green Party=20
today."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"I'm just hoping all of this will get =
Bush out of=20
office," said Lauren, "so we can get our troops out of Iraq. They don't =
really=20
talk about that in school. They talk about past history, not what's =
going on=20
now."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The impeachment center was sponsored by =
Progressive=20
Democrats of Los Angeles, Westside Greens, Santa Monica Democratic Club =
and the=20
Los Angeles Greens.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Activists plan to meet every Saturday =
from 2 to 6=20
p.m. at the 3rd Street storefront, where they'll stuff envelopes, do =
phone=20
banking, spread the word about <A=20
href=3D"http://www.bcimpeach.com">http://www.bcimpeach.com</A> and make =
plans to=20
circulate petitions and lobby elected officials. They report that 79=20
municipalities and townships nationwide have passed impeachment=20
resolutions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Former Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, =
who spoke at=20
the event, insisted that principles ought to trump narrow political =
imperatives.=20
"Leadership requires that people step out," she said. "It is not =
hopeless. Stand=20
up. Do something for your rights."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"mailto:howard.blume@latimes.com">howard.blume@latimes.com</A></FO=
NT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-impeach=
5jul05,1,5735365.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-california"><STRONG>http://=
www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-impeach5jul05,1,573536=
5.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-california</STRONG></A></DIV>
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