Howard Dean is first.

For example, there's not another one within 25 miles of our seacoast NH group. So, one of my goals is to get another one started up in southern NH. Even 12 miles is a bit far for people to travel to monthly meetings. There were more Meet-up groups, but those fell by the wayside. I think Meet-up got ruined when it started selling its lists of members.

Billy House
Media General News Service
Published: June 11, 2008

WASHINGTON - Voters did not hand Democrats control of Congress two years ago in order to impeach President Bush, said Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean Wednesday.

Dean was responding to questions about the Articles of Impeachment against Bush, introduced this week by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and signed by Rep. Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat who sits on the House Judiciary Committee.

“I’m not embarrassed by the effort,” Dean said during a breakfast meeting with reporters sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

Dean said he does not make any personal judgment about whether the president “may or may not deserve to be impeached.

But Dean added: “My view is that the American people hired us in 2006 because they did not like the direction that the country was going in. and what they

wanted to see was someone that was willing to do something positive and get something done in Washington that was for their benefit.”

“They didn’t send us there to impeach the president,” Dean said.

http://www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/dean_dems_werent_sent_to_congress_to_impeach_bush/20157/

(I'll probably get sent to the cooler for this post but how much is there to discuss about this particular blog front.

And the biggest news of all this afternoon - or any afternoon - is that it appears the Supremes in all their wisdom say Habeas Corpus is the law of the land after all, in spite of Bush, in spite of his so called Justice Department, in spite of John Yoo.

The future of President Bush's controversial military trial system for terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay has been dealt a potentially terminal blow by the US Supreme Court.

Supreme Court ruling cripples Guantanamo trials

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080608_the_iran_trap/

The failure by Barack Obama to chart another course in the Middle East, to defy the Israel lobby and to denounce the Bush administration’s inexorable march toward a conflict with Iran is a failure to challenge the collective insanity that has gripped the political leadership in the United States and Israel. 

Obama, in a miscalculation that will have grave consequences, has given his blessing to the widening circle of violence and abuse of the Palestinians by Israel and, most dangerously, to those in the Bush White House and Jerusalem now plotting a war against Iran. He illustrates how the lust for power is morally corrosive. And

And while he may win the White House, by the time he takes power he will be trapped in George Bush’s alternative reality.

We need to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan. We need to stay the hand of Israel, which is building more settlements—including a new plan to put 800 housing units in occupied East Jerusalem—and imposing draconian measures to physically break the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza. We need, most of all, to prevent a war with Iran. 

It is important to keep in mind that impeachment is a constitutional tool, primarily to be used, in the early stages for hearings and investigations. Most in congress seem to think of impeachment focusing on the Senate impeachment trial, ignoring history.

Keep in mind that Richard Nixon never ended up being tried by the Senate. After hearings exposed the levels of lawbreaking and corruption, a group of Senate Republicans took “the walk” to the White House to tell Nixon he had to go, that if he didn’t, they were ready to remove him. Of course, that was after Agnew had been pushed to resign, with hearings that disclosed enough to show how dirty he was.

This is the scenario that will unfold for the Bush/Cheney administration. Judiciary committee impeachment hearings will disclose enough about Cheney so he will resign. Then hearings on Bush will reveal enough dirt so the GOP leaders will cut their losses at some point, when supporting Dubya no longer seems at all viable, when the GOP brand will be close to going down the toilet, and they’ll take “the walk” to visit George to tell him he has to quit or they will side with the Dems and remove him.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_kall_071207_rebuttals_to_reasons.htm

1- That will give us Cheney as president.

Well, of course, we have to impeach Cheney first, but we can and should be INVESTIGATING both.  Once Cheney investigations start, the VP will get a note from the Doctor. He’ll try to pull the plug on hearings by resigning with his heart problems as the explanation.

2-Not enough time. Cheney and Bush will be out of office in 12 months. Why bother?

Lots of reasons. They committed crimes. Investigations will turn up more ugly dirt. Investigations will turn up new, fresh witnesses who will roll over and testify against Cheney and Bush. It’s not about timely convenience. It’s about the congress obeying their oath to uphold and defend the constitution—which Bush and Cheney have treasonously violated.  

3- . Bush and Cheney have broken no laws

Bush and his defenders argue that as Commander-in-Chief, Bush and his designate Cheney have not violated any laws.  The counter argument:  The violation of Geneva Convention principles would be a breaking of U. S. law since the United States has signed "a treaty" banning torture and other mistreatment of detainees.  International Treaties become U. S. Law and may not be negated by the President.  Justice Bryer 9 Oct 2007. And just because Bush issues a signing statement—actually, over 1000—doesn’t mean he is right, that he doesn’t have to follow the laws the congress has passed.

4- The Dems will be accused of wasting time.

Former congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman, who was involved in the Nixon impeachment hearings, reports that this is untrue, that the congress was well able to get business done.Lynn Woolsey says “impeachment would suck air out of the room and get nothing accomplished”  Sorry, it may be inconvenient, may even not fit with plans to keep the Republicans hanging out to dry, dangling with their corruption, in the wind, until November, but the Dem leaders in a congress have that annoying duty to uphold the constitution.

5- There's no clear proof

That's what hearings are for.

6. Impeachment will further divide this country. (Barack Obama's stance.) The country is already divided. It can’t get any further divided. Impeachment will unite all the people who want to protect the constitution and democracy.  

7. Not enough people support impeachment 

It’s not a popularity contest. It’s the job of the congress, when faced with crimes and even questions, to investigate, investigate.

Recent polls have reported that more than half the respondents want impeachment hearings for Cheney. Those numbers will climb when testimony begins, just like it did for Gonzales.

8. You can hold Bush and Cheney accountable without impeaching them. (Pelosi's stance)

Cheney and Bush, still free, still in control can still do further horrific damage to America.. Do we want Bush managing the worst economic crisis in generations? And crimes should be punished as the law prescribes., not ignored. If Clinton had prosecuted George Herbert Walker Bush for his involvement in illegal actions, his son would never have appeared on the picture, as a gubernatorial, let alone presidential candidate. He’d be the  failure son of a corrupt politician.

9. Pelosi can’t pursue impeachment  because she’d become president and it would look like she’s shooting for the job.

No she won’t . Bush will appoint a VP replacement who will become president—someone the Dems can tolerate.. The Dems will not allow anyone who might run for office, so Bush must appoint someone who can bring integrity and bring America together. He might even appoint  someone who actually creates something that leaves a positive legacy—a first woman , Latino, African American VP. Possible  VP appointees who might pass muster include; James Baker, John Warner,  or even Colin Powell, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, Condi Rice or Mel Martinez.   

10. Impeachment will not succeed in the senate.

The goal is not to take impeachment to the senate. It is to force Cheney, then Bush to resign, all the while using the power of impeachment hearing subpoenas, which cannot be rejected with claims of Executive privilege, to expose lies, criminality and corruption. Investigations can last until November, if necessary, and they will hurt the right wingers still supporting Bush and Cheney. Gradually, more will see the light, until before impeachment ever goes to a vote, enough senators will take “THE WALK” to the Whitehouse, to tell Bush it is time to go.

Howard said the people didn't put the Dems in power to Impeach Bush.   Well, by observation , they don't seem to be in power of anything, except maybe us.     However, it would be interesting if the electorate had power over the Constitution, and without actually changing  it, we could simply have a national resolution to remove Bush and  Cheney from office, and the troops from Iraq on election day.    Wouldn't happen, because in that instance the Constitution would be used as an excuse instead of the electorate not voting to Impeach.