At least forty-five people were arrested on Capitol Hill Monday in a sit-in calling on Democrats to pursue the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. The demonstrators were jailed after refusing to leave the office of House Judiciary Chair John Conyers following a meeting with him. Conyers had floated the idea of impeachment last year. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed the talk during the mid-term elections when she declared that impeachment is off the table. Among those arrested Monday -- Cindy Sheehan.
If the President, under Directive 51, declares martial law, and suspends the Constitution in order to protect it, can impeachment have legal effect? My sense is that the man who commands the guys with guns is the one in charge, regardless of what John Conyers or Nancy Pelosi might do with some paper with "impeached" written on it. Plus you have to think what the FOX News followers will do. At least here in Dallas they are going to side with the Commander in Chief against our country's enemies, internal or external. Bottomline: Don't mess with a man who has anyone he wants tortured in secret by experts who have had years of experience, and all the best training. The relatives will never find the body. Not smart to buck the system. It will all work out for the best. Protest doesn't work any more. What works is obedience.
You know, reality is getting very surreal these days. Ten years ago I would have said none of this would be possible.
If the president is impeached and doesn't step down we will be in rebellion, but it will be the president and his loyalists who are in rebellion. If it comes to this, hopefully we will have enough soldiers who remember their oath is to the Constitution and not the Commander in Chief.
Posted by: Gerry | August 01, 2007 at 01:38 AM
I doubt it. A patriotic cabal of top officers, yes. The soldiers, generally not. A coup and counter coup. Democracy as in certain South American countries, or in Rome. We can relive the history we have forgotten, the history that lead to classical liberalism, where our ancestors decided that it was better to fight things out in open debate in a Parliament than to have endless palace coups.
Posted by: Phil | August 01, 2007 at 08:16 AM
Good mourning, America.
Posted by: bUM fREE | August 01, 2007 at 11:13 AM
The transition to a security state will be hard for those of us who had a use for liberties other than those offered in the stores.
Posted by: Phil | August 01, 2007 at 02:44 PM