Calls to impeach Cheney attract media

An update from Robert Wexler of wexlerwantshearings.com...

This morning, The Philadelphia Inquirer published the complete editorial written by U.S. Reps. Robert Wexler (D-FL.), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) calling to Impeach Cheney now. Previously the NYTimes, Washington Post, LA Times, USA Today, and Boston Globe had rejected the op/ed. But, with more than 140,000 people having signed the petition for impeachment hearings, a few mainstream media outlets have begun to awaken to public demand to hold Cheney accountable. The opening grafs of the editorial:

Last month, the House of Representatives voted to send a resolution of impeachment of Vice President Cheney to the Judiciary Committee. As members of the House Judiciary Committee, we strongly believe these important hearings should begin.

The issues at hand are too serious to ignore, including credible allegations of abuse of power that, if proven, may well constitute high crimes and misdemeanors under the Constitution. The allegations against Cheney relate to his deceptive actions leading up to the Iraq war, the revelation of the identity of a covert agent for political retaliation, and the illegal wiretapping of American citizens.

On Tuesday, Dec. 25, the Miami Herald ran an article, Wexler calls for Cheney impeachment, that was picked up in syndication by several other newspapers -- Detroit Free Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, Fort Worth Telegram, Contra Costa Times, Sacramento Bee, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, NC News & Observer, and more. A Miami Herald broadcast partner, CBS4-TV, also spread the news. A snip from the Miami Herald:

Wexler, who now calls his 2002 vote to authorize Bush to attack Iraq a ''mistake,'' told listeners of Florida Progressive Radio last week that Congress "is way behind the rest of the country on the [impeachment] issue.''

But he suggested that he had to be convinced.

ISSUE IN DISTRICT

''When I first heard about the effort I did not fully appreciate that the beliefs being expressed were not simply beliefs of people on the fringe,'' he said. "But the last two times talking to people in my district, I was convinced that this, in fact, is a mainstream issue.''

His 19th congressional district, which is heavily Democratic, stretches along the South Florida coast and includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties.

OMG! You mean a member of Congress finally, finally listened to his constituency? And they're in line with the DFHs of the blogosphere, imagine that! Maybe a ''huge uphill battle" for Wexler and his colleagues to buck the party leadership, but what if this democracy thing finally caught on? I won't hold my breath but I will voice my support for Wexler's efforts.

If you haven't signed the letter, click here. The goal is 250,000 signatures by January. Wexler plans to present the signatures to the House Judiciary Committee and ask them to lend their support and sign, too.

Are you listening Steny Hoyer and Madam Speaker? How much longer will you continue to ignore the will of the people?

Put impeachment. Back! On. The. Table!

[That's all. No more after the jump.]

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Chairman Henry Waxman Sat Right Down And Wrote Vice President Cheney A Letter

Earlier today Chairman Henry Waxman of the House Oversight Committee sent Vice President Dick Cheney a letter kicking off what appears to be a looming constitutional crisis. Chairman Waxman and the House Oversight Committee just released the following summary of what they have learned and the contents of their letter:

The Oversight Committee has learned that over the objections of the National Archives, Vice President Cheney exempted his office from the presidential order that establishes government-wide procedures for safeguarding classified national security information. The Vice President asserts that his office is not an “entity within the executive branch.”

As described in a letter from Chairman Waxman to the Vice President, the National Archives protested the Vice President's position in letters written in June 2006 and August 2006. When these letters were ignored, the National Archives wrote to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in January 2007 to seek a resolution of the impasse. The Vice President's staff responded by seeking to abolish the agency within the Archives that is responsible for implementing the President's executive order.

In his letter to the Vice President, Chairman Waxman writes: "I question both the legality and wisdom of your actions. ... [I]t would appear particularly irresponsible to give an office with your history of security breaches an exemption from the safeguards that apply to all other executive branch officials."

A fact sheet prepared by Chairman Waxman describes other instances in which the Vice President's office has sought to avoid oversight and accountability.

I think the impeachment of Dick Cheney just moved a lot closer to the top of the house table.

There's more: "Chairman Henry Waxman Sat Right Down And Wrote Vice President Cheney A Letter" >>