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[Xabora]

http://rawstory.com//news/2008/Judiciary_hearing_to_examine_Bush_Imperial_0717.html

Congressional hearing to examine 'Bush Imperial Presidency'
Nick Juliano
Published: Thursday July 17, 2008

Update: Kucinich to testify

In a release Thursday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) announced he will hold a hearing July 25 examining "the imperial presidency of George W. Bush and possible legal responses."

The word "impeachment" was not mentioned in the announcement, but it appears the hearing is going to examine issues raised by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) in his resolution to impeach Bush. A Judiciary Committee spokesman tells RAW STORY Kucinich will testify at the hearing.

“Over the last seven plus years, there have been numerous credible allegations of serious misconduct by officials in the Bush Administration,” Conyers said in a news release. “At the same time, the administration has adopted what many would describe as a radical view of its own powers and authorities. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I believe it is imperative that we pursue a comprehensive review commensurate to this constitutionally dangerous combination of circumstances. Next Friday’s hearings will be an important part of that ongoing effort.”

Conyers did not say who would testify at the hearing, but he laid out a variety of abuses that would be examined, including:

1. improper politicization of the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorneys offices, including potential misuse of authority with regard to election and voting controversies;
2. misuse of executive branch authority and the adoption and implementation of the so-called unitary executive theory, including in the areas of presidential signing statements and regulatory authority;
3. misuse of investigatory and detention authority with regard to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, including questions regarding the legality of the administration’s surveillance, detention, interrogation, and rendition programs;
4. manipulation of intelligence and misuse of war powers, including possible misrepresentations to Congress related thereto;
5. improper retaliation against administration critics, including disclosing information concerning CIA operative Valerie Plame, and obstruction of justice related thereto; and
6. misuse of authority in denying Congress and the American people the ability to oversee and scrutinize conduct within the administration, including through the use of various asserted privileges and immunities.

After the committee ignored Kucinich's first impeachment attempt last month, the former Democratic presidential candidate re-introduced a single article on Tuesday. In response, Conyers promised a hearing that would accumulate "all the things that constitute an imperial presidency."

However, Conyers indicated his unwillingness to actually vote on impeachment, regardless of Kucinich's presentation.

While no one has really asked lately, the White House has previously brushed off questions about impeachment in the past.

"I'm not going to comment on something as ridiculous as that," Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino said last year when asked about impeachment.

Kucinich has been relentless in his push to impeach Bush. On Tuesday, the House formally sent his latest impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee. Its title: "Deceiving Congress with Fabricated Threats of Iraq WMDs to Fraudulently Obtain Support for an Authorization of the Use of Military Force Against Iraq."

He also suggested in an interview with Congressional Quarterly that the Judiciary hearing could serve as a forum for some new revelations.

“I’ve been contacted by representatives of a U.S. ally who are seeking an opportunity to appear before the Judiciary Committee,” he told CQ's Molly K. Hooper.

“Legislative leaders of a foreign capital” have a “new angle that I haven’t thought of before but is relevant,” he said. “This interest in whether we’ve been told the truth has extended to other countries.”

"Bush is Poopie"

 

[bggrthnjsus]

too little too late imo

 

[maynerd]

Rock on! Get him Conyers!

 

[Herpes Reasons]

this irritates me. its like when the police finally comes at the end of the movie.

 

[Dolphin]

It won't amount to anything.

 

[ShOcKwAvE]

I never understood why a president can perform this bad and still keep his job. Why is congress so afraid to admit that he's a failure?

 

[Tom_Cody]

Obligatory Monica Conyers post:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqOSNI7l0bQ

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080705/METRO/807050357

 

[Anerythristic]

What did Clinton do that was worse than what Bush has done? I am not playing naive I really don't know. I don't understand how he was not impeached yet.

 

[LazerShark]

Apparently Congress has the reaction time of approximately 2 years. Good luck to them, though. I don't care if it's impractical to impeach or arrest him now; I just want America to show the rest of the world we still believe in justice.

 

[maynerd]

What did Clinton do that was worse than what Bush has done? I am not playing naive I really don't know. I don't understand how he was not impeached yet.

Clinton got a BJ and then he lied about it.

 

[Xabora]

What did Clinton do that was worse than what Bush has done? I am not playing naive I really don't know. I don't understand how he was not impeached yet.

He had a BJ with another woman...

 

[The_Inquisitor]

I never understood why a president can perform this bad and still keep his job. Why is congress so afraid to admit that he's a failure?

When congress itself is no better, it makes it hard. I think we aught to just impeach the entire legislative and executive branch for the most part.

It's ridiculous how little congress has done this term....

 

[ShadyMilkman]

Another pointless waste of time by congress - no wonder their approval rating is worse than the President's.

 

[maynerd]

Another pointless waste of time by congress - no wonder their approval rating is worse than the President's.

Pointless and waste of time? Come on this is real shit that needs to be brought up so people know the truth.

 

[ShadyMilkman]

Pointless and waste of time? Come on this is real shit that needs to be brought up so people know the truth.

But we all know nothing is going to happen as a result of this. While, yeah, Bush has been pretty lousy, I think there are more pressing issues than a talk-fest about how much congress hates the President.

e- grammar shit whatever

 

[maynerd]

But we all know nothing is going to happen as a result of this. While, yeah, Bush has been pretty lousy, I think their are more pressing issues than a talk-fest about how much congress hates the President.

At the very least it will be a matter of public record for all to see. It has nothing to do with hate. These are real 'crimes' and at the very least it should be recorded.

 

[Shins]

Pointless and waste of time? Come on this is real shit that needs to be brought up so people know the truth.

:lol

 

[scorcho]

Another pointless waste of time by congress - no wonder their approval rating is worse than the President's.

yes, shitting on a system of checks and balances is great for the American public.

who are you, David Addington?

 

[maynerd]

:lol

You think this administration has done NOTHING wrong?

 

[Tom_Cody]

What did Clinton do that was worse than what Bush has done? I am not playing naive I really don't know. I don't understand how he was not impeached yet.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00001621----000-.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiIP_KDQmXs

I was terrible that he was forced into the situation that he was over such a trivial matter, but he did lie under oath. That is not debatable.

Bush has certainly had a worse presidency than Clinton, but Clinton directly committed a felony, which is why he was impeached. Impeachment is based on specific charges, not the quality of a president.

 

[Tyrone Slothrop]

conyers hates our freedom

 

[maynerd]

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00001621----000-.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiIP_KDQmXs

I was terrible that he was forced into the situation that he was over such a trivial matter, but he did lie under oath. That is not debatable.

Bush has certainly had a worse presidency than Clinton, but Clinton directly committed a felony, which is why he was impeached. Impeachment is based on specific charges, not the quality of a president.

Bush broke the law.

 

[scorcho]

Tom_Cody:hahahahaha

that's a good one.

 

[IanZ]

But Bush lies everyday, maybe not under oath, but if he was he would definitely lie more than Clinton.

 

[Tom_Cody]

Bush broke the law.

You present a compelling argument.

 

[maynerd]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

FISA Law states

The President may authorize, through the Attorney General, electronic surveillance without a court order for the period of one year provided it is only for foreign intelligence information {2a}; targeting foreign powers as defined by 50 U.S.C. §1801(a)(1),(2),(3) {4} or their agents; and there is no substantial likelihood that the surveillance will acquire the contents of any communication to which a United States person is a party.

Bush admitted to breaking the law 30 times.

I have reauthorized this program more than 30 times since the September the 11th attacks, and I intend to do so for as long as our nation faces a continuing threat from al Qaeda and related groups.

This is of course the tip of the iceberg. If you guys are so damn sure he didn't break the law you should want the facts to come out and want your dear leader to be exonerated. Bush however has BLOCKED every investigation of any and all wrongdoings of his for years and years. The republicans have been no help in the matter either as they have sat by and let him do these things during the 6 years they had power.

 

[MisterHero]

So if they find him guilty of such charges, will they actually fix what he 'did'? Or is this a waste of time?

 

[scorcho]

So if they find him guilty of such charges, will they actually fix what he 'did'? Or is this a waste of time?

documenting it alone is enough and isn't a 'waste of time', unless transparency is meaningless to you

 

[MisterHero]

documenting it alone is enough and isn't a 'waste of time', unless transparency is meaningless to you

We already know 'what he did' because of the situations the US is currently in and got worse while he was in office. People already seem sure that he's guilty so how can it be any more transparent?

 

[OgnodoD]

Yeah, like this is going anywhere.