November 13,2007
Representative Lloyd Doggett:
We're pleased that you have signed on to the Congressional "Peace Pledge" withholding further Iraq War funding and that you voted to send H. Res. 333 (now 799) to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration; however, we still believe you are neglecting your duty and crucial responsibility as a defender of the Constitution. It’s a nonpartisan issue: clearly the Constitution requires the impeachment of both the president and vice-president. Among their many High Crimes and Misdemeanors: they have defrauded the U.S. government, the American people, and the United Nations with this illegal, aggressive war for oil based on fixed information if not outright lies; they have repeatedly admitted to illegal wiretapping, each instance of which is a felony; and they have committed the war crime of torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo (recently underscored by the waterboarding controversy and Rumsfeld’s being sued for war crimes in France.
But there are more far-reaching reasons for undertaking impeachment: (1) We the People must demonstrate that even the president and vice president will be held to account if they abuse their offices. If we don’t do this, a very dangerous precedent has been set; (2) The legislative branch’s constitutional duty of oversight must be restored in order to protect the Constitution and the American people from this and any future reckless administrative branch; (3) Holding President Bush and Vice President Cheney accountable for their actions would make it more difficult for them to perpetrate further crimes such as a war against Iran. As Bush and Cheney are actively promoting a strike on Iran, waiting on impeachment could end up leading to an even worse disaster, such as World War III.
Contrary to statements made by the Democratic leadership, experience has shown that impeachment hearings do not impede the effectiveness of Congress. During both the Watergate and Monicagate eras, Congress continued to perform its other duties. History has shown that the party that impeaches wins big in the next election. Recent polls have shown that Americans now have even less faith in Congress (11 percent) than in this pathetic administration. This is because they want impeachment and because so many pressing domestic issues can’t reach the floor with impeachment “off the table,” such as:
• A comprehensive ecological response to global warming – a threat far greater than terrorism
• National health-care without the insurance company price-gouging, endless red tape, and poor service
• A guaranteed living (not minimum) wage
• Elimination of all nuclear weapons / weapons of mass destruction
• Comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform
• Reducing the Pentagon/military budget enough to fund the needs at home
Impeachment of this entire administration is our only hope to stop this destructive roller coaster and enable consideration of these positive measures.
We therefore again ask you to cosponsor H. Res. 799 (formerly H. Res. 333) – Impeaching Richard B. Cheney – and to introduce or co-author articles of impeachment against George W. Bush. Representative Kucinich plans to introduce another impeachment resolution against President Bush if this administration continues to threaten or attacks Iran militarily.
H. Res. 333/799 (introduced in April) has been picking up co-sponsors and now has almost two dozen. Nancy Pelosi has recently remarked that she would probably support impeachment proceedings if she were not the Speaker. John Conyers, chair of the Judiciary Committee, has stated that impeachment is not off the table. H. Res. 333/799 is now before the Judiciary Committee with 86 representatives voting to send it there. Over 80 cities and towns across America have passed impeachment resolutions, with many more in the works. Bush’s job approval ratings have just sunk to 24 percent -- lower than Nixon’s all-time low when he resigned in the face of impeachment. A nation-wide poll on impeachment a few months ago revealed that 54 percent of the American people were in favor of impeaching Vice President Cheney and 46 percent were in favor of impeaching President Bush. A recent poll in Vermont revealed that 64 percent of Vermonters were in favor of impeaching Vice President Cheney and 61 percent were in favor of impeaching Bush. Austin Impeach has gathered 370 signatures on their impeachment petition and will be conducting an impeachment poll in Austin over the next few months.
Because President Bush is the former governor of Texas, the tragedy and disaster of his policies and presidency reflects very badly on Austin and Texas. We wish you had joined your colleague Sheila Jackson-Lee and taken the lead in cleaning up this mess a long time ago, but it’s never too late to do the right thing.
Austin Impeach again requests a meeting with you at a venue and time of your choosing before the end of 2007. Participants will include the undersigned and others not to exceed twelve.
Congressman Doggett, Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney have broken the law, and you have taken an oath to uphold that law. We await your early response.
Doug Reber
Gg Re
Scott Trimble
Kenneth Huey
Tom Davis
Jane Chamberlain
Ben E Smith
1 December 2007 – Representative Doggett's non-response to Austin Impeach was an off-topic form letter (about his work to halt unauthorized surveillance, to withdraw the troops from Iraq before the end of 2008, and to insure accountability under U.S. criminal law for all contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan). His letter did not mention the two main subjects of our letter: meeting with Austin Impeach and impeachment of President Bush and Vice-President Cheney. Representative Doggett still has not signed co-sponsored House Resolution 799, even though doing so merely shows his support for impeachment, it does not cause any direct action. Representative Doggett has ignored Austin Impeach’s repeated requests for a group meeting with him since our “Impeach Now” forum on 7/7/7. – Austin Impeach
