Impeachable Bill W.'s Successor

William Jefferson Clinton was threatened with removal from office for lying under oath about sex.  At that time, I went on record as supporting that removal as a "high crime and misdemeanor."  By lying under oath, Clinton violated his duty to "support and defend the Constitution."  But this bears repeating:  William Jefferson Clinton was threatened with removal from office for lying under oath about sex.

The New York Times is reporting that Clinton's successor ordered illegal, unconstitutional wiretaps of hundreds or thousands.  We already know that Clinton's successor is holding "illegal combatants" on the little tip of Cuba that we occupy, and has attempted to claim that they are due no process under our Constitution.  We already know that   Clinton's successor has taken us into war based on intelligence that even he finally admits was flawed.  We already know that Clinton's successor has authorized holding alleged terrorists in secret locations outside the United States, without due process, and without even a note to the International Red Cross. 

Clinton's successor has violated the Constitution too many times, and too directly.  The latest news – direct violations of civil liberties within the territorial United States – is and must be the last straw.  It is no longer arguable.  It is no longer regrettable extremism in a dangerous time.  It is no longer a judgment call.  The President of the United States pretended to be a judge, and pretended to have the authority to order wiretaps.  He violated the Constitution's separation of powers.  He authorized and ordered the NSA to violate federal law.

If lying about blowjobs is an impeachable offense, so is violating civil rights and duly accepted international treaties and obligations.

Richard Nixon was threatened with impeachment for illegal acts, including wiretaps.  Nixon had the good grace to realize that he could not stand as President under the Constitution; he resigned.

It is time for the Loyal Minority in Congress to recognize that they have an obligation to the Constitution.  They also took an oath to "support and defend" the principals embodied in the Constitution.  No, they are not likely to get the votes needed to actually force an impeachment trial.  However, they must have the courage to stand up and call for action.

It is time to stop allowing the canard of "911 allows this" to shred the rights we fight wars to defend.  It is time to move and vote for the impeachment of Clinton's successor, George W. Bush.

Copyright © 2005 by Gregory P. Lee.  Mr. Lee is proprietor of Three/Four Communications, and is an Adjunct Professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts.  His writings can be found at www.threefourcomm.com.