Washington State Calls on Congress to Impeach

On February 14th, a freshman state senator, Eric Oemig filed a petition in the State Senate to investigate serious allegations of wrongdoing by President Bush and Vice President Cheney. He was joined by eight of his colleagues. Passage in the State Legislature will move the petition to the US House of Representatives.
Senator Oemig believes that a thorough investigation is what is needed to unify the nation. The actions of Bush administration are having a negative impact on the state's ability to serve its people.

Senator Oemig and his colleagues have had the courage to take a principled stand against the gross abuse of power, betrayal of the public trust and criminality that these men represent. They are asking congress to do the same.

A growing number of citizens groups including Washington for Impeachment, EFOR, Veterans for Peace, the local Green Party, The Backbone Campaign and the World Can’t Wait have the Senator’s back. Other national groups such as After Downing Street are lending support.

Last Thursday nearly 500 supporters rallied on the Capitol steps in Olympia and packed the Senate Hearing Rooms to hear the resolution debate. Rocky Anderson, the popular Democratic Mayor of Salt Lake City, Ann Wright who resigned from the State Department when Bush attacked Iraq and Phil Burke of Impeach Bush.tv flew in to testify and provide support. Randy Gordon and Paul Richmond, both civil rights lawyers gave evidence. The testimony of ordinary citizens was both electrifying and eloquent. Not one person spoke against the resolution.

Why then did the Democratic Party send two members of the US Congress to arm-twist State Legislators and pressure them to kill the resolution? Why did Senator Patty Murray and Rep. Jay Inslee ask Senator Oemig to withdraw the resolution? Why did they pressure the Committee Chairman to cancel the hearing and ask other committee members not to support it?

It was clear from her responses that Senator Murray had not even bothered to read the petition. Her response to an letter from Phil Burke stated that Bush’s criminality was so overwhelming that it would tie up the Senate for a year. That's like refusing to prosecute a serial killer because there are too many victims. The impeachment of President Clinton was in each chamber for only two months and most of the work is done in committee.

Rep. Inslee seemed to be reading from Karl Rove's talking points when he claimed that impeaching Bush would cost the Democrats the White House and boost Bush's ratings. It seems the Democrats are terrified of appearing to commit a political act. They have even advocated just going after Bush so it would appear less political. Making the most reviled figure in American politics president is certainly a non-starter.

Many times in the last six years I have despaired of this Democratic Party ever getting its act together. I have never been so convinced that they never will as I am today.

Americans are wondering why this president is allowed to torture, spy on Americans, make war at will, violate the law and betray the public trust. They want answers not excuses.
Carol DW