Kucinich Launches Impeachment of Cheney

By Michael Tivana Nov. 6, 2007

Today, November 6, 2007, on the floor of the US House of Representatives, the illustrious and tenacious Rep. Dennis Kucinich D-OH, exercised House Rule 604 and called for High Privilege to impeach VP Dick Cheney. “A direct proposition to impeach is a question of high privilege in the House and at once supersedes business otherwise in order”.

I watched for ANY news on this historic event on our evening news. It became obvious the editors of our news elected to choose any story BUT impeachment. Instead of hearing the reasons why Cheney must be impeached to restore the ‘Rule of Law’ in our great country, the headlines were composed of: the chaos of martial law in Pakistan, the Hollywood writers strike and how our TV shows will be re-runs, a lost woman named Stacey Peterson, an interview with presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, a Senate committee approving a man that thinks torture comes in handy to be our next head of police, and a five minute expose on why Hillary thought she was not at her best in the last debate. Hillary, is she playing the sex card while admitting she is not playing the sex card, you decide.

Americans have once again been denied news that is crucial to knowing what is happening to their country; insulted by Neanderthals in charge of camera views; disgraced by the one industry mentioned in our constitution in order to protect us from Attorney Generals that think torture comes in handy. The press, the fourth branch of government, is now the defender of a Great BIG LIE, the War On Terror, the press in post 9/11 continues to fail us.

But wait, there was one mention, one interview of Kucinich on the evening news, did anyone see it? Fox Business News interviewed him O’Reilly style. Fox Business News, the station I never heard of, never knew it was on my TV, dissing Kucinich for 3 minutes, is the best the press could do. This is pathetic.

So what happened? Kucinich asked for High Privilege on the floor of the House to impeach VP Dick Cheney. Kucinich was well spoken while reading of the entire 11 page resolution laying out the reasons to impeach: manipulating intelligence to lead us into war, threatening a foreign country with attack (Iran), and in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of vice president etc. After he introduced the resolution, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., immediately moved to table it.

Instead of debating the resolution the Democrats moved to table it and dispose of it. The vote was going in favor of tabling with 290 votes until the GOP leadership changed its mind. Republicans one by one changed their votes from yes to kill the resolution, to no, forcing the chamber into a debate and an up-or-down vote on impeachment. This I have never seen before, votes changing in both directions. Both Republicans and Democrats switched their votes to NOT table the resolution, then to table it, then not to. The final vote was 251-162 against tabling, with 165 Republicans voting against the resolution and 86 Democrats jumping the Pelosi ship and splitting the party. Unbelievable, could it be the Republicans are grabbing the Holy Grail of impeachment away from the Democrats?

"We're going to help them out, to explain themselves," said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas.

I am thinking the Republicans seized the opportunity to split the Democrats, which is what happened. They also are confident they can actually win the debate, decided by a vote on impeachment, which they will win at this time. But given there is new found momentum for impeachment this strategy may backfire if they wait too long.

The Republicans stole the day and kept impeachment alive in the House until, the Democrats countered by offering a motion to refer the proposal to the House Judiciary Committee for further study, effectively preventing a debate on the House floor. That motion passed by a party-line vote of 218-194.

So we are back where we started but with more support for impeachment from the Democrats on the Judiciary committee and in the House.

The White House said, “Democrats were shirking responsibilities on issues such as children’s health insurance, and they find time to waste an afternoon on an impeachment vote against the vice president. This is why Americans shake their head in wonder about the priorities of this Congress."

What do you think John Q. Public? Is Congress wasting its time pursuing impeachment? There comes a time when good people have to exclude themselves from a crime when it is being committed right before their eyes. This John Q. Public thinks every day has to be impeachment day until the crimes against us cease. If members of Congress block impeachment they are defending the crimes and must be recalled when possible or voted out of office.