An Open Letter to my Congresswoman

Dear Madam Congresswoman,

I’m writing to voice my support for impeaching the president, George W. Bush.

Despite being a committed Democrat and liberal, until recently I did not support impeachment. I thought it would be portrayed as simple vindictiveness and revenge for Clinton’s impeachment, that it would distract from governing, and that it would be pointless- at most we would be ending the Bush administration a few month earlier than it would have normally ended.

But a spate of recent news has changed my mind, as I believe it should change yours. Bush has put himself above the law, and beyond consequence.

Any documents Congress subpoenas will be withheld under executive privilege. Any individuals subpoenaed will simply refuse to show or refuse to answer any questions. Anyone you try to punish with contempt of court, contempt of congress, or obstruction of justice charges will simply get their sentences commuted, if not be given full pardons. Any law passed that attempts to correct or divert the Bush administration will be vetoed- and any bill that is passed over a veto will either be amended with a signing statement or simply defied. Notice especially Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s warning that the administration is willing to defy the law.

The question has become: do we have a President, or a King?

There is only one recourse left, one option left, to bring this administration to justice, and to prove that we have a President, who is not above the law, and not a King. And that is impeachment.

It is necessary to impeach this would-be King, no matter what the cost, even in the last day, even in the last minute, of the administration, in order to prove that President is not above the law.

Brian Hurt