-
-
Wexler is trying not to let Mukasey shield the contempt charges
Even though the sound quality is bad in this pod, you can hear every word of Congressman Wexler's ideas on this subject.
Cheney only uses his membership in the executive branch to claim executive privilege and avoid forced testimony and then he conveniently becomes a member of the legislative branch as President of the Senate to take on the privileges of THAT office. Isn't it time we did something about both Bush and Cheney?
Support Wexler and the efforts of others to hold these guys accountable before the clock runs out! Even though the sound quality is bad in this pod, you can hear every word of Congressman Wexler's ideas on this subject. ... more -
Wexler confronts Condi Rice, and goes after Miers and Bolten for CONTEMPT OF CONGR...
Dear Angelina,
Today, in hearings on Capitol Hill, I confronted Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on her role in the lies, exaggerations, and misdirection that led us into the Iraq war.
During my questioning, Secretary Rice falsely stated that she never saw intelligence casting doubt on the Bush Administration claims that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction. This unbelievable statement is flatly contradicted by numerous government reports and CIA testimonials. (To watch the video of my exchange with Secretary Rice, click here.)
Secretary Rice's responses demonstrate once and for all that we need aggressive oversight over this out of control Administration. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has ignored the constitutional right of Congress to provide such oversight.
It is time Congress took aggressive action to assert our rights on behalf of the American people.
The House of Representatives must immediately hold former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten in contempt of Congress for their failure to respond to congressional subpoenas.
I have been aggressively lobbying Members of Congress to support a vote on contempt, and I am thrilled to report that Speaker Pelosi told me directly that she agrees it is well past time to vote on contempt. I am anticipating that the House will shortly vote on resolutions of both civil and criminal contempt for both Miers and Bolten.
No one should be immune from accountability and the rule of law.
Not Harriet Miers or Josh Bolten.
And especially not Condoleezza Rice, George W. Bush or Dick Cheney.
It is time to defend the Constitution and our rights as a co-equal branch of government.
I will continue to take on the Bush Administration for their outrageous abuses just as I confronted Condoleezza Rice today and Attorney General Mukasey last week. (Click here to see my questioning of Mukasey.)
With your help we will hold these top Bush officials in contempt and continue our efforts to hold impeachment hearings for Vice President Dick Cheney.
Thank you, as always, for your great support.
Yours truly,
Congressman Robert Wexler Dear Angelina, ... more -
Call to ACTION! John Conyers Considers Cheney Impeachment Hearings
Let's all thank Mukasey for being a King sized JERK... This is an email I recieved from Democrats.com. SIgn the Petition, and CALL CONYERS! (While you're calling, show your support for HR 676!!)
Conyers Considers Cheney Impeachment Hearings
On Thursday, Chairman John Conyers' House Judiciary Committee held a hearing at which Attorney General Michael Mukasey said that he would not investigate torture or warrantless spying, he would not enforce contempt citations, and he would treat Justice Department opinions as providing immunity for crimes.
None of this was new, but perhaps it touched something in Conyers that had not been touched before. Following the hearing, he and two staffers met for over an hour with two members of Code Pink and discussed activism and impeachment, including Congressman Robert Wexler's proposal to begin impeachment hearings on Cheney.
Conyers expressed his concerns about what might happen following an impeachment, the danger of installing a Bush replacement or losing an election. But he said he's listening to several advocates for impeachment, including Liz Holtzman and David Swanson of Democrats.com. He hinted he could be swayed by a convincing argument, leaning out of his chair for dramatic effect.
So let's help Chairman John Conyers decide! We know Conyers agrees with all of us on the legal grounds for impeachment because he made this case himself in his 2006 book, "The Constitution in Crisis." Where Conyers needs persuasion is on the politics of impeachment, so we have addressed his concerns here:
http://www.democrats.com/conyers-start-impeachment-hear...
We'd like you to email Conyers (and other Judiciary Committee Democrats) with the link above, but please don't stop there.
1. Call his office at 202-225-5126 and say you would like him to begin Cheney impeachment hearings immediately. Tell him the hearings must be on impeachment because that's the only way to force the White House to comply with Congressional subpoenas. The phone in his office was reportedly ringing once every second, 60 times per minute, all day long on Monday. Let's ring it faster on Tuesday.
2. Print our petition
http://www.democrats.com/node/15663/print
and fax it to Conyers at 202-225-0072 with your name and address at the end.
3. Urge your Representative and Senators to sign onto Congressman Robert Wexler's letter to Conyers (which he plans to deliver on Friday) here:
http://democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/125
We know we're asking a lot, but we're not alone - our friends from Code Pink are fasting for impeachment and meeting with Conyers on Tuesday to discuss opening Cheney impeachment hearings.
Want to do more? Start planning now to visit your congress member's office when they're back in their district between February 16th and 24th. Find ideas here:
http://impeachcheney.org
Join (or create) your Congressional District Impeachment Committee:
http://democrats.com/cdic-find
Let's all thank Mukasey for being a King sized JERK... This is an email I recieved from Democrats.com. SIgn the Petition, and CALL CO... more -
Top US Lawman, Mukasey, Keeps Portrait of "1984" Writer George Orwell In His Offic...
On Friday, Michael Mukasey, the man who is in charge of the US "Justice" Department, admitted that he keeps a prtrait of George Orwell in his office. Yes he keeps a picture of the man who wrote "1984" on his wall. Holy S@#%...Please allow me a second for my head to stop ringing. The horrible irony of this story has left me in a coma-like state.
OK, I'm back... anyway, Big Mike says that his inspiration is not the Big Brother society that Orwell envisioned but his writing style. Later he said he enjoyed Playboy for the articles.... On Friday, Michael Mukasey, the man who is in charge of the US "Justice" Department, admitted that he keeps a prtrait of George Orwell... more -
Presidential Contenders Left Hot Potato Appointee On Plate
Back on November 8th, the senate held a vote on the measure to confirm (or deny) President Bush's nominee for US Attorney General.
2008 presidential candidates and current US Senators Joseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John McCain, and Barak Obama all abstained from voting.
Michael Mukasey - who was uncool with most Democrats for his unsure stance on torture definitions and cool with most Republicans by virtue of his presidential nod - found confirmation by 53 votes to 40.
Mr. Mukasey is now US Attorney General.
Back on November 8th, the senate held a vote on the measure to confirm (or deny) President Bush's nominee for US Attorney General. ... more -
A formal end to the Gonzales era, The begginning of what?
Michael Mukasey, a retired federal judge, took an oath as the nation's 81st attorney general and the Bush administration's third. He replaces Alberto Gonzales, who resigned in September after scandals and debates on whether or not he committed perjury.
Michael Mukasey, a retired federal judge, took an oath as the nation's 81st attorney general and the Bush administration's third. He r... more -
Michael Mukasey Confirmed as New Attorney General
Michael Mukasey won the nomination with a 53-40 vote in the Senate. The vote was split mostly on party lines, though some Democrats did cross the aisle to support Mukasey saying that he was the best nominee they would receive.
Let's hope that now he's in office, he will finally be able to decide that waterboarding = torture. Michael Mukasey won the nomination with a 53-40 vote in the Senate. The vote was split mostly on party lines, though some Democrats d... more -
Michael Mukasey Approved By Senate Panel
Mukasey was approved by the panel in an 11-8 vote. His nomination now proceeds to the full Senate, where he is expected to be confirmed.
So a few days go by, and now Senators aren't bothered by Mukasey's unwillingness to call waterboarding torture? Mukasey was approved by the panel in an 11-8 vote. His nomination now proceeds to the full Senate, where he is expected to be confirm... more -
A new waterboarding 'information' site launches today
Boing Boing picked up on this new site launching to coincide with Michael Mukasey's confirmation vote today... d
-
Feingold votes against Mukasey for Attorney General
Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold In Opposition to Judge Mukasey as the Next Attorney General
November 4, 2007
"I will vote against the nomination of Judge Mukasey to be the next Attorney General. This was a difficult decision, as Judge Mukasey has many impressive qualities. He is intelligent and experienced and appears to understand the need to depoliticize the Department of Justice and restore its credibility and reputation.
At this point in our history, however, the country also needs an Attorney General who will tell the President that he cannot ignore the laws passed by Congress. Unfortunately, Judge Mukasey was unwilling to reject the extreme and dangerous theories of executive power that this administration has put forward.
The nation's top law enforcement officer must be able to stand up to a chief executive who thinks he is above the law. The rule of law is too important to our country's history and to its future to compromise on that bedrock principle." Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold In Opposition to Judge Mukasey as the Next Attorney General November 4, 2007 ... more -
Retired JAGs Send Letter To Leahy: Waterboarding is inhumane, it is torture, and ...
The pending confirmation of Michael Mukasey to the position of Attorney General, now destined to go to the full Senate, thanks to Lieber-moves of Shumer and Feinstein, is troublesome to more than just we in the progressive community. Senator Patrick Leahy received this letter (.pdf) from four retired JAGs, who understand that the concept of Rule of Law must mean something, even with Bushies in charge.
Dear Chairman Leahy,
In the course of the Senate Judiciary Committees consideration of President Bushs nominee for the post of Attorney General, there has been much discussion, but little clarity, about the legality of waterboarding under United States and international law. We write Because this issue above all demands clarity: Waterboarding is inhumane, it is torture, and it is illegal.
In 2006 the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on the authority to prosecute terrorists under the war crimes provisions of Title 18 of the U.S. Code. In connection with those hearings the sitting Judge Advocates General of the military services were asked to submit written responses to a series of questions regarding the use of a wet towel and dripping water to induce the misperception of drowning (i.e., waterboarding) . . . Major General Scott Black, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General, Major General Jack Rives, U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General, Rear Admiral Bruce MacDonald, U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General, and Brigadier Gen. Kevin Sandkuhler, Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, unanimously and unambiguously agreed that such conduct is inhumane and illegal and would constitute a violation of international law, to include Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
We agree with our active duty colleagues. This is a critically important issue - but it is not, and never has been, a complex issue, and even to suggest otherwise does a terrible disservice to this nation. All U.S. Government agencies and personnel, and not just Americas military forces, must abide by both the spirit and letter of the controlling provisions of international law. Cruelty and torture - no less than wanton killing - is neither justified nor legal in any circumstance. It is essential to be clear, specific and unambiguous about this fact - as in fact we have been throughout Americas history, at least until the last few years. Abu Ghraib and other notorious examples of detainee abuse have been the product, at least in part, of a self-serving and destructive disregard for the well-established legal principles applicable to this issue. This must end.
The Rule of Law is fundamental to our existence as a civilized nation. The Rule of Law is not a goal which we merely aspire to achieve; it is the floor below which we must not sink. For the Rule of Law to function effectively, however, it must provide actual rules yhat can be followed. In this instance, the relevant rule - the law - as long been clear: Waterboarding detainees amounts to illegal torture in all circumstances. To suggest otherwise - or even to give credence to such a suggestion - represents both an affront to the law and to the core values of our nation.
We respectfully urge you to consider these principles in connection with the nomination of Judge Mukasey.
Sincerely,
Rear Admiral Donald J. Guter, United States Navy (Ret.)
Judge Advocate General of the Navy, 2000-02
Rear Admiral John D. Hutson, United States Navy (Ret.)
Judge Advocate General of the Navy, 1997-2000
Major General John L. Fugh, United States Army (Ret.)
Judge Advocate General of the Army, 1991-93
Brigadier General David M. Brahms, United States Marine Corps (Ret.)
Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant, 1985-88
The pending confirmation of Michael Mukasey to the position of Attorney General, now destined to go to the full Senate, thanks to Lieb... more -
White House To Congress: Confirm Mukasey Now, Ask Questions About Torture Later
The White House still refuses to define torture and is attempting to get Mukasey as the new Attorney General (he won't give his position on torture). The White House still refuses to define torture and is attempting to get Mukasey as the new Attorney General (he won't give his positi... more
-
Bush Taps Retired Federal Judge Michael Mukasey For Attorney General
Michael Mukasey, a 66 year old New Yorker, was identified by Democrats as an acceptable choice early on after Alberto Gonzales announced his resignation effective today (thank god - if only this day could have come 7 years ago...). As New York Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat, put it: "While he is certainly conservative...he's a lot better than some of the other names mentioned." Michael Mukasey, a 66 year old New Yorker, was identified by Democrats as an acceptable choice early on after Alberto Gonzales announc... more
-
related topics
Michael Mukasey
Contributors (28)
Michael Mukasey
