(@2 – promoted by buhdydharma )
U.S. Representative Robert Wexler (D-Fl) had one or two interesting things to say last week at a Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee meeting.
From the Palm Beach Post, hat tip to Steven D at Booman Tribune and David Edwards and Jason Rhyne at Raw Story. This was also caught by joe shikspack at DailyKos.
“The way we pass stem-cell research, the way we get implemented a children’s health care plan, the way we get higher CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) standards to bring our energy debacle into a better condition for generations to come is to have impeachment hearings,” Wexler said. “Because that’ll get the president’s eye. That’ll get the vice president’s eye. That for the first time will show that the Democratic majority is here and that in fact we have the courage of our convictions.”
I think Rep. Wexler has been reading buhdydharma! And eating his Wheaties!
In addition, Wexler continued, hearings would strengthen America’s hand in dealings with Iran, China and others. Every day the House Judiciary Committee isn’t grilling Cheney is a day world leaders such as Indonesia’s Yudhoyono keep their distance, he said. He described Yudhoyono as someone who “wants to be closer to America, but he can’t because we are so negatively viewed. Well, let me tell you one more thing those impeachment hearings will do. They will make America more popular.”
In addition, Wexler criticized Speaker Pelosi for her “off the table” rhetoric.
Video can be seen at the Palm Beach Post sitehere, and at Raw story, linked above.
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Thanks for this, LC. I think pressing for impeachment ties into the strategy of shaming that Roth talked about as being key to dealing with transgressive governments. Just talking about impeachment seriously has this effect. It would be good political strategy even, electorally speaking, if that’s all that most of these fucking Dems are thinking about.
Author
Red meat for the base? Sure. But it’s good to read about a Congresscritter with a pulse.
(Or whatever the hell it is the Marines say!)
Politicians mostly follow money trails–if we set up a means to reward reps like Wexler, we might get more on board. A couple of days I called such a vehicle– moveon with attitude. Another name could be the impeachment brigade. Or–On the Table.
…in November in Wexler (FL-19) v. Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) on Impeachment, Wexler is a good guy. If only the rest of the Dems on the House Judiciary Committee could be persuaded to follow his lead.
Thanks for this Diary.
…but Conyers is too busy checking his calculator and Pelosi can’t find the “How to Impeach Book” since she took it off the table (& besides she’s too busy covering her rear at the present moment to be distracted by actually doing her job). Too bad Wexler isn’t the Speaker or the Chairman of the Judiciary…
And Pelosi does need to seriously re-think that “off the table” crap.
Since when did enforcing the Constitution become even negotiable as to whether it’s on the table or off?
more politicians with a set of stones and more to listen to many in the nation and most on Docudharma…..This needs to happen. The damage Bushco could do in the next 13 months is very very scary!! Bush is clearly an unstable fool to be saber rattling against Iran when our military is decimated with PTSD, TBI, mental health issues, lack of more volunteers, the VA is overloaded and unable to handle our current Vets. Putin said in your face USA at this point because he knows this, “any military action by America will not be tolerated” and “Russia is going to continue to help Iran with their nuclear program” and Russia received oil and $8 billion from Iran. Does Bush really believe we are in any postion to go up against an Iran backed by Russia. That makes his threat either insane or hollow. PLEASE read my fifth in my series on Russia on Sunday at noon (EST), it is the only serious one in my series. Putin is surrounded by KGB in all top positions. Any body who thinks those ex KGB’s stopped hating America in 1991 when the USSR broke up is deluded. Putin is absoluely becoming a Czar and positioning Russia to become more powerful than EVER!! We need to impeach Bush before he does something that would be even more insane than going into Iraq. Tom.
Last night while cooking I listened to(Air America) some dick head Democratic from the Congress going on about how we didn’t need impeachment as America has impeached Bush in it’s heart. Lordy, talk about your asinine rationalizations. Let’s see we all hate the Dude but should leave these laws and changes in place? Gimme a break, if you think this much power should go to the next administration, regardless of party, your delusional. These murky waters from all sides demand clarification!