Censure
Censure motion introduced in House over Iraq, torture
Larisa Alexandrovna
Ranking House Judiciary Democrat Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has introduced a motion to censure President Bush and Vice President Cheney for providing misleading information to Congress in advance of the Iraq war, failing to respond to written questions and potential violations of international law, RAW STORY has learned.
The resolutions were quietly introduced Sunday evening along with a third resolution (HR 635) to create a Select Committee to investigate the administration’s intent to go to war prior to congressional authorization. The committee would also be charged with examining manipulation of pre-war intelligence, thwarting Congressional oversight and retaliatory attacks against critics. As part of this resolution, House Judiciary Democrats seek also to explore violations of international law as pertaining to detainee abuse and torture of prisoners of war.
The Select Committee seeks to subpoena the President and other members of the administration in hopes of ascertaining if impeachable offenses have been committed. Sources close to the Judiciary Committee indicate they believe this is the only avenue left after having written repeated letters requesting answers on matters ranging from the Downing Street Memos to the outing of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson. HR 635, which would create the select committee, could potentially recommend articles of impeachment against both the President and Vice President.</i>
I posed the question last night in another forum asking why did King George perform illegal searches when it was so easy to get them approved. I recieved the typical, knee-jerk “Clinton did it” response, which – as is generally the case- is wrong, but no real answers.
To my way of seeing it, there can only be two possible explanations for it. One, Bush was advised that the searches he desired wouldn’t pass the overview process (which is hard to believe, seeing how many have been approved) so they didn’t even try.
Or, he’s testing how far presidental power extends. Well, getting censured is the first step on a path that can end in impeachment. That might answer his question.
