Thursday, August 09, 2007

103 - Conservative Group Calls For Presidential Candidates To Sign Pledge To Reverse Bush Constitutional Abuses

Today we're going to hear from some conservatives who have banded together to stop Bush's power grab. You heard me correctly, conservatives.

You'll get an overabundance of ammo to use when next you have the pleasure of engaging in conversation, a right-winger who hasn't yet been enlightened by these conservative brethren of his.

There's been increasing talk lately of impeaching Bush and Cheney. Much of the discussion is focused on their lying us into war, firing the federal attorneys for political reasons, and the like.

Constitutional scholar Bruce Fein -- drafter of the first article of impeachment against Bill Clinton! -- and three other stalwart conservatives have founded a group, American Freedom Agenda. They explain their purpose as follows:

Especially since 9/11, the executive branch has chronically usurped legislative or judicial power, and repeatedly claims that the President is the law. The constitutional grievances against the White House are chilling, reminiscent of the kingly abuses that provoked the Declaration of Independence.

The American Freedom Agenda’s (AFA) mission is twofold: the enactment of a cluster of statutes that would restore the Constitution’s checks and balances as enshrined by the Founding Fathers; and, making the subject a staple of political campaigns and of foremost concern to Members of Congress and to voters and educators.

…Now is no time for summer soldiers or sunshine patriots in defense of American freedom.

A progressive could just about have written that, no?

We're going to focus here on the group's Freedom Pledge, which they want all Presidential candidates to sign.

The beginning of the Pledge reads:

I, (candidate), hereby pledge that if elected President of the United States I will undertake the following to restore the Constitution’s checks and balances, to honor fundamental protections against injustice, and to eschew usurpations of legislative or judicial power. These are keystones of national security and individual freedom:

Next follows 10 items. It's a literal catalog of Bush/Cheney offenses against the Constitution.

Several of them would form the basis of articles of impeachment.

I'm going to go through them now.

Some of the 10 I'll briefly mention, others we'll discuss in more depth with audio commentary from Bruce Fein.

For the details, please listen to the podcast…

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 7:05 PM [+]   0 comments
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