A petition to impeach

On August 7, I am delivering petitions with signatures of 174 Republicans, Democrats, Greens, Independents and others from our 10th congressional district, to Representative Chris Carney’s office in Clarks Summit. The petition asks Carney to support the move to impeach George W. Bush and Richard Cheney for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Copies of these same petitions are being sent to John Conyers, House Judiciary Committee Chair, and to Nancy Pelosi, House Majority leader.

This is one of thousands of efforts around the country telling Congress to uphold the Constitution they were sworn to protect by starting an impeachment investigation.

The founders of our nation provided the impeachment tool for precisely the circumstances we are faced with today. If we do not at least make an effort to hold those in office accountable for their crimes, we are setting a dangerous precedent for future occupants of the office of President and Vice-President to continue undermining the freedoms that were provided to us in the Constitution.

Here are the issues addressed in the petition:

WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney have violated their oaths of office as President and Vice-President of the United States by:

• The initiation and continuation of an illegal war in Iraq, committing fraud against the United States in justifying the war with false and misleading statements thereby deceiving the people of the United States as well as Congress,

• Failing to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by directing or authorizing the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies to conduct electronic surveillance outside of the law, and concealing the existence of this unlawful program from Congress, the press, and the public,

• Detaining citizens and non-citizens indefinitely inside and outside the United States, without due process, without charges, and with little or no access to counsel or the courts,

• Condoning torture and officially refusing to accept the binding nature of a statutory ban on cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment,

• Misusing the right to append “signing statements” to legislation, hereby formally declaring intent to violate the laws enacted by Congress, thus arrogating to the office of the President legislative powers reserved solely to Congress,

• Subverting and suppressing the science of climate change by altering scientific reports and muzzling scientists, thereby endangering the health, welfare, and safety of the citizens they were sworn to protect,

• Failing to adequately protect the victims of Hurricane Katrina through inaction and neglect, and

• Using weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and Afghanistan in the form of depleted uranium which will remain a threat for billions of years to innocent civilians beyond the field of battle and after hostilities cease, thus violating the Geneva Conventions.

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED petition the U.S. House of Representatives to investigate these charges, and if investigation supports them, to vote to impeach George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney, as provided in the Constitution of the United States.

Katharine Dodge

Lake Ariel, PA