I have joined with more than 350,000 other patriotic Americans (figure updated weekly) who have called for the impeachment of George W. Bush and his administration at VoteToImpeach.org. This campaign, initiated by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, has drafted articles of impeachment for introduction in Congress and is gaining great momentum around the United States. President Bush lied to the people and to Congress with inflated evidence about weapons of mass destruction and the alleged “grave and imminent” threat Iraq posed to the United States.

However, the weapons of mass destruction are still missing in action. Nevertheless, the Bush administration has recklessly put American lives in harm’s way with a cavalier and unilateralist “bring them on” attitude that has done nothing to promote future peace much needed in international diplomacy.

The administration’s actions violate the U.S. Constitution and the U.N. Charter which prevents countries from waging attack on other countries except as an act of self-defense in response to an imminent threat.

Impeachment appears six times in the U.S. Constitution. Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution states: “The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

It is worth remembering historical precedent. In July 1974, the House Judiciary Committee voted for articles of impeachment for President Nixon for lying to the people and to Congress. Within a month, Nixon resigned from office. Nixon’s political demise came less than two years after he won one of the largest landslide electoral victories in U.S. history.

Paul Goodman

Alumnus