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Feingold Blasts Constitutional "Wreckage" Bush Leaves Behind


Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Constitution Subcommittee, opened a hearing today entitled “Restoring the Rule of Law” by blasting the long-term damage George W. Bush has done to the Constitution, saying both the new Congress and the next president will need counsel on "… tackling the wreckage that this President will leave."

“Tomorrow, September 17, is the 221st anniversary of the day in 1787 when 39 members of the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in Philadelphia," said Feingold in opening the hearings this morning. "It is a sad fact as we approach that anniversary that for the past seven and a half years, and especially since 9/11, the Bush Administration has treated the Constitution and the rule of law with a disrespect never before seen in the history of this country."

Calling the Bush-Cheney shredding of our national creed "a shameful legacy that will haunt our country for years to come," Feingold addressed the difficulty that a new Congress will have in rectifying this administration's actions as the public and even Washington become numb to what Bush has made standard practice since September 11.

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Bob Geiger September 16, 2008 - 11:51am
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Shrub makes me wonder

Whether it's possible to impeach a president after he's left office.

NateTG September 16, 2008 - 12:35pm
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I think that question was posed to Glenn Greenwald...

...and the response that I recall seeing was: there's nothing in the constitution that would prevent it.

Indeed, there is nothing specific to require a President be in-office when the motion to impeach happens in the House, so....it will come down to the Representatives themselves.

Do they have the balls to make it happen? Who am I kidding?

-5.75,-4.05
"God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time." -- Robin Williams

justadood September 16, 2008 - 6:35pm
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I think it is

He could be prevented from serving in public office, not that too many offices would be beckoning. It might also make him liable for civil suits by those he wronged, such as Guantanamo detainees, and also make it easier to drag him up in front of the Hague.

Given how hard it is to get the country to focus even on Feingold's hearings, it is nearly impossible to imagine this country tolerating a president brought before the World Court.

Numerian September 16, 2008 - 2:22pm
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I'm not really that

I'm not really that interested in punishing Bush, but more in (re)establishing the checks and balances. The Constitutional remedy to a president (or administration) that's gone amok is to impeach.

Impeach early. Impeach often.

Of course, that would require some action in the House of Representatives...

NateTG September 16, 2008 - 2:53pm
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Impeachment talk is waaaaay too late . . .

however there's is the Int'l Criminal Court for Crimes against humanity and Torture. He and President Cheney had best stay out of foreign countries unless has-been politicians have some diplomatic (yeah, right) immunity.

ChrisH September 16, 2008 - 5:44pm
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My favourite rhetorical question....

...is "If Cheney doesn't see himself as part of teh Executive Branch, and (maybe) not the Legislative or Judicial Branches, does that mean he doesn't see himself as having to adhere to the Term of Office or Term Limits defined in teh Constitution?"

---We could have a Veep for Life (sorta like Pooty-Poot?)....whaddya think?

-5.75,-4.05
"God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time." -- Robin Williams

justadood September 16, 2008 - 6:38pm
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It ain't the Shrub...

It's the Reagan-era neocon cabal that's called the shots--and will still be around after the Current Occupant has departed to his ranch in Paraguay.

Short of a drumhead and guillotine, how do we get rid of these monsters?

Petronius September 16, 2008 - 7:28pm
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It is more important

that we do what Feingold suggests: have a serious re-examination of the Constitution and an affirmative repudiation of the recent trespasses against it, than to put the heads of Bush and Cheney on pikes. Although the pikes would be good, too.

orangutan September 16, 2008 - 11:50pm
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Impeachment

It's what's for dinner. Now with checks and balances!

The first step in establishing the rule of law is to demonstrate that the office of the president is subject to it. The choices are to withhold funding or to impeach.

NateTG September 17, 2008 - 1:24am
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