Bush has admitted to the requisite "high crimes and misdemeanors" to allow for impeachment. It doesn't matter that these supposed crimes aren't truly crimes; he has effectively admitted to them being illegal and makes it impossible to claim otherwise. He has shown fundamental weakness leading up to the election that makes Congressional Republicans that much more vulnerable. Ultimately, the Democrats will gain control of the House, will successfully impeach the President, and he will likely be thrown out of office by a weak Senate Republican majority.
It is no secret that many Democrats (and certainly left-wing activists) want to impeach Bush. This drive started roughly on the day of inauguration in 2001. They've invented and refined charges throughout the past few years. Some of these have been completely debunked by the facts, others have hung around. For instance, the scandal of the Valerie Plame incident is that the prosecutor, after knowing who the leaker was the first day of the investigation, allowed the witch hunt to continue. The investigation also proved that not only did Bush not lie about Niger, but the claims were actually true.
However, the charge the Bush has violated the Geneva Conventions and tortured prisoners is one that cannot now be argued against by the President. By admitting that the terrorists have rights on the Geneva Conventions, he makes it impossible to turn around and say the decision not to grant them rights to begin with was legal. This is despite the fact that the Geneva Conventions are crystal clear that illegal combatants are entitled to no protections.
The Geneva Conventions protect only uniformed military who carry weapons openly. It does not protect spies, mercenaries, or terrorists. The fact that the language of the Geneva Conventions is clear on this point has not deterred the left from this rallying cry of human rights violations.
Discussions on what is or is not required in international law tend to border on the absurd. Usually the crowd that vigorously supports international law as binding is the same crowd that believes in the "living and breathing Constitution." In short, they believe that what is written and agreed upon doesn't matter; they believe that whatever is "progressive" is what the Constitution requires. The same is true of international law. Many scholars don't argue what is actually required in the treaties, they argue what they believe the law should be, and thus, it becomes much more invidious to defend against. Think of it as trying to hit a moving target.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Robin Kavanagh
God I hope you are right. I don't think we can take much more of Bush's policies and public mistakes. As I was reading the CNN article about his announcement that the CIA was holding suspects in secret prisons, I was thinking that that had to be illegal. But it gauls me that Bush can address the country and say he sanctioned this, but there was absoloutly nothing wrong with it. Just like Bloomberg can say that thousands of Ground Zero workers are sick now where they once were not, but there's no evidence that working on a toxic pile of powdered rubble has anything to do with it. Love politicians.
2 - JustOneMan
We are doomed....for the next 2 years every left wing idiot will be taking turns hamering a nail if the coffin of western civilzation!
We have turned into a 3rd world country...
3 - dee
The sooner he is gone or impeached the better. He has messed this country up so badly, I won't name all of the mess ups here but I could. I don't have enough space to write. I wish there would be an accident at the white house. Yes, bushco has turned us into more of a 3rd world country. That's why he has to go.
4 - Daniel DiRito
I found it a bit odd that the President received a standing ovation when he announced the names of detainees that had been transferred to Guantanamo for prosecution. Isn't he the same person that has been preventing this type of prosecution? It seems to me that saying "It's about time" would be the more appropriate response to this announcement. The only thing we've gained from the delay of this outcome is the ire of much of the world and a loss of the moral authority that 9/11 most certainly provided.
The fact that these "high profile" names were released...and that one might presume that these individuals will be paraded in the media for all to see...almost immediately after the President and the GOP have just rolled out their campaign strategy for the November midterm election seems all too convenient. Granted, it may well be coincidental but I'm not convinced. Nothing would serve the President better than having Americans see some "tangible" results of our effort to fight the war on terror.
Read more here: Thought Theater
5 - Jet in Columbus
...They've invented and refined charges throughout the past few years. Some of these have been completely debunked by the facts
Exactly what happened with Bill Clinton and the white water charges doesn't it?
payback is a bitch!
Tantum meus sententia
Jet
6 - IgnatiusReilly
You sound no diferent than the hippies screaming about global warming with your "sky is falling" attitude and illustrate a lack of understanding about politics.
I know that one of the talking points is the Dems will impeach Bush, but that doesn't make sense any which way, so I must question if you really believe it.
If they take control of the House, which all the pundits are leaning towards, it will be because of the President. They will want him to continue flapping in the breeze uneffectively for two years and really gain steam going into '08. Why would they get rid of him other than your assumption that thye are kust as petty as the Right?
I had to laugh at your castigation of Bush being just more left-bashing. Most people get bored eating the same meal over and over again.
7 - Martin Lav
Maybe the author would have preferred that these people were kept somewhere indefinitely......
Assuming that compromise equals the end of Bush Co. is exactly what's wrong with Bush Co. Without any dialog, debate, advice or cooperation you get nothing, but mistrust and the absolute partisanship that exists today. Our author makes the case perfectly in that just like Bush, he thinks this announcement is the end of everything and predicts the unraveling of his Dear Sweet President. It's maddening actually and if Bush Co. hadn't been ignoring the world, operating in their own grand ideals we would be safer today than pre 9/11.
I'll sit back and wait for all the statistics to show we are safer now......bring it on.
8 - Arch Conservative
You hit the nail on the head Justoneman. The lefties in this country won't be happy until Sharia is the law of the land here in the USA. Anything that makes Bush look bad is fine by them wether it's terrorists going free or more dead soldiers in Iraq. it warms the cockles of thier tiny little hearts. just don't mention to them that we haven't had another attack since 911 because they can't handle the idea that somehow bush had a hand in it.
Lefties never get tired of hearing themselves talk ignatius. The go on talking and talking while reality goes on around them. Maybe if they shut there fat pieholes for two seconds and watch what's really going on they'd realize just how full of shit they are.
9 - JustOneMan
"I wish there would be an accident at the white house."
Oh the intelligence of the left...never ceases to amaze me....
Dee...speaking of accidents 1. please check your underpants, and 2. I guess we can blame your parents!
10 - Dean
"The Republican Revolution has been mortally wounded today."
No.
The NeoCon Revolution has been mortally wounded today.
Real Republicans will survive.
11 - Angus
Al Qaeda has not attacked the US again because there is no need to. Their stated goal is to bankrupt the US, and so far their plan is on track. If and when we stop bleeding cash, expect another attack.
Anyway, don't worry, I hear Al Qaeda is too busy attacking Lebanon because it's a democracy. ;)
12 - JustOneMan
Gee and I thought college was about being open minded and non-Judgemental John...FUCKEM...keep up the good work!
13 - Jet in Columbus
ahhhh I just love platitudes fromt he radical right
14 - Clavos
You like censorship too, Jet?
15 - Jet in Columbus
Who said anything about censorship?
16 - Clavos
Did you not read #11, Jet? That's what I was referring to in #13.
[Ironically, I saw 11 as spam and deleted it. Unfortunately that meant I deleted the then 13 too as it made no sense out of context. Darn! Comments Editor]
17 - Angus
Look up PNAC if you want something interesting and dark to debate.
18 - Dean
The PNAC is Clavos' favorite Boy Scout troop.
It is a Boy Scout troop, isn't it?
19 - Dean
A Scout is true to his.. nation.
But to which nation is the PNAC loyal?
20 - Jet in Columbus
Is responding to 14
21 - Clavos
You've got me confused with Jet, Dean. I like women.
22 - Dean
Clavos, there aren't any women in the PNAC.
23 - Clavos
Not even ones with a glass ceiling?
24 - Clavos
Dean,
I Googled PNAC.
Which one are you referring to?
The Pontifical North American College?
Or the Pakistan National Accreditation Council?
25 - Dean
Clavos, your computer is worn out. Get a new one.
On second thought, it could be that you can't read well.