UNLIKE TAUSCHER, SOME DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMEMBERS HAVE READ THE CONSTITUTION-- JAY INSLEE WILL OFFER A RESOLUTION TO IMPEACH GONZALES TOMORROW

No one who favors the rule of law here

Yesterday we had a good laugh over reactionary Democrat Ellen Tauscher's idiotic response to the calls for the impeachment of serial perjurer Alberto Gonzales. Tauscher must still be getting her talking points from Karl Rove's office. Washington Congressman Jay Inslee, on the other hand, is neither a reactionary nor an ignoramus. He also, unlike Tauscher, values the rule of law. Tomorrow he'll be introducing a bill to impeach Gonzales. The text:

RESOLUTION
Directing the Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States, should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary shall investigate fully whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to impeach Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Simple enough-- even for an Ellen O. Tauscher.


DON'T COUNT ON CHENEY TO VOTE FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE RULE OF LAW IF THERE'S A TIE

According to CBS the most hated man in American contemporary politics just loves little Alberto. Cheney may be the only Republican in elective office to support Gonzales but he told CBS he's a "big fan" or Gonzales (and of Scooter Libby's). Since "None of the Above" continues to be the overwhelming favorite in every Republican primary poll, I don't understand why there hasn't been a Draft Cheney Movement. No one represents the heart and soul large intestines of the GOP the way Cheney does.


UPDATE: CHENEY & BUSH MAY BE THE ONLY ONES IN AMERICA WHO THINK GONZALES SHOULDN'T BE FIRED

This weekend the editorial boards were busy. You already saw what the NY Times had to say. But papers from every part of the country were calling on Congress to impeach or on Gonzales to resign:

• Brattleboro Reformer: "If Congress wishes to remain a meaningful... branch of our government, it must rein in the executive branch. The tool for doing this is impeachment."
• Hartford Courant: Gonzales "put on a pathetic performance" in front of the Senate Judiciary Committtee 7/25, and the nation "would be better served without Mr. Gonzales in charge."
• Kentucky Post: Senate Dems' call for a special counsel "would be overkill," because "if Gonzales did willfully mislead, there's no way the president can keep him on."
• Lousiville Courier-Journal: "These days" the WH "operates in a different world... There is ample evidence for the Senate to pursue perjury charges against Mr. Gonzales, and it should do so."
• Newsday: "If Gonzales doesn't have the good sense to resign... then the Congress will have no choice but to demand a special counsel... Bush is making a big mistake in placing loyalty above integrity."
• New York Times: Gonzales either "lied to Congress," used "a bureaucratic dodge to mislead lawmakers and the public," or else is "helping Mr. Bush cover" up "more wiretapping than has been disclosed." If a special prosecutor is not appointed, "Congress should impeach Mr. Gonzales."
• Norfolk Virginian-Pilot: "How can America tell the attorney general is lying to Congress? His lips are moving." If Gonzales "really" wanted to improve the DOJ's credibility, "he'd resign."
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "The attempts of the Congress to obtain information" from the WH "are worthy of respect... this kind of 'We are above the law' lack of accountability on the part of Mr. Bush... has now gone far enough."
• Portland Oregonian: Last week "Gonzales sank even further, if that's possible... Every day he remains in office inflicts further damage to the nation's once-respected" DoJ.
• Portland Press Herald: "It is the White House that is out of control, not the Congress." The call for a special prosecutor is "justified"

UPDATE: GONZALES' IMPEACHMENT IS BEING HANDLED BY CONGRESSMEN WHO WERE FORMER PROSECUTORS

Joining Jay Inslee in co-sponsoring the bill to impeach Gonzales in the House are former prosecutors Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Michael Arcuri (D-NY), Ben Chandler (D-KY), Dennis Moore (D-KS) and Bruce Braley (D-IA). The spans the whole party ideologically. Chandler and Moore are very conservative. Becerra, Arcuri and Braley are pretty progressive.


UPDATE: MORE DEMOCRATS JUMP IN AS CO-SPONSORS

Although partisan Republican hack Lamar Smith (TX) was screaming hysterically that the impeachment resolution is just a political stunt-- sound familiar? it's what Republicans say about anything they disagree with-- more co-sponsors are signing on by the minute. Tom Undall (D-NM), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) are now co-sponsors too. Do you know your congressmember's e-mail address or phone number? Let him or her know how you feel about this.