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The Case for Impeachment: The Legal Argument for Removing President George W. Bush from Office

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The first few pages did not grab my attention. In fact I was disappointed because it was talking about how it hoped the elections of November 2006 would turn out. My next mistake was comparing this book to others rather than on its own merit. Somewhere after the first several pages, the authors hit their stride or I did, and the book held my attention to the end.

Authors Lindorff and Olshansky first ask the question, "Why impeachment?" in which they lay out the deceit and deception perpetrated by Bush & Co. They give the history of impeachment and how it has evolved in American law. Here Lindorff and Olshansky introduce nuance of impeachment that I had not been aware of. "In 1974, the House Judiciary Committed examined the history of federal impeachment proceedings and issued a report describing three categories of impeachable offenses..." 1) "actions involving or exceeding or abusing the constitutional limits on the powers of the office at the expense of the powers of another branch of government" 2) "conduct fundamentally incomparable with the function and purpose of the office of the offender" and 3) are "actions that involved using the power and authority of the offenders' office for an improper purpose or for personal gain."

The authors start the next six chapters with an article of impeachment for George W. Bush. They make excellent arguments for impeachment under several of them e.g. When George Bush adds signing statement to bills stating what parts of the bill he will enforce or ignore, or claims that it does not apply to him, he is relegating the legislative branch to an advisory role rather than an equal branch of government. George Bush has taken the first step toward dictatorship by disavowing his vow to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States. Bush claims this right as commander in chief even though the Constitution clearly states that the President is the C in C of the army and navy only.

But Herr Bush is not their only consideration for impeachment. They add Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice, and Alberto Gonzalez. Here the authors are kind enough to make an important distinction for the reader. The president is the only one who is protected from criminal indictment while in office. His impeachment means only removal from office. However, all the others described here can be impeached and indicted for criminal charges. The knowledgeable reader will be able to imagine with a fair degree of accuracy what those charges might entail.

The appendices here are kind of the grand prize. They include The Downing Street Memo, the Niger Forgeries, the Taguba Report, the International Committee of the Red Cross Report, the FBI Memo Regarding Torture at Guantanamo, the Gonzalez Memo on Torture, The Federal Indictment of I. Lewis Libby, and the Rumsfeld Memo on Torture. These all point to incompetence, deception of the American people, violation of our treaties and the Geneva Conventions. All of these come under the province of high crimes and misdemeanors.

In closing the authors remind us that, "The Constitution was not just conceived as a document for the good times, It was meant to guide the nation through times of conflict, trouble, and stress as well."

It's also bigger than any one man.





Also recommended:

Wolf, Naomi, "The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot."

Nichols, John, "The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders Cure for Royalism."

Greenwald, Glenn, "How Would a Patriot Act: Defending American Values From a President Run Amok."

Center for Constitutional Rights, "Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush.

Michael Isikoff and David Corn, "Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War.

As one who actually voted for Bush in 2000 and against in 2004, I feel that I gave him an honest and objective look over the last 6 years. I don't feel that all the counts laid out by the authors reach the level of impeachment but 2, at least in my mind do. Most importantly is mis-leading us into a war of agression regarding Iraq. The cost of this war on so many level will be with us for a very long time.

When I picked this up I thought it might be a left-wing screed. Far from it, a very serious and worthwhile read.

In moderate tone, this books lists the impeachable offenses, G.W. Bush might have commited. If only 10% is correct, it is scary,in what low regard this president holds the values, which were once cherished by Americans, and which were admired and envied world over.
With the flimsy excuse of the "war on terrorism", Bush seems to feel, he is allowed to do whatever he pleases. I suppose, every reasonable person would agree, that World War II was a bigger war, that the one this Draft Dodger wages. Still, I have not read anywhere, that Roosevelt ever condoned torture of POWs. (it surely happend, but the admnistration did not condone it)

One might feel reassured, that Bush only has another two years, but will the next President -Republican or Democrat- give up the additional power of the Presidency Bush amassed?

On a recent trip to the USA, I was amazed, how little American citizens seem to care! They do not seem to know, that Hitler also started slowly!

The authors (Lindorff and Olshansky) believe that articles of impeachment in the book should be an open and shut case, that a prosecutor would have no problem drawing up eg. a FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) indictment, or convincing a jury to convict - if this were a regular criminal matter. They go on to assert that the only possible explanation for President Bush's conditions for appearing before the 9/11 Commission (no reporters, recording devices or notes; that he not be placed under oath; that only a few select members be present) is that he lied. Further, Bush's lies on Iraq have killed over 2,500 troops and an estimated 100,000 Iraqis (mostly civilians), and has cost hundreds of billions. Other charges include violation of signed international treaties that have become the law of the land (eg. Geneva Convention), ignoring or violating acts of Congress through the issuance of "signing statements" in which Bush declared his intention to interpret laws his own way and obey only those he feels like.

"The Case for Impeachment" then reviews Bush's early record of business failures, early abuses of law as Texas' governor and resolving the contested Florida votes in 2000, and his administration's emphasis on secrecy, followed by background material on impeachment.

Specific charges against President Bush include negligence (ignoring global warming, Katrina foul-ups, no plan or sufficient armor in Iraq, and poor defense of the U.S.), corruption (restricting Iraq bidding to a few U.S. firms, involvement with Abramoff), and illegal acts (authorizing torture, wiretapping, lying about the need to invade Iraq).

The authors also believe that other officials should be impeached: V.P. Cheney (awarding contracts to cronies, support for torture, outing Valerie Plame), Secretary Rumsfeld (supporting torture), Rice (lying about the potential use of aluminum tubes), A.G. Gonzales (lying about warrantless surveillance).

Lindorff and Olshansky realize no impeachment action will occur under the current Congress - however, they believe setting out the case for doing so will give proponents something to work towards and help bring about political change. Their "bottom-line" is that failure to act may reduce the Constitution to but a piece of paper by the end of Bush's second term.

Like a frog that doesn't realize he slowly being boiled, we tend to lose perspective on events that slowly occur over time. "The Case for Impeachment" summarizes a number of alarming acts and clearly demonstrates that action should be taken.

Considering the Bush administration's assault on our civil rights, the Constitution itself, American principles as we know it and rampant republican cronyism, there is no shortage of books to read that outline the worst Presidency in American history. In fact, there is a literal litany of them to read and depress one's self over it all. The problem with such a plethora to pick from is you can't read them all and many of them are either too dry, histrionic or too full of legal blather to bother with.

Enter David Lindorff and Barbara Olshansky and their book, The Case for Impeachment: The Legal Argument for Removing President George W. Bush from Office. Mr. Lindorff is a thirty-year veteran of journalism and Ms. Olshansky, an attorney, is the Director Counsel for The Center for Constitutional Rights. Together they achieve what few other books can on this subject, mainly a lucid argument for removing the Bush cartel without boring the bookworm to death or burying them in lawyer lingo. Blending a mixture of just enough pragmatic history, clear-cut evidence and easy-to-understand legal language, the authors present a damaging case that clocks in under 275 pages, including the index and ample supporting documents.

Whether you need to wrap your mind around the cornucopia of criminality by Bush, or find a friend or family member still in denial and needs help grasping the grisly, grim truth about "Dubya", this book does the trick in just ten easy chapters. While the Internet, through grassroots efforts, has given rise to a thunderous cry for Bush's removal, The Case for Impeachment, gives a mainstream voice to a virulent presidency and a deep demand for the people-powered recall of a would-be dictator.

-Frank J. Ranelli
Progressive Author, Writer, & Researcher

This book makes a very strong case for impeachment of George W. Bush, and I believe that proceedings should be undertaken because it is important that Bush's imperialistic, unconstitutional, even illegal behavior as president not be allowed to pass uncensured by the Congress and the people. To ignore this would set an even more dangerous precedent than his appointment to the presidency by the Supreme Court did.

I can only echo what's been posted here. In plain, and very reasoned (and reasonable) language, the two authors have laid out (without ranting or screed) all of the clear crimes Bush has committed against our country. This short book also sums up much of what's already in AMERICAN DYNASTY and AMERICAN THEOLOGY by Kevin Philips, which I also recommend. Get this book, even if nothing happens, even if Congress is more concerned about getting elected than advocating justice.

Edit of 12 Apr 08 to add new additional links.

The Republicans set the stage for hard-ball when they actually impeached President Clinton, not for having oral sex with an intern, but for lying about it. This book lists ten specific documented reasons for impeaching President Bush:

1. Stole Florida election in 2000.
2. Lied on Iraq to Congress, the Public, and the United Nations.
3. 9-11 Cover-Up and Obstruction of Justice.
4. Violated Rights of Citizens including Habeas Corpus.
5. NSA Program to Listen to Citizens without Warrant.
6. Violated International Treaties Including Geneva Convention.
7. Actively Encouraged, as a Policy, Use of Torture.
8. Gross Negligence on Hurricane Katrina.
9. Iraq Contract Corruption--Bremer "Lost" $8 billion in cash, sole source awards, and gross negligence in managing the peace.
10. Stole Ohio election in 2004.

This book is not just an indictment on the specifics, it is also a very useful primer for citizens on the purpose and process of impeachment, which is a last resort intended to restore the checks and balances of government--it is in essence, supposed to be reserved for out of control Presidents whose high crimes and misdemeanors threaten the security and prosperity and morality of the Nation.

Having set the bar so low in attacking President Clinton (see Kenneth Becht's "Just the Facts: A Case for Impeachment" (December 1997)), the extremist Republicans have absolutely no basis for objecting to the impeachment of the President in February 2007. I for one do not favor impeachment--I prefer containment with the threat of impeachment.

This book (there are others, this is the one that caught my eye in the airport) comes at a timely moment, as we go into the summer leading to the November 2006 Congressional elections. The Independents and swing voters are clearly regretting their re-election of Bush (but as a moderate Republican, I think Bush has been better at radicalizing America, Kerry would simply have muddled through), and there is an excellent chance that the Republicans will lose control of the House and perhaps even the Senate. This book, and the case it makes, should be required reading for everyone running for election in November 2006, and the litmus test for their election should not be "do they FAVOR impeachment," but rather "do they favor containing the President from running further amok by holding the impeachment card high?"

The book reminds us in passing that President Bush was fearful of testifying to the 9-11 Commission in public or under oath. He testified to a handful of the Commissioners, with Vice President Cheney at his side, and concealed from the public.

The book points out that the full cost of the Iraq war and subsequent occupation, an occupation that the President just announced will go one for several more years, is likely to go over two TRILLION dollars, inclusive of lost income by the troops, lifetime medical costs for tens of thousands of amputees and traumatized individuals (remember, Gulf I, a cake walk, gave us 264,000 veterans on FULL DISABILITY), and interest on the debt (which is now at 9 TRILLION, not counting 40 trillion in future unfunded obligations).

The book names Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, and Gonzalez as subject to impeachment, but again, as a moderate Republican, the idea of Nancy Pelosi replacing Bush as President is even more repugnant. This book inspires me to hope for more Independents such that the Democrats may slightly outnumber the Republicans and be the de jure majority, but NOT be the actual numerical de facto majority. We need to put the "swing" into Congress, and not leave it at the voting place.

The appendices are of passing interest. The key point of this book is that discussion of impeachment is neither radical nor academic. It is real. America has been through the ten high crimes and misdemeanors itemized above.

If we do not take note and correct this in 2006 and 2008, we are no better than one of the 44 dictators that our Administration continues to support in return for cheap natural resources at the expense of foreign publics that will eventually overwhelm us. Jonathan Schell in "Unconquerable World" documents how there are not enough guns in the world to force our way--restoring "America the Good" is the one path to peace. Holding this President accountable--not necessarily through impeachment--is a good way to set the stage for honest and thoughtful elections in November 2006.

The Bush Tragedy
The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America's Pursuit of Its Enemies Since 9/11
Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency
Crossing the Rubicon: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil
The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track (Institutions of American Democracy)
Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders
Running On Empty: How The Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It
The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism
9/11 Synthetic Terror: Made in USA, Fourth Edition
Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace

It's here, folks, what we've all been waiting for: a serious, informed, hard-hitting manual for how to impeach President George W. Bush (don't wait for Democrats in Congress, be active in the building a mass movement that will oust him) and why. Lindorff is a veteran political journalist, and Oshansky is deputy director of the Center for Constitutional Rights who is currently managing the habeus corpus litigation on behalf of 300 detainees being held at Guantånamo Bay. They lay out the reasons carefully and passionately: denial of constitutional rights to U.S. citizens; violation of international treaties signed by the U,S.; ignoring and violating duly passed acts of Congress; violating the precious fourth amendment requiring "probable cause" and protecting citizens' security "against unreasonable searches and seizures;" and leaving the nation unprotected while National Guard units are sent to fight in Iraq. This book explains why the impeachment process was written into the U.S. Constitution, and why it applies to Bush far more than it did when Bill Clinton faced impeachment. Finally, this book includes a valuable collection of official documents that prove George Bush is unworthy of remaining in the White House. It will fire up readers for the task of animating Congress's use of the impeachment process, so read it yourself and give The Case for Impeachment to friends, neighbors and especially those still supporting the criminal acts of this president.

The unjust war and the so-called home-grown terrorists are joined by increasing numbers of people who are suspicious of nearly everything that has happened - beginning with 9/11 itself. It is all a total fabrication of the current administration and its power-hungry and money-hungry oil cartels. The only "preservation" favored by this administration is its own depravity. Health benefits, decent minimum wages, treaties we have previously signed - and so much more - have been largely abandoned or intentionally dropped. Meanwhile our government continues to increase its own benefits in outright money - abetted by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress (often hard to tell the difference) - in tax breaks and in ways I hesitate to state in a public forum because of wiretapping and spying on the citizenry. It's all in here clearly, including the public apathy. Am I a "home-grown terrorist" - maybe. Peace means not fighting. If war could "win" peace, we'd have been at peace for centuries.