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

Dave Lindorff (Author), Barbara Olshansky (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 29, 2007

It's time to act--and this is the guide.

 

Now in paperback to meet a rising public demand, here is a hard-hitting argument for the impeachment of George W. Bush--and top members of his administration. Events since the book's hardcover release--including court decisions regarding war crimes and violations of the FISA law on wiretapping--have only heightened the urgency.  
 
Methodically detailing the Bush regime's offenses and refuting its lies and deceptions, investigative reporter Dave Lindorff and constitutional rights specialist Barbara Olshansky explain why the president and his inner circle should be removed from office for high crimes and misdemeanors. Among the most grievous harms:

•  misleading the nation into war

•  authorizing and encouraging the use of torture
•  failing in almost every way to defend the homeland and our borders

•  undermining habeas corpus and other traditional rights
•  illegal NSA wiretapping, mail opening, and other assaults on the Bill of Rights
•  the catastrophic federal failure to respond to Hurricane Katrina
 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The genius of this book is in its brevity. . . . This clear, crisp book might just help save this country." --David Swanson, cofounder of AfterDowningStreet.org

 

"Any American who wants to preserve what's left of our precious Bill of Rights . . . should read this essential book--which should also be force-fed to every single member of Congress." --Doug Ireland, L.A. Weekly
 
"One of the leaders of the national grassroots movement to impeach President Bush, Lindorff says, `The question isn't should we impeach the president, but why haven't we done it already.'" --Susan Smallheer, Rutland [Vt.] Herald

About the Author

Dave Lindorff, an award-winning journalist for over three decades, has written for BusinessWeek, Salon, and The Nation. Barbara Olshansky is Leah Kaplan Visiting Professor in Human Rights at Stanford Law School.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (May 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031237254X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312372545
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,817,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 68 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars For the Good Times As Well As the Bad April 7, 2008

By Edwin C. Pauzer VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

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. Read more ›

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Serious Book July 25, 2006

By J. Lorentzsen

Format:Hardcover

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.

65 of 79 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Scary June 25, 2006

By PST

Format:Hardcover

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!

54 of 66 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lays Out the Groundwork June 26, 2006

By Loyd E. Eskildson HALL OF FAME

Format:Hardcover

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. Read more ›