Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH-10) is going to bring H.Res.333, "Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President," to a vote in the House of Representatives today as a "privileged resolution." Such measures require Congressional action within two days. The resolution, co-sponsored by 21 other representatives,* calls for Dick Cheney's impeachment on the grounds that the Vice President

• purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and Congress of the United States by fabricating a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction,
• purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and Congress of the United States about an alleged relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda, and
• openly threatened aggression against the Republic of Iran absent any real threat to the United States, in contravention of Article II, Section 4 of the UN Charter, to which the United States is bound by treaty.

In all of these things, Cheney has

acted in a manner contrary to his trust as Vice President, and subversive of constitutional government, to the prejudice of the cause of law and justice and the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

Wherefore Richard B. Cheney, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.

Kucinich's congressional impeachment web page provides links to online documentation for each specific evidence or authority listed in the resolution. As a press release explains:"The privileged resolution has priority status for consideration on the House floor. Once introduced, the resolution has to be brought to the floor within two legislative days, although the House could act on it immediately."

While a planned national phone conference planned for Monday evening failed due to technical difficulties, David Swanson was able to hear Kucinich's more detailed explanation of how things are likely to unfold:

[Kucinich] said that there might be an actual debate on the substance of the charges, for which he said he was prepared, or there might be a motion to table the matter (effectively killing it if successful), or it might be referred to a committee. If it is sent to committee, Kucinich, said, it will be the House Judiciary Committee.

In a statement, Kucinich explained:

I am urging my colleagues to recognize that impeachment will not create a crisis by briefly disrupting their schedules on Capitol Hill. The crisis, as Americans outside the Beltway know, is upon us. Congress, the first branch of our government, to which the first half of the Constitution is devoted, has been reduced to almost a bystander as the policies of the wealthiest nation and the largest military ever known are set in secret by the Vice President's office. Under Bush/Cheney, we have become a nation that illegally threatens and launches aggressive wars for political – not national security -- reasons. For this crisis of confidence, this denial of our Constitutional beliefs and rights, impeachment is the only cure available.

I agree with Congressman Kucinich that Cheney's fraudulent case for the Iraq war was a direct assault on the fabric and Constitution of this country; he has my thanks for standing up for the Constitution and honoring his oath of office.

If you support impeachment, call your Congressperson (1-800-828-0498, 1-800-862-5530, or 1-800-833-6354) and ask him or her to vote against tabling Kucinich's resolution H.Res.333. If you don't support impeachment, just go back to sleep.

[crossposted from newsrack]

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* Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Brady (D-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Rep. Henry Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. James Moran (D-VA), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Rep. Albert Wynn (D-MD).