Finally Someone With the Guts to Hold Bush/Cheney Accountable

"The government is merely a servant -- merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them..."
-- Mark Twain

When George Bush and Dick Cheney first took their oaths of office as President and Vice President of the United States in 2001, they placed their right hands on a Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States and our liberties as prescribed in the Bill of Rights.

But instead, Bush and Cheney have declared war on the Constitution, eroding our liberties at home, while destroying our standing around the world. Any of the serious issues involving the misuse of intelligence, politiciziation of the Justice Department or abuse of presidential and vice presidential powers would alone justify the call for impeachment, but together there is no question that such an investigation is essential.

As an elected District Attorney, I know that the rule of law is essential to a functioning democracy. It is essential for the health of a democracy that the rule of law be paramount. The oath we swear to protect the Constitution transcends political parties, partisan agendas, and personal ambition. That’s why I’m pleased as a candidate for Maine’s 1st Congressional District to call for immediate impeachment and why I was pleased to endorse Congressman Mike Michaud’s courageous stand to hold the president and vice president accountable for their actions.

Our Constitution is rooted in the idea of checks and balances - that a vital role of the Legislative and Judicial branches of government is to maintain vigorous oversight over each other and the Executive Branch. But for too long the Bush administration in general and Dick Cheney in particular have operated with the belief that they are exempt from these checks and balances.

If Congress does not act to hold these elected officials accountable for their deeds and misdeeds, their unprecedented expansion of executive power will become a dangerous precedent. That is why I, and others, have called for the House Judiciary Committee to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President and the Vice President. Some criticize this course as too political and others suggest it would be a distraction. But I believe that in failing to impeach, Congress is in fact breaking its oath. We must act now to send a message to all future administrations that no one is above the law.

We must no longer be silent. I have made this issue one of the center pieces of my campaign to bring a real change in direction to Washington. I am asking you to join me to demand that Congress act now to investigate the betrayal of our public trust in government by George Bush and Dick Cheney.

- Mark Lawrence