January 21, 2007
by Steve Osborn
I received the following from Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA) regarding my call for impeachment. See my reply below.
Dear Steve and Adrienne:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for impeachment proceedings against members of the current Administration. While I appreciate hearing from you, I want to let you know that I do not support pursuing impeachment proceedings at this time.
The new Democratic majority in Congress has achieved remarkable successes since January of 2007. We have increased the minimum wage, raised vehicle fuel efficiency standards for the first time in 35 years, passed the largest VA funding increase in American history and made college more affordable for working families by enacting the biggest increase in college aid in 60 years.
Yet we still have much work to do to address the problems facing our country. The process of impeaching an elected official is time consuming and very rarely effective. At this time, I believe that we should use the time remaining in the 110th Congress to continue to address the challenges facing our country and provide necessary oversight of the Administration.
While I do not support impeachment, I strongly support the vigorous efforts of the Democratic Congress to hold this Administration accountable for its actions. Democratic-controlled committees have already held over 500 oversight hearings on a wide array of topics, including the politicization of the Justice Department, the response to Hurricane Katrina, the Valerie Plame scandal and contractor abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please be assured that we will continue to engage in aggressive oversight of this Administration as the 110th Congress continues.
Although we disagree on this issue, I hope and trust that there are many more on which we see eye-to-eye. Please continue to contact me about issues that are important to you.
Sincerely,
Rick Larsen
United States Representative
Washington State, 2nd District
First off, we doubt that there will be a 111th Congress if you people don't get rid of the Bush gang.
Secondly, We have watched C-Span, seeing you pundits orating to empty rooms so you can say what a good job you are doing. We have seen "Democrats" absenting themselves from critical votes so the necessary majority was not there. We continually see you out on the fund raising trail instead of doing the job you were elected to do.
Finally, we see you people giving BushCo whatever billions he wants to continue the slaughter in Iraq, if he will promise to please not veto your pork filled bills, to pay off your big corporate donors.
No, Rick, the only difference between Democrats and Republicans is the letter after their name. You are all the servants of the Corporatocracy that buys your souls and your votes. We the People are tired of hypocrisy and will be glad to see you go, all of you, if possible.
I have asked you, and my other two alleged representatives, why we cannot have the Constitution and Bill of Rights restored, intact and functioning, to the Halls of Government. None of you have ever replied to that question, though you are all very free with your form letters on other subjects.
I have communicated with hundreds of others who have asked the same question of their alleged representatives and they also have received no reply. Are you people too embarrassed to answer this question, or do you realize that having the Constitution back and functioning might disrupt the congressional-corporate gravy train?
We would really like to have an answer. Any chance of getting one this time?
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Stephen M. Osborn [send him email] is a freelance writer living on Camano Island in the Pacific Northwest. He is an "Atomic Vet." (Operation Redwing, Bikini Atoll 1956, ) who has been very active working and writing for nuclear disarmament and world peace. He is a retired Fire Battalion Chief, lifelong sailor, writer, poet, philosopher, historian and former newspaper columnist.
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