Fit to be Tried

What is with the Oregon Democratic delegation in DC? Are they unaware of the crimes committed by the Bush regime? Or are they simply indifferent?

Bush has conspired to illegally spy on Americans, he's conducted international kidnappings and authorized the use of torture. He and his Department of "Just Us" are guilty of obstruction of justice in the treasonous scandals of the Valerie Plame outing, the US Attorney oustings and the theft of the Presidency through fraud and vote caging.

My Congressman, Earl Blumenauer sits in a safe (D)istrict and yet is seated next to Pelosi in taking impeachment off the table. His main argument appears to be that the Bush white house "is already on its way out the door." It would appear that Rep. Blumenauer is willing to excuse any president of everything in his or her last 18 months of office, a dangerous precedent. Unfortunately, Blumenauer is oblivious to the fact that barring censure and/or impeachment, the damage caused to our system of checks and balances will outlive us all.

At the conclusion of Clinton's impeachment trial, Oregon's Democratic senator, Ron Wyden supported his vote to acquit with this lofty verbiage: "What I want to be able to tell my grandchildren is that this was the point in American history where we drew a line in the sand and said 'no more' to the excessive partisanship." Perhaps he would have better luck reigning in Bush's excesses and ending the war if he would again draw a line in the sand and say "enough is enough. This President will be held to account."

Of course our junior senator, Gordon Smith (R-OR) is engaging in his predictable brand of partisan hypocrisy. In voting to convict Clinton, he opined: "Perjury and obstruction of justice are high crimes, and they are utterly inconsistent with any Federal office." Yet for Scooter Libby, Smith has nothing but compassion and understanding for such a "decent guy," not to mention support for his bosses who conspired with him.