Move to censure Bush will have political fallout

Censure is not impeachment
Feingold’s resolution would not have any legal effect. Unlike an impeachment resolution, which can only be introduced in the House of Representatives, a censure resolution, if passed, would not force the Senate to conduct a trial, as it did of President Clinton in 1999, and President Andrew Johnson in 1868.

Feingold’s measure accuses Bush of knowingly breaking the law by ordering the surveillance, an argument Attorney General Alberto Gonzales rejects, citing Article II of the Constitution, which gives the president powers as commander-in-chief.

Feingold’s resolution does not fully satisfy the Bush adversaries — none of them serving in Congress — who are calling for Bush’s impeachment.

“It’s a good step in the right direction,” said David Swanson, a leader of anti-Bush coalition called After Downing Street.

But “more than censure is called for. The president has openly admitted breaking the law; the president needs to be impeached,” Swanson said.

Swanson is one of the organizers of a political action committee called Impeach Pac which is supporting three Democratic House candidates, Chris Owens in New York, Tony Trupiano in Michigan and Jeeni Criscenzo in California. Each has committed to supporting impeachment of Bush.

Pro-impeachment House candidates
Trupiano and Criscenzo face long odds in their races. The nonpartisan Cook Political report rates the Michigan seat Trupiano is seeking  now held by two-term Republican Thaddeus McCotter -- as “Solid Republican,” the same rating it applies to the California district where Criscenzo seeks to oust three-term Republican Darrel Issa.

In New York’s 11^th congressional district, when Owens is trying to succeed his father, Rep. Major Owens, he faces a competitive primary.

Impeach Pac has so far raised about $60,000, which makes it tiny for a PAC. The biggest spending PAC so far in the 2005-2006 election cycle is the National Association of Realtors, which has contributed $1.4 million to House and Senate candidates.

Swanson is critical of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Whip Steny Hoyer for not supporting impeachment. He referred to Pelosi and Hoyer as “the so-called leadership.”

A winning strategy?
Swanson contended that Democrats who run on an impeach-Bush platform are more likely to win, asking, “Why not pick something our base is passionate about?”

Swanson also argued that Democrats must commit themselves before the November congressional elections to impeachment. “Say we elect a Democratic majority to the House, but Democrats didn’t campaign on this (impeachment) issue. If they win, they aren’t likely to take it up after the election,” he said.

Feingold’s isn’t the first censure-Bush measure in Congress. Last year Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., offered a resolution to censure Bush for “failing to respond to requests for information concerning allegations that he and others in his Administration misled Congress and the American people regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq” and “failing to adequately account for specific misstatements he made regarding the war.”

Conyers has also offered a resolution calling for creation of a House committee to “make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment.”

Conyers has 15 House co-sponsors, all Democrats, for his censure resolution and 29 co-sponsors, all Democrats, for his impeachment committee measure.

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