Submitted by Linda Gochfeld and Mary Ellen Marino Co-chairs, Impeachment Task Force

WHEREAS, George Bush and Dick Cheney, as President and Vice President, have sworn to protect the Constitution of the United States, but instead have acted so as to undermine the Constitution, meeting the definition of “high crimes and misdemeanors” which Constitutionally justifies impeachment;

WHEREAS, among their offenses are the following:

1. Making false statements to Congress and the American people in order to justify the Iraq War;
2. Invading a country which was not a threat to the U.S., incurring great and ongoing destruction of life, the loss of international support, and increased threat to our security;
3. Violating the Constitution and international law by imprisoning people arbitrarily and secretly without trial, and subjecting these prisoners to abuse and torture;
4. Subverting the Constitution and abusing Presidential authority by asserting a “Unitary Executive” principle of unlimited presidential powers, using “signing statements” to disobey hundreds of laws passed by Congress, and promulgating “counter-terrorist” laws which violate civil liberties;
5. Performing electronic surveillance of US citizens without court approval, violating the law;
6. Involvement directly or indirectly in widespread election irregularities, raising serious questions about the validity of their election and reelection;
7. Failing to enforce laws of fiduciary responsibility; allowing major corruption in military contracting, (e.g. no-bid contracts with Halliburton, Cheney's previous employer); failing to enforce laws protecting the environment, workers and consumers; and regularly appointing officials who are unqualified, either by virtue of experience or conflict of interest, thereby risking public safety and welfare as in Hurricane Katrina.

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party is the only organized opposition party in the United States, and thus has a special obligation to take a strong position in the face of these clearly recognized abuses by the Republican Administration;

WHEREAS, Democratic Parties in thirteen (13) states and numerous localities have now passed resolutions to support the impeachment of Bush and Cheney for these offenses;

WHEREAS, since these actions pose an imminent threat to our Constitutional rights, democracy and the rule of law, they must be addressed immediately by the strongest possible means, i.e. impeachment proceedings. If these crimes are allowed to continue unchecked, the future of democracy in America will be seriously damaged;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Princeton Community Democratic Organization supports Congressional action that will lead to the impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney for their offenses against the US Constitution and the American people.