The Message of Hope

John Nirenberg’s most recent posting on his website MARCH IN MY NAME discusses Barack Obama’s 2004 Democratic Convention speech “Audacity of Hope,” and his 2008 presidential campaign message of hope:

“Today that message is more powerful than ever because it has been so long since we last heard it. We need to reject the politics of fear, reject the politics of endless war, reject the politics of willful uncalled for domination of people at home and abroad to satisfy the psychological illness that has consumed the Bush/Cheney administration.”

“But the map is not the territory. The message of hope is not hope - until it is activated. A message of hope, therefore, is not enough. We can not simply respond to the message with our applause or even with our votes. To invest our future in a candidate we must demand more than a message, we must demand a commitment to restore the Constitutional checks and balances that have been so badly wounded; we must restore the Constitutional separation of powers that have become so lopsided toward the executive, and most important of all we must not simply respond to hope, we must demand of ourselves that we will do our part to push back the forces of darkness and oppression so hope can survive.”

And this came into my e-mail box today… an appeal from Congressman Robert Wexler (D-Fl) who is calling for Cheney impeachment hearings:

"Our Constitution is under threat and the most basic principle of checks and balances is being undermined. Not since Watergate has a president so openly disregarded the will of Congress. During hearings in the Judiciary Committee yesterday, I told Attorney General Michael Mukasey that I called for impeachment hearings because of the stonewalling and blatant abuses of the Bush Administration. He responded by stating that he will NOT enforce a contempt of Congress citation against Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten for refusing to testify before Congress.

Alberto Gonzales may be long gone, but the Bush Administration continues its executive overreach with the new Attorney General.

We can debate the need for Impeachment hearings. We can argue its effects on the election or our agenda. But one thing is abundantly clear: If Congress' right to require testimony is undermined, then our country's leaders - Democrat, Republican, or Independent - will be immune from accountability.

The power of the subpoena - to call officials before us - is one of the most fundamental safeguards in our system of government. To have it effectively discarded - by virtue of the President instructing Administration officials to ignore a congressional subpoenas and not even appear before Congress - is unprecedented. The idea that the Attorney General would willingly defend this position - despite Congress' constitutional right to call such witnesses, is outrageous.

Impeachment hearings could render this moot: The President, Vice President, and all officials under them would no longer invoke executive privilege. There would be no more smokescreens.

In one week, I will be delivering my letter calling for impeachment hearings to Chairman John Conyers. Already, 16 Members of Congress have joined my call, including 3 Judiciary Committee members. I am hopeful for more in the coming days, but it is important for you to reach out to your representative in Congress to express how you feel. You can view the current list of signers, here."

As John Nirenberg says, “…hope is not hope - until it is activated.” Take action! Contact your representative now. Demand that impeachment proceedings begin – shine the light into the dark recesses of this administration, and give our nation a real reason to hope.
... P. L. Morningstar
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