Description
Nichols (Washington correspondent for The Nation and an editor at the Capital Times) has penned another in a growing list of books calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush. His approach aims at allaying fears about the perceived extremity of such a measure by making the case that it is an institution with a venerable history in American democracy that was included in the Constitution for just such "high crimes and misdemeanors" as have been committed by Bush and his administrative minions. He also stresses that it shouldn't be a partisan affair in an appeal to "rule-of-law Republicans" who in the past have been opposed to an imperial presidency. The bill of particulars Nichols concentrates on is somewhat more limited than previous works and revolves principally around the invasion of Iraq, although warrantless spying and other issues are mentioned. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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A sharp and eye-opening argument that impeachment is an essential American institution."I guess these are yours. Impeach Eisenhower. Impeach Nixon. Impeach Lyndon Johnson. Impeach Ronald Reagan."Annie Hall, going through Alvy Singer's political button collection in Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977)This surprising and irreverent book by one of America's leading political reporters makes the case that impeachment is much more than a legal and congressional processit is an essential instrument of America's democratic system. Articles of impeachment have been brought sixty-two times in American history. Thomas Jefferson himself forwarded the evidence for impeachment of the first federal official to be removed under the processJohn Pickering in 1803. Impeachment is as American as apple pie.The founders designed impeachment as one of the checks against executive power. As John Nichols reveals in this fascinating look at impeachment's hidden history, impeachment movementsin addition to congressional proceedings themselveshave played an important role in countering an out-of-control executive branch. The threat of impeachment has worked to temper presidential excesses and to reassert democratic values in times of national drift.The Genius of Impeachment also makes clear that we sorely need such a movement today, and that both the president and vice president deserve impeachment.In the spirit of maverick congressmember Henry B. Gonzalez, who introduced articles of impeachment against both George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan for making war without a declaration, this book is a fearless call to Americans to hold our leaders accountable to democracy.
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