BIG IMPEACHMENT NEWS

On the Bree Walker show, John Conyers has said that he will open impeachment hearings into the crimes of Dick Cheney if three more members of Congress sign onto House Resolution 333. That resolution already has 14 sponsors. The magic number, it seems, is 17.

Now is our chance. We can make history. Stop whining at Nancy Pelosi and start doing something practical. You (not the guy next to you: YOU) need to work on getting those three names.

Here are the 14 who have already signed on:

Jan Schakowsky, Maxine Waters, Hank Johnson, Keith Ellison, Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee, Albert Wynn, William Lacy Clay, Dennis Kucinich, Yvette Clarke, Jim McDermott, Jim Moran, Bob Filner, and Sam Farr.

Here is a list of representatives who are potential "leaners" in this direction:

Neil Abercrombie, Tammy Baldwin, Lois Capps, Mike Capuano, Danny K. Davis, Chaka Fattah, Maurice Hinchey, Mike Honda, Jesse Jackson Jr, Sheila Jackson-Lee, John Lewis, Carolyn Maloney, Betty McCollum, Gwen Moore, Jerold Nadler, John Olver, Donald Payne, Charles Rangel, Steve Rothman, Hilda Solis, Fortney Pete Stark, John Tierney, Nydia Velazquez, Diane Watson.

Twenty-four names. We need only three.

And do not dismiss the possibility that someone not named above also has had enough of Dick Cheney. A Republican may even want to join. If you know of another name to add to the list, please inform me.

Do you want to wallow in pseudo-sophisticated cynicism, spewing the usual both-parties-are-the-same crap? Or do you want to try your damnedest to DO something?

The Judiciary Committee is the place where the impeachment process starts. Conyers, the head of that committee, has given his word in public. We need but three names. Thirteen names or thirty names would be better still, but three will do.

As always, I advise you to call at night and leave messages on their answering machines. That's the easiest way to get the message through if you are not a direct constituent.

Would the Senate vote for removal? That's an iffy proposition -- one which we need not consider right now. Impeachment is its own punishment, and Lord knows Dick Vader deserves it.