Bruce Fein, a constitutional lawyer with unimpeachable conservative credentials was on Bill Moyers Journal saying things that used to be considered "porn" on Daily Kos.  He is saying things many people their still have to be convinced make sense.  He's calling for the impeachment of Bush AND Cheney.  Immediately!

Here is the Link to the ENTIRE interview and transcript.

Fein was there at Watergate.  Fein helped draft the articles of impeachment for Clinton.  This is stunning. Someone needs to send it to Nancy, tape her eyelids open and make her watch it.  This is historic.

HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE TAKE HOME TALKING POINTS:

1. Impeachment is not a constitutional crisis. It is the CURE for constitutional crisis. (Nichols)
   
   
2. Let unchallenged, these powers will be lying around like loaded weapons for future presidents. (Fein)

More pyrotechnics below the fold as Fein defends "The Fighting Constitution"...

Notwithstanding testimony a week ago by James Knodell, Director of the White House Office of Security, evidence suggests that the White House did, actually, investigate the leak of classified information about Valerie Plame's covert CIA identity; but, only after President Bush revised security clearance laws in ways that would get leakers - and himself - off the hook. Rather than have Knodell investigate, it appears Bush tasked Joshua Bolten, then Director of the Office of Managment and Budget (OMB), to provide oversight of the process, per a little noticed Executive Order.

Overall, the evidence suggests a deliberate attempt by the President to legitimize staff leaks and to insulate the leakers from meaningful accountability.

CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT

There has been a lot of talk in the news recently about congressional oversight.  Unfortunately, it is hard to tell whether "oversight" means "supervision," or whether it means "lack of attention."  The Senate confirmation hearings for the new CIA Director are just the most recent example of this disturbing trend.  

It certainly requires considerable oversight to overlook some of the questions Gen. Hayden refused to answer in open session.  I'm sure some questions are answered best in private.  However, it's hard to believe he needs a closed session to say torture is not an acceptable method for interrogation.  

[cross-posted at And, yes, I DO take it personally and Daily Kos]

oh, god, i hope not... my gut tells me that our country is in extremely serious trouble and that, with an alito confirmation, we may just be seeing bushco's endgame...

robert parry of consortium news, a man who holds my deepest respect, seems to be just as concerned as i am...

If confirmed, Samuel Alito and his theory of a near-dictatorial "unitary executive" could doom the American democratic Republic and make George W. Bush a strongman with no meaningful checks and balances. With the fate of the U.S. Constitution in the balance, it's hard to believe that no senator is prepared to filibuster Alito's nomination. But even if there's only one senator brave enough to grab the floor and explain the stakes to the American people, one might be enough to start a national political rebirth.

[cross-posted at And, yes, I DO take it personally]

these are enough to gag a maggot... leading up to the hearings, you have plenty of time to educate the public and your constitutents, you have plenty of time to research and assemble your arguments... then, when the most dangerous supreme court nominee in the nation's history is right there in front of you, you have an unparalleled opportunity to exercise leadership, the kind of leadership this country is desperate for... and, now that you've blown it, THIS is what you have to say...? pathetic and disgusting...