Citizen's Manual

In their wisdom, the founders of our nation anticipated many situations with which their new nation would be challenged. The Federalist Papers and Madison's Notes on the Constitutional Convention make clear their concerns, the views of the participants and the rationale for each important decision.

They were not conducting a philosophy seminar - they were creating the structure for a government like no other before it. What they put in place had to work or their struggle of nearly 14 years against England would be for naught. And they abhorred partisanship.

For the remedy to deal with a president who was failing on the job, they installed impeachment. They set out the process which handed the decision over to the representatives of the people - the House and Senate. They gave reasons which could justify this action - not a destructive act but a restorative act - including "high crimes and misdemeanors" This referred in their time to actions by a president that were incompetent, unwise or contrary to the interests of the nation. There is no implication that an actual crime need be committed - just that the president was discharging his duties poorly, and against the will of the people.

At present, we have several sound reasons to remove Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney from office. It is not necessary to recount them here. Why the Congress does not act is troubling at least. The war in Iraq and its selling by the administration on its own is sufficient to take action.

Bill Moyers show this weekend offered a tart lesson in the wisdom - the need - for impeachment in our present circumstance. Lack of action by Congress now can only be due to the partisanship that our founders detested, and warned against. And, partisans are not patriots. The republic is at risk.