Rosen: Let's impeach . . . Lincoln

Published March 9, 2007 at midnight

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Left-wingnuts are revolting once again - in both senses of the word. They've formed a new campaign dubbed Impeach07, "to pursue the immediate impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney through widespread public protest, creative dissent, media activism, and coordinated lobbying" - all the things they do for fun anyway.

Included in this project are the usual suspects: Cindy Sheehan, Code Pink Women for Peace, the Green Party, National Lawyers Guild, Progressive Democrats of America, Velvet Revolution, Hip Hop Caucus, yada, yada, yada. On March 17, the anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, they're planning to march on the Pentagon to demand: "End the War and Impeach Bush Now!"

Opposing wars is a lot easier than fighting them, especially when things aren't going well. There were many who wanted to throw in the towel when things were gong badly for Gen. George Washington in 1776. To those with a "Mommy, make them stop" mentality, the simplistic illusions of peace-through-surrender are emotionally appealing. Another American president was also widely attacked by critics during the early years of a war that wasn't going well. Thanks to Phil Rogers of Golden, who came up a list of Articles of Impeachment that might have been brought against Abraham Lincoln. George W. Bush isn't Lincoln, and the Iraq war isn't the American Civil War, but there are some similarities with current circumstances.

• Mr. Lincoln used the U.S. military to attack the sovereign Confederate States of America that posed no threat to our country. By keeping our military installations (Fort Sumter, S.C.) in their territory, Mr. Lincoln provoked an armed response, which he used as a pretext for war and invasion. Economic sanctions weren't given a chance to succeed. Did Mr. Lincoln and his naive military advisers think they could crush the insurgency in just months? Bull Run proved them to be disastrously mistaken.

• The Lincoln administration lied to the American public about its true motivation for this war. First, we were told its purpose was to preserve the union. Now, with the so-called "Emancipation Proclamation," Mr. Lincoln's ultimate intent is obvious. Why wasn't the public told this in 1861? Perhaps "Honest Abe" knew the public would never support his "crusade" to abolish slavery.

• The civil liberties of our citizens, including habeas corpus rights, have been trampled. CSA prisoners have been held in camps under inhuman conditions.

• Mr. Lincoln has been wholly insensitive to the cultural differences and values of the South. By disrupting their functioning agricultural system, dependent on involuntary servitude as its labor source, Mr. Lincoln will likely unleash a host of negative consequences (segregation, racial animosities, economic turmoil, corruption, etc.) that will plague our nation for many years to come. It is foolish to believe that we can or even should impose such radical ideas as racial equality and universal suffrage on others who may not share our values.

• Militarily, the president has totally mismanaged the war effort. Despite vastly superior forces and weaponry, the Union Army has suffered repeated setbacks with no path to victory in sight. Although his personal military service was only as a junior grade officer in his state's militia, Mr. Lincoln has often rejected the advice of professional military commanders. The recent dismissal of Maj. Gen. George McClellan is the latest example of his faulty judgment. Apparently, his commanders must tell Mr. Lincoln what he wants to hear or they are replaced. Mr. Lincoln's only response has been to put more "boots on the ground." The situation is hopeless and further "troop surges" will only result in more casualties.

This is just a sampling. You can find the entire list on www.850koa.com. Click on the Mike Rosen Show, then "Articles of Impeachment . . . "

Mike Rosen's radio show airs daily from 9 a.m. to noon on 850 KOA. He can be reached by e-mail at mikerosen@850koa.com.

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