There have been a lot of hard posts here. What the heck, here’s mine.

I have a lot of empathy for anyone who has lost a loved one due to military action. Grief is difficult on the best of days, and wanting to lash out and lay blame is human. Getting the notice that someone you have watched grow has died or been seriously wounded is horrific. What’s also horrific is to witness it happening around you to friends who have become closer than family (yes, that is possible) and carry those sights, sounds, smells and contact forever – you never shake it.

Wars are not popular, except to those who have no idea what is involved. During the Vietnam conflict (to me, “war” is the correct word, but “war” was never declared) the entire 15-year, 58,000+ killed, 300,000+ wounded involvement was the result solely of orders from the sitting Commander-in-Chief (first, Pres. Kennedy, then Pres. Johnson, then closed out by Pres. Nixon).

Sitting presidents are not impervious to the law. “High crimes and misdemeanors,” and ultra vires use of authority which results in death can qualify as such, still provides Congress with the reason to impeach a sitting president. It’s happened in our recent history, and the hue and cry when it last happened was that there was a Republican-led Congress out to lynch a Democratic President.

Throughout the Vietnam War, despite all of the protestors and activists, neither Pres. Kennedy nor President Johnson was impeached. I would like to think that if there was evidence of wrongdoing, that Congress would have stepped in. For the Iraq/Afghanistan War, especially with a Democratic-led Congress and a Republican President – and an election coming up – if there was ANY evidence of wrongdoing by the President, then Congress would be going through the impeachment process at breakneck speed, coupled with the press turning the event into a three-ring circus.

Since the Democrats chair and have the majority on all of the Congressional oversight committees, one would think that if a case could be made against Pres. Bush in any way, shape or manner, it would be done by now. Since Congress has deferred to pass judgment – as is their job to do since Congress has ALL of the information on the subject – then history will get the job to assess the Bush presidency.

I’m not a basher or fan of this administration. It’s time for a change, and the law of the land demands it after two terms.

I still grieve for several who were very close to me, and working in the DC area has been a blessing and curse, because I find too many times to be near The Wall. I just can’t pass it without stopping at certain panels and the combination of loss, rage and sorrow really tests my faith sometimes. It would be simple to just blame Pres. Kennedy (he got us into Vietnam) and Pres. Johnson (he kept us there) as heartless swine, but that's too easy and convenient and just wrong.