Obi Wan Ken-Obey??

Early last month, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman posted a blog on the Times site further elaborating on the Dick Cheney/Darth Vader comparison that has been so often heard across the country as of late. I personally think Cheney/Hannibal Lecter is a better fit, but I'll leave that for another column.

Predictably, the comments that followed Krugmans blog speculated as to the strength of the comparison, and to who might best serve as the rest of the cast of the wildly popular "Star Wars" film series. Hillary Clinton as Princess Leia? No way. Bill Clinton as Obi Wan Kenobi? Double no way. The only Clinton era figure I could even remotely support
in this regard is Al Gore as Chewbacca, and then only through a slight physical resemblance and his obvious, though understated, heroic qualities.

Clearly, though, Dennis Kucinich is Luke Skywalker. Can't you just see him heading for the White House with a light saber? Yeah baby! With his introduction last spring of articles of impeachment against Darth Cheney, Kucinich is one
of the few politicians in the House of Representatives with the courage to stand up to Cheney's arguably criminal conduct, as well as the leadership of his own party. Until now.

Enter Han Solo out of the blue, and with maybe just enough momentum to carry the day. On December 14th, 2007. Florida congressman Robert Wexler, along with House Judiciary Committee colleagues Tammy Baldwin, (D-WI) and Luis Gutierezz, (D-IL), issued a public call for impeachment hearings into the conduct of the vice president. Wexler launched a website, www.WexlerWantsHearings.com , with the goal of gathering 50,000 petition signatures to take back to congress when they reconvene later this month. He got his 50,000 signatures IN ONLY TWO DAYS!  As I write the total is just over 183,000 and Wexler now hopes for 250,000 by the end of the month.

Wexler admits that he and his colleagues are fighting an uphill battle. The House leadership has been reluctant to impeach anyone, and it may be crucial to have a veteran leader within the House who will lend support to the effort if hearings are to be held. Who would fit the bill? Who can be their Obi Wan Ken...Obey! Dave Obey!

The courageous and grizzled politician from Wisconsin's seventh congressional district, (in which I live), has the history and the gravitas to make the whole thing go, and he recently published a book titled, " Raising Hell for Justice: The Washington Battles of A Heartland Progressive". It's an appropriate title and one certainly worth continuing to live up to. Obey even looks a bit like Alec Guinness, (okay, that's a bit of a stretch).

So, the stage is set. It's the last half hour of the film and Darth Cheney's Death Star may be headed for yet another murderous, unwarranted conquest in the Middle East. What can be done? To paraphrase Carrie Fishers now famous plea: "This is our most desperate hour. Help us Obey Wan KenObey. You're our only, (or maybe best), hope". To Kucinich, Wexler, Baldwin and Gutierrez I can only say, of course, may the force be with you.

Steve Carlson 1-8-2008