Update: Guess I'm a slow writer. There seem to already be about 5 diaries like this including Turkana's recommended one. Again... hope you take these to heart, Senator.
Dear Senator Feingold,
I greatly respect your dedication to progressive issues and your willingness to come to DailyKos to speak with us. However, in reference to your recent diary titled The Question of Impeachment, all I can say is that you are 100% wrong.
First, you make the statement:
I believe that the President and Vice President may well have committed impeachable offenses.
As was pointed out in the comments of your diary, if you truly believe this to be the case, then it is your duty to impeach. There is nothing more important to the foundation of the United States of America than the defense of the Constitution which should be obvious given the first sentence of your own Oath of Office:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic
This is what you were "elected to do". Everything else... the war, habeas corpus, warrantless wiretaps, protecting "We the People" with health care... all stem from the foundation of the Constitution.
Second, you describe Congress' "important work" as:
I think Congress’s time is much better spent ending the war in Iraq, conducting the oversight that was absent for the last six years, and advancing progressive legislation.
Do you honestly believe that Congress will accomplish any of these goals without impeachment? On the subject of the war, the Senate could not even get the no-brainer Webb amendment to support the troops past a filibuster. If by some miracle you do manage to ever pass a bill that would end (or even curb) the war, is there any doubt in your mind that Bush would veto it?
The same is true for any other "progressive legislation" the Congress manages to pass. Even bills with bipartisan support such as the stem-cell bill will be vetoed.
The only area were Congress has had some glimmer of success has been through conducting oversight investigations. However even in this case, the Bush administration has done all it can to stonewall and obstruct justice. It is obvious that Congress will not be able to find the truth without asserting every power given to it by the Constitution. An impeachment trial would remove many of the obstacles Congress is currently facing, such as refusing subpoenas and commuting the prison sentence of Scooter Libby:
The President shall ... have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
Finally, there are correct and incorrect uses of impeachment.
While some have pointed to Republicans’ decision to impeach President Clinton, I am also concerned about the over-use of impeachment.
The investigation into the private affairs of 2 consenting adults is obviously an incorrect reason and defines "over-use". The investigation of the violation of the basic tenets of our Constitution up to and including treason is obviously a valid reason and is not "over-use". Any comparison of the two other than in this context is simply ridiculous.
I hope you will seriously reconsider your opinion on this issue and consider what your duty is as a United States Senator.
Sincerely,
Bruce Stotts
PS There are many diaries here on DailyKos that tear down every argument you have made which are much more elegant than mine. I strongly suggest you read some of them and take them to heart.