WASHINGTON - House Democrats - and one Republican - are using today’s hearing in the Judiciary Committee to slam President Bush for abusing his executive power.

After laying out a litany of charges against Bush, principally on the “illegal war for oil” in Iraq, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), the driving force behind today’s hearing, said Congress must act to remove Bush from office.

“The war was totally unnecessary, unprovoked and unjustified,” Kucinich said in his opening statement. “The question for Congress is this: What responsibility do the president and his administration have for that unnecessary, unprovoked and unjustified war?”

“I ask this committee to think, and then to act, in order to enable this Congress to right a very great wrong and to hold accountable those who have misled this Nation,” Kucinich said.

More Miller: “Democracy dies behind closed doors. It is Congress’ duty to throw the doors open and keep them open in future administrations, Democratic and Republican alike.”