To the editor:

Public attention is drawn nearly every day to suspected cover-up of wrongdoing by either President Bush, Vice President Cheney, appointed officials or the White House staff. The credibility of this administration can’t become much worse than it is now.

President Bush has backed himself into a tight corner over the past six years by his impaired judgment and lack of honesty and forthrightness with the American people. Many members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, now see the damage and disgrace he has brought on our country and have turned away their support.

The president will continue to protect himself behind his shield of remaining loyal political allies and by concealment of the truth by stonewalling of congressional investigative committees using his powers of executive privilege. Oddly, Congress won’t take decisive corrective action.

They, including Democrats sent to Washington in November to clean up the mess, seem much more committed to endless political sparring and posturing than dealing effectively with the problem.

The only course of action left may be to hold impeachment hearings. Place the president and other key officials under oath for their testimony to uncover facts for determining which actions by this administration have merely stretched constitutional limits and which ones cross over into high crimes or misdemeanors. That will happen only if enough concerned Americans demand it.

We are in the Middle East advising Iraqis on how to build a functional democracy while the health of our own is suffering badly. Who are we kidding?

Donald Moss, Lawrence