Letters to the Editor
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Although I agree 100%, minor correction...
Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached - both wrongfully, mind you. Nixon crept out in the middle of the night to avoid his just desserts...
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a burning ember
Gary kamiya is absolutely correct, I think, about the shared sense of complicity that large numbers of Americans feel.
(his analysis also suggests to me that Edwards, as a candidate who supported the war in 2002 and has since apologized for having done so, is more in tune with the zeitgeist than either Hilary Clinton or Obama.)
one thing though, which Kamiya doesn't explore, is the role of the press, who gladly fanned the flame of impeachment in 1998-99. They're a hell of a lot more complicit in the 2002-03 runup to the war than ordinary people, and often behave as if they're still in love with Bush. One of the practical problems with impeachment is the likelihood the national press will frame it as crazy or vindictive, functioning to douse impeachment talk, and I think Pelosi, et al, very understandably fear this.
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Two Words
"President Cheney."
After all, from a logistical standpoint, what would you do? Impeach them both simultaneously (which would be totally unprecedented)? Impeach Cheney first, and risk "Impeachment fatigue," leaving us still stuck with Bush? Impeach Bush first, and risk having President Cheney, even for a short time?
I don't think this Congress is the sharpest set of knives in the drawer, but it seems likely to me that at least a few of them have given thought to those two scary words, "President Cheney."
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"A Republic Madam, If You Can Keep It:". - Ben Franklin
Good job, Gary.
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He's lucky he followed Clinton
President Bush may be the luckiest man alive: not only does he attain the highest office in the land by skating towards it on the skimpiest of resumes, but he is placed there by a one-vote majority of the Supreme Court. He is protected by various media who like his fraternity-level bestowal of nicknames and backslapping demeanor. His catastrophic administration goes from failure to failure, abetted by journalists who weekly prove that they have no ear for what Americans are feeling and thinking.
To top it off, his offenses surely meet the standard of high crimes and misdemeanors. Because, however, the nation went through the charade perpetrated by the Republicans barely a decade ago, we really have no taste for it again (or so think our endo-Beltway mandarins -- who have yet to do the necessary work of putting the whole shameful spectacle of 1998 into perspective). That they are as wrong about this as they were about how avid we were for Clinton's impeachment is indicative how inept they are and how ill-served we are. Even should the Congress manage to rouse itself, it will be endlessly spun as Democratic payback, signifying nothing but a little muscle-flexing. Once again, George W Bush, doomed to be deemed and damned as one of our worst presidents, escapes the harsh comeuppance in the short run.
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Nixon reference changed
Thank you, hawksrob. The reference to Nixon's disgrace has been changed to clarify that he was not impeached.
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Frustrated with fellow citizens
As someone who has called for impeaching both Bush and Cheney for a long time, I find Kamiya's piece to be the most cogent analysis (despite minor historical inaccuracies) of why Bush has not yet been impeached. It is truly frustrating to add up the American people's avoidance of any self-reflection, the fear and political calculation of the Democratic leadership in Congress, and our culture of blood vengeance to reach the unhappy conclusion that we are no longer ruled by law. But I fear that conclusion is accurate. And I fear that the Republic faces severe decline as a result.
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The true problems begin when the Dems take over
Because that is when the bill comes due for Bush's evil transactions. A dollar collapse, hyperinflation and oil crisis (perhaps accompanied by an inevitable terrorism splash) with the Democrats in charge will ignite a fascist backlash, fueled by the hate speech of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Mitch McConnell. 2012 will be the year of the fascist in America, and let us pray that the GOP cannot find anyone evil enough to trigger the storm of national hatred into an explosion of genocide.
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The real reason Bush hasn't been impeached
I sincerely believe that the real reason is that we would be left with Chaney. Is it possible to make it a dule impeachment? Or maybe we could throw Al in with them for a triple. The only way he will be impeached is if the Republicans come to believe that is the only way they won't completely lose in the next election and the Republicans start the process.
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E Pluribus Unum
The Roman people welcomed Augustus with open arms.
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Clinton is certainly part of the answer
An earlier poster had it part right. Clinton's impeachment is part of the reason no one is really talking about impeaching Bush. In ordinary circumstances I would be happy to see Bush impeached---and removed. But following after Clinton, such an action would be precedent setting and one could fear a future where any president facing a HoR of the opposite party would be impeached on any trumped up grounds.
In the same way, I'm worried that the next president, Republican or Democrat, will adopt Bush's theory of unlimited executive power and use of government to advance a single party's agenda. I'm as worried about that as I am about Bush's current flaunting of the law. If I knew everything would go back to the way it should be if a democrat (small D) is elected in 18 months, I wouldn't worry nearly as much.
The only way Bush is going anywhere is if Republicans champion the cause.
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Impeach and Remove Richard B. Cheney First
There are already articles of impeachment before the House of Representatives against Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the United States. These were submitted before the House about three weeks ago by Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and are available to be read on his website. The critique of Vice President Cheney offered in these articles is compelling. This impeachment proceeding deserves to be moved forward by the Congress. Please write to your Congressman and demand that action be taken. Every day that passes under the Bush/Cheney Administration puts the nation further in the hole of debt, corruption, and criminal abuse of power. The constitutional provisions for impeachment need to be activated, but it will take a sustained public outcry before Congress will budge off its collective derriere and act for the common good.
When Cheney is safely out of the way and a moderate Republican is installed in the Vice Presidency, go after Cheney's sock puppet in the White House.