Letters to the Editor
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So Bob Barr is STARTLED?
You'd have to be completely detached from reality to claim that such anti-Bush/Cheney poll numbers are startling. Bush has skidded steadily to what is reportedly an all-time low approval rating of 28%, tied with Jimmy Carter's nadir.
While I haven't seen the exact wording of the poll questions, it's probably fair to assume that people conflate impeachment with conviction and removal from office when they indicate support for "impeachment." Considering that we survived the circus of Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, nobody should think that the world is gonna end if Bush & Cheney are impeached.
Considering the broad claims of implied executive power asserted by Bush and his remaining supporters, Congress ought never to forget that their EXPLICIT Constitutional power to rein in the executive via impeachment will always exist -- BUT ONLY AS LONG AS THAT "NUCLEAR OPTION" IS CLEARLY ON THE TABLE. Their willingness to pull the trigger on impeachment must be evident; otherwise it's an empty threat.
Speaker Pelosi ought to drop a few thinly veiled hints next time she's with the Current Occupant -- something like, "Oh, it's a shame that Rep. Kucinich is suggesting impeachment. There clearly isn't support for that option. Yet." Then after an awkward silence from the President, she should move on to concrete discussions about Iraq war funding and other weighty issues.
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I amazed anybody in Washington knows about this!
Bob Barr may be startled by how much groundswell is building for a double impeachment, but at least he knows it's there. I'll bet that by contrast, Cokie Roberts, Tim Russert, and the rest of the smug, self-centered cocktail-party journalists are not only unaware of this, but probably refuse to believe it. "Oh, but he's soooooo popular! How can that be? He's the kind of guy you'd like to have a beer with!"
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Impeachment pie fight
The way this administration works, even if impeachment were to proceed (and that alone is a Herculean task, thanks to the GOP-driven Clinton circus impeachment forever tainting the standard and likelihood of it occurring again and the general fear of the Democrats of going after this administration), I can just imagine Bush and company trying to ignore it, the way they ignore most of what Congress does -- what's Congress gonna do? Bush's the Commander-in-Chief! Then things would really get wild. I mean, they've already made hash out of other parts of the Constitution they don't like. And scarily enough, at least 25% of the country would be on Bush's side if he did that.
Unfortunately, I think the only drive for impeachment that'd have any legs would come from the Republicans, desperate to hold onto their seats in 2008, trying to free themselves the the albatross necklace that is the Bush League. And I imagine the incumbent advantages the 109th Congress strengthened will mean that they're not that desperate. Yet.
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Great nations die
Because their legislatures become nothing but hot air. Yeah yeah everyone objected to all the dictators from Lucius Cornellius Sulla on forward. No one did anything about them though. I'm sure the angriest of Democrats are smug in their anger. Not that they plan to do anything about it.
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We have to change the timetable
It's clear from yesterday's comments by the Repugs that they want to wait six months before admitting that it's time to get out of Iraq. That realization has to sweep entirely through the party before impeachment can grow legs. It's vital that the Dems keep up the pressure now to shorten that time so that Bush's lawlessness can be highlighted when Congress removes authorization and funding but he continues to try to execute the war (which he certainly will).
Pelosi has to step up to the plate and acknowledge her mistake in taking impeachment off the table. She now knows the public is behind it. If she comes out powerfully and makes the case clearly, the polls will jump over 50% in favor of action. This has to be done well, however. Impeachment without conviction will create a monster the likes of which the world has never seen.
It's hard for me to believe that our country can survive waiting out Bush's term. Continued massive recruitment by Al Queda will eventually get them to a critical mass. Loss of respect in world opinion has to be reversed. The economy simply can't sustain itself on such massive deficits and a Congress that is genetically incapable of generating revenues. Finally, US involvement in the continued US and Iraqi casualties simply must be stopped if our country is ever to rejoin the civilized world.
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Clinton vs. Bush
I'd like to see a head-to-head poll asking Americans who they think more deserves/deserved to be impeached, Clinton or Bush? Now that'd be interesting.
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The entertainment factor
Each time the matter of Clinton's impeachment is raised, I wonder how many of the 40% were seduced by the idea of having more entertaining news to watch rather than believing honestly that Clinton ought to be impeached. The polls on the continuing strength of Clinton's popularity throughout would seem to indicate the former.
What's happening this time -- when the percentage who want Bush impeached is the same and his popularity is at the lowest ebb of any president? He seems like a great target.
Maybe it's because we have a Congress (both parties, unfortunately) which has been complicit in many of the sins of the Bush presidency and Congress, too, would be stripped bare naked during an impeachment hearing. Maybe that's why Congress doesn't want Bush impeached -- it would also be impeaching itself.
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Plutonium Parachutes for Bush and Cheney
Thinking about money, ethics, Bush and the GOP, maybe we're all missing an obvious point. Instead of instituting impeachment proceedings against our two top ranking incompetents why not offer them plutonium parachutes ( uhm, not the Russian kind).
It is no longer the American way for CEOs to quit for for reasons of moral, financial or leadership ineptitude.
In keeping with this, offer Bush and Cheney a billion dollars each to step down (and be prepared to go to two bil to close the deal: plus a hundred mil each for Alberto and each Cheney on the payroll.)
This is oligarchic morality.
Hold your nose. It's cheap at ten times the price!!