Is Impeachment the Answer?
There is an impeachment event in Houston on Monday, April 9th, with speakers, music, petitions and protests. Some of the speakers should be interesting, I'll give the event organizers that, but why are Democrats, activists or progressives (choose your buzzword) focusing their time and talent on this President who will be replaced through an election process that is already underway?
If I were a Republican, this is exactly what I'd want the Democrats focusing their resources on, instead of organizing for a ton of wins in November 2008. We've got real work to do all over the place. There is a lot of work to do in our precincts to organize for 08 (there is a Houston City Council race going on right now, with election day on May 12th, that gives precinct chairs the opportunity to do just that.) Democratic clubs need to be fundraising right now in order to make a difference early next year. Candidate selection is going on now and I hope everyone at the grassroots level is getting involved with that, so as not to bitch and moan when "undesirable" candidates are selected for them - or at least to not be caught unaware.
What in the hell would we want from impeachment? President Cheney?!
There is a terrific Time article by Joe Klein on the trifecta of defining sins of the Bush administration - incompetence, arrogance and cynicism - exemplified by the Surge, the Walter Reed scandal and the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.
Klein concludes that Bush is unfit to lead, and I agree - I've always known that - but I don't see how getting our Democratic Congress all wrapped up in impeachment hearings does anything to advance our causes, crank out good legislation for the benefit of Americans or get us more Democrats elected next November.
10 comments:
a lot of these impeachment minded people are good at protesting, but wont work to get someone elected.
It would be nice to see a balance.
Once bush is gone, many will be gone also.
Just like kinky voters.
Anon has a point that is worth extending: most of the participants of Monday's event are marginal Democrats at best; many of them not at all, seeing Dems as part of the problem.
Klien isn't advocating impeachment, either:
"There are no 'high crimes' here, just a really bad presidency. In fact, I consider impeachment talk counterproductive and slightly nutso."
I like the idea of impeachment proceedings as a way to get this administration's attention and possibly motivating better behavior out of them, but that doesn't seem to be working either.
Maybe Karl Rove simply ought to be arrested at the points of bayoneted rifles, deported to The Hague, tried and convicted for his war crimes and then summarily hanged. Let's try that and see if it slows the Bushies down. Whaddya think?
No high crimes? Torture at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib don't qualify? Why bother with Karl, when all the evidence says that it is Dick, George and Rummy who need to be standing in the dock.
I say have hearings, and if the hearings produce evidence, then proceed.
Until then work to get a democratic administration elected.
I will be attending, but will be cautious about it.
I am hoping there will be no democrat bashing. If so, I'll be leaving early.
No impeachment hearings! Our Democratic Congress needs to focus on getting positive things done.
Messing around with impeachment is a huge distraction. Plus, it will put Bush in the role of martyr and give the disaffected Republicans a reason to rally around their eventual (pathetic) nominee.
PD, are we starting with Rove or Gonzalez? :)
I was against it until Bush sent the Stennis Carrier Group sabre-
rattling into the Persian Gulf, putting us one Silkworm away from
another war. Now I say impeach Cheney first! With their ignorance, belligerence,and policies for nuclear proliferation,this crooked administration is a threat to all mankind.
Ididnt mean impeachment hearings, I meant hearings on the Niger document, the Plame case, torture, wiretapping, Gonzales, mobile biological labs, the rocket tubes, the race to war, the lack of good intelligence that led us to war....
Ah shit........just call for his resignation and over it.
It is Congress duty to impeach IF there is evidence, but if they do, that is all they will be doing for the next year and half.
And if the dont, they will let bush off the hook, like he has done his entire life.
No high crimes? Torture at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib don't qualify?
Most certainly they do. (I disagree with Joe Klein here.)
Why bother with Karl, when all the evidence says that it is Dick, George and Rummy who need to be standing in the dock.
I think if we start with the head, the rest of the body will fall in short order.
Congressional hearings, followed by arrests of those you name, and others, on January 20, 2009 -- shortly after noon -- and rapid deportation to an international war crimes tribunal.
It may the action that prevents another cataclysmic terrorist attack.
John, you mean for Congress to subpoena Bush administration officials left and right and have hearings over their misdeeds?
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Definitely.
That needs to happen.
Set the DVRs to C-SPAN and pass the popcorn.
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