Impeachment Threat Is Real

The Nation: Growing Scandals And Abuses Force Impeachment Into Discussion

(The Nation)  This column was written by John Nichols.

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Former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough had me on his MSNBC show Monday night to talk about impeachment.

It was smart, civil discussion that treated the prospect of impeaching the president as a serious matter.

Scarborough took the lead in suggesting that Bush's biggest problem might be that Republicans in the House and Senate who — fearful of the threat Bush poses to their political survival — do not appear to be rallying 'round the president. The host's sentiments were echoed by two other guests, columnist Mike Barnicle and Salon's Joan Walsh.

The impetus for the show was Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel's ongoing discussion of the impeachment prospect — Hagel's not quite a supporter of sanctioning Bush, more a speculator about the prospect — and a new column by Robert Novak that suggests Bush has dwindling support within the congressional wing of the GOP.

Speaking about impeachment on ABC's "This Week," Hagel said, "Any president who says 'I don't care' or 'I will not respond to what the people of this country are saying about Iraq or anything else' or 'I don't care what the Congress does, I am going to proceed' — if a president really believes that, then there (are) ways to deal with that."

Novak wrote "The I-word (incompetence) is used by Republicans in describing the Bush administration generally. Several of them I talked to described a trifecta of incompetence: the Walter Reed hospital scandal, the FBI's misuse of the Patriot Act and the U.S. attorneys firing fiasco. 'We always have claimed that we were the party of better management,' one House leader told me. 'How can we claim that anymore?'"

Scarborough drew the two statements together for the purpose of asking whether Bush could count on Republicans to block moves by Congressional Democrats to hold Bush to account for high crimes and misdemeanors.

When a conservative commentator who was on the frontlines of Newt Gingrich's "Republican revolution" entertains a thoughtful conversation about the politics and processes of impeachment on a major cable news network, it should be clear that the cloistered conversation about sanctioning this president has begun to open up.

No, Scarborough is not jumping on the impeachment bandwagon.

He is simply treating the prospect seriously, as did CNN's Wolf Blitzer earlier in the day.

What I told Scarborough is what I have been saying in public forums for the past several weeks: We are nearing an impeachment moment. The Alberto Gonzales scandal, the under-covered but very real controversy involving abuses of the Patriot Act and the president's increasingly belligerent refusals to treat Congress as a co-equal branch of government are putting the discussion of presidential accountability onto the table from which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tried to remove it.

Does this mean Bush and Cheney will be impeached? That, of course, will be decided by the people. Impeachment at its best is always an organic process; it needs popular support or it fizzles — as with the attempt by House Republican leaders to remove former President Clinton in a process that, fairly or not, seemed to be all about blue dresses.

While the people saved Clinton — by signaling to their representatives that they opposed sanctioning a president's personal morals — it does not appear that they are inclined to protect Bush.

With each new revelation about what Gonzales did at the behest of the Bush White House to politicize prosecutions by U.S. Attorneys, the revulsion with the way this president has disregarded the Constitution and the rule of law becomes more intense. And citizens are not cutting their president much slack.

A new USA Today/Gallup Poll — conducted over the weekend — shows that, by close to a 3-to-1 margin, Americans want Congress to issue subpoenas to force White House officials to testify in the Gonzales case. Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed say the president should drop his claim of executive privilege in this matter, while only 26 percent agree with the reasoning Bush has used to try and block a meaningful inquiry.

If the president wants to get in a fight with Congress over how to read the Constitution, it appears that the people will back Congress. And that backing is what will begin to restore the backbones of House members who, despite Pelosi's attempts to quiet talk of impeachment, are getting more and more intrigued by the prospect of holding this president to account.

As Hagel says, "This is not a monarchy. There are ways to deal with (executive excess). And I would hope the president understands that."

If Bush doesn't recognize this reality now, he soon will.

[cincigal74]

WHY ON EARTH DO YOU POST THE SAME MESSAGE FIVE TIMES??????????

[irkulyen]

George W. Bush has fallen irretrievably into ***.

[sslyon]

By pardoning Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford lost the support of American voters and greatly increased general apathy and cynicism regarding accountability in government. Now, having reached the point where Americans see glaring evidence of the most corrupt administration since the age of robber barons, citizens simply will not take it any more. Now, even as a retired, life-long Republican, I am one of them. I have absolutely had it.

Recently, in a Middlebury VT town meeting led by Gov. Douglas himself, citizens passed a resolution to impeach George W. Bush and *** Cheney. A Putney VT, vote to impeach was unanimous. More than 36 towns passed similar resolutions and it%u2019s happening all over America. These are inspiring examples of citizens uniting to take back their government and to re-affirm Constitutional accountability, equal justice and equal protection under the law. What a great time to be an American!

[sslyon]

By pardoning Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford lost the support of American voters and greatly increased general apathy and cynicism regarding accountability in government. Now, having reached the point where Americans see glaring evidence of the most corrupt administration since the age of robber barons, citizens simply will not take it any more. Now, even as a retired, life-long Republican, I am one of them. I have absolutely had it.

Recently, in a Middlebury VT town meeting led by Gov. Douglas himself, citizens passed a resolution to impeach George W. Bush and *** Cheney. A Putney VT, vote to impeach was unanimous. More than 36 towns passed similar resolutions and it%u2019s happening all over America. These are inspiring examples of citizens uniting to take back their government and to re-affirm Constitutional accountability, equal justice and equal protection under the law. What a great time to be an American!

[sslyon]

By pardoning Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford lost the support of American voters and greatly increased general apathy and cynicism regarding accountability in government. Now, having reached the point where Americans see glaring evidence of the most corrupt administration since the age of robber barons, citizens simply will not take it any more. Now, even as a retired, life-long Republican, I am one of them. I have absolutely had it.

Recently, in a Middlebury VT town meeting led by Gov. Douglas himself, citizens passed a resolution to impeach George W. Bush and *** Cheney. A Putney VT, vote to impeach was unanimous. More than 36 towns passed similar resolutions and it%u2019s happening all over America. These are inspiring examples of citizens uniting to take back their government and to re-affirm Constitutional accountability, equal justice and equal protection under the law. What a great time to be an American!

[sslyon]

By pardoning Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford lost the support of American voters and greatly increased general apathy and cynicism regarding accountability in government. Now, having reached the point where Americans see glaring evidence of the most corrupt administration since the age of robber barons, citizens simply will not take it any more. Now, even as a retired, life-long Republican, I am one of them. I have absolutely had it.

Recently, in a Middlebury VT town meeting led by Gov. Douglas himself, citizens passed a resolution to impeach George W. Bush and *** Cheney. A Putney VT, vote to impeach was unanimous. More than 36 towns passed similar resolutions and it%u2019s happening all over America. These are inspiring examples of citizens uniting to take back their government and to re-affirm Constitutional accountability, equal justice and equal protection under the law. What a great time to be an American!

[sslyon]

By pardoning Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford lost the support of American voters and greatly increased general apathy and cynicism regarding accountability in government. Now, having reached the point where Americans see glaring evidence of the most corrupt administration since the age of robber barons, citizens simply will not take it any more. Now, even as a retired, life-long Republican, I am one of them. I have absolutely had it.

Recently, in a Middlebury VT town meeting led by Gov. Douglas himself, citizens passed a resolution to impeach George W. Bush and *** Cheney. A Putney VT, vote to impeach was unanimous. More than 36 towns passed similar resolutions and it%u2019s happening all over America. These are inspiring examples of citizens uniting to take back their government and to re-affirm Constitutional accountability, equal justice and equal protection under the law. What a great time to be an American!

[sslyon]

By pardoning Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford lost the support of American voters and greatly increased general apathy and cynicism regarding accountability in government. Now, having reached the point where Americans see glaring evidence of the most corrupt administration since the age of robber barons, citizens simply will not take it any more. Now, even as a retired, life-long Republican, I am one of them. I have absolutely had it.

Recently, in a Middlebury VT town meeting led by Gov. Douglas himself, citizens passed a resolution to impeach George W. Bush and *** Cheney. A Putney VT, vote to impeach was unanimous. More than 36 towns passed similar resolutions and it%u2019s happening all over America. These are inspiring examples of citizens uniting to take back their government and to re-affirm Constitutional accountability, equal justice and equal protection under the law. What a great time to be an American!

[duhrer]

cmfarling just threw up all over these postings. It's always amusing how deranged some conservatives get when they try to defend indefensible positions. Most amusing is the way many conservatives (politicians and not) have adopted the tactic of blaming others first for what they are doing themselves. I'm looking forward to the morality play given by Congress "The Ballad of the Sad Commander in Chief: or how I was able to cast off my desire for demon Rum(sfeld)"

[homersnfl]

I certainly hope you stalinists on the left get your wish and the Party of Defeat tries to impeach this President. You people really think America wants to go through that again? You rreally think thay will be on your side? Go for it.....I dare you.

There is no conduct on the part of the Democrats you will condemn (except not surrenduring faster), and no benign or legal action on the part of republicans you won't try to criminalize. Joseph Goebels had nothing on John Conyers, Henry Waxman, and the rest of you demogogues and character assassins in the Democrat party.

For those of you that have not read the constitution and are so willing to so trivialize the Impeachment process; you are shallow, hateful little partisans so tied to your dogma that truth and context are completely unimportant to you. It is truly sickening to watch your tactics and see how the pursuit of power has robbed you of all civility and basic human decency.

Many of you are truly sick human beings, but I suppose some of it is not your fault. After all, you get your news from the partisan hacks at CBS.
No wonder you don't have a friggin clue.

Sincerely,

cmcfarling

[emhawks]

Write your Congressmen & tell them to pursue impeachment charges against Bush. Cheney could be indicted for war profiteering charges related to Halliburton.


IMPEACH BUSH! INDICT CHENEY!


WE CAN'T WAIT 'TIL 2008!

[heidib4]

I think impeaching Bush would be one of the best community services! He is hell-bent on dragging this country down further with his anti-peace, anti-environment, anti-hel the people here attitude. If he's thrown out of office~ I'm throwing the biggest party ever! Bush is an absolute shame on America and the world! BAH!

[bluestardad]

STICK A FORK IN EM CAUSE THEY ARE DONE!

TAKE THE REST OF THE SELL OUT AMERICA FIRST CROWD WITH YOU TOO!

It is not anti Semitic to believe that there are other good people in the Middle East and they should have a voice! You can see by the AIPAC advertisement below this PAC is selling influence to American Elected officials.

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipa
cClubs.htm

Here are a list of the Republican Senators up for Reelection in 08. Ask them how much AIPAC influences their vote on Iraq?

Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)
Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)
Warner, John- (R - VA)



Now here is the real kicker! President Bush is funding Al Qaeda in Lebanon with funds from Iraq! This is Impeachment and Treason! Here is the proof Read it!
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/
articles/070305fa_fact_hersh


CONTACT your ELECTED OFFICIAL http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[e-mail]
Republican Party email

[e-mail]
Democratic Party email

[Jaxwizz]

I can't believe that Bush's apologist robots are still pushing that lame defense that Clinton lied under oath. Get a grip, guys, there's a general principle here that says, "Everybody lies about ***!" Do you really believe that lying about a matter of personal morals in any way equates to the attempt to destroy our Constitution, to canceling the civil liberties of US citizens, to violating international treaties at whim or to trying to usurp the powers and authority of the Legislature and Judiciary? Or is it that you don't believe yourselves, but hope that those who want Bush to account for his felonies and his treasons will swallow that load of ***?

In other words, are you really that stupid or do you just hope that everyone else is? No, don't bother to answer; you guys should not even attempt the illusion of intelligent debate. You're not equipped for it.

Stop the insanity.

Just say, "No!" to tyranny. Impeach now.

[wayfedup]

Worst president in at least a hundred years. If Bush doesn't deserve impeachment, no one ever will. Dumb and incompetent yet arrogant, pretty bad combination

Close... worst president, EVER! ANYTIME, ANY COUNTRY(including NAZI GERMANY, ITALY, SOVIET UNION, TURKEY, Ancient Rome, etc.)

[gotagrip]

Worst president in at least a hundred years. If Bush doesn't deserve impeachment, no one ever will. Dumb and incompetent yet arrogant, pretty bad combination. What let some people vote for him six years ago was that he was going to surround himself with competent veterans of government to keep him from getting us in trouble. Yeah, that really worked. Lost the election last November and refuses to alter course. Probably still thinks he has a mandate only because he doesn't know what the word means.

[wayfedup]

The only reason we are even talking about impeachment is the fringe left is foaming at the mouth mad at the president -- like a mad dog. Get real.
Posted by bsrasmus at 12:02 AM : Mar 29, 2007


You could be right,B.S.Rasmus, However,To impeach or not is SMALL potatoes compared to being tried for TREASON after leaving office and possibly/hopefully facing a firing squad!

[waynabq]

A horse's rear end has more problem solving ability then what's between the ears of your typical Bush supporter.

[waynabq]

Bush supporters get 5 cents for every post they put up. They don't deserve a single penny, their post are so pathetically STUPID!!! Stll Blaming Clinton after six years under a Chimp lead Republican puppet government consisting of Republican majorities in both houses of Congress and a majority in the supreme court. If only Jeff Gannon got caught giving the Chimp a BJ, maybe Bush's brainless zombie army might finally get pissed off about something, they sure don't mind Bush lying to them about the reasons we invaded Iraq, or that the U.S. is now looked at as a country that condones torture and imprisons people without charges or giving them a day in court to prove their innocence/guilt or that their tax dollars and their children's future tax dollars are being handed (wasted) out to Halliburton and big oil without any oversight or accountability. Bush supporters, Dawn of the Dead, brainless, mindless zombies.

[waynabq]

Impeach Bush now!!! Bush makes Nixon look like an American Hero. Nixon didn't lie to the American people to start a war that's killed and maimed 30,000 American troops and an estimated 600,000 Iraqi civilians, Nixon didn't call our Constitution, the foundation of our society and government, just a dam* piece of paper, Nixon didn't build secret prisons, legalize warrantless wiretaps, torture, suspend this country's must fundamental judicial rights to a hearing and a fair trial before being imprisoned without charges, Nixon didn't double the national debt by over 3 Trillion dollars, Nixon didn't try to stack the justice system with political sycophants who were more concerned about doing Bush's bidding than enforcing the law, Nixon never outed a CIA operative for political revenge, Nixon never made a U.S. city, New Orleans look like a third world country after a natural disaster....

Nixon is to a cub scout as Bush is to Attila the Hun.