I received a letter from Dianne Feinstein -- AGAINST impeachment.

[Kablooie]

Dear Mr. XXX:

Thank you for your letter concerning impeachment proceedings against Vice President Richard Cheney. I appreciate the time you took to write and welcome the opportunity to respond.

In our most recent elections, the American people expressed clear disapproval with the path this country was on. They are tired of partisan politics and of an Administration that pays little heed to the wishes of the American people. They want-and deserve-a Congress that holds the Administration accountable and fulfills its Constitutional responsibility to check and balance the Executive branch. I share this sentiment and am determined to work hard and across party lines in the United States Senate to promote issues that are of real concern to most Americans, including the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, homeland security, global warming, and lobbying and election reform.

At this time, however, I believe that impeachment proceedings against President Bush or Vice President Cheney will only divide the country even further, frustrating our hopes for a meaningful change in direction, while having little chance of success.

I have been deeply disappointed by many of this Administration's actions and have been outspoken in those instances. Nevertheless, given the challenges our country faces I believe that we need to focus on constructive and cooperative steps that would lead us in the right direction.

Again, thank you for your letter. If you have any further questions or comments, please contact my office in Washington, D.C. at [phone]. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

[formercia]

1. Same old Red Herring.

"I believe that impeachment proceedings against President Bush or Vice President Cheney will only divide the country even further."

[Perry Logan]

2. Either that, or she has a different point of view. These things happen.

[youngdem]

4. How is it a red herring?

Do we suddenly somehow have the votes to impeach?

Did 12 Republicans suddenly pledge to vote with the Dems?

Did LIEberman have a stroke?

Did Landrieu and other DINO's suddenly resign?

If not, SHE'S RIGHT. It WON'T PASS and IT WILL divide the country further. Shit, we couldn't even get it to the floor for a vote if we wanted.

DU members sometimes have blinders on, because they spend so much time talking to like minded people on DU, they feel that things are possible that simply ARE NOT.

It is very easy to sit on DU and feel like universal healthcare, gay marriage, living wages and the war ending are just around the corner. However, if you just walk outside and knock on a few doors up and down your street, you will suddenly be awakened by a stiff wind of reality, reminding you that the country at large is WILDLY uninformed and believe STRONGLY in the disinformation the mainstream media has fed them their entire lives, and many will violently defend their ignorance.

I hate it, and I wish it weren't true, but the good Senator from California is exactly right. Impeachment has NO chance of success but WILL divide the country, alienate some moderates, send disaffected Repukes running back to their Chimp, and send real issues like getting out of Iraq and healthcare and USAttorney scandals to the back burner. I wish it weren't so, but it is.

We have a year and a half until he is out. We are just going to have to focus on the 08 election and picking up more seats in Congress. Impeachment is NOT going to happen.

[theoldman]

8. Right you are.

You have to choose your battles carefully. Pick those that you can win.

[4dsc]

18. Its not about the VOTES!!!

Its not about the votes yet.. Its about the impeachment hearings.. You don't have a trial buy sending the jury to vote before you hear the evidence do you??

So quit with the rightwing talking points that we need to have the votes before starting impeachment hearings..

[WCGreen]

37. They are conducting all sorts of hearings now...

Just wait until they truly find something so onerous that the Republicans in the House and the Senate believe that if they don't join in the Impeachment, they will lose their elections...

[formercia]

24. The apologist mantra

"boys will be boys", so let's not make a fuss and divide the country over nothing.

Same old bullshit argument that Ford used to pardon Nixon, and look where we are today.


They pull this treasonous crap because they're sure they can get away with it.

[unlawflcombatnt]

36. Amen

Feinstein doesn't want to do anything, because it's just too much trouble for her, and won't get her any new campaign contributions. It's all about doing her best for her big campaign contributors- Corporate America, and especially Corporate Agriculture. That's why she was so militantly in favor of the Senate's Comprehensive Amnesty Bill- because it's what California's Corporate Agriculture lobby wanted.

Impeachment wouldn't help any of Feinstein's big campaign contributors, so she's not interested in pursuing it.

I've gotten the same kind of letters from Feinstein myself. And I'll never vote for her again.

[formercia]

40. The Country is already divided

between the 99% and the 1%.

The 'Middle Class' bought into their propaganda because they were promised a good retirement with medical benefits if the were good little corporate lackeys and kept their mouth shut. The money that was supposed to go to retirement funds and medical insurance plans went instead to cover the stock option plans of the management elites, dividends for the wealthty and profits for the stock market parasites.

Tell us all about dividing the Country.

They sucked our life blood until there was nothing left to give, then like some science fiction alien invaders, they left to find fortunes elsewhere.

[AntiFascist]

38. There is something deeper going on...

just like in Iran-Contra, impeachment proceedings are likely to bring to light certain levels of corruption within our government that may actually disrupt the functioning of both parties, especially in a time of war. Feinstein is a centrist who has a vested interest in the war (via her husband) and she probably feels it is best to sweep such matters under the rug. DUers certainly do not have their blinders on, they are aware of how deep this rabbit hole may go and I'll bet it terrifies many who are comfortable with the status quo.

The argument of "dividing the country" is a lie. If anything, it is likely to unite the country against the profound corruption to be found within government.

[Greyhound]

43. Fortunately, most of the country isn't MS. "Walk outside and knock on a few doors"

in this state and the only thing you'll hear is what a bunch of lying sell-out bastards the Democrats have turned out to be.

It has also apparently escaped your notice that this country can't get more divided than it is, and it is primarily due to the ignorance and prejudice of your neighbors. Negotiation requires two or more willing parties and they are not willing so, just like every other step forward this country has ever taken, it becomes a matter of force.

[MonkeyFunk]

28. Why change the quote?

You end it with a period, when there's more to it.

"At this time, however, I believe that impeachment proceedings against President Bush or Vice President Cheney will only divide the country even further, frustrating our hopes for a meaningful change in direction, while having little chance of success."

[dmosh42]

3. The Dem leadership wants to Keep Bush in power......

until the '08 elections. They don't think they could get a conviction in the Senate anyway. But we know they could probably get Gonzales, and others, but want to drag it out, for political purposes. As long as Bush&Co is in control, the Repubs are looking at a huge defeat. My opinion, only.

[Forkboy]

5. That's what I've been thinking too.

Bush is a gift to them in '08 and they might think they have more to gain by having him still around.

Sadly,I sometimes wonder if they do the same with the war.

[rodeodance]

9. I do think the Dems are trying their best----(to draw down)---

[MrMickeysMom]

30. I think a lot of people agree, however bad that move is. IMO, it's the wrong

...move to assume this should be timed after the elections.

Why are we so willing to act like this is acceptable? I can't except it. I won't accept it. As my part of the bargin being a US citizen, I will not accept it.

[ShortnFiery]

34. The DLC wants to win *all the marbles* = the UNITARY EXECUTIVE that BushCo has built. nt

[MissWaverly]

6. If it is proven that Tillman was murdered, GOP will rise up

and demand impeachment, then suddenly you will see a change in everybody's tune, the Republicans are 31% of the country, yet the
media acts like there is nobody but them. Our senators and congressman ignore us and pander to the independents and republicans.

[Jackpine Radical]

11. I think they can keep the Tillman thing covered adequately

until Hell freezes over. They own the system, after all. They own both teams and the ball.

[MissWaverly]

13. well, I don't know about that

there was no enemy fire in the area when he was shot and he was shot at close range

[Jackpine Radical]

14. I'm just in the deep-cynical phase of my manic-depressive cycle this morning.

Sure Tillman was killed under highly suspicious circumstances. Doesn't mean anybody above the rank of E5 will carry the can for it.

[MissWaverly]

16. there is hope, sorry you are in the lows

for now the mainstream media is discussing it and Congress is discussing it and it is not just
us who are saying look here. Last night I saw info on election rigging on NOW that I have known
about since at least 2004 but it is appearing as a documentary on PBS. This did not happen before,
remember when we were considered crazy or unpatriotic for even mentioning this stuff.

[Jackpine Radical]

19. I hope your optimism is well-placed.

With specific reference to the Tillman case, though, I have seen the army in operation. Even back in the Vietnam era, and probably since the days of the Roman Legions, they had ways of limiting the damage in incidents like this, ways of keeping the blame from climbing very high up the chain of command.

[MissWaverly]

20. remember, the Haditha incident was exposed

it's the steady drip, drip, drip of the truth

[ray of light]

7. "At this time" is the key. Since it hasn't even been called then

and there are no investigations AND the people haven't been in the streets or making calls then of course she is still against it.

BUT let the people call her--more than just us--and let them protest and follow her footsteps protesting then it would be different. Right now, they don't hear us because few are actually involved.

So we need to get the local waitress to call. OR the gas attendant. Everyone who is pro-impeachment (pro-peace) should be calling their Reps DAILY. And we need to pass them our cell phone so that they can see how easily this is done. (And hand out the number.)

I call Pelosi, Conyers, my state Reps and Senators, and I've added Hoyer to the list because I think he's the one who is actually behind Pelosi not going for it.

[MissWaverly]

31. You are right, and the media is clueless

They are still defining Hillary as a far left liberal.

:-)

[glowing]

10. Impeachment would not divide this country, it would unify it..

[AndyA]

12. So we now know that breaking the law by top political officials is no biggie to Feinstein.

If you're willing to turn your back on these crimes, and let the criminals get away with them, what else are you willing to look the other way for?

You are part of the problem, not part of the solution. You are the reason America is the way it is today. :thumbsdown:

[MonkeyFunk]

17. Where did she say it's not a problem?

She said it would divide the nation, with little chance of success.

[AndyA]

25. What's more important?

A nation divided worse than it already is, or NO CONSTITUTION, NO RIGHTS, and NO LIBERTIES?

She took an oath to protect the Constitution. She's not doing it. She's not doing her job.

Without an intact Constitution, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. Without it, WE HAVE NOTHING.

[MonkeyFunk]

27. well

since Senators can't impeach, I don't see how she's failing her oath.

And the constitution does not mandate impeachment - it presents it as an option.

[AndyA]

46. It's always the same old excuses. But that's all they are: excuses.

When are we going to have representatives who do things because they're the right thing to do?

First of all, Senators don't have to wait for something to appear in the Senate before they can announce support of it.

And it's the right thing to do. All Americans have an obligation and a duty to report a crime when they have knowledge of one, and I hardly think anyone really believes high crimes have not been committed by Bushco.

She's allowing them to get away with it, which puts her in the same category as Bushco, and sets a terrible precedent going forward. She's part of the problem, not part of the solution, and people keep making excuses for their bad behavior.

But it's pretty clear: they'd rather allow crimes against the Constitution and the American people to occur without punishment or accountability instead of doing their job and upholding the rule of law and protecting the Constitution.

[Totally Committed]

15. And remember: Feinstein has endorsed Clinton.

Just a guess, but I'd say the DLC is not for impeachment, wouldn't you?

"Birds of a feather..."

TC

[MonkeyFunk]

23. most Democrats, DLC or not

aren't supporting impeachment.

[ShortnFiery]

33. I don't believe that! Not for a moment. Hell, many moderate republicans are considering it. nt

[MonkeyFunk]

35. I'm talking about office-holders

or leaders. Al Gore, John Kerry, John Conyers, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Howard Dean... all opposed to impeachment.

I think it's funny how people accuse me and others of being stealth republicans because we agree with nearly every leader in the party.

Perhaps YOU guys are wrong? Worth thinking about for a minute, isn't it?

[Totally Committed]

44. But, they serve at OUR pleasure, so isn't it possible THEY'RE all WRONG?

I think it might be.

That's what we get for voting for anyone with a (D) after their name, without considering whether or not the (D) is also in their hearts.

TC

[MonkeyFunk]

48. demanding impeachment

doesn't make one a Democrat.

And right now, they ARE doing the people's biddig, cuz most Americans don't want Bush impeached.and a very small minority of Americans wants the war defunded immediately.

[roseBudd]

21. if politics is a chess game Bush & Cheney help the Ds because if the Rs get a new face

then come 2008 they can claim they are not reflective of the utterly incompetent, corrupt reality of the Republican party.

I asdmit this is an utterly cynical view and lives are and will be lost in the interim BUT
if the consuequences of a redeployment of our troops in Iraq are detrimental to America's interests or our troops are slaughtered on the way out (there is no easy escape route)then the consequences could impact everything that progressives care about.

Anyone who thinks getting out simply means troops boarding an airplane tomorrow is mistaken. All of that equipment needs to be transported back to the US or distroyed.

Some say this admin. never learned the lessons of Viet Nam. Viet Nam holds many lessons not the least of which is who will get the blame.

[bluedog]

22. she may be right

bush is the best poster boy and campaign image for the Democratic party......all they have to do is run all the speeches this idiot made and ask.....Do you want another 4 years of this ?.........the Republican Party is backing away from bush .and they don not want their name tied to him in campaigns..

[Jack Rabbit]

26. I've received the same letter.

[MrMickeysMom]

29. And how did you respond (calling the number in disbelief?)

This is interesting because I haven't heard back from Arlen Specter on impeachment. He writes a mean letter of how foolish it would be at this point to pull out of Iraq. It's more believable that Specters office would react this way. I call his office again, or keep writing, but the Democratic Senate has got some serious issues going on here.

Seriously serious issues!

[Alexander]

32. Notice how NOBODY is saying impeachment is "off the table" now.

They're saying they don't support it "At this time" or "right now".

Nuance is everything in politics.

[Bryn]

39. It looks like Bush and Cheney will be in deep trouble

once a democratic President takes over. Then ball will get rolling. Maybe it's a smart move?

[Greyhound]

41. What on earth makes you think that once these scum are let out of office,

there will be anything done? What makes you think that should there even be an investigation (about as likely as the oil companies giving everybody a huge rebate), that these shitheels would even stay in the country? They both have safe havens in foreign countries already set up, http://wonkette.com/politics/george-w.-bush/we-hate-to-bring-up-the-nazis-but-they-fled-to-south-america-too-208549.php">Paraguay and http://www.drugtext.org/library/articles/912612.htm">Dubai.

[Bryn]

47. Amazing, isn't it?

I can't believe they both are getting away with so much damages they have done to America and worse, to Iraq x(

[Greyhound]

42. Scratch Dianne Feinstein and you find a west-coast Joe Lieberman. n/t

[Vinca]

45. The key words are "I believe impeachment . . . "

At what point do our elected representatives act on what WE believe???? Once they get to Washington "my constituents" morphs into "I."