Impeaching Bush may be the last thing we want to do. Can you say Pres. Condi Rice??

[Dems Will Win]

HA HA HA! LEAVING SO SOON? WHY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S JUST BEGINNING!

No doubt Bush and Cheney are impeachable. No doubt they should be impeached. No doubt even that they will be impeached, as the hearings will uncover impeachable crimes.

But think what that means for a minute.

Instead of having the hated lame-duck Chimperor in the Oval Office, who won't be able to help himself and will go and campaign on Iraq not being a mistake--thus lowering Republican vote totals in '08--we'll have an incumbent President CondoLIAR Rice.

Here's how. If Bush and Cheney are for sure going to be impeached, Cheney would pre-empt the system and resign. Bush then gets to appoint a new VP and of course he would choose CondoLIAR, who would agree to a Presidential pardon for all concerned. Remember that Bush cannot pardon himself, and the Pardon Clause has an exception for impeachment.

Would Condi be approved by the new Senate? Almost certainly--she's already 4th in line for succession to the Presidency anyhow, you're simply moving her up to no. 2. And she was just recently approved overwhelmingly for Secretary of State and can point to the Mideast agreement as an accomplishment!

Now can you just imagine the field day the corporate media and Fox News will have with the first BLACK WOMAN President? OMG.

And have you seen her play the piano? OMG. Shades of Harry Truman!

Then she would be the overwhelming favorite for the GOP nomination and the Bushies would back her over McCain and guess what? There would be NO Bush and Cheney to knock around in '08, the GOP did the right thing and GOT RID OF THEM. And Bush and Cheney would not be campaigning, so the Republican candidates would have a fighting chance, and you'd be running against an incumbent President.

Oh, did I mention that Rice would be the first black President AND the first woman President. That would wipe out the Gender Gap--unless Hil gets the nod. And it would raise the African-American vote for a GOP Presidential candidate well into the 30s I would imagine. Just through sheer pride, which is understandable.

Did I mention that CondioLIAR is a fabulous concert pianist, that part of her snowjob will be appearing on a talk show and first playing an unbelievably stirring Classical piece, that will have hearts swelling with love and she will receive then an absolutely house-rocking ovation?
Did I forget to tell you that?

FOX News and Rush will be then able to breathe life back into the GOP and since CondoLIAR is more moderate, she WILL GET THE MODERATE REPUBLICANS BACK!

Am I starting to get through to anybody here?

Only Barack Obama could beat her, in my estimation.

Investigate the holy living crap out of Bush and Cheney. But for God's sake, do not impeach either one of them. How long would they be out of office? Four months? 2 or 3 months with some stone-walling. And the Independent voters in the middle will be dissappointed the Dems kept up the Impeachment Tit-for-Tat that has been going on since Nixon and Bork. The Dems would lose a bunch of them.

So take your pick. Let Bush and Cheney easily win ANOTHER election for us in '08, or impeach'em and give the Republican party a leg up out of the political quicksand they have found themselves in. Let them have a theoretically much better shot to win the Congress and the White House back.

Think about it.

Just investigate and then declare the Dems don't want to put the country through another impeachment. The GOP will impeach for a blowjob, but we Dems want to end the Impeachment Tit-for-Tat and restore civility to Washington.

Then guess who will want impeachment so they can get Condoliar in there?

The Republicans.

So those of you who want Bush and Cheney impeached--why in the world would you ever want to do that? Don't forget that Bush can't pardon himself, so he can always be tried later if CondoLIAR doesn't pardon him.

Investigate now and use the findings to destroy the GOP, but then please, pretty please, pretty please with a cherry on top, don't make CondoLIAR President of the United States in June or July of 2008.

I'm begging you.

[ShortnFiery]

1. First things First ... I'm not sweating it ... let the investigations guide us. n/t

[Dems Will Win]

3. I'm trying to pre-empt a Blogosphere Freight Train

to impeach. That can put pressure on the Dems to do it.

Don't forget the bloggers won the election by helping to get Webb and Tester and many House Reps nominated and elected.

Blogistan has influence now.

[patrice]

14. That's what I say. It's not exactly as if there are/were no Criminal Indictments

during this administration.

None of that is going away.

[nolies32fouettes]

2. Wrong. If you impeach Bush, you get Cheney, if you impeach

Cheney, you get Speaker of the house. Who is the speaker of the house?

Nancy Pelosi

[RufusEarl]

5. I was hopping someone would correct the chain of command.

[Duer 157099]

11. It's not chain of command, it's appointment

if the VP were to resign

[LiberalArkie]

9. Correctomundo.. Al Haig is way down the list

[Dems Will Win]

10. That would happen only if Bush and Cheney DIED at the same time

If impeachment loomed for both, Cheney would resign quickly so Bush can appoint a new VP, just as Nixon appointed Ford and made the 30-day pardon deal with him.

Can anybody else out there confirm this for nolies32fouettes?

Thanks!

[William769]

15. Did you read the entire post?

[Mr_Spock]

47. My first thought as CONDI WAS NOT ELECTED!

:think:

[Buzz Clik]

4. Was this written by Al Haig? Condi is waaaaaay down the list.

Third to throne is Pelosi, not Rice. Rice would follow the president pro tem of the Senate.

[Dems Will Win]

19. It's disappointing to me that many on DU have so little

knowledge of political history that they think Pelosi would succeed an impeached Cheney or Bush.

Na gonna happen!

Yes, Pelosi is third in the Line of Succession IF Bush and Cheney are both KILLED at the same time. But that's only then.

Impeachment means President CondoLIAR Rice, or maybe President Guiliani. But I'm going with the black beauty queen who can rock those 88s.

[Buzz Clik]

44. >>>>Deleted. I refuse to feed the trolls<<<

I see now that this thread was merely an opportunity to start a brushfire.

I'll pass.

[Duer 157099]

6. Why assume Cheney won't just resign on his own?

I think that's the most likely scenario, is that Dick just leaves and Condi gets put in just as you describe, then runs in 08, as you describe.

Impeachment doesn't even need enter the equation for this.

[Dems Will Win]

17. You're correct. This is probably the most likely scenario

Cheney gone in January. CondoLIAR appointed VP and she's off to Iowa!

[boolean]

7. Who gives a shit?

Honestly, why are so many DUers missing the point that these two men need to be held accountable for their crimes? Stop thinking about the politics and just look at the simple fact that they cannot get away with what they have done. They are responsible for over 600,000 deaths, millions more injured (limbs lost, blinded, deafened), embezzlement of billions of dollars, lying, and general assholery.

[Dems Will Win]

13. They will be held accountable -- in 2009

War Crimes in the Hague and EVERYTHING.

But pretty please don't make Condoliar President.

[poverlay]

8. The only fitting punishment that the American people as well as all citizens

of Earth can mete out is to make Bush a joke. Make his name synonomous with failure and incompetence. Then everyone attached to him will suffer the same punishment~irrelevance. Make their life's work the shining example of embarrassing screw ups.

[emulatorloo]

29. not a bad idea n/t

[Dems Will Win]

35. That's what I'm suggesting. Then we throw him and Big Dick in jail.

[lutefisk]

Dr. Rice is Bush Incorporated's "poison pill"......n/t

[RoccoR5955]

12. Just do this

Impeach the lot of them, and bring every member of the Bush Crime Syndicate up on RICO charges. When they are convicted, none of them will ever be able to hold office in this country. Some could even be brought up on charges of treason, which is still a capital offense.

[Dems Will Win]

23. But don't forget, President CondoLIAR will pardon all of them

The question is, as raised upthread, is CondoLIAR impeachable?

I would agree with the sentiment, BUT -- doubtful she would ever be impeached.

[RoccoR5955]

24. Right

Maybe you misunderstood, but when you are impeaching one, impeach them all. That's what I meant by impeach the lot of them.

[Dems Will Win]

32. Each one has to have a separate impeachment trial in the Senate

Except Cheney. The VP I think can just be charged, there is no impeachment of the VP. That's why Agnew left in such a hurry.

But pretty please don't get rid of Cheney as VP. He's doin a heckuva job! Because for sure you would get the Wicked Bitch of the West Wing:


I'M GOING TO GET YOU AND YOUR LITTLE YELLOW DOG TOO!

[porphyrian]

16. That's cowardace. Impeachment will happen. Get over it. - n/t

[Dems Will Win]

21. No it's intelligence. And cowardice is spelled with an "i"

Why do you want CondoLIAR to pardon Bush?

Yes, he would be impeached, but she would pardon him BEFOREHAND and he could never be jailed for his crimes.

Don't you know what Ford did for Nixon and what Bush's own father did for the Iran-Contra Gang to save his own skin?

All to get them out of office for 4 months before the election??

Then Bush and Cheney will never go to jail, unless they are tried for war crimes I guess--but that is highly unlikely.

Bush is already disgraced. I want him behind bars. You want to let him go.

REMEMBER! THE PRESIDENT CAN NEVER PARDON HIMSELF. BUT THE NEXT PRESIDENT CAN. MAKE SURE THAT NEXT PRESIDENT IS A DEMOCRAT IF YOU WANT BUSH BEHIND BARS FOR HIS CRIMES.

[porphyrian]

22. Ha! Your response is better than anything I can say. - n/t

[kestrel91316]

18. I'm quite certain Bush would agree with your take on it.

[Dems Will Win]

28. It's a good thing too, because anyone with honor would resign

Bush could resign after Cheney and then you have CondoLIAR as President again--and she pardons the lot of them. (Third Scenario).

Then Bush nevers gets impeached AND he and Cheney never go to jail.

That's the intelligent thing to do.

Good thing Bush is not intelligent.

[novalib]

20. SIMPLE SOLUTION: INDICT RICE!!!!

For CRYING OUT LOUD!!!

If Bush and Cheney are impeachable, surely Condiliar RICE is also impeachable!!!!!

Has everyone forgotten that Rice advised * before Bush launched his pre-emptive, ILLEGAL WAR OF AGRESSION??!!!

Has everyone forgotten that RICE LIED??!!

IMPEACH BUSH!!

IMPEACH CHENEY!!!!

INDICT RICE!!

CONVICT ALL OF THEM AND SEND THEM TO PRISON!!!

[Initech]

25. If I remember my conspiracy theories correctly...

It was in fact Condi who threw out the memo that clearly said "AL QAEDA PLANNING ATTACK ON US SOIL". We would probably not be in the mess we are in today if it weren't for her. So yeah, I'm with ya there!

[Dems Will Win]

30. You can't impeach for stupidity. What law did she break?

Lying to Congress is a good one, but hard case to impeach on in reality. You'd have to impeach CondoLIAR FIRST, and that will be tough.

[meti57b]

26. exactly! ... and can you say "incumbent"?

[NNN0LHI]

27. Rice is as guilty as the rest of the War Criminals

She has got to go too.

Don

[Dems Will Win]

31. Lay out your case for Nancy Pelosi to impeach her right here:

Curious to see what you've got on her...

Maybe blowing the President??

[NNN0LHI]

36. I don't want to impeach Rice. I want to imprison her

For lying to America about mushroom clouds and assorted other BS to get us involved in an illegal war which has caused over 600,000 deaths.

Don

[BlueStater]

33. Condi Rice isn't exactly clean herself

What makes you think she'll be chosen if the Chimp is forced to pick a new VP?

[mike_c]

34. impeaching Bush and Cheney will expose the crimes of this admin...

...and paint Condi with the same brush. Turning over all the rocks will end Condi's political career forever.

[Dems Will Win]

37. Maybe you're right.

Maybe you're wrong.

Why take the big fat chance?

We already are in a good position for '08. Impeaching Bush and putting in an incumbent President Rice or Guiliani or McCain would shoot that all to hell and allow a Repiglican to pardon Bush.

I want Bush behind bars, not pardoned.

[Ptah]

38. No problem

[Dems Will Win]

39. You know I hadn't thought of that...

You're right. Forget this post. Just keep a bucket of water handy and label it:

"FOR EMERGENCY USE IN CASE OF RICE PRESIDENCY"

I like it! Now we CAN impeach Bush and Cheney...

[Jack Rabbit]

40. The point is moot

First of all, Bush can pardon himself, even before he's indicted. The only thing that the president cannot pardon is an impeachment.

Second, the appointment of a vice president must be appoved by both houses on Congress. If there's enough evidence out there to impeach and remove the Frat Boy and the Big Dick over manipulating intelligence and misleading the public and COngress on the threat posed by Iraq, then that means Dr. Rice doesn't have a clean bill of health, either. Under those circumstances, she won't be confirmed.

I have never heard Condi play the piano, but she is supposed to be quite good it. Being a good piano player didn't help Harry Truman; historians may rate him up, but he was one of the most unpopular presidents ever.

[Dems Will Win]

41. You're wrong. It is a basic premise of English law and thus

American law that no one, not even a Governor or President can pardon themselves.

As for the keyboard skills, I heard Harry Truman play, Harry Truman was a friend of mine and CondoLIAR is no Harry Truman.

She is an amazing, incredible fantastic pianist. CondoLIAR will make America's heart sing when she performs solo off the cuff, as she did on Letterman.

The difference is she is a musical virtuoso and we are now in the age of television. No one will elect her because of it, but there is no doubt they will like her for her talent and be in awe of it.

[Jack Rabbit]

42. I beg to differ

Article 2/Section 2:

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

Show me where it says he cannot pardon himself.

Other than the proviso that prevents the president from pardoning an impeachment, the president's power to pardon is unlimited.

[Dems Will Win]

43. You don't understand. No one can be judge of themselves or

pardon themselves. That's why Nixon had Ford pardon him.

If I'm wrong, why didn't Nixon just pardon himself?

Basic Law 101. The pardon of oneself would never stand up in the Supreme Court. It would never even happen or Nixon would have pardoned himself before he was impeached.

[Dems Will Win]

45. The other argument would be that a President cannot pardon

anyone involved in an impeachment case, including his own. So unless he was pardoning himself without impeachment being involved--and that makes no sense--he could not pardon himself, even beforehand.

Because he is being impeached. In that case, the Constitution is being properly applied. The Ford pardon of Nixon could have been overturned if someone had taken it to court. It was clearly unconstitutional.

So it's either a conflict of interest or the impeachment exception disallows pardoning oneself.

[Jack Rabbit]

48. Why would that make no sense?

So unless he was pardoning himself without impeachment being involved--and that makes no sense--he could not pardon himself, even beforehand.

He couldn't pardon his impeachment, but he could give himself legal immunity from criminal prosecution. Can the president pardon crimes where no charges have been brought? Yes. Nixon had not been charged with any crime when Ford pardoned him.

Since you have failed to show where in the Constitution the president is prohibited from pardoning himself, I will assume that it is because you can't. It isn't there or anywhere else.

Speaking of Nixon, this was discussed at the time of his resignation and the opinion was that he could pardon himself. I don't recall exactly who expressed that view with finality, but I believe it was Fred Graham, then the legal correspondent for CBS News.

[Zynx]

46. After looking at Maryland and Tenn. votes, no, I can't say it.

Steele and Ford, both who ran remarkably good campaigns against stiffs, both lost, both due to some rather unflattering percentages among rural whites, i.e. Steele was polling 9 points ahead among whites and won by 2.

Condi has no shot due to the same people LBJ gave the boot.

[Dems Will Win]

49. Even if CondoLIAR did not win, she would put

the GOP back in position to take the COngress back. AND if she ran against Obama, it's black vs. black!