The Best Reasons Not to Impeach, And Why They're Wrong

[cool user name]

<snip>

"Impeachment will make the Democrats lose in 2008."

The historical record suggests that this is all wrong. When the Democrats held back from impeachment during Iran Contra, they lost the next elections. And many of the people they failed to go after came back in the form of the Bush Jr. Administration to make life hell for the Democrats and the rest of us. When the Democrats led the effort to investigate and impeach Nixon, they won big in the next election, even though Ford was running as an incumbent. When the Republicans tried to impeach Truman, they got what they wanted out of the Supreme Court and then won the next elections. Articles of Impeachment have been filed against nine presidents, usually by Republicans, and usually with electoral success following. When the Republicans impeached Clinton, impeachment was actually unpopular with the public. Even so, the Republicans lost far fewer seats than is the norm for a majority party at that point in its tenure. Two years later, they lost seats in the Senate, which had acquitted, but maintained their strength in the House, with representatives who had led the impeachment charge winning big. Voters appreciate efforts to push for a cause. Cowardice and restraint are not very popular.

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[Cooley Hurd]

1. K&R - a solid argument for impeachment!

:thumbsup:

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Nancy let me down , using a process like a peace offering or chip.

[cool user name]

8. She let me down too.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. It is not up to the person

who soon will be third in line for the presidency to be the one to call for impeachment.

Just because Pelosi said impeachment isn't on the table, doesn't mean it won't be on a number of other people's tables soon AFTER the DEMS take control of Congress on Jan 4th.

[cool user name]

11. She said impeachment is off the table.

As the incoming speaker, that's pretty bold and implies that she represents the whole party.

She should have kept her mouth shut. If I recall, that comment was unsolicited so it was an unnessary comment to make.

[DoYouEverWonder]

12. The only thing it took off the table

was the Swiftboaters who would have gone ballistic.

[5X]

3. K & R n/t

[wishlist]

4. No threat of impeachment exonerates Bush's lies and emboldens him

Bush has no sense of responsibility or shame over his lies and failures. His lack of conscience over his actions is typical for a bully. Unless forceful action is taken with his feet held to the fire, he will stubbornly just continue thumbing his nose at critics and keep on his same disastrous course acting as if he has been vindicated and done no wrong.

[katsy]

5. Hey, I was wrong...

For at least 2 weeks after the election, I thought it prudent that the Democrats would not impeach, and defended not impeaching these bastards in at least a few threads.

I was very very wrong.

[Bitwit1234]

6. Explain how we can

I'm all for removing bush AND cheney from office with impeachment but I do not see how they could ever do it...and if they try and fail, it will just fuel the republicans bid to take over congress in 2008. Someone explain how in the devil you could get 17 republicans to vote to impeach. I said 17 because I have to include Liberman in the republicans.

[cool user name]

9. You didn't read the opening post.

I suggest you read it before making a comment like that because it's answered at the link in the opening post.

[AntiFascist]

13. It all depends on whether Democrats have the courage to really...

get at the bottom of the corruption that led to war, and to dig into all the other impeachable offenses. Too many are taking compromised positions, which will only make them look weak. I don't see how this is helping Democrats in the long term.

[H2O Man]

7. True.

Those who say that attempts to impeach would hurt democrats in 2008 do not have history on their side. They are forced to use an empty, shallow bluff. I think that empty, shallow bluffs are a losing strategy.

[IWantPeace]

14. Conyers betrayed US!

Cynthia McKinney says that he is not even planning on investigations now...


From Conyers’ report, The Constitution in Crisis:

Our investigation has found that while the allegations set forth in this Report rise to the level of impeachable misconduct by the President, the Vice President, and other high ranking officials within the Administration, more information and investigatory authority is needed before recommendations can be made concerning specific Articles of Impeachment.

link : scroll down to Chapter 4, page 13

So last year Conyers do-nothing excuse was “more information and investigatory authority is needed”. Now that the democrats will have control of the House, “they aren’t even going to issue subpoenas.”
http://www.gnn.tv/articles/2791/BREAKING_Congresswoman_McKinney_Files_Articles_of_Impeachment