Buzzflash's Reaction to Phone call with Nancy Pelosi (Not Good)

[KoKo]

http://www.buzzflash.com/

On a Thursday Phone Call with Bloggers (BuzzFlash was On), Nancy Pelosi Reconfirmed that Her Eyes are on Winning the White House for the Dems in 2008 Rather Than Pursuing Impeachment. She Sincerely Believes that an Incremental Series of Revelations of GOP Illegalities will Sink the Republicans. The Challenge to that Viewpoint is that Cheney and Bush Still Have the Power to Precipitate an International Crisis to Get Americans to "Rally Around the Flag." Secondly, If They are Not Held Accountable for Their Flagrantly Illegal Behavior, How Can You Expect Anyone Charged in Our Court System to Respect the Rule of Law if the President and Vice President of the United States Violate It With Such Impunity? It's Also Hard to Maintain Control of Congress When You Have a 14-21% Approval Rating, Largely Because the Public Perceives the Dems as Weak and Unable to End the War or Rein in the Power of a Rogue, Lawless Executive Branch.

http://www.buzzflash.com/

[Dr.Phool]

1. I read that earlier.

And about 5 minutes ago, the DCCC called looking for money.

I said, "No thanks". When our guys start doing their jobs, and start impeachment proceedings, then I'll donate again.

[KoKo]

4. I got a call a couple of days ago....I told them the same thing. It was

one of those phone bank callers so what I said didn't register....and who knows if he will note it...but if enough of us do this they will get the message. In the meantime I donated to two local Dems running for our State House and Senate. They needed the money before the end of June deadline so I donated the money figuring if we can get more Dems in our State Government we have a better chance of being safe locally from the Repug Wing Nuts. Also gives them a chance to run later for US House or Senate and they will be responsible to us little folks who put them in.

Forget the National Party. I gave lots to DNC marked for "Howard Dean" on my check. But, no more. It's not Howard Dean it's that Dems have become a Corporation up there in DC. Howard Dean has done a mighty job given the opposition he's had. But...I'm giving locally from now on.

[terisan]

2. Pelosi is a nuts n bolts leader. We need her, but also need a passionate leader for impeachment.

[gasperc]

3. Yeah, he's quite pissed, don't fully agree with his premise

war is unpredictable, and so is the 'rally around the flag' effect. I am more concerned that they will bomb the crap out of Iran and it will simply create mass economic chaos and other chaos and they will demand or execute "emergency" measures. I think buzzflash is right to assert that it is naive to believe that the revelations of illegality will so enrage the public the red carpet will be rolled out for the democrats. What instead will happen is a further revulsion with politics in general and greater instability in the markets and throughout different sectors of the economy. This instability will enrage businesses, clouding the political picture but without a doubt exploited by those who are wealthy and desire power, warping the situation to their advantage.
It will take courage and bravery, the path of impeachment is cloudy, the risks of backlash and backfire are great. But we will have to be brave, trust our guts and trust the will of the people. Like teacherken said on dailykos, if impeachment is off the table, then so is democracy. If this is about the global economy and competing with China(ie let's get control of the oil in the middle East) then we will not be successful by being more totalitarian like China, but by embracing free thought, free will, free expression and listening to the diverse voices in America and to ALL those voices that love America.

[KoKo]

6. Good points......courage and bravery have been sorely lacking as our hopes are raised

and then dashed time and again. And, many of us on this Board have seen this since 2001...when time and time again we've been asked to "hold off...keep our powder dry...vote ABBB...work our asses off...sign petitions...phone...blah..blah.

[KharmaTrain]

5. It's Not Pelosi's Call...

While she can play with the agenda, I doubt if articles are voted out of the Judiciary Committee that she would block it from happening. The ball is in John Conyers court here. Then there Waxman's investigations...this is where a lot of dirt not just on boooshie and cheney but many others is coming out. Hopefully we're rid of those two oxygen thieves on 1/20/09, but others still will be around...they must be found, forced into the light and to retake back the very workings of our government.

I'd far rather see an impeachment of Gonzo right now...this will give all of us the temperature on how other impeachments will go. It won't be pretty...and I suspect a majority here will be disappointed with the process and timing. It's getting too close to the '08 elections...and yes, in a political court, that is the real deal breaker here.

I want the accountability done in a criminal court...these are REAL crimes, not strictly political ones...and we're about to go to court to define "Executive Privilidge" and really get some answers here. I don't want to screw up that process by opportunist politicians and manipulation of the corporate media. I want thorough justice. These people are to be made to pay for their crimes...but I want it with indictments, trials and convictions in front of a jury of peers...not a bunch of spineless Repugnicans and their corporate media toadies.

There are many other legislative items on Nancy's plate...her job is traffic cop...and, again, if Conyers and Waxman feel they have the goods to pass out articles, they will be on the House floor for a vote....Pelosi or no Pelosi.

Again...I'd rather see Gonzo gone...removing him exposes a lot of the inner crimes within this regime. Real crimes, not political ones.

[Frances]

7. I agree with Pelosi

Maybe it's because I live in a very conservative town of 12,000 people in northern California. I would guess that 90% of the people in my townhouse complex voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004. I'm probably the only one who voted for Kerry (I lived in another state in 2000).

Definitely the majority of the people in this town voted for Bush in both elections. The same is true for my native state of Alabama as well as the two states where I have relatives.

A lot of these people are starting to see Bush for what he is, but they need to see more revelations before they can support impeachment. It's better for the country if the majority of the people support impeachment.

I think there is a chance to get that majority support if we have a bit more time. I also think that we will start to see troop withdrawal in September. I don't think impeachment proceedings would affect that situation. In fact, impeachment proceedings might just make it harder to get the troops out.

[leftofthedial]

8. Sadly,he is one of the classic elitist "democrats" who represent the interests of the economic class

she shares with king george and not the interests of the common people or the Constitution.

Whatever her ratonalizations, she is commited to preservation of the oligarchical status quo. She is flagrantly shirking her Constitutional responsibility.

I no longer respect the rule of law in this country. It serves only to enforce the ability of the wealthy and powerful to exploit the masses.

[blueworld]

9. Great piece - her chance to hold someone accountable is short.

The WH will simply stonewall & drag every bit of "oversight" through the courts for the time they have left unless Pelosi finds the "political capital" to impeach. She's building a record, they've built an empire.

Is she hoping to cash in for a Democratic tyrant in '08? WTF is her problem? Do they have to send the National Guard into the venerable halls of Congress before she sees the light?

The blood & bodies & carnage will continue for years - there's not a lot that can be done about that, but holding the WH responsible can only be done for a little while.