Impeachment Coalition Taking Shape

[babylonsister]

Edit to add good link:
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=466

Impeachment Coalition Taking Shape
by: Matt Stoller
Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 02:30:39 AM EDT

The New York Times calls for Gonzales's impeachment. Chuck Schumer admits error on Alito, and calls for a special prosecutor to investigate AG Gonzales. Iraq is getting worse, and new strange allegations about Bush's spying program are emerging (and that's not including all the other criminal acts, Scooter Libby, reconstruction theft, etc). We're on a road that leads only to one place to the removal of an illegitimate and overreaching executive.

It's important to frame this by understanding that impeachment is always a political issue, and never a legal one. As such, the important question is not whether the President committed crimes, but whether there is a coalition behind restoring legitimacy to the political system. This coalition needs to have at its core a set of elite decision-makers who have decided that impeachment is the only option that will allow them to preserve something they value. In this case, Bush is threatening the very legitimacy of Congress, and House members and Senators worked hard to get where they are.

I know of several large advocacy organizations that could send emails to their base on impeachment, knowing that the response level would be high. But the tradeoff for them is to message around impeachment, or message around a policy objective that is more 'achievable'. Resources are not infinite. We're in fights on Iraq, Iran, executive privilege, student loans, SCHIP, CAFE standards, the farm bill, 12 spending bills, etc.

snip//

The Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, MoveOn.org and others are joining together to launch a campaign to help citizens defend democracy. The American Freedom Campaign (AFC), which will be launched with a teleconference call on Tuesday, July 31, is an online and offline effort to build grassroots support to restore checks and balances and reverse abuses of power by the executive branch.

A variety of pieces are snapping into place to have a real fight over Bush's future. I can imagine many ways that this plays out. When Bush refuses to heed Congress on a withdrawal bill, or should he attack Iran, it's going to come to a head.

Essentially, Bush has figured out that he can govern by vetoing everything he doesn't like and refusing to obey the law. That's putting immense pressure on Democrats, who are being pushed to 'get something done' while having to deal with someone that will not sign anything that is not exactly what he wants. That's just not a stable situation.

[mmonk]

1. If CCR is involved, you can bet it will be effective.

[babylonsister]

5. From your lips... nt

[mmonk]

2. Link did not work for me.

[babylonsister]

4. Thanks; fixed in OP. nt

[mmonk]

3. Never mind.

Got to it by going to the homepage.