can someone please explain to me why I am to believe that impeachment is political suicide when

[Sperk]

poll after poll shows that the VAST majority WANT Chimpy and his gang impeached?

Are we just believing something because we are told it????

[gravity]

1. Can you provide a link to that poll?

[Vincardog]

2. I vote to impeach the chimp

[helderheid]

13. I'll see if I can't find it. I believe it was a Zogby one.

[mikelgb]

3. Dems like Pelosi and Steney Hoyer desperately cling to the idea...

...that if they just keep Bush/Cheney in office, thats all they will need to win the election.

they will not let anyone, not even a majority of the electorate fuck with their strategery

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. Impeach Bush?

Well, for openers, I doubt that time is on the side of such an action.

Second, you really want Cheney as President?

[nomorenomore08]

5. "Political suicide" is a bit strong, but I think they realize the futility of such an action.

Even with the Dems' '06 landslide, they don't have anywhere near enough of a Senate majority to remove Bush and/or Cheney from office, and a failed impeachment might make them look worse than not attempting it at all.

[grasswire]

7. it isn't futile to lay down the marker for history..

...that crimes were committed against the Constitution and the people of the United States of America, and that the people's Congress followed their oath to protect and defend the Constitution by bringing impeachment.

Whether or not he is impeached or convicted is immaterial. It's the bringing of the charges and the enumerating of the crimes and FORCING REPUBLICANS TO VOTE on it that is important.

[nomorenomore08]

9. Oh, I agree with you completely. Impeachment is still the morally right thing to do.

But what it comes down to is a possible image problem for the Dem Party. And a short-term negative reaction (by the public, by the GOP, etc.) to a failed impeachment is probably a more powerful motivator than a long-term positive reaction ("laying down the marker for history").

[Juche]

11. What about the GOP

They impeached for political purposes but maintained their lead in the house & senate up until 2006.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. they lost seats in the 98 election...

an election they should've picked up a lot of seats in. They hurt themselves.

[aquart]

10. So instead we set the precedent that no crime is too great to be ignored.

And that a sitting president may do anything he damn well pleases. No matter how much it hurts the nation.

I'm not comfortable with that.

[mmonk]

6. Its not. People want to protect certain "persons" and "business interests".

[slipslidingaway]

8. Would any Democrats look bad if this was to go forward...

I believe that is the bottom line, personally I'm in favor of accountability regardless of the letter behind their name.

[MonkeyFunk]

12. no polls show a vast majority wanting impeachment

why make shit up?