Murtha Suggests - IMPEACHMENT- As ‘One Way To Influence The President’

[kpete]

Murtha Floats Impeachment As ‘One Way To Influence The President’

This morning on CBS’s Face the Nation, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) expressed frustration with the White House’s public rhetoric about wanting to reach a compromise over Iraq funding. “They say we’re willing to compromise,” he said. “And then we don’t get any compromise.”

“We’ve already compromised,” Murtha said. “And we need to make this president understand, Mr. President, the public has spoken. There’s three ways or four ways to influence a president. One is popular opinion, the election, third is impeachment and fourth is the purse.” Host Bob Schieffer followed up, pressing him on whether impeachment was a serious option on the table. Murtha responded, “I’m just saying that’s one way to influence a president.”

TRANSCRIPT:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/29/murtha-impeachment/

[burythehatchet]

1. I sccoped you on this one kpete

there's a new sherrif in town.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. KPete doesn't go down easy.

[NNN0LHI]

11. Man, you ain't lying n/t

[ClassWarrior]

2. Fire up the phones and ask Murtha to co-sponsor HR333...

...the IMPEACHMENT of Cheney**.

Toll-free numbers below.

NGU.

[IChing]

3. The pResident does not accept timetables on

impeachment either.

Good for Murtha to lay it out on the table.

[Kurovski]

5. Hey, when all else fails...

why not?

[partylessinOhio]

6. Murtha is under the thumb of Madame Squeaker. Too bad for us.

I missed Jane Harman, what did she have to say?

[dansolo]

9. Wouldn't that suggest that she is now considering impeachment as an option?

Think about it for a minute. A standard political tactic is to send a proxy to suggest something which you are considering to see the reaction. If Murtha is "under the thumb" of Pelosi, then he wouldn't mention impeachment without Pelosi knowing and approving. You should actually be hopeful of Murtha bringing up impeachment, because that tells me that it may very well be back on the table.

[Zodiak]

13. What's more...Pelosi and Murtha are long-standing friends

I remember that during the battle for the Majority Leader position between Murtha and Hoyer. Murtha didn't get the job, and it was seen as a setback for Pelosi's leadership (at least that is how it was framed). But the fact stuck with me that Pelosi and Murtha are long-standing allies.

The further underscores the possibility of a trial-balloon.

[indie_voter]

7. I like the third way. Let's do it. n/t

[OtisTDog]

8. IT IS JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN

... unless, of course, you help MAKE it happen.

Check out:

http://www.usalone.com/cgi-bin/transparency.cgi?paper=1&qnum=pet45

It's a list of the 25 most recent comments made by Real Americans participating in an online poll/letter-writing campaign about the impeachment charges. The participation page is at:

http://www.usalone.com/cheney_impeachment.php

Similar to a MoveOn petition, you have the option of having your comments (in support of or against HR333) to your senators, your congressmen, and your local newspaper editors. Is your name on it yet?

If not, take a second and get your opinion to the opinion makers. The Democrats will support it when they feel they have the backing of the public. At 100,000 signatures, that page should be a noteworthy news item. At a million, it will be serious public opinion.

--Otis

[Rosemary2205]

10. Did it influence Bill Clinton?

Seems to me the President Clinton just kept doing his job (quite well) in spite of Newt Inc.

[ClassWarrior]

12. And that's why Newtie's coup failed.

This time, it's just.

NGU.

[Rosemary2205]

15. Definately just but will it actually influence GW?

I don't think it will. I think all that would be accomplished is the Dems making a statement but I don't see it changing anything. There could be massive public outcry for Bush and Cheney's impeachment as more info came out (IF the lapdog media bothers to report it that is) and enough Republicans in the Senate will not vote to convict. The Republicans in the senate do not give a shit what their constituents want.

IMHO - just MHO.

[mmonk]

14. I say, why not go through them?

[johnaries]

16. I watched it, Murtha wasn't suggesting impeachment,

he was justifying using the purse.

[mmonk]

17. Then he should use it (the purse).

The actions of the last few years by the administration justify impeachment or there is no such thing as a justifiable impeachment.

[Jcrowley]

18. Impeachment

is NOT about influencing anyone least of all the President. It's about protecting the Constitution.

Do all of these people need a refresher course?

[Oglethorpe]

19. Plea Bargain

Sounds a bit like a plea bargain to me. The prosecutor is trying to get the defense to cut a deal.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi Oglethorpe!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

21. Impeachment won't influence the President

Does anyone think Lil Boots will listen to this nonsense? He doesn't listen to stuff he doesn't like.

Impeachment shmeeshment! There is not a 2/3 majority in the Senate to convict. So there's no need for * to "plea bargain". He can simply ignore the proceedings. Whatever the House does, he's secure in his job until Jan '09.

Impeachment will make us feel good, like the House is accomplishing something, but it'll mostly be a big waste of time.

Going after the purse may be the only meaningful activity between now and 2009. I'm being optimistic and assuming a Democrat will be President and that individual will help stop the war. Big assumption.