DU Poll: Is Impeachment Enough, Or Does It Have To Be Impeachment And Conviction Too ???

[WillyT]

I understand those that fear Impeachment without conviction is a huge waste of time. I don't agree, but I recognize the fears of many, that the above scenario allows the rePukes to try and attach some moral equivalency between the Impeachment of Clinton and the Impeachment of GWBush. And that they would make the case that impeachment now is just some political tit-for-tat because the rePukes tried top get rid of Bill Clinton through Impeachment.

I can see the point, and I can see the concerns, but still I disagree.

If this unelected bastard and his band of thugs isn't worthy of Impeachment, then the process of Impeachment, and with it the Constitution of The United States of America, has no meaning.

If we do not do the right, correct, and honor-bound thing, then there is no Constitution, there is ONLY politics.

:shrug:

[BuyingThyme]

1. Imfuckingpeach.

[EFerrari]

3. What you said. n/t

[NightWatcher]

2. revolution

a populist revolution

[AndyA]

4. Impeachment would send a stronger message than all these meaningless

"non-binding resolutions" they have so much time to waste on.

Impeachment sends a very strong signal, and it would prevent Bushco from doing much further damage. Like starting another war, creating another 9/11, etc.

Impeachment really should be on the table at this point.

[TheWraith]

9. Actually, it wouldn't prevent anything.

Remember, without conviction in the Senate, impeachment has NO effect on a president's status or powers.

[AndyA]

13. It does, however, put him under a microscope.

Every action is questioned.

The media reports on everything, they're whores and they have no qualms about stomping on a friend when he's down if it's good for their ratings.

Impeachment will make every American sit up and notice that the things going on haven't exactly been on the up and up. And most Americans aren't that thrilled with their lives right now, which is why no one in the GOP is asking, "Are you better off now than you were when Clinton was in office?" Because most aren't.

Impeachment can be a very powerful and useful tool.

[BootinUp]

14. In this case

it would do more harm to your cause than good. But hey thats just my opinion, and apparently the opinion of many others who are more experienced with politics than I.

[AndyA]

16. For every expert who says impeachment shouldn't happen, there's another who says it should.

I think the Dems are risking everything by not impeaching.

They're going to screw around and let the Republicans frame the story, spin the facts, and dump the blame for this war, its funding, and the lack of oversight on Bush solely in the Democratic Party's lap.

Then it will be too late.

[BootinUp]

19. history of impeachment argues against

the experts you cite.

And secondly public opinion is only growing against BushCo which indicates the current efforts by congress are being met with some success.

[AndyA]

21. This is unprecedented.

There is no history to compare this to.

What Clinton did pales by comparison, isn't even on the same planet.

And what Nixon did with Watergate is a minor infraction when compared to today's issues.

At the rate the current Congress is going, public opinion will overwhelmingly demand impeachment just after the first few nukes drop in Iran.

[bullimiami]

5. I want criminal charges next. They should not be able to skip as usual.

[napi21]

6. NOPE! I want it ALL! Impeachment, Conviction in the Senate,

and criminal consequences!

Why the hell would anyone be satisfied with impeachment alone? The AH's impeached Clinton, and it had NO bad effect on Bill at all...at least not long term. Sure, Ar. took away his law license, but who cares? He wasn't going to ever practice law anyway!

Impeaching Bill was partisan harrassment. It was wrong, and served no purpose other than to waste time and money.

Impeaching Shrub & Unka Dick is for just cause! Yes, I'm sure there's some partisanship involved, but I think I can honestly say, not on MY part. I'm looking at everything this man has done over the last 6 years! He misinterpreted the Constitution to suit his own ambitions, flat out and blatently ignored our laws, broke the laws in many instances, launched a war that killed almost 3,500 of our soldiers so far and hundres of thousands of Iraqi's, and if all that isn't enough, he conspired with the AG to manipulate our elections! IMO, those are NOT partisan reasons to seek impeachment, AND CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT! The hell with the idea that nobody wants to see an American President behind bars! I DO!!!!

[Donnachaidh]

7. I don't want to see a deification of Bush 20 years after just an impeachment

Like they've done for Nixon.

If we're ever going to prove to the rest of the world that we have some integrity left -- this man, and Cheney, and Rumsfeld need to be frogmarched into the Hague and stand trial.

Getting him tried will put the fear of the PEOPLE into any future presidential candidates, too.

[DKRC]

10. Don't leave out Rove, Rice & Gonzo.

ALL of them need to be frogmarched to The Hague for trial after we deal with them for the crimes they've committed against our nation.
They're ALL war criminals.

[TheWraith]

8. Without conviction and removal, it is pointless.

That's not a fear, it's just a fact. Besides all the spin that you mentioned--which I absolutely guarantee would be coming out of every Republican orifice--it would mean in effect that there would be nothing more that could be done to Bush. We would have a sort of "double jeopardy" situation where even if something more came out that meant a sea change in politicians attitudes towards him, what could we do: impeach him again?

And last but not least, it's far from a guarantee that we COULD follow through with impeachment in the House. Are you absolutely sure that there aren't 16 Democrats in the House who would not favor impeachment?

[BootinUp]

12. a logical argument? What a waste of time. /sarcasm

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

11. You might wanna add "...followed by conviction for treason,

then execution by hanging in the public square"

[damntexdem]

15. I had to say "other" because the answer categories are so screwed up.

Impeachment should be pursued whatever the Senate might do. But the Senate needs to convict. We cannot wait until 2009; the world can't. We need to take out our garbage now.

[WillyT]

23. Too Late To Edit, But You Could Rewrite Them For Me...

and show me how it's done.

Thanks in advance.

[LSK]

17. this place will be suicidal when the Senate does not convict

I dont see 17 votes coming from the GOP members of this Senate. We would be lucky to get 5.

[NoPasaran]

18. Impeachment without conviction is grounding out

Impeachment without conviction is grounding out with two down and the bases loaded, trailing by two in the bottom of the ninth. Conviction is the grand slam.

[Swamp Rat]

20. IMPEACH NOW!!

Ask questions later. :D

[BlackVelvet04]

22. There will be

NO impeachment and NO convictions. Not going to happen.

[Poiuyt]

24. I want it down in the history books that Bush was impeached

I don't want future generations wondering what was wrong with ours

[Geek_Girl]

25. I'd rather have a conviction myself

Impeachment of Nixon didn't seem to change things very much.

[mmonk]

26. No one is supposed to be above the law in our system.

Without at least impeachment, our constitution has no binding or lasting power.

[Kelly Rupert]

27. Impeachment without conviction would be a huge political win for Bush,

just as it was a huge political win for Clinton.