Here comes impeachment (pretty much guaranteed with a Republican House)

[onehandle]

What's at stake in the elections this fall? Energy/climate? Tax cuts? Management of the economy? Well, sure, all those things. It's worth pointing out, however, that what's also at stake is the impeachment of Barack Obama. I continue to believe that if Obama sits in the White House for six years with a GOP majority in the House of Representatives that the odds are very good -- better than 50 percent -- that he'll be impeached. Not convicted, of course, but impeached, forcing a Senate trial.

I've been asking for guesses about when the first impeachment resolution will be filed in the House (leave your prediction here). To be fair, I've already been wrong about one thing -- I predicted that Michele Bachmann would have introduced a resolution by now (actually, I predicted April 15). So perhaps I'm just as much of an alarmist as those Republicans who believed that a Pelosi-led House would impeach George W. Bush in 2007. Perhaps! But I don't think so. In fact, impeachment talk moved yesterday from Tea Party rallies to at least one Republican Member of the House, Darrell Issa. And Issa's not an obscure backbencher; he's the ranking Republican on Oversight and Government Reform, and he also sits on the Judiciary Committee.

The incentives all run to impeachment, as far as I can tell. The leaders of such an effort would find it easy to cash in (literally, I mean) with books and appearances on the conservative lecture circuit. It's hard to believe that Rush, Beck and the rest of the gang wouldn't be tripping over each other to wear the crown of the Host Who Brought Down the socialist gangster president. And we've seen the ability, or I should say the lack thereof, of rank-and-file GOP pols to stand up to the talk show yakkers. Besides, it's not as if a new Republican majority would have a full agenda of legislative items to pass, and what they did have would face an Obama veto (and most likely death in the Senate at any rate). Against all that is the collective preference of the Republican Party not to have a reputation as a pack of loons, but that doesn't seem to be much of a constraint in practice. Of course, also against impeachment is the lack of a serious offense by the president, but I don't see that as a major impediment -- if offering a job to a potential Senate candidate is an impeachable offense (and see Jonathan Chait if you think it really is), then they'll have no trouble at all coming up with something.

So, if you want to impeach Barack Obama, I'd very much recommend voting GOP this fall, at least for your local House candidate. I think you'll get what you want.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/05/here_comes_impeachment.html

[donco6]

1. And we pulled impeachment of Bush off the table because . . . ?

They certainly aren't going to be returning the favor.

[freddie mertz]

2. Well, they tried it last time. I am sure they will try it again.

Hopefully, they will not win the House.

[Ohio Joe]

3. Impeached for what? - nt

[depakid]

4. For the very things Republicans would do were they in office

Impressive how that hypocrisy works- and works.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

12. Not "would do" - "did do" nt.

[NHDEMFORLIFE]

25. We couldn't be so lucky

If the Republicans put the country through an impeachment trial because the White House made a job offer to a politician in hopes that the politician would do it a favor, the backlash against the GOP would truly relegate them to the scrap heap for decades to come.
Bill Clinton's approval ratings went up during his trial. Obama's would skyrocket.

[RockaFowler]

5. Yeah that's what I want to know

These people are unbelievable

[countingbluecars]

6. Winning the election. n/t

[madinmaryland]

9. The Birthers issue??

[tavalon]

13. Presidentin' while black

[onehandle]

15. Exactly right. nt

[Enthusiast]

20. LOL!

[Enthusiast]

19. They will make up something. nt

[WeDidIt]

7. Then why didn't they impeach Reagan under the same 1972 law?

[volvoblue]

8. Impeachment is not suppose to be used

as a weapon or for political points with the base. But, the republicans have abused it with Clinton. they abuse everything. they have zero respect for the traditions of government and the constitution. They use it as a tool in which to have power and abuse it against their enemies.
they really are the slime of all time.
years ago the republicans were the opposition party. They were not the trash they are now.

[treestar]

10. Just like they abuse the filibuster!

In the process they water these things down. Impeachment will start to mean nothing. Just political opposition. Republicans undermine the very republic they claim is so important to them.

Just like the ones who will quit the military if gays can serve openly. They never really cared about the nation they considered to be under attack. Turns out their language was just for the purpose of gaining power.

[Jennicut]

11. Let them try. Attempted impeachment made Clinton more popular, not less.

It seemed way overboard and like a witch hunt.

[saracat]

14. They didn't "attempt impeachement" they did it. Clinton WAS impeached.

but he wasn't removed from office. There is a difference. And you are right.The American people did not like the game played with it, and he retained his popularity.

[Jennicut]

17. Sorry, you are correct. But it would not be popular for a lot of people.

The birthers may like it but most Americans recognize the need for stability because we have some really big problems going on right now.

[saracat]

22. I agree. I do not see most Americans getting behind this, particularly as Obama did himself a lot of

good with the speech yesterday. We need a sense of security.

[Dr Morbius]

24. Actually, Mr. Clinton took a severe blow to his popularity.

He bounced back over time, but he had absolutely no political power during or in the months after the impeachment. And this was a time when it would have been nice if he'd been able to deal with al Queda before it grew to be a major problem. Remember "wag the dog"?

I'm sorry, but while I agree the GOP did themselves a big disservice in the long run with the impeachment, in the short run they achieved their goal: they took the President off his game.

I'd like to point out that: A, the GOP will not retake the House; B, they're stupid but not stupid enough to make the same mistakes; and C, Barack Obama is not Bill Clinton. I foresee no impeachment.

[NHDEMFORLIFE]

26. Sorry, but this is wrong

He was impeached on Dec. 19, 1998. Per Gallup, his approval rating went from 63 percent to 73 percent in the week leading to his impeachment.

[seabeckind]

16. So once more into the fray

Just like Clinton, Obama knew he was under a microscope.

So why did he f' up when he knew everybody was looking? I thought he was supposed to be a smart guy. But then Clinton was too.

All he had to do was just stay out of it.

Lord. Just what were they thinking?

[LeftyAndProud60]

18. I'm sure they didn't think a Dem would be the one to sell them out. And according to the report Rahm

did it on his own. THey didn't even brief Obama about it. I don't know if it's true, but that's what CNN just reported. And Dana Bash is a dumbass. She just looks stupid.

[Dawgs]

21. Republicans would be dumb to try and impeach the first black president.

So, they would probably try. Although, I'm not worried one bit that they take back either House. Actually, many polls that they are expecting to win are looking better for the Democratic candidate.

[Robbins]

23. Well

I said If Republicans would regain the House this fall they would try the Impeachment and some thought that was far out.

I am much more optimistic about Democrats keeping the House.I can see Republican gains being limited to 15-20 Seats.They need 39
seats and no losses to take back the House.Back In 2006 Democrats won 30 seats.

And If there was a Impeachment before the 2012 election Republicans will ensure Obama's reelection and hurt themselves In the long run.

[jenmito]

27. IF they try to impeach him for some ridiculous reason, especially if there are huge issues

in need of congressional attention, Obama's approval will skyrocket and Repubs. will lose the majority for a very long time.

[AllentownJake]

28. The sad thing is

There are questions on the operation of the Federal Reserve and Treasury the past two years and an an opposition political party should be concerned about such actions, they aren't in fact it is probably the only thing they like....I think impeachment investigations will be over a non-paying job offer to a US Congressman over a Senate Primary which is ridiculous...but that is how Washington D.C. has devolved into in 2010.