Getting Serious About the "I" Word (John Nichols for The Nation)

[marmar]

BLOG | Posted 03/27/2007 @ 05:05am
Getting Serious About the "I" Word


Former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough had me on his MSNBC show tonight to talk about impeachment.

It was smart, civil discussion that treated the prospect of impeaching the president as a serious matter.

Scarborough took the lead in suggesting that Bush's biggest problem might be that Republicans in the House and Senate who -- fearful of the threat Bush poses to their political survival -- do not appear to be rallying 'round the president. The host's sentiments were echoed by two other guests, columnist Mike Barnicle and Salon's Joan Walsh.

The impetus for the show was Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel's ongoing discussion of the impeachment prospect -- Hagel's not quite a supporter of sanctioning Bush, more a speculator about the prospect -- and a new column by Robert Novak that suggests Bush has dwindling support within the congressional wing of the GOP.

Speaking about impeachment on ABC's "This Week," Hagel said, "Any president who says 'I don't care' or 'I will not respond to what the people of this country are saying about Iraq or anything else' or 'I don't care what the Congress does, I am going to proceed' -- if a president really believes that, then there (are) ways to deal with that."
....snip....

If the president wants to get in a fight with Congress over how to read the Constitution, it appears that the people will back Congress. And that backing is what will begin to restore the backbones of House members who, despite Pelosi's attempts to quiet talk of impeachment, are getting more and more intrigued by the prospect of holding this president to account. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=179501

[babylonsister]

1. NOM! The "I" word seeing the light of day! I hope many more journalists

start 'writing' it up!

[marmar]

2. Yup. It does seem to creep into MSM discussions a little more each day....

End this 6-year nightmare with an exclamation point!

[TerdlowSmedley]

3. While I disagree with Scarborough's politics, he does seem to be

about the only, and I do mean only, conservative commentator who is not a complete dick. He strikes me as level-headed (if wrong) and relatively even-handed and does at least appear to think for himself, in lieu of simply screeching from the Karl Rove songbook. Seems like an okay guy.

[marmar]

4. "conservative commentator who is not a complete dick"

LOL....Sad but true, but that's the pathetic standard when it comes to conservative commentators.

[On the Road]

5. I Have Not Been in Favor of Impeaching Over the Iraq War

But the attorney firings are worth going to the mat over. If the adminstration continues to lie, stonewall, and take the fifth, this one should go all the way to the top.

[marmar]

6. Agreed. That issue seems to present a much more solid case for impeachment.

n/t