What's the real reason the House leadership isn't willing to pursue impeachment of Cheney?

[Sparkly]

I've heard it's about their "focus," at least in the judiciary committee. That's hard for me to believe.

Why is there such a thing as impeachment if it's not for crimes like BushCo's? And we're only talking about Cheney!

I'm sure it's some political calculation, but what is the real reason they won't pursue impeachment (and why do the Republicans want it debated)?

[rudy23]

1. Nancy Pelosi can't be the first female president

it'd steal Hillary's thunder
it'd draw attention to Bill Clinton's impeachment, and open Hillary up to charges of revenge
it might make the Republicans say mean things about us
Dem consultants in D.C. see the voting population as a monolithic sea of drooling Ditto-heads

[Lucinda]

3. I agree they don't want to take a chance that Nancy could end up as Pres

but for different reasons. I don't think she'd like it either. :)

[Sparkly]

4. The Clintons don't run the House.

Hillary couldn't be accused of "revenge" -- she doesn't have to take it on.

Maybe your last guess is it... What do polls say about favoring vs. not favoring impeaching Cheney?

[DURHAM D]

19. What are you talking about?

Nancy is only in line for the Presidency if both Cheney and Bush perish at the same time.

Impeachment leaves Nancy out of the equation.

[polichick]

2. Maybe because they don't want Jeb Bush or one of the...

Republican candidates to be appointed V.P. ~ and then run as an incumbent in 2008??

[Sparkly]

5. Here's an idea (heard on the radio)

Would Congress have to approve the VP? If so, what if they just left it vacant?

[polichick]

8. Hmm, I'm not sure how that works...

But it's obvious something is going on ~ and I can't help feeling that whatever it is has to do with wanting to win the 08 election.

[madinmaryland]

9. Congress does have to approve the appointment of the VEEP.

I don't know if the dems would allow any appointee to be approved, depending on when the vacancy occurs.

[Sparkly]

13. They could keep it from the floor.

Leave Chimpy with Pelosi in line right behind him. Might make him a LITTLE more conciliatory. :shrug:

[madinmaryland]

26. I think it would depend on the timing.

They don't have to approve anyone, and it would probably be the best move.

[Fresh_Start]

22. Ford was approved by the Senate

to become vp. So I guess there's an 'advice and consent' to filling the VP slot

[riqster]

6. They think the people want them to play nice nt

[Dr Fate]

7. They are sincerely opposed to holding Republicans accountable. Why is that hard to understand?

Republicans probably want it debated b/c they know the DEM "centrists" will side with the GOP on the issue of protecting Bush, causing the DLC types to divide the DEMS even more than they have already. Of course, the DLCers would fall right into this trap.


It's really simple, actually. DEMS dont want the base to see just how many of the DLCers and "centrists" disagree with the base and agree with Bush & Rush Limbaugh on this- and the GOP knows it.

[polichick]

10. Ya know, I wouldn't have believed that six months ago...

But I wouldn't put it past them now.

[Sparkly]

12. One would think they could make a persuasive case, though.

If the public were on board, especially once hearings got underway, why couldn't the leadership push Democrats to support it? What reason would there be NOT to?

[Dr Fate]

14. One would think all kinds of things over the past 8 years of DEMS giving Bush what he wants.

Bush doesnt want impeachment-the DEM base does.

SUPRISE!!! The DEMS leadership disagrees with the base and sides with Bush yet again.

[Sparkly]

16. The base

I know Cheney's approval is in the toilet, but are there polls showing support for impeaching him?

[Dr Fate]

18. Are there polls showing that the public does not want to see him held accountable at all?

Are their polls showing that IF it was shown he commited crimes, they would still oppose disiplinary action against him?

If not, then we are back to square one, are we not?

I know the DEM leadership will fight me tooth & nail on this, in a way they never even DREAMED of fighting Bush, but I would like to get the public and the media talking about it, get a few investigations going towards it, THEN take a poll.

In the meantime, I'll be crafting talking points that are designed to fight Bush and hold him accountable, as opposed to crafting excuses for protecting him.

[Sparkly]

23. Makes sense to me. nt

[2rth2pwr]

31. Finally, someone speaks the truth that could not be said out loud.

Believe it or not the pugs called the bluff knowing that if it came down to it, The Dems would not vote for impeachment and the base would explode. Sending it off far away for a slow death in committee was their best bet. At least now they can say that "we are looking into it" and appease the "base".

[LWolf]

33. I understand it easily.

I wish more did.

[wundermaus]

11. The corruption of "elected" officials overwhelms any democratic

attempts to assert any checks and balances. The entire process has been taken over by fascists / corporatists. Only the appearance of democracy / representative government is left to fool the eye and ear. But the stench of hypocrisy and the pain of lawlessness reveals the true nature of the enemy that We, the People of the United States of America now face. It is our duty as citizens -

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

[polichick]

15. So what's the next move by the people...

Short of an Indie savior stepping forward??

[wundermaus]

21. education, organization, action.

education, organization, action.

(more to follow)

[polichick]

27. It'll have to be a more than street protests and calling our representatives...

They've made it clear that the opinions of the base mean nothing to them ~ it is the perfect moment for a kick-ass Indie leader to step forward!

[Vilis Veritas]

24. Ok, you got it right...kind of...

However, the "alter" and "abolish" part are going to be tricky. You see a hundred years, or so, ago we handed citizenship over to CORPORATIONS.

Now you would have to fight the mind-numbing corporate brainwashing of the masses in order to effect such a change...I just don't see it happening that way. Not any more. 100 years ago, perhaps...not today.

So now we are left with what we can do...Start local, change from the bottom up...infiltrate, legislate, confiscate...take it back.

Peace.

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. Maybe it's because he's a short timer anyway

Let's face it. He's not running for elected office again. He'll be out as VP in a little over 12 months, and then he can still be prosecuted for treason. Maybe that would be best. That way there's not risk of him stepping down and someone being appointed as VP, giving that person a leg up in future elections. What he did wasn't illegal just because he was in office.

[Dr Fate]

20. In other words, the DEM leadership will fight the base tooth & nail on holding Cheney accountable.

Good to know they have spine against SOMEONE.

Assuming we can even win in 2008-No one is going to prosecute Cheney for treason once he leaves office- he will live a long happy life-that's another dodge and you know it.

[TexasBushwhacker]

30. I'm not saying I agree with it ....

I'm just saying that may be their logic. I would prefer that they put it up for a vote, but would they have the majority they need? I can't imagine that any GOP would vote to impeach, and obviously there are some Dems that won't either. Yes, we have a majority, but could there be 18 Dems that would vote against impeachment? I think there could be. If they can't be sure they'll get a majority ....

[polichick]

Cheney will probably take up residence in Dubai asap...

...knowing he'll always have a place with Halliburton ~ and that the long arm of the law won't be quite long enough to reach him there.

[zeemike]

25. I think they have something on Pelosi and probably Conyers too

And so the repukes known nothing will happen in the next year except the DLC will have to pretend to do something and really not.
But hey it is a good way to split us up into warring camps.

[dpbrown]

28. Vichy Democrats

Surrender Monkeys

[SaveElmer]

29. Because it would be a gift to Republicans...

Wrapped in a ribbon labeled 2008!

[greendog]

32. It's about "Who's in charge?"

If they are, in any way, responsive to lefty activists the elite class will start to get nervous.

The elite class expects the political establishment to work exclusively for "their" interests. "Their" #1 concern is keeping us on the margins.