These Guys just do not get that they are headed for Impeachment.

[Perky]

As if the wiretaps and the Call Detail records without a warrant was not bad enough seeing how it violates the Fourth Amendment and relegates the courts to the status of a mere nuisance....The they violate the principal of co-equal branches by raiding the office of a congressman and spend several hours going through all of his papers.

Now they are bringing in the FBI to investigate who leaked the wiretap info.

What is stunning to me is the lack of political foresight. They just had the FBI up on the Hill illegally and pissed off both sides of the Aisle in the process. Now they are hell ben on using these same folks to find out who spilled the beans on the NSA.

They have their heads pretty far up their own butts to not be able to see how this is becoming an issue about how far this Administration will go to do whatever they want.

This is the type of thing that led to the Saturday Night Massacre. This is the type of thing that makes impeachment more probable. It is. the arrogance of power. This is not the return of the Imperial Presidency...this is the rule of despots. This is Stalin in the early 1930s telling the faithful to shut up and let him run the show.

[babylonsister]

1. Let's hope they're fashioning their own figurative nooses with their

actions (maybe they can take some lessons from George Allen!). They've exhibited their lack of political foresight since 'reigning', haven't they? Think Iraq, and their exit strategery, or lack of one. I must admit I'm now leaning more towards sheer and absolute incompetence.

[Cyrano]

2. The Republicans wouldn't impeach him if he ate a live baby on TV.

They care about one thing and one thing only. Getting reelected. They know that the White House can work against them in the upcoming election and cost them their seat in either the House or Senate.

Further, there is no such thing as a "moderate Republican" willing to cross the aisle and vote with the Dems. Anytime a critical vote has come up that required their backing (for example, approving Justice Alito) they've been there. They always will be.

Add to this the fact that if Bush is impeached, Cheney would be president.

[Perky]

3. The Cheney issue is daunting

But the argumnet is that unless they too run against the president, they will be dragged down with him.

Impeachment is not likely but methinks censure is looking awfull palable to many GOPers.

[BlooInBloo]

13. LOL! Who said anything about *republicans* chimpeaching?

[meti57b]

4. This is a difficult issue for some people .....

About a week ago, I spent about five minutes on the other side of this issue and experienced the thinking behind it.

Bill Handel, major radio talk show host on KFI 640 in Los Angeles, during the morning drive, is basically conservative but not wacko, but holds progressive opinions on several issues.

He commented on a report by some "expert" that the next terrorist target would be the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, which would be attacked by a dirty bomb. About 43% of what this nation imports comes through those two ports and the wire tapping could stop something like that.

I spent about five minutes thinking .... well, yeah, maybe a little wire tapping would be worth doing and thinking what I should stock up on in case it happens, like cat food. But I snapped back to reality, that the solution to this problem is to check the shipping containers that come through the port, not wire tapping. duhh h h h

[Perky]

6. I used to live in San Pedro

and it would be so easy to sink a cargo ship andbottle the place up for weeks or blow of either of the bridges and bring the economy to a halt.

But remember it is not the wiretapping that is at issue. It is doing so without a court order.

It is raiding a co-equal branch of government.

It is collecting the call records of all US citizens without probable cause.

It is using police power to intimidate Congress and their staffers.

It is the Outing of Plame.

It is the arrogant assumption that the President can do whatever the hell he wants to.

That is the issue. The ends are important but so are the means by which the ends are achieved.

[HornBuckler]

5. Hopefully you are right - and here it comes, HOWEVER

I don't think the American public is capable of thinking past their driveway. You can accredit it to ignorance or what have you - 40+hours a week two kids to feed - etc etc - they just aren't likely to get behind something like this , In my opinion - god, I hope you're right though...

I so hope you're right.

[midnight]

7. Everytime I see the word Impeachment I know we are still awake.

Do not be silent about the word Impeachment.

[Virginia Dare]

8. I'm still holding on to a very crazy dream...

JAILTIME!!!!

:kick:

[SixStrings]

9. And just WHO will impeach them? Dems/repubs all the same n/t.

[pansypoo53219]

10. my problem is the warrant

there is NO reason why they can't get one, UNLESS it is NOT being done to keep us safe.
period.

[Perky]

11. And that is the proper framing of the issue and the way to nationalize

the election as a referendum on Bush.

"Do we really want people in charge who think they don't have to respect the courts, the congress, the Constitution and the privacy of ordinary americans and does not think they need to ask. Whatever happened to checks and balances?
Enough is enough. WHo is going to control these guys?"

[Perky]

12. kickety kick kick