Pelosi & Impeachment - did everybody miss the memo...

[bridgit]

early on; at the very crack of dawn, when the positivity first broke across this land as golden rays of sunshine & possible release from this national republican nightmare seen first as the barest, faintest of turnings of the old squeak'y weather vane atop some faded & peeling red barn...somewhere in america; it was noted by way of polling data instead that...

were dems to harangue impeachment as a singular battle cry & motive, republicans would simply rally round their "they may be evil, lying, duplicitous bastards & pedophiles, but they're our evil, lying, duplicitous bastards & pedophiles" and turn out in droves for no other reason than they cannot admit they were wrong from the beginning for voting in such nefarious scum,

impeachment on a whim as was practiced by republicans in very recent memory has already been discredited imo,

impeachment where due cause exists is a forgone conclusion, time is therefore on our side...i'm just say'n

[bryant69]

1. I think you are right

I think we need to hold the Republicans accountable, by investigating what they have done over the last 6 years - the evidence will come out and may well force us to start impeachment proceedings. But let's investigate first, before the trial.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[MrCoffee]

2. yes, yes, a thousand times yes! n/t

[mmonk]

3. Pardon us for not liking

a statement that impeachment will not be entertained made to the world.

[bridgit]

5. what will be will be, but 1st we need to get in there...

while standing on the outside nothing will change...nothing

[wtmusic]

4. The difference between "haranguing impeachment" and ruling it out

is what many of us pointed out.

Pelosi ruled it out, which was far beyond what was called for or even just.

[On the Road]

6. Did Pelosi Say

that the next Congress would not impeach no matter what (which I disagree with) or that they were not planning to impeach as the situation stands now (which is more defensible)?

Personally, I believe the best road to impeachment is to seize the honeymoon period after a Democratic victory and try to uncover quickly a couple of smoking guns that resonate with the public. That's not easy, but impeachment is not an easy road. There's plenty of material.

[bridgit]

7. my read was that we are not going to run in there, flip open a bunch...

of blue legal briefs & start impeachment; but get about to turning this republican nightmare around & proceed...and that where in the course of that procession & oversight impeachment is become after all is known & people's hair has been curled (or straightened) as a result & they pick themselves up off the floor for having found it out, then constitutional process will dictate yes

at least that's how i read it

[William769]

9. Thats how I read it also.

[bridgit]

11. cheers & steady as she goes...

[wtmusic]

12. your read is unique

in that it defies logic.

If impeachment proceedings do begin the right will call Pelosi a liar and not be far off the mark.

"Off the table" means off the table. She ruled it out.

[bridgit]

14. with a preponderance of discovery in hand, it may not be up to Pelosi...

alone: see post #8 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Shakespeare]

51. You're not unique, Bridg. I see the same thing you're seeing.

It's politics being played correctly by our side, TWO WEEKS before the most important election in, oh, about 100 years.

on edit: Well, you ARE unique, in that wonderful Bridget way...but you're not alone on this matter.

[bridgit]

52. Shakespeare!! please don't take this the wrong way but...

sent back along with a little ditty, a dump, that but the two of us will mayhaps ever hear...

Is he not approved in the height a villain, that
hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O
that I were a man! What, bare her in hand until they
come to take hands; and then, with public
accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour,
--O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place!!!

[Shakespeare]

53. *thud*

One of my favorite quotes from my favorite Shakespearean heroine. We've all got a little Beatrice in us (some of us more than others).

[bridgit]

54. weeeee...

too true

[OzarkDem]

33. My read also

and not a smart move, either.

[zulchzulu]

8. I'm glad Pelosi is saying impeachment is "not on the table"

It's in the computer....in a series of Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and Powerpoint presentations...all ready to be made into PDFs for distribution to the printer.

Pelosi knows not to make impeachment an issue for Repugs to distract the voters (who in polls want it). You know she will gladly let Conyers do his job when we get the House back.

[bridgit]

10. yep...

[lonestarnot]

20. I think you are right, but we have to count the numbers when all is said and

done after the election and see how many they stole and how many they didn't.

[Swamp Rat]

26. HA!

My sentiments exactly.

"Oh, we won't impeach, we promise......................................... psych!

[Sal316]

13. A differing opinion or why impeachment cannot be a campaign issue.

We are 15 days away from an election where the results could make 1994 look like childsplay. Fifteen days from sending this aberration of the Republican Party into political exile where it belongs. Fifteen days from possibly bringing oversight and sanity back to this country.

There is one thing that can piss that all away in less than 24 hours. That thing is a pre-election call for impeachment from our party.

Do these bastards deserve it?
Yes.
Is there enough legal ground to forge an air-tight case?
Yes.

Some ask, then why cannot it be discussed?

Quite simply because before the word finishes crossing the lips of Pelosi, Reid, etc., that's all the remaining 15 days will be about.

Health care, national security, the economy, the environment.... all moved to the back of the bus. The election will become solely about how those evil, treasonous democrats are out to destroy Bush at all costs.

Once the GOP gets that message into the lexicon, the 'mushy middle', where elections are won, is gone.

Are people fed up?
Yes.
Is the country crying out for change?
Yes.

Remember 1998, where public opinion of the GOP dropped like a lead balloon over Clinton's impeachment. Calling for impeachment now would be political suicide. John W. Campbell, Jr., put it this way "History doesn't always repeat itself. Sometimes it just screams, "Why don't you listen to me?" and lets fly with a big stick".

In our case, the big stick would be election losses Nov. 7th.

One step at a time, dear friends. Voters care about issues that affect them personally. Impeachment, though, isn't one of them.

We have 15 days left to change the track this country is on. Let us not lose sight of that. For 6 years the GOP has had unchecked power over this country and have led us up to and, in some cases, over the brink.

There will be time for impeachment talk after Nov. 7th. After we celebrate the words "Speaker Pelosi" and "House Judiciary Chairman Conyers".

Until then, though, don't get so focused you miss history coming at you with a Louisville Slugger.

[bridgit]

15. i am very appreciative of your post here & thank you for it...

[Raine]

17. I agree with you

completely.

[sandnsea]

16. Let it rise from the people

When people finally start getting the truth, let them demand impeachment. It should not be part of a political campaign, Pelosi is absolutely right. Not to mention, maybe people will realize there's more to picking a President than whether he'd be fun to have a beer with.

[bridgit]

22. i like the sound of that, "Let it rise from the people"...

[Imagevision]

18. I believe Pelosi knows precisely what she's doing...

[bridgit]

50. me too...

[LTR]

19. I agree

Trotting out impeachment as a campaign issue is a bad, bad thing. This will alienate people who do not wish to relive the late 90s.

Staying positive is the best thing to do. I really like the "First 100 hours" thing. I think it's brilliant and assertive, and shows that the Dems do have a game plan. Here's what's planned:

Day One: Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

Day Two: Enact all the recommendations made by the (9/11) commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Time remaining until 100 hours: Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step. Cut the interest rate on student loans in half. Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds _ "I hope with a veto-proof majority," she added in an Associated Press interview Thursday.

All the days after that: "Pay as you go," meaning no increasing the deficit, whether the issue is middle class tax relief, health care or some other priority.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

[mmonk]

21. There's one problem. Democrats weren't using impeachment

as a battle cry. I'm fully aware of what Conyers has been doing, but no one was discussing it with the media. So Nancy's statement kind of came out of the blue (which made it seem emphatic). So I'm hoping you're right.

[Jack Rabbit]

23. I didn't miss the memo

My better judgment tell me to ignore it.

PELOSI FOR PRESIDENT IN 2007
(Whether she wants it or not)

[bridgit]

27. gracias amigo, peace to you/peace to us all this evening...

[Swamp Rat]

24. Geaux Nancy!!!

Democrats can promise all day and night they won't impeach Bushler, but that doesn't mean they won't change their minds next year. HAHA!

[bridgit]

25. SR!!

you are correct, friend = they know they got it coming that's why they're shitting down both pant legs

[Swamp Rat]

28. "Oh sweet jeebus, we promise we won't impeach...."

PSYCH!

[bridgit]

29. "no, no; i said we didn't want any peach sorbet"...

[Swamp Rat]

35. Btw, I love your sigline.

[bridgit]

38. cheers Swamp Rat...

[OzarkDem]

30. I look forward to the day when Dems aren't afraid to uphold the law in public

without having to run a flag up the pole to see which way public opinion is blowing.

We place a great deal of trust and responsibility in the hands of our leaders and we expect them to do what is necessary to protect the law, our government and our Constitution. Some day we'll have those kind of Dem leaders again.

Pelosi's remark was short-sighted and irresponsible. How will she manage to back track when real Bush crimes come to light? Or will she help cover them up to save face?

Sorry, but I was raised with a different set of values. I find this kind of hair splitting confusing.

[bridgit]

36. i would that entire tracts of america's 'responsible voters' voted upon...

some other que than what they see driving past plastered in the form of someone else's bumper-sticker @ 45mph, or Foxnews...guess i was raised with a different set of values as well; but it is the case that you can tip a box up with a stick & string...and still spook the rabbit nano moments prior to the snap; these are times that require imo great understanding of nuance & while i am more pleased than many here as to the prospects of dems come Nov 7, sadly it can still turn on a dime; it's not as easy as with a skittish mare where you slip a rope up through her legs and cinch her into her trailer with a tug or two...there's still, even with the moment approaching, much fine & flat-out work to do...imo

which is to suggest, we need to get in there first as i think dems are set to do a fine job

[OzarkDem]

39. Nancy didn't leave herself that option

She took impeachment off the table altogether. No one is suggesting Dems run on impeachment for this election, but to say it will never happen in a Dem controlled Congress is irresponsible, short sighted and completely lacking in leadership

That said, its pretty typical of Pelosi. Not very well thought out.

[bridgit]

41. it is clear that you have not left her an option, but that's fine...

getting in there first as i continue to maintain is key; the rest will flow from that imo varied & continued options & all that is implied along with them

[OzarkDem]

42. She left herself no option

That's why I question her judgement and that's why she doesn't speak for me.

[bridgit]

43. if i were to suggest to you that political expediency is a nuance few...

understand or have an appetite for would you agree?

[OzarkDem]

47. I would say

She used no nuance. She made a flat out statement. She could have used nuance or answered honestly without getting herself into a trap, but she didn't. This isn't the first time. That's why I don't think she's very bright and not cut out to be Speaker.

[bridgit]

49. i think she's smarter than you give her credit for, and i think that will.....

be displayed in due course & in the fullness of time

[Ediacara]

31. If Pelosi pushed impeachment, it's essentially saying, "Make ME President"

I don't think that's what she's after, nor what most Democrats are after, but I think that an argument could be made (however flawed) that Pelosi was simply power hungry and after the top spot by pushing for impeachment.

[OzarkDem]

32. False choice

No one said she had to "push" it, but it also wasn't necessary or wise to rule it out completely. I think we need to consider that some of our leaders may not be the sharpest tools in the shed when they make these kinds of remarks.

[bridgit]

40. as i have mentioned in another thread here lately, i've met & did...

some poli work for her & her previous campaigns...she never struck me as a 'power hungry' person, but very kind, considerate, balanced & progressive...if that's a draw back then i guess it is; but i don't see a problem, not in that regard

[Ediacara]

44. I never thought of her as power hungry either

But I think it's wise of her not to be pushing for impeachment despite the fact a majority want it solely because if Bush and Cheney are impeached and removed, she would become president, and the right could campaign against "that power-hungry liberal madwoman," despite the fact that the characterization is 100% false. I'm just saying that campaigning on impeachment could backfire.

[bridgit]

46. oh i hear you, i do, the first thing repub'z started up was her connect...

to san francisco; she understands that, Pelosi understands the hate fused within their sick & twisted aspersions the division via derision, it's disgusting...whether she'll be speaker or not time will tell, but she understands just how important these next two election cycles really are for this country, and i'd like to think none of us, not you certainly not me; want to see this opportunity frittered away because of one word...not this time, let bush & his hate radio wonder why they can't get their dunder heads around this one

[alfredo]

34. It would be President Cheney and his pick for the 2008

GOP candidate. Having bush to kick around for two years might be better than giving a terrific platform for the anointed 2008 candidate.

[bridgit]

37. well that's it, i just lost my appetite...

but i do hear you

[alfredo]

55. The republicans relied on ideology, greed, and the desire to get

revenge for Watergate. they did not have a pragmatic plan or the temperament for governing a democratic nation. Pelosi feels that first the Dems should show they know how to govern. America has been through some serious trauma brought on by 9-11 and the irrational actions of the ruling party. We need to put our minds to showing that the Democrats understand and is willing and able to put America back together.

[Fredda Weinberg]

45. Sometimes, ya gotta let it go

It's not constructive to attack the public; while Nixon's disgrace was satisfying, it was a gut wrenching episode that led to Ford as a consensus candidate. We're much better now and if we present a positive direction, we have what Rover (sic) could never muster: political support.

Pelosi's become our party leader in hard times and is a potential symbol for hope. Dragging her name into partisan disputes now is self-defeating, but I won't question your motives for challenging her reasoning.

[bridgit]

48. Fredda Weinberg!!

agreed & thanks for stopping by

[Sugar Smack]

56. You!

Thank you. K&R!

[Sugar Smack]

57. Dang. Too late to R.

[alfredo]

58. Kick