Poll: Impeachment talk gains steam after Libby move

[babylonsister]

http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=1010134&format=text

Poll: Impeachment talk gains steam after Libby move
By Herald wire services
Sunday, July 8, 2007

A bad week for President Bush may foreshadow a dismal political season, as the president’s poll numbers plummet, Republicans abandon his Iraq policy and he faces a nascent censure and impeachment movement.

A new survey by the American Research Group found that only 31 percent of respondents approve of the president’s commutation of former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s prison sentence. The study by the private New Hampshire-based polling company canvassed 1,100 Republicans, Democrats and Independents from July 3-5, finding 64 percent disapproved of the commutation and 5 percent were undecided.

The president commuted the sentence Monday, saying the 2 years imposed last month on Libby, who was found guilty of perjury and obstructing justice in a case linked to the Iraq war, was “excessive.”

The commutation has sparked a firestorm on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), who has drafted a resolution to censure Bush, said the president’s “intervention is an unconscionable abuse of authority by George W. Bush, and Congress must step forward and express the disgust that Americans rightfully feel toward this contemptible decision.”
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has scheduled hearings Wednesday on the commutation. The hearings will include pardons made by Clinton, former President Bush and possibly other past presidents.
Those hearings may be the least of the White House’s problems.

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[DangerDave921]

1. No more

I have sat quietly for a long time, figuring things would eventually even out and that things weren't really that bad. The Libby thing, however, has completely eroded my sense of complacency and has woken me up from my apathy. I've always been a middle of the road Democrat and never been that fired up over politics. But boy -- what a difference a few days can make!

I realize the pardon power is in the Constitution, but what an awful message the Libby commutation sends. It's a huge FU to the jury that spent weeks of their lives carefully considering the evidence. It's a big FU to the prosecutor who had a legal obligation to investigate and bring charges on the evidence. It's spitting on Joe Wilson and his wife, both of whom have served this country honorably. And it's an obvious effort to buy off a man who may have some secerets to tell if he decides that 30 months in prison is just a little too harsh an idea at this stage of his life and who may want to make a deal.

I am disgusted. I actually called my senators for the first time in my entire life to voice my displeasure, which felt great. I don't think impeachment would work because of the president's right to do it per the Constitution, but a censure would not be out of the question.

[babylonsister]

2. Welcome to DU, DangerDave921! We're all disgusted; I think

censure is way too lenient for what these cretins have done to our country. I would prefer marching them off in handcuffs for treasonous activities, but will settle for impeachment or resignation, as long as they're gone! Then we can figure out all the illegal things these scum have done in our name and proceed accordingly.

[unhappycamper]

3. I'll second that welcome to DU DangerDave921

I look forward to reading your posts. :hi: