. . .of fascist rule.
The pre-emptive surrender of "off the table" is a reprehensible violation of their oath. That oath is not an oath to win, it is an oath to fight -- to "support and defend."
Impeachment, by itself, is a victory in the fight for the treasured dictates of our Constitution. It doesn't matter if too many of Bush and Cheney's minions in the Senate refuse to declare them guilty. Forcing Senators to take sides -- to declare themselves for American principle or Fascist principle -- exposes them. The American people will stand in judgment of them in the next election.
The Constitution -- amended and entrusted to us to protect and perfect as we strive to "form a more perfect union" -- calls on us to put our trust in our fellow Americans (you know, "We the People"). If we aren't willing to do that, how can we claim to stand for true American values?
(And BTW, contrary to the "conventional wisdom" on the Hill (almost always the opposite of reality), victory (resignation or removal) is not only possible,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1169359&mesg_id=1170206 ">it is likely).
The 58% who want GWB's presidency over now (January Newsweek poll) are very likely to be VERY happy to see them impeached. Despite relentless propaganda from the Democratic caucus aimed at suppressing the will to impeach, they've been unable to drive the numbers below 40% (and most polls indicate that they haven't been able to drive it below 50%).
When our leaders get out there and start making the case, support for impeachment will jump at least 10 points overnight. (And is more likely to go up more than that. Polls provide evidence that more than 15% are resisting impeachment ONLY because they are following in the footsteps of the leadership. The leadership gets behind it and those folks are on the impeachment bus like a shot.)
What is so heartbreaking is that impeachment is not just the Right thing to do, it is the Winning thing to do. It is an unprecendented opportunity to engage and inspire Americans across the political spectrum.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2774207&mesg_id=2776731">This post describes a few of the opportunities they miss by refusing to impeach.