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pat_k (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore | Sun Nov-19-06 12:55 AM Response to Original message |
94. Irreconcilable differences |
Edited on Sun Nov-19-06 01:02 AM by pat_k
Searching for "middle ground" can be productive in many contexts, but in this case, the differences between the "pro-impeachment" and the "anti-impeachment" people are irreconcilable.
This assertion is based on the following assumptions and definitions. Definitions
Assumptions
Key irreconcilable differences
. . .Let me put it another way. Certainly the “pro-impeachment” DUers recognize that investigation must precede a vote on impeachment. So it seems to me that almost all of us (both "anti-impeachment" and "pro-impeachment") are advocating investigations. . . Saying "we need to investigate" is effectively an assertion that "we don't have a case." To effectively make the case, we must be crystal clear that we know all we need to know. This is tough for folks on "our side." We are very big on knowledge and often fail to realize that we know all we need to know as we unnecessarily seek to know all there is to know. Investigations to determine the damage done and to root out co-conspirators can follow impeachment (or can go forward in parallel), but calling for open ended investigations to "set the stage" for impeachment negates the powerful case we have. Such open-ended investigations are a surefire way to get mired in unnecessary detail and irrelevancies. Impeachment hearings to review the strongest articles and make the case to the public may or may not be necessary. Even with the 100% anti-impeachment propaganda coming from the establishment -- both Dems and Repubs -- Newsweek found that 51% want impeachment to be a priority, and only 44% believe "it should not be done." If they get serious about impeachment, the accusations will be the number 1 topic of public debate. The 51% is almost guaranteed to shoot up to more than 60% overnight. (For more on this, see the discussion in http://january6th.org/oct2006-newsweek-poll-impeach.html">Results on Impeachment. . . .I would rather see impeachment "out there on the table and visible for all to see", but if that’s going to hurt Democrats (which I'm not convinced of) then I agree that it would be best to keep talk of impeachment "off the table" until we see what the investigations turn up. . . . Your doubt about the validity of their fear of "backlash" is well-found. Like so many other urban myths, the existence of the "backlash beast" isn't supported by logic or evidence, nevertheless, "everybody knows" its lying in wait. But, even if we could prove the existence of the mythical backlash beast, it wouldn't matter. Outcome expectations are irrelevant. When principle demands action, you act or betray principle. We take oaths and make commitments to do hard and frightening things in advance so that when the time comes, we Just Do It, win or lose, however scary or difficult "It" may be. If we expected it to be a cake walk for Members of Congress to "support and defend" we wouldn't ask them to swear to do it. What is so heartbreaking and infuriating is that addiction to risk avoidance and dereliction of duty appears to be rampant among the DC Dems. Over and over, their failure to act leads to consequences far more dire than the worst they feared would result if they had acted. They seek their escape from duty in tactical analysis that focuses almost exclusively on the "certain" negative consequences of action.. For example, in the current crisis, "opinion makers" and party insiders alternate between assurances that the nation wants Democrats to work with Bush and his toadies in Congress and warnings that the public will blast them if they impeach. The moral and political benefits of impeachment (e.g., exploding the "weak Dem" image), the enormous risks of failing to impeach, and the recent polls (e.g., http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-21-2006/0004456423&EDATE=">Newsweek's) that find a majority of Americans want impeachment to be a priority in the new Congress are conspicuously absent (i.e., willfully ignored). . . .I consider impeachment to be essential to our country. Absolutely, positively, essential! I've summarized my "top three" in the following section, but there are so many crimes to choose from and there is so much outrage percolating out here, it doesn't really matter which charges they decide are the most powerful. Keeping it simple should be the guiding principle. The crimes that don't end up in the articles will always be part of public debate and criminal prosecution of those crimes must follow, but you don't need "everything" to get Bush and Cheney out of there. (People were happy to see Capone convicted on tax evasion. Knowledge of "uncharged" crimes colors judgment. While this is to be avoided at all costs in a criminal trial, this is a political process in which there no such prohibition.) Three criminal conspiracies committed in plain sight
Until they declare their intent they are derelict in their duty There are no half-measures that satisfy their oath. The charges against Bush and Cheney are hanging out there. They are not going to magically "disappear." Democratic control of Congress can not defend against the Bush administration's continued abuse of power. As described in Assumption 2 and 3 at the start of this post, members of Congress cannot escape their duty to pass judgment on the charges. Every day that they do nothing they betray their oath and demonstrate contempt for the concerned citizens who are calling on them to act. The citizens who are taking up the fight for impeachment are a very active bunch who will not quietly accept the dismissive contempt of their elected officials for long. Every day that they do nothing effectively exonerates Bush and Cheney. If exoneration is their intent, then they should do it honestly by telling the nation why the abuses that a majority of Americans can see are not abuses in their eyes. Dereliction through in action is bad enough, but those who are mindlessly balking with claims that the impeachment of Bush and Cheney is "it's off the table" (no reason or justification, it's just off, period) are declaring their intent to betray their oath. (Throwing away the only weapon you have to defend against presidential abuse of power is "pre-emptive" surrender.) The price of delay could be unimaginable Time Is NOT on our side. The price of delay could be unimaginable.(1) Any day we could see another terrorist attack; Bush could declare war on Iran or Syria or North Korea or Venezuela or even Haiti; or some completely unforeseen event could make it impossible to rescue our national soul for a long time to come. _______________________________________________________ (1) Even when we move full steam ahead, we can be thwarted by events. On September 10, 2001, there were many signs that sanity was returning. The number who believed Florida was stolen had passed 50%. Bush's approval was continuing the steady downward slide that started the day he was inaugurated. A coalition led by Democrats.com that included the National Lawyers Guild and Vincent Bugliosi was about http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2701395&mesg_id=2707042">to announce their "fall offensive" -- a campaign that that included the effort to see Scalia et al. impeached for Bush v. Gore. Bush's claims to any semblance of legitimacy were crumbling fast. Then the sun came up on 9/11/2001. In the weeks that followed, the countless people who were horrified by the stolen election and Bush's incredible abuses were silenced in a nation that had seemingly gone mad. Sanity is once again returning, but we must recognize how fragile the moment is. |
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