GORE-Against Impeachment-Does Not Think It Would Be Successful

[kpete]

Al Gore against any attempt to impeach Bush
PTI
Thursday, May 31, 2007 20:43 IST

Pressed on whether he believed that impeachment is a good use of time, Gore replied, "I don't think it is. I don't think it would be successful."

...........

On being asked whether he threw the towel in too soon in the 2000 presidential elections, where he narrowly lost to Bush, Gore said he had taken the fight as far as he could, and the only other option left was a "violent revolution".

"I took it all the way to a final Supreme Court decision. And in our system, there is no intermediate step between a final Supreme Court decision and violent revolution. So, at that point, having taken it as far as one could, then the question becomes, are we going to be a nation of laws and not people?" Gore replied.

"Do I support the rule of law, even though I disagree with the Supreme Court's decision? I did disagree with it, and I think that those of us who disagreed with it will have the better of the argument in history," he added.

more at:
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1100316

[derby378]

1. Come on, Al...

You know you want it. Herr Decider must not get away with his crimes.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

2. He Is A Very, Very, Very Smart Man. Can't Disagree With A Word From Him. RUN Al RUN!

[Phredicles]

4. He is a smart man, and I admire him greatly. But here I must disagree w/ him.

What better use of the present time is there for congress? any good legislation they may pass is equally likely to be unsuccessful as it will be vetoed. Let's get ALL the Bush gang's dirty laundry out in the open and let the public judge for itself!

[Buck Rabbit]

19. Would you be happy with a 190 - 245 failure to Impeach in the House?

Bush, Rush and Snowjob would call that a smashing bi-partisan vindication of his policies I imagine. I would hate that. But I am betting by looking at the votes so far this session that with about 50% of the Blue Dogs and New Dems would vote not to impeach.

Sometimes a loss can be a moral victory but that kind of loss would be a good old fashion kick in the teeth, I think.


I truly believe Pelosi knows give or take a couple votes how the vote would go and that is the only reason she says "it is off the table". If in caucus enough votes surface to pass impeachment at least in the House, it goes right back on the table.

[elocs]

25. Or the certainty that there would be no conviction in the Senate.

But both of these are small points that will take care of themselves, right? But the devil is in the details. We think Pelosi and Reid are great as long as they do things our way. When they don't, they are cowards.

[Phredicles]

36. In my eyes impeachment w/ no conviction would be acceptable; to be sure,

it would be disappointing, but it would say for the record that the Publicans truly believe they are above the law.

The goal is the hearings that would accompanying impeachment: I want the criminal nature of this administration comprehensively laid out, for all to see.

Biut not to impeach at all would be to admit that we, as a country, suck.

[Phredicles]

35. Hell no: For Democrats to vote against impeachement would

tell me that revolution may well be the last answer - and let the blue dogs and DLCistas share in the Dear Leader's Ceaucescu Christmas.

[Buck Rabbit]

39. I understand your feeling but I think my forecast is close to the secret number

that Pelosi is staring at. Do you disagree?

[Phredicles]

40. No. But what a bunch of pathetic fucking failures.

[Nunyabiz]

3. Well that is 1 strike against him

Impeachment is needed badly.

[Auggie]

5. Neither, apparently, does much of Congress.

[elocs]

26. The support for impeachment in the House is underwhelming.

Even my own Senator Feingold is against it as a senator. And if you were pissed about the Iraq war funding vote, you are going to be very disappointed with any vote on impeachment.

[Phredicles]

37. Feingold's remarks were very telling, and I am mystified;

It looks like we have an OJ Party and an OJ Jury Party.

[elocs]

44. No, we have a reality based Party, and a reality based Party jury.

Feingold has already been a member of an impeachment jury and he does not want to see the country dragged through an impeachment process that has no chance of conviction.
It is easy for those of us here at DU in our lofty perch to constantly cray for impeachment, but if in the little time left (Gore has also said there is too little time) all of the attention of Congress is tied up with impeachment, what about all of the other things that need to be done? Things which may not be as noble and righteous as impeachment, but things which ordinary and regular Americans need to be addressed and need help with such as their healthcare, jobs, discrimination, poverty. Issues not as exciting as impeachment, but are important to people nonetheless. Impeachment does not have enough support to ever happen no matter how much it is justified and there is not enough time or will for it. Life is not fair and bad people get away with things. The only answer is to move on and do the best we can.

[Auggie]

45. Those issues you cite were mentioned by my Congressman too.

Not what I want to hear though. I want those bastards held accountable for their deception.

[earthlover]

48. great post!

[Nunyabiz]

57. What freaking planet do you people live on?

Without Impeachment NOTHING will ever be accomplished for the next 2 years, just look at what is happening right now.
If we were in the middle of Impeachment proceedings bringing out the obvious & documented FACTS that this administration LIED this country into an unjust and illegal occupation. Then it is FAR more likely that the insane & corrupt Rethuglican party would vote to end it.
If there is not enough support for Impeachment for THE most Impeachable Resident in American history then what does that tell you?
Tells me we have a totally corrupt Congress that is largely complicit in this administrations actions and trying to cover up what THEY have done.
Bush & Cheney have each committed no less than 25 Impeachable offenses ranging from TREASON! to War Crimes, Crimes against humanity and so many high crimes the list would look like a damn book.
What needs to happen is for "We the People" to stand up by the 10s of Millions and absolutely DEMAND Impeachment.

If we do not then WE are just as guilty as Bush and we are showing that we condone what this administration has done.
The so called "representatives" we allegedly elected in Congress have a Constitutional Duty to Impeach these POS, they KNOW without any doubt the LIES, deceit, treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity that this administration is guilty of therefore regardless of whether or not the complicit & corrupt Rethuglican Congress will vote for Impeachment or not is totally moot as they are bound BY LAW to Impeach.

When I see shit like this on a democratic board it makes me vomit.

NOTHING right now is more important than Impeachment of a Resident that WAS NEVER PHUCKING ELECTED! and is destroying the country at break neck speed.

[azurnoir]

6. Al is right

it would not be a good use of time and besides, Bush can still be charged with crimes alter he is out of office, and do we really want President Cheney?

[WI_DEM]

7. his comments on impeachment and advising the left to be more patient

with Dems who voted the way they did recently on the war makes me think that yes, he may actually be positioning himself for a run for president.

[roamer65]

13. I agree.

I think he's gonna hop in around Sept or October.

[elocs]

27. Then if Sept. & Oct. pass, will it be November, then December? Please remind us. n/t

[BootinUp]

31. yep, its possible.

There was a thread that confused me yesterday or the day before on what he thought about the vote. Once I read he would have voted nay I immediately came to a similar conclusion.

[Gregorian]

8. Impeach Cheney.

[roamer65]

10. Yes. Al said nothing about Cheney.

Impeach Cheney!

[elocs]

28. Yeah, Cheney is damn good impeachment insurance. Better than Quayle, more dangerous. n/t

[stillcool]

9. I so enjoyed listening to him..

on Charlie Rose the other night. I hope he does not run again, because he speaks so intelligently and candidly about our withering democracy. Why is it that only those not elected to office can afford to speak truthfully? However..I don't understand at all, the reluctance for impeachment. It works so well for sexual escapades one would think it might be applicable to treason. Guess not.

[keopeli]

11. If this Dem Congress can't even pass benchmarks that will stick, they could never impeach. n/t

[Nightjock]

12. Now I am really starting to believe he is running

I remember a more haggard looking Al giving a FIERY speech a few years ago skewering this administration. He was PISSED. I wish I could remember where that speech was. (I think had a beard at the time.) Gore seemed if bush and cheaney walked in the room at the time he would personally handcuff them.
He was attacked by the right wing news and the talking heads as they tried to paint him as "looney."
Now he is giving the impeachment answer every other Dem running for running for Prez is giving.(except DK)

I love the man but I feel he is wrong on this one. Let the facts of bush's crimes come out in an impeachment trial and lets see how many republicans tell America bush should not be impeached.

[WI_DEM]

14. that is my reaction too. He feels his stand on the war and environment will win him

much of the left and now he is appealing to mainstream dems in congress and showing that he sympathizes with their dilemma. For the first time I think Gore may actually run.

[BootinUp]

15. kpete

I appreciate the work you do to post all the stories we want to know about. Good or bad you faithfully post 'em. Just thought I'd mention it.

[kpete]

20. this was a dissappointment

but you are right - info is info, good, bad, sometimes ugly...kpete

[dogday]

16. The policy will continue as will this war

Everyone knows, Even Al, who I want to run, that the occupation of Iraq will last for decades... They all know it.

[Fridays Child]

17. I respectfully disagree. eom

[Rageneau]

18. He may be smart but he always wimps out.

Gore wimped on running with Clinton; he wimped during the campaign; he wimped during the Florida fight; he wimped during the Electoral College vote and now he wimps on Impeachment.

Wimps do not good leaders make. Gore would be a great cabinet secretary, but as prez, the GOP would walk all over him. Because the one thing they AREN'T is wimps.

In 1998, the Republicans knew damn well they could never remove Clinton. Did that stop them? Did it even slow them down? Hell, no.

Right is right and the right constitutional thing to do -- in light of such egregious high crimes and misdemeanors by Bush -- is the path of Impeachment. Successful or not, it's the right thing to do.

I want to vote for somebody who does things because they are RIGHT. Not because they are politically do-able.

[sabbat hunter]

41. what more do you think

Gore should have done in 2000? the supreme court, the highest court in the land, ordered the recount stopped (wrongly so IMO)


but what do you think gore should have done?

[earthlover]

49. so who you gonna vote for?

not even Kucinich has offered impeachment for Bush, only Cheney. So who has Hillary spoken in favor of impeaching? Obama? Edwards?

I would prefer Congress end the war, work on the environment, the economy, the budget, health care, education....instead of basically putting the government on hold to unsuccessfully impeach the bastard.

[RestoreGore]

63. yes, like they are so busy doing any of that now.

[dysfunctional press]

21. "violent revolution" may ultimately be the way the changes are made...

those with power and money generally don't like to give them up or even share them equitably.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. At times, rarely mind you, they lead them

but our current generation does not have that kind of leaders

[earthlover]

50. oh yeah....a friggin revolution....

do we have to stop watching American Idol first?

Hallucinate much?

[dysfunctional press]

52. i never said that it would happen in any of our lifetimes...

but if things continue the way they are- income-gap-wise, eventually dwindling energy/water resources and the like- if nothing is done to alleviate the problems revolution would become more and more likely.

it's happened before, it'll happen again...it ain't rocket science.

[roamer65]

23. Gore is now asserting himself as "the shadow president".

Step up and take it, Al. The presidency was yours to begin with...

[DFW]

24. He is right about the unsuccessful part

As to whether it would be a useful act? The right wing thought
so in 1998, and it was just as obvious to them then that they'd never
vote to remove from office as it is to us now.

We won't get President Cheney because the Senate won't have 67
votes to remove Bush from office. It would be a purely symbolic
act, albeit a powerful one.

Here is an interesting excerpt from an editorial from the conservative
British daily, the Financial Times:

"Democrats beware. Attacking the incompetence of the Bush administration
is too easy. Republicans have no answer to such criticisms, but they do not
need one. Tacitly, they agree: the next Republican president will be much
better. If Mr. Bush were not so bad, his party would be in worse trouble."

The guy is way off in many parts of his article, but that part I found
worthy of contemplation.

[Matariki]

29. Thank you. I've been wanting to post that quote here many times

when people start going on about how he was weak for giving up so easily in 2000. He put that very eloquently and he was correct.

[NYCGirl]

30. And he's right again. NT

[Bullet1987]

32. Realistically, impeachment would never happen...

As much as many people may want it...many Dems wouldn't even vote for it. Not to mention we don't have a strong enough majority. It would never happen...face it.

[NYCGirl]

33. I said he was absolutely right.

Did you misunderstand?

[Nunyabiz]

58. Then those democrats should be ostracized n/t

[shallowthroat]

34. Because I'm part of the show

Do you like our show? We all dress up in ties and pretend we are enemies!!! And there are millions of dumbasses and sycophants that beleive this shit!

What? You know he wanted to tell everyone.

[EFerrari]

38. Impeach. Now.

[earthlover]

42. SO have Hillary, Obama, Edwards...even mentioned their opinion about impeachment?

I dare say, Gore is right. Impeachment is not gonna happen.

Seems to me we need to focus on other things. Like ending Iraq War.
We had a defeat on that score. Now...do we regroup and try to find a way to eventually win....or go off on another sure-thing failure to make things look even more powerless for the Dems?

Reality sucks.

[Nunyabiz]

59. The ONLY candidate that will speak his mind is Kucinich

Clinton Obama Edwards are worthless crap, the usual politicians that refuse to answer a question and the ONLY way the "Occupation" (there is no war) is going to end is if these bastards are Impeached. I fail to see how anyone can not understand that.

[Vidar]

43. He can't be right about everything.

[defendandprotect]

46. Gore picked Liebermann . . . !!!

Generally, I like Gore.
I think this is a simplistic answer -- and maybe he didn't have time.

But to leave the Bush/neo-con situation this way -- without accountability -- without appropriate investigation for impeachment -- and the long list of treasonous offenses -- would be wrong for all of us.

We have to stand up and say that this administration has been "illegal" and run in outlaw fashion and is to be held accountable and not repeated.

There's a lot today about Gore maybe running.
He, of course, has a long history of having been supported by the oil industry.
And he was going to give us LIEBERMANN AS VP -- !!!!

What was Gore thinking?

These would have been TWO very religous folk in power -- close to the White House -- and it makes me uneasy.

[Imagevision]

51. Gore picked Liebermann, -> I believe this speaks volumes about Mr. Gore

[Larkspur]

53. You forgot about Bill Clinton's sexcapades, haven't you?

The main reason Lieberman was picked was because he spoke out against Clinton's sex scandal. Gore needed to distance himself form Clinton's scandal and Lieberman on the ticket was a help with that issue.

[mmonk]

47. Too many bush and Cheney democrats in the House so far.

However, being a supporter of bush and his war and his foreign policy still doesn't make it right to ignore the constitution. You spit in the eye of every American and on the grave of those that fought defending it. Now, back to politics as usual and all the candidates telling us how they are different and their supporters line up behind them like sheep.

[springhill]

54. If we don't impeach this president..............

it sets a terrible precident. Future presidents will be able to get away with murder, because we didn't put a stop to lawlessness with our current criminal administration. How can we ever impeach a president for crimes if we don't do it now?

[Nunyabiz]

60. Exactly correct! n/t

[RB TexLa]

55. People who want to be president don't like seeing presidents impeached

pretty simple thought process really.

[earth mom]

56. Wow-I'm REALLY disappointed to see this.

:(

[Strawman]

61. That's an accurate prediction

Anyone see the war funding vote last week? I'd have to question whether we could get a majority of Democrats to vote to impeach/convict, let alone a House majority to impeach and 2/3 of the Senate to convict.

Waste of time? I don't know. He certainly deserves to face impeachment whether it's ultimately successful or not. If that's a waste of time maybe voting is a waste of time too.

[RestoreGore]

62. Impeachment By State

http://www.impeachbush.tv/impeach/states.html

This is a moral imperative.

[nashville_brook]

64. he's totally correct -- "violent revolution" was exactly what many wanted

and there is NO intermediate step -- no RATIONAL middle ground. that's the strength of the New Fascists: dismantling reason as a means of amassing power.

[bamacrat]

65. It probably wouldnt be, but if he is allowed to stay in office no one will vote repub

His staying in office might destroy the republican party completely.