Impeach!
posted by Liberal Eagle at 3:37 PM
Back in the late 1990s, the press seemed not to grasp that the public overwhelmingly did not support the ridiculous Republican impeachment of Bill Clinton. (Or, when they did acknowledge this fact, they seemed mystified by it.)
Meanwhile, they continue to regard the idea of impeaching Bush and/or Cheney as ridiculous, shrill, beyond the pale. The Washington Post won't even poll the public on the matter (they used to regularly ask about whether people wanted Clinton impeached).
I suppose this was because the Beltway politician/pundit cocktail party crowd never considered Bill Clinton one of their own. (David Broder, who is a massive tool, said of Clinton, "He came in here and he trashed the place, and it's not his place." I suppose the fact that the nation elected Clinton twice didn't count nearly as much as being David Broder's friend, when it came to legitimacy.)
Bush and Cheney, by contrast, are clearly part of the club, and the club looks out for its own--witness how few of them thought Scooter Libby deserved to spend jail time over as small and petty a matter as his having been convicted of felonies by a jury. After all, Scooter's a great guy over cocktails!
But, for most of us, actual policy, and honesty and transparency on matters of actual importance in our lives, really do matter more than their stupid club. If the Post did start polling us, they might find what others have found already: America supports impeaching the bastards.
However, back in 1998, when oh-so-serious people were frowning gravely and concluding that Clinton's sexcapades were a threat to the nation, the public felt differently:
Aug-Sept 1998 (Before Impeachment)
The establishment may not get it, but people hate this president, hate this war, and hate having had their fear and their patriotism used to manipulate them.
A coalition of progressive organizations has now launched ImpeachCheney.org. I'm definitely on board. If these people are not held accountable for abusing their power, the next time someone does it no one will even consider it abuse, because there'll be a precedent.
This is a key moment. These people need to pay.
Meanwhile, they continue to regard the idea of impeaching Bush and/or Cheney as ridiculous, shrill, beyond the pale. The Washington Post won't even poll the public on the matter (they used to regularly ask about whether people wanted Clinton impeached).
I suppose this was because the Beltway politician/pundit cocktail party crowd never considered Bill Clinton one of their own. (David Broder, who is a massive tool, said of Clinton, "He came in here and he trashed the place, and it's not his place." I suppose the fact that the nation elected Clinton twice didn't count nearly as much as being David Broder's friend, when it came to legitimacy.)
Bush and Cheney, by contrast, are clearly part of the club, and the club looks out for its own--witness how few of them thought Scooter Libby deserved to spend jail time over as small and petty a matter as his having been convicted of felonies by a jury. After all, Scooter's a great guy over cocktails!
But, for most of us, actual policy, and honesty and transparency on matters of actual importance in our lives, really do matter more than their stupid club. If the Post did start polling us, they might find what others have found already: America supports impeaching the bastards.
* 45% favor "the US House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush;" 46% oppose.
* 54% favor "US House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against Vice President Dick Cheney;" 40% oppose.
However, back in 1998, when oh-so-serious people were frowning gravely and concluding that Clinton's sexcapades were a threat to the nation, the public felt differently:
Aug-Sept 1998 (Before Impeachment)
* Average support for impeachment and removal (10 polls): 26%
* Average support for hearings (6 polls): 36%
The establishment may not get it, but people hate this president, hate this war, and hate having had their fear and their patriotism used to manipulate them.
A coalition of progressive organizations has now launched ImpeachCheney.org. I'm definitely on board. If these people are not held accountable for abusing their power, the next time someone does it no one will even consider it abuse, because there'll be a precedent.
This is a key moment. These people need to pay.
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