Today we got to watch Dennis Kucinich present his Res 333-Dick Cheney impeachment, to Congress (again). As we know, the Resolution has been referred back to the House Judiciary Committee (John Conyers). What baffled many of us, was how the house vote started heavily weighted towards killing any further debate ...and through unexpected vote-flipping (largely by Republicans) the vote was reversed, calling for debate of said impeachment on the house floor. (And it was consequently referred, by mostly a Dem majority, to the HJC ...to be lost down the memory-hole once again.)
Many wondered, "Why did the Repubs want to debate a Cheney impeachment?" ... and, "Why did the Dems not want to air this issue, on the floor?" (... in front of the world and everybody)
I’ll tell you why...
If we recall (back in time ...down the ‘worm-hole’) when Nancy Pelosi stepped into House Speaker role, she took impeachment "off the table". She had a "1st 100-hours" agenda, to ram-rod legislation through the House that otherwise hadn’t been able to see the light of day, with the previous (Repub) Congress. Her (and many other Dem Congress-critters) felt (and probably still feel) that tackling an impeachment process ...however justified and important... would tie-up too many valuable Congress hours (not to mention tax dollars) that could be put towards other democratic legislative mandates. (Considering the impeachment procedure, what are the chances the Senate would follow-through and convict Darth, even IF the Congress were successful at impeaching?)
Also at play, is the feasibility that the Repubs in Congress might think that to allow such a debate would give them the chance to further attack the Dems "weakness", on defense and "protecting" the American people. After-all, we have seen how the rhetoric in the Republican presidential debates is all about defense, strength, and aggressive foreign policy. They want the chance to attack ("UFO-spotting ... wife pierced-tongued ...tofu-farting") Dem wussies. And, for the last seven years (maybe the 2006 elections were an exception) we have seen how the "patriot" / defense / FEAR card has dominated Republican successes.
As much as I agree with Dennis Kucinich’s resolution (yes, it should happen!) and that not only Cheney should be impeached (and convicted!), but also this entire administration ... for their ransacking of the constitution, the military, the treasury AND America’s credibility... I also unfortunately see the conundrum faced by the legislative "leaders", in combating the war-mongering right and the corporate complex that supports (finances) this aberration.
I was listening to me some ‘talk radio’ in the car today, and caught Laura Ingram {hack, cough, barf!} interviewing John Bolton {fart, regurgitate}, and he ...promoting his newly released book, "Surrender Is Not an Option", contended that this administration has been "too soft" on foreign policy, and that Dick Cheney has been the most effective at influencing the "right" attitude towards "threats" that face us.
Thus, for taking a target at Darth, Dennis Kucinich is probably most right-on, in his resolution. We know that G.Dubya is, foremost, a cheer-leader... (one [1] thing he does well!). But, he has other interests (as does his puppet-master, Darth). And those are obviously for capitalist ends.
Do we have threats on the foreign stage? Most definitely, we do. The sad thing is that as long as U.S. interests are aimed at dominating world resources, for profit (foreign AND domestic) ... we will continue to exacerbate (rather than quell) those threats. George has done a hell of a good job of it. I think more of the electorate is starting to "get" it. But, all it would take is for this administration to initiate/allow/orchestrate another (scary!) boogie-man... and the lemmings will be stampeding for the cliff again. I believe the Dem leaders see that. And, the Rethug leaders are licking-their-chops too...
The Democratic Party needs a larger majority in the legislatures (and a Democratic president) in order to affect meaningful change in our foreign policy ... and domestic agenda.
And the Wurlitzer plays on.