Recently I posted a short list of issues that I am using in a handout brochure. I received one very supportive comment and two others basically saying that "impeachment" was the only issue that matters; and by not supporting impeachment now, my candidacy had little meaning for these people.
I looked back at a previously posted comment, and since impeachment seems to have such importance to some at this time, I thought I would re-post my comment as a diary entry.
Impeachment is something that will either happen or not happen depending upon the makeup of the next Congress. It is difficult to consider impeaching a President who has the support of the Congress behind his actions. There are many Democrats who support the actions of this President. We cannot impeach an entire Congress, but we can vote them out. That is the task before us. That needs to be our focus; getting the American people behind a strong Progressive Democratic agenda and having them support it - leading the American people back into Washington.
I agree with the comment in a diary, "The midterms elections aren't about impeachment. They are about a new day and a new government, about a Democratic Congress that will vigorously fulfill its oversight duties--wherever they may lead."
There is too much focus by Democrats about impeachment.
Does Bush need to be impeached? - Probably. But should that be the focus of the Democrats at this time? No.
Would I consider impeachment as an option? Yes, but only if and when there is a majority in the Congress who opposes what the President is doing, and formally votes against his policies and practices; and then, if the President continues to pursue contra-legal, contra-Constitutional practices - I would be more than willing to vote for impeachment.
I see my initial job as a Congressman as being occupied with undoing the legislation and general harm this administration has done.
The impracticality of supporting impeachment now is that there are Republicans who wish they had not voted for George Bush.
Demanding impeachment now, when it is impossible, only serves to alienate those whose support we need, the moderate Republicans who make up a large part of the Republican base.
I believe that Republicans who voted for Bush and now wish they hadn't, would vote for Democratic nominees if they felt that there was cogent leadership in the Democratic Party. A strong demand to impeach now only rubs their mistake in their face. There is time for impeachment, but now is not the time to prioritize that issue, since it has insufficient support in House.
It is more than the right wing talk show hosts that have created the image of a dysfunctional Democratic Party.
With the Democratic focus on impeachment, rather than on a platform with an executable agenda spelling out the how and when of implementing the platform, Republicans may just perceive the Democrats merely as spoilers and revengeful; true or not - it is about perception.
The constant mantra of disrespectful, Bush bashing jokes tend to reinforce that perception of a spiteful, immature Democratic Party.
There was an overwhelming majority of Congressional Democrats who voted for the Patriot Act, and a good number who supported the War Powers Resolution. There is blame enough on many issues to go around.
While that, in no way, excuses the secrecy and skullduggery of this corrupt administration, it tends to put a sobering light on the perception that it is all Bush's fault.
If any president should be examined for impeachable offenses, it is George Bush.
Still, impeaching him would tie up the Congress for many months, and the premature call to impeach him now when it is more than unlikely, will scare away those who are already tired of a government locked in combat.
As a majority party, the Democrats will have to represent many who are not necessarily Democrats at heart. If compassion for others is part of the Democratic philosophy, it might be better to begin to display that virtue early on so that we can get the chance to lead.