Is it culture or politics?
1990s GOP PLAN: Once they decided to impeach a Democratic president, the GOP scoured everywhere to find, create or develop the illusion of a crime to justify their political impeachment conspiracy. Laughably absent any act by President Clinton resembling a high crime or misdemeanor warranting congressional impeachment and conviction proceedings, the bastards STILL went ahead and tried to convict him.
Current DEMOCRATIC PLAN: Deciding impeachment to be a bad political idea the Democratic congress scours everywhere to find a reason to justify not impeaching Mister Bush Ridiculously absent any indication that Mister Bush has the slightest interest in, or capacity to, ceasing criminal activities that require congressional impeachment and conviction, and laughably and tragically absent any historical precedent of a President engaging in this level of criminality without facing legal or constitutional jeopardy, the Democratic congress STILL goes ahead a refuses to perform its duty to stop Mister Bush’s criminal behavior.
Why the difference?
How to explain the difference? How can two cultures and two eras diverge from the reality of who we are and what we’ve become?
Truly remarkable.
EXHIBIT A: In the 1990s, President Clinton competently led the U.S. through a period of peace and prosperity. In response, the Republican congress made the political decision to go hell bent to impeach him no matter what the consequences or potential outcome.
Response to Exhibit A --
- GOP PLAN: Once they decided to impeach him, the GOP scoured everywhere to find, create or develop the illusion of a crime to justify their political impeachment conspiracy. Laughably absent any act by President Clinton resembling a high crime or misdemeanor warranting congressional impeachment and conviction proceedings, the bastards STILL went ahead and tried to convict him.
- BACKGROUND (to GOP plan): Clinton's popularity was generally in the high-50s / low-60s, which are amazingly good numbers for a second term president (perhaps due to that unsexy peace and prosperity thingy that drove the media and GOP - but I repeat myself there - crazy, remained generally popular, nonetheless). Republicans feared not the consequences of a sham impeachment charade and suffered no noticeable ill effects by hoisting this fraud on the American public. Some even scored a few benefits. Congress’ popularity was a fraction of Clinton’s and polls showed general opposition to impeachment.
EXHIBIT B: Beginning the 21st century, our ruler presides over a historically unparalleled time of gross incompetence, corruption, war and the moral/military/financial bankrupting of the United States. Leading a failed administration, our ruler commits high crimes and misdemeanors, some he commits against us everyday. When caught, he indignantly brags that he is doing it to protect us and it is actually the people who reveal his criminal activities who are endangering us.
From violations FISA's federal criminal law provisions to aiding & abetting espionage among top aids (just for starters), Mister Bush literally commits high crimes and misdemeanors every single day of his presidency. By the time he’s had breakfast, Mister Bush has further acted as an accessory-after-the-fact of the serious national security crimes and conspiracies performed by his top staff, has further maintained orders instructing NSA/CIA/Defense Intel. to violate federal criminal statutes under FISA, and acts in furtherance of the illegal operations and orders causing the kidnapping, assault, battery and tortured of uncounted and untold victims in violation of U.S. laws, treaty obligations and many foreign laws as well.
Response to Exhibit B --
- DEMOCRATIC PLAN: Deciding impeachment to be a bad political idea the Democratic congress scours everywhere to find a reason to justify not impeaching Mister Bush Ridiculously absent any indication that Mister Bush has the slightest interest in, or capacity to, ceasing criminal activities that require congressional impeachment and conviction, and laughably and tragically absent any historical precedent of a President engaging in this level of criminality without facing legal or constitutional jeopardy, the Democratic congress STILL goes ahead a refuses to perform its duty to stop Mister Bush’s criminal behavior.
- BACKGROUND (to Democratic plan): Bush’s popularity is so low, that "popularity" and "Bush" cannot be used in the same sentence without laughing. Democrats fear any consequences while, ironically, standing to gain politically by doing their job of impeaching and trying the President for his crimes. Congress’ popularity is relatively high for it and many Democrats in particular, and polls show support among Americans for impeachment proceedings.
Why more talk about Presidential Removal Proceedings:
As the crimes unfolded over the past several years, I was generally agnostic about impeachment because of the political conclusion that the effort will almost certainly die in the Senate.
However, I strongly support any effort to begin and vigorously start impeachment proceedings and my reasoning and change is generally a result of the lame reasons given by so many Democrats for not bringing removal proceedings against Mister Bush.
The tipping point for me is the gross failure of the Democratic party to honestly explain [frame] the issue for the public/media/Mister Bush/voters. How about, for instance:
We are not bringing impeachment and conviction proceedings against the President at this time. Although the level of acknowledged and ongoing criminality and fraud warranting removal of the President is historically unprecedented, the overwhelming majority of GOP Senators support and continue to endorse this President’s behavior.
Were it up to us, the President would be held accountable for his crimes and his betrayal of his oath of office. However, as long as the Republican caucus in the Senate, which ultimately controls whether these proceedings will be successful, continues to strongly support the ongoing criminal actions of this President, we will work to stop President through the legislative process rather than the impeachment process over which the President’s party in the Senate has the ultimate vote.
Elections have consequences and we hope the voters will remember that each Republican U.S. Senator is personally responsible for the ongoing war and Presidential misconduct.
Instead, the Democrats’ reasons for not impeaching the President read and sound either like a concession speech. They are better arguments for impeachment than against it.
Bad reason 1: "It will take away from the business of congress" -- The President is taking away from the business of congress by not following the laws passed by congress and not allowing the policies voted into law by the people’s representatives to be followed. If the concern is ‘the business of congress," than removal proceedings are certainly in order. yBy the way, when did congress ever receive less cooperation in doing the "business of congress" by putting more pressure on an unpopular president?
Another bad reason: "We need to investigate" -- And you are investigating just what?
Most of the investigations are primarily needed to assess the damage done by the Bush/Cheney crimes. Congress is not investigating whether crimes occurred; it is investigating the magnitude of the criminality and the breadth of the damage. Furthermore, the administration continues to subvert meaningful investigation through obstruction and noncompliance with their obligations to submit to oversight.
You want investigations? Then get rid of those obstructing the investigations so the American people may have a full account of the mismanagement, fraud, waste and criminality that has occurred on Mister Bush’s watch and on his instruction.
Today --
Please support the Vermont State House of Representatives (see, Green Mountain Daily) which is taking up a Resolution calling for Congress to begin the process of returning constitutional democracy to our republic.
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