No more calls for impeachment

A couple of weeks ago, Sen. Russ Feingold stopped by here and tried to tell us why impeachment was the wrong thing to do. He took a lot of heat from people (including myself) who strenuously disagreed. Some of us were rude, others polite but firm. By my estimate, about 90 percent of the comments were pro-impeachment.

Dozens of diaries have given just about every reason to be for or against impeachment. Well, I just found a reason why I don't want to see another pro-impeachment diary.

Last night, the Senate capitulated on Bush's demand that they pass his FISA bill before they recess. And today, the House will do the same (notice, I didn't they might do the same.)

This bill not only fixes a defect with the original FISA bill (that prevents eavesdropping between two foreign targets when the signal is routed through the U.S.), it also grants Attorney General Alberto Gonzales a six-month blank check to decide who can be spied on and who can't. Congress could have passed the former and rejected the latter. But they decided they'd rather take some time off than stand up to the tyrant.

This Democratic Congress has again given the decider everything he wants. They didn't have to. They weren't forced to. They just did.

So now, The crooked Justice Department will continue spying on Americans with Congress' permission. Just like Bush is waging war in Iraq with Congress' permission. And whenever he decides to bomb Iran and start World War III, you can bet your ass that will also be with Congress' permission.

If by some bizarre accident an impeachment bill makes it to the floor, this Congress has no business considering it. That would make them not only the capitulators that they already are, it would also make them the biggest hypocrites to ever set foot in the Capitol.

A lot of people on this site worked their asses off for a Democratic-controlled House and Senate. Looks like it was wasted effort. At least if the Dems weren't controlling the Congress we could keep blaming the Republicans. But now we've lost that, too.

P.S.: Senator Feingold, I take back what I said. You were right and I was wrong.

•  I hate to say I told you so but I told you so

  And I told you all back before the election that it would do no good no matter how it turned out.

  Kongress on both sides of the aisle is run by K Street.

  This country does not need a new Kongress or new Kongress persons.

  It needs a whole new Government and the only way to get that is by insisting on an Article V Constitutional Convention.

  Article V or Fight

  It is that simple and that hard.

  by rontripp on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 02:15:41 AM PDT

  •  I want to change

    the Constitution.

    I want to break up the USA into about ten soveregn nations, Texas, southern California, New York, Florida, the old Confederate States of America could fly it's old flag, if they want, and the other states could form combinations that make sense to their citizens.

    Please click on my username, and find the diary where I propose this.

    The larger an organization, the more difficult it is to get the right information to the right people.

    The largest organization I know of is the USA government.

    It makes no sense that a Senator from Alaska should have great powers in deciding what happens in Kansas.

    This country is way too big.

    The early confederation was too weak because the early states were too small.  They had to join forces to stand up to England and bargain with France.

    Now, we can allow the dreams of our ancestors to come true.  Some of these states can become true states; big, robust sovereign nations.

    And any mistakes of one of these nations would not be crammed down the gullets of all of us.

    by bigjacbigjacbigjac on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 02:34:37 AM PDT

    •  Okay, I give in.

      I got the link for you.

      I especially liked the news I got in the comment thread that many in the Great Northwest have already seceded from the Union.  They just haven't declared war over it.

      They are like the Kurds in Northern Iraq and Turkey.

      Maybe we should all do that, just drop out of the big mess quietly.  We could do it city by city.  I will try to become Mayor of Wichita, and will try to drop out, make our own Utopia here in Wichita.  When National policies hurt us, we can take counter measures to help the people of our city.  We could provide single payer health care in Wichita, in the form of gap insurance for all.  The city plan would cover all gaps, all deductible and co-pay.

      by bigjacbigjacbigjac on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 02:59:52 AM PDT

      •  Which part of Wichita?

        If the states/regions can do it, why not neighborhoods?  My neighborhood has a theater, university, great public transportation, and the alderman who tried to take on WalMart with the Chicago big-box ordinance.  On the other hand ... no place to buy music or new books.

        by chicago jeff on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 04:52:06 AM PDT

      •  I'll be sure never to move to Wichita then.

        by Pandoras Box on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 04:55:47 AM PDT

    •  Bravo!

      And rec'd. Finally, someone articulating what I've been advocating for 30-plus years. (I was born in '56--us tail-end Boomers truly didn't know how  good we had it back in the day, did we. . .)  ;-)

      Read your original diary--thanks for the link--I'm relatively new here, so would never have happened on it--and tho I have a few quibbles with your divisions (which could be addressed at another time, in another diary, in a galaxy far, far away. . .), I definitely agree with the premise and the reasoning behind it.

      For me, things are so far gone now that nothing short of revolution will suffice. With the exception of a few--Sen. Feingold, my senator, for one--Congress is a festering cesspool of bought-and-paid-for hacks who will never do the right thing for The People. And unless there is a complete overhaul of the entire system, it doesn't matter who we send there.

      That said, I still must advocate impeachment, because I want these motherf***ers held accountable in some small way for crimes committed and damage done, if for no other reason than to try to restore some measure of respect for Americans in the world. (Of course, I'd be more than happy to hand the entire Bu$h crime family and their minions over to an international tribunal. . .)

      I realize that this revolution concept doesn't fly with many, as yet, but. . .ya never know. We live in extreme times. I hope this conversation is "to be continued."

      by girlsanger on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 05:49:24 AM PDT

  •  Can you imagine

    how little we would know currently if the Dems didn't have the Gavel and the committee leads?

    we wouldn't have nearly so many "I don't recall" youtubes to watch!

    by Hey BB on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 03:00:42 AM PDT

  •  asdf

    When I read this about Vermont seceding I actually started looking for a house in Vermont.  I think you may be right, though, about splitting up the Union.  There is no rule that says the USA has to stay together.  As long as people want to do it, I don't see any reason why we can't.  I am sure that people from both sides of the aisle would be interested.  Just vote on it, give everyone two years to move to where they want and then do it!  

    by BDA in VA on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 04:34:37 AM PDT

    •  oops

      I meant this as a reply to bigjac's comment.

      by BDA in VA on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 04:35:34 AM PDT

    •  Ha! I love this comment! (n/t)

      by redhaze on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 05:24:23 AM PDT

•  lets draft Russ...

  for our '08 'third party' candidate

  by todd in salt lake on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 02:22:09 AM PDT

•  It's likely that some Senators

  saw this as a vehicle for getting some questions answered.

  Besides, there's really no evidence of any practical consequence other than a lot of intimidating rhetoric from the Administration.  Lots of bark; little bite.

  by hannah on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 03:03:31 AM PDT

  •  So, what specifics do we know then? nothing. n/t

    by quantumspin on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 03:08:23 AM PDT

    •  It takes a while to get a public discussion

      started.  So far, we can only assume that our representatives know more than they did before.  The problem with being privy to secret information is that secrecy seems to be addictive.  
      One problem with the prohibition against collecting information about individual civilians is that there's no punishment for violations.  That the information can't be used in a court of law is not a significant deterrant when there's no plan to use the judicial system.  

      by hannah on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 03:32:49 AM PDT

•  No, it wasn't wasted

  It wasn't wasted effort, but it isn't enough. We have to keep working for better Democrats and more Democrats. Remember the dark, dark days when we had nothing, nothing at all. Not the agenda, not the chairmanships -- nothing at all.  Now we have the agenda and the chairmanships. We still have a lot of lousy crappy "Democrats."

  I'm pissed off too, but I'm going to keep on rowing. A Lieberman-proof Senate. A Nelson-proof Senate. A Herseth-proof house. A Barrow-proof house.

  by cat on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 03:37:12 AM PDT

  •  We need better Democrats

    And if we can't find better Democrats, we need to find Independents who will caucus with the Democrats, such as Bernie Sanders and She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Cindy Sheehan. And no, Lieberturd, I ain't talkin' to you!

    by LaFajita on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 05:02:15 AM PDT

    •  No uncontested races. Down with the Blue Dogs! nt

      by Jacques on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 06:04:43 AM PDT

    •  I love me some Bernie Sanders! n/t

      by cat on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 06:34:34 AM PDT

    •  That would be nice....

      I agree with the diarist so much on this, his main point:

      This Democratic Congress has again given the decider everything he wants. They didn't have to. They weren't forced to. They just did.

      So now, The crooked Justice Department will continue spying on Americans with Congress' permission. Just like Bush is waging war in Iraq with Congress' permission. And whenever he decides to bomb Iran and start World War III, you can bet your ass that will also be with Congress' permission.

      If by some bizarre accident an impeachment bill makes it to the floor, this Congress has no business considering it. That would make them not only the capitulators that they already are, it would also make them the biggest hypocrites to ever set foot in the Capitol.

      I have been saying it for a long time. But I didnt just arrive at this conclusion. Look back to a lot of the shit allowed by the Dems, starting with the war. The Dems, too many of them, have COLLUDED with the warmongers, lawbreakers. Naturally, they will do everything in their power NOT to shed light on these crimes, via impeachment, because these are the very crimes they enabled, stood by silently and let happen, or even pushed forward, in some cases. And it means that those who arent swept up in that shameful net, still, for the sake of the party they have signed onto, will not rock the boat by calling for impeachment.

      Too much dirty laundry. Too many chickens marked D coming home to roost.  

      by NYCee on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 06:35:58 AM PDT

•  It's all off the table now

  regardless of what we think.  Does anyone think when they get back in September we're going to see the Gonzales wiretapping hearings resume?  The US Attorney scandal probe?  Harriet Meiers and Bush's executive privilege challenged?

  I sure as hell don't.  It'll be all "budget time" and more hand wringing over Iraq.  Highway bills with money for bridge repair and inspections.  If the credit crunch sends the economy south in a big way there will be oodles of discussion and posturing over that.

  I'm almost positive the whole "accountability phase" of the 110th Congress is over.  I would like to be wrong about that but I'm not getting a good feeling at all after what happened last night and what is sure to happen today.

  by Paper Cup on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 04:15:09 AM PDT

•  i'll stop asking for impeachment when...

  i'll stop asking for impeachment when all the criminals in the bush organization have been jailed without parole. and that includes herr bush, too.

  by jsepeta on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 04:22:05 AM PDT

•  I have to wonder how many of the Dems. will be

  listened to over the next 6 months? This gets all our plans for 08 right where bush wants them.

  by Owllwoman on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 04:35:44 AM PDT

•  oh, look on the bright side

  at least we don't all look like hippies.

  by zig on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 05:05:52 AM PDT

•  Domestic spying is "on the table"

  by LRT on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 05:52:44 AM PDT

•  No impeachment

  What is it that neocons don't want but are afraid they might get?  A dose of their own pharmaceuticals.

  What if a strong-willed Democrat were to win the White House and use all the precedents Bush has established -- excessive executive privilege, signing statements, extreme recess appointments, and so on -- to turn this country back to the progressive track Jefferson et al. envisioned? Can you imagine it? Refusing to release the names of the pro-environmental groups who participate in meetings to set EPA's agenda. Wiretapping Limbaugh, Savage, Hannity and other domestic terrorists. Starting an international war against poverty with a shock-and-awe attack on Halliburton headquarters in Dubai. Placing Michael Moore and Al Franken in cabinet positions while Congress is in recess.

  If only there were a Democratic candidate with a spine.

  by TerraByte on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 06:02:53 AM PDT

•  Im done with them...

  We have been lied to flat out by the Democrats and I suspect many of the current candidates attending the yearly Kos are fooling us agian.

  Until the Democrats stand up to the MSM and start writing their own narrative, instead of allowing the right to write it for them, they will continue to be in the position they are in. WHEN WILL THEY LEARN???

  by Starve The Media on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 06:13:55 AM PDT

•  My dilemma

  Love this place. Love coming here. But, it's a blog dedicated to electing Democrats.

  I'm not sure I'm a Democrat anymore; electing them seemse kinda pointless.

  by commonscribe on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 06:37:36 AM PDT

•  This was such a painful, but sadly true statement

  A lot of people on this site worked their asses off for a Democratic-controlled House and Senate. Looks like it was wasted effort. At least if the Dems weren't controlling the Congress we could keep blaming the Republicans. But now we've lost that, too.

  The question now is what can be done to change things?  I can't imagine just giving in and giving up - that would only make things infinitely worse.  But, where does change come from?  Is it merely in changing (that is, lowering) our expectations of the power and worth of "we the people?"  Lord knows our illustrious leaders think little or nothing of us.

  How do we the people, short of revolution, effect change when the mechanisms we currently have are completely useless/broken?

  by Sigh on Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 07:58:47 AM PDT