This isn't normally a topic I'd diary about, but the commutation by President Bush of Lewis Libby's sentence is beyond the pale. It is obvious from the various Senate and House investigations that both President Bush and Vice President Cheney are pushing well beyond the legal limits of their powers. And thus I call for the impeachment of both Bush and Cheney, which would make Nancy Pelosi the next President. And, I think there's reason for Republicans to support it. More below the fold...
The big question, of course, is why would Republicans ever support such a thing? Since elections matter, and being re-elected really matters, it's in their best interest to put as much daylight as possible between themselves and Bush/Cheney. Right now they're headed down the path to electoral destruction, barreling towards a rousing defeat in the House, Senate, and Presidency. As scandal after scandal breaks against the White House, their negatives continue to rise and more and more Republicans are put in danger of being sucked in (such as Ted Stevens and John Dolittle). This large-scale indictment of Republicans in all branches of government will not go unnoticed by voters.
While appealing to the base wins primaries, general elections are much tougher. As much as they'd wish it were otherwise, it won't suffice to get the 30% or so of the electorate that is still on board with the Administration and its policies and conduct. If this is not crystal clear now, it certainly will be as Bush continues to dig himself into a deeper hole by evading the law.
So what is a hapless Republican to do? At this point, I think the only real option is to support Impeachment for both Bush and Cheney. For one thing, it clears them off the table with well over 12 months to go until the election. Second, it puts a Democrat in office holding the reins of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with a shaky economy, and suddenly in a position where she would have to face a number of thorny and publically charged issues. I personally think Pelosi could handle such a situation successfully, but it would nevertheless get Republicans out of the picture and put Democrats squarely in the crosshairs. Finally, it would put Republicans in Congress, for the first time in a very long time, on the side of law and order. After the hammering they've received (self-administered to be sure), that would be a welcome respite.
Will that happen? Probably not, but I look forward to a "blue" government in 2009 and not acting against Bush and Cheney will insure that outcome.