Minds of the senate are slowly turning.

Jane!

Well, I guess I have to give Dennis props for thinking of us. For all the good it will do.

So impeach the bastard.

SWEET JANE!!

Would Rove take a bullet for this man?

“The vice president is focused on the serious issues facing our country.”

Well, maybe he oughta seriously think about stepping down.

I’m with Jay @ 4 Impeach the SOB then his little monkey.

The Vice President is focusing his sights on taking out as many people as he can before he goes down.

VJB @
6

Would Rove take a bullet for this man?

Would ANYONE take a bullet for this man?

BTW, does Rove have Secret Service protection as well? Wonder how those folks feel about possibly having to take one for KKKarl?

Wondering if the timing has anything to do with Tenet’s book/60 Minutes appearance and the start of the Wilson’s civil trial.

Ya’ll, everybody and their dog keeps telling me ain’t no way it’s gonna happen. I can sorta see the Dems’ position on this considering all the information the documents they are going to have to pull out of this admin like teeth in hearing after hearing. It will take months and months and then it will be time for him to be gone. (World breathes deep sigh of relief).

I just don’t know what to think. If it’s logistically possible, I say, go for it, Kuch!

Now repukes have such a sense of humor. Why couldn’t previous administrations thought of something so hilarious. Ya, shooter’s aim was off, I’m sure his intended target was a rolling egg.

Smart man. Step #1 to impeaching Bush–get rid of Chaney so he can’t step up into presidency (do you think he could have planned for Bush to get impeached so Dicky boy would become President by default?)

Step #2: impeach Bush.

Kucinich is one smart man! Hats off to him.

Thoughts? I like Kucinich. As it stands now if Gore does not run, I want Kucinich. Gore/Kucinich would really be nice. Gore/Pelosi? Boy-girl howdy, would that be sweet too. We have so many talented and capable Dems who could lead.

Thoughts?

about time!

Hit them from all sides….and keep hitting. It’s the honorable thing to do!

I’m all for impeaching Cheney before Bush, but is there enough time?

What about impeaching Gonzales first? That one is practically set up… and might have bi-partisan support.

Eugh, sorry for being too stoopid to pick up on the fact we’re talking about Cheney. Yes, that would be the way to go, now wouldn’t it. Cut off the head.

My thought is that it’s as good a place to start as any. I also think anyone even remotely interested in returning democracy to America, and keeping this misadministration’s actions from being set as precedent that you contact Kucinich’s office today to encourage him, and tomorrow after he announces this to support him.

Also, this would be the perfect time to rattle on Pelosi’s cage and point out that not everyone shares her incomprehensible stance not to impeach shrub and shooter despite a majority of this country supporting it (for lying us into Iraq for example).

I do love Dennis. One of the few with COMPLETE integrity.

OT EPU but this post is closer. Waxman is getting quite upset about lax WH security practices is seems.
realworld @
10 BTW: Here is the original link to Waxmans letter

na na na-na
na na na-na
che-ney-eh
goodbye!

It will be interesting to see how it will play out

Makes sense to go after Cheney first, removes him as an issue when debating whether to impeach Bush.

Also neutralizes him as a mouthpiece for Bush and neo-cons.

And it undercuts any attempted claim at a positive spin on history; we could take comfort in knowing our kids and grandkids (who won’t know immediately of his evil) will not look well on him.

Truth, justice, Kucinich is doing what the House of Reps is supposed to be doing!

Thank you, Congressman Kucinich!

Oklahoma kiddo @ 15

Thoughts? I like Kucinich. As it stands now if Gore does not run, I want Kucinich. Gore/Kucinich would really be nice. Gore/Pelosi? Boy-girl howdy, would that be sweet too. We have so many talented and capable Dems who could lead.

I’m with the Kiddo and Kucinich.
Impeach the lying arshole

They have more than enough on all of them I would think, what they don’t have is the votes in the senate to convict

The view here is that Kucinich has by far, the best approach to the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

AngryAmerican @ 19

My thought is that it’s as good a place to start as any. I also think anyone even remotely interested in returning democracy to America, and keeping this misadministration’s actions from being set as precedent that you contact Kucinich’s office today to encourage him, and tomorrow after he announces this to support him.

Also, this would be the perfect time to rattle on Pelosi’s cage and point out that not everyone shares her incomprehensible stance not to impeach shrub and shooter despite a majority of this country supporting it (for lying us into Iraq for example).

I feel like the reason she doesn’t want to go there is that it if those two go, she would end up President by default (I can’t even think about it, I’m not allowed to have such happiness in this lifetime). All conservs would be jumping up and down like apes, frothing at the mouth and screaming about a conflict of interest.

This is also one of the top stories on “Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer”. They first covered Reid and how he’s bringing the bill which will require the end of the occupation by April 1, 2008.

Second story is Gonzo saying, “I’m not going anywhere”. Looks like the Cheney impeachment story will be next.

I hate to be a negative thinker, but I don’t see impeachment happening. It is deserving, but I don’t see it coming to fruition. That said, I’m very glad to see Kucinich pushing the issue. The crimes of Cheney should be disucssed openly and in the MSM, so good for Kucinich for bringing it.

Hitting the Bush government with challenges from every direction is a great way to keep them on the defensive and consumed with fighting off these assaults, even if none of them succeed. The more time and effort the Bush cabal spends resisting oversight or defending embattled personnel, the less damage they can wreak pursuing their corrupt enterprise. How many policy initiatives have we heard from Bush the Lesser this year? All it’s been is why troops need to keep dying in Iraq and what a great and honest man Abu Gonzales is.

I want to see the Bush government removed from power as much as the next person, but if they can be stopped from running amok for the next two years that’s a victory in itself.

Sad to say, but unless DK has the proverbial mushroom cloud for a smoking gun, it’ll all be for nought. Unless, of course, DK has been secretly preparing a case to take before the International War Crimes Tribunal to try Dead-eye on his crimes against humanity, in which case impeachment would be the least of Big Time’s worries. Can you say “Pie in the sky?”

AngryAmerican @ 20

…Also, this would be the perfect time to rattle on Pelosi’s cage and point out that not everyone shares her incomprehensible stance not to impeach shrub and shooter despite a majority of this country supporting it (for lying us into Iraq for example).

Look, I don’t think that a majority of Dems understand what delicate position Pelosi is in. First, because she is the 3rd in line, she has a conflict of interest and cannot call for impeachment on her own.

Second, she said it was off the table — but that doesn’t mean the American public can’t put it on the table on their own via their states, or via the SENATE, which is where impeachment really happens.

It’s up to us to do the heavy lifting here, smooth the road, lighten the load. We should be beating the doors down on enough moderate Republicans to make them fear not voting with Dems for a veto-proof majority on impeachment of Cheney first — and if that feels good and they get strokes for doing it, maybe they will play ball and go the next big step.

The vice president is actually focused on the serious issues facing the pardon writers. It’s not easy to make sure that all of the bases and all of those needing pardons are covered.

The Decider’s going to have a sore hand from all the sigining when it’s all done. He may have to change his name to “the Signer”.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 27

The view here is that Kucinich has by far, the best approach to the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

Now, now, we can’t have someone like Kucinich in there. The man wants to create a Department of Peace. How looney is that? (heavy sarcasm, here, this idea has been referred to as “looney” by the media – what kind of country do we live in where the idea of a Dept. of Peace is considered “looney”?)

When this was announced a week or so back, looseheadprop went ballistic. She had a very good argument against doing it now. If someone can beat me to digging it out, it would be good to bring up her points and discuss them.

Canuck Stuck in Muck @ 32

Sad to say, but unless DK has the proverbial mushroom cloud for a smoking gun, it’ll all be for nought. Unless, of course, DK has been secretly preparing a case to take before the International War Crimes Tribunal to try Dead-eye on his crimes against humanity, in which case impeachment would be the least of Big Time’s worries. Can you say “Pie in the sky?”

It may be pie, but I’m hoping it will sway
public opinion…

Eureka Springs @
25

Truth, justice, Kucinich is doing what the House of Reps is supposed to be doing!

Thank you, Congressman Kucinich!

From your keyboard to God & country’s inbox!

Double Dings Eureka Springs!

That’s the first time I’ve seen the video clip. Don’t know how I managed to miss it in real time. It is incredibly tasteless. Only a R would think that has even a nodding acquaintance with funny.

There’s this:
Twilight Zone by Gregory Cochran. Really interesting point: it’s in The American Conservative.

And it actually would explain so much.

Gnome de Plume @ 36

When this was announced a week or so back, looseheadprop went ballistic. She had a very good argument against doing it now. If someone can beat me to digging it out, it would be good to bring up her points and discuss them.

Time is of the essence.
Give Monica immunity.
Tell the fuckers to stick it, no
more playing nice with this crew.

It’s not about the environment, but John Kerry signed it…

Lurita “Cookies” Doan is facing more scrutiny. Delicious.
TPM Muckraker: 25 Senators demand WH answer questions regarding Doan’s activities

Note that Wyden’s letter lists both “legal and ethical violations”. Are they pressing for legal action? Me thinks so. Pass the cookies & milk.

It’s about damned time.

From the moment when the Executive Office of the Vice-President refused to release the information about the Energy Plan that Cheney lead, Cheney has consistently compromised the safety and security of the United States for personal interest. There’s nothing redeeming about him, or his tenure as Vice-President.

As for Madame Speaker Pelosi, I’ve always thought that impeachment is very much something she would entertain, but that she wanted to manage expectations. I’m more impressed with her management of the House all the time.

OMG! I just watched the video before heading back into the archives. I can’t believe they (CNN, the WH and all) thought that was funny! What did the little kids think happened! And then Va Tech a week later. We truly live in a bizarro world.

Gnome de Plume @ 36

When this was announced a week or so back, looseheadprop went ballistic. She had a very good argument against doing it now. If someone can beat me to digging it out, it would be good to bring up her points and discuss them.

This comment thread is what you’re looking for…

Rayne @ 33

– but that doesn’t mean the American public can’t put it on the table on their own via their states, or via the SENATE, which is where impeachment really happens.

Minor correction — Impeachment is what the House of Representatives does.

As I understand it, impeachment is the equivalent of being indicted by a grand jury. Once the VP is impeached/indicted the trial happens in the Senate.

If the Senate convicts, the VP is no longer VP.

Just smiling thinking about chimpy’s nerves if they impeach dicky boy..

isn’t it a beautiful day?

Let’s go.

The issues are all there:
1. Secret energy policy-making
2. Carving up Iraq alongside the oil companies
3. Enriching his former employer by warmaking
4. Lying to the American people about Saddam’s
a. WMDs
b. ties to terrorists
c. imminent threat to America
d. grave and growing danger to the world
5. Continuing (up to the present day!) a-d
6. Doing business, at Halliburton, with Iraq and Iran
7. Putting his daughter Liz and son-in-law Philip Perry in multiple positions of power in several Federal agencies (nepotism)
8. Being unresponsive to classification reporting requirements over his entire tenure
9. Obstruction (Libby)
10. Obstruction (911 inquiry)
11. Obstruction (Iraq reconstruction inquiry)
12. Treason (IIPA Plame)
13. Foreign agency (House of Saud)
14. Promulgating from the OVP an extra-constitutional and unconstitutional VicePresidency (per his ex-CoS and current CoS)
15. Shooting an old man in the face
16. Douchebaggery

Start now, allow other investigations to proceed apace, call him and his myrmidons every day to answer the charges on Capitol Hill.

CNN just announced the articles of impeachment. Wolfie was interviewing John Murtha and interrupted him to ask him about it, now he is talking of Bush Fatigue.

Please, God. Oh, pleeeze.

Is DK grandstanding or will he have a solidly prepared, well documented case?

Republics will throw Cheney under the bus if necessary. They will claim it’s health related.

I love it! Divide the WH team: start impeach proceedings against the least popular man in government, push Rove to resign through the emails/Hatch act, and watch the disintegration on TeeVee. GOP lost in the weeds for 2008.

The impression here is that Kucinich really believes what he says. So rare.

We need a couple of good polls that show a majority willing to consider/supporting an impeachment inquiry — not let DK hang out there by himself and have the Dems run away from him while the rightwing ridicules him. Blitzer et al can then bless/legitimize the effort.

As for waiting for “mushroom cloud” — Cheney is about as radioactive as you can get. And the good thing about going after Cheney = Bush supported/enabled all of his impeachable offenses.

Question: should Gonzales effort by simultaenous? I think that one’s ready to go in the oven.

If he gets impeached then Fitz can get him for outing a spy. No pardons when you are impeached. …..Emptywheel?……

Go Kucinich!

Murtha just replied to Wolf Blitzer’s posing the question of what he thought of Kucinich’s Cheney impeachment announcement tomorrow by saying it wasn’t a good idea. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised but it saddens me nonetheless for at the very least I would hope the old warrior general Murtha could have deferred comment until his colleague Kucinich goes public tomorrow. Sigh.

puppethead @ 31

Hitting the Bush government with challenges from every direction is a great way to keep them on the defensive and consumed with fighting off these assaults, even if none of them succeed. The more time and effort the Bush cabal spends resisting oversight or defending embattled personnel, the less damage they can wreak pursuing their corrupt enterprise. How many policy initiatives have we heard from Bush the Lesser this year? All it’s been is why troops need to keep dying in Iraq and what a great and honest man Abu Gonzales is.

I want to see the Bush government removed from power as much as the next person, but if they can be stopped from running amok for the next two years that’s a victory in itself.

YES — your first paragraph reminds me of Joe Wilson’s description of how the sanctions and inspections were consuming the scientists and managers of Saddam’s WMD programs (had they existed as Saddam wished all to believe).

Just the activities required to respond on so many fronts will seriously contain the amount of damage BushCo can do. Cheney, being an independent actor, partisan mouthpiece, and base cheerleader, is especially crucial. Democrats must consume the office of OVP in this impeachment inquiry.

1,495 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON..

Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Patriots:

Shit yeah…impeach that bastard and in the process break those notes loose on the meetings he had on oil policy and planning for the war in Iraq. Hell yes…start impeachment on Darth Cheney and keep Waxman on investigations into the security at the White House. Waxman’s investigation into security breaches in the White House can be the issue that enables the existing special prosecutor to breach the firewall that so far has stopped at Scooter Libby…this one will lead directly to impeachment of the Chimpenfurer.

KEEP THE FAITH AND HIT ‘EM WITH EVERYTHING YOU GOT…IT’S ALL THEY UNDERSTAND!!

Douchebaggery, Teddy @48? You gotta gives us a spew warning on that stuff..

Thanks BDU. Here is what I was looking for:

You see the problem is with jury selection. The jury for impeachment is the Senate by a 2/3’s majority. So unless or until you have a whole big chunk of disguted Republican Senators who cannot be blackmailed or bought by Cheney willing to vote honestly, you have no hope of winning the verdict.

You have to build this prosecution brick by brick, just like Watergate until there are enough Rep. Senators willing to vote for the truth.

Kunick is suffering from premature indictment syndrome. I’m sure hteres a blue pill for that too.

I’m sorry, but to do it now looks immature and reckless and he runs the risk of making Leahy and Waxman and Conyer look as if they are silly as he is.
This kind of cheap grandstanding is totally counterproductive and if he is this incometant he should just STFU.

Serious people are trying to do a serious credible and meanigful jub and this yahoo comes along to play for a little attention.

He’s a fucking saboteur!!!

scarecrow @ 55

We need a couple of good polls that show a majority willing to consider/supporting an impeachment inquiry — not let DK hang out there by himself and have the Dems run away from him while the rightwing ridicules him. Blitzer et al can then bless/legitimize the effort.

As for waiting for “mushroom cloud” — Cheney is about as radioactive as you can get. And the good thing about going after Cheney = Bush supported/enabled all of his impeachable offenses.

Question: should Gonzales effort by simultaenous? I think that one’s ready to go in the oven.

Republics will decide that Gonzo should go to try to change the subject.

I have 2 Kucinich for President “04 bumper stickers still stuck on my car… I worked for his candidacy as well.

I HOPE that he has better press people in charge this time around.

As long as he doesn’t sing “16 tons” during the presser, it’ll be ok. Doubt much will happen, though. Sorry to say.

puppethead @ 31

Hitting the Bush government with challenges from every direction is a great way to keep them on the defensive and consumed with fighting off these assaults, even if none of them succeed. The more time and effort the Bush cabal spends resisting oversight or defending embattled personnel, the less damage they can wreak pursuing their corrupt enterprise. How many policy initiatives have we heard from Bush the Lesser this year? All it’s been is why troops need to keep dying in Iraq and what a great and honest man Abu Gonzales is.

I want to see the Bush government removed from power as much as the next person, but if they can be stopped from running amok for the next two years that’s a victory in itself.

Yes, let’s keep these asswipes busy. Even if we don’t suceed, it prevents them from doing even more damage somewhere else. Also, will be good for 2008!

scarecrow @ 55

We need a couple of good polls that show a majority willing to consider/supporting an impeachment inquiry — not let DK hang out there by himself and have the Dems run away from him while the rightwing ridicules him. Blitzer et al can then bless/legitimize the effort.

As for waiting for “mushroom cloud” — Cheney is about as radioactive as you can get. And the good thing about going after Cheney = Bush supported/enabled all of his impeachable offenses.

Question: should Gonzales effort by simultaenous? I think that one’s ready to go in the oven.

Why not? Since one is handled (for now) by the Senate and the other in the Peoples House.

Is anyone beside me wondering who might be feeding stuff to Kucinich?

Maybe he has someone on the inside that’s given him the info on the email and other items of interest to the Democrats?

lolo @ 49

CNN just announced the articles of impeachment. Wolfie was interviewing John Murtha and interrupted him to ask him about it, now he is talking of Bush Fatigue.

There’s more to this than whether or not it’s productive for Kucinich to do this. It’s now changing the manner of discourse in the media. Just like Reid’s (likely well-planned) comment that the Iraq War is lost, the narrative is changing from pro-Bush to embattled, lame-duck government. This kind of framing and “working the refs” is how the GOP always pushes their messaging, it’s good to see the tables turned.

Sure, we’ll continue to see the likes of Chris “Tweety” Matthews enthralled by the bulge in Bush’s pants, but the more talk like this out in the open the harder it becomes for Rove to control the message. This is how you get the country to admit the emperor has no clothes.

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

lolo @ 69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Mr. Matalin is damaged goods: all credibility gone.

Gnome de Plume @
36

When this was announced a week or so back, looseheadprop went ballistic. She had a very good argument against doing it now. If someone can beat me to digging it out, it would be good to bring up her points and discuss them.

I agreed with LHP’s points at that time, but last Thursday changed everything. The Dems have the Reps by the short hairs and it’s a good idea to keep hitting them from all sides. Watching Bush continue to defend his partners in crime will sour the public, and they in turn will pressure their members of Congress to impeach him.

lolo @ 69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Send that jerk back home to his lovely old lady..

lolo @
69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Mistress Mary letting the gimp out of the basement?

Badwater @ 63

scarecrow @ 55

We need a couple of good polls that show a majority willing to consider/supporting an impeachment inquiry — not let DK hang out there by himself and have the Dems run away from him while the rightwing ridicules him. Blitzer et al can then bless/legitimize the effort.

As for waiting for “mushroom cloud” — Cheney is about as radioactive as you can get. And the good thing about going after Cheney = Bush supported/enabled all of his impeachable offenses.

Question: should Gonzales effort by simultaenous? I think that one’s ready to go in the oven.

Republics will decide that Gonzo should go to try to change the subject.

And why is that bad? The current math in the WH looks like this:

Repubs want AG to go, plus
Dems want AG to go, plus
Public wants AG to go, plus
Media is ready for AG to go =
___________________________
Gonzo gets endorsed by Bush and says he’s staying.

WH has it’s own math: no crony left behind who’s not under indictment. Indict them.

Won’t happen, says Candy Crowley. It’s just an “article of faith”: from the left wing of the party. Majority of Democrats don’t think the American people voted them into office in 2006 to conduct impeachments. Besides, Americans are sick of impeachment after the Clinton thing. If you can’t impeach a guy as popular as Clinton was, how can you impeach Cheney?

Whew. Glad we don’t have to worry about that. Crowley always helps me come to my senses with a dose of “spent-my-day-in-the coffee-shop-cause-I-can-always-just-wing-it-with-Wolfie” wisdom.

OF COURSE those bastards should be impeached, and I have no patience with folks who argue that impeachment would “suck all the oxygen out of Washington.” (They say that like it’s a bad thing.)

As the old, pre-MADD drunk-driving PSA used to say (I’m dating myself), “If he’s sick, let’s help him, but first let’s get him off the road.” Bush and Cheney may be the first Prez/VP pair with actual DUIs on record, and those offenses are dwarfed by many orders of magnitude by what they’ve done drunk on power.

Kucinich has the best approach to pretty much every issue, including, IIRC, the only straight-up single-payer health plan under consideration among presidential candidates.

That’s why Democratic Party leaders and media elites ignore him with such desperate urgency.

Kucinich and Gore. Very rare finds these days. Almost political throwbacks.

lolo @ 69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Impeach Carville, too.

VJB @
6

Would Rove take a bullet for this man?

Rove wouldn’t take a bullet for Fuckwad ……

Impeach the DLC.

Cheney is the poster boy for the reasons the articles of Impeachment were written in the first place.

From Waxman’s letter:
“A White House official left [Sensitive Compartmented Information] material behind in a hotel room during a foreign trip with the President. Although the CIA recovered the SCI material and reported the incident, the White House Security Office did not investigate, seek remedial action, or discipline the responsible official,”

I’m curious to know if this is just a single but important example of breaking protocol or if the contents of the information recovered by the CIA bear any significance to answering broader questions of Congressional interest. Which presidential trip?

eCAHNomics @ 51

Is DK grandstanding or will he have a solidly prepared, well documented case?

Gotta wonder. I’m a little skeptical myself. Kucinich will be a guest on “The Situation Room” tomorrow afternoon – interesting viewing, I’m sure.

TeddySanFran @
48

Let’s go.

The issues are all there:
1. Secret energy policy-making
2. Carving up Iraq alongside the oil companies
3. Enriching his former employer by warmaking
4. Lying to the American people about Saddam’s
a. WMDs
b. ties to terrorists
c. imminent threat to America
d. grave and growing danger to the world
5. Continuing (up to the present day!) a-d
6. Doing business, at Halliburton, with Iraq and Iran
7. Putting his daughter Liz and son-in-law Philip Perry in multiple positions of power in several Federal agencies (nepotism)
8. Being unresponsive to classification reporting requirements over his entire tenure
9. Obstruction (Libby)
10. Obstruction (911 inquiry)
11. Obstruction (Iraq reconstruction inquiry)
12. Treason (IIPA Plame)
13. Foreign agency (House of Saud)
14. Promulgating from the OVP an extra-constitutional and unconstitutional VicePresidency (per his ex-CoS and current CoS)
15. Shooting an old man in the face
16. Douchebaggery

Start now, allow other investigations to proceed apace, call him and his myrmidons every day to answer the charges on Capitol Hill.

Ya know what TSF, it’s almost as if the Dems are reading FDL. *g*
Just to be sure though, everyone please e-mail this list to your members of Congress.

Badwater @ 70

lolo @ 69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Mr. Matalin is damaged goods: all credibility gone.

I know gonna watch him sssssssssspin

scarecrow @ 74

Badwater @ 63
Republics will decide that Gonzo should go to try to change the subject.

And why is that bad? The current math in the WH looks like this:

Repubs want AG to go, plus
Dems want AG to go, plus
Public wants AG to go, plus
Media is ready for AG to go =
____________
Gonzo gets endorsed by Bush and says he’s staying.

WH has it’s own math: no crony left behind who’s not under indictment. Indict them.

It’s not bad that he’d be gone. It’s just always disappoinging to me that Republics put their party way above our country and are dishonest about it in the process.

realworld @ 21

I do love Dennis. One of the few with COMPLETE integrity.

OT EPU but this post is closer. Waxman is getting quite upset about lax WH security practices is seems.
realworld @
10 BTW: Here is the original link to Waxmans letter

Only Administrative Sanctions for Andy Card and the others? How about Treason charges for knowingly walking around with devices that could be hacked out the air? They do not mention encryption?

DC should STFU and keep his powder dry for bigger things in the future. You know, the strategy that worked so well for us with Alito.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 80

Impeach the DLC.

All in good time, my pretty, all in good time.

scarecrow @ 78
lolo @ 69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Impeach Carville, too.

707!

Karen M @
18

I’m all for impeaching Cheney before Bush, but is there enough time?

What about impeaching Gonzales first? That one is practically set up… and might have bi-partisan support.

Naw ….. let him resign. That’ll be quicker. Then we can get after the real thugs. A criminal trial can follow for gonzales after the impeachments.

The Veep cannot duck inquiries by claiming he’s too busy. He has only two constitutional duties: waiting for Shrub to be unable to preside over the US, and voting in the case of a tie in the Senate. Having him in a House hearing room answering questions all day, everday could really work out very well for him. Just in case there’s a Senate tie. Since he no longer has that fancy office that Charlie Rangel took back.

There is no more unpopular elected officeholder in American politics in my lifetime, perhaps ever. When two-thirds of Americans say they want the Bush regime over, they mean get Cheney outta there.

Will TradMed poll on Kucinich’s idea? Now that it’s on the table?

Um, folks? That vid up there? It’s satire. You didn’t see it in “real time” because it didn’t happen. Cheney did not shoot (nor even pretend to shoot) someone dressed up as an Easter Bunny at the White House Easter Egg Roll. It’s faked.

And obviously the kids were in on the fake. C’mon.

CNN: Bush 41 makes surprising comments about Jeb’s political chances after W’s record.

ralphbon @ 76

OF COURSE those bastards should be impeached, and I have no patience with folks who argue that impeachment would “suck all the oxygen out of Washington.” (They say that like it’s a bad thing.)

As the old, pre-MADD drunk-driving PSA used to say (I’m dating myself), “If he’s sick, let’s help him, but first let’s get him off the road.” Bush and Cheney may be the first Prez/VP pair with actual DUIs on record, and those offenses are dwarfed by many orders of magnitude by what they’ve done drunk on power.

Kucinich has the best approach to pretty much every issue, including, IIRC, the only straight-up single-payer health plan under consideration among presidential candidates.

That’s why Democratic Party leaders and media elites ignore him with such desperate urgency.

;0)

blech. where’s Carville? Pimping Jeb now for president.

Mandrake @
29

AngryAmerican @ 19

My thought is that it’s as good a place to start as any. I also think anyone even remotely interested in returning democracy to America, and keeping this misadministration’s actions from being set as precedent that you contact Kucinich’s office today to encourage him, and tomorrow after he announces this to support him.

Also, this would be the perfect time to rattle on Pelosi’s cage and point out that not everyone shares her incomprehensible stance not to impeach shrub and shooter despite a majority of this country supporting it (for lying us into Iraq for example).

I feel like the reason she doesn’t want to go there is that it if those two go, she would end up President by default (I can’t even think about it, I’m not allowed to have such happiness in this lifetime). All conservs would be jumping up and down like apes, frothing at the mouth and screaming about a conflict of interest.

she could recuse herself and turn it over to Murtha ….

BDU @ 62

While I admire LHP’s thinking, I disagree with her argument, given the current context.

The articles of impeachment drawn and voted on for President Clinton were based on partisan politics, and were political street theater of the worst sort. In the case of President Nixon, there was what was obviously a criminal issue, however minor, with which he was directly associated. It was only a matter of time until he would have been forced to stand trial.

I think Cheney pretty clearly falls into the latter category, and so does Bush. It’s only a matter of time before what’s unraveling at DoJ entangles one or both of them in a way that demonstrable could lead to a grand jury indictment. And the only real way out for either of them would be resignation.

In a sense, what’s being pushed is not impeachment, but creating enough pressure and discomfort to make both Cheney and Bush resign.

Now, that leads to the ultimate need for a truth and reconciliation commission for the Executive Branch’s actions from 2001 – 2007, but that’s another discussion.

CNN: Jeb Bush is on everyone’s short list for running mate for 08.

Be still my heart!

The impeachment of all of them need to be timed so that nobody gets a pardon and everyone is eligable to stand trial for war crimes.

ITMFA!scarecrow @ 78

lolo @ 69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Impeach Carville, too.

lol, w3rd :)

bob 75 LOL!

lolo @ 69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

CNN PRESENTS … (Tall) Tales From The Cryptkeeper …

eCAHNomics @ 99

CNN: Jeb Bush is on everyone’s short list for running mate for 08.

Be still my heart!

Why wait until ‘08? Dump Cheney. Insert Jeb.

landofthefree @
30

This is also one of the top stories on “Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer”. They first covered Reid and how he’s bringing the bill which will require the end of the occupation by April 1, 2008.

Second story is Gonzo saying, “I’m not going anywhere”. Looks like the Cheney impeachment story will be next.

I hate to be a negative thinker, but I don’t see impeachment happening. It is deserving, but I don’t see it coming to fruition. That said, I’m very glad to see Kucinich pushing the issue. The crimes of Cheney should be disucssed openly and in the MSM, so good for Kucinich for bringing it.

the times they are a changin’ …..

has anything ever happened that you didn’t see coming ?

Jane Hamsher @ 73

lolo @
69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Mistress Mary letting the gimp out of the basement?

heh, heh

My 82-year-old Carmel neighbor who served several terms as a very genteel officer of the League of Women Voters will love your comment. She calls Barbara Bush & Mary Matalin an embarrassment to their gender. And now to my printer to share your comment with her.

OT – Huckabee calls Gonzales a distraction

Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee on Monday called Alberto Gonzales a “major distraction” for President Bush and the GOP, and suggested the attorney general voluntarily step down.

Eureka Springs @ 90

scarecrow @ 78
lolo @ 69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Impeach Carville, too.

707!

My theory is we should make James prove he’s not a Bush official. Maybe he can get Victoria to defend him!

Badwater @ 104

eCAHNomics @ 99

CNN: Jeb Bush is on everyone’s short list for running mate for 08.

Be still my heart!

Why wait until ‘08? Dump Cheney. Insert Jeb.

As the story just finished on Hill & Bill asserted, isn’t that illegal since JFK & RFK?

scory @ 98

BDU @ 62

While I admire LHP’s thinking, I disagree with her argument, given the current context.

I wasn’t exactly endorsing LHP’s viewpoint, just pointing out where it had been discussed last time.

Furthermore, the news last week is that he was drawing simultaneous articles of impeachment for Shooter and Decider, so this news being just for Shooter changes the dynamics as well.

IMHO Bush, Cheney and Rove meet the criteria to be called domestic enemies.

selise @ 16

Thoughts?

about time!

YES!

But is frequently saying insanely stupid things on the air a “high crime” or a “misdemeanor?” Everything else is going to be very difficult and document-intensive to prove.

twolf1 @ 107

OT – Huckabee calls Gonzales a distraction

Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee on Monday called Alberto Gonzales a “major distraction” for President Bush and the GOP, and suggested the attorney general voluntarily step down.

Translation: “if we have to defend this guy in November 08, we’re extinct.” We should make the Republicans defend him or impeach him.

puppethead @
31

Hitting the Bush government with challenges from every direction is a great way to keep them on the defensive and consumed with fighting off these assaults, even if none of them succeed. The more time and effort the Bush cabal spends resisting oversight or defending embattled personnel, the less damage they can wreak pursuing their corrupt enterprise. How many policy initiatives have we heard from Bush the Lesser this year? All it’s been is why troops need to keep dying in Iraq and what a great and honest man Abu Gonzales is.

I want to see the Bush government removed from power as much as the next person, but if they can be stopped from running amok for the next two years that’s a victory in itself.

these people are criminals. they are truly evil. this country, to say nothing of the people of iraq, need justice. if we don’t make these criminals pay for what they have done the door is open wide for any further administration to do the same OR WORSE!

Anybody that has to go on Rush Limbaugh show
to get his view across NEEDS to be impeached.

Jeezus Christ! I watched that video and nearly went over backwards in my chair! Where’s my heart medicine, Mabel??

Jane Hamsher @ 73

lolo @
69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Mistress Mary letting the gimp out of the basement?

Ewwwwwww….Even if I hadn’t seen Carville in a shorty bathrobe picking up the morning papers, the visual image is too stunning (I lived down the block, once upon a time). Trust me, if you think his face is ugly, his legs are far, far worse. Think skinniest, fish-belly white toothpick legs. There.

the American Dictionary as well as Wikepedia should in time have
an entry for the verb to bush something: a pithy description and
summarization of a mindset that encapsulates the entire Bush
opus of destroying Government, contempt for the citizens,
sociopathic mindset, cronyism, contempt, criminal negligence etc..

perhaps a post could be run where there’s a contest for the most
apt.description of to bush could be entertained.

the name of Bush must be held in the lowest esteem and no better
way than give it lasting negative connotations that will live on
well past the bastards life time.

just an idea. any thoughts on it.

Since the Bush regime seems determined to not follow any laws – no to subpoeanas, no to all requests for anything – I do think that having impeachment overhanging might get some things moving along nicely. That is all that Congress has to threaten these criminals with.

With regard to difficult-to-prove and document-intensive — there’s no reason for this to be a particularly swift impeachment of the Vice President. Let Congressman Kucinich have a hearing room, some klieg lites, subpoena power, and lotsa room for network cameras. Get the Out of Iraq Caucus and the Progressive Caucus on his adhoc Special Impeachment Committee.

Take months if need be. Watch the GOP clamor for “quick action” after about three days. Do not indulge them.

Make it last, baby. Tantric impeachment.

bdu @
110

scory @ 98

BDU @ 62

While I admire LHP’s thinking, I disagree with her argument, given the current context.

I wasn’t exactly endorsing LHP’s viewpoint, just pointing out where it had been discussed last time.

Furthermore, the news last week is that he was drawing simultaneous articles of impeachment for Shooter and Decider, so this news being just for Shooter changes the dynamics as well.

Suppose DK begins impeachment hearings and enough dirt comes out in the wash to get Bush as well, can they do a twofer?

Bay State Librul @ 115

Anybody that has to go on Rush Limbaugh show
to get his view across NEEDS to be impeached.

DING!

Loo Hoo @ 100

The impeachment of all of them need to be timed so that nobody gets a pardon and everyone is eligable to stand trial for war crimes.

Yes. And one question: If Cheney is impeached (and removed) before Bush, couldn’t Bush still appoint a replacement before leaving office (hopefully!) himself? Ideally they would both be taken down together, leaving things neat for President Pelosi.

eCAHNomics @ 109
Badwater @ 104
eCAHNomics @ 99
CNN: Jeb Bush is on everyone’s short list for running mate for 08.

Be still my heart!

Why wait until ‘08? Dump Cheney. Insert Jeb.

As the story just finished on Hill & Bill asserted, isn’t that illegal since JFK & RFK?

There’s a 1947 Presidential Succession Act but I don’t know of anything else.

Zig freed by MOD

Badwater @ 104

eCAHNomics @ 99

CNN: Jeb Bush is on everyone’s short list for running mate for 08.

Be still my heart!

Why wait until ‘08? Dump Cheney. Insert Jeb.

oooohhhhh 2 boy kings???

perhaps a record (!) — epu’d by
three threads, i think, and yet only
very-slightly off-topic, here. . .

okay — here is a condensed, edited,
pan-and-scan (w/graphic-cutaways)
youtube’d video/flashplayer
snippet — about 3:10 running
time, total, of sen. sheldon
whitehouse eviscerating the
attorney general over the
astonishingly inappropriate
access low-level white house
staffers (some 447 of ‘em!)
have to criminal cases and
investigations via the alberto
gonzales/george bush formulation
of DoJ — white house access policies.

whew! — take a look! — i’ve been bakin’
da’ pixels all afternoon long, on this. . .

And I would like to think that our beloved Dems are consciously changing the discourse and purposely starting to control the conversation. Please Goddess, let them be as savvy as we want them to be.

Jane Hamsher @ 73

lolo @
69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Mistress Mary letting the gimp out of the basement?

Ewwwwwww….Even if I hadn’t seen Carville in a shorty bathrobe picking up the morning papers, the visual image is too stunning (I lived down the block, once upon a time). Trust me, if you think his face is ugly, his legs are far, far worse. Think skinniest, fish-belly white toothpick legs. There.

Blech! I’m guessing Mary’s weren’t much more enticing. Getting queasy just thinking about those two, erm, urph, blergh! Can’t say it, much less think it!

spurious @ 123

Loo Hoo @ 100

The impeachment of all of them need to be timed so that nobody gets a pardon and everyone is eligable to stand trial for war crimes.

Yes. And one question: If Cheney is impeached (and removed) before Bush, couldn’t Bush still appoint a replacement before leaving office (hopefully!) himself? Ideally they would both be taken down together, leaving things neat for President Pelosi.

Look back at Nixon: Agnew resigned and Ford was appointed.

eCAHNomics @ 99

CNN: Jeb Bush is on everyone’s short list for running mate for 08.

The GOP wants to lose that badly? Or is he going to change his name and pretend he isn’t related?

(It’s enough to make me want an amendment that say something to the effect of ‘If your spouse or one of your parents was president or VP, you can’t run for that office. Ever.’ Call it the anti-dynasty amendment. Or the anti-nepotism amendment.

scory @
117

Jane Hamsher @ 73

lolo @
69

********* Pass The Popcorn Alert*********

James Carville to pontificate on Chenney Impeachment on CNN

Mistress Mary letting the gimp out of the basement?

Ewwwwwww….Even if I hadn’t seen Carville in a shorty bathrobe picking up the morning papers, the visual image is too stunning (I lived down the block, once upon a time). Trust me, if you think his face is ugly, his legs are far, far worse. Think skinniest, fish-belly white toothpick legs. There.

Thanks, I’m officially a vegetarian again. *g*

spurious @ 123

Loo Hoo @ 100

The impeachment of all of them need to be timed so that nobody gets a pardon and everyone is eligable to stand trial for war crimes.

Yes. And one question: If Cheney is impeached (and removed) before Bush, couldn’t Bush still appoint a replacement before leaving office (hopefully!) himself? Ideally they would both be taken down together, leaving things neat for President Pelosi.

Ding ding ding!

SusanD @ 111

IMHO Bush, Cheney and Rove meet the criteria to be called domestic enemas enemies.

If Cheney were to be removed from office, I believe that the Senate would have to approve Bush’s new pick, yes?

An impeachment is like an honest Coup d’etat

Anyone want to speculate where a claim of executive privileged stands in an impeachment process or trial? I would think that this would be a clear case where the executive loses unless SCOTUS is so bought into party over constitution that nothing will fly anyways.

Greg Palast on Randi Rhodes talking about attempts to steal 2008 election & the DOJ.

common sense. Of course Cheney should be impeached.

OT – anyone watch/listen Reid’s speech today on Iraq? i’m listening now… so far i think it’s pretty good.. talked about bush being in denial, that congress will show him the way, need to bring the troops home… basically a defense of congress bill for iraq war/occupation supplemental bill with lots of good critisisms of bush… all in his nice calm gentle voice…

From Krugman this a.m.:

Anyway, never mind the political calculations. Confronting Mr. Bush on Iraq has become a patriotic duty.

The fact is that Mr. Bush’s refusal to face up to the failure of his Iraq adventure, his apparent determination to spend the rest of his term in denial, has become a clear and present danger to national security. Thanks to the demands of the Iraq war, we’re already a superpower without a strategic reserve, unable to respond to crises that might erupt elsewhere in the world. And more and more military experts warn that repeated deployments in Iraq — now extended to 15 months — are breaking the back of our volunteer military.

If nothing is done to wind down this war during the 21 months — 21 months! — Mr. Bush has left, the damage may be irreparable.

P J Evans @ 130

eCAHNomics @ 99

CNN: Jeb Bush is on everyone’s short list for running mate for 08.

The GOP wants to lose that badly? Or is he going to change his name and pretend he isn’t related?

(It’s enough to make me want an amendment that say something to the effect of ‘If your spouse or one of your parents was president or VP, you can’t run for that office. Ever.’ Call it the anti-dynasty amendment. Or the anti-nepotism amendment.

Just make it an anti-Bush family one.

carville up on cnn now…

Petrocelli @ 121

Suppose DK begins impeachment hearings and enough dirt comes out in the wash to get Bush as well, can they do a twofer?

All it takes is a Rep to bring Articles up and an affirmative vote in the House.

I don’t know much about the process, though… are there timeline restrictions between bringing Articles up and when the House needs to vote? At what point is an investigation begun, after the House votes aye and sends it to the jury (the Senate)?

Woops, PLANS to steal 2008. I can’t edit comments in here.

First time I’ve ever heard his voice.

Should Cheney be impeached and convicted, the vacancy will need filling. Bush might be so damaged at that point, by the multiple investigations and Veep-peachment, that he sez fukit.

I can’t imagine Bush finding someone to serve out Cheney’s term. I can’t imagine if he did find someone, that the Congress would approve that person. Either we go the balance of his term without a Veep, we XXV his ass, or he quits up and flies off to the ranch in Paraguay.

It could happen, any and all of it. Paradigm shift.

Carville conducts treason in order to save his wifes reputation on CNN.

Why doesn’t Carville learn to speak English? I know ESL in the Deep South, but he’s ridiculous.

1,495 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen scory and the firepup Patriots:

You are right on the button scory…impeachment doesn’t hafta go ta trial in the Senate, I think both would resign before that. And even if they take it all the way to the Senate trial, we will get a look at materials we can not access now without a criminal investigation.

More importantly, Firepups…it is now clear that the only way we get out before 2009 is to impeach ‘em both…it’s a win-win for Democrats and common people even if he survives the vote which I think is not a forgone conclusion. If they go to trial in the Senate don’tcha think that there might ta be jest a tad pressure on the Repugs up fer re-election?

IMPEACHMENT I say…we can’t lose even if we lose!!

TeddySanFran @ 120

Make it last, baby. Tantric impeachment.

I’d sooner follow Deep Throat’s advice: follow the money shot.

Is it just me or does Carville resemble Chertoff?

Skeletor, The Clone…….

TeddySanFran @ 120

With regard to difficult-to-prove and document-intensive — there’s no reason for this to be a particularly swift impeachment of the Vice President. Let Congressman Kucinich have a hearing room, some klieg lites, subpoena power, and lotsa room for network cameras. Get the Out of Iraq Caucus and the Progressive Caucus on his adhoc Special Impeachment Committee.

Hear, hear! You rock SFTeddy!

Take months if need be. Watch the GOP clamor for “quick action” after about three days. Do not indulge them.

Make it last, baby. Tantric impeachment.

Gnome de Plume @ 134

If Cheney were to be removed from office, I believe that the Senate would have to approve Bush’s new pick, yes?

Following Spiro Agnew’s resignation, President Richard Nixon nominated long-time Michigan congressman Gerald Ford to succeed Agnew as Vice President on October 12, 1973.

The United States Senate voted 92 to 3 to confirm Ford on November 27, and on December 6 the House confirmed him 387 to 35. Ford was sworn in later that day at the United States Capitol.

Palast on Gonzo to staffers: “I know you’re commiting a crime, but don’t tell me what you’re doing, just do it.”

Kucinich is the wrong guy to do it as he is not taken seriously. Kos, for example, detests the guy.

On the other hand, it benefits Democrats to have the “impeachment” word actually out of the closet and spoken on the teevee.

My sense is: if Kucinich can get it out there and if it gets legs somehow — gains acceptance by more “serious” House Dems — then, it’s useful.

Dennis needs to stop appearing on Fox News. I think they give him time because they think he makes Dems look looney. He must think the payoff of getting airtime is worth it. But, generally, it makes him look like a tool.

Bustednuckles @ 149

Is it just me or does Carville resemble Chertoff?

Skeletor, The Clone…….

Carville IS Matalin, sans the wig.

Is this what’s called an understatement?

Former President George Bush told CNN Monday that the electorate may be experiencing “Bush fatigue.”

And it may be the reason his son, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, is sitting out the 2008 presidential election, the 41st president said.

TeddySanFran @ 120

With regard to difficult-to-prove and document-intensive — there’s no reason for this to be a particularly swift impeachment of the Vice President. Let Congressman Kucinich have a hearing room, some klieg lites, subpoena power, and lotsa room for network cameras. Get the Out of Iraq Caucus and the Progressive Caucus on his adhoc Special Impeachment Committee.

Take months if need be. Watch the GOP clamor for “quick action” after about three days. Do not indulge them.

Make it last, baby. Tantric impeachment.

talk about erotic ………

omg have they ever been seen in the same room together, Mandrake?

From the WaPo: Story Link

House, Senate Negotiators Agree on War-Funding Bill
Legislation Calls for Ending U.S. Combat Operations in Iraq Next March

House and Senate negotiators reached agreement today on final war-funding legislation that would begin bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq as early as this July, setting a goal of ending U.S. combat operations no later than March of next year.

…

The legislation would maintain House-passed language setting strict requirements for resting, training and equipping troops. But it would also grant the president the authority to waive those restrictions, as long as he publicly justifies the waivers.

The bill establishes benchmarks for the Iraqi government to meet, including the establishment of a program to disarm militias. The benchmarks also require reductions in sectarian violence, the easing of rules that purged the government of all former Baath Party members, and passage of a oil revenue-sharing law.

If Bush fails to determine that those benchmarks are being met by this summer, troops would begin coming home by July 1 of this year, with a goal of completing the withdrawals by the end of the year, according to the House-Senate deal. If he determines they are being met, troops would begin coming home no later than Oct. 1, with a goal of completing the troop pullout by April 1, 2008.

…

I’m ready for a Consitutional Crisis…
Bush’s failure to produce documents is
prima facie evidence of the high hard one, thrown right at the DEMs head…
Let’s take the field!
A bench clearing brawl called Article of Impeachment

Kucinich is the wrong guy to do it as he is not taken seriously. Kos, for example, detests the guy.

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.

bdu @ 110

scory @ 98

BDU @ 62

While I admire LHP’s thinking, I disagree with her argument, given the current context.

I wasn’t exactly endorsing LHP’s viewpoint, just pointing out where it had been discussed last time.

Furthermore, the news last week is that he was drawing simultaneous articles of impeachment for Shooter and Decider, so this news being just for Shooter changes the dynamics as well.

Investigate. Hammer Repugs. Gather evidence. Hammer Repugs. Roll out public support campaign. Hammer Repugs with overwhelming corruption evidence. Graciously agree when Repugs begin demanding Impeachment hearings. Tie all Repugs to corrupt impeached administration, toss into millpond and watch sinking back into the ooze whence they came.

selise @
139

OT – anyone watch/listen Reid’s speech today on Iraq? i’m listening now… so far i think it’s pretty good.. talked about bush being in denial, that congress will show him the way, need to bring the troops home… basically a defense of congress bill for iraq war/occupation supplemental bill with lots of good critisisms of bush… all in his nice calm gentle voice…

Reid has been the David Banner character all along and is now morphing into The Incredible Hulk. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall when Reid & Pelosi met Bush last week.

Oh, if Kos detests Kucinich, I guess that’s that.

Who’s Kos?

It’s a great idea to get Cheney and not Bush. If they try to get Bush, they leave the troops in Iraq without a functioning President. You can’t really make that accusation about a Veep.

Let’s hope it happens.

selise @ 139

OT – anyone watch/listen Reid’s speech today on Iraq? i’m listening now… so far i think it’s pretty good.. talked about bush being in denial, that congress will show him the way, need to bring the troops home… basically a defense of congress bill for iraq war/occupation supplemental bill with lots of good critisisms of bush… all in his nice calm gentle voice…

another shot across the bow …….

Bearpaw @ 164

Oh, if Kos detests Kucinich, I guess that’s that.

Who’s Kos?

Does KOS protest too much?

I find it quite interesting that the admin is so very touchy about the Crow/David/Rove encounter…

“I think it’s unfortunate that people who have an impassioned view about a topic don’t take the time to afford the President the same respect that they are asking for. The President’s record on climate change is very strong,” Perino said.

I just wonder how Perino sees an encounter with Rove as some sort of disrespect for the president?

AZ Matt @ 159

From the WaPo: Story Link

House, Senate Negotiators Agree on War-Funding Bill
Legislation Calls for Ending U.S. Combat Operations in Iraq Next March

House and Senate negotiators reached agreement today on final war-funding legislation that would begin bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq as early as this July, setting a goal of ending U.S. combat operations no later than March of next year.

…

The legislation would maintain House-passed language setting strict requirements for resting, training and equipping troops. But it would also grant the president the authority to waive those restrictions, as long as he publicly justifies the waivers.

The bill establishes benchmarks for the Iraqi government to meet, including the establishment of a program to disarm militias. The benchmarks also require reductions in sectarian violence, the easing of rules that purged the government of all former Baath Party members, and passage of a oil revenue-sharing law.

If Bush fails to determine that those benchmarks are being met by this summer, troops would begin coming home by July 1 of this year, with a goal of completing the withdrawals by the end of the year, according to the House-Senate deal. If he determines they are being met, troops would begin coming home no later than Oct. 1, with a goal of completing the troop pullout by April 1, 2008.

…

Someone tell Pach to come in off the ledge.

TeddySanFran @ 158

omg have they ever been seen in the same room together, Mandrake?

See me @ 117. In addition to Carville in aforementioned shorty bathrobe, I saw Matalin sans makeup, at the door. Had I been hungover and doing the walk of shame, I would have hurled whatever was in my gut at that moment.

Georgesimian @ 165

It’s a great idea to get Cheney and not Bush. If they try to get Bush, they leave the troops in Iraq without a functioning President. You can’t really make that accusation about a Veep.

Let’s hope it happens.

What? There’s a functioning president?

I don’t think Kucinich not being taken seriously on Capitol Hill or anywhere else has much to do with what Markos thinks of him, but that was a delightful juxtaposition, Slothrop.

The messenger is less important if MSM will carry the water — SitRoom is pretty damn TradMed, and if they are taking Kucinich seriously enough to have him on, he’s not a loon anymore.

Although I agree — NO Dems should appear on FOX.

TeddySanFran @ 145

Should Cheney be impeached and convicted, the vacancy will need filling. Bush might be so damaged at that point, by the multiple investigations and Veep-peachment, that he sez fukit.

I can’t imagine Bush finding someone to serve out Cheney’s term. I can’t imagine if he did find someone, that the Congress would approve that person. Either we go the balance of his term without a Veep, we XXV his ass, or he quits up and flies off to the ranch in Paraguay.

It could happen, any and all of it. Paradigm shift.

Gonzo for VP?

GO DENNIS GO
GO DENNIS GO
GO GET HIM
GO GET HIM
GO DENNIS GO

TeddySanFran @ 157

omg have they ever been seen in the same room together, Mandrake?

On Press the Meat, but considering Timmeh’s such a fan, he’s probably got some special effects going on there.

Supposedly they have spawned but I’ve never seen evidence.

What will Tweety think?

Whoever ends up as Veep should be required to agree to NO PARDONS before confirmation.

scory stop it i am outta brain bleach completely

Gnome de Plume @ 127

And I would like to think that our beloved Dems are consciously changing the discourse and purposely starting to control the conversation. Please Goddess, let them be as savvy as we want them to be.

The gloves are definitely coming off. Reid today: “The military mission has long since been accomplished. The failure has been political. It has been policy. It has been presidential.” linky

Bearpaw @ 164

Oh, if Kos detests Kucinich, I guess that’s that.

Who’s Kos?

Oh, the mighty Kos rules left blogostan, dontchaknow?

scarecrow @ 161

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.

*g* Thanks for the laugh, Scarecrow.

There won’t BE a new Veep.

fahrender @ 97

Mandrake @
29

AngryAmerican @ 19

My thought is that it’s as good a place to start as any. I also think anyone even remotely interested in returning democracy to America, and keeping this misadministration’s actions from being set as precedent that you contact Kucinich’s office today to encourage him, and tomorrow after he announces this to support him.

Also, this would be the perfect time to rattle on Pelosi’s cage and point out that not everyone shares her incomprehensible stance not to impeach shrub and shooter despite a majority of this country supporting it (for lying us into Iraq for example).

I feel like the reason she doesn’t want to go there is that it if those two go, she would end up President by default (I can’t even think about it, I’m not allowed to have such happiness in this lifetime). All conservs would be jumping up and down like apes, frothing at the mouth and screaming about a conflict of interest.

she could recuse herself and turn it over to Murtha ….

Mandrake… good idea, or why not just quietly turn Conyers loose?

Rayne, I understand that Pelosi has a lot to gain by the removal of shrub and shooter, but she didn’t have to say that impeachment was off the table. She could have said that they would perform their oversight duties and if anything came up they would go wherever it lead.

I think it was irresponsible for Pelosi to try and keep her fellow Dems in line by saying this. Our representatives have a constitutional duty to investigate this administration, and by failing to do so are not only allowing a dangerous precedent to be set for future administrations, but are giving amunition to those that believe that the Dems are nothing more than “republican lite”.

All Pelosi would have to do is turn her dogs loose (i.e. Conyers, Leahy, Waxman) behind the scenes, keep up a nice political front by recusing herself, and let the chips fall wherever they do.

Every day that goes by without a resolution of inquiry is one less day we have to restore American democracy.

Everyone knows if Cheney is called to hearings in the House he will lie and obstruct…much less continue to stomp on our beloved Constitution day and night.

He must be held up in the light of hearings!

TeddySanFran @ 158

omg have they ever been seen in the same room together, Mandrake?

i’ve seen them together on the TUBE. completely lost my appetite, blew groceries, whatever ….

Is Madame DeFarge knitting?

Damn we’re good !!

Democrats tried to gain political momentum in the agreement by stripping out some spending items that Bush and congressional Republicans have ridiculed. The final legislation will no longer fund peanut storage facilities in Georgia and will not aid spinach farmers in California who were harmed by last year’s E. coli scare. Nor will it fund Christmas tree farms, Menhaden and shrimp fishermen on the Gulf Coast, or sugar cane growers.

It would raise the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour over two years.

scory @ 169

TeddySanFran @ 158

omg have they ever been seen in the same room together, Mandrake?

See me @ 117. In addition to Carville in aforementioned shorty bathrobe, I saw Matalin sans makeup, at the door. Had I been hungover and doing the walk of shame, I would have hurled whatever was in my gut at that moment.

Wow, no wonder you moved!!

Still, did you ever see the two together? I’m thinking, Mary without makeup. Perhaps James had just enough time to slap on the wig but not the makeup. Not just to get the paper anyways.

The shiftt now to investigations-hearings, accountability, impeachment, etc. and the resulting pressure this brings is
so needed. Lets not forget that FEAR CAN BRING ALL THIS TO A
HALT IF ——-THERE IS ANOTHER MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACK
in Europe or in the USA. The Bush administration would use it to
further implement their fascist agenda. Just read what was on
the wire this am of Iraq Al Queda planning a major attack on the
scale of Hiroshima somewhere. Who can we believe? If the
conspiracy theories can be believed about 9-11 then whose hand
is behind these warnings. We need to start thinking how we will
not allow this government to use a terrorist attack to further their
agenda of calling off elections, of curtailing more civil lliberties etc.
just some pro-active thinking.

TeddySanFran @ 182

There won’t BE a new Veep.

I can’t imagine the repugs will go with this in the Senate unless there is an agreement for a plan of succession that let’s them keep the office through the end of the term. First shooter goes, then there’s a new Veep, then Bush goes. But this time. NO PARDONS. That was what dammed us to repeat this history.

Sam @ 189

The shiftt now to investigations-hearings, accountability, impeachment, etc. and the resulting pressure this brings is
so needed. Lets not forget that FEAR CAN BRING ALL THIS TO A
HALT IF ——-THERE IS ANOTHER MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACK
in Europe or in the USA. The Bush administration would use it to
further implement their fascist agenda. Just read what was on
the wire this am of Iraq Al Queda planning a major attack on the
scale of Hiroshima somewhere. Who can we believe? If the
conspiracy theories can be believed about 9-11 then whose hand
is behind these warnings. We need to start thinking how we will
not allow this government to use a terrorist attack to further their
agenda of calling off elections, of curtailing more civil lliberties etc.
just some pro-active thinking.

What does Jake think?

OldCoastie @ 168

I find it quite interesting that the admin is so very touchy about the Crow/David/Rove encounter…

“I think it’s unfortunate that people who have an impassioned view about a topic don’t take the time to afford the President the same respect that they are asking for. The President’s record on climate change is very strong,” Perino said.

I just wonder how Perino sees an encounter with Rove as some sort of disrespect for the president?

What. a. whore.

conniptionfit @ 173

TeddySanFran @ 145

Should Cheney be impeached and convicted, the vacancy will need filling. Bush might be so damaged at that point, by the multiple investigations and Veep-peachment, that he sez fukit.

I can’t imagine Bush finding someone to serve out Cheney’s term. I can’t imagine if he did find someone, that the Congress would approve that person. Either we go the balance of his term without a Veep, we XXV his ass, or he quits up and flies off to the ranch in Paraguay.

It could happen, any and all of it. Paradigm shift.

Gonzo for VP?

dag! — forgot to offer my
little bon mot above — “impeach?. . .

indict?

tomato-tomahto. . .”

same diff — let’s call it done. . .

[i do think impeachment of any
v.p. or the pres. a tall order, here
and perhaps byond dennis’ ken,
just to be clear. . . i do love
the idea that MSM will cover it. . .

and, now. . . an independent-minded
chicago u.s. attorney might just
“indict“, right? a guy can dream. . .]

TeddySanFran @ 178

scory stop it i am outta brain bleach completely

TSF — sorry. I’m out of Carville and Matalin stories, anyway.

It’s ten years later, and the image is still not out of my mind. An occupational hazard of living in DC.

realworld @ 190

TeddySanFran @ 182

There won’t BE a new Veep.

I can’t imagine the repugs will go with this in the Senate unless there is an agreement for a plan of succession that let’s them keep the office through the end of the term. First shooter goes, then there’s a new Veep, then Bush goes. But this time. NO PARDONS. That was what dammed us to repeat this history.

There’s no way to stop pardons.

Just in case you want to keep track!

Bush administration under a cloud

By The Associated Press
Sun Apr 22, 1:41 PM ET

A rundown of Bush appointees who left under a cloud or face conflict-of-interest allegations

Scooter Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in a grand jury investigation into the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. His trial also implicated top political adviser Karl Rove and Cheney in a campaign to discredit her husband, Iraq war critic and retired ambassador Joe Wilson (news, bio, voting record). Libby, who plans an appeal, is awaiting a June 5 sentencing.

• Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is fighting to hold onto his job in the face of congressional investigations into his role in the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. Two top aides have resigned in the investigation into whether the firings were politically motivated. Emails and other evidence released by the Justice Deparment suggest that Rove played a part in the process. Other e-mails, sent on Republican party accounts, either have disappeared or were erased.

• Paul Wolfowitz, president of the World Bank and a former deputy defense secretary, acknowledged he helped arrange a large pay raise for his female companion when she was transferred to the State Department but remained on the bank payroll. The incident intensified calls at the bank for his resignation.

• J. Steven Griles, an oil and gas lobbyist who became deputy Interior Secretary J., last month became the highest-ranking Bush administration official convicted in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal, pleading guilty to obstructing justice by lying to a Senate committee about his relationship with the convicted lobbyist. Abramoff repeatedly sought Griles’ intervention at Interior on behalf of Indian tribal clients.

..

And more: HERE!!

Ford practically promised no pardon in his confirmation hearings.

scarecrow @ 169

Someone tell Pach to come in off the ledge.

well, first gotta read the bill… but the quote doesn’t sound good:

a goal of completing the troop pullout by April 1, 2008.

that’s the senate bill (not the house version)

if the withdrawal is only a goal…. then i’m on the ledge with pach…. ‘cuz if that’s the case and bush takes the money and runs – congress will have paid for bush’s endless war.

Jake has stopped reading entrails for now. He is so disgusted with
this entire government that he wants them to leave town now.
He’d like to pack his bags and so fly to Spain. At least there
the dictator Franco is dead and they have a righteous judge in
Garzon who will bring international criminal charges against
Bush, Cheney etc… He’ll be there as a Hemingway giving reportage
on the trials.

Sadly I think it is Dream-On time for a successful impeachment. There aint bthe votes in the Senate…….. yet!

What’s more, it looks more and more as if neither Reid nor Pelosi can or will hold the line over the timetable, that they will wimp out when all they have to do is keep sending the Bill back….. it’s a Supplemental, remember? Then they must, and every single Dem must be Whipped to stick to the script….. “It is the President who is denying the soldiers their money. The people want the Iraq OCCUPATION (Never War!) over and the Democratic Party agrees, so we are responding to their wishes positively.”

scory @
98

BDU @ 62

While I admire LHP’s thinking, I disagree with her argument, given the current context.

The articles of impeachment drawn and voted on for President Clinton were based on partisan politics, and were political street theater of the worst sort. In the case of President Nixon, there was what was obviously a criminal issue, however minor, with which he was directly associated. It was only a matter of time until he would have been forced to stand trial.

I think Cheney pretty clearly falls into the latter category, and so does Bush. It’s only a matter of time before what’s unraveling at DoJ entangles one or both of them in a way that demonstrable could lead to a grand jury indictment. And the only real way out for either of them would be resignation.

In a sense, what’s being pushed is not impeachment, but creating enough pressure and discomfort to make both Cheney and Bush resign.

Now, that leads to the ultimate need for a truth and reconciliation commission for the Executive Branch’s actions from 2001 – 2007, but that’s another discussion.

Many of the Repubs in power today STILL believe that Nixon really didn’t do anything wrong and it was all just a partisan witch hunt. Clinton was their payback.

lost_nacf_gop @ 112

selise @ 16
But is frequently saying insanely stupid things on the air a “high crime” or a “misdemeanor?” Everything else is going to be very difficult and document-intensive to prove.

Whoever posted this earlier, thanks!

“High misdemeanor” is an archaic term in English Law for a number of positive misprisons, neglects and contempts. The most important example being that of “maladministration in high office.”

“Maladministration” is a political term which describes the actions of a government body which can be seen as causing an injustice…and can include:

*Delay
*Incorrect action or failure to take any action
*Failure to follow procedures or the law
*Failure to provide information
*Inadequate record-keeping
*Failure to investigate
*Failure to reply
*Misleading or inaccurate statements
*Inadequate liaison
*Inadequate consultation
*Broken promises

Cheney has done, or been a party to most,if not all, of these behaviours in the Bush Administration. I believe the same can be said of Bush, Rove, and Gonzales.

Hell, I’d like to see it, if for nothing else, but to watch the screaming monkeys start throwing shit fits.The howls of outrage from the repukes would be immediate and shrill.Great theater.
Short term memory loss would be immediately shown as the calls for ‘Rule of Law’ drowned them from the wayback machine.

AZ Matt @ 196

Just in case you want to keep track!

Bush administration under a cloud

By The Associated Press
Sun Apr 22, 1:41 PM ET

A rundown of Bush appointees who left under a cloud or face conflict-of-interest allegations

Scooter Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in a grand jury investigation into the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. His trial also implicated top political adviser Karl Rove and Cheney in a campaign to discredit her husband, Iraq war critic and retired ambassador Joe Wilson (news, bio, voting record). Libby, who plans an appeal, is awaiting a June 5 sentencing.

• Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is fighting to hold onto his job in the face of congressional investigations into his role in the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. Two top aides have resigned in the investigation into whether the firings were politically motivated. Emails and other evidence released by the Justice Deparment suggest that Rove played a part in the process. Other e-mails, sent on Republican party accounts, either have disappeared or were erased.

• Paul Wolfowitz, president of the World Bank and a former deputy defense secretary, acknowledged he helped arrange a large pay raise for his female companion when she was transferred to the State Department but remained on the bank payroll. The incident intensified calls at the bank for his resignation.

• J. Steven Griles, an oil and gas lobbyist who became deputy Interior Secretary J., last month became the highest-ranking Bush administration official convicted in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal, pleading guilty to obstructing justice by lying to a Senate committee about his relationship with the convicted lobbyist. Abramoff repeatedly sought Griles’ intervention at Interior on behalf of Indian tribal clients.

..

And more: HERE!!

when AP starts writing that shit the fat lady is doing Wagner ……

TeddySanFran @
120

With regard to difficult-to-prove and document-intensive — there’s no reason for this to be a particularly swift impeachment of the Vice President. Let Congressman Kucinich have a hearing room, some klieg lites, subpoena power, and lotsa room for network cameras. Get the Out of Iraq Caucus and the Progressive Caucus on his adhoc Special Impeachment Committee.

Take months if need be. Watch the GOP clamor for “quick action” after about three days. Do not indulge them.

Make it last, baby. Tantric impeachment.

AAAIIIEEEEE!!!!! The LIGHT!!! It HURTZ!!! It HURTZZZ!!!! AAAIIEEEEE!!!!

bob @
75

Won’t happen, says Candy Crowley. It’s just an “article of faith”: from the left wing of the party. Majority of Democrats don’t think the American people voted them into office in 2006 to conduct impeachments. Besides, Americans are sick of impeachment after the Clinton thing. If you can’t impeach a guy as popular as Clinton was, how can you impeach Cheney?

Whew. Glad we don’t have to worry about that. Crowley always helps me come to my senses with a dose of “spent-my-day-in-the coffee-shop-cause-I-can-always-just-wing-it-with-Wolfie” wisdom.

And Candy Crowley knows that how? She’s just another talking head talking out of her ass.

This could happen very quickly.

Or slowly.

Or Bush could bomb Iran.

TeddySanFran @ 120

With regard to difficult-to-prove and document-intensive — there’s no reason for this to be a particularly swift impeachment of the Vice President. Let Congressman Kucinich have a hearing room, some klieg lites, subpoena power, and lotsa room for network cameras. Get the Out of Iraq Caucus and the Progressive Caucus on his adhoc Special Impeachment Committee.

Take months if need be. Watch the GOP clamor for “quick action” after about three days. Do not indulge them.

Make it last, baby. Tantric impeachment.

Tantric impeachment. I like the sound of that. It’s so much better when it lasts.

Impeachment = You’re Fired!

Just the Founding Fathers’ way of cleaning house once in a while.

Gnome de Plume @
134

If Cheney were to be removed from office, I believe that the Senate would have to approve Bush’s new pick, yes?

House as well.

AZ Matt @ 196 –

hugh’s “bush scandals list” is up to #147.

‘course a few of them aren’t entirely bush’s doing or impeachable offenses… but there’s probably more than 100 good reasons to impeach.

Sam @ 199

Jake has stopped reading entrails for now. He is so disgusted with
this entire government that he wants them to leave town now.
He’d like to pack his bags and so fly to Spain. At least there
the dictator Franco is dead and they have a righteous judge in
Garzon who will bring international criminal charges against
Bush, Cheney etc… He’ll be there as a Hemingway giving reportage
on the trials.

General Franco is still dead, but Pedro Almodovar is ready to give Jeff Gannon a screen test ….

mc @ 180

Bearpaw @ 164

Oh, if Kos detests Kucinich, I guess that’s that.

Who’s Kos?

Oh, the mighty Kos rules left blogostan, dontchaknow?

poop on Kos

dakine01 –

Many of the Repubs in power today STILL believe that Nixon really didn’t do anything wrong and it was all just a partisan witch hunt. Clinton was their payback.

One Richard “Dick” Cheney, chief among them. Hence the infamous minority report he authorized at the end of the Iran-Contra hearings, which has been used as one of the foundations of the “unitary executive”.

I’m convinced with enough real pressure, the Bush Crime Family will fold. I’m also convinced that the people Cheney believes are his supporters will sell him out in a minute, if it appears that he’ll sing to save his skin.

Mandrake @
155

Bustednuckles @ 149

Is it just me or does Carville resemble Chertoff?

Skeletor, The Clone…….

Carville IS Matalin, sans the wig.

Cruella and Wormtongue deCarville

Selise — if you decide to stand on the ledge, please don’t hold hands with anyone else who may be thinking about jumping unless you’re planning on saving them.

scarecrow @
161

Kucinich is the wrong guy to do it as he is not taken seriously. Kos, for example, detests the guy.

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.

And Joe Klein has exactly what credibility?

AngryAmerican @ 20

My thought is that it’s as good a place to start as any. I also think anyone even remotely interested in returning democracy to America, and keeping this misadministration’s actions from being set as precedent that you contact Kucinich’s office today to encourage him, and tomorrow after he announces this to support him.

Also, this would be the perfect time to rattle on Pelosi’s cage and point out that not everyone shares her incomprehensible stance not to impeach shrub and shooter despite a majority of this country supporting it (for lying us into Iraq for example).

Nancy cannot actively pursue impeachment. She is third in line. It must be thrust upon her (like by a referral from the Senate).

Bearpaw @ 164

Oh, if Kos detests Kucinich, I guess that’s that.

Who’s Kos?

Markos is a national treasure just like our Jane and Christy: smart as they come but his crankiness with Kuchinich followed the little fella’s acapella singing bit getting a lot of Cspan airings that coincided with the time frame Kos disparaged the diminutive congressman. Coincidence? maybe but in any event it all struck me as a guy thingy and no more serious than that. My Ohio friends are all feeling lucky Dennis Kucinich is in congress.

Badwater @ 195
realworld @ 190
TeddySanFran @ 182
There won’t BE a new Veep.

I can’t imagine the repugs will go with this in the Senate unless there is an agreement for a plan of succession that let’s them keep the office through the end of the term. First shooter goes, then there’s a new Veep, then Bush goes. But this time. NO PARDONS. That was what dammed us to repeat this history.

There’s no way to stop pardons.

They can get whomever on record promising not to offer them. Sure they can still do it but they will really ruin their historical legacy. I suspect anyone willing to take the job would care about that.

Zig freed by MOD

Slothrop @ 154

On the other hand, it benefits Democrats to have the “impeachment” word actually out of the closet and spoken on the teevee.

I agree. The Republicans made a mockery of impeachment when they impeached Clinton for lying about consensual sex and released pornographic grand jury testimony onto the internet without even reading it first. Impeachment needs to be rehabilitated as a serious tool for checks and balances. JMHO.

dakine01 @ 215

Cruella and Wormtongue deCarville

Would love to see darkblack take this one on!

If we do not impeach, it is clear that we have no morals or any value as a “democratic” nation. As a member of a nation that pre-dates this new worlder one, (taken by invasion, btw) it is clear that governing well is not the first priority of anyone with an (R) behind their name.

If we do not impeach, it’s time for some governor types to think about secession. We in the Northwest might agree to that, who knows?

It sounds like science fiction. Who’s writing this script anyway!?

We get Thom Hartmann (AAR) delayed here, so I’m listening now. He just did a bee-yoo-tee-full spiel about “Gonzo-gate,” as he calls it.

His take is that:

–The Incompetence meme is for show. He seems to think that Voter Fraud is at bottom of everything, and that there’s plenty o’ evidence buried in DoJ.

–Abu will stay as long as it suits
Bush/Rove/Cheney’s purposes.

–It’s no miraculous case of country-above-party that many Repubs are speaking out against Abu’s Incompetence.

–It’s also no shocker that the MSM is carrying the Incompetence line.

Ultimately, Abu stays as long as possible — will help keep everyone distracted from the bigger story of politicization of DoJ and the Voter Fraud effort.

To take that on would threaten some of the big corporatist machinery in our country and the GE’s et al have no real incentive to do so.

Finally, Thom advocates that firing or “letting him resign” is way too good for Abu. Abu & Chimp should be impeached.

If anyone’s interested and if available, check it out when it comes up — Thom was smokin’!

Mandrake @ 175

TeddySanFran @ 157

omg have they ever been seen in the same room together, Mandrake?

On Press the Meat, but considering Timmeh’s such a fan, he’s probably got some special effects going on there.

Supposedly they have spawned but I’ve never seen evidence.

They have two daughters. After she left the Whig she wrote a book and dedicated it to them.

Regardless of the final outcome, impeachment herings must commence. I have changed my mind about impeachment. And I feel strongly about this issue.

scory @ 214

I’m convinced with enough real pressure, the Bush Crime Family will fold.

Just convince Bush Sr. that Jeb will never be President because of Cheney and Cheney is gone.

scory @ 214

dakine01 –

Many of the Repubs in power today STILL believe that Nixon really didn’t do anything wrong and it was all just a partisan witch hunt. Clinton was their payback.

One Richard “Dick” Cheney, chief among them. Hence the infamous minority report he authorized at the end of the Iran-Contra hearings, which has been used as one of the foundations of the “unitary executive”.

I’m convinced with enough real pressure, the Bush Crime Family will fold. I’m also convinced that the people Cheney believes are his supporters will sell him out in a minute, if it appears that he’ll sing to save his skin.

May I be the one on this thread to point out that the Ds have been in control of Congress for only 4 months. Think they’ve gone quite a distance in that time. I also think Reid’s using the L word is brilliant. Changes the narrative entirely. Turns other side into whiners. No, no , no, we didn’t lose the war. You’re a very bad man to point it out. Shame on you.

LoudounLib @ 222

dakine01 @ 215

Cruella and Wormtongue deCarville

Would love to see darkblack take this one on!

Wish I could claim ownership but these were the consensus names arrived at a week or so ago here at FDL.

selise @ 211

AZ Matt @ 196 –

hugh’s “bush scandals list” is up to #147.

‘course a few of them aren’t entirely bush’s doing or impeachable offenses… but there’s probably more than 100 good reasons to impeach.

Thanks! I hope he doesn’t run out of electrons.

I will NEVER understand how a person like the dick,
can take part in lieing our country into an invasion, cause
hundreds of thousands of people’s deaths, literally bankrupt
the United States . . . and not only keep his government job,
but continue doing whatever the h*ll he pleases.
THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
Mainly because organized crime runs it, and shoves it’s own people into positions where they can rule that they are within the law.

We have to take it back . . . . by hand.

O/T,

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/bl…..ng-in.html

wild people, by Babs bush:

“”Asked if voters should be weary of Romney being a Mormon, the former president’s wife, Barbara, said “not at all,” noting there are “wild people” in many religions.

“I mean it was in 1897 that bigamy was outlawed in that church,” she said. “You know we have a lot of Christian wild people too, and a lot of Jewish wild people and a lot of Muslim wild people. The Mormon religion takes care of it’s own, they don’t have people on welfare”"

Where oh where is she coming from?

Brisingamen @ 46

Rayne @ 33

– but that doesn’t mean the American public can’t put it on the table on their own via their states, or via the SENATE, which is where impeachment really happens.

Minor correction — Impeachment is what the House of Representatives does.

As I understand it, impeachment is the equivalent of being indicted by a grand jury. Once the VP is impeached/indicted the trial happens in the Senate.

If the Senate convicts, the VP is no longer VP.

in case this didnt get straightened out:

Article I, Section 2
The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
Article I, Section 3
The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments.

TeddySanFran @ 48

Let’s go.

The issues are all there:
1. Secret energy policy-making
2. Carving up Iraq alongside the oil companies
3. Enriching his former employer by warmaking
4. Lying to the American people about Saddam’s
a. WMDs
b. ties to terrorists
c. imminent threat to America
d. grave and growing danger to the world
5. Continuing (up to the present day!) a-d
6. Doing business, at Halliburton, with Iraq and Iran
7. Putting his daughter Liz and son-in-law Philip Perry in multiple positions of power in several Federal agencies (nepotism)
8. Being unresponsive to classification reporting requirements over his entire tenure
9. Obstruction (Libby)
10. Obstruction (911 inquiry)
11. Obstruction (Iraq reconstruction inquiry)
12. Treason (IIPA Plame)
13. Foreign agency (House of Saud)
14. Promulgating from the OVP an extra-constitutional and unconstitutional VicePresidency (per his ex-CoS and current CoS)
15. Shooting an old man in the face
16. Douchebaggery

Start now, allow other investigations to proceed apace, call him and his myrmidons every day to answer the charges on Capitol Hill.

haha. the list is a lot longer than that:
http://www.netrootsmass.net/Hugh/Bush_list.html

eyesonthestreet @ 232

O/T,

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/bl…..ng-in.html

wild people, by Babs bush:

“”Asked if voters should be weary of Romney being a Mormon, the former president’s wife, Barbara, said “not at all,” noting there are “wild people” in many religions.

“I mean it was in 1897 that bigamy was outlawed in that church,” she said. “You know we have a lot of Christian wild people too, and a lot of Jewish wild people and a lot of Muslim wild people. The Mormon religion takes care of it’s own, they don’t have people on welfare”"

Where oh where is she coming from?

She’s a treasure, isn’t she? Our own Martha Mitchell.

eCAHNomics @ 228 says:

May I be the one on this thread to point out that the Ds have been in control of Congress for only 4 months. Think they’ve gone quite a distance in that time. I also think Reid’s using the L word is brilliant. Changes the narrative entirely. Turns other side into whiners. No, no , no, we didn’t lose the war. You’re a very bad man to point it out. Shame on you.

I do agree with you FWIW. I don’t think there is time or effort for an impeachment. But plenty of time and willingness to investigate and shine the light under all the rocks. If we can keep the light on all the crimes and abuse of the constitution for 18 months, it will make the republics squirm for all the correct reasons.

Joe Klein’s conscience @ 217

scarecrow @
161

Kucinich is the wrong guy to do it as he is not taken seriously. Kos, for example, detests the guy.

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.

And Joe Klein has exactly what credibility?

That was a bit of snark, I believe.

I just checked, and today’s Thom Hartmann show is not up yet, but podcasts are apparently made available.

Here’s the link to Thom Hartmann’s page if folks want to check it out later today or tomorrow.

spurious @ 221

I agree. The Republicans made a mockery of impeachment when they impeached Clinton for lying about consensual sex and released pornographic grand jury testimony onto the internet without even reading it first. Impeachment needs to be rehabilitated as a serious tool for checks and balances. JMHO.

Exactly. This is what I was alluding to at 43.

The Founders wrote in the impeachment clauses to address criminal actions that harmed the interest of the country. IANAL, but I think we’re getting close to the point of having information about both Bush and Cheney that, presented to a grand jury, would lead to an indictment.

scarecrow @ 235

eyesonthestreet @ 232

O/T,

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/bl…..ng-in.html

wild people, by Babs bush:

“”Asked if voters should be weary of Romney being a Mormon, the former president’s wife, Barbara, said “not at all,” noting there are “wild people” in many religions.

“I mean it was in 1897 that bigamy was outlawed in that church,” she said. “You know we have a lot of Christian wild people too, and a lot of Jewish wild people and a lot of Muslim wild people. The Mormon religion takes care of it’s own, they don’t have people on welfare”"

Where oh where is she coming from?

She’s a treasure, isn’t she? Our own Martha Mitchell.

I know, belongs in a wax museum

scarecrow @ 235

eyesonthestreet @ 232

O/T,

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/bl…..ng-in.html

wild people, by Babs bush:

“”Asked if voters should be weary of Romney being a Mormon, the former president’s wife, Barbara, said “not at all,” noting there are “wild people” in many religions.

“I mean it was in 1897 that bigamy was outlawed in that church,” she said. “You know we have a lot of Christian wild people too, and a lot of Jewish wild people and a lot of Muslim wild people. The Mormon religion takes care of it’s own, they don’t have people on welfare”"

Where oh where is she coming from?

She’s a treasure, isn’t she? Our own Martha Mitchell.

no, not Martha Mitchell… Martha had charm, unlike Babs…

Mandrake @ 237

Joe Klein’s conscience @ 217

scarecrow @
161

Kucinich is the wrong guy to do it as he is not taken seriously. Kos, for example, detests the guy.

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.

And Joe Klein has exactly what credibility?

That was a bit of snark, I believe.

Yes, but it was still a fair question. ;)

AZ Matt @ 159

From the WaPo: Story Link

If Bush fails to determine that those benchmarks are being met by this summer,

If Bush fails to determine–???

Babs is short for “Babbles On…”

I’ll stick with the idea of impeachment. Of course we could do nothing.

scarecrow @ 235 says:

She’s a treasure, isn’t she? Our own Martha Mitchell.

Not really (unless I’m missing the snark here). Martha was a bit of a loose cannon but she also helped get the information out about how corrupt her husband was. She just did it from the bottom of a bottle is all.

puppethead @
68

lolo @ 49

CNN just announced the articles of impeachment. Wolfie was interviewing John Murtha and interrupted him to ask him about it, now he is talking of Bush Fatigue.

There’s more to this than whether or not it’s productive for Kucinich to do this. It’s now changing the manner of discourse in the media. Just like Reid’s (likely well-planned) comment that the Iraq War is lost, the narrative is changing from pro-Bush to embattled, lame-duck government. This kind of framing and “working the refs” is how the GOP always pushes their messaging, it’s good to see the tables turned.

Sure, we’ll continue to see the likes of Chris “Tweety” Matthews enthralled by the bulge in Bush’s pants, but the more talk like this out in the open the harder it becomes for Rove to control the message. This is how you get the country to admit the emperor has no clothes.

You are SOOOOOOO spot on. Taking command of the language is how The Newt unveiled Contract On AmeriKa, and how they marched since then to the glory that is theirs to behold to this day.

It IS nice, to see DEM’S, FINALLY GET!!! IT!!!!!
And DO it!!!!!

Great analysis/observe there, PuppetHead!

Some Practical Politics…

The House only took up the Matter of Impeachment against Nixon after the Saturday Night Massacre produced well over 100 resolutions of impeachment dumped within a few days in the House Hopper. This forced the House Judiciary Committee (under Rodino)to debate whether to take it up. Several weeks later they voted to do so (late October, 1973). By early January they had staffed up and adopted rules regarding how to proceed, and the executive hearings (behind closed doors) began in March, with the public hearings not till July. In otherwords, it took more than the nine months it takes to make a baby to get from resolutions in the hopper to the public hearing part of the process. To get to starting the process, you need perhaps a hundred individual members willing to drop a resolution into the Hopper. Because members of the Judiciary Committee vote as to whether to take it up — they as a matter of form do not participate in the resolution writing stage.

Dreams of having Cheney appear before a committee — forget it. Nixon never appeared, Andrew Johnson never appeared, Clinton never appeared. They hire lawyers who dominate the discussion.

If there is to be any impeachment, it should be directed at Gonzolas. The rules for impeaching a lesser officer such as a cabinet member, are less protective. Moreover, articles against Gonzolas are easier to propound — he has an administrative Job Description for one particular agency, and thus it is much easier to make specific matters of competence stick than for an elected VP or P. (I could see an article based on the lack of short and long term memory as an indicator of competence being put against Gonzalas). I also think it more likely that the Senate would convict Gonzolas — looks like 5 Republicans have already said he should leave — but remember to convict, they need at least ten more.

Remember, much of the distaste for the Clinton impeachment came from the sense it was a pure waste of time in Congress — the Republicans knew from the beginning they would never have the votes to convict. It was wheel spinning for effect, not for a clear outcome. The same would be true of a Cheney process. On the otherhand, an impeachment of Gonzalas can be framed as a realized need to have a less partisian but functional Department of Justice, something Republicans might find somewhat attractive.

At any rate, if anyone wants to do something other than dream about something like this, the first step probably is to find 100 Democrats not semi-senior on the House Judiciary Committee, to put resolutions into the Hopper.

eyesonthestreet @ 240

I know, belongs in a wax museum

I didn’t think that wax would be able to do all those wrinkles.

Mandrake @ 175

Supposedly they have spawned but I’ve never seen evidence.

Evidence has appeared on Press the Meat, running in at the end of the hour to greet Uncle Timmeh.

eyesonthestreet @ 232

O/T,

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/bl…..ng-in.html

wild people, by Babs bush:

“”Asked if voters should be weary of Romney being a Mormon, the former president’s wife, Barbara, said “not at all,” noting there are “wild people” in many religions.

“I mean it was in 1897 that bigamy was outlawed in that church,” she said. “You know we have a lot of Christian wild people too, and a lot of Jewish wild people and a lot of Muslim wild people. The Mormon religion takes care of it’s own, they don’t have people on welfare”"

Where oh where is she coming from?

I wish MSNBC would give OldBar the Imus two-hour slot. Just let her natter on in her own special way.

eyesonthestreet @ 232

O/T,

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/bl…..ng-in.html

wild people, by Babs bush:

“”Asked if voters should be weary of Romney being a Mormon, the former president’s wife, Barbara, said “not at all,” noting there are “wild people” in many religions.

“I mean it was in 1897 that bigamy was outlawed in that church,” she said. “You know we have a lot of Christian wild people too, and a lot of Jewish wild people and a lot of Muslim wild people. The Mormon religion takes care of it’s own, they don’t have people on welfare”"

Where oh where is she coming from?

Man, oh man. That Babs. She’s a caution, ain’t she? Man, she’s got some nerve talkin’ about other people’s chillun bein’ wild.

Is there any truth to the rumor she was on the bottle when she was preggers with the shrub?

dakine01 @ 246

scarecrow @ 235 says:

She’s a treasure, isn’t she? Our own Martha Mitchell.

Not really (unless I’m missing the snark here). Martha was a bit of a loose cannon but she also helped get the information out about how corrupt her husband was. She just did it from the bottom of a bottle is all.

she was refreshing honest… bottom of the bottle and all…

uh-oh!

scarecrow’s gotten into jane’s stash on snark-juice again.

watch out!!

scarecrow @ 242
Mandrake @ 237
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 217
scarecrow @ 161
Kucinich is the wrong guy to do it as he is not taken seriously. Kos, for example, detests the guy.

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.
————
And Joe Klein has exactly what credibility?
————
That was a bit of snark, I believe.
————
Yes, but it was still a fair question. ;)

Indeed, for Time magazine!

Perhaps some reading up on the Emperor Nero would give us some
historical background. My dog Jake took out the Satyricon copy
I have and told me to read it about Nero’s psycopathic decadence.
The Roman Senate declared Nero public enemy number one.

I say we save time and money and impeach then both at the same time! Barring that, impeach Cheney first!

Badwater @ 227

scory @ 214

I’m convinced with enough real pressure, the Bush Crime Family will fold.

Just convince Bush Sr. that Jeb will never be President because of Cheney and Cheney is gone.

Sorry – you’ve lost me on this postulation Bush Sr. would have any influence with Dim Son George and his VP Darth Vader who have no conscience nor interest in either papa Bush or Jeb. Ruthless sociopathic personalities are incapable of anything resembling the human family much less their own enablers. I think the shrinks call this disorder thus: sociopathic personalities.

dakine01 @ 246

scarecrow @ 235 says:

She’s a treasure, isn’t she? Our own Martha Mitchell.

Not really (unless I’m missing the snark here). Martha was a bit of a loose cannon but she also helped get the information out about how corrupt her husband was. She just did it from the bottom of a bottle is all.

On the telephone, from an apartment in the Watergate. I miss Martha. We need one now.

CNN: Robert Bennett is now Wolfie’s lawyer. Claims Wolfie acted in good faith.

Kucinich is the wrong guy to do it as he is not taken seriously. Kos, for example, detests the guy.

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.

And Joe Klein has exactly what credibility?

That was a bit of snark, I believe.

Yes, but it was still a fair question. ;)

Indeed, for Time magazine!

zig felled

dakine01 @ 246

scarecrow @ 235 says:

She’s a treasure, isn’t she? Our own Martha Mitchell.

Not really (unless I’m missing the snark here). Martha was a bit of a loose cannon but she also helped get the information out about how corrupt her husband was. She just did it from the bottom of a bottle is all.

Martha was probably more entertaining.

OldCoastie @ 253 says:

she was refreshing honest… bottom of the bottle and all…

That she was. And it was a spot of fun watching John trying to shut her up. Of course, the Repub noise machine of the day started floating all the “she’s crazy, needs to be in hospital” stories to defame her and attempt to shut her up but she seemed to always find an available phone and receptive reporter.

George Bush Sr.’s wife is a very nasty piece of work.

punaise @ 244

Babs is short for “Babbles On…”

Yes, but who knows the date the Mormons started their church off the top of their head?

This comment, like all Bush comments, was a plant. Of the Mormons who do have multiple wives do benefit from welfare, for the “wives,” are legally unmarried in the eyes of the Federal welfare system, they are “single mothers,” and the children are also, ‘unsupported.” Sounds like 41 and Babs are supporting Romney.

eCAHNomics @ 260

CNN: Robert Bennett is now Wolfie’s lawyer. Claims Wolfie acted in good faith.

The Bennett Brothers
they are always there in the background. if it’s not one, it’s the other.

eyesonthestreet @ 232

Is there any truth to the rumor she was on the bottle when she was preggers with the shrub?

Just Shrub? What about Marvin, Neil, and Doro? Jeb seems to be the only one who doesn’t have obivious cognitive and behvioural deficits!

Sam @ 189

We need to start thinking how we will not allow this government to use a terrorist attack to further their agenda of calling off elections, of curtailing more civil lliberties etc. just some pro-active thinking.

Amen.

Martha Mitchell? Now there’s someone who I would have liked very much to have had a beer, or two with. Seriously.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 269

Martha Mitchell? Now there’s someone who I would have liked very much to have had a beer, or two with. Seriously.

Honesty without a filter to stop whatever she wanted to say. As was said above, quite refreshing.

gotta go, always a good time……………

If we’re in the middle of a nuclear attack, on Iran, depending on timing, we won’t be doing elections

Oklahoma kiddo @ 264

George Bush Sr.’s wife is a very nasty piece of work.

Gossip time. My good friend in Houston became acquainted with a 41 mistress. By the time she moved back to Houston, 41 was out of office & also back in Houston. Affair was over. Woman in question got creepy feelings about being spied on. My friend got her a good PI who found the bugs. Woman confronted 41, who looked surprised, then knowledgeable, then told her not to worry, it would never happen again. It never did.

New thread

fahrender @ 105

the times they are a changin’ …..

has anything ever happened that you didn’t see coming ?

Yes – but those things have generally been led by Republicans.

We don’t have the votes to impeach. Therefore, this will be a three day story that will go nowhere, IMO.

This from Howie Klein last Sat: IS IMPEACHMENT FEASIBLE? CAN ANY AMERICAN WITH A SHRED OF DIGNITY OR HONOR NOT WORK TO BRING IT ABOUT? AND DON’T FORGET: IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST

Oklahoma kiddo @
272

If we’re in the middle of a nuclear attack, on Iran, depending on timing, we won’t be doing elections

EPU’d now, but if we could have elections in 1864 and 1944 with all that was going on, we damn sure better have elections in ‘08 or it really is time for the second American revolution.

pre-amerikkkan @ 223

If we do not impeach, it is clear that we have no morals or any value as a “democratic” nation.

Amen.

You don’t need a complete impeachment for things to fall apart. The significance of the Waxman letter on WH security lapses for instance is that he basically says the professionals have been coming out of the woodwork in droves to tell what’s been happening. Much the same thing shows signs of occurring in DoJ. Once it starts it can become unstoppable.

On WH Security, why would they of all people want not to maintain security? Oh, I forgot, Karl works there.

scarecrow @ 161

Kucinich is the wrong guy to do it as he is not taken seriously. Kos, for example, detests the guy.

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.

Thank you for getting THAT on the record.
Kos is a joke . . . it’s all back to the command of the language to wage the war.

As long as ANYONE can fabricate ‘Kuch as loon’ statements and get them published/shown/heard, Kuch will continue to struggle with the fact that, he’s one of a FEW honest politicians genuinely concerned with repairing this damaged country.

But corporate america, the MIC and this admin and all who support it don’t WANT those kinds of politicians coming to the front of ANY foray. They get in the way of dealmaking to make money.

The Dem’s really need to toss some support his way and get OFF the Shilary bandwagon before she takes us all down with her.

Gnome de Plume @
132

Yes. And one question: If Cheney is impeached (and removed) before Bush, couldn’t Bush still appoint a replacement before leaving office (hopefully!) himself? Ideally they would both be taken down together, leaving things neat for President Pelosi.

Ding ding ding!

Randi Rhodes just posited in a fearful voice, what if Shrub nominates John McCain after Darth Cheney is deposed?

Eeeewwwww . . . . !!!!!!

punaise @ 261

zig felled

Follies? :~)

Gnome de Plume @ 181

scarecrow @ 161

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.

*g* Thanks for the laugh, Scarecrow.

Ok, ok, Klein is an idiot too, but MY point earlier is Kos is an idiot.
What HE or Klein think of Kuch don’t matter anymore, so screw them both and GO KUCH!

larue @ 281

Randi Rhodes just posited in a fearful voice, what if Shrub nominates John McCain after Darth Cheney is deposed?

Eeeewwwww . . . . !!!!!!

That’s why we need to impeach them both at the same time.

AngryAmerican @ 183

. . . All Pelosi would have to do is turn her dogs loose (i.e. Conyers, Leahy, Waxman) behind the scenes, keep up a nice political front by recusing herself, and let the chips fall wherever they do.

Every day that goes by without a resolution of inquiry is one less day we have to restore American democracy.

Nancy WANTS to be prez.
Shilary is evil.

Everything spins around those two things.

I was very upset with Speaker Pelosi too, about the impeachment issue being taken off the table, and a few other things, as well.

But Firepups have brought up such compelling information since, I gotta give her some rope and room to move in for now.

Hence, Kuch doing the Article Happy Dance is GRAND!!! s

Speaker Pelosi MAY, in some fashion I have NOT fathomed yet, be the ONLY thing that keeps Shilary outta the Dem Nomination.

Cross fingers, pass popcorn and the whiskey.

Thoughts?

IMPEACH ALREADY!

Two words:
President Pelosi!

He’s helping to move the Overton window to the left. Good for Kucinich.

Sam @ 189 reminds us all of the ultimate and evil hole card these bastards can play at almost any time . . . keeps ME on the edge of my desk chair . . .

If I’m not too late, I want to register my vote to IMPEACH THE VEEP!!! Its long overdue, and the sooner, the better.

The new book by Tenet should add fuel to those flames.

But evidence gathered during the Libby trial, e.g. re authorizing the leak of Valerie Plame’s name, should link Cheney to Bush, and may create grounds for impeaching both of them at the same time.

Bob in HI

VJB @
6

Would Rove take a bullet for this man?

No.

Bob in HI

Pelosi!

“The vice president is focused on the serious issues facing our country.”

This can ONLY mean that he is focused on his resignation.

re the Kos vs Kucinich thing.
Kos is short. Very short. Maybe pixie short.
Some short people are fighters, like Kucinich, and some hold the jackets, like Kos. Kos’s dislike for Kucinich is just projected self loathing. It’s too bad. He’s not a terrible guy, otherwise. He’s hung up on Kucinich because he is short. ugh

This is what kos thinks of Kucinich and why.

It a bit of a bizzare take on the fellow. But I stand for so much of what Kucinich wants in term of his platform as written on his web site and his willingness to confront Cheney is nothing short of a very welcome move.

punaise @ 261

Kucinich is the wrong guy to do it as he is not taken seriously. Kos, for example, detests the guy.

Kos is the wrong guy . . . as he is not taken seriously. Joe Klein, for example, detests the guy.

And Joe Klein has exactly what credibility?

That was a bit of snark, I believe.

Yes, but it was still a fair question. ;)

Indeed, for Time magazine!

zig felled

Every Democratic politician I respect has refused to touch the impeachment of Bush or Cheney with a ten-foot pole. That includes my home-state senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both of whom have very solid liberal credentials, in my opinion. In addition, the Congressman next door to me, Jay Inslee, has actively worked against impeachment being put on the table right now. Congressman Inslee, by the way, hosted the famous townhall meeting in Seattle on August 21, 2003, during which Ambassador Joe Wilson famously vowed to see “Karl Rove frogmarched out of the White House in handcuffs.” I don’t happen to know the position of my own Congressman, Jim McDermott, but if he was publicly calling for impeachment I believe I would have heard about it. Governor Chris Gregoire, whose election in 2004 was the subject of one of Rove’s bogus voter fraud initiatives, and which USA McKay refused to prosecute due to lack of evidence, has also worked to shut down impeachment, even though there was a bill in the Washington State Senate for the purpose. So why are all these good, solid, liberal politicians dead set against impeachment at this time? I doubt if it’s because they don’t believe impeachment would be warranted. Governor Gregoire, in particular, is a smart lawyer and the former attorney general of the state of Washington. Are we to believe that she thinks impeachment is unwarranted? I don’t think so. Well, you know, maybe all the aformentioned people, who just happen to be successful politicians, by the way, honestly believe that impeachment would be bad politics, at least right now. Eh? When you think about it, every Bush appointee in the executive branch is probably a crook, a certifiable nut case, or a bona fide war criminal. Why not ask Representive Kucinich to add the names of the entire Bush cabinet to his bill of impeachment? Now that Kucinich is done appearing on Fox News as the only Democrat to do so since the presidential debate was cancelled, I don’t see why he can’t sit down and add another dozen names or so to the bill. Seriously, I believe impeachment would be justified with all my heart and soul, but if all the politicians in my party think it would be a very bad idea right now, maybe I should listen to them. If I had to choose, I would rather see the Ds take the White House in 2008 and increase their majorities in Congress as smart politicians than blow it by initiating a Quixotic impeachment procedure obviously doomed to failure. Hell, the Ds don’t even have the votes to de-fund the war! What would be gained by impeachment other than the satisfaction of shooting ourselves in the foot on high principle?

P J Evans @
130

eCAHNomics @ 99

CNN: Jeb Bush is on everyone’s short list for running mate for 08.

The GOP wants to lose that badly? Or is he going to change his name and pretend he isn’t related?

(It’s enough to make me want an amendment that say something to the effect of ‘If your spouse or one of your parents was president or VP, you can’t run for that office. Ever.’ Call it the anti-dynasty amendment. Or the anti-nepotism amendment.

Jeb & George are brothers.
JFK and RFK are brothers.
RFK would have made a good president, if he had not been assassinated, IMHO.

Bob in HI

Gnome de Plume @
134

If Cheney were to be removed from office, I believe that the Senate would have to approve Bush’s new pick, yes?

Yes.
Bob in HI

Well, I read what Kos said his reasons were and all the comments. Seems like the pro-Kucinich folks had the better arguments.
Nope, I think it is because Kos is short.

Leg >

Two words: President Pelosi!

Grandma President !

“Every once in a while, you’ve got to do something hard, do something you’re not comfortable with. A person needs a gut check.” – Corporal Chad Ritchie, U.S.M.C.

lolo @ 56

If he gets impeached then Fitz can get him for outing a spy. No pardons when you are impeached. …..Emptywheel?……

An impeachment conviction merely removes one from the benefits of holding any office in the Government. I don’t think it denies anyone the possibility of a pardon.

The person merely becomes a member of the public. It’s not even, technically, a statement of criminality…merely a political act, since “high crimes and misdemeanors” isn’t legally defined, and the penalties are limited to that of removal from office and any emoulements (benefits) that may be related to that.

You may be confusing this with the fact that a PRESIDENT is unlikely to face a (non-impeachment) trial while they are serving, but only after they leave office. This suspension of any legal actions against the President isn’t likely to be something a Vice-President has…witness Spiro Agnew’s indictment for bribe-taking (that occurred when he was Gov. of Maryland).

I have to wonder what kind of mind and heart one has to have even to agree to shoot the Easter Bunny at the White House Easter Egg Roll. I must also wonder what kinds of minds and hearts one has to have to find it amusing, as the laughing people in the audience apparently did.

I also wonder what we have become that no parent screamed protesting the “killing” of a beloved figure of childhood right in front of children, who can hardly have been expected to have been in on the joke. What did the father or mother say who was asked by their little girl why everybody laughed when the bad man shot the Easter Bunny with his gun? Were they able to help their daughter see the rich humor in the situation?

Newsweek said that he once shot 75 pheasant in a day. It never said why.

So, come Christmas, do we get Santa Claus a Kevlar vest and tell him to park his reindeer a safe distance away?

This is horrid and this is sick.

GabrielOak @ 296
Would the proposal have more ligitamacy if Tester or Webb were touting it?
Someone has to be first. It takes balls.

Gnome de Plume @ 62

Thanks BDU. Here is what I was looking for:

You see the problem is with jury selection. The jury for impeachment is the Senate by a 2/3’s majority. So unless or until you have a whole big chunk of disguted Republican Senators who cannot be blackmailed or bought by Cheney willing to vote honestly, you have no hope of winning the verdict.

You have to build this prosecution brick by brick, just like Watergate until there are enough Rep. Senators willing to vote for the truth.

Kunick is suffering from premature indictment syndrome. I’m sure hteres a blue pill for that too.

I’m sorry, but to do it now looks immature and reckless and he runs the risk of making Leahy and Waxman and Conyer look as if they are silly as he is.
This kind of cheap grandstanding is totally counterproductive and if he is this incometant he should just STFU.

Serious people are trying to do a serious credible and meanigful jub and this yahoo comes along to play for a little attention.

He’s a fucking saboteur!!!

The Articles of impeachment can be tabled until additional evidence or other articles can be brought forward. There is a process to all of this, and I don’t believe that the Articles will be issued until a majority of those in the House in fact, WANT TO bring it forward.

But I want to see what Kucinich’s Articles ARE…and what evidence he has marshalled to support them.

Nice to see people wising up to the mistake it would be to impeach Bush2 with Cheney as VP.
Impeach Dick, the insurgency is in it’s final throes again really, Cheney First.
Bush2 is nothing but a fundraiser and a failed legacy now.
Kucinich made sense in 2004 also. He deserves the First cabinet level Minister of Peace chair in the Edwards Whitehouse.

dakine01 @
277

Oklahoma kiddo @
272

If we’re in the middle of a nuclear attack, on Iran, depending on timing, we won’t be doing elections

EPU’d now, but if we could have elections in 1864 and 1944 with all that was going on, we damn sure better have elections in ‘08 or it really is time for the second American revolution.

In case you haven’t noticed, we ARE in the middle of a Reagan Revolution. Did you forget the SCOTUS sorta tossed out the Constitution in their 2000 Bush v. Gore decision? Have you not noticed Bush is wiping his butt with it every day?

bob @ 75

Won’t happen, says Candy Crowley. It’s just an “article of faith”: from the left wing of the party. Majority of Democrats don’t think the American people voted them into office in 2006 to conduct impeachments. Besides, Americans are sick of impeachment after the Clinton thing. If you can’t impeach a guy as popular as Clinton was, how can you impeach Cheney?

Yeah, THAT makes sense! I think that the public was sick of the impeachment of Clinton because they didn’t see any relevance of the charges to his role as President. One really had to stretch to believe that lying about sex had anything to do with criminal activity within the Administration or deceiving the public about issues of State.

In contrast we have a cabal that are inveterate liars about just about every government act they undertake in order to line the pockets of lobbyists and contributors. They lied us into a war, they lie about how troops die in that war , they lie about the killings of Iraqi civilians, they lie about the costs of that war, the number of dead, the “progress” of the war (yet another “corner turned” or “hallmark reached”).

Hundreds of laws with unconstitutional Executive Signing Statements illegally “vetoing” components of those laws passed by Congress!

Awarding Federal Attorney positions to major campaign contributors (ever wonder about the mercurial rise of Mary Beth Buchanan?) and then having those cronies draw up a list of those other Attorneys (personal vendettas? Because they are non-political?) to be fired? Then destroying
accidently deleting the documents discussing the firing of those attorneys. How convenient!

Muzzy @ 82

From Waxman’s letter:
“A White House official left [Sensitive Compartmented Information] material behind in a hotel room during a foreign trip with the President. Although the CIA recovered the SCI material and reported the incident, the White House Security Office did not investigate, seek remedial action, or discipline the responsible official,”

I’m curious to know if this is just a single but important example of breaking protocol or if the contents of the information recovered by the CIA bear any significance to answering broader questions of Congressional interest. Which presidential trip?

If the CIA had to recover the material this suggests that the material had pretty much fallen into the hands of nasty people. One wouldn’t think that the President usually goes to places where one couldn’t rely on a friendly government to go out and obtain the material back (and who would be very upset at the CIA acting to do so).

This almost sounds as if it occurred in Pakistan or Iraq…or possibly Indonesia.

Who screwed up?

ShoePuker43 @ 87

realworld @ 21

I do love Dennis. One of the few with COMPLETE integrity.

OT EPU but this post is closer. Waxman is getting quite upset about lax WH security practices is seems.
realworld @
10 BTW: Here is the original link to Waxmans letter

Only Administrative Sanctions for Andy Card and the others? How about Treason charges for knowingly walking around with devices that could be hacked out the air? They do not mention encryption?

OOOOH! But those conversations were only supposed to be about political issues…with the NRC! No talking about covert agents who work on WMD’s, or their cover firms; no discussions about personnel issues of government employees (US Atty’s), etc.

So no secrets were being divulged to reporters or politicians in the Republican Party HQ’s who didn’t have a smidgen of a security clearance.

Gnome de Plume @ 134

If Cheney were to be removed from office, I believe that the Senate would have to approve Bush’s new pick, yes?

And the relatively quick process of confirming Ford was a real exception to the process. In some cases it took so long that no VP ever was appointed. At least twice in US history there were 12 year stretches where a VP was seated for only two of theose years! The average confirmation time in the 20th century is something like 2 years.

Badwater @ 152

Gnome de Plume @ 134

If Cheney were to be removed from office, I believe that the Senate would have to approve Bush’s new pick, yes?

Following Spiro Agnew’s resignation, President Richard Nixon nominated long-time Michigan congressman Gerald Ford to succeed Agnew as Vice President on October 12, 1973.

The United States Senate voted 92 to 3 to confirm Ford on November 27, and on December 6 the House confirmed him 387 to 35. Ford was sworn in later that day at the United States Capitol.

This was an aberrant situation. Confirmation was one of the most rapid in history!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L…..ion_length

Ford’s replacement of Nixon with Rockefeller took 152 days.

But unless the appointment is quite widely accepted by BOTH parties the confirmation could drag out for more than a year. And might require two or three candidates.

Wow, a DEM who actually thinks Cheney has committed an impeachable offense? Might have actually violated something or other in the Constitution?

I’m heartened.

I admire Kucinich for trying, but his aim is just a little off. The person to impeach is Gonzales. Then if that’s successful, look at Cheney. Just good prosecutorial discipline, work your way up the tree.

john in california @ 303

GabrielOak @ 296
Would the proposal have more ligitamacy if Tester or Webb were touting it?
Someone has to be first. It takes balls.

Are Tester or Webb touting it? Is any Democrat touting it other than Kucinich? If not, is the explanation a lack of balls, or a cold calculation that impeachment at this time would distract and weaken Democrats just when we have an opportunity to govern for the first time in years? I readily admit that the idea of impeachment is legally and constitutionally legitimate, legally and constitutionally justified. But politically? Don’t you think there would be a backlash unless additional groundwork is laid first? Why not reserve action on impeachment, at least for now, while Congressional committees like Judiciary and others aggressively investigate the wrongdoing? Democratic minds, not balls, are controlling this issue.

landofthefree @
275

fahrender @ 105

the times they are a changin’ …..

has anything ever happened that you didn’t see coming ?

Yes – but those things have generally been led by Republicans.

We don’t have the votes to impeach. Therefore, this will be a three day story that will go nowhere, IMO.

Kucinich is the first Congressman to try to put this into action. Others have mentioned it including Chuck Hagel (in regards to Bush). This time it may last only three days but the gesture has been made. We know that several state legislatures have started the ball rolling (Vermont, New Mexico and Wisconsin that I can recall immediately). There are a number of Republican legislators who are nervous, angry or both about the Bush Administration. It is certain that many more revelations as to the corruptness and criminality of the Bush Administration are forthcoming. These revelations are happening weekly and sometimes daily. You might describe it as an avalanche. At some point, perhaps sooner than you think, the tipping point will occur and many who have not as yet done so will start saying the word impeach. What I have just described is not a fantasy. It is not fevered speculation. It is right now, almost, a reality. And I will quote Dylan one more time:

“The times, they are a changin’ ” …….

It has to be a twofer. Pelosi-Murtha ‘07!

cinnamonape @ 301

It’s not even, technically, a statement of criminality…merely a political act, since “high crimes and misdemeanors” isn’t legally defined, and the penalties are limited to that of removal from office and any emoulements (benefits) that may be related to that.

Yes, it IS a crime, a political one at that:

High Misdemeanor is an archaic term in English Law for a number of positive misprisions, neglects and contempts. The most important example being that of maladministration in high office. [emphais added]

[…]

Maladministration is a political term which describes the actions of a government body which can be seen as causing an injustice … and can include:

* Delay
* Incorrect action or failure to take any action
* Failure to follow procedures or the law
* Failure to provide information
* Inadequate record-keeping
* Failure to investigate
* Failure to reply
* Misleading or inaccurate statements
* Inadequate liaison
* Inadequate consultation
* Broken promises