Dems Really Need To Be Careful About Impeachment Issue

The Maine Dem party's resolution of sentiment just passed at our state convention regarding the impeachment nof Bush/Cheney, and the issue in general, is a very slippery slope for the entire party. We Dems should really take a deep a breath and think about this. There is a problem when a resolution, like the one adopted by the Maine convention, which calls for BOTH "investigation" and "impeachment" in one fell swoop. I'm sure most of you are aware that the proper process is that the US House first must investigate possible wrongdoing, THEN, if evidence is deemed sufficient to support articles of impeachment for specified offenses, the House votes out the articles of impeachment (or official charges) which are then tried in the Senate. If the Senate also finds sufficient evidence, that body then must vote to convict by
a two-thirds majority.
Unfortunately, the Maine convention resolution puts the cart before the horse and even goes so far, I think, to suggest that Bush and Cheney should be summarily convicted and removed from office as things stand now even without an investigation, a proper vote on impeachment, or a Senate trial. It kind of makes the party look extremist and ignorant of the actual federal impeachment process while also failing to value due process in general, and I don't think most of the electorate will take it very seriously. It may well also merely serve to galvanize the Republican base in a cycle where we have a real chance to win some Republicans over to our side and, indeed, NEED to win some of them over.
Few have more disdain for the Bush/Cheney administration than I do, and I worked tirelessly in '04 to unseat Bush/Cheney. But I think it's a word to the wise for other state, county, and municipal party committees and candidates for office to be aware of the considerations I have outlined before they choose to adopt similar impeachment type resolutions and positions in an official manner. To call for a complete and thorough INVESTIGATION is one thing, which I entirely support, but to summarily judge and call for investigation, impeachment, and, very implicitly, removal from office all at once is quite another. Everyone, even the likes of Bush and Cheney, get due process including a fair and complete investigation before being charged, no matter how obviously guilty they may already seem. This, in fact, is very much what being a Democrat is about: rights and due process, even, I dare say, for absolutely awful politicians like Bush and Cheney.
Finally, we must remember that we as a party can not focus too heavily on impeachment calls. The electorate wants us to talk about how our party will LEAD, at all levels, and what we will do to fix the messes created by the R's. That means we have to talk about energy costs, health care, jobs and wages, campaign reform, education, national security, and all the other bread-and-butter matters that are most on the minds of those whose support we need.

Low post count, calling for anything less than impeachment immediately without any investigations, actually suggesting that we need to talk about how we will lead and not just running on Bush bashing? Recipe for a firestorm.

I'm not saying I don't agree, I'm just saying there are certain things around here that will result in lots of name calling and criticism. This is one of them.

Good luck!

Issues such as energy costs, health care, jobs, etc. are more important to people than investigation and possible impeachment. Now I'm not saying that investigation into the action of the Admin over the past 6 years is not due. What I am saying is that we need to bring about our views on these issue to the front.

Let's have the investigation and see where they take us (and for that matter see where the results of those investigations take the American People), but let us first and foremost present sane rational solutions to the problems confronting average Americans first.

By the way is there a link to that resolution?

......a uniting campaign issue and that's exactly what investigation/impeachment resolutions would do. I want the WH Idiot and Cheney impeached as much as anyone possibly could BUT I'm also realistic enough to know the neocons/fundies would turn it around on us if we use the words "investigation" and "impeachment" in the same resolution.

Demand - don't even bother asking - demand a "bipartisan investigation" and then leave the resolution right there. Give these people all the investigative, subpoena powers they need, with perjury prosecution powers as well and let them do their jobs.

In other words, give Idiot Boy and buckshot Cheney enough rope and they will hang themselves.

I'm concerned that war crimes and Crimes Against Humanity are being committed under the brand US label everyday, and that's something that we should all be extremely concerned about. That is murder and death and destruction in our name, and that's something that's difficult to live with.

These creeps belong in the Hague. Impeachment is letting them off the hook, as far as I'm concerned, when what they deserve is a life sentence in the Hague.

This whole business about the opposition having to always 'watch' themselves is ridiculous in light of the way repukes acted for a decade. If these same issues had cropped up under a dem president, you can be sure the repukes would have been howling from the rooftops. They NEVER shy away from launching an investigation or impeachment, even when it's an OBVIOUS political ploy.

Sorry, but I see this as a softball approach in a game of hardball, and is one major problems that has caused the dems to lose favor.

Did the president lie? You bet, on many occasions, it's been (easily) documented. Investigation over. Based on those lies, did the president proceed with an illegal invasion of a sovereign nation? You bet.

Ding! Case closed. Off to the Hague.

Bush himself said he spied on us and will continue to do so. There is so much more with those signing statements we don't fully have disclosure on. The war crimes, Katrina, etc..... It is time to Impeach. Nothing to really think about. Just do it......

the House must bring impeachment proceedings. These state "resolutions" mean nothing.

So... let the states vote their resolutions, I say. Let's make it clear that these people need to be investigated and impeached. And removed. And incarcerated.

Let's make it clear to our congress critters that the People know these criminals for what they are and we are demanding their removal and conviction.

Impeachment may be initiated by state legislatures.