Regarding Congress, the Democrats, and Impeachment

Nancy Pelosi and John Conyers have stated that impeachment is "off the table." Meanwhile, investigations into the goings on of the Bush Administration have begun. Yet despite all we know, or think we know, it appears the Democrats are reluctant to impeach Bush and Cheney. Why?

What is the motivation for not impeaching? If time is a concern, Conyers has stated that the impeachment process doesn't necessarily end when someone's term in office expires.

I think it's a serious mistake to not begin the impeachment process immediately. Historically, haven't the opposing parties always prospered and picked up seats after they started the impeachment process against a President who was from the other side of the aisle?

Look at the rush of new Republicans after the Clinton impeachment process. And didn't the Republicans also gain seats after the Dems failed to impeach Johnson? Consider the Richard Nixon/Watergate impeachment process.

I haven't done any serious research into this, but if memory serves the party who initiated impeachment always seemed to do better about that time. It would seem to me the Dems are making a serious mistake by not beginning this process immediately.

Despite accusations from the GOP of "this is just a partisan attempt to punish George Bush and Dick Cheney for Bill Clinton" and all the other excuses they will come up with, I still think impeachment would provide an overall bounce for the Democrats.

I would like to know how others feel about this, and would appreciate other opinions on this.

Frankly I think some of the Democrats are dying to start impeachment proceedings, but they are waiting for their constituents to demand it. That's what Jim Moran said (D-VA) in so many words according to someone in my CDIC who happened to hear him speak. He's not my Congress critter, unfortunately.

There are things you can do which I have done and recommend, especially if you have a liberal-leaning Dem as your Congresscritter.

Write to your Congresscritter and lay out the arguments for impeachment. You can go to http://www.democrats.com and http://www.afterdowningstreet.org for more info on this.

Start a CDIC (Congressional District Impeachment Committee) or join one in your CD - also go to http://www.democrats.com.

Stage a demonstration for impeachment or against the war at an intersection near your Congresscritter's house. We just had one up in Vienna, VA this weekend (near Tom Davis' house, and it was a rousing success).

And just be persistant. In fact I need to write Davis again and thank him for voting yes for no escalation and also about impeachment again.

Rinse. Repeat.