Impeach or face defeat in November presidential election

In a March 7, 2008 article, author Richard W. Behan argues that Democrats must impeach Bush and Cheney or face probable defeat in November's presidential election. His premise is that in their campaign against either marginal Democratic nominee, McCain and the Republicans along with Fox News will pull out all the stops while relying on their tried and true "be afraid, be very afraid" terror-mongering, possibly even to the point of staging an "October Surprise" Level Red terror alert. The solution, he argues, is to use impeachment to debunk the war on terror myth and expose it for what it really is - a war for the oil resources of the Middle East. When the lie is exposed, McCain will be discredited as an either willing or hapless Bush/pro-war sycophant who is unfit to lead.

A brief portion of the article follows:



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It's all a sham. Why would I bother voting for any party that won't defend the Constitution.

It's not "impeachment" that will make the difference.

If we lose, it will be because we allowed SWIFTBOATING to happen...AGAIN.

And who the nominee is doesn't matter.

There sat the ENQUIRER for my front-cover amusement--apparently, they're doing a bit of the CLINTON treatment on Obama--"Michelle is angry about his womanizing" on the one hand, and "Questions about his sexuality" on the other...and a dose of Somali costumes for good measure.

That's the sort of shit that they'll drag out, that, the "Hussein" nonsense, the "Iranian Agent-Manchurian Candidate" absurdities...not arcane arguments about "impeachment."

IF Clinton gets the nom, it'll be the same old stories, and maybe a few new ones about that Hard Dog To Keep On The Porch.

Anyone who's honestly expecting a national discussion about how the Dems don't deserve to win the Presidency because a majority-by-a-fucking-thread Congress without veto override failed to "impeach" will wait for a LONG time. Those sorts of issues aren't going to be the points of difference in the general election drama.

all the shit of this administration needs to be front and center for the rest of the year. let them scream about it. big shit. arrest them if they won't respond to subpoenas. the democrats need to play hardball. hearings are possible, even if impeachment does not occur. just ask the republicans. remember Clinton's years of harassment? The dems have to do this. In fact, they need to leak some of the most horrific torture pictures and put the blame for torture on the Bush white house steps. let the repukes in the leg. bitch all they want. ask them why they want to hide what they've done.

if there are hearings, they will have to be on C-span, even if the bought and paid for "media" won't cover the issues... as in the Sibel Edmonds case now.

good cop bad cop. let Obama talk about unity, but let congress note that justice is necessary for unity. we need to reconcile our laws and our office holders. if dems don't do this and the repukes do everything they can to put the fear of god in american minds, then, yes, the dems will have brought in on themselves.

and, once again, fucked over all of us. thanks in advance. I saw the thread earlier about "thinking about' contempt. they've been thinking about enforcing the law for two fucking years. either do it or shut up about it. who really cares anymore what they are thinking about if they don't follow up. and by not following up, they reinforce the idea that only the repukes are sons of a bitches enough to hold power. them's the way it is, childrens.

I've found two jobs, so far, to apply for in my area that are out of the U.S. If I get an interview and offer for either, I will take them. I won't be paid in dollars. These issues may not be issues in an election, but they are issues to me and I want to get out of this fascist shit hole that used to be America. i want to have health insurance. I want to live w/o idiotic fundies who still try to deny evolution. I want to live where my gay bros and sisters have the same civil rights that I have. I want Obama to win, but I know the ratfuckers are already at it. All I have is the hope of a clean break. Considering the democratic record for holding repukes accountable, I also know reality may be different. If they get the run around from repukes, then they should all go out on the steps of the cap. and demand the repukes answer the questions of torture and signing statements and the disregard for the separation of powers, etc. etc. etc. The American public is already sick of Bush's crap. Why the dems do not take advantage of this is beyond me, unless key players are being blackmailed or paid off... which isn't beyond question either.

it was certainly convenient that there was -maybe- a threat of another al q attack just as McCain got the repuke nomination. Why doesn't some staffer do a side by side of threats that were supposedly made lined up with events at those times that Bush et al wanted to get off the front page. Americans need to see that sort of thing and most ppl are too busy to follow that sort of thing themselves, what with working two jobs and all.

I know I'd be happier if I didn't live among this totally frustrating stupidity in this country while the rest of the western democracies work toward human rights for their citizens and residents.

:mad:

yes we can, but not if Congress is in bed with Bush.

We need a parliamentary form of government where resignations of ineffective governments can be forced by the people and new elections called.

So much of this system is broken. Talk about change? We need a second constitutional convention to change what is needed - a new constitution.

Nixon? Or th3e partisan political one the people did not agree with that Clinton survived?
If the drunken chimp has done nothing else he has earned Impeachment conviction and imprisonment.

Dim Son has committed real horrendous crimes against humanity and Nature. Clinton had a little tart give him a BJ. They are not at all in the same category.

my post was too rambling, but the point was that repukes are willing to hound a democrat for little to nothing while dems didn't do anything close to what the repukes did for crimes that were far worse.

...in other words, we're saying the same thing.

Two presidents have been impeached - Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Both were acquitted, and both were partisan attack jobs.

:shrug: Makes a good story though..

Impeachment will be seen as "revenge" and will guarantee a McCain Presidency.
That is why it will NOT happen.

It has nothing to do with truth, justice or the American way--it has everything to do with political calculations.

If you interview for jobs outside the US economy, I will give you a bit of advice--you'd better know the true cost of living before you take one of those gigs. It's VERY expensive in Pound Land AND in Euro Land these days.

I haven't been to Yenville in eons, but I imagine it's a real walletbuster there, still, too...

but if the dems had had any guts, it would have happened immediately after the mid-terms.

as far as moving - as I say, no pay in dollars. one job is just over the northern border. one is on the continent. I'm still looking for others, and I get notification of new job ops all the time (not many overseas, but some.) If nothing else, I'd like to move closer to the Canadian border to take sanity breaks.

but it isn't hard to get a sense of what things cost.

Be careful in Europe, though, it's fucking brutal there.

live comfortably, and push for that salary.

You might think you're getting a great salary if you don't do that research, and then realize you have to live in the slums with five other assholes and a crapper down the hall to make ends meet.

Same deal in UK with those pounds--what sounds like a decent wage, using a currency converter, can actually be hovering about the Poverty Line in that environment. London, especially, can take your breath away.

Know Your Economy, is all I am saying.

will be seen as 'revenge.' Again....every political party to have Impeachment hearings has won the WH the next election....shows courage, conviction, and spine.

Every time I hear that argument, I think of 2 possibilities: 1. Shrum: an idiot of unimaginable extremes who has been a consultant to the Dems 2. Repugnant mole talk...and maybe Shrum has been the mole all along.

It's only here that people still flog that dead horse.

It would have been useful three years ago, but we didn't have the votes.

We STILL don't have the votes, but that doesn't stop the Wishful Thinkers, I guess.

I want the hearings....I want the case to be made for the public record...that the US is a land of laws, not a dictatorship.

And I hate that dead animal crap....flog a limp dick sounds much better.

articles of Impeachment has WON the next Presidential Election. EVERY TIME throughout US history.

It shows conviction, spine, and an attempt for moral high ground. I have long felt that the Dems are making a HUGE mistake by not listing all of the crimes of the W Regime. It would be on MSM!!! List every last lie those assholes committed...get all of the PNAC people out there testifying...hell just show their letters.

Even republicans I talk to want him impeached...well, at least the ones who voted for him only once. So what if it doesn't pass in the Senate. It's the TRUTH that get outs!

I don't see how you can say: "Those sorts of issues aren't going to be the points of difference in the general election drama." McCain is a war boy...that's an issue. And that war was started with Lies and Fraud and Treason.

So what are the points in this GE drama? Besides war which leads to economy sucks cuz all the money went to the war.

Bush. That wasn't a 'win.' That was a THEFT.

So your point is invalid without even getting into all the impracticalities of such a measure at this late date.

dispose of our Democracy and declare the US no longer a land of laws.

You Got It. Happy now?

eta...ignore

I pointed it out. Now you're mad at ME because I so did.

And you put me on ignore, because I present to you an inconvenient truth?

How profoundly....immature.

FWIW, it's the GOP, not us, who base arguments on lies.

first, bring forth articles, and second, prevail in a Senate trial. And we don't have the NUMBERS. Everyone loves to "do the math" these days, but they are math challenged when it comes to this issue, too, apparently.

And the OP's "facts" are fiction.

But you have a nice fucking nonsensical day, now! :hi:

we would have the numbers. It is bullshit. Also, once you start the process, you begin to get the numbers, as with everything in politics, especially with a President with the worst fucking approval rating in the history of mankind.

And -- fuck the numbers -- this is an obligation to uphold the Constitution. This is about the most basic principles a Congressperson can uphold. How can they live with themselves and call themsevles Congreespeople when they are allowing this to go on?

Try to push them to action -- not excuses.

Those Democrats are not going to vote against their interests.

Not all Democrats are on the same page, on this and other issues. Some like Bush's 'economy' because it benefits their district or state, or their own greedy selves.

This is not a LOCKSTEP issue within the party, and acting like it is, when it isn't, is counterproductive and false. And getting mad at people who point it out is also a waste of time.

You can point out his low aproval ratings, the fact that he is an asshole, that he's stupid, all sorts of points, but that's not going to change reality--and the reality is that there are a LOT of right leaning DEMOCRATS under our big tent who are NOT onboard with the idea. There are a lot of CENTRISTS, and even a few LEFTISTS, in the party, too, who feel it would be a distraction in the run-up to the election. That's why you are NOT going to see it happen. Like it, or not.

Again, shooting the messenger won't change the situation.

Even though that probably wasn't your hit-n-run point.

Whoever answers this post to the contrary will be calling himself an monkey-brain IDIOT. :D

And WRONGO too. Don't the Rs wish this was true??

We need to elect new member of Congress who will uphold the Constitution.
http://peacecandidates.com/peace_candidate_list

:hi:

It's still a good idea.

:dem:

-Laelth

When we say, "It's not going to happen. Forget about it," that's the same as saying, "Let's accept that our nation is going to die," or "Let's accept that we're now a dictatorship." Like accepting your own death.

What if the future of humanity depended on it? What would you do? Keep trying or say, "Let's accept that the world is coming to an end"?

Yes, it's that serious.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

It is vital to our society's health and wel-being that Bush/Cheney be immediately impeached.

Bush's veto of the anti-torture bill is not over-ridden.

Bush fires the one general keeping us from going to war with Iraq.

How much more will it take before those who have the power to impeach WAKE UP??!!

Meanwhile, our very civil rights continue to erode.

We simply canNOT afford to wait until the elections to get rid of Bush/Cheney.

Bush/Cheney MUST be impeached - NOW!!

I have little doubt that most will dismiss Behan's warning. Inside and outside the beltway "everybody knows" the Republicans are toast; just as "everybody knew" they were in 1987. (http://journals.democraticunderground.com/pat_k/24">"It's like Deja vu all over again")

As usual, the conventional wisdom inside the beltway proved to be the opposite of reality. Their refusal to impeach for Iran-Contra made the horrors of today possible -- horrors that are beyond the worst we could have imagined. I shudder to think where their failure now will bring us.

Perhaps we can "cure" the http://journals.democraticunderground.com/pat_k/23">impeachophobics in time. If not, they will continue to sound like mealy-mouthed morally-confused morons as they accuse Bush of torture in one breath, and then declare their refusal do the ONLY thing capable of ending it in the next. They will continue to earn the public's disdain with their impotent "opposition." They will continue to wonder why they aren't "getting the message out" about their "accomplishments." They will continue to wonder why Americans' disapproval of Congress rivals their anger at Bush.

If we can't cure them, perhaps voters will remain more disgusted with the assault on the nation perpetrated by Republicans than the empty "opposition" and weakness of the Democratic "leadership."

But, even if their failure doesn't cost electoral victories, without Impeachment nothing will "get better" in 2009. Failure to challenge American fascism now allows it to flourish. It is ONLY by impeachment that the scope of damage can be exposed. Without it, they are left to regroup and reemerge.

That's the real tragedy.

Sadly, this is so true. Sadder still, far too many either don't get it or are unwilling or simply afraid to admit this truth even to themselves. Just change the players, and everything will get better. Unfortunately no, it won't - not as long as dishonesty, deception and corruption are the rules of the game. Good luck to you and to us all. We're going to need it. Thanks for posting.