Why We Should NOT Try to Impeach Bush & Cheney

Written by: Elaine L. Jones on Sep 24, 2007 10:03 PM EDT

On September 15 there was a rally in Washington to call an end to the war in Iraq.  Though I am passionately against this war and am sickened by the daily reports of increased killings and mindless destruction, I decided I would not be going to DC.  Why? The organizers of the rally have joined forces with the “Impeach Bush” forces, and this rally became as much about impeaching Bush and Cheney as ending the war.  While I believe absolutely that Bush and Cheney have perpetrated impeachable crimes,  I have come to believe that joining the movement to impeach Bush and Cheney could actually PROLONG the war because it would provoke a backlash and also divide the Democrats.  Up to now the Democrats have been fairly unified in their attempts (albeit unsuccessful) to enact a timetable to get out of Iraq.   Nancy Pelosi has been unflinching in her dedication to bring the House Democrats together to end this war, and has even passed legislation that just could not get through the Senate.  If Nancy Pelosi changed her focus to the impossible task of impeaching both President Bush and Vice President Cheney (the only alternative that makes sense) she would be accused of trying to become an unelected President. If Bush and Cheney were convicted, she would become an unelected president of the opposition party, and would then have control of every department of government. While this may be a Democratic dream come true, can you imagine any scenario in which this could happen?  Every analyst of this debate agrees that we would HAVE to have Republican votes to impeach and convict given the numbers and the rules of Congress on impeachment.  There is just no way that the Republicans would allow such a thing to happen. We had a terrific discussion on this issue at our last DFA Meetup. I was convinced that both Bush and Cheney overwhelmingly deserve to be impeached, and was delighted that we formed a task force to further study the topic.  I applaud every participant in that debate, and have the utmost respect for those who said that they did not get involved in progressive politics just so they could win, but so they could stand up for what is right and just. I couldn’t agree more, but have come to the conclusion that if I were to support the effort to impeach, my actions might actually do more harm than good in the long run. I believe that if we encourage Congress to pursue an Impeach Bush and Cheney strategy, not only will they be unsuccessful, but Democrats will also lose the battle on everything else we are fighting for: 

• a bill that demands we get out of Iraq;
• real reforms in health care and education;
• a good chance to retake the White House in 2008, and
• a permanent setback of the ultra-conservative agenda. 

I simply cannot go there. “The Trouble With Impeachment” is a must read article in September’s American Prospect: http://www.prospect.org:80//cs/articles;jsessionid=as4I4H01fg2hhCFCes?article=the_trouble_with_impeachment .   Take time to read it and think very carefully about this critical issue. With all respect,Elaine Jones, Chair

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