Downing Street Memo Impeachment Rumblings a Joke (Even Salon.com admits this)

Salon.com ^ | 6/9/05 | Cass Sunstein

[lastfreeamerican]

At the very worst, Bush was committed, early on and for multiple reasons, to using force to remove a brutal dictator from office, and he hyped and distorted the evidence to convince the American public of the need for imminent military action. (In my own view, by the way, Bush believed in good faith that Saddam posed a genuine threat to American security, partly because of Saddam's willingness to support terror, partly because of Saddam's own military goals.)

Compare the behavior of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in World War II, who secretly and unlawfully transferred arms -- including more than 20,000 airplanes -- to England. Roosevelt deceived both Congress and the American public about what he was doing. It would have been preposterous to claim that Roosevelt thereby committed an impeachable offense.

So too for Bush. In any four-year period, the nation's leader is highly likely to deceive the public on a serious matter at least once -- sometimes inadvertently, sometimes for legitimate reasons, sometimes for illegitimate ones. Of course presidents should not exaggerate evidence, and it's perfectly proper to ask whether Bush got us into war under false pretenses. But there isn't anything close to a sufficient basis for impeachment.

It's obvious that the call for impeachment of Bush is impractical; it's simply a nonstarter, a publicity stunt, reality-free television. But it's also an irresponsible and even nutty idea in principle -- the lunatic left imitating the lunatic right. Can we talk about something else instead?

[lastfreeamerican]

That's right. Even if the Downing Street Memo was legitimate, and even if the Dems had a majority in Congress, impeachment proceedings would still be unconstitutional in this case. Of course, that's not going to stop Kerry, Pelosi, Reid, Conyers and Biden from shrieking about it, but the Constitution apparently means nothing to them anyway.

[need_a_screen_name]

Quick, someone post this over at DU! Just don't think you might not get banned for doing so.

[68skylark]

I'm surprised Salon.com still exists.

[cripplecreek]

Kerry, Pelosi, Reid, Conyers and Biden all know that nothing will happen. They're simply rallying the nuts.

[Red Badger]

TONKIN GULF!

[soupcon]

Downing Street Minutes hearing scheduled for next week, starring Joe Wilson.

[areafiftyone]

Also please give this article to that EGOMANIAC John Conyers! He is planning on bringing that stupid letter to Bush on July 16th. And they are going to hold some stupid Hippy Rally on the same day in Washingon!

[Soliton]

The whole purpose of the minority party filing articles of impeachment is to demonstrate that ALL such articles are just parisan politics and therefore Bill (and Hill) Clinton, even though he was impeached, did nothing wrong. They are providing legacy help to Bill and trying to take an issue off the table for Hill in 08.

[lastfreeamerican]

'They're simply rallying the troops.'

For once the Shrieking Eels in the Dem party seem to be unsuccessful. The public knows about this. It's been out in the open for 2 months, but no one cares. Or maybe most Dems have finally realized that it's counterproductive to make defamatory remarks about your own country while its at war.

[Soliton]

parTisan

[Lost Dutchman]

It is so much fun watching the DU's...

It is like a cartoon with Daffy Duck or Elmer Fudd...

The MSM slings a shovel full of mud around...

The DU's pick up a bit and start running around screaming "We got the smoking gun!!! Impeach!!! Impeach!!! Impeach!!!"...

They eventually either run out of steam, hit a wall, or trip over a piece of reality sticking out of the ground...

Lather, Rinse, Repeat...

This has been the DU for as long as I have monitored it...

Better then the clowns at the circus and you can watch them for free!!!

Of course, you have to 'donate' to use any search functions.
That right there shows the inherent delusions they suffer from. If you want to charge a fee for something. Call it a fee not a 'donation' for Pete's sake. Is it possible for DU to be realistic about anything?

[Reactionary]

They aren't going to impeach Bush. That won't prevent them from trying, however.

They're always on the political offensive. Always.

[EagleUSA]

They're simply rallying the nuts.
-----
It is all they know how to do, other than raise taxes and spend on vote-buying welfare programs. Welcome to the irrelevant left.

[tophat9000]

Even if it is from Salon, and whatever the writer politics are...there speaking cold rational common sense, at least here

[jess35]

Cass Sunstein tries to make the point that Clinton's impeachment was unconstitutional. I really wish the left would wake up and realize that subverting a citizens due process rights by commiting perjury about sex is the same as subverting due process by lying about murder.

Clinton's impeachment was based on his abuse of the Constitution...and that is one of the very few justifiable acts for impeachement. Apparently Cass didn't learn much in law school.

[stylin19a]

Of course presidents should not exaggerate evidence, and it's perfectly proper to ask whether Bush got us into war under false pretenses. But there isn't anything close to a sufficient basis for impeachment.

'specially since Clinton signed the "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998" (Public Law 105-338). Not only did it call for Saddam Hussein's ouster, it also spelled out the goal of replacing his regime with a democratic Iraq.

Impeached for carrying out the law ?

[Reactionary]

"They're simply rallying the nuts."

Exactly. Dean plays the fool and the Democratic leadership plays the role of the straight man.

Dean's Stalinist spew is part of DNC propaganda. They aren't going to alienate the lunatics on the Left. They will, however, feign moral outrage with a wink and a nod.

The entire thing is a charade, nothing more than cynical, lying propaganda.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Does it even occur to them that Cheney takes over if they can (ROFLMAO!) pull this off? They hate him even more than Bush.

Delusional morons. Every last one of them. Quit wasting my tax dollars!

[6SJ7]

It is like a cartoon with Daffy Duck or Elmer Fudd...

Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm huntin' wabbits!

[alnick]

What ever happened to the Poodle's plans to bring this up on the senate floor last Monday?