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NYT: Call for Censure Is Rallying Cry to Bush's Base
New York Times ^ | March 16, 2006 | DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

Posted on 03/15/2006 9:08:31 PM PST by West Coast Conservative

Republicans, worried that their conservative base lacks motivation to turn out for the fall elections, have found a new rallying cry in the dreams of liberals about censuring or impeaching President Bush.

The proposal this week by Senator Russell D. Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, to censure Mr. Bush over his domestic eavesdropping program cheered the left. But it also dovetailed with conservatives' plans to harness such attacks to their own ends.

With the Republican base demoralized by continued growth in government spending, undiminished violence in Iraq and intramural disputes over immigration, some conservative leaders had already begun rallying their supporters with speculation about a Democratic rebuke to the president even before Mr. Feingold made his proposal.

"Impeachment, coming your way if there are changes in who controls the House eight months from now," Paul Weyrich, a veteran conservative organizer, declared last month in an e-mail newsletter.

The threat of impeachment, Mr. Weyrich suggested, was one of the only factors that could inspire the Republican Party's demoralized base to go to the polls. With "impeachment on the horizon," he wrote, "maybe, just maybe, conservatives would not stay at home after all."

For weeks, Republicans have taken to conservative Web sites and talk radio shows to inveigh against the possibility, however remote, that Democrats could impeach Mr. Bush if they gained control of Congress. Mr. Feingold's censure proposal fell far short of a demand for impeachment. Most Democrats in the Senate distanced themselves from it, concerned that they would be tagged by Republicans as soft on terrorism. But the censure proposal provided Republicans an opening.

"This is such a gift," the conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh told listeners on his syndicated radio program on Monday, saying the Democrats were fulfilling his predictions. "They have to go back to this impeachment thing," he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Wisconsin; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 109th; 2006election; censure; democrat; dopeydems; feingold; nsa; republican; senate; terrrorism
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1 posted on 03/15/2006 9:08:31 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
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To: West Coast Conservative

Do it.... PUT THEIR VOTES ON RECORD!!!


2 posted on 03/15/2006 9:12:25 PM PST by SteveMcKing
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To: West Coast Conservative

"BRING IT ON!"


3 posted on 03/15/2006 9:12:33 PM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: West Coast Conservative
The Democrats are truly the gift that keeps on giving.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

4 posted on 03/15/2006 9:13:33 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Give a liberal enough rope...


5 posted on 03/15/2006 9:16:23 PM PST by Echo Talon
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: goldstategop
"The Democrats are truly the gift that keeps on giving. "

Lately, the Republicans have been giving, and giving, and giving.....

7 posted on 03/15/2006 9:23:29 PM PST by de Buillion (Greater love hath no man than this, that which Shepard Smith hath for himself.)
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To: West Coast Conservative

I have supported W in his war effort, wire tapping (I honestly believe it's necessary), and most of his other agenda items. But I am sorely disappointed that he has not had the guts to say no to any bill that's come across his table, especially those he knows they have billions of pork in them (e.g., The Bridge To Nowhere). I also disagree with federal funds to rebuild private homes in NO. He mentioned the Line Item Veto in his SOTU address, but has he really made any effort to get it? Lip service, at best...

And it's not just W's fault (although he's the leader of the party). Most Republicans appear drunk on spending just like the "dimocrats" and I'm fed up with both of them. It's all about the power that yours and my money can buy for them. I don't know about you, but I still believe I can spend my money better than they can.

Where's a good Tea Party when you need one?


8 posted on 03/15/2006 9:23:55 PM PST by econjack
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To: SteveMcKing
I agree, put them to the true test of their convictions, force the dems to vote yea or nay for censure.
9 posted on 03/15/2006 9:30:17 PM PST by Ursus arctos horribilis
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To: West Coast Conservative
>>>>The threat of impeachment, Mr. Weyrich suggested, was one of the only factors that could inspire the Republican Party's demoralized base to go to the polls. With "impeachment on the horizon," he wrote, "maybe, just maybe, conservatives would not stay at home after all."

Mid-term elections usually draw low voter turnouts anyway. If conservatives stay home, the Dems have a shot at retaking the House. That doesn't mean they'd waste their time impeaching the President. Bush could really help himself out by bringing in a few new faces. Can't hurt. Frankly, sometimes I think Bush is sleep at the wheel.

10 posted on 03/15/2006 9:38:08 PM PST by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: Reagan Man

Not that I expect the NYT to get it right, but this isn't a "new" development. Rush has been talking about this since before the 2004 election. I've been thinking about it since the 2000 recount, and probably the only reason there wasn't talk about it in 2002 was the proximity to 9-11.

I do not trust the Left. The Right isn't perfect, but there is now and always will be a clear choice, and since I do not trust the Left, I do not misunderestimate their potential to step in it.


11 posted on 03/15/2006 9:58:17 PM PST by Christian4Bush (I'd much rather hunt with Dick Cheney than ride with Ted Kennedy.)
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To: Christian4Bush
It may not be a new developement, but so far, Bush hasn't made any effort to right his ship of state with an infusion of fresh faces. Nobody trusts the leftwing or fully trusts the media either. But the blame for Bush`s poor JA doesn't all lie with the liberals or the fourth estate.

>>>>Rush has been talking about this since before the 2004 election.

Rush isn't the only one.

>>>>I've been thinking about it since the 2000 recount ...

You've been thinking about Bush getting some fresh faces in the WH? Bush wasn't even in office in 2000.

12 posted on 03/15/2006 10:09:25 PM PST by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: Reagan Man
You've been thinking about Bush getting some fresh faces in the WH? Bush wasn't even in office in 2000.

No...I've been thinking about the possibility of the Dims trying to impeach Bush since he was elected (if they regained control of the House/Senate). Many of them don't believe he was legitimate from the start, and so that would have been the logical conclusion for them.

And no, I don't blame the Left for all of the Administration's problems. Credit and blame where either is due...on both sides.

13 posted on 03/15/2006 10:38:22 PM PST by Christian4Bush (I'd much rather hunt with Dick Cheney than ride with Ted Kennedy.)
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To: Echo Talon

That's what I was thinking.

This bonehead move is just mindbogglingly stupid. It's literally a life perserver thrown to Bush just when he needs it most.

Kinda weird that it comes from D's, huh?


14 posted on 03/15/2006 10:38:30 PM PST by zbigreddogz
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To: zbigreddogz

Curses! Foiled again.

I thought this was real for a moment!

It's more crap from the NYT!


15 posted on 03/15/2006 10:53:44 PM PST by CBart95
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To: Christian4Bush
>>>>I've been thinking about the possibility of the Dims trying to impeach Bush since he was elected ... Many of them don't believe he was legitimate from the start

Now I see your point.

16 posted on 03/15/2006 10:56:26 PM PST by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: West Coast Conservative
"Impeachment, coming your way if there are changes in who controls the House eight months from now," Paul Weyrich, a veteran conservative organizer, declared last month in an e-mail newsletter.

He's absolutely right.

We'll just have to see to it that there are no changes in who controls the House eight months from now.

17 posted on 03/15/2006 11:03:08 PM PST by martin_fierro (_____oooo_( ° ¿ ° )_oooo_____)
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To: Reagan Man
That doesn't mean they'd waste their time impeaching the President. --- Oh yes it does. You obviously haven't been paying attention. This is the only thing on the Democrat Agenda if they get back the house.
18 posted on 03/16/2006 2:03:30 AM PST by Cheburashka (World's only Spatula City certified spatula repair and maintenance specialist!!!)
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To: Cheburashka

This is the topic that should be driving the current news cycle and I'm sure Rush will lead with this because he's quoted. The threat of impeachment is exactly what the Republicn Party should ride all the way to ht mid-term elections. THANK YOU RUSS FEINGOLD!

An added bonus, McCain looks like an ass for working with Feingold on finance reform. A two-for, if you will. Why would a Republican and Presidential contender work with such a lunatic???? I can see the '08 Primaries now.


19 posted on 03/16/2006 6:19:34 AM PST by teddyballgame (red man in blue state)
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To: West Coast Conservative
It's just a matter of time before we see the real big cracks in the Democrat party. They always act united until coming close to the end but then the Libs try to take it all over while alienating their moderate to moderate left base.The libs can't help themselves, all they want is a ton of government freebies, no military and a 0 hour workweek.
20 posted on 03/16/2006 6:42:03 AM PST by Wasanother (Terrorist come in many forms but all are RATS.)
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