Impeachment Proves
Risky Political Issue

Some Democratic Activists Push
Removing Bush From Office,
But Mainstream Steers Clear

By JEANNE CUMMINGS
March 6, 2006; Page A4

If Democratic candidate Tony Trupiano wins a Michigan House seat this fall, he pledges that one of his first acts will be to introduce articles of impeachment against President Bush.

That has earned Mr. Trupiano the endorsement of ImpeachPAC, a group of Democratic activists seeking to remove Mr. Bush from office. ImpeachPAC's Web site lists 14 candidates offering similar commitments, which are reminiscent of the Republican drive to oust former President Bill Clinton after the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

But Mr. Trupiano's pledge hasn't much impressed Democratic Party leaders, who are keeping their distance from impeachment talk. They remember how the effort boomeranged on Republicans in the 1998 midterm elections, when Mr. Clinton's adversaries expected to gain House seats but lost ground instead.

"If you are looking for a message to take back the House and the Senate or the White House, there are better ways to go about it," says Democratic communications ace Joe Lockhart, a media aide to Mr. Clinton during the Republican impeachment effort.

That puts mainstream Democrats, on this issue at least, echoing the Republican National Committee. "Voters elect candidates because they understand the issues rather than engage in leftwing fantasies," says RNC spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. It also guarantees tension between some of the party's most fervent members and its electoral strategists, who are directing efforts to recapture Capitol Hill.

Impeachment advocates are undaunted. "Just because you can't win a political battle doesn't mean certain battles shouldn't be fought," says Bob Fertik, a founder of the ImpeachPAC effort. "If we don't hold a president accountable for lying to start a war, we might as well throw out the Constitution of the United States."

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB1141598454804898...

"If we don't hold a president accountable for lying to start a war, we might as well throw out the Constitution of the United States."

Oh now, that's just rich coming from a Democrat.

What asinine teetotal bullshit.

I hope they run these fuckers.

SG

John Conyers Jr is the only pro impeachment candidate the DNC is really supporting.

AWESOME!  The Dims aren't offering compelling alternatives, just kicking their hate for Bush up to 11, thinking the public is as consumed with Bush Derangement Syndrome as they are.  But obviously, that ain't case, and the Dims are in such denial they have to resort to insane accusations that Bush somehow rigged the election.  This is too good.

Who are these people?  Why are they so fucking stupid?  How did Bush and Rove get so lucky in the ineptness of their enemies?

Good for them. They might as well, seeing as how they have no platform.