Reply #20: The way this site views Congress, it's going to be "Spineless Dems! They fucked up impeachment!" [View All]

[jpgray]

Seriously. The most vitriol I see directed as this Congress (fairly enough in my view, despite our tiny majority) is that their confrontations of Bush are mostly empty symbolic gestures, or strong language followed by a flop, or a backdown. Failed impeachment would represent all of these things. Doubtless people would argue that it was prosecuted effectively or that it was pushed too weakly, and thus the Democrats would not be lauded for failing to convict. Also, many I speak with here believe conviction is almost inevitable if impeachment begins--by what rationale they reach that conclusion, who knows. The obvious risk to me is increasing GOP solidarity, and in addition jeopardizing or invalidating every serious investigation we have going on. It's clear to me that the GOP can make substantial media hay out of their president being declared "not guilty" of any wrongdoing, and conservatives have been playing the victim successfully even after four years of dominating all 3 branches of government.