John Nichols: Calling the Question on Impeachment of Cheney

[marmar]

from The Nation:


BLOG | Posted 11/02/2007 @ 11:30am
Calling the Question on Impeachment of Cheney


Broadcast media's gate-keeping "stars" have done just about everything in their power to keep the matter of presidential accountability off the radar of the American people. That was evident during the most recent Democratic presidential debate, when NBC anchors Brian Williams and Tim Russert meticulously avoided following up on Congressman Dennis Kucinich's three references to impeachment but somehow found time to grill the contenders on UFOs and what costume Barack Obama would be wearing on Halloween.

Pollsters are almost as bad. Rarely are questions about impeachment included in statewide or national surveys.

Despite the lack of media coverage, however, when citizens are asked what they think about holding members of the Bush administration to account, they respond with an enthusiasm far greater than that displayed for impeaching Richard Nixon at the height of the Watergate scandal. It is this reality -- as opposed to the state of denial fostered by so much of the media and the political class -- that Congressman Dennis Kucinich will act upon next week, when he offers a privileged resolution on the House floor to bring articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney.

Kucinich will face an uphill fight in a chamber led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat who continues to say that impeachment is "off the table."

The Ohio congressman and long-shot presidential contender may not be following the rules of engagement as dictated by major media and his party leaders. But when Kucinich raises the issue of impeachment, he will be speaking for a great mass of Americans who agree with his argument that, "Congress must hold the Vice President accountable."

How great?

A fresh poll conducted for Vermont's WCAX television station finds that citizens of that state enthusiastically believe that Congress beginning impeachment proceedings against President Bush.

Sixty-one percent of the Vermonters surveyed favor taking steps to impeach the president, while just 33% oppose doing so.

The numbers are even higher for impeaching Cheney. Sixty-four percent of Vermonters favor beginning the process of holding the vice president to account, where only 31 percent are opposed. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=248000

[BridgeTheGap]

1. Kucinich is right in what he is doing.

What are the "higher powers" affraid of? Political blowback? These poll numbers prove that this unlikely to happen. Not only that, the transgressions of this administration would become more common knowledge, driving the public further into the impeach camp.

[yellowcanine]

2. Impeaching Cheney first would grease the skids for a Bush impeachment.

After all, who wants Cheney to become President even for as long as it would take to get him into the Senate dock as well?

Kind of like the Agnew resignation. Once Agnew was gone, people were able to focus on impeaching Tricky Dick.