Republicans too need to sober up and get on the right side of this fight – just as they did when another Republican president, Richard Nixon, believed he could do whatever the hell he wanted to do, legal or otherwise – too often otherwise.
The sobering agent for Republicans should be evident. In about two years the next occupants of the White House will likely be Democrats. Do Republicans want to have to face four or eight years of being dissed, ignored and further marginalized by a Democratic administration, simply because they allowed Bush and Cheney to set such precedents?
Some also warn that the US Supreme Court, now in conservative hands, could actually validate the Bush administration's expansive view of executive powers. Not likely. While the Supreme Court may have been able to fix one national election for conservatives they can't count of being handed the same extraordinary opportunity again, any time soon. Therefore the Supremes, like Republicans in congress, are not going to want to hand a Democratic president imperial power. (Besides, once congress is neutered, might not the Court itself be next? Sure, why not. A compliant congress might be asked by the president to pass a constitutional amendment clipping the wings of the judges all the way up to the Supremes themselves. “Mission Accomplished.”)
While it's refreshing to see and hear accomplished, articulate and sane adults suddenly talking right out loud about impeachment, nothing is going to happen unless the idea catches fire in Congress. So far it has not, and I have a theory why. Since last November's switch of control in Congress to Democrats, Congress been treated by this administration like the classic battered wife.
For the first six years of the Bush presidency he hardly had to raise his voice. During that period Congress was a perfect Stepford wife, obedient, deferential and which spoke only when spoken to. Then came the 2006 elections and the new Congress got restless. (Call it the Seven Year Itch.) Congress suddenly started talking back, demanding her “rights” and questioning the head of the household.
That's when the real abuse began, and it's gotten progressively worse ever since. Like most abusive relationships the abuser in this case, Bush, et al, have succeeded in keeping the abused off balance, scared, confused and, most important, powerless.
If called to investigate, here's how the police report might read:
The sobering agent for Republicans should be evident. In about two years the next occupants of the White House will likely be Democrats. Do Republicans want to have to face four or eight years of being dissed, ignored and further marginalized by a Democratic administration, simply because they allowed Bush and Cheney to set such precedents?
Some also warn that the US Supreme Court, now in conservative hands, could actually validate the Bush administration's expansive view of executive powers. Not likely. While the Supreme Court may have been able to fix one national election for conservatives they can't count of being handed the same extraordinary opportunity again, any time soon. Therefore the Supremes, like Republicans in congress, are not going to want to hand a Democratic president imperial power. (Besides, once congress is neutered, might not the Court itself be next? Sure, why not. A compliant congress might be asked by the president to pass a constitutional amendment clipping the wings of the judges all the way up to the Supremes themselves. “Mission Accomplished.”)
While it's refreshing to see and hear accomplished, articulate and sane adults suddenly talking right out loud about impeachment, nothing is going to happen unless the idea catches fire in Congress. So far it has not, and I have a theory why. Since last November's switch of control in Congress to Democrats, Congress been treated by this administration like the classic battered wife.
That's when the real abuse began, and it's gotten progressively worse ever since. Like most abusive relationships the abuser in this case, Bush, et al, have succeeded in keeping the abused off balance, scared, confused and, most important, powerless.
If called to investigate, here's how the police report might read:
Police Report
Incident: Domestic Violence
Suspect(s): George W. Bush, Richard “Dick” Cheney.
Victim(s): US House of Representatives, US Senate
Accusation(s):
1. Suspect GB has consistently refused to allow victims H and S to participate in decisions involving family matters. GB perpetrated this offense through the use of extra-legal instruments he refers to as “Presidential Signing Statements.” (Claims that GB's associate, DC, shouted at victims, “Shut up b*tch, we decide the rules under this roof,” could not be immediately confirmed.)
2. GB and associate, Alberto Gonzales, have repeatedly lied when victims inquired into their actions. (“There hasn't been a single violation of US law in the application of the Patriot Act.”) Said lying appears to have begun almost seven years ago and has continued and expanded to include a broad sweep of issues, including but not limited to possible perjury. These matters include lying about issues critical to the health, safety and security of the family, including but not limited to science, the environment and national security.
3. Possible obstruction of justice and/or destruction of evidence: GB, DC, AG and a number of unnamed associates, when made aware of this investigation, began hiding and destroying evidence and other community property, rather than sharing it with victims as the law requires. (“Oops, seems we deleted a 5 million – executive branch emails.”)
4. Refusal to communicate and/or obstruction of justice : When victims H & S tried to make inquiries into suspects' abusive behavior, suspects GB, DC and others in their employ, refused to communicate with victims, claiming they didn't have to. This extraordinary claim was later extended to cover friends, associates and former employees of suspects as well. (“Harriet Meirs has been told to ignore the Congressional subpoena.”)
Suspect(s): George W. Bush, Richard “Dick” Cheney.
Victim(s): US House of Representatives, US Senate
Accusation(s):
1. Suspect GB has consistently refused to allow victims H and S to participate in decisions involving family matters. GB perpetrated this offense through the use of extra-legal instruments he refers to as “Presidential Signing Statements.” (Claims that GB's associate, DC, shouted at victims, “Shut up b*tch, we decide the rules under this roof,” could not be immediately confirmed.)
2. GB and associate, Alberto Gonzales, have repeatedly lied when victims inquired into their actions. (“There hasn't been a single violation of US law in the application of the Patriot Act.”) Said lying appears to have begun almost seven years ago and has continued and expanded to include a broad sweep of issues, including but not limited to possible perjury. These matters include lying about issues critical to the health, safety and security of the family, including but not limited to science, the environment and national security.
3. Possible obstruction of justice and/or destruction of evidence: GB, DC, AG and a number of unnamed associates, when made aware of this investigation, began hiding and destroying evidence and other community property, rather than sharing it with victims as the law requires. (“Oops, seems we deleted a 5 million – executive branch emails.”)
4. Refusal to communicate and/or obstruction of justice : When victims H & S tried to make inquiries into suspects' abusive behavior, suspects GB, DC and others in their employ, refused to communicate with victims, claiming they didn't have to. This extraordinary claim was later extended to cover friends, associates and former employees of suspects as well. (“Harriet Meirs has been told to ignore the Congressional subpoena.”)
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