December 08, 2006

12/8: There Goes That 'I' Word Again

For admittedly no discernable reason MyDD's Chris Bowers made a case against impeachment 12/7 setting off a heated debate on the left. DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas quickly seconded Bowers position, arguing that the Dems are better served showing Americans how they would govern if they were in power. For now, the netroots readership seems to be with their leaders, but judging by the comments and online polls at Daily Kos and MyDD, that consensus could rapidly change as Dems make progress in oversight hearings.

DEMS: Investigations Now, Impeachment Later

While "not really sure why" he was writing the post, Bowers lays out nine reasons why Dems should not move to impeach Pres. Bush including:

• This isn't an ethics lesson. It isn't a debate over whether or not impeaching and convicting Bush would be the right thing to do or not. Simply put, the votes to pull off either, especially the conviction, are not there. We aren't even close.
• Now that we have the majority, I do not see the value in pursuing legislation that will divide us, while unite the Republican opposition. I would like to wedge them, rather than wedge ourselves.
• The vaunted public support for impeachment based on a single Zogby poll is illusory. Looking at the complete history of impeachment polling, you get the following results. CNN: Favor 30%--69% Oppose; Fox: Favor 30%--62% Oppose. LA Times Favor 36%--56% Oppose, ABC-WaPo: Favor 33%--66% Oppose; Newsweek: Favor 26%--Oppose 69%. Overall, only 26% to 36% of the country supports this idea. A supermajority opposes.

Bowers concludes: "Do I think that Bush has committed impeachable offensives? Probably. However, I would rather pursue a course of legislative action that would keep our caucus close to united, help large numbers of actual Americans, have a legitimate chance of passing both branches of Congress, conduct actual investigations and oversight and, if those investigations prove worthy, close by censuring Bush."

Kos adds: "We have one year to make our case for 2008 to the American people. ... We can spend 2007 either pushing impeachment, or we can use it educating the American people about what a Democratic government would look like -- passing meaningful legislation that would improve their lives like the minimum wage, health care reform, ethics reform, stem cell research funding, policies that help families and the middle class. ... And Bush? He's going down as the nation's Worst President Ever. We don't need "impeachment" to make that case, Bush has done a great job of it all by himself."

Kos post inspired a number of popular Daily Kos responses including Jerome a Paris's diary "Impeachment: you think the world is not watching?" which drew 1381 comments. Jerome writes: "So Democrats also think it's okay to go invade another country, to get several hundred thousand of its inhabitants killed, to proudly practice and promote torture around the world, to tear up the Geneva Conventions and a whole load of international treaties, and to go grab random foreigners around the world to put them in Guantanamo and throw away the key? ... The world is watching. And it will not forget. Our current leaders may be cowards, but they won't always be there. Haven't you noticed how being anti-American makes you a popular politician and makes you win elections around the world?" A completely unscientific reading of the comments show the vast majority of Kossacks favor impeachment. Sample comments include

• Tuffy: "Thank you. I FUMED when I saw Kos' post up front. This is about justice, not political positioning."
• Hummingbird: "Impeachment is about the rule of law, Kos, and to not impeach will show that our Democracy is a SHAM. We will have failed in our Democracy because things were too "inconvenient". That's bogus."
• Cali Scribe: "We owe it to America and to the world to do it right -- investigate first, then impeach if we have enough evidence to get a conviction."

Daily Kos diarist PsiFighter37 titled his post "Impeachment is not an option...right now." He argues: "The question of whether or not Bush and Cheney deserve to be impeached is beyond settled; the crimes that they have committed against America are unquestionable ... In an ideal world, Bush and Cheney's impeachment would be the first order of business when the 110th Congress convenes on January 4, 2007. But we do not live in an ideal world, and we cannot impeach them because the process isn't about justice. It's about politics." PF included a poll:

The impeachment of Bush should be... ...not considered right now, but possibly later 46% ...an important priority, but not the most important 21% ...the top priority 17% ...not considered at all 13%

Not on Dkos, AMERICAblog's John Aravosis agrees with Markos: "And look at it this way. Two more years of George Bush, and the public won't be voting Republican again for a very long time." Booman Tribune does not: "I'm going tell you right now that Chris Bowers has taken leave of his senses. ... do you really think that we couldn't find 18 Republican Senators that would consider convicting and removing the President?"

DEMS II: Speaking Of Investigations...

Firedoglake's Christy Hardin Smith looks at Time reports incoming Gov't Reform chair Henry Waxman plans to utilize his authority to issue subpoenas without a committee vote: "I've spent a little time trying to figure out what oversight Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) ought to start with, and the choices are pretty much endless. People often say something is "endless," but they don't really mean it. But in all honesty, just looking at the mess that has been made by the Bush Administration in so many areas of government -- it just may be endless. And the fact that Henry Waxman gets to conduct these hearings under rules that the Republicans themselves set-up to play their intricate game of gotcha with the Clinton White House Christmas Card list? Priceless."

Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall doesn't "deny for a second that there are hearings I'm looking forward to just to see some of the Bush administration's crooks and incompetents get their comeuppance" but says a hearing on the conduct of the Iraq war is not one of them: "Think how much might have been different if Congress had exercised any meaningful oversight role through any of this catastrophe. The level of irresponsibility, the lockstep indifference has been nothing short of depraved. Calling it an abdication of responsibility is like saying a murderer didn't have enough concern for his victim's health."

DEMS III: A Breach Of Faith

TruthDig's Joshua Scheer interviewed Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) about House Dem plans for Iraq:

I think this is going to be a serious test of the Democratic Party. ... Now, if Congress goes ahead under Democratic leadership and votes to approve what some are now estimating as an additional $160 billion for the war in Iraq, bringing the total for the fiscal year to $230 billion, the Democratic Congress will have bought George Bush's war. Now, who would buy a used war from this administration? ... The Democrats came to power because of a strong desire on the part of the voters to get out of Iraq. That's why people voted Democratic. So now, with the Democratic leadership taking a position saying they're going to approve the supplemental budget in the spring, this could be seen by many as a breach of faith.

Scheer later asks: "For me this is really disheartening, because I feel like I have been lied to, and the American people have been lied to, because the [Democratic] Party was so against extra funds for the war. It's almost like the party has done a bait-and-switch."

Kucinich responds: "I think there's going to be a concern around the country that this does represent a bait-and-switch. I'm hopeful that this position will be reconsidered and that the Democrats will not vote to keep the war going."

GOP FIELD: Tancredo's Only In Fourth?

The Right Angle's Ivy Sellers posts the results of Human Events Online 11/06 '08 straw poll. The top five vote getters were:

Newt Gingrich:    54.51%
Mitt Romney:      13.63%
Rudy Giuliani:     8.52%
Tom Tancredo:      7.33%
Condoleezza Rice:  3.92%

BROWNBACK: Sam Who?

The MI Cooler wants to know when Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) "will officially announce his Michigan Team to compete with McCain and Romney. McCain clearly has the Cox/Land/Yob machines behind him, and Romney has Chairman Anuzis behind him, but where is the Brownback Team?"

Under the header "Who is Sam Brownback" The Right Angle's David Ferguson posts a lengthy bio including:

Brownback is a constant voice for increased responsibility in the entertainment industry. He convened the first congressional public health summit on entertainment violence, and helped uncover the widespread marketing of violent, adult-rated entertainment to children. ... Brownback has taken an active role in developing U.S. foreign policy concerning India, Pakistan, Central Asia and Iraq. He is a leader in the U.S. Senate on a variety of important issues ranging from human cloning to addressing the role of the media in public health, identifying innovative solutions to our common environmental concerns, protecting traditional marriage and wholesome family values, and taking a principled stand against embryonic stem cell research.

MCCAIN: Mormons Not For Mitt

Romney fan Kathryn Jean Lopez manages to spin UT AG Mark Shurtleffendorsement of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) into a pro-Romney story: "You mean all Mormons aren't going to vote for Mitt Romney? His presidential aspirations are not part of a theocon conspiracy from Utah? It's almost as if Mormons just like everyone else - Americans who can endorse or vote for whichever candidate they chose to. Weird."

RedState's Erick Erickson posts video of McCain's questioning of the ISG 12/7 under the header "John McCain Making Sense" and doesn't add: "I'd add something, but I think this speaks for itself."

GIULIANI: A Quarterback, Not A Maverick Loner

Race4 '08's DaveG takes issue with Tony Fabrizio's National Review Online suggestions that McCain's path to the WH is dependent on ex-NY mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) entrance into the race: "Needless to say, I disagree. Pretty much all of the empirical evidence that we've seen thus far shows 1) Rudy beating McCain in a two-man race among Republican primary voters and 2) Rudy doing better among those primary voters who self-identify as Republicans, while McCain does better with independents."

Dave also responds to Fabrizio's suggestion that Giuliani run as an independent: "I think this is a horrible idea that totally misunderstands the Rudy temperament. If Rudy is anything, he's a team player. A leader. A quarterback, not a maverick or a loner. I'd say McCain fits the mold of a third-party candidate far better than Rudy does, as does Joe Lieberman on the other side of the aisle. If Rudy does get the opportunity to take the Oath of Office, I have no doubt he will go down in history as a great president. But make no mistake about it; he'll be a Republican."

ROMNEY: Not The Only bush Wiggling These Days

The Corner's Jonathan Martin details "A Nice Trio For Mitt" including FL Gov. Jeb Bush LG Toni Jennings, Al Cardenas, and Allan Bense. Martin explains: "While none of them is Gov. Jeb Bush, each brings Romney a bit closer to the popular outgoing gov's inner circle. ... But how about the man himself? He said at the RGA that he couldn't "envision" an endorsement, but that leaves a bit of wiggle room, doesn't it?"

THOMPSON: Could Be Credible

RedState's AdamC is in search of "a new Reagan" and examines whether ex-HHS Sec. Tommy Thompson (R) fits the bill: "Gov. Thompson was one of the first to implement another small government, pro-market reform: school choice. ... I don't have a lot of other information, but Gov. Thompson is pro-life and pro-stem cell research ... He could be a credible pro-life moderate who supports most of the 1994 revolution efforts."

CLINTON: Depressing The Youth

Arianna Huffington was not impressed with Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) decision to announce the launch of a tv PSA campaign on video game ratings the day after the ISG report was released: "Oh. My. God. The violence in Iraq is becoming more savage by the minute -- among the dead yesterday were 45 bullet-riddled corpses found in Baghdad, many of whom had been tortured before being executed -- and Hillary is worried about video game violence? Are you kidding me? Could she be any more politically tone deaf?"

MyDD's Matt Stoller is also unhappy with HRC's choice and suggests such initiatives will "Depress the Youth Vote in 2008."

KERRY: Get Out Of The Way Already

TAPPED's Garance Franke-Ruta suggests calls for another Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) nomination might be coming from "Massachusetts politicians" who "just want him to stop clogging up the local political system." GFR writes: "Kerry has been in office since 1985, and Ted Kennedy since 1962. That means that, for the past 20 years, no Massachusetts politicians holding lower-level offices have been able to move up and into Congress's upper house. ... If Kerry would just move on, by trying to move up again himself, then Barney Frank, Ed Markey, Marty Meehan, and Steve Lynch could all potentially contend for his seat, and a domino effect could be unleashed across the system. For that to happen, though, the first domino has to fall, and Kerry has to run for president again."

KUCINICH: A Secret Plan To End The Dean Campaign?

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas is no fan of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) as a presidential candidate: "I was wondering who was going to represent the cranky left of the party in the primaries. Apparently, it might be Kucinich again. Really? Kucinich? Oy vey. ... Few care whether Kucinich will lose badly again in 2008 like he did in 2004 (after helping sabotage Dean in Iowa with his secret deal with Edwards). Apologies to those who like him, but the man is a joke."

OBAMA: Ending Racism As We Know It

TPM Cafe's M.J. Rosenberg isn't ready to endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) yet, but argues his election could solve "America's longest and deepest problem." Rosenberg writes: "America is all about race. ... Racism is and has always been the cancer eating away at the heart of America. And now we have the possibility of electing a Presidential candidate whose election itself, even before he takes office, will end a 250 year chapter of unimaginable ugliness. Would Obama's election solve the whole race problem. No. The poor will still be poor. Hatred will survive. But it would say to all African-Americans, to the world and to ourselves that 143 years after the guns fell silent, that the United States is no longer a racist nation."

BLOGGERS VS. BELTWAY: Game On, Stu?

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas is calling Stu Rothenberg out for his "One-Term Wonder?" picks. Rothenberg named incoming Reps. Nick Lampson (D-TX), Nancy Boyda (D-KS), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), and Tim Mahoney (D-FL). Kos responds: "I agree with Lampson, and Mahoney will be tough. But Boyda and McNerney? I bet Rothenberg $500 that McNerney holds the district and $500 that Boyda holds hers. He wins, I donate the money to his favorite charity, and vice-a-versa. Let's see if he's game."

And while he's at it, Kos again calls on Rothenberg to apologize for calling MyDD's Chris Bowers "clueless about politics."

BLOGGERS VS. NEW JERSEY: The Path To Greatness

MyDD's Chris Bowers picks up on Blue Jersey's efforts to air tv ads advocating gay marriage and challenges Gov. Jon Corzine (D) to act: "Jon Corzine has been doing the wrong thing on this clear issue of civil rights. I'm glad Bluejersey is there to help keep on the path to greatness. ... New Jersey is a state controlled entirely by Democrats. The Democratic Party could just make this happen, and the progressive blog Bluejersey is pushing them to do just that. If Corzine showed strength and pushed through marriage equality, he would be respected and be on a path towards greatness in governing."

ME SEN: We Don't Think They're Making That Chafee Comparison In A Good Way

Roll Call's 12/7 article on Rep. Tom Allen's (D-ME) senatorial aspirations is drawing significant netroots attention. Kos calls an Allen/Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) math up a "battle of titans" and AMERICAblog's Joe in DC labels Collins "the next Lincoln Chafee." MyDD's Jonathan Singer acknowledges Allen would face "an uphill climb" against Collins' "rather sizable approval rating in Maine" but likes Allens CoH totals.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Not Gonna Happen

The Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum rounds up most of the ISG's 79 recommendations and speculates on whether Pres. Bush will enact them:

Rec #s	Subject	Bush's Likely Reaction
1-12	"New Diplomatic Offensive." Talk to Syria and Iran. Hold a conference of all regional players.	Bushhas already said he won't talk to Syria and Iran. The regionalconference is a possibility, but without Syria and Iran it's probably little more than fig leaf.
13-17	Restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.	Bush has never shown any interest in this.
19-39	Set various milestones for the Iraqi government. Push hard on national reconciliation.	Bush will probably say that these things are already being pursued. However, if Zalmay Khalilzad couldn't get them done, who can? It's unlikely that Bush will appoint anyone who can make serious progress on this.
40-45	Increase U.S. advisory role in Iraqi military units. Withdraw combat troops by 2008.	Nonstarter. Bush will never agree to this.
50-61	Transfer the Iraqi National Police and the Border Police to the Ministry of Defense. Various suggestions for U.S. training of Iraqi police.	Hard to say what Bush thinks about this. Most likely he doesn't care much. More to the point, though, it's not clear that the United States has the influence or authority to make this happen.
62-71	Increase U.S. economic assistance. Include more international participation.	He might push for this. Hard to say for sure, though, and also hard to say if Congress has much stomach for it unless there's some reason to think it will be more effective than past reconstruction efforts.

LEST WE FORGET: The No-Taste Blogometer Loves The Bangles

Ypulse notes Andrew Sullivan's ongoing "best and worst '80s videos" feature and weighs in with her on top and bottom five. Her favs include:

• 1) Pat Benatar: "Love is a Battlefield" (the tattered prom dress shimmy was priceless, and we were all rooting for Pat to break free from her mean pimp!)
• 2) Aha: "Take on Me" (it was so cutting edge, people become drawings, then people again...and oh so romantic.)
• 3) John Cougar Mellencamp: "Hurts So Good" (he was still "Cougar" back then. Maybe it's just me and my weird fascination with biker culture, or the fact that I must have watched this video 8 zillion times as a kid, but I thought this was a down and dirty fun biker party video)
• 4) Madonna: "Borderline" (She was such a rebel, spray painting on that statue. This is one if my favorite Madonna videos b/c it's so early Madonna..."Lucky Star" would be next)
• 5) Cyndi Lauper: "Time After Time" (you had to love the punk girl living in a cool trailer - her plaid pants, the lunchbox, outgrowing her square-looking boyfriend)

Ypulse's worst videos of the '80s:

• 1) The Cars: "Drive" (what the hell was wrong with that girl?)
• 2) Elton John: "Empty Garden" (loved the song but the video was sooo boring)
• 3) Rockwell: "Somebody's Watching Me" (blech - this one ties with Eddie Murphy's "Party All The Time")
• 4) The Bangles: "Walk Like An Egyptian" (cringeworthy)
• 5) Lionel Richie: "Dancing On The Ceiling" (enough said)

Posted by Conn Carroll at December 8, 2006 12:37 PM

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