For a fringe idea…

July 6, 2007

Independent national pollsters rarely ever ask Americans for their opinions about impeachment. In fact, when Washington Post polling director Richard Morin started receiving questions about it from readers, he got a little snippy about it, and refused to take the questions seriously.

It’s hardly a mystery — the notion of impeaching Bush and/or Cheney is still considered a “fringe” idea that “serious” people are supposed to reject out of hand. And yet, for a radical idea, a surprising number of Americans seem to think impeachment is a good idea. From a new poll conducted by American Research Group, a non-partisan outfit:

* Do you favor or oppose the US House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush?

Among all U.S. adults, 45% support the House initiating impeachment proceedings against Bush. Among all U.S. voters, impeachment enjoys 46% support, a plurality. In all, 69% of Dems, 50% of independents, and 13% of Republicans say they favor the start of an impeachment process.

* Do you favor or oppose the US House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against Vice President Dick Cheney?

Among all U.S. adults, a 54% majority support the House initiating impeachment proceedings against Cheney. Among all U.S. voters, impeachment enjoys 50% support. In all, 76% of Dems, 51% of independents, and 17% of Republicans say they favor the start of an impeachment process.

It’s hard to compare these numbers against other recent polls — news outlets are generally afraid of even asking the “I” question — but once an idea is embraced by nearly half the country, I think it’s probably safe to stop calling it “fringe.”

I’d only add that the other recent impeachment poll was published two months ago.

Our InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion poll asked this: “Would you favor or oppose the impeachment by Congress of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney?”

Favor: 39%
Oppose: 55 %
Undecided/Don’t Know: 6%

Just throwing these numbers out there….

Yeah, I remember the bogus arguments about why they wouldn’t even ask the question about impeachment. It was a catch 22 involving politicians raising the issue vs media stories about it. It all sounded very contrived and fed the idea that the corporate media really doesn’t want Bush taken out.

And why should our “leaders” need polling data of any kind to do the right thing?

Because they’re not real leaders.

So we have a watchdog media that isn’t watching, and leaders who aren’t leading.

  • But, but, he’s America’s Popular Wartime President™!

    (America’s Popular Wartime President™ is trademarked by NewsCorp and the Republican National Committee. All rights reserved)

  • Good to see separate questions for Bush and Cheney. That is the only way to get a fair reading of the feel for impeachment or against it. But where, praytell, is the question on Abu G?

  • I agree with Racerx: it’s not about the polls; it’s about doing the right thing. God forbid that any so called leader would stand up for what is right and stop worrying about the next election. Our country literally perishes for lack of leadership.

  • And this before an investigation is started. With the overwhelming amount of corruption and lies running rampant with this administration once impeachment proceedings began a huge majority of the population would be on board with it. Never before has there been such a public outcry for impeachment.
    Never before has there been more reasons to impeach.
    Most people believe the congress will not do it. I would like to see more polls on this subject and live in hope that it will become a reality.

    The irony is that no matter what good Pelosi may accomplish in her career she will only be remembered as the Speaker of the House who took impeachment off the table during the reign of the worst and most corrupt administration in the nation’s history. She, as leader of the House, publicly announces that we will not hold this administration accountable and so will forever live in infamy especially if this president starts WWIII.

  • bj botts says: no matter what good Pelosi may accomplish in her career she will only be remembered as the Speaker of the House who took impeachment off the table during the reign of the worst and most corrupt administration in the nation’s history. She, as leader of the House, publicly announces that we will not hold this administration accountable and so will forever live in infamy especially if this president starts WWIII.

    Yeah, If/when Bush attacks Iran, Pelosi will probably cry “who could have known that Bush would be that crazy?”.

    Which of course sounds just like Bush saying no one could have predicted 9/11.

    Sigh.

  • And why should our “leaders” need polling data of any kind to do the right thing?

    Agreed. And where are Obama, Clinton & Edwards on impeachment? Out to lunch. Insert excuse here.

    The writing is on the wall that spells the untimely demise of our Constitutional Republic, but our concerns are scarcely paid lip-service by the Democratic “leadership.” Keith Olbermann speaks volumes about the rationale of impeaching Dick&Bush, but apparently the Democratic leadership doesn’t get cable.

    In my opinion the fix is in and the Dems are in on it. God Help Us.

  • bjobotts @5: “no matter what good Pelosi may accomplish in her career she will only be remembered as the Speaker of the House who took impeachment off the table during the reign of the worst and most corrupt administration in the nation’s history.

    Well said, sir. Isn’t the standard diplomatic line that all options are on the table? Why would she want to tie her hands, especially since the majority of her party seem overwhelmingly in favor of it. They are so afraid of the backlash that followed Clinton’s impeachment that they are paralyzed from doing the right thing. How she and Reid don’t realize that they were vastly different situations, I don’t understand. Remember Nancy, when Clinton lied, no one died? Seen that bumpersticker? Maybe it needs to be tattooed to your forehead.

    Now there is talk of toning down the investigations. Whaaaaa??? WTF is wrong with these people? Each time there is an investigation, more people come to the table, the impeachment table. Why is she trying to slow this train down.

    I guess it’s same sh*t, different day. What is a politician’s number one job? Start getting ready for the next election. Nancy, I think your position would be a lot safer if you started acting on behalf of your constituents.

  • America already blew its impeachment wad on Clinton. Pundits would have us believe we can’t get it up to impeach again this soon, but they don’t know the power of 70 types of porn…

  • The problem is not with Pelosi. Her caucus is pushing on hearings, which constitutes “an investigation”, and they are building a record that the Republicans will not be able to deny. Rechannel your anger into getting rank and file Republican voters to call for impeachment or resignation.

    At the moment, there aren’t even enough votes to pass a toothless condemnation of Gonzales. The problem here is the Republicans. Make the disgust bipartisan, or tie the Republicans to Bush’s failures. Do you think that Pelosi isn’t enough of a politician to be able to find an excuse to reverse course if impeachment looks do-able? What are the benefits of a failed impeachment?

  • We will never see impeachment, not matter how much it needs to happen right now. Everyone realizes that we have less than a year left with this criminal. All the politicians are just going to wait him out.

  • Regardless of conviction-in-the-Senate potential, the Dems also need to look to the future on the impeachment issue. I have a feeling that if the Dems do not seek to impeach at least Cheney (and Abu G.) that this will undoubtedly be looked upon by the GOP as a huge sign of weakness, and spell trouble for a future Dem president who has the ill-fortune of ever having to work with a GOP majority in the Congress. Once the Dems show that they are simply unwilling to raise impeachment regardless of the substance and severity of the conduct of this administration, maybe especially in light of that substance and severity, the GOP is going to lock that away for future use, knowing that the Dems would never respond in kind. Impeachment now may be needed to help insulate future Dem administrations from the threat of impeachment by a GOP led Congress in situtations that fall way short of significant wrongdoing by that future Dem administration. Although thte best protection against this happening is good governing by the Dems, ensuring Dem majorities, the end-result may not always come out in the Dems favor…

  • “Everyone realizes that we have less than a year left with this criminal.”

    If only that were true. We actually have another 18+ months of these criminals (until mid-January 2009), and lots of damage to many people and things can be thrust upon this nation and other nations by these jokers in that time.

  • I didn’t read the entire article (in Mercury News, I think the paper’s name was.They asked me to accept cookies and I don’t take candy from strangers), but here’s a snippet from Think Progress:

    “Impeachment center” opens in Los Angeles. “A storefront ‘impeachment headquarters‘ emblazoned with American flags opened July 4 with a mission to remove President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. … The center is sponsored by Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, Westside Greens, Santa Monica Democratic Club and the Los Angeles Greens.”

  • Re: N. Wells @ #10
    Rechannel your anger into getting rank and file Republican voters to call for impeachment or resignation.

    I can’t necessarily disagree with that. But I see no reason not to foment the anger that is only natural in response to the abuse of power and capital crimes that Dick&Bush are responsible for. Furthermore, I believe it is also indicative of a healthy democracy that when our elected representatives do not represent the legitimate interests of the people, the people express their outrage at their elected representatives. So as I see things, our dialogue here is an extension of that practice of democracy.

    And I would rather practice democracy that political calculation. I’ll leave that to the politicians who want my vote.

    So, get angry? Of course. Impeach? Hell yes. Get motivated to take action? Absolutely. Preserve American Democracy and our Constitutional Republic? Guess so.

  • “It’s hard to compare these numbers against other recent polls — news outlets are generally afraid of even asking the ‘I’ question — but once an idea is embraced by nearly half the country, I think it’s probably safe to stop calling it ‘fringe.'”

    Like creationism.

  • Well let’s see. The new ReThuglican Mantra to justify the pResident’s shenanigans is: Clinton Did It!

    Clinton went through impeachment.

    So can’t they just brush off impeachment of Gorge Bush the same way? They can even appeal to the Talevangical Free-Basers by saying that King Gorge was only impeached for crimes against humanity whereas Clinton had sexual relations with a person who wasn’t his wife!

  • Re: tAiO @ #18

    So can’t they just brush off impeachment of Gorge Bush the same way? They can even appeal to the Talevangical Free-Basers by saying that King Gorge was only impeached for crimes against humanity whereas Clinton had sexual relations with a person who wasn’t his wife!

    Thank you, yes. And look what happened not long after Clinton was impreached by a Republican Congress: a Republican president was selected King!

    So, that political calculation is a “null set” to borrow from Clarke “Mittens” Romney. If the Dems impeach, it’s not unreasonable to expect that a Dem president could be elected.

    The other point that wasn’t brought up in this thread is that impeachment hearings would shine a very hot, bright light onto the machinations of the King George Oligarchy operating extra-Constitutionally and of course creating the “law” as it sees fit. The resulting scurrying of ReThugs and Dems alike mutating into creatures with consciences would yield positive results. Not to mention that the national Corporate Media exposure would help the American Public make up its mind that Dick&Bush have been up to no good.

  • One last point. Look at the obfuscation and contempt that Dick&Bush have already exhibited in response to Congressional investigation, oversight, subpoenas, etc.

    Now, imagine what consequence to the undoubtedly breathtaking obfuscation and contempt that impeachment hearings would bring from the King George Oligarchy. Do you see where I’m going with this?

  • If the Dems impeach, it’s not unreasonable to expect that a Dem president could be elected.

    I see what you’re saying, but after the ReThugs impeached one Democrat, another Democrat was elected. The USSC decided otherwise and Krazy Kat Harris got a $5,000 gift card to Starbucks as a reward for hiding all those extra ballots in an undisclosed location.

    Now, imagine what consequence to the undoubtedly breathtaking obfuscation and contempt that impeachment hearings would bring from the King George Oligarchy. Do you see where I’m going with this?

    Mad King George ordering an air strike on the Capitol? I’m not really joking. I’m sure you caught the earlier post about the White House whimpering because the Democrats keep asking questions. Talk about cracks in the facade. But I agree. The Executive’s reaction would force everyone who isn’t equally deranged to drop BushLeague Boy and Dicktator Man like a dead skunk. It might even force the GOP to grow the fuck up or die.

    A good time will be had by all. Or at least all who aren’t venal little pricks. And who gives a damn about them?

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