I have broad sympathy for Michael Tomasky’s argument and no one ever went broke overestimating the radicalism of the modern Republican Party. Given the slightest pretext, the House Republicans will certainly begin drafting articles of impeachment. How can we really know where the fine line might be drawn between something that is merely a crazy conspiracy theory and an insane decision to impeach the president over it?
Still, as worked up as the right has become over Benghazi and as frothy as they’re likely to get over any scandal involving the Internal Revenue Service, there still has to be something more directly tied to the president for the GOP to start the impeachment hearings.
They won’t try to impeach the president over anything that is in the news right now. They will talk about it, but they won’t do it.
The thing is, if they ever find something (no matter how flimsy) that really reflects quite badly on the president, they will impeach him for it. They won’t care if only fifteen percent of the public agrees with them. They won’t care if the offense is the farthest thing imaginable from a high crime. They’ll do it because they have lizard brains and they act like lizard people.
Tomasky is right about that.
I hope the fuckers do it. I have been waiting for them to do it since jan of 2009. Do it.
me too
It would definitely make Obama’s Day, Clint Eastwood style.
I don’t. I really don’t want to see our first black President impeached even if 85% of the country agrees it’s ridiculous. I just don’t.
Gotta agree with you there.
I’ve been wrong before about political violence, but I don’t like tempting fate – let’s not invite that fight…
Well, Jon Stewart did it. I wonder when a Dem in the House will stand up and mention that the Republicans CUT the budget for embassy security. And I wonder if anyone will report it.
Going from memory here, but didn’t Biden raise point that in the VP debate? A powerful point then, as his opponent was the alleged author of that budget.
Fifteen percent?
We all know the number is 27%.
That’s the crazification factor, but Clinton’s impeachment was generally polling below that. At times, it crept above, but it was generally lower.
If the Republicans seriously try to impeach Obama for Benghazi or the IRS targeting Tea Baggers, then the Administration should hand over W. and Cheney to the Hague for War Crimes.
They’ll do it because they want forever and always history to read that the first Black President was Impeached. And that the last two Democratic Presidents were Impeached. They don’t need any more reason than that.
Wrong lens to view this in. Whether it’s Obamacare, gun control, contraception, Benghazi etc., they all have factored into them the amount of fund raising they will procure for the Rep Party.
The R’s haven’t for a very long time bothered with countering the Dems with good, solid ideas of their own, rather they gauge each attack on how well it will fund raise so that they can stay in the game. In the Rep mind there’s no need to govern when you can create out of whole cloth a spectacle and get paid hansomely for the circus.
They’ll also factor in that impeaching a Democratic President for frivolous reasons will make it less likely that Democrats will impeach a Republican President for political reasons. Because that’s how we roll.
edit: will make it less likely that Democrats will impeach a Republic President for valid reasons.
What is a high crime, anyway?
there still has to be something more directly tied to the president for the GOP to start the impeachment hearings.
Why?
Seriously, I can’t see anything that restrains them. If they say something is reasonable, Beltway journalists agree that it is by reflex. Why not impeachment.
Imagine setting up all of the Republicans who hold office in districts that are at all close by making them vote on an insane Obama impeachment.
A No vote dooms them in the primaries, because the Republican primary voters in 50/50 districts are just as insane as the Republican primary voters in deep red districts.
A Yes vote dooms them in the general.
God, I loves me this crazy impeachment stuff. NOTHING pushed Clinton up like getting impeached. And with Obama it would be even flimsier.
Bring it ON, HoR!!! DO IT NOW!!! TODAY!!!! Impeach Obama!! What about throwing Michelle in!!! Don’t leave Joe out, and Hillary is ripe for impeachment toooo!!! What about Sacha and Milana (hope I got those right).