It's one thing when a liberal politician or publication mentions the word "impeachment" in reaction to President Bush allowing and then defending warrantless domestic surveillance.
But some very un-liberal sources are also mentioning the dreaded "I" word.
Consider that un-liberal publication, Barron's. On its website, Barron's Online, this was posted on Dec. 24 by the editors: "Willful disregard of a law is potentially an impeachable offense. It is at least as impeachable as having a sexual escapade under the Oval Office desk and lying about it later. The members of the House Judiciary Committee who staged the impeachment of President Clinton ought to be as outraged at this situation. They ought to investigate it, consider it carefully and report either a bill that would change the wiretap laws to suit the president or a bill of impeachment."
And on the Dec. 20 edition of NPR's Diane Rehm Show, former Bruce Fein, deputy attorney general in the Reagan Administration, said:
FEIN: On its face, if President Bush is totally unapologetic and says I continue to maintain that as a war-time President I can do anything I want – I don’t need to consult any other branches – that is an impeachable offense. It’s more dangerous than Clinton’s lying under oath because it jeopardizes our democratic dispensation and civil liberties for the ages. It would set a precedent that … would lie around like a loaded gun, able to be used indefinitely for any future occupant.
On the same show, conservative pundit Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute added:
ORNSTEIN: I think if we’re going to be intellectually honest here, this really is the kind of thing that Alexander Hamilton was referring to when impeachment was discussed.
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Also noteworthy were Dec. 16 comments from from Republican Congressman Bob Barr (R-GA), who spoke on the Dec. 16 edition of CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. (You can watch the video here.)
Although Barr doesn't mention "impeachment," his tone is nonetheless very clear as he debates Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA):
BARR: Here again, this is absolutely a bizarre conversation where you have a member of Congress saying that it's okay for the president of the United States to ignore U.S. law, to ignore the Constitution, simply because we are in an undeclared war. The fact of the matter is the law prohibits — specifically prohibits — what apparently was done in this case, and for a member of Congress to say, oh, that doesn't matter, I'm proud that the president violated the law is absolutely astounding, Wolf.
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This item first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.
Article comments
1 - Bennett
Only the date of the post would keep the comments from flowing, but I, for one, refuse to let news like this fade away simply because it hit the screen during the holidays.
Kudos David. Please keep your spotlight trained on this disgraceful abuse of power.
2 - gonzo marx
not only solid Editorialist work..but the usage of "conservative" lindked sources to make your point elevates it to the "priceless" category
it also serves to expose how a few of the paleocons and moderates still within the GOP are realizing that their underlying Principles are what brought them to the dance, and that these Events show the conflict between what is going on in the WH and those Principles
Excelsior!
3 - Bob A. Booey
Those are some damning quotes by some pretty heavy hitters, a Reagan admin deputy AG and one of the most universally respected, top political journalists in Washington.
I just don't think there's the political will (on either side) or enough legal precedent to even begin impeachment proceedings. Bush and the GOP will pay the price politically, but an impeachment battle is not the best thing for the country.
I'm not a lawyer or Constitutional law expert, but I'm fairly convinced that the only way a modern President will be impeached is for a very serious, serious felony crime or in taking direct bribes from a corporation. I think neither is very likely: Presidents are constantly managed, handled, and monitored to avoid any embarrassing personal conflicts and modern politicians are too smart about fundraising and donation loopholes to get caught in a clearly illegal position relative to money.
That is all.
4 - david r. mark
Bob, are you forgetting the grounds for Clinton's impeachment?
5 - Bob A. Booey
Yes, I am.
That is all.
6 - Chelsea Snyder
BOOEY!!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!?!?!
Alka-Seltzior!
7 - Bob A. Booey
Alka Seltzior right back at you, baby :)
You crazy kids get married yet or what?
I've been around. I always disappear for a while when things get busy.
That is all.