My Two Cents on Impeachment

Lots of attention this weekend to the polling data on impeachment (link). I'm still not for it; conceded that this presidency is a train wreck, I still think there are better things for Congress to do with its time. But I am impressed that 86 percent of Republicans still oppose impeachment (with one percent undecided). That means that 13 percent of his own party -- the most loyal rump of the rump--have cut and run.

Oh, and as to "Impeach Cheney"--note that the cognoscenti were here months ago (link).

Followup: Rasmussen, via TPM, says 16 percent (sted 13) (link). TPM also points out that more people favor impeaching Bush now than favored impeaching Clinton while he was being impeached.

Impeach Who?

Last summer I not-entirely-flippantly suggested that we skip impeaching Bush and instead impeach Cheney (link) (my friend Fensterwald gave me its blessing).

I still think I'm right on not impeaching the President. I don't want impeachment to become a habit. Besides, I think there are a lot of better things for Congress to do with its time.

I'm here now listening to John Dean on Keith Olbermann suggesting that Congress move down the impeachment food chain --impeaching, e.g., cabinet officers. Evidently it is not without precedent: David Cannadine, in his magisterial new biography of Andrew Mellon (link), points out that Mellon resigned as secretary of treasury under the threat of impeachment.

Of course, there isn't the remotest chance of getting a convinction out of the Senate, but it might be a useful way to frame up some of the investigative issues.