Howdy Folks!
Just a quick note based on a few recent conversations here. First off there have been a couple of "Anti-Impeach Now"diaries in the last couple of days. I have rec'd them both.
Because both have been well thought out diaries that expressed well some of the concerns regarding impeachment. Many here seem to think that Yelling Loudly for impeachment is (paraphrased from an amalgamation of hundreds of comments) "Spoiled idiot children screaming for a cookie, NOW."
It is NOT and never has been.
It is my contention that these comments come from reading PARTS of impeachment diaries...as well as conflating a FEW poorly reasoned and presented impeach arguments with those of the more responsible impeachment advocates.
Below I hope to be able to point up the strategies behind all the kerfuffle.
To reiterate one point that somehow has been constantly and I dare say, maliciously ignored....NO responsible Impeach advocate has suggested that impeachment is not reliant on thorough investigations.
EVER.
Point two, and the one that has been highlighted recently....NO ONE expects Nancy Pelosi to read an impeachment diary and suddenly throw up her hands and throw her own assessment, her own read of the politics and her common sense to the wind because of an impeachment diary on Dkos....and immediately start proceedings!
Really folks, that is just plain insulting (to ALL of us, including Nance) and silly. Assuming that ANYONE is that stupid has been one of the biggest affronts to impeachment advocates. And, shows a clear lack of reading comprehension and/or purely prejudicial emotional 'thinking.' If YOU fear that diaries on Dkos will influence Nancy to do something against her better judgment then you are directly insulting her intelligence. And proving the level of yours.
Demanding impeachment on Dkos WILL NOT make it happen. To think we don't know that is ridiculous and as I have said, insulting. So instead of thinking all impeachment advocates are idiots, try taking a second to ask what our strategy and thinking actually is!
While you are doing that I will make Point three, which is intimately related. One of the most rabid AI folks recently commented that he thinks impeachment diaries are destructive for one main reason....the public does not yet support impeachment.
It is SO tempting to be mean here!
But now that impeachment is being perceived as something more than "porn" here these days....and in the interest of advocating effectively and perhaps healing some of the wounds from the impeachment battles, I will try to state all of the strategies as objectively as possible and without recriminations or further observations on the mental acuity of AI folks, lol.
Taking Point three first, (and this is where I have to restrain sarcasm!)...yes, the public support is not YET there for impeachment. The question is how to BUILD that public support then, yes?
Well, one way to build public support is to write diaries on Daily Kos that inform, argue and, yes...raise passions about impeachment.
I had thought this was obvious.
And, btw it is working, my last three impeachment diaries, just as an example, have gotten more support than ever before....and in each and every one of them more and more folks state that they have changed their minds and now support impeachment.
In other words....building public support! As the AI person suggested was needed.
Point two, the political strategy behind impeachment diaries.
Very simple! Apply as much political pressure on Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional leadership as possible towards the goal of impeachment. One of the reasons it is so silly to think that we expect her to impeach right away, because we say so, is also incredibly obvious. This is a blog! Albeit a widely read and popular one. The day the blogs start making national policy....well I can't think of a strong enough hyperbolic analogy to portray that eventuality!!!
WE do INFLUENCE the conversation and the agenda. That is a fact. But influence is all we have, so we have to use what influence we DO have as tactically as possible. Impeach NOW.... IS a tactical position. Again we do not expect Nance to impeach tomorrow because we say so. I will spare you talk of meme's and Overton Windows and such, but what we do is part of the Battle of Ideas. Our Idea is getting rid of Bush and Company, repudiating all they have done and cleaning out and reforming our government. Impeach Now is ONE way of stating that. By stating this idea loudly and repeatedly it DOES make the idea become more and more of a real possibility, this IS how minds are changed. It is how the RW and Newt did it. Repetition works.
Ok the next part is my personal motivations etc....feel free to skip it!
Someone HAS to do that. I nominated me, and me accepted. It has NOT been fun or easy believe me. Those who think I do it out of ego or any other motivation are just plain nuts! The attacks and acrimony that I have received....and returned.....have NOT been enjoyable! It would have been MUCH easier and more pleasant to stick to handing out ponies! But I believe that Bush is the biggest threat to the planet today and my integrity (such as it is) forces me to oppose him as vigorously and as LOUDLY as possible. When the Dems were about to gain power it was obvious that taking as strong....THOUGH STILL REASONED.... an impeachment stand as possible was the way to go. I challenge all AI folks to go back through my diaries and find a position I have taken that has not been supported with solid reasoning. You can disagree with the reasoning....but calling them rabid or childish is just not accurate....IF read objectively.
Point one. Again, a challenge. Go back through my diaries and show me where I call for impeachment without investigation. If I wasn't writing this out on my hammock I might link you to somewhere I specifically address this incredible misunderstanding...and really this smear. To restate, anyone who thinks impeachment could happen WITHOUT investigations would have to be an idiot. I am not an idiot and have resented greatly being called one by these means.
But I am not trying to open old wounds.
I am trying to explain that this whole campaign has been thought out and strategic.
To keep the strategic idea and tactical option in the forefront of the conversation. When Pelosi took it off the table for politicians, it was clear to me that it was OUR responsibility to push for it....I still believe she would LOVE to be 'forced' into it and that when the time is ripe, the table will be magically set.
To HELP keep Dems from folding under the pressure of go along to get along and business as usual. I am working on a diary for Monday that SUPPORTS the Congressional Dems and tries to point out the various pressure from various agencies (e g lobbyists and consultants) that they are subject to. WE need to be one of the pressures they feel. That, as both citizens and bloggers IS our role. Applying what pressure we can to get our representative democracy to represent US.
To apply what small pressure we can on Bush. And Republican Congressmembers. Admittedly a Herculean if not Sisyphean task, but well worth doing what WE can. Better than nothing! Also as a way to highlight and emphasize Bush's High Crimes And Misdemeanors. A Frame to present his bullshit and atrocities in. One of my first impeachment diaries comes to mind....."Is Torture and Impeachable Offense?" By presenting his crimes within the context of the applicable punishment, the presentation is more effective. By presenting it in the Frame of impeachment...each new atrocity is then not just another outrage....but another impeachable offense.
As well as other smaller points of strategy. As I say....SOMEONE had to do it! Without someone jumping up and down yelling impeach, it WOULD have been truly off the table. And to take our moest valuable and powerful 'weapon' off the table in dealing with the ruthless and corrupt thugs of the Bush administration....people who understand NOTHING but force, would be a huge tactical error. Nancy was 'forced' (again as I have said all along) to take it off the table to help reassure the Voters before the election that a vote for Dems was not a vote for mere partisan reciprocation and revenge. It worked. As I now hope the fact that we here at Dkos have helped keep this essential tool of democracy in the conversation has given Nancy the option to put it back on the table since...."the public is clamoring for impeachment and we have no choice but to respond" is the best tactical approach SHE can use. There is the question of her seeking power for herself in the Republican mindset. Again if we 'force' her into it, that gives her cover.
A few more points....Nancy should NEVER become President or come close to look like she is trying. I hope as impeachment becomes more of an option she comes out and makes a statement that she will NOT accept the Presidency....but that it will go to a 'moderate" Republican that Bush appoints as VP after Cheney is Impeached. AND is acceptable to both Houses of Congress. Because....
While we the Loony Left Bloggers (and if you doubt that is how we are seen no matter HOW reasonable we may try to be, you are delusional!) NEED to be Yelling Loudly, the Congressional Dems need to be seen as incredibly reasonable and reasoned through all of this....which we give them cover to do. Strategy.
Finally, I am NOT 'impatient,' I do not 'want a cookie NOW,' and I do NOT expect impeachment tomorrow. I am trying to serve the situation through the most well thought out, considered and tactical POSITION I can take. Which is, in this case, Yelling as Loudly as Possible for the most 'radical' option that is in our arsenal. That is my 'role' in this critical political play that we are acting out.
You may disagree with my reasoning....but please do know that there IS reasoning here. If you want me to stop writing impeachment diaries, convince me with YOUR reasoning, but do not insult me by saying I have none, for then I will surely not listen to you. My approach is demonstrably changing minds.
When was the last time you saw someone post that they had had their minds changed and were now against impeachment?
I rest my case!