Democrats are afraid to Impeach. They're afraid they'll be accused of partisan vengeance. They're afraid they'll look weak if they fail to get enough Impeachment votes in the House or conviction votes in the Senate. They're afraid Americans will resent them spending time on Impeachment instead of passing legislation, and will punish them in 2008.
Every one of these political considerations and calculations is driven by FEAR. Every public argument Democrats make against Impeachment resonates with their fear of the potential negative political consequences. Fear-based thinking is pervasive among Congressional Democrats, it has had a destructive impact on the entire Democratic Party ever since the Reagan landslides a generation ago.
The fear-based thinking of Democrats has never been more destructive than it has these past seven years. Fear has undermined their confidence and integrity to such an alarming degree that instead of restoring honor and dignity to our government by enforcing the Constitution through Impeachment, they cringe at the mere mention of the word.
Albert Camus, who understood human nature all too well, warned that, "Those who lack courage will always find a philosophy to justify it."
Craven political expediency is the philosophy too many Democrats have found. Actually, it's not a philosophy, it's a swamp, but beggars can't be choosers. The DLC has wallowed in this swamp of political expediency for years, and Blue Dog Democrats are dog paddling in it as we speak. Our other Democrats aren't quite as uncouth as Blue Dogs, so they've climbed into rowboats, hoping to get across this swamp to nowhere without drowning, but they've just been paddling around in circles for seven months because they have no idea what to do next.
The lengthy misadventures of Democrats in this swamp of political expediency prompted Markos to start this website:
We started pushing Democrats to be proud to be Democrats. This had nothing to do with being centrist or liberal or conservative. It had to do with standing tall for core progressive principles.
Unfortunately, it's hard for Democrats to stand tall when they're busy bailing water out of leaking rowboats in the middle of a swamp. It's even harder to be proud of it.
So . . . perhaps it's time for them to listen to some good advice. Maya Angelou wrote that, "Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently."
We've seen the truth of that statement demonstrated too many times throughout the first 7 months of the 110th Congress. Because Democrats do not have the courage to Impeach, they haven't been able to practice any other virtue with consistency, except turning the other cheek every time Bush sucker punches them.
They've worn the daylights out of that questionable virtue. Call me a wavering Christian, but I think it's time to take turning the other cheek off the fucking table for good.
If Democrats do not Impeach, the virtues of getting us out of Iraq and passing much needed legislation to address America's health care, education, infrastructure, and a host of other immediate problems will remain unattainable. All they need to do is summon the courage to Impeach. When they do, Republicans will cut and run just like Rove is.
Benjamin Disraeli said, "Courage is fire, and bullying is smoke." Rove has finally run out of smoke, Democrats. We've all choked on that bully's smoke for years, so good riddance. But Bush and Cheney and their right wing thugs in Congress still have plenty of smoke left. They know how to use it, and we're all going to be choking on it for years unless you summon the courage to Impeach.
Put Impeachment back on the table in September, Speaker Pelosi. Paddle out of that swamp of political expediency. Climb out of that rowboat, find yourself a copy of the Constitution, have someone read it you, and light the unquenchable fire of Impeachment. Once that fire is lit in Impeachment hearings, Republicans will never be able to put it out. They'll drag out their hoses and smoke will billow all over the place, but the fire of Impeachment will not go out. When the smoke clears America will see Senate convictions of Bush and Cheney.
Impeach before I overdose on mixed metaphors.
Even more importantly, Impeach because the moral imperative of Impeachment supersedes every other consideration. There are times when the moral imperative of an issue is so compelling that political calculations must be set aside. We're there. The compelling need for Impeachment is staring you in the face, Democrats. Americans are desperate for moral leadership in Washington. Show them what moral leadership looks like, show them you are worthy of their trust and support in 2008.
Enforce the Constitution.
Enforce it with pride and determination.
Make us proud to be Democrats.
Make us proud to be Americans.
IMPEACH!