Impeachment

Kucinich is continuing in his efforts to impeach Bush and getting no cooperation from the House Democratic leadership.

While I agree with the Democrats' decision not to impeach, I am going on record as saying that impeachment of Bush would not be inappropriate. Bush's actions (e.g., torture, trumped up case for Iraq, politicization of the Justice Department, violations of civil liberties, evasion of Congressional oversight; executive signing statements; Valerie Plame) are far worse than Clinton's and probably worse than Watergate.

However, I tend to think that impeachment is probably outdated. In addition to facing re-election after four years, presidents are now limited to two terms. The country can survive four to eight years of all but the most egregious abuses. The divisiveness and disruption of impeachment proceedings probably outweighs the potential benefit.

With Clinton, and to a certain extent with Bush, the impeachment movement is partially based upon politics and frustration with failure to defeat the President upon re-election. As I said, there are grounds for impeachment, but at this point the only purpose of impeachment would be to try to override the election and embarrass the President. That doesn't justify the national trauma of impeachment.