Submitted by Monty Pelerin via Economic Noise blog [5],
The issue of impeachment is now no longer whispered about. Talk is prevalent and a recent poll indicated that 35% of the public believe the president should be impeached. Interestingly, the topic is being promoted more by Democrats than Republicans.
Tactical Impeachment Considerations
Democrats don’t truly believe the President should be impeached, but they see it as a chance, likely their only chance, to bolster their election possibilities this November. A recent CNN poll [6] indicates that Romney would win in a landslide if the presidential election were repeated today. Maybe, maybe not, but the poll is indicative of the pressures all Democrat candidates are under.
Democrats have nothing to run on and there is little reason for their disillusioned base to turn out. The threat of impeachment would likely engage that base. Obama has been a major flop, no a disaster for the country and the Democrat Party. Maligning Republicans or somehow energizing the base is the only hope left for Democrats running in November. That is why they and Obama himself promote the idea of a coming impeachment.
Are Republicans dumb enough to fall for this ploy? Given prior history, this question is not a silly one. Anything is possible and Republicans have an uncanny ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. However, they are not moving in that direction. The grounds for impeachment are increasing. Obama seems to be going out of his way to enhance these probabilities. I also don’t believe it will happen. And that may be a huge tragedy for the country. No president has deserved impeachment more than the current one.
From a tactical standpoint, there is no reason for Republicans to hint about impeachment in advance of 2014 elections. Republicans are in the driver’s seat and only need to avoid major mistakes in order to achieve what could be a monstrous victory. Given the political calculus, it is natural for them to not risk the apparent landslide. It is in their best interests.
However, that is the central problem of politics today – it is not what is in the best interests of the country but in the best interests of the politicians that dictates what gets decided or done.
Strategic Impeachment Considerations
After this election, considerations for the next election — the presidential election of 2016 — will begin. The same tactical concerns will be raised. The same cowardice and self-interest is likely to prevail.
There is a deeper strategic consideration that should concern citizens and politicians. This issue should transcend parochial political interest and political advantage consideration. Not addressing impeachment threatens what is left of the Rule of Law and the Constitution. Not addressing impeachment ensures greater tyranny in the future.
The current president makes Richard Nixon look like a paragon of truth, integrity and honor in comparison. If Obama doesn’t qualify for impeachment, then nobody ever again will.
It is difficult to imagine worse violations of the Constitution, separation of powers and general dishonor of the office than this president has committed. Yet we assuredly will see worse by successors. Impeachment is necessary in order to preserve what little structure the Founders provided. A line in the sand must be drawn that says to successors where they dare not go. Without impeachment Obama’s acts serve as precedents. Future presidents will have immunity to repeat them and add their own variations and enhancements that further stretch the boundaries. The absence of action has the unintended effect of further defining presidential deviancy downward.
It doesn’t matter whether it is a Republican or Democrat, some other low life will gain office and build upon Obama’s violations. Defenders will cite concessions to Obama as precedents for such action. The need for impeachment has little to do with Obama (other than he has, up to now, been the worst offender). It is all about protecting what remains of the Rule of Law and The Constitution. Not impeaching Obama just provides a green light for future presidents to further corrupt the laws of the country and the office of the presidency.
Unless a principled stand is taken now, some future president’s behavior will create nostalgia for Obama. Like Richard Nixon, Obama’s behavior will seem trivial in comparison to what inevitably follows.
As right as it may be, impeachment will not happen unless some truly damaging news breaks through regarding the dozen or more alleged scandals associated with the current Administration. Unfortunately, that is unlikely given the utter corruption of the Department of Justice. The lack of action probably dooms the country.
