Some political leaders like Chuck Hagel have flirted with the idea, but only flirted. Others like John Conyers and Dennis Kucinich have been more serious.
Dennis Kucinich has now filed articles of impeachment against Vice President Cheney, with a slight delay because of Cheney’s blood clot news, but nonetheless — Kucinich has taken action.
At the same time, Dana Milbank mocks Kucinich’s impotence in trying to create legislative punishment of Cheney’s high crimes.
There are some who would like me to write much more about impeachment efforts against Bush or Cheney — but I don’t see any reason to do so. I think that it is important for those on the left or the right to raise the potential of impeachment and even make a moral or legal case for such an undertaking.
But I do not believe such efforts have a chance in hell in our current political environment. None of the key players in either of the key parties believe in the viability of an impeachment effort against either Bush or Cheney.
I think Cheney is more culpable than the President, but even then — my view does not matter — particularly with Tim Johnson still recovering and Joe Lieberman threatening practically every other day to caucus with the Republicans.
I do think what Kucinich is doing is important for many in the country. It is. He is fulfilling the expectations of many frustrated Americans, but at the same time, it’s important to not let sentimentalism about Kucinich’s Quijotish leadership cloud out the realism that impeachment in the next 20 months is only a cosmetic political factor and won’t really happen.
— Steve Clemons
42 comments on “Kucinich and Impeachment: Don Quijote Lives On”