Teaches of Impeaches

The best question for Democrats in advance of the 2006 midterms is concerned with the possible censure or impeachment of George W. Bush. Do they think such measures are necessary? Would they vote for censure - such as Senator Russ Feingold has proposed in response to wiretapping in the name of national security?

Staunch liberals may rejoice - thinking that Democrats have finally screwed their courage to the sticking place - to quote Lady Macbeth's little pep talk on the eve of regicide. Finally a political endgame to rid ourselves of the neocon tyranny - without the costly distraction of a national election!

And yet Hillary, Barack, Chuckie Schumer, Kerry, they're all falling awkwardly all over themselves trying to avoid these questions. According to Dana Milbank at the Washington Post the most entertaining game for the Capitol Hill reporter is to ask about the motion for censure - and watch Senators up for re-election scramble to hide in the broom closet. They know the polling numbers - and aside from the faculty at Columbia and the thinning ranks of MoveOn.org the American public has no patience for shoot-to-kill partisanship. The average citizen may feel disgust towards Bush, but somewhat amazingly, they are capable of holding the Democrats in even greater contempt.

The WSJ editorial page today is convinced that if a Democrat-led congress takes power after the midterms they will almost immediately authorize special prosecutors to lay the groundwork for impeachment, regardless of mainstream public opinion. The same editorial suggests that the press should demand answers from the Democrats in advance of 2006 so they are on record with their true intentions.