I say, let’s flog a dead horse

In Washington Journal, a book about the last year of the Nixon Administration, Elizabeth Drew points out that we don’t really impeach presidents because they break the law or abuse their office, we impeach them because we don’t like them. When Nixon was run out of Washington on a rail, Drew opines, it was more because of his remarkable unpopularity than it was because of any of the specifics of Watergate or the cover-up.

I have often brought this up over the last five years as George W. Bush has committed one officially impeachable offense after another—yes, he’s broken the law, but that’s not what really gets a president impeached.

I am starting to feel less comfortable with using that as an excuse for the remarkable lack of action in the halls of Congress. Sure, John Conyers has called for impeachment, and Russ Feingold has moved for censure, but most Democrats have been afraid to take on a popular president, be it on the war in Iraq, national security, or warrantless domestic spying, Problem is, he’s no longer a popular president—not even close. (Hell, even Jessica Simpson won’t be seen with him.)

Yes, the Democrats are still a minority in both houses, but if they want to be something other than second banana, ain’t it about time they start kicking a man when he’s down?

I think so.