News Max asks “Is Dick Cheney’s Influence Waning?” which means that they either think it is or fear that the perception is out there that it is. Either way, it certainly isn’t news, since Dick’s approval ratings have been in the doghouse for awhile now. It comes down to this: anyone who gave Cheney and his policies influence and credibility in the first place was trying to keep some of the heat from Cheney’s crappy poll numbers from sinking Bush’s numbers further . Cheney has always been spun as the “stable” force by the White House. But the truth is, he has been walking on eggshells in the eyes of many conservatives, as I pointed out almost two years ago. In the end, anyone who still gives Cheney and Co. influence or credibility is simply an idiot.
A whopping 87% of American’s favor impeaching Bush according to an MSNBC poll. Anger is a potent force when given life. It’s also very unpredictable. Evoking it as often as they have, it’s not surprising that the Bush White House has burnt fingers and eyebrows. As for impeachment, I’d hate to see it, if only because I would loathe the media circus that would come to dominate the American news cycle and it would grind what’s left of the progress of the government to a halt. There is real work that needs to be done in Iraq, and at home, that is more important. History will take care of Dubya.
That said, if solid documented evidence is presented that supports a Constitutional basis for impeachment, then so be it. Ultimately, going after Bush alone and not Cheney would be a mistake. Bush is a close minded ideological puppet. Cheney gave him the axe and showed him how to wield it. And, Karl Rove bares a great deal of the responsibility for all of this mess as well. As do the cadre of neo-cons who are now distancing themselves from their once glorious plans for Empire. So the question is: Impeach or no?
If anyone is going to face legal action for mishandling of the war and possible crimes, it would be Donald Rumsfeld. Avedon links to two different but telling perspectives on Rumsfeld: Rude Pundit says: Time to arrest Donald Rumsfeld and Craig Ferguson Salutes Rumsfeld from the Huffington Post.
More myth busting over at Political Animal and at Glenn Greenwald’s place as well.
Everyone is waiting on the Iraq Study Group and Arthur Silber has some words of wisdom regarding that…
It is distressing to me if this is true. Why has it taken so long for a current president at war and struggling on the international front to ask another much more seasoned and by most accounts successful president on the international and war front about a very real and most important situation that affects the entire world? If this is about simple father and son issues… talk about having ones priorities out of whack.
