The Verdict On Bush From A Leftist Town Hall Meeting

So I suppose you heard about the town of Newfane, Vermont approving a resolution calling on their U.S. Representative Bernie Sanders – the only avowed Socialist in Congress – to file articles of impeachment against President Bush? This story deserves comment on any number of points.

The 121-29 town hall vote called on Mr. Sanders – the only avowed Socialist in Congress – to file the articles against the President on two counts: Misleading the nation into war and engaging in illegal domestic spying.

Of course, the allegation that the Bush administration lied – implying willful intent to mislead – to get America into the Iraq phase of the War on Terror is one of the most worn out and tiresome of the many allegations raised against the President by his opponents. And it is also one of the most easily refuted. Only the most ardent left-wing Bush-bashers actually feel that this is a charge that could really go anywhere. But then, these are the very people who elected the only avowed Socialist in Congress.

As to the “illegal domestic spying” allegation, it is misleading in its very terminology. By definition, the NSA program is not “domestic spying.” But the facts concerning what actually is being done, and its legality, are obviously not things that are of much concern to these folks – who elected the only avowed Socialist in Congress – anyway.

The jury is still out among many in Washington – on both sides of the aisle – as to whether the administration has done anything wrong with regard to the NSA program (It hasn’t - JLH). But apparently the investigative resources of the people of Newfane – who elected the only avowed Socialist to Congress – provide them with insight not shared by those in the halls of power in Washington.

For his part, Mr. Sanders – the only avowed Socialist in Congress – would not disavow the merit of the charges against the President. He would only say that, despite the fact that the Bush administration “has been a disaster for our country,” the political reality of Republican control of both houses of Congress makes it “impractical to talk about impeachment.”

The statement issued by Mr. Sanders – the only avowed Socialist in Congress – makes for an interesting comparison. Almost from day one of the Clinton administration, there were “conservatives” who were calling for his impeachment on any number of counts, generally ranging from the ridiculous to the unworkably vague. During most of Mr. Clinton’s administration, Republicans were the majority party in Congress. Yet they did not act to impeach the President until they had actual evidence of actual crimes.

Had impeachment, to the Republicans, been simply a matter of “political practicality,” as it is to Mr. Sanders – the only avowed Socialist in Congress – it stands to reason that they would have filed articles at least four years before they actually did. But the funny thing about true conservatives is that they realize that, no matter how much they may dislike a person or political situation, there are rules and laws whose letter and spirit must be respected, even when you possess a sufficient majority to get around the spirit and letter of the rules.

One gets the distinct impression that this is not the case with the leftists who simply want to do anything they can to hurt the President or his supporters. There is little doubt in anyone’s mind that, should Democrats win control of the House on the evening of November 7, articles of impeachment will be in the works by the afternoon of November 8. Not because of any verifiable evidence of wrongdoing, but simply because of blind rage on the part of those who have long since abandoned the tactic of trying to convince the American people of the rightness of their view through rational discourse.