Will running on impeachment help or hurt a Democratic contender's chance

[Pryderi]

of winning?

[misternormal]

1. I think there are bigger issues on which to run...

But it might not be bad to have it as a hold card.

[Roland99]

4. Run on economy, jobs, healthcare, deficit, bring troops home.

Let impeachment take its course after Jan. 2007.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. Hmm...

Not sure it's wise to run on a platform of putting someone with an 18% approval rating in the Oval Office.

[SteppingRazor]

3. It'll help, but only in combination with other issues...

It's all well and good for a cndidate to yell "Impeach Bush!" but he/she better be prepared to answer the simple question "And then what?"

[the other one]

5. If they don't run on it then they shouldn't do it.

The rest of the country will see that as bait and switch. So if they plan on impeaching bush they should say so before the election or risk a backlash of their own if they wait til after the election to bring it up.

[RufusEarl]

15. BS, Dem's should not put impeachment first.

Most voters are not interested in impeachment, the main worry of most voters are the the issues that effect them personally.

The dem's will have plenty of work to do once they take office after the 06 elections, just to right the ship after six years of the Bu$h regime.

If getting even is a main goal of any politician, then i probably wouldn't vote for them. We have real problems in our country, and they need to be addressed. I want run the gambit of problems that face this country, but most here know what they are and know they need addressing.

So i'll work for and support politicians in my area, that have solutions to the problems that face our country, and getting even is not one of them IMHO it will only deepen the wounds that keep our country from moving forward.

History and bad karma will take care of Bu$h and his cronies, besides with a dem house & senate he'll be so nervous we want hear a peep put of him till he's gone.

[liberalnurse]

6. I think that we should focus on the failures of the entire Administration.

It may be too threatening to speak of Impeachment for some of the less informed voter....thus keep them from the polls. We should deal with it after we get the House and Senate. Our goals and plans for repairing our country should be foremost.

[TheCowsCameHome]

13. The over-all failures by the GOP is best ot zero in on.

Vote out the whole rotten bunch, not just impeach Bush.

[vicman]

7. The MOST important issue

for me is Democratic control of at least one side of Congress in order to obtain effective subpoena power. Rather than impeachment, the theme should be ACCOUNTABILITY. Make the Republicans accountable for what they have done. We need serious investigations where the truth is allowed to come out and become part of the official record. The shameful whitewashes the Republicans have crafted need to be exposed and held up to the dishonor and opprobrium they deserve.

[warrens]

9. That's my view too

Impeach if the facts back it up. But promising impeachment without the facts is reckless. I think the facts are there, but right now, Bush claims he didn't know that his WMD stuff was bullshit, so it's our word against his. Take over the house and start throwing subpoenas, but stick to accountability, competence and to-the-bone issues like healthcare, employment, the war, etc. during the campaign.

[Ready4Change]

8. It will earn my vote.

Or will come damn close.

There are other issues I care about. But for each one, getting this Administration out of power is a good start. And any Congress willing to do the right thing and impeach this Administration will be more likely to share my views on other issues as well.

[rock]

10. Impeachment is not a campaign promise

It's a given IMO.

[TahitiNut]

11. With a liberal constituency, it should make no difference.

With a conservative constituency, it'd hurt the candidate. It's the kind of campaign issue that arouses the "defenders" - not the attackers. That's why the right-wingers are making the claims that the 'left' intends to do this if they take Congress. Let THEM create the expectations. As long as THEY'RE doing it, it's a win-win for liberals.

Liberal candidates need to run on 'government for ALL people, not just the wealthy' and 'fair share of wealth for labor - those who create the wealth.' Health care, soldiers dying for corporations, economic justice, and honoring labor need to be at the forefront of liberal campaigns, imho.

[julialnyc]

12. Hurt (IMO)

I could be wrong on this, but I know many disenfranchised Republicans who would never vote for a Democrat.... but might not vote in November. The Republicans COULD run on "if you don't vote Republican a Democratic win would lead to impeachment".


I could be wrong, but the best thing for Democrats is a low Republican turnout.

[bluerum]

14. I think the overall effect will be negative. I also think that the

impeachment issue should be understood to be implicit if/when the Dems win back the house and the senate. But marching into a campaign waving the impeachment banner will probably, on net, lose more votes than it gains.

The dems have a real chance here. They need to be smart, stealthy and hold their cards close to their vest.

I think everyone in Washington smells impeachment if the dems win. And, I bet the pubs will be using that as campaign rhetoric. How long do you think it will be before you see attack ads demonizing vindictive liberal dems?

[Lasher]

16. It depends on how the candidate's position is perceived.

Polls vary quite a bit, depending on how this question is put to respondents. Here is a question on the subject that was part of a WaPo poll that was published this month:

42. Democratic Congressman John Conyers has called for creation of a committee to look into impeaching Bush and removing him from office. Do you think Congress should or should not impeach Bush and remove him from office?

Should impeach 33%
Should not impeach 66%
No opinion 1%

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_immigration_041006.htm

Note that this poll question includes the phrase, "...and remove him from office?", making a guilty verdict a foregone conclusion. Now consider this question that was put forth by Zogby:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — By a margin of 52 to 43 percent, citizens want Congress to impeach President Bush if he wiretapped American citizens without a judge's approval, according to a new poll commissioned by AfterDowningStreet.org, a grassroots coalition that supports a Congressional investigation of Pres. Bush's decision to invade Iraq in 2003.

The poll was conducted by Zogby International.

The poll found that 52 percent of respondents agreed with the statement: "If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment."

http://www.zogby.com/Soundbites/ReadClips.dbm?ID=12528

This question more properly asks if impeachment proceedings should ensue, so that it could be thereby determined if Bush is guilty of charges that have been alleged. This distinction makes a difference, since a majority approved of impeachment when it was put to them this way.

If I were a Democratic candidate I would choose my words carefully on this subject. Even then there would be danger, however. If they think they could gain an advantage, the pukes would certainly do whatever they could to convince voters that Democratic opponents favor the WaPo scenario, instead of the one set forth by Zogby.

Right now I think it's best to speak the truth if the subject comes up, but focus on other issues. There's plenty of other ammo to use.

Edit: housekeeping

[Oversea Visitor]

17. I saw a post here

even freeper talking impeachment

head exploding over there

Best quote
Dont matter if we going 30 mph or 100 mph we still going over the cliff

[Virginia Dare]

18. It's going to be a tough call coinsidering...

Americans are notoriously turned off by negative campaigning, but how do you put a positive spin on "okay folks, so our country is FUBAR and we have to spend the next four years convicting the criminals who many of you voted for".

:shrug:

[Lasher]

21. How's this?

I don't think we should assume anybody is guilty of anything ultil a fair investigation is conducted. If elected I would not, however, rule out the prudent exercise of Congressional oversight, as the Republicans have done for 5 years.

[Ksec]

19. Running on a negative

Works sometimes. Look at the success the repukes had with swiftboats and McCain illegitimate black children.

It doesnt usually work for Dems. I say dont run on it but do it once we win.

[Avalux]

20. We need to focus on the Republican party, not just Bush.

We must show the American people that Democrats are different and better than Republicans. We can use Bush/impeachment as part of the message, but we can't run on it.

I like what Bill Maher said on his show Friday night; time to stop being nice and hit hard. The environment is a BIG issue for me, but Democrats are reluctant to use it. We need to start though - his message "Republicans want to kill your children". Works for me.