Newsweek poll: Impeachment supporters at 58% (up from 51%)

[pat_k]

In the http://january6th.org/oct2006-newsweek-poll-impeach.html">poll released Oct 21, Newsweek found that 51% of Americans want impeachment to be a priority in the new Congress; only 44% answered "should not be a priority." (The beltway's inability to push the "should not" number over 44%, despite their relentless anti-impeachment propaganda and "off the table" declarations, speaks volumes.)

Apparently the numbers frightened Newsweek -- too much reality for the chattering class. Although they purged the word "impeachment" from the http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-27-2007/0004514285&EDATE="> poll released Jan 27, somebody managed to get in a question that exposes the truth.

"At this point in time, do you personally wish that George W. Bush's presidency was over, or don't you feel this way?

58% Yes, wish it was over

37% No, do not

5% Don't know/refused

Even if our so-called "leadership" in Congress could care less about their duty to defend the Constitution, numbers like these make it crystal clear that Americans would be HAPPY to see Bush impeached and removed. In fact, FAILING to impeach constitutes the REAL political risk. When Bush bombs Iran, the blame that will be heaped on the House leadership will be inescapable ("Why didn't you impeach him?").

Impeachment numbers have only one way to go. If the energy so many of our so-called "leaders" are putting into stifling calls for impeachment were put into advocating it, "impeach bushcheney" numbers would probably exceed 65%.

Pelosi is not just failing to champion the cause, she's made herself an "anti-champion" with her irrational "off the table" edict. Her stubborn denial of reality and refusal to accuse/impeach approaches the level of mental illness we are seeing in the WH.

Maybe it's something in the water?

Whatever their excuses, we can wake them up to reality. We just need http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3086616&mesg_id=3086616">a Big Clue Stick.

[Kurovski]

1. K&R. Keep writing and calling your reps, letters to the editor,

talk about it wherever you can, support online efforts, sign petitions, call local radio talkshows and bring up the topic.

The movement to impeach will continue to grow.

Bush and Cheney BOTH should be removed, or forced to step down.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. You are misrepresenting the poll.

The poll says nothing about impeachment.

[pat_k]

4. No, I'm not. 58% of Americans want bushchaney gone NOW.

These are people who will be Happy to see them impeached -- the only way out of Bush World NOW.

I am well aware that the question doesn't include the word "impeachment." My post points out that Newsweek purged the word impeachment from this week's poll.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

17. Ok, fine.

You are saying the poll says something it doesn't. You can say whatever you want. The poll says something different. You are making a leap without any evidence to support it.

[pat_k]

23. See Reply #27

[samq79]

12. It's not misrepresenting...

While the poll did not specifically mention impeachment, it's not that much of a leap to get there...barring assassination or illness, how else would bush leave office immediately?

[newyawker99]

15. Hi samq79!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

16. Did you read the title of the thread?

While the poll did not specifically mention impeachment

Indeed. Thus the title of the thread is misleading.

I don't think you'd find a single person on DU who wouldn't respond affirmatively to the question asked in the poll. There are also a great many people on DU who don't advocate impeachment, for a variety of reasons, none of which have anything to do with keeping Bush around.

[pat_k]

25. "supporters" are people who get behind a thing when it happens.

The DUers who are defending Pelosi's "off the table" edict may not be "advocating impeachment" right now, but they are nevertheless "impeachment supporters" (i.e., each one I've asked says they'll support impeachment in a heartbeat if the House leadership goes for it).

I make the case that Newsweek's poll results tell us that 58% is probably the minimum percent of "Impeachment supporters" (people who will support impeachment if the House leadership takes it up). I cite the poll question as asked. It's all out there. Nothing misrepresented.

[aquart]

3. Uh, Newsweek got its numbers by NOT mentioning impeachment.

In the movie, How to Murder Your Wife, a witness was asked, "If you could push a button and your wife would just disappear, would you push it?"

Witness: "Would she be in pain?"

"No pain. Just push it."

The witness pushes the imaginary button. This question is an imaginary button.

It covers lightning strikes, apoplexy from a temper tantrum, and just vanishing in a puff of smoke.

[pat_k]

13. The excuse that impeachment is "too painful" is BS.

Even if we knew that impeaching Bush and Cheney would be "painful," Members of Congress are sworn to defend the Constitution. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3086616&mesg_id=3086616">Impeachment has been a moral imperative for years.

But, the notion that impeachment must be "painful" just isn't true.

Bush and Cheney could be "disappeared" by President's Day. Members of the House have everything they need to make an indefensible case -- it's all public record. They could make the case in a one day Impeachment Hearing (Heck, Feingold made the case in minutes -- claiming Un-Constitutional and Un-American "unitary power" to break our laws at will is not just "censurable" it is "impeachable").

Under threat of impeachment, Bush and Cheney will be VERY motivated to take the resignation "exit strategy" to keep the WH in Republican hands. They could be out by President's day.

There is no inevitably painful process to fear.

The reality reflected in the numbers is what it is. There is no escaping the meaning.

We already have 51% who want impeachment to be a priority (and presumably "personally wish that George W. Bush's presidency was over").

Now we have an additional 7% who declare that they "personally wish that George W. Bush's presidency was over."

The numbers demonstrate just how irrational the leadership's fear that Americans will "turn on them" really is.

These numbers are holding up despite relentless efforts to stifle call for impeachment. If they champion impeachment, the numbers can only go up.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

18. Way to miss the point.

The point is that wishing for a particular outcome does not imply that one would support any action that would lead to that outcome. That is relevant here, because that is exactly what you have done with the poll.

Polls do not work like that. Wording is extremely important in determining results. Your extrapolations are based on nothing.

[pat_k]

22. My analysis hides nothing and speaks for itself.

[krispos42]

5. He he he... 'clue-by-four'

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

[pat_k]

6. I had to toss a coin to decide whether to use "Clue Stick" or Clue-by-Four:". . .

. . .they are both so good!

[EFerrari]

7. Lead Clue Pipe.

K&R

[npincus]

8. Impeachment is a seperate question

you made a leap there.

Let's hope the desire to impeach exceeds 58%.

[pat_k]

14. The "want Bush's reign over now" people are EXTREMELY unlikely to oppose. . .

We have been being subjected to an all out effort to squash the will to impeach. This effort has failed to get more than 44% to say "shouldn't impeach."

When leaders champion the cause, there really is only one way the numbers can go.

When dealing with human events, nothing is a certainty, but the leap is not much of a leap.

When we look at these numbers, there is thing we can say with absolute certainty. It's nuts to believe that Americans will turn on them if they impeach -- the the ONLY thing they CAN do to rid us of Bush and Cheney. I suppose there could be some bizarre sit of circumstances that could casue Americans to "turn," but they have absolutely NO evidence on which their fear of "backlash."

[helderheid]

9. This is a public outcry - CONGRESS ARE YOU LISTENING???

Also, forward this to friends and family:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x82404

[ClassWarrior]

31. .

[porphyrian]

10. I'll kick that. - n/t

[gatorboy]

11. I got yer Mandate right here buddy.

Fawking be-yoo-ti-ful.

*Ahem* Democratic congress, time to do the will of the people....

[0007]

19. Are the sheeple waking up or are they just getting tired of "AMerican Idol"?

[Senator]

20. Waking? The public's been way ahead...

...of the DC/Euphemedia Analstocracy for a long time.

They know in the beltway that the nation wants impeachment and that that's what the election results were really about. They just shun that reality off into the non-substantive ghetto of "Anti-War v. Pro-War."

And spend most of their time sucking on their "2008 HorseRace Pacifier."

--

[firefox_fan]

21. I wonder about that 4% of Democrats

Who say they don't wish it was over. Who are they?

[pat_k]

26. It's actually 12% of Dems (which are 4% of the Total Pop).

. . .which is even more mystifying.

The number may be picking up some of the folks who buy the idea that impeaching Bush and Cheney would be "bad for the Party." They "personally" want him out, but. . . . (wheels spinning). . .Dems are great at complicating and rationalizing even the simplest things.

We have met the enemy, and it is us.

[Bonobo]

24. You got my hopes with that MISLEADING title. NOT IMPEACHMENT

What a rip-off. You should edit or delete this... or get a job with Fox.

[pat_k]

27. "I personally wish GWB's presidency was over" captures the peoples' true will.

The question strips away rationalizations for inaction and propaganda. It exposes the real number of "impeachment supporters" (the number who would support the Constitutional removal of Bush and Cheney).

[geek tragedy]

29. Wanting something and being willing to do what it takes

to achieve it are two very different things.

[pat_k]

30. "What it takes" could be a day, which is why the question effectively strips. . .

. . .the influence of propaganda and rationalization. It gets at the true will. As I pointed out in reply #13, the notion that impeachment is necessarily "painful" is BS. A bit of propaganda designed to artificially stilfle the will to impeach.

[eppur_se_muova]

28. 58% ?? That's POLITICAL CAPITAL !! Let's INVEST NOW !! nt