DLC: "Whew! That was close!"

[sophiaserpentia]

We've been stunningly, brazenly betrayed twice by the Democrats in one day. First the advancement of the Mukasey nomination, virtually guaranteeing its passage. Then this, from bizarro world: Republicans voting to allow debate on the impeachment of Dick Cheney, and Democrats, terrified it will actually happen, vote against it:

House Democrats on Tuesday narrowly managed to avert a bruising debate on a proposal to impeach Dick Cheney after Republicans, in a surprise maneuver, voted in favor of taking up the measure.

Republicans, changing course midway through a vote, tried to force Democrats into a debate on the resolution sponsored by longshot presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. The anti-war Ohio Democrat, in his resolution, accused Cheney of purposely leading the country into war against Iraq and manipulating intelligence about Iraq's ties with al-Qaida.

The GOP tactics reversed what had been expected to be an overwhelming vote to table, or kill, the resolution. Midway through the vote, with instructions from the GOP leadership, Republicans one by one changed their votes from yes — to kill the resolution — to no, trying to force the chamber into a debate and an up-or-down vote on the proposal.

from Debate on Cheney impeachment averted

Comments

[orb2069.livejournal.com]

I thought the whole Valerie Plame thing resolved into a giant game of musical chairs with Scooter Libby being the last one standing? Not that I'm pleased about that, or anything, but that seems to be what happened.

I'm having a hard time visualizing how we land an impeachment on Halliburton: The only way the Rethugs managed to pull off the whole Lewinsky thing was through having sufficient control of the house AND senate to force the issue, on top of Clinton being dumb/naive/desperate enough to actually think they'd play somewhat fair with their 'investigation'. Trying to drag the VP into court (and getting the Famous Cheney Middle Finger in the process) without the percentages in the house and senate to back it up would just be more meat for FOX and the blogosphere to complain about how ineffective the democrats are, and that you should just stay home and let the right-wing make all the decisions.

I can see not wanting to help Kucinich out - No matter which republican gets elected, the RNC seems to wind up running the show. If Kucinich dosen't start his term by handing out lollypops with Presidental Pardons wrapped around them, the RNC will jerk his chain up nice and short: If there's anything to be learned from Nixon, it's that these folks will cover their own.