How to get Impeachment Back "on the Table"

It's more than a tautology to say that politicians are inherently political. Despite their oath of office or quality of character, almost no elected official is going to do something they believe will harm their holding on to power for the sake of an abstract value, however important it is, like "defending the Constitution."

The great value of the rise of netroots has been to change the political dynamic for Democrats, where "playing it safe" is no longer always the politically safe thing to do. However, as there is no more grave act for Congress that impeachment, what's needed is a political strategy (not legislative or legal, as many diarists suggest) to put impeachment back on the table: convicing the country, through smart political theater, of the criminal nature of Bush Administration.

As of now, most Democratic politicians believe the country, as a whole, is not ready for impeachment and would view it as over-reaching, overly-partisan, and retaliatory, despite Mr. 26%'s low approval ratings. Kossacks may argue whether this is the correct reading, but the first lesson of organizing is to deal with people where they are, not where you are.

It is in this political context that impeachment is "off the table." The Speaker's statements aren't that impeachment isn't a Constitutional option or that there are no crimes that would justify impeachment, but only that it is not currently something being considered. As was widely reported during the campaign, this is an attempt (however bad a political misreading) to show swing voters that Democrats are reasonable and responsible.

So, the question is, how do we change the political dynamic so that Democratic politicians feel safe supporting impachment? The answer: by using the powers of Congress to reframe the question from one of strategy (impeach or don't?) to one of the fundamental nature of the current administration (criminal or not?).

Even the most milquetoast Democrat talks about the need for oversight and accountability. The netroots should hold them to it. Every Committee in Congress should be investigating the long list of misdeeds of the past 6 years, demanding information, and issuing subpoenas when the information isn't provided. We should use this time to build the case against the President. Ironically, because it looks like there's been no decision about the final outcome (in fact, with impeachment "off the table"), these investigatons become more credible.

From hearings come more moments like we're seing with Chairmen Leahy and Conyers: showdowns with the White House and opportunities to hold specific people in criminal contempt. As we start getting the little fish (think a Fitzmas a couple times a month), both public and elite opinion will start changing. We know the stories, but we can use this theater to get the information we have out through the MSM so that people feel they're discovering it for the first time.

Only then, when there's demonstrated evidence that the public sees the Preisdent as criminal can a real impeachment debate start. And, granted, there are serious questions to be debated (the most difficult one for me is how to balance the good to our democracy that comes from holding Bush accountable with the harm to democracy that comes from two impeached presidents in a row). But only at that point, when there's a groundswell of clamor for impeachment beyond the most engaged citizens, will it be politically back on the table.

Politicians can feel confident going down the investigation path, knowing it will help Democrats in 2008, but can get swept up in the inherent momentum of impeachment. It will also give Democratic members of Congress some time to legislate on issues of health care, the economy, education, taxes, etc., which they feel they've been elected to do and feel less of a conflict between legislation and accountability.

Investigations now, with no preconcieved outcome. If what we know to be true actually is, impeachment will be the neccesary and logical political end game. While this may feel like more waiting, it would actually the first time we're really doing anything to bring this awful chapter to a close.