The sobering agent for Republicans should be evident. In about two years the next occupants of the White House will likely be Democrats. Do Republicans want to have to face four or eight years of being dissed, ignored and further marginalized by a Democratic administration, simply because they allowed Bush and Cheney to set such precedents?
Some also warn that the US Supreme Court, now in conservative hands, could actually validate the Bush administration's expansive view of executive powers. Not likely. While the Supreme Court may have been able to fix one national election for conservatives they can't count of being handed the same extraordinary opportunity again, any time soon. Therefore the Supremes, like Republicans in congress, are not going to want to hand a Democratic president imperial power. (Besides, once congress is neutered, might not the Court itself be next? Sure, why not. A compliant congress might be asked by the president to pass a constitutional amendment clipping the wings of the judges all the way up to the Supremes themselves. “Mission Accomplished.”)
While it's refreshing to see and hear accomplished, articulate and sane adults suddenly talking right out loud about impeachment, nothing is going to happen unless the idea catches fire in Congress. So far it has not, and I have a theory why. Since last November's switch of control in Congress to Democrats, Congress been treated by this administration like the classic battered wife.
That's when the real abuse began, and it's gotten progressively worse ever since. Like most abusive relationships the abuser in this case, Bush, et al, have succeeded in keeping the abused off balance, scared, confused and, most important, powerless.
If called to investigate, here's how the police report might read:
