From the outset, I felt that all of this Obama impeachment talk was just a way to fire up the bases, especially given the coming mid-term elections. I honestly felt it was being used by both sides to prompt donations and persuade people to vote in a little over three months. Republican House Speaker John Boehner, however, has a different take on things, as he just recently stated the following:
"This whole talk about impeachment is coming from the president's own staff, and coming from Democrats on Capitol Hill. Why? Because they're trying to rally their people to give money and show up in this year's elections.
We have no plans to impeach the president. We have no future plans. Listen. It's all a scam started by Democrats at the White House."
While Boehner may be partially accurate with his commentary, let's be honest for a moment here - both sides have been using "impeachment" for political means. In fact, when it comes to the game of politics, I wonder if Boehner made a mistake with his comments. What's going to pump up the die-hard Republican base more? The House Speaker saying, "We're not going to impeach President Obama, no matter how much we dominate the mid-terms," or the House Speaker saying, "We're not taking impeachment off the table here. If we win handily enough in November, we could have the votes necessary to impeach the president"?
Perhaps Boehner is having an honest moment, since his party would need two-thirds of the Senate to support impeaching President Obama for it to happen, and he knows that's next to impossible, even if they dominate the mid-term elections. He may also be trying to win over Independents and moderates, or at least doing everything he can to not completely frighten them away. Typically in mid-term elections, however, it's the most pumped up base which springs their party to victory. Not nearly as many people vote in the mid-term elections as in the general elections. Those most likely to vote are the most steadfast, ardent supporters on both sides, and if Boehner and company cool down the anger of their base, while President Obama and other Democrats rile their base to get out and vote come November, Boehner and company may see this as a political misstatement (or overall strategy) which could cost them some very important seats in Congress.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/29/boehner-impeachment_n_5630171.html
"This whole talk about impeachment is coming from the president's own staff, and coming from Democrats on Capitol Hill. Why? Because they're trying to rally their people to give money and show up in this year's elections.
We have no plans to impeach the president. We have no future plans. Listen. It's all a scam started by Democrats at the White House."
While Boehner may be partially accurate with his commentary, let's be honest for a moment here - both sides have been using "impeachment" for political means. In fact, when it comes to the game of politics, I wonder if Boehner made a mistake with his comments. What's going to pump up the die-hard Republican base more? The House Speaker saying, "We're not going to impeach President Obama, no matter how much we dominate the mid-terms," or the House Speaker saying, "We're not taking impeachment off the table here. If we win handily enough in November, we could have the votes necessary to impeach the president"?
Perhaps Boehner is having an honest moment, since his party would need two-thirds of the Senate to support impeaching President Obama for it to happen, and he knows that's next to impossible, even if they dominate the mid-term elections. He may also be trying to win over Independents and moderates, or at least doing everything he can to not completely frighten them away. Typically in mid-term elections, however, it's the most pumped up base which springs their party to victory. Not nearly as many people vote in the mid-term elections as in the general elections. Those most likely to vote are the most steadfast, ardent supporters on both sides, and if Boehner and company cool down the anger of their base, while President Obama and other Democrats rile their base to get out and vote come November, Boehner and company may see this as a political misstatement (or overall strategy) which could cost them some very important seats in Congress.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/29/boehner-impeachment_n_5630171.html
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