The Media Politics Of Impeachment

From ZNet:

As a political weapon, impeachment will be used to the extent that the president's foes believe they can get away with it. While the Constitution speaks of "high crimes and misdemeanors," that provision offers scant clarity about standards for impeachment. In recent decades, we have seen it utilized as an appropriate tool (against Nixon) and as an instrument of political overkill (against Bill Clinton). In both instances, the media climate determined the possibilities and impacts of impeachment.

In general, the punditocracy is averse to the option of impeachment and reflexively dismisses any such suggestion. Misuses of presidential power -- and outright mendacity in the service of policy objectives -- are political realities, accepted or even avidly supported as long as they remain within vaguely customary limits. Few editorial writers or other commentators want to risk seeming too far ahead of the media curve by suggesting that the latest presidential deceptions might rise to the level of impeachable offenses.

In other words, the corporate media probably won't be leading the charge toward removing our thief-in-chief; in fact, they'll probably be quite condemning of any serious impeachment movement that might arise. This isn't too hard to belive: the essay also points out that numerous Reagan administration officials, including our current President's daddy, got away almost scot-free with the Iran-Contra scandal back in the 80s. Removing from office and jailing Bush and company will not be an easy task.

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