Newsweek Poll
Priorities for a Democratic Congress
Princeton Survey Research Associates International
Press Release with Final Topline Results (10/21/06)
Results on Impeachment
Discussion
Despite the 100% anti-impeachment propaganda coming from the beltway establishment (both Republican and Democratic), ONLY 44% of the electorate say "impeachment should not be done at all."
Polls like Newsweek's are capturing the floor and will continue to do so as long as our leaders hold to their self-imposed "impeachment is off limits" edict.
The prima facie case against Bush and Cheney is easy to convey (in fact, Feingold already made the central case in the context of Censure). Support for impeachment can only go up when Members of Congress carry out their duty and tell the nation the truth, that:
- Bush and Cheney have mounted an all out attack on the Constitution;
- Each Member of Congress is sworn to defend the Constitution against such attacks;
- Impeachment is the weapon we gave them to fulfill their oath; and
- If we are to rescue the Constitution we must take up the fight to remove Bush and Cheney from office via resignation or impeachment.
When impeachment becomes something that is being pursued, the context-specific division between "impeachment should be a high priority" or a "lower priority" disappears.
A significant portion of the "impeachment should not be done" Democrats and Independents are following the current "won't impeach" Democratic party line. If the leadership took up the fight, so would they, and they would be joined by a number of the "don't knows." In addition, "impeachment is a priority" would pick up white male Republicans who revel in accusation and punishment (i.e., Impeachment will provide an appealing outlet for many of those who are angry at Bush in that Demographic.)
The current 51% could easily become 62% overnight when our leaders stand up (additional 5% from "shouldn't" Democrats, 1% from "don't know" Democrats, 5% from "shouldn't" Independents, and 1% from the "shouldn't" Republicans)