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Will There Be a Biden Impeachment Inquiry?
When I first heard that Speaker Kevin McCarthy was seriously considering an impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden, I was excited. I’ve been very impressed with the work of James Comer and the House Oversight Committee; much new and incriminating evidence has been unearthed, although many people claim there is still no smoking gun (tying Joe Biden to the bribery scandal with his son, Hunter.) And an impeachment inquiry may provide additional pressure in getting requested information:
Comer added that he believes the impeachment inquiry will be ‘a tool in our toolbox when we go to court with our subpoena’ for the emails containing a Biden pseudonym. ‘Look, we’ve requested these documents. The House Oversight Committee has legislative jurisdiction over the National Archives. They have stonewalled us in the Biden mishandling of classified documents. Now they’re, you know — we hope they don’t stonewall us in the pseudonym request. There’s 5,400 emails, at least three different pseudonyms.’
I expect that requests with subpoenas will make the National Archives less likely to ignore their requests.
So what are the reasons for not pursuing the inquiry? It’s important to keep in mind that an inquiry is separate from initiating an impeachment, although some people worry that there will be pressures to move forward, regardless of whether or not significant information is found. Another drawback is that the inquiry could bump into decisions regarding government funding:
Government funding expires at the end of September. McCarthy has already signaled they will need a short-term spending patch to keep the government’s lights on, which hardline conservatives have balked at.
Officially moving ahead with an impeachment inquiry could help keep angry conservatives off McCarthy’s back. And the speaker himself has linked the two issues publicly, warning that a government shutdown could hinder House Republicans’ ability to continue their investigations into the Biden administration – a direct appeal to his right flank, and a sign of all the competing pressures that the speaker is facing.
Before the House Oversight Committee begins an inquiry, it will need to prioritize the most important issues to explore, to maximize the potential for unearthing timely and consequential results. They’ll need to ask which questions are most likely to expose the truth about Joe Biden. Early evidence should not be indulged if it doesn’t directly expose Joe Biden’s involvement. The Federalist published an excellent list of questions that should be asked. The Committee could use this list as a starting point to produce a strategic inquiry.
The most important questions to ask are: (1) what are the key issues to investigate early in the process? (2) will the results of an impeachment inquiry provide significant results that incriminate Joe Biden and his role in criminal activities? and (3) will the evidence be followed up with legal consequences?
Do you think the Republicans should move forward with the inquiry? If they do, and even if Joe Biden is not incriminated, will enough damage be done to his reputation that the Democrats will insist that he resign?
Published in Politics
Rather than try to impeach him in the House — a long, drawn-out process* that would ultimately be used more as a vehicle for Republicans to deliver soundbites and fund-raise than to actually remove the guy — would it be possible to just arrest him and bring criminal charges directly?
*The Democrats don’t draw these things out, though. They can get impeachment done really quickly as Trump Impeachment #2 shows. And hey, about a dozen Republicans joined in! Goes to show what giving the guy the Emanuel Goldstein treatment for four years can accomplish.
Highly unlikely–the Dems would scream at our just mentioning it! But I hope we proceed in the most efficient and productive way possible! We mustn’t back down.
It would be better if everyone played by the same rules, but that hasn’t been the case for quite some time.
I think it would be helpful if McCarthy was at least honest on this point: “President Biden has committed more than enough crimes for him to be impeached, removed from office, and criminally prosecuted. If George Bush had done these things, he would obviously be in jail right now. But President Biden is a Democrat, which makes his actions permissible in today’s Washington establishment. Which you folks may want to consider in the voting booth for the next election.”
But regardless of how I feel about our two-tier system of justice right now, that’s the reality we live in now. As long as Democrats are protected by the FBI, the DOJ, the news media, social media, corporate America, and so on, the reality is that Democrats can do whatever they want. Whether McCarthy acknowledges this obvious reality is irrelevant.
So there you go.
So do you think the House Oversight Committee investigation is a waste of time, too? All the other inquiries that are taking place are a waste? I can’t go along with you. We may not go to the impeachment phase, but I am not going to tell Republicans to roll over and play dead. We’ve done that for too many years. It’s time to get a spine.
It’s the duty of the House to inquire whether Biden’s conduct requires impeachment. Of course, Congress neglects many of their duties.
Yes, I’d like to see them do it. I wish it would actually result in that bastard’s impeachment, though. We know it won’t if the Democrats don’t want it to.
Even if the results of an inquiry destroy his reputation? Yeah, you have a point. The most we can probably hope for is that it destroys his re-election chances or makes him think he has to resign…
From what I hear it is important to some Republicans for McCarthy to be looking into UFOs right now.
I’m not suggesting they play dead. I’m suggesting that they publicly acknowledge the rules of the game they are playing. Put it out there. Talk about it every chance they get. Refer to it in every interview. Force Democrats to address it.
That’s not playing dead. That’s forcing your opponents’ hand.
Not sure it would help, honestly. But it’s better than this – whatever they’re doing now.
There is a fortified wall of propaganda, manned by every vector of influence in American society, that protects Biden’s reputation. The watchers on this wall will ensure that any inquiry destroy the reputations of Republicans who dare to bring impeachment rather than the object of their inquiry.
I mean, they should still do it. Damn the torpedoes of character assassination and plow forward.
But we’re talking about the Republican party here.
To clairfy that last sentence, if Democrats were looking for an excuse to get rid of Joe (and why would they? He’s the perfect puppet for their various agendas), they might sign aboard. But more likely, if they wanted to get rid of him, they’d use other methods. Or, at this late date, simply use the Deep State Machine to nominate someone else for 2024.
As you say later in your comment, this won’t help. No one will pay attention to their message. The media and the Dems will ignore them. They’ve simply lost too much credibility over the years.
The only place more corrupt that DC is Delaware. Nobody is going to be arresting any Biden.
You’re probably right.
As we’ve seen with the various Trump indictments, pick a state, any state, and they can devise a way to arrest him.
I think, from slightly different positions, we are both expressing and frustration and disappointment with the Republicans. They’ve earned that.
That’s the part I don’t get. Biden has been the most successful President of the past 100 years, in terms of getting his party’s policies enacted. Only FDR even comes close. How on earth could the Democrats be dissatisfied with Mr. Biden’s performance? He’s gotten them everything they wanted.
True, but in my case I’m also acknowledging the difficulties that Republicans face. They’re playing a rigged game – one that is designed to make sure that Republicans lose. Then Republicans lose, and we get angry at the Republicans.
This is why I propose that Republicans should attack the game rather than their opponents in that game. As long as the game is played like this, they can’t win. So they shouldn’t play.
Expose and attack the game. That’s their only hope, in my view.
OMG. This thought is so lame. Is the bar for Republican action so low, that in the face of overwhelming evidence that Biden is compromised by two or more enemies of America, that thinking about forming a committee to ponder a possible impeachment hearing is too bold? The correct number of days to wait before impeaching this traitor is ZERO days. If I was Speaker of the House, I would call back members and go 24×7 on impeachment.
The issue I have with this approach is that the GOP has repeatedly pointed out the hypocrisy of previous Democrat actions, and it’s gotten them diddly-squat. The only thing that will get their and the public’s attention is action. The GOP has to play tit-for-tat. It’s the only thing that works.
So yes, begin the impeachment inquiry immediately. Then bring Articles of Impeachment to the floor. Make them play by their rules.
Well said.
And yes, the bar for Republican action is very, very low.
I wonder if the GOP knows how hated it is by its own voter base?
Why does that voter base even bother with this wretched party? Time to form a new one, and I don’t care if that means Democrats win for the next twenty years.
:) :) :)
It’s hard to discern, isn’t it? :) :)
I’m in the all-of-the-above camp.
Unfortunately no. Merrick Garland controls the Justice department, and these are federal crimes. Even if we wanted to try the state criminalization approach the jurisdictions would be Washington DC, Delaware, and Possibly New York. None of which have a republican elected prosecutor who could stretch the law to prosecute Joe. I also think he is immune from prosecution while he is president.
Look, but don’t enter. Entering is always bad.
Yes, and more importantly, his image has gotten them everything they wanted. He’s an empty suit, but the image must be protected.
unlikely.
It would be easier to take-over the existing GOP than create a new party. Unfortunately, the GOPe is also willing to lose elections for 20+ years to keep the Trumpish people out (see AZ and GA). Either way, the Magic 8-Ball sees a score more years of losing ;)
I think that a side benefit to an impeachment inquiry into the president will be enough evidence to impeach Merrick Garland, an outcome to be devoutly wished.
Not to be pedantic, but we’re saying the bar for Republican action is too high. If the bar were too low, then it’d be so easy to clear that they’d be acting too quick and easily. Trust me, I know about bars.
I know, y’all could care less.
Indeed!