“As long as everyone is willing to understand that they are part of the whole, then I think we’ll play very well together. And if we don’t, then I think we will be in the minority again.” -Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass.

Provisions for Impeachment are written into law. It’s a given. Rules, meant to be followed, adhered to, were broken… and our Constitution provides for this. Are we simply going to ignore our Constitution (too), and let the fear of losing our majority guide us? If we do, then we are no better than those we scorn. The question of impeachment is NOT partisan. It’s the law of the land! Throw up any reason or excuse you want… you’ll still be wrong.

Liberal lawmakers face new challenges

WASHINGTON - There’s one certainty for the Capitol’s most liberal lawmakers now that Democrats will control Congress: They won’t have to meet in the basement anymore.

“One time they put us in the most obscure, smallest meeting room in the farthest corner,” Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio said of life for progressive Democrats under GOP control. Now, “we should be able to score a regular and accessible meeting place.”

That may be the easy part.

Accustomed to pleading in obscurity for causes like universal health care, come January these progressives from Northern California, Massachusetts and elsewhere will be part of the congressional majority and in a position to actually do something about them.

Yet they risk getting pinched between liberals itching for impeachment hearings and a quick end to the Iraq war, and more centrist Democrats looking to make common cause with Republicans on fiscal issues.

And that’s assuming progressives can settle on their own goals from a long list of priorities, including universal health care, action on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, voting reform and fixing the trade imbalance.
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Progressives have already had to disappoint some constituents by deciding not to pursue impeachment hearings against President Bush. “That’s a huge, huge disappointment to people in my district,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, who co-chairs the Progressive Caucus with fellow Northern California Democrat Barbara Lee.
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After that, progressives hope to turn to their pet causes. But there’s one fate they want to avoid: losing the Democratic majority and being forced back into the basement. And that’s a powerful incentive to compromise.

“As long as everyone is willing to understand that they are part of the whole, then I think we’ll play very well together,” said Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., a Progressive Caucus member. “And if we don’t, then I think we will be in the minority again.”

Source: ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer - Yahoo! News