Question: Bush Bashing Wastes Demos’ Time

Issue: Bush bashing a waste of Democrats’ time /Richard S. Davis, Spokesmman-Review

Olympia last week was the scene of one of those surreal moments that occasionally mark a legislative session – a wholly irrelevant hearing on presidential impeachment. It attracted some press coverage (more on the blogs) and generated some predictable grandstanding. Of course, the Bush presidency will not be brought to an early end by the actions of the Washington Legislature. Yet, the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee chaired by Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, spent some time on a measure asking Congress to investigate whether the president and vice president should be impeached. The bill’s prime sponsor is the committee’s vice chair, freshman Sen. Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland. As hearings go, it wasn’t much. I watched on TVW, struck by the combination of pathos and posturing, weariness and weirdness. Republican committee members skipped it. Only five Democrats showed up. No one testified in opposition. As a theatrical statement, the hearing was a dud.

Question: Are extreme Demos hurting their party by pushing in vain to impeach the president?