Pelosi has no plans for impeaching BushHouse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) told colleagues and activists this week she would not pursue impeachment proceedings against President Bush should Democrats win control of the House in November.
After telling Democratic Members of her decision in a series of meetings over the past few days, she informed a small circle of party strategists and supporters in an e-mail last night.
"She is focused on Democrats' positive agenda for change," Brendan Daly, a Pelosi spokesman, wrote in the e-mail that was obtained by the Grind. "Despite Republican scare tactics, Democrats will not pursue impeachment, and she made that clear to her colleagues this week."
Jennifer Crider, a Pelosi spokeswoman, confirmed the e-mail's authenticity. "Democrats' positive agenda is about taking America in a new direction, not further the Republicans further divisive politics," she said.
In recent weeks, Democrats have become more vocal about their chances of winning back the House this year. Winning the majority would not only give them power to launch investigations into the administration but also the ability to launch impeachment proceedings against Bush for alleged abuse of power. Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) is a leading voice for this approach.
But Pelosi, who favors investigations, is distancing herself from the more draconian action of impeachment. Instead the California Democrat is promoting a "new direction for America - one that works for all Americans, not just the privileged few," according one of the talking points in the e-mail to strategists and supporters.
"During the first week we control Congress, we will put the focus on our bold initiatives to energize Americans," Daly declared in the e-mail before ticking off a number of proposals ranging from raising the minimum wage and lowering the cost of prescription drugs to implementing the 9/11 Commission recommendations.
Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois), told the Grind Republicans are confident they will hold the majority in November and charged Pelosi was backtracking on the impeachment comment.
"The Minority Leader is giving Americans political doubletalk," he said. "She admitted last Sunday that the Democrats would investigate the President and indicated that would lead to impeachment."
While House Democrats are laying the legislative groundwork on the chance that they win in November, the current Congress is facing a handful of controversial issues. The Senate will turn its attention to stalled immigration reform legislation on Monday and seven influential Democrats are asking for another hearing on a judicial nominee.
On immigration, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) reached an agreement on how to proceed with the debate on the issue. Today, supporters of strict immigration laws roll into town for a rally on Capitol Hill. Members of the Minuteman Project gather at 11 a.m. ET in the Upper Senate Park to speak about their concerns. Members of this group are best known for staking out positions along the U.S. Mexico border and reporting the entry of illegal aliens.
Frist, Reid, Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) received a letter from the Democratic members of the "Gang of 14" last night requesting another hearing on Judge Terrence Boyle. Boyle was nominated by Bush to serve on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and was reported out of committee last year.
"Since that time, new information regarding Judge Boyle has surfaced that we feel warrants a further exchange of information," the Democrats wrote the Senate leaders. "As members of the Senate who have a duty to cast a vote on judicial nominations, deliberations which are fully informed can only serve to benefit each of us in making the best possible decision on this nomination."
Back in the House, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) announced yesterday he will resign his seat on June 9. DeLay decided to step down after acknowledging it would be difficult for him to win another term as he battles charges that he broke Texas campaign finance laws and is frequently mentioned -- but not charged -- in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Before informing House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) of his decision, DeLay appeared at a Space Transportation Association Breakfast, CNN's Xuan Thai reports. DeLay spoke exclusively about space an indication that he hopes part of his legacy in the NASA district he represented for 11 terms was his commitment to space.
"When I leave Congress this summer I will leave with the space program in a stronger position than it has enjoyed for years," DeLay said. He also praised Bush for his commitment to space exploration.
This morning, Bush met with former secretaries of State and Defense at 9:45 a.m. ET. At 1:55 p.m. ET, the President speaks at the "Celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month and Presentation of the President's Volunteer Service Awards. This afternoon, Bush heads to Camp David.
A glance at the schedules for potential 2008 presidential candidates shows that Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) delivers his much anticipated commencement address at Liberty University tomorrow; Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia) attends several events throughout his state this weekend; Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney attends a business luncheon and then a political dinner in Michigan today; Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Indiana) attends his campaign training school in Evansville this weekend; retired Gen. Wesley Clark (D) is in Iowa stumping for Rep. Leonard Boswell (D) today; and former Sen. John Edwards (D-North Carolina) attends a reception in New Hampshire for state Sen. Joe Foster (D) today and delivers the commencement address at the University of Maine tomorrow.
Edwards won a non-scientific online survey of potential 2008 Democratic candidates released by the South Carolina Democratic Leadership Council last night. He received 24 percent of the vote followed by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York), 18 percent. Former Vice President Al Gore and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack tied for third each with 9 percent of the vote.
"It is really not particularly unprecedented in that Edwards carried South Carolina in the 2004 primary," Phil Noble, director of the South Carolina Democratic Leadership Council, told the Grind. "He is still popular here. Not to say that others aren't and it could not all radically change very quickly once the campaign becomes serious, and it will. It is just an interesting first look, if you will, among a non scientific group of South Carolinians."
In Illinois, the race for governor is likely to get a little more crowded soon. So far, the race has been a low-key battle between a liberal Democrat and liberal Republican. Both are trying to avoid any connection with Pat Fitzgerald's corruption-fighting steam-roller. But now a potential third-party candidate, an African-American leader of a 10,000-seat mega church on Chicago's South Side, threatens to turn the race on its' head, CNN's Fuzz Hogan reports from Chicago. While Rev. James Meeks, who leads the Salem Baptist Church, has been a strong advocate for tax increases to help Chicago's struggling schools, he also would be the only major candidate to oppose both abortion and same sex marriage.
Meeks, a state Senator, tells CNN he will announce a slate of Independent candidates for statewide office next Saturday. He is laying the groundwork to launch his own gubernatorial bid.
"I've never seen a gubernatorial race where it seemed as if the core of both parties were not happy with their candidate or their choice," Meeks told CNN. "Seventy-five percent of the people stayed home during the primary, which means that neither party was able to interest people."
Meeks said he has put off an announcement until he could be sure he could win, and not just be a spoiler. He claims his own internal polling shows he would take votes away from Republican State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka as well as Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D). Meeks said the polls shows Blagojevich is ahead in a two-way race, 47 percent to 40 percent. Once Meeks is added to the mix, he has equal impact, taking away 6 percentage points each from Blagojevich and Topinka. But, after the respondents were asked several 'push' questions, which reinforced Meeks' religious affiliation and his position on opposing abortion and same sex marriage, he took four more percentage points from Blagojevich and 9 from Topinka, leaving the race: Blagojevich-37; Topinka-25; Meeks-25. Thirteen percent of the respondents were undecided in any scenario, he said.
Meeks' entry would represent a problem for Blagojevich, whose advisers had been trying to convince Meeks to stay out of the race. But if Meeks' polling is correct -- and we don't know if it is -- it represents an equally troubling scenario for Topinka. This, on top of the fact that each candidate has been wounded by corruption investigations by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Former Gov. George Ryan (R) was convicted on corruption charges earlier this year, an embarrassment for Topinka, who was politically close to Ryan. Primary opponents used video of Topinka and Ryan dancing the polka. Fitzgerald also has ongoing investigations into the Blagojevich administration.
Next week's announcement is only the creation of the third party. Asked why he's not simply announcing his own gubernatorial candidacy, Meeks, said he wanted to ensure he got the required petition signatures to create the party and survive any petition challenges. But, he added, "we wouldn't be wasting our time" with this process if he didn't intend to run.
And we are sad to report that former U.S. Rep. Gillespie V. "Sonny" Montgomery (D-Mississippi), a decorated military veteran who successfully fought for more benefits for U.S. soldiers, died Friday morning. He was 85.
