From 2006, regarding Bush and that administration’s Iraq debacle:
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi promised Wednesday that when her party takes over, the new majority will not attempt to remove President Bush from office, despite earlier pledges to the contrary from others in the caucus.
“I have said it before and I will say it again: Impeachment is off the table,” Pelosi, D-Calif., said during a news conference.
Pelosi also said Democrats, despite complaining about years of unfair treatment by the majority GOP, “are not about getting even” with Republicans.
She said the GOP, which frequently excluded Democrats from conference committee hearings and often blocked attempts to introduce amendments, would not suffer similar treatment.
“Democrats pledge civility and bipartisanship in the conduct of the work here and we pledge partnerships with Congress and the Republicans in Congress, and the president — not partisanship.”
...in March:
“I’m not for impeachment,” Pelosi told The Post.
“This is news. I’m going to give you some news right now because I haven’t said this to any press person before. But since you asked, and I’ve been thinking about this: Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don’t think we should go down that path, because it divides the country.”
“And he’s just not worth it,” Pelosi said.
...and recently:
As she has for months, Pelosi argued to her colleagues that the "slow, methodical approach" employed by House Democrats was the right way to move forward, despite the fact that more than 90 of her members have called for an impeachment inquiry to begin now.
You know what, Nancy? Bill Clinton was impeached in the house, then aquitted in the senate. His approval was high when he left office but AL GORE LOST THE ELECTION BECAUSE OF THE SOUR TASTE EVERYONE HAD IN THEIR MOUTHS.
And the Republicans won. And Bush won.
Your argument about impeachment — or, for God’s sake, simply opening up an impeachment inquiry - is purely political and enormously flawed.
And now, thanks to waiting SOOO LONG and not doing anything, Democrats look weak. And indecisive. And you’ve lost the narrative, which is that Trump is acting criminally in the White House.
Your timidity in rocking the boat is what puts our party on the losing end EVERY SINGLE TIME.
What will your excuse be if we lose the Presidency again? Honestly, there will be no excuse. Nothing in our history would be able to fix that kind of blow. And it will only be because you and your cohorts were not willing to yell loud enough and long enough.
The press conference you had yesterday is something the democrats SHOULD BE DOING REPEATEDLY.
And hopefully with some members who look a little more robust. It was like watching a vote on pudding at the nursing home. That’s not a good look for us.
This is not that tough. As Scarborough said today, you need to be able to punch back. When is that going to happen?
File for an impeachment inquiry. Then we get what we need. Stay your course, you’ll screw us.
UPDATE:
There’s a lot of discussion here about the math of the Senate not being in our favor and that being some sort of reason we shouldn’t consider an impeachment inquiry. Lets be clear here for those over 25-years-old:
BILL CLINTON WAS IMPEACHED IN THE HOUSE. ACQUITTED IN THE SENATE.
We keep hearing about the Democrats timidity at possible backlash if they move to do an inquiry, but keep in mind that despite Clinton’s approval ratings (which were high through much of his Presidency), Al Gore owes part of his loss to the fatigue from the Clinton fallout and the negativity of Clinton being impeached.
And, by the way, THE REPUBLICANS MAINTAINED MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AS WELL AS THE PRESIDENCY THAT YEAR.
So, what’s the issue now?
The Democrats timidity and fear of backlash is their pattern. The GOP’s pattern is moving forward on everything like a charging bull. And the voters tend to go for those who project strength.
Who cares whether that’s right or fair. We have to be tougher as a party. Period.