Using Impeachment to force compromise

Congressman John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania "suggested" that impeachment should be used to "influence" the President or should I say force the President to compromise on the Iraq & Afghanistan war funding bill.

A President vetoing a bill does not merit impeachment. In fact, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority, but ALAS, the Democrats do not have the votes to sustain that.

Excerpted Transcript of Murtha with Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation:

BOB SCHIEFFER: Are you seriously talking about contemplating an impeachment of this President?

MURTHA: What I’m saying is there are four ways to influence a President.

SCHIEFFER: — and that’s one of them?

MURTHA: [unintelligible] and the fourth one is –

SCHIEFFER: — that’s an option that’s on the table?

MURTHA: I’m just saying that’s one way to influence the President

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

First, impeachment over a veto bill is groundless and would not even survive in the Senate.

Second, the American people are not in the mood to watch an impeachment proceeding.

Third, there is a lot of other pressing legislation that needs to be passed. If the Democrats continue to clash with Bush on the war funding bill for months, they will lose support.