Most Americans Don't Understand Government?

Or that's what a poll regarding impeachment tells me. On the question of impeaching Bush, the public is split, 45% for and 46% against; Cheney's significantly less popular, with 54% in favor and only 40% of those surveyed opposed.

Now part of me asks what in God's name do most Americans know about impeachment and impeachable offenses? I find it unlikely that those surveyed were sufficiently well-informed to make any sort of honest judgment on the matter. That, of course, may just be the reactionary in me speaking.

It's unlikely that the Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill will actually pursue such an extreme course of action, but if they do there are two schools of thought on the consequences. On the one hand, Democratic analysts suggest that forcing Republicans to vote against impeaching a highly unpopular politician (most likely Cheney) would hurt them at home in an election year (or alternately force them to support the measure). For Republicans, however, a well-played media strategy could result in the spotlight being focused on some of the loonier Democratic members, potentially producing party-wide blowback.

But let's admit that there's an easier way around all of this. Cheney should resign (Bush can appoint him Master of the Universe or whatever title he chooses); Lieberman should be nominated to fill his seat. Democrats could really be hung out to dry if they refused to confirm him, and no doubt 51 votes could be found. That, of course, would leave a Senate vacancy - in a blue state with a Republican governor. That'd produce a fifty-fifty split, but I'm not sure which way Lieberman would vote. Anyways, it'd be an introducing move.