November 15, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - An effort to force the current United States vice-president to face legal action is resonating with a large component of the population, according to a poll by American Research Group. 43 per cent of respondents think Dick Cheney has abused his powers, and should be impeached and removed from office.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - An effort to force the current United States vice-president to face legal action is resonating with a large component of the population, according to a poll by American Research Group. 43 per cent of respondents think Dick Cheney has abused his powers, and should be impeached and removed from office.

In addition, 34 per cent of respondents feel the same way about U.S. president George W. Bush.

In April, Democratic Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich suggested Cheney’s impeachment, declaring, "Now is the time for Congress to examine the actions that led us into (the Iraq war) just as we must work to bring the troops home." Kucinich said it is more "practical" to remove Cheney from office, as he would take over as head of the state if the president were impeached.

Several Democratic lawmakers—including Michigan congressman John Conyers, California senator Barbara Boxer and Georgia congressman John Lewis—have openly discussed Bush’s impeachment, either for not telling the truth about his reasons for going to war with Iraq, or for authorizing the National Security Agency (NSA) to wiretap the telephone calls and e-mails of Americans suspected of having terrorist ties.

On Nov. 13, Kucinich asserted that Bush and Cheney are considering military action against Iran, saying, "Even planning for this is a war crime. Iran is no threat to us."

In the U.S., the federal process for impeachment begins with a vote in the House of Representatives, followed by a trial in the Senate. Only two American presidents—Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998—have been impeached by the lower house. Both Johnson and Clinton were later acquitted by the upper house. In April 1974, Richard Nixon resigned after impeachment hearings had started.

Polling Data

Which one of these four statements do you agree with about U.S. president George W. Bush?

Bush has not abused his powers as president	36%
Bush has abused his powers as president, but the abuses are not serious enough to warrant impeachment under the Constitution	9%
Bush has abused his powers as president which rise to the level of impeachable offences under the Constitution, but he should not be impeached	21%
Bush has abused his powers as president which rise to the level of impeachable offences under the Constitution and he should be impeached and removed from office	34%

Which one of these four statements do you agree with about U.S. vice-president Dick Cheney?

Cheney has not abused his powers as vice-president	30%
Cheney has abused his powers as vice-president, but the abuses are not serious enough to warrant impeachment under the Constitution	18%
Cheney has abused his powers as vice-president which rise to the level of impeachable offences under the Constitution, but he should not be impeached	9%
Cheney has abused his powers as vice-president which rise to the level of impeachable offences under the Constitution and he should be impeached and removed from office	43%

Source: American Research Group
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,100 American adults, conducted from Nov. 9 to Nov. 12, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.