You might think that the GOP sycophants over at Fox Business would welcome the idea of Democratic President Joe Biden--or any Democratic president for that matter--being impeached.
But if a recent segment on the channel is any indication, you're in for a surprise.
Far-right Republican New York Representative Elise Stefanik's recent announcement that impeachment of Biden is "on the table" if the Republicans retake the House next month didn't get a friendly reception from Fox's Stuart Varney and Brian Kilmeade.
\u201cFox hosts Stuart Varney and Brian Kilmeade trash Elise Stefanik's proposal to impeach Biden of GOP gains control of House.\n\nVarney: "I think that's a rotten idea!"\n\nKilmeade: "For the most part, it's a waste of time... it's bad for the country."\u201d— Justin Baragona (@Justin Baragona) 1666105537
The discussion came after Stefanik told The New York Post Monday that Republicans are considering impeaching Biden because of his recent admission he asked Saudi Arabia to delay an upcoming OPEC+ vote to reduce oil production, and hence drive gas prices up, until its next meeting, which would fall after the November 8 midterm elections.
Saudi Arabia declined to do so, and many have taken its refusal as a signal that it is siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin in his ongoing illegal war with Ukraine.
MAGA Republicans in Congress have been ramping up their all but open support of Russia in recent weeks as well, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has stated that if Republicans retake the House, they will end US support of Ukraine.
Stefanik, of course, made no mention of the bigger picture in her comments to the Post, instead painting Biden's request as "an egregious abuse of power" and one that, combined with the right's years-long obsession with Hunter Biden's supposedly illegal business dealings, constitutes "high crimes and misdemeanors" that are "very egregious."
Discussing Stefanik's threat, Varney said:
"Congresswoman Elise Stefanik says Republicans could move to impeach Biden next year."
"I think that's a rotten idea Brian. I don't think people want another impeachment fiasco. I'm opposed to it."
Kilmeade, who is one of Donald Trump's most vociferous defenders, nonetheless agreed, responding:
"I am too..."
"What happens is they vote on partisan lines, the whole country stops for two and a half weeks, and I don't know -- maybe somebody writes a book a couple people want to buy."
"But for the most part it's a waste of time unless of course you have obscene corruption, and I would like to see that cycle of, 'we don't like that person so let's impeach him,' stop... It's bad for the country."
That representation of Trump's two impeachments is of course entirely out of touch with reality, but it's hard to argue with the rest.
On Twitter, many felt Varney's and Kilmeade's responses underlined just how ridiculous Stefanik's and the GOP's impeachment threats really are.
\u201c@EliseStefanik When (checks notes) Brian Kilmeade is the adult in the room\n\nhttps://t.co/YbozjarICb\u201d— Elise Stefanik (@Elise Stefanik) 1666113420
\u201cEven Fox Hosts Thinks Elise Stefanik\u2019s \u2018Rotten Idea\u2019 to Impeach Biden , is all about Elise and not what is best for@the country https://t.co/cts5V4Oe6Q\u201d— Eddie (@Eddie) 1666186100
\u201c@marcmolinaro Fox host trashes Marc\u2019s mentor Elise as to how bad her idea is about impeaching Biden. \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02https://t.co/nzK9vkvapQ\u201d— Marc Molinaro #NY19 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Marc Molinaro #NY19 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1666191196
\u201cWhoops @RepStefanik went too far even for Fox.\n\nWhen Kilmeade & Varney recognize your thirst power crosses the line it may be time to dial back your quest to destroy every institution in the country & dance on the ashes.\n\nhttps://t.co/bwT0KXAhGU\u201d— Lee Willbanks (@Lee Willbanks) 1666110069
\u201c.@RepStefanik's anti-democracy extremism is so unhinged, she's lost Fox News! \ud83d\ude2c\n\n#NY21, replace anti-democracy extremist @EliseStefanik with Obama Admin counterterrorism & national security official @CastelliMatt.\n\nhttps://t.co/2WNBkk7rdM\n\n#StefanikScam #EliseStefanik #natsec\u201d— Mathew Helman (@Mathew Helman) 1666120301
\u201c@justinbaragona translation: We have absolutely nothing to impeach Biden on.\u201d— Justin Baragona (@Justin Baragona) 1666105537
\u201c@EliseStefanik @michaelhenry4ag So you've lost Fox News now Elise? https://t.co/16Jgx7uFsr\u201d— Elise Stefanik (@Elise Stefanik) 1666109849
\u201cWhoops @RepStefanik went too far even for Fox.\n\nWhen Kilmeade & Varney recognize your thirst power crosses the line it may be time to dial back your quest to destroy every institution in the country & dance on the ashes.\n\nhttps://t.co/bwT0KXAhGU\u201d— Lee Willbanks (@Lee Willbanks) 1666110069
Stefanik's thirst for impeachment is a stark reversal from just days before her Post interview, in which she touted her appropriation of $12.9 million of funding to rural hospitals in New York--money that came directly from Biden's American Rescue Plan, which she vocally opposed and voted against.
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