MSNBC isn’t the only network mentioning the I-word. Fox News Analyst and Cavuto on Business regular Gregg Hymowitz recently raised the specter of impeaching President Bush. On the February 4th edition of his show, Neil Cavuto opened a roundtable business discussion. At about 10:42AM EST, he asked whether Wall Street should support President Bush’s wiretapping program. Hymowitz quickly jumped in and responded:
"Stocks go up in free and open societies. Here we have an administration that has violated the law and the law, by the way, which allows-... A law which allowed for secret wiretaps and for warrants retroactively. This is a complete violation of the law and quite frankly, you may not like this, but the president should be impeached for this."
He was interrupted by a conservative radio host, Herman Cain, who pointed out that illegality hasn’t been proven.
Nonetheless, Hymowitz continued and stated, "The President should be impeached for the violation of the law." Cavuto then quizzed Hymowitz on whether the President has ever done anything he liked. The FNC analyst responded, "Sure. I can’t think of one right now." A few minutes later, New York Post writer and fellow guest Tracy Byrnes described why she supported the program:
"I just don’t understand. Why don’t we let the government do their jobs? I have children. I would do anything- They are supposed to protect us. Go back to making money. Let them do their job."
Hymowitz retorted by raising the specter of the Nazis.
"So, Nazi Germany? Let the governments do their jobs? I don’t understand that. What does that mean?"
He clarified by explaining, "I don’t understand what that means. Let the government do their jobs? We’re a country of laws."
This is not the first time a Fox News analyst has discussed the idea of impeaching George Bush.Who says Fox News isn’t fair and balanced?
A partial transcript follows:
Cavuto on Business
2/4/06
Neil Cavuto
Guests:
Gregg Hymowitz
Jim Rogers
Herman Cain
Tracy Byrnes
Michael Parness
10:42 AM EST
Neil Cavuto:" Terror attacks shatter lives and sink our economy in the stock market. The President says his wiretapping policy will help prevent another 9/11. So is this a policy that Wall Street endorses? Tracy?"
Tracy Byrnes: Wall Street should endorse it. We all know what happened after the last terror attack. We watched the stock market and economy crumble. Why not let the government do its job? It- go back to making money."
(Everyone yelling at once-inaudible.)
Gregg Hymowitz: "Stocks go up in free and open societies. Here we have an administration that has violated the law and the law, by the way, which allows-"
Herman Cain: "You haven’t proven that Greg."
Hymowitz: "Herman, let me finish, please. A law which allowed for secret wiretaps and for warrants retroactively. This is a complete violation of the law and quite frankly, you may not like this, but the president should be impeached for this."
Herman Cain: "(Inaudible) You haven’t proven that, Greg."
Hymowitz: "The President should be impeached for the violation of the law. Stocks go up in free and open societies. And that’s what we’re-"
Cavuto: "Can I ask you this? Do you think the fact that we have not been hit on our soil in nearly five years since 9/11 owes in part to the fact that he’s doing this?"
Hymowitz: "Wire tapping? Absolutely not. It’s not about wiretapping, it’s about the process of law. He could wiretap anyone he wants, as long as you go and get a warrant. That’s what all this is about. He circumvented the law.
Cavuto: "Has he ever done anything you like, by the way?"
Hymowitz: "Sure. I can’t think of one right now."
Parness: "So do we go back to World War II? Do we start locking up everyone who is of Middle Eastern decent? Where do you draw the line?"
Cavuto: "We’re not eavesdropping on everybody’s calls here, right? Tracy, am I right here?"
Byrnes: "I just don’t understand. Why don’t we let the government do their jobs? I have children. I would do anything- They are supposed to protect us. Go back to making money. Let them do their job."
Hymowitz: "So, Nazi Germany? Let the governments do their jobs? I don’t understand that. What does that mean?"
Cavuto: "Wait a minute, you’re saying Nazi Germany?
Hymowitz: "No, I’m saying, I don’t understand what that means. Let the government do their jobs. We’re a country of laws."
Byrnes: "Do you know what they do on a day to day basis to protect you? You have no idea! You have no idea!"
Cavuto: "Even you! Even you!"
Hymowitz: "Stocks go up in free and open societies. Here we have an administration that has violated the law and the law, by the way, which allows-... A law which allowed for secret wiretaps and for warrants retroactively. This is a complete violation of the law and quite frankly, you may not like this, but the president should be impeached for this."