KUCINICH v. BUSH: Impeachment is usually proposed toward the close of a President's tenure. The House tackled Richard Nixon deep in his second term; articles of impeachment were filed against Harry Truman for seizing steel mills nine months before his presidency finished; the Senate considered removing Andrew Johnson in the spring of his final year. This makes sense, as it takes time to recognize the seriousness of high crimes and misdemeanors, and even longer to loosen the tongues of former aides--such as ex-White House spokesman Scott McClellan, who will testify before the House Judiciary Committee June 20. So the thirty-five articles of impeachment Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich filed against President Bush June 9 are timely.

They are, as well, compelling; Kucinich's extensive charges detail presidential lawlessness ranging from deliberate disregard of Congress's authority to declare war, to authorizing warrantless wiretapping, to "obstruction of justice in the matter of Valerie Plame Wilson." Democratic leaders would prefer to play politics in this election year, but Kucinich--and allies such as Florida Congressman Robert Wexler and the American Freedom Campaign--are right to note that the Constitution does not exempt a President from accountability simply because the campaign to replace him has commenced.   JOHN NICHOLS

SUBPRIME CRIBS: In 2007 the national median price for a home was $239,000. To afford a down payment and monthly mortgage installments for such a purchase, the Center for Housing Policy estimates, the home buyer's income should exceed $78,000. But for many working people--like childcare workers (median salary: $26,647), electricians ($45,406), even software programmers ($60,265)--that figure is becoming increasingly remote.

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