Beyond the Dome

If Barack Obama was bothered by the spectacle of a former presidential rival pushing for the impeachment of President Bush on the House floor last week, his campaign didn't try to stop it.

Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich says the Obama campaign didn't call him to try to wave him off of the effort last week, when he forced the reading of an impeachment resolution on the House floor. The resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee, but Kucinich has vowed to try again.

Democratic leaders have tried to keep impeachment off of their agenda, arguing that their party should look forward, not backward. (Translation: they don't want to look like they're spending all their time trying to punish Bush.)

Obama's campaign isn't as far along as John McCain's in coordinating their message and policy agenda with Hill leaders. But that effort will probably ramp up soon, as Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod, signaled with his visit to a Senate Democratic luncheon yesterday.

Still, Kucinich had this warning for the Obama campaign today, in case they get any ideas about trying to keep his future impeachment initiatives off the House floor: "I would just suggest that on this matter, it would not be appropriate for them to call me."