The impeachment of George W. Bush

[Hyperblaze]

Sorry if this is a repost, search engine couldn't find anything.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060130/holtzman

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[Tab]

We'll see what happens in November, even if the Democrats do win big. I won't be crossing my fingers.

 

[conjur]

Repost or no you should add some "personal commentary"

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

"People" may be talking about it but Nancy Pelosi has already gone on record saying that there will be no impeachment.

And I'm on record here (along with a few others) as saying that impeaching Bush would be a huge mistake for the Dems. I don't feel like hacking out my opinion on the matter for the eleventybillionth time though.

 

[NeoV]

going forward with impeachment proceedings would be a huge PR disaster for the Dems, and in the end would produce nothing worthwhile

Inept? Very. Impeach? No.

 

[Lemon law]

Given that Pelosi has gone on record that the dems will not pursue impeachment is basically based on the existing past record---but it may not apply to future actions.

If and when a democratic house thwarts the actions of a clueless GWB, GWB may be fool enough to try to seize dictatorial powers. And even try to ignore the supreme court.

And for that matter, I can envision a still republican house and senate doing the same if GWB has Iraq blow up in his face--and a few added scandals come home to roost,
the republicans might just turn on GWB and throw him out to save face for 08. Neo-cons just insist on stay the course long after ALL the rational have long given up.

You always have to remember---key legislators regard the Pres as a transient---they were there before he came in---and they intend to still be there when he is gone. Threaten that tenure and legislators will react to remove the threat---and they do know how to count noses---and they will make sure when they shoot at a king they will kill him.

I very much doubt the military would oppose impeachment---they would probably be thrilled to see that idiot gone.

 

[Blackjack2000]

I think Bush approval rating would have to be around 10 - 15% for a Republican House and Senate to impeach him. Short of him nuking Texas, I don't see that happening. I would imagine that the Democrats will impeach if they get sizable majorities and Dubs' approval numbers are around 30%. I find that situation to be mildly possible.

Since the Clinton farce, impeachment is now just another rhetorical device dictated by partisanship and approval numbers (though Clinton's numbers were high) and now have nothing to do with committing crimes in office.

If they did, Bush would be under investigation for wire tapping and the denial of rights to arrested citizens. The decision to impeach or not would be dictated by the results of the investigations.

 

[ProfJohn]

I only read the first page, but every thing on it she uses to base her idea of impeaching Bush come right from the democrat playbook of things wrong with Bush. The same thing we see talked about on here everyday.

However, nearly every one of them is disputable in a court of law or is just partisian ?wishing?

Her justifications:
?I have been deeply troubled by Bush's breathtaking scorn for our international treaty obligations under the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Conventions.? Don?t think we impeach the President based on that, otherwise Clinton should have been kicked out for what he did in Kosovo. Saying that the President commited a crime by breaking a treaty, which many will argue he did NOT do is a pretty weak reason to impeach.

?I have also been disturbed by the torture scandals and the violations of US criminal laws at the highest levels of our government they may entail? This is a pretty far out acusation, I doubt much of America will call for impeachment because we water boarded the master mind of 9-11.

?These concerns have been compounded by growing evidence that the President deliberately misled the country into the war in Iraq? Where is proof of this? This charge has been floating around for how many years and we have yet to see any proof of anything.

?it wasn't until the most recent revelations that President Bush directed the wiretapping of hundreds, possibly thousands, of Americans, in violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)? There is a legitimiate legal argument over whether what Bush did in these cases is a violation of the law. Even if the courts rule against Bush in this case it is unlikely anyone will be charged with a crime. Furthermore, how come NOT ONE Democrat has introduced a bill to eliminate this program? Or did I just miss it? It is not even listed in their ?100 hours? plan, unless it was left out of that thread.

BTW: Let?s say we decide that Bush breaking an international treaty such as UN charter or Geneva Conventions is grounds for impeachment. And the next President signs the Kyoto accords (which is a legally a treaty) could we then impeach that President if we violate that accord?
It is painfully obvious now that the attempt to impeach Clinton was a HUGE mistake because it has opened a whole new way to attack your opponent politically. It is not enough to say that Bush is a bad President, but we now must say that he is SO bad that he should be removed.

 

[Lemon law]

To Non-Prof John,

The constitution is vague on impeachment---high crimes and misdemeanors--but GWB has undeniably already put the noose around his neck---freely admitting to violating
750 laws, freely violating FISA intelligence laws, and the Geneva convention. As his popularity goes south--more and more insiders are likley to leak papers the prove these allegations.

As that other George Tenet said---its a slam dunk--but this time you can take it to the bank.

But if GWB gets impeached---I am sure he will do it the old fashioned way----he will earn it again.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I only read the first page, but every thing on it she uses to base her idea of impeaching Bush come right from the democrat playbook of things wrong with Bush. The same thing we see talked about on here everyday.

However, nearly every one of them is disputable in a court of law or is just partisian ?wishing?

Her justifications:
?I have been deeply troubled by Bush's breathtaking scorn for our international treaty obligations under the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Conventions.? Don?t think we impeach the President based on that, otherwise Clinton should have been kicked out for what he did in Kosovo. Saying that the President commited a crime by breaking a treaty, which many will argue he did NOT do is a pretty weak reason to impeach.

?I have also been disturbed by the torture scandals and the violations of US criminal laws at the highest levels of our government they may entail? This is a pretty far out acusation, I doubt much of America will call for impeachment because we water boarded the master mind of 9-11.

?These concerns have been compounded by growing evidence that the President deliberately misled the country into the war in Iraq? Where is proof of this? This charge has been floating around for how many years and we have yet to see any proof of anything.

?it wasn't until the most recent revelations that President Bush directed the wiretapping of hundreds, possibly thousands, of Americans, in violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)? There is a legitimiate legal argument over whether what Bush did in these cases is a violation of the law. Even if the courts rule against Bush in this case it is unlikely anyone will be charged with a crime. Furthermore, how come NOT ONE Democrat has introduced a bill to eliminate this program? Or did I just miss it? It is not even listed in their ?100 hours? plan, unless it was left out of that thread.

BTW: Let?s say we decide that Bush breaking an international treaty such as UN charter or Geneva Conventions is grounds for impeachment. And the next President signs the Kyoto accords (which is a legally a treaty) could we then impeach that President if we violate that accord?
It is painfully obvious now that the attempt to impeach Clinton was a HUGE mistake because it has opened a whole new way to attack your opponent politically. It is not enough to say that Bush is a bad President, but we now must say that he is SO bad that he should be removed.

Read the whole thing. Her arguement is very sound.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

will never happen

if theres any left the reagen republicans will obey his 11th commandment
the corupt republicans won't do anything to hurt there own political careers
the democrats couldn't organize themselves out of a wet paper bag these days.

 

[LunarRay]

I'd like to find out if violating the UN Charter is grounds enough... but also for all the idiots who voted to approve the Oct '03 War Powers resolution with out specific language that spelled out the US would follow UN Charter Provisions.. the UN was seized of the Iraqi matter.. not the US..

So ... I'd want hearings to determine if Impeachment is warranted..

 

[her209]

Cheney would probably support impeaching Bush.

 

[Moonbeam]

The cut and run Democrats will never impeach Bush till the finger they stick in the wind is to sense that wish among the people blows the finger off. The Republicans, on the other hand, may eat him for lunch one day.

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: her209
Cheney would probably support impeaching Bush.

Agreed

 

[LegendKiller]

Leave it to ProfJohn to only read the first introductory page and dismiss a 6-page well-grounded argument. Additionally, leave it to him to say that the attack on Clinton is the same as a potential attack on Bush.

Clinton, while lying under oath, was not systematically attacking the Constitution (which he was sworn to defend) nor abusing his powers as President, as Bush has even admitted he has done and is doing.


There is a fundamental difference that I don't really expect ProfJohn and other hacks to get.