OK lets once and for all put something to rest. Impeachment of a President. Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution says, The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. In his report, Independent Counsel, Starr accuses President Clinton of committing eleven acts for which he could be removed from office by impeachment. Are any of those acts Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors? Well, thats up to the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. According to constitutional lawyers, High Crimes and Misdemeanors are (1) real criminality -- breaking a law; (2) abuses of power; (3) violation of public trust as defined by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers. In 1970, then Representative Gerald R. Ford defined impeachable offenses as whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history. An excellent definition, Mr. Former President. But he was right. Politics and not criminal activity usually defines the impeachment process In the past, Congress has issued Articles of Impeachment for acts in three general categories: Exceeding the constitutional bounds of the powers of the office. Behavior grossly incompatible with the proper function and purpose of the office. Employing the power of the office for an improper purpose or for personal gain. However, for a conviction both the House and the Senate must vote to impeach. But there must be elements of the crime present. What is defined as Culpable Mental States in this case: Did the individual knowingly, intentionally, recklessly and have criminal intent to violate the Constitution. Ladies and Gents... a whole hell of a lot of Presidents could be put up on impeachment. Again however, there has to be clearly defined Culpable mental acts to proceed. If any one is missing then there is no impeachment offense. NONE. Four Presidents...Tyler, Johnson, Nixon, Clinton faced impeachment. None were convicted. Nixon would have because it was clear each of the culpable mental states existed. Hence the reason he resigned...He knew he was toast! If you break down each of the specific acts of treason Obama is accused of... any freshman year law student can easily defend and clear him. Look at the articles of impeachment...not the bullshit propaganda. The law is the deciding factor. Obama is not a good president and will go down in history as a failed president. But he has not committed what could be defined clearly as high crimes and treason. How do I know this crap... I have a Masters in Constitutional Law and taught Const Law at the Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Center and here in Oregon. So there. Does that make me an expert.. hell no. The only expertise I have is pissing people off! OK then... stand down and relax... we will survive this fiasco.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 04:23:38 +0000