Republicans are Approaching Impeachment Mentality

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/24527

Republicans are Approaching Impeachment Mentality
Submitted by Chip on Wed, 2007-07-11 07:10. Impeachment


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It is inevitable that more GOP senators will join the get out of Iraq fast already bandwagon. Even seeing their colleagues doing it is having a mental effect upon them-- particularly the incumbents up for election next year. The wall is being eroded.

Note that impeachment is not something that is necessary in the senate. Dave Lindorff has eloquently argued that the whole idea of impeachment was conceived as something the house of representatives does. He writes in his article Forget a Senate Trial, Impeachment is its own Punishment.

"Under the Constitution, there is no obligation for the Senate to even hold a trial after someone is impeached. It is an option, which is up to the will of the Senate.

When the Founding Fathers drew up the impeachment clause, they envisioned it as its own punishment. Trial and removal were seen as a wholly separate process, in addition to impeachment.

Under the Constitution, after investigating the high crimes and misdemeanors of a president or other federal officer in an impeachment panel composed of the members of the House Judiciary Committee, which would then approve articles of impeachment, the House would vote on whether to impeach the executive.

If they concluded that Bush or Cheney, in this case, had abused their power, or had damaged the nation, or committed treason or bribery, they could then vote to impeach.

At that point the president and/or vice president would stand impeached.

For all time, they would be known as defilers of the Constitution--or perhaps as traitors, depending upon the nature of the articles approved by a House majority.

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