Definition of High Crimes and Misdemeanors

[Kablooie]

It seems our boy Bush has pretty clearly performed a high crime or misdemeanor.

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"High crimes and misdemeanors" entered the text of the Constitution due to George Mason and James Madison. Mason had argued that the reasons given for impeachment -- treason and bribery -- were not enough. He worried that other "great and dangerous offenses" might not be covered, and suggested adding the word "maladministration." Madison argued that term was too vague, so Mason then proposed "high crimes and misdemeanors," a phrase well-known in English common law. In 18th century language, a "misdemeanor" meant "mis-demeanor,"or bad behavior (neglect of duty and corruption were given as examples), while "high crimes" was roughly equivalent to "great offenses."

Lawyers and historians are still arguing about the exact meaning of "high crimes and misdemeanors," dividing into three schools of thought about the appropriate definition: (1) serious criminality evidenced by breaking existing law; (2) an abuse of office, and (3) the Alexander Hamilton standard (Federalist 65) of "violation of public trust."

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Seems there is plenty of evidence for a pretty solid impeachment here.

[cssmall]

1. You see, Bush didn't neglect his duty because he wasn't fuckin' an intern.

Blame it on Clinton's Penis. He was too busy having sex with an intern in *gasp* the Oval Office. Ha! I wonder how the republicans would feel if they knew that Bush was fucking some of his compadres in the ass in the Oval Office. See, that's why they hate Clinton he violated the public trust by defilin' the Oval Office.

[Independent_Liberal]

2. Kick!