Please explain the significance of an impeachment.

[Joebert]

I see calls for impeachment all day long here.

What does it actually accomplish? Clinton was impeached, he wasn't thrown in jail, or removed from office, nothing happened of consequence.

As far as I can tell, impeachment proceedings cost a big bag of money, and the impeached feels shame (to quote Denis Lemieux of Slapshot).


Please educate a novice as to what this would accomplish. I mean, we all know Bush wouldn't feel shame.


Thank you,

Joebert

[flyingfysh]

1. Impeachment results in a trial

The trial is held in the Senate. If the President loses, he is out of office. It's all in the Constitution. Try reading it.

[Patchuli]

10. How about he is dangeous to the U.S!

and to the rest of the world? I think he's going to leave sooner than 2008.

[Patchuli]

11. And what I failed to say in previous post

is that he is dangeous and I don't want him in charge of my safety or laws anymore.

[ShockediSay]

26. And the trial WILL be of no consequence

unless the pres loses the vote.

No chance of that happening unless and until there's a big reversal of fortunes in the '06 congressional elections.

[flyingfysh]

2. self delete

accidental key bounce caused double post.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

30. That's older than

"The dog ate my homework."

:patriot:

[Pam-Moby]

3. Clinton was impeached by the congress.

But the senate did not vote to impeach him. That is why nothing happened.

[flyingfysh]

6. a full trial was held in the Senate

But there were not enough votes to convict. So Clinton stayed in office.

[Pam-Moby]

18. Yes and the senate did not agree with the impeachment

[never_get_over_it]

8. The senate does not impeach

The House of Representatives impeaches or indicts

The Senate conducts the trial which result in conviction and removal from office with 2/3rds vote in the Senate

or the Senate can acquit as they did in Clinton's case

[jim3775]

4. I dont know why people call for impeachment

It is impossible without control of the house and the senate. Yelling "get out the vote in '06!" would be a lot more constructive than "impeachemnt now!".

[SharonRB]

7. There is a Resolution of Inquiry being started by Barbara Lee

That's the first step and can get the ball rolling. We need to take back the House and the Senate next year, though, for it to go anywhere.

[Liberty Belle]

12. Nixon resigned because Republicans were prepared to impeach him,

along with Democrats.

[havocmom]

13. Thank you for making that point. May I buy you a drink?

:toast:

[Webster Green]

17. Because he has committed impeachable offenses!

If the votes aren't there, then it won't be successful, but it should still be initiated. (IMO)

We should attack on all fronts. I think we should surround the White House and demand resignations of the whole bunch. It may not work either, but it should still be done.


Demand resignations! Now!

[jim3775]

22. I didnt mean it that way

I know why bush should be impeached.

What i'm saying is, articles of impeachment cant even be introduced without control of the house and senate. It is an IMPOSSIBILITY without control.

[Silverhair]

23. Lots of people here post their fantasies,...

which are often disconnected from reality.

[SharonRB]

5. Clinton was acquitted

An impeachment is just the trial. Had he been convicted he would have been out of office. We not only need an impeachment for *, we need a conviction.

[never_get_over_it]

15. The impeachment is not the trial it is the indictment - eom

[SharonRB]

31. Sorry -- that's really what I meant

I was just trying to differentiate between the accusation and the conviction. I misspoke by saying the trial itself.

[havocmom]

9. Think of Impeachment as an indictment for some crime

Then there is the trial to either convict of acquit the charged party of the crime. The Congress indicts - Impeaches. The Senate tries the case. If they find against the charged person, they remove that person from office.

Then, there can be civil trials too. We the People might have issues to take up with corrupt persons in government.

[Joebert]

14. Thanks for the detail.

(and not shaming me publicly for not memorizing the Constitution.) :-)

[havocmom]

19. You are most welcome. I just figure most here are younger than I am

and simply haven't had enough time to bump into all the dead end streets yet ;).

Hell, I'm so old I have forgotten half what I used to know. Had a dickens of a time remembering the word acquit just now! May have to have you 'splain things all over to me some day soon. :D

[mtnsnake]

16. The significance is that it would open the eyes of the naive & ignorant,

if impeachment charges were filed...and charges SHOULD be filed.

[NRaleighLiberal]

20. I think the key is screwing up and completely blocking anything

that the Chimp and his repuke congress and house wish to get done in his remaining term - completely constipating the agenda....or at least until it can influence the 06 elections sufficiently to get Dems back in charge of both bodies. Then maybe things can start improving.

[never_get_over_it]

27. Yes

"I think the key is screwing up and completely blocking anything
that the Chimp and his repuke congress and house wish to get done in his remaining term - completely constipating the agenda"

This is exactly what the Clinton impeachment was about - "they" knew he would never be convicted and removed - but they wanted to screw up Clinton's agenda - do you know that the year Clinton was impeached the ONLY legislation that was passed was the renaming of Washington National Airpor to Reagan National Airport or whatever the hell the official name is - I still call it National.

[Just Me]

21. It can tarnish the entire party if it's serious enough.

That's why the former Nixonians (neoCONs et al) went for Clinton's throat. Nixon's impeachment put the Republican party on the back burner in the legislative branch and in many states for quite some time. Republicans have not had COMPLETE CONTROL until Bush.

Now that they do have power, look what they've done with it: they have abused it and exploited Americans lives, security and treasure in so many backassward ways it is obscene.

Bush DESERVES to be impeached and indicted. However, his administration MUST be indicted and imprisoned for their extreme abuse of the people of this country.

[jzodda]

24. These days Impeachment seems to help the other side

Last time around the public perceived the impeachment to be purely partisan. It cost Reps the 1998 mid terms and Newt his job. I fail to see how it would be perceived any differently this time around, and with a Rep congress could never go anyplace.

It does not help out chances for the next midterms to be pushing impeachment. Do not get me wrong I would like nothing more but since it has no chance to succeed and will be attacked vigorously by the other side as 100% partisan attack I think it hurts, not helps our chances for 2006 mid terms.

[blonndee]

25. I don't know...this is big enough for regime change, I think.

Get a trial. It's not politics, it's about dereliction of duty, no confidence, etc.

Some of the rats are deserting, and the time is now. If his poll#s are down to 40%, that says a lot.

[never_get_over_it]

28. I'm sorry I disagree with you

there is a huge difference between lying about a blow job and letting hundreds or thousands die by your inaction - and then there are all those deaths caused by lying us into an invasion - and if I had my way there would be the 9/11 deaths because he was warned and did NOTHING

[never_get_over_it]

29. Ok for anyone interested here it is straight from the Constitution

Article. I.

Section. 2.

Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment

Section. 3

Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Clause 7: Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Article. II.

Section. 4.

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