New meme: it's the perjury, stupid!

[northzax]

As i recall, Larry Craig voted to impeach Bill Clinton for perjury, lying about his sex life, i believe it was. Senator Craig went on television last night and announced to the nation that he lied, in a sworn statement, to a court in Minneapolis about his sex life. Can we now assume that Senator Craig will propose, and support, his own impeachment?

yeah, didn't think so. It's not about sex, it's not about homosexuality, it's about doing something that Senator Craig himself thinks is cause for removal from office.

[rainy]

1. Right on! Spread it far and spread it wide. n/t

[northzax]

2. Every duer should write this to their local paper

And ask for an answer from Senator Craig. Publically. Personally, i don't care who Senator Craig picks up in bathrooms, i care that he lied to a court about it (or he's lying now)

who's with me?

[Igel]

3. He can just say it's a meaningless question.

You can't impeach senators.

Now, you could ask him if he thinks he should resign; presumably he called for Clinton's resignation. But coming up with a principled distinction between the standards for president and senator isn't hard.

[northzax]

5. tell that to William Blount

who was impeached by the House in 1797, although he was not convicted by the Senate, since he had already been expelled. This is the only time it's been tried, therefore there is no case law on either side.

since, of course, impeachment simply removes someone from office, expulsion from the Senate is just as good.

[calimary]

4. YES! Very good! It's the perjury, stupid!

I also like It's the HYPOCRISY, stupid!

[DeadElephant_ORG]

6. copping a plea to "disorderly conduct" is NOT the same

as "lying about his sex life" in a sworn statement. He now states that he should not have copped that plea. But admitting to a crime that you did NOT COMMIT, for reasons of wanting to avoid a trial, is not perjury in any meaningful sense. It would be a mistake to criminalize copping a plea. Craig is lying NOW when he denies that he did anything illegal. But since he is not now under oath, that's not perjury either.

for me... "It's the hypocrisy, stupid."

[northzax]

7. When you cop a plea

You say, in a sworn statement, that you are guilty. He said, in his plea, that he engaged in activity That he knew was wrong. he now says he didn't. So which is the truth? His statement said that he knew that not telling the truth on his plea agreement would void it and was illegal. And yes, criminilizing false plea agreements is a good idea. If you believe there is overwhelming evidence against you, plead nolo contendre or fight the charges.