Dave Lindorff: Bush, Cheney and the Scarlet Letter

[demobabe]

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
By Dave Lindorff

I'm getting sick and tired of hearing Democrats afraid of impeachment claim that it can't be done because the Senate, where Democrats hold a precarious one-seat edge, would never vote to convict and remove, which would require 67 votes.

Let's get something straight:

Impeachment is not about conviction and removal in the Senate. Impeachment is a stand-alone action of the House of Representatives and requires a simple majority.

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...

Full article here: http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1132

[Ms. Clio]

1. k&r n/t