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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMadison Fears He Made Constitution's Impeachment Clause Too Hard for Idiots to Grasp
THE AFTERLIFE (The Borowitz Report)The late James Madison, widely credited with drafting the United States Constitution, said on Saturday that he was concerned that he made the documents impeachment clause too hard for idiots to grasp.
In his first-ever interview from beyond the grave, Madison said that, when he drafted the Constitution, he thought that he had made the section on impeachment so clear that even a total numbskull could understand it.
I remember being in the writers room and asking Alexander Hamilton if we should put something in there about how a President should be convicted if he attempts a violent overthrow of the government, Madison said. Hamilton was, like, First of all, thats so obvious, we dont want to insult peoples intelligence by spelling it out. And, second, a President would have to be a complete and utter psycho to try something like that. You have a wild imagination, my friend.
Madison said that he heeded Hamiltons advice, but now harbors some regrets about doing so. I know hindsight is 20/20, but if I had to write the impeachment part all over again, Id really dumb it down, he said.
Short article, no more at link: https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/madison-fears-he-made-constitutions-impeachment-clause-too-hard-for-idiots-to-grasp
Photograph from Getty
elleng
(131,136 posts)both Madison and Hamilton.
Rhiannon12866
(206,072 posts)sfstaxprep
(9,998 posts)Even with the clause for conviction over an attempt at overthrow of the government, the House Managers still wouldn't have been able to get the 17 votes.
These Fuckers couldn't be bothered to even adhere to the Constitution, that's not how they roll.
Except of course for the Godfather of all Amendments....the 2nd.
Wounded Bear
(58,719 posts)and how that distorts people's thoughts and feeling about concepts like 'patriotism' and 'the public good.' Other than that, they were pretty perceptive about human frailties.
elleng
(131,136 posts)I forget which one.