"High Crimes & Misdemeanors" = Abusing the Power of the Office

[IdaBriggs]

That's what I learned at the John Conyers impeachment hearing a while ago.

When the founding fathers wrote "high crimes and misdemeanors" they weren't talking about PARKING TICKETS; they were using a model from English law about people who ABUSED THE POWER OF THEIR OFFICES.

When Nixon was impeached, he tried to argue for the "parking tickets or felonies" defense, but he got his butt handed to him because we have several hundred years of precedent about what that term means. Remember how he got nailed about ABUSING THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE to get copies of other people's tax returns? It wasn't glamorous, but it was an ABUSE OF HIS OFFICE.

When the Republicans chose to impeach President Clinton, they had to RE-WRITE THE RULES because his "crimes" did not fit into any Impeachable Offenses listed in the Constitution. According to the constitution scholars who spoke at the hearing I attended, this means that his "impeachment" will probably be retroactively reversed when cooler heads who RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION can again prevail. (Think "Andrew Jackson".)

I believe in accountability. I also want it made crystal clear to future "people in power" that the Constitution of this country is sacred, and that they are not allowed to ABUSE THE POWER OF THEIR OFFICES.

I believe I have personally witnessed President Bush committing "High Crimes & Misdemeanors" when he *LIED* to this country on national television about the reasons he was taking this country to war. I also believe he was criminally negligent in the days leading up to 9/11, and that he did his best to cover up TREASON in the outing of our Spy Master, Valerie Plame. I also believe that this war has been of financial benefit to him PERSONALLY as he stands to inherit his father's profits from The Carlyle Group. These are *not* the only impeachable offenses committed by this administration (wire tapping, anyone?), but they come to mind first.

For those who don't want these issues investigated because you are going to be "too busy" cleaning up the mess, let me assure you that IMPEACHMENT and IMPRISONMENT are the best ways I know to AVOID future messes. The alternative is for these types of criminals to simply "not get caught" or "wait out the uproar." They can then use their ill gotten gains to continue their "culture of corruption" unhindered, which makes sense, if you're an idiot.

I demand justice. I demand an INVESTIGATION!

[IdaBriggs]

1. Kick! nt

[bobbolink]

2. avoiding future messes?

Wow, what a concept!

Maybe it's us women who understand that best. :hi:

I agree with what you said, but that point is well made, and really stands out.

Thanks for posting this!

[JeffR]

3. The most stupefying aspect of all this is that the supposedly rational

centrist Democrats who were happy to go along with the charade of the Clinton impeachment, all the while gravely invoking high-minded concepts like the rule of law and the primacy of the Constitution, are now urging that such concepts have no application to current circumstances and to the current occupant of the Oval Office. And this after warrantless wiretapping in violation of FISA, illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq on a pretext that was patently a tissue of lies, willful disregard of intelligence reports prior to September 11, repeated attempts to pawn port security to interests inimical to America, voter suppression and vote tampering that can be traced directly back to Bush's political team (if not higher) and so on.

If there's better evidence that the nation has almost vanished through the looking-glass, I can't imagine what it might be.

[bobbolink]

4. Clear indication of their true loyalties, eh?

:mad:

[JeffR]

5. That seems to be what it comes down to

I certainly can't account for their curious double standard any other way.
:shrug:

[bobbolink]

8. I guess when said double standard has made them a lot of $$$$,

it gets to be a habit.

When are we, as a nation, going to realize we MUST get corporations out of our government?!

:mad:

[JeffR]

9. That's a big part of it

But notwithstanding that, giving a pious nod to impeachment proceedings when most people surveyed weren't in support of it, as opposed to arguing against impeachment proceedings when public support is potentially strong - there are many dots still to be connected on this, IMHO.

You've raised an urgent priority. Not only do corporate tentacles need to be pried off of government, but serious and detailed investigations need to be done about precisely what has transpired in recent years. What and how did corporate influence buy in terms of energy policy, Iraq, etc. We know the broad strokes on most of this, now we need to complete the picture with very fine brushes.

[bobbolink]

10. Cool! Please, add that excellent suggestion to this list....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2953516&mesg_id=2953516

It's a fine topic, and badly needs a bump!

I really like that.... start investigating the "corporate tentacles"!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[JeffR]

11. Thank you. Done!

:toast:

[bobbolink]

15. Great! I hope others will add on, too!

BTW, love your graphic!! :thumbsup:

[JeffR]

16. Thanks!

:)

[mmonk]

6. Amen

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. We need a special commission

to investigate this whole cabal.

Oh and while we're at it, can we have a real 9-11 investigation?

[Greyhound]

12. I think they are against the investigations because it will expose the corporatists

in our party as the shills they are. Do you imagine that Lieberman, for example, will vote in favor of a law that will negate the credit card corporation protection act (bankruptcy reform), or will support correction or withdrawal from the economy killing treaties?

[bobbolink]

14. So true. I tremble to think what the corporations have in store for us

if investigations truly go through as needed.

There's no way "they" can allow that.

That is where the rubber will really meet the road.

But, without it, the shit will keep resurfacing, since it's the foundation of the corruption.

edited to add: I don't really mean that, Agent Mike. :hi: ~~chortle~~

[Greyhound]

17. One of the next steps is going to be the elimination of physical currency.

The campaign has already started, and it is absolutely essential to gain complete control over the sheeple. Can't have underground economies thriving once the real crack-downs begin, otherwise you end up like Russia.

[bobbolink]

18. Delightful. More poor people will die.

But, I seriously doubt I'll see that as a concern here.

MOst of the talk will be about how it affects the muddleclass.

:mad:

[porphyrian]

13. Impeachment is imperative.

Investigate, impeach, imprison.

[Marrak]

19. Demand justice!

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