Can any Republican honestly say...?

Question

... that if it had been a DEMOCRAT president who had led thus far the very same legacy of this current administration, you wouldn't want him/her impeached, too?

Please, take time to think about this before you answer. I will immediately thumbs-down any of the illogical propagandists.

Reading material: "If Bush-Cheney Can't be Impeached, Nobody can"?

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/23802

Ok... The Republicans led impeachment over Clinton's lies about AN AFFAIR.

Here is a legal case for impeachment, which, obviously, holds very little water compared to that of AN AFFAIR, I guess?

Rationales for impeachment:

1. NSA warrantless surveillance controversy
2. 2003 invasion of Iraq
a. Constitutionality of invasion
b. Justification for invasion
c. U.N. Charter
3. Geneva Conventions controversy
a. Unlawful combatant status
b.Extraordinary rendition
c. Treatment of detainees
4. Leaking of classified information
a. Possible involvement in the CIA leak
b. Declassifying for political purposes
c. Politicization of the United States attorneys
5. Hurricane Katrina
6. Abuse of power

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_to_impeach_George_W._Bush

You may disagree with our laws, but you cannot argue the fact they are there because that is how we function--by the rule of law.

Spend a few minutes and find out for yourself what laws this Administration has "ignored" (broken). I have supplied material. I encourage you to find your own. How can you defend that?

Any president above the rule of law is NOT a patriot of democracy or of our American Values!

Anyone who was around during the 2000 election knows "THE LAW" can be circumvented with the right lawyers/loopholes.

(What do you know about Presidential Signing Statements?)

But does that make it right?

Answer 1

As an Independent I make no distinctions when it comes to Dems. or Repubs. I vote for the "Person" I think will best help our country.....Currently Ron Paul, imho!

Impeachment proceedings have to be started by someone in government when the person in question is convicted of a crime:

Constitution:
Article II section 4:
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the U.S. shall be removed from office on impeachment for,"and conviction of," Treason, Bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Thanks for reading.

Answer 2

I think there's a partizan mindset these days that impeachment is just the thing to do if you get a big enough majority in Congress. The impeachment of Clinton was laughable. Had Gore won the election, he'd have been facing possible impeachment even if he'd won the war on terror in 25 minutes, brought peace to the middle east, solved global warming and cured cancer - as long as the Reps had enough seats in congress to have a shot at it succeeding. Similarly, if the Dems had won a little bigger in '06, Bush would be facing impeachment.

Answer 3

I vote Republican. Here's my tally on Bush:

Pro - War on terror/Iraq (although many mistakes have been made), Economy/taxes, Judicial appointments.

Con - too much spending and regulation (prescription drugs, No Child Left Behind, etc.), and the border.

I think Bush's immigration stance makes a mockery of the rest of his "homeland security" program.

But on all the issues I mentioned, I think the Democrats would do an even worse job.

So where does that leave me?

I recognize there are those who disagree totally with my analysis. But I'm only speaking for myself.

PS I almost forgot to answer your question! I don't believe any of Bush's actions constitute high crimes or misdemeanors. POSSIBLY not enforcing the laws on the border - nonfeasance. I know the issues well and am emphatic in this belief. A change in facts, or new facts, could always change my mind. But after almost seven years I haven't seen it.

PPS Bush's surveillance, detention and interrogation methods are less draconioan than those of other wartime presidents, including Lincoln and FDR. I do not believe they were war criminals, or should have been impeached. (I obviously have huge prolems with FDR's mass internment program, but Bush hasn't done that.) I think that people who want Bush impeached are not saying that no president should have the powers he is exercising. I think they want instead to deny that we are at war, and/or that Bush is president.

Answer 4

Legacy? What specifically are you reffering to?

Going to a war (that had bi-partisan support) ?

You can hate our President as much as you want. But Impeachment? For what crime?

Yes, I can honestly say that if, all other things being equal(even though we know they wouldn't be), if the President was a Democrat, barring a clear-cut crime, I would not call for an impeachment.

Last I checked, lying under oath is a crime.

Answer 5

yes I can honestly say that. I assume you have Clinton in mind, and I would refer you to the recent Scooter Libby conviction. We did not want Clinton impeached because we did not like him, we wanted him impeached for the exact crimes that Libby committed, only with Clinton, the prosecutor did not already know who had committed the crime when they were questioned. When Bush commits perjury and obstruction, we will revoke his law license, but he doesn't have one, so how about we slap him on the wrist by saying he can't make millions off speaking tours when hes out of office. Because working off the Clinton precedent, Presidents don't get impeached or go to jail for perjury and obstruction like their aids do.

Answer 6

Yes I can, in fact, when JFK introduced Vietnam to the world, you didn't hear anyone even mention impeachment. Or when LBJ escalated the war in Vietnam no mention of impeachment. Impeachment is for high crimes and misdemeanors. It's not because you disagree with his/hers policy or ideology. When Nixon, broke the law, which he clearly did, impeachment proceedings were conducted, and that was the correct thing to do. The same goes with Clinton, not because of (sex) but because he LIED to a Grand Jury, that is called Perjury. Bush has not broken any laws, but should he then the same fate should await him.

Answer 7

If a dem had been in office and our country is in the same exact shape it's in, I would feel the same exact way about our president. I used to be a Clinton supporter up until November of 2001. I would praise for accomplishments and "boo" his/her short comings.

As of now, I wonder what the hell Bush is thinking on this immigration bill he wants to sign, just as most dems are thinking the same thing :)

Answer 8

I'm neither Repub or Dem. I thought Clinton's impeachment was a waste of time and money, and I feel the same way about Bush. I don't believe that either one did anything worth being put on trial for.

Answer 9

Yes. A president has to do something illegal to be impeached. Not just have policy that some people disagree with. Quit trying to be vengeful about your favorite President, Clinton, getting impeached. He broke the law via perjury. He should be in jail.

Answer 10

Being a Democrat I would agree to an impeachment trial to any president -Republican or Democrat- who goes against the Constitution of the US and lies to the American people.