regent
Gold Member
- Jan 30, 2012
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Nonsense.
I agree that it is ofetn treated as mere cheap politics, but that is not what it is supposed to be about.
If your "thesis" were true, then any time we had a HOUSE majority from a political Party other than the President's political Party, impeachments would have been common.
Impeachments are the tiny exception, not the rule. Johnson & Bubba (plus an effort that likely WOULD have become another impeachment in the case of Nixon).
I have spoken and it is so. Anyway perhaps the value of talking impeachment is as valuable as the act? How many times have politicians talked of impeaching and done nothing? Truman was threatened as was Reagan along with other presidents, but nothing.
Which political party did the impeachment of Clinton help or hurt the most? To impeach and find not guilty can bite. All the time and money spent and nothing. So far no president has ever been removed. But the talk does get people stirred.
Kennedy in his book, Profiles in Courage devotes one profile to Ross of Kansas and his impeachment vote.
A vote which, contrary to PARTY politics, adhered to the notion that the Constitution might just have MEANT what it clearly SAID.
Well the constitution is not always clear, what are high crimes? But it was a politician rising above his political party and his constituents intent and doing what he thought was right for America. How many of those types are floating about?