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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!
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