Alright! We're back to impeachment! That's so two weeks ago! But whatever, let's do it again.

Two presidents have been impeached, if you are using the legal definition of impeachment and not the dictionary brand provided by Gemini. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. They were both officially impeached, meaning simply that articles of impeachment were brought before the House of Representatives, voted on, and at least one of the articles was found worthy of sending to to the Senate, where they vote on whether or not the transgression is worthy of removal from office or simply censure(the latter being what happened to Bill Clinton). In the language of politics and law, to "impeach" is not to remove from office, but is to initiate proceedings that might result in removal from office.

Oddly the man who wasn't technically impeached, is the one who left office; Richard Nixon resigned when it became clear that his impeachment and subsequent removal from office (not to mention possible criminal charges) were an inevitability.

Let me repeat for the ump-teenth time, you can't impeach a guy just because you don't like him. It just doesn't work that way. Regardless of whether you "like" Clinton or not, it's pretty clear that somewhere along the line he broke the law in terms of illicit real-estate ventures, sexual harassment, perjury, or obstruction of justice, take your pick. Clinton's personal dealings were not at issue in his impeachment proceedings, so much as was his perjury about his personal dealings.

Is the war unconstitutional? Not at this point. Both Houses have issued resolutions in support of the troops, giving the war their de facto stamp of approval without ever having to take a vote. No one in either chamber will present impeachment articles against Bush. They would lose, they would spend an extraordinary amount of political capital, and there would be (to quote from The American President) "A very large thud" when they hit the ground, and public opinion won't change that in the immediate future. No politician is going to stand up against a generally approved of war and the generally approved of encroachments on civil liberties that are necessaryin fighting the war on terror.

The impeachment conversation is stupid and we should really let it go.

Basically the only difference between Bush and Clinton anyway is that Clinton wanted to spend, spend, spend, spend, spend whereas Bush is more of a spend, spend, spend kind of guy. It's a tough distinction to appreciate.

impeach-1 a : to bring an accusation against b : to charge with a crime or misdemeanor; specifically : to charge (a public official) before a competent tribunal with misconduct in office
2 : to cast doubt on; especially : to challenge the credibility or validity of <impeach the testimony of a witness>
3 : to remove from office especially for misconduct

I was referring to number three, but you all are right.

Just to let people know, someone who is impeached is not neccesarily kicked out of office. For example, Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States of America was impeached. The House of Representatives accused or impeached the President, and then it went to trial in the Senate, and he was not kicked out of office. The only other president to be impeached was, in fact, good ol' Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton never resigned. Richard Nixon resigned to save his dignity but that was in 1976 or 1977. Bill Clinton was impeached. Impeached means that he was accused of a crime, and that he would be put on trial in the Senate. He was impeached, but not thrown out of office.

quote:

---

First off, President Willaim Jefferson Clinton WAS IMPEACHED. Being impeached is the act of accusing someone for a crime.

---

Clinton was never officially impeached; he resigned in turn for his dignity. And impeachment is when a person of a certain power is kicked out of office.

quote:

---

And again to make my point clear, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON WAS THE SECOND PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO BE IMPEACHED.

---

He wasn't impeached...

quote:

---

what you mean by the "wrong reforms"

---

Well, here are some of the reforms I disagree with:

-Clinton administration has expanded the right of minors to abortion. The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional right of minors to obtain abortions without notifying their parents. If a minor is found to be mature enough to make the choice on her own and does not want her parents to know about it, a judge must allow an abortion under a series of Supreme Court rulings dating to 1979. Beginning with a Massachusetts case 18 years ago, the court has protected access to abortion for pregnant minors by assuring that they could obtain permission from a state judge if they did not want to involve their parents.

-Restricted the rights of parents in connection with compulsory sex and AIDS education.

-Advocated a looser standard of child pornography.

-Promoted so-called "children's rights" that can be independently asserted by children against their parents.

-Broadened the definition of "child abuse." (i.e. more people can get away with it)

-The National Endowment for the Arts with a director appointed by Bill Clinton continues to support obscene and sacrilegious paintings, sculpture and photographs with your tax money.

-He revoked Executive Order #12606 issued by President Ronald Reagan on September 2, 1987. The Executive Order was authored by Newport, Kentucky native, Gary Bauer, who was Reagan's chief policy advisor at the time. The policy required the federal government to consider the impact of new rules and regulations on the American family prior to their enactment.

-Consistently opposed any legislation which would give parents greater opportunity to choose private over government education for their children.

-And my personal favorite, which has affected me most of all: zero tolerance, where schools give the same consequences for everyone who violates a rule. It prevents them from actually thinking for themselves and judging situations separately.

I fully support my President and soon-to-be Commander-in-Chief. He was just what this country needed - a leader with high morals. Clinton was horrible. I hated that he was in charge of this country when he couldn't even keep his **** in his pants. The adulterating ******* should have had his *** thrown in jail.

What for?

Based on your reasons for not liking Clinton, then surely you would think that Georgie W. should also be impeached for his actions?

gemini, sorry about the typo, when i get heated up, i tend to lose my spelling...but still, i want to know what you mean by the "wrong reforms". what else should he have done (besides your comments on him not going to church, which i totally disagree with)?

I support President Bush becuase I like what he has done since 9/11. I like the way he handled that situation, and believe he did a much better job than Gore or Nader could have. This stuff about Clinton is bothering me. Clinton was not a very good president period. First off, President Willaim Jefferson Clinton WAS IMPEACHED. Being impeached is the act of accusing someone for a crime. He is one of only two presidents TO BE IMPEACHED. To everyone who says his personal life shouldn't have been an issue I say this, whether it should have been an issue or not, it became one, and then lied, UNDER OATH. This is a crime in our society. So, whether or not his personal life should be an issue isn't the point. The point is he LIED, UNDER OATH, and MADE MONICA LEWINSKY LIE UNDER OATH. That is where the crime is and that is where the problem and issue is. And again to make my point clear, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON WAS THE SECOND PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO BE IMPEACHED.

quote:

---

I think Clinton focused on all the write issues: education

---

Not enough on education, obviously; especially English. "Right."

And he was just too preoccupied with making the wrong reforms.

Clinton was one of our most corrupt polticians ever! He took soft money from the Chinese for weapons secrets technology (treason, though it is still disputed), Enron (more than Bush, and thats saying a lot!), corporations, left-wing organizations like the ACLU and countless others. Clinton neglected the military, waged numerous unsuccessful "humanitarian" wars that were largely unauthorized (re: Belgrade, Iraqi bombing, etc.) and had the chance to get rid of Bin Laden no less than five times (He even expresses regret for it)! Clinton was a hack politician who used PR and the media to stay in power despite his chronic imcompetence. He didn't even help us environmentally: He played to the environmentalists while in fact knowing that Kyoto and numerous other measures would NOT be adopted by congress. Clinton treated women badly (he was accused of Rape) and abused his power by doing so. Clinton also abused his power by giving numerous pardons to business contributors, the left, and anyone else he approved of (including one unrepetant radical). By all means, Clinton should have been impeached, he did everything from lying about a affair to selling weapons secrets and pardons to the highest bidder. If a republican tried half the things he did, the press would have hounded him. But, luckily for him the media is liberal and the public is easily fooled by any slick politician with money to spare. Meanwhile, Bush now has to deal with a foreign policy disaster caused from Clinton and his predecessors (his father no less!) as well as his own botched diplomacy. This is really a sorry state this country is in, and I would have to say Clinton has played a large role in getting us into it, more so than Bush ever could with his own obvious corrupt energy dealings.

is over. (forgot to finish my sentence)

Gemini-

I agreed with you up until this comment

quote:

---

But, sadly, he was a very bad president who was focused on the wrong reforms.

---

I think Clinton focused on all the write issues: education, race relations, drug reform, abortion, and DIPLOMACY BETWEEN THE NATIONS. Bush has been in office for what, two years, and he has shot that all to sh**. God, it's unbelievable people do not see the effect our actions will have between the world once this Operation Iraqi Freedom (which is a total joke anyways, like Bush gives a hoot about the civil liberities of Iraqis).

quote:

---

Clinton never went to church

---

Your point being what exactly?

quote:

---

had sex with Monica Lewinsky while he was in office

---

Lots of politicians have sex when they're in office. That's beside the point. It's the fact that he cheated on his wife. But his personal life should be viewed differently than his political life. The fact that he was an adulterer does not mean he was a bad president. But, sadly, he was a very bad president who was focused on the wrong reforms.

quote:

---

and the first time he got elected was just because him and the independent canidite were really working together

---

First off, I think some explanation is due here. Second, how the heck do you think President Bush got into office. He wasn't even elected by the people!!!!

if clinton had any balls we would have ended this problem 10 years ago that we are having with iraq. nobody likes war, but it's a necessary action in some situations, and clinton was a little to busy dealing with his personal affairs (no pun intended, actually it is) to be a true leader. i'm am so glad that bush is president, because without him steppin up, who knows how far saddam would have gone.

Sorry everybody, but most of the people who answered this letter thought that Clinton was a better President! Well, obviously you are sick!!! Clinton never went to church, had sex with Monica Lewinsky while he was in office, sent taxes sky high and the first time he got elected was just because him and the independent canidite were really working together!! Also he never ever had to deal with war. He is a liar , a cheater, and a sick man. Even if you don't like president bush which is very sad, i think you should at least be respectfull to him. People who HATED clinton at least didn't tell him how much they thought he sucked!!! please grow up!!

haha
it's ok anyway,if kids nowadays don't,we won't see any in the future

here??nah...ppl here spits on the ground( ewwww....) and swears all the time.....*sigh* and more...

lol at least the people are nice