There has been a lot of bantering, pontificating and general bloviating on the right since the mid-term elections, and chief among the spewing of words has been the word “impeachment.” Every Tea Partier is foaming at the mouth, rabidly wanting to see the President removed from office in disgrace.
Sorry to break it to you, but it is never going to happen.
First, in order to remove the President of the United States through impeachment he or she must have committed an act of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors,” as clearly outlined in Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution of the United States – a document the talking heads and politicians on the right would be well served to read from time-to-time. There are no provisions for removing the President because you do not like his policies, his party affiliation or the color of his skin.
Black’s Law Dictionary defines “Treason” as, “attempting to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance; or of betraying the state into the hands of a foreign power.” The President has not attempted to overthrow the government, nor has he betrayed the country into the hands of a foreign power.
Bribery is defined as, “The receiving or offering any undue reward by or to any person whomsoever, whose ordinary profession or business relates to the administration of public justice, in order to influence his behavior, and to incline him to act contrary to his duty and the known rules of honesty and integrity.” Gee, once again, the President has not committed any such offense.
Black’s further defines “High crimes and misdemeanors” as being “such immoral and unlawful acts as are nearly allied and equal in guilt to felony, yet, owing to some technical circumstance, do not fall within that definition.” As much as the likes of Hannity, Limbaugh, etc., would like to claim, think and propose, the President has yet to commit any such crimes.
So, besides the fact there is no “cause” for Republican Tea Party (GOTP) controlled Congress to attempt to remove the President, that will not stop them from trying to do so. There is just one small problem, while the House can “impeach” the President with a simple majority vote, Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution is very clear as to how many votes are needed to convict.
“The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.”
Dream on Tea Partiers, your long sought for victory over President Obama will never come to pass because you and your minions lack the 2/3s majority needed to convict him of whatever trumped up charge the House deems to throw at him. In order to convict the President the GOTP would need 67 votes, meaning at least 14 Democrats would need to side with them, which is never going to happen.
In short, do not waste the time and energy to try to impeach the President, you will be wasting millions of dollars and in the end, you will look incredibly stupid.
The Liberty Tree 