Just out of curiousity....

[LynneSin]

if we get the debate on impeachment (which half of me wishes we would) and it passes through the house and then on to the senate where perhaps it'll pass there...

What happens when we don't come up with the 67 votes to actually remove the guy out of office.

That's how many senators we need and last I checked we barely had 50 senators leaning left enough to make this happen.

Nothing like the big old 'hand-slap you're a bad boy' of justice.

[BattyDem]

1. If it's debated and the facts come out ...

I hope that the "we the people" will demand impeachment and anyone not voting to do so would be jeopardizing their chances for re-election.

[redqueen]

10. Even if we don't... everyone's true colors will be on record.

No amount of 'distancing' from this administration will make up for voting to excuse the criminals.

[shadowknows69]

2. It will be in the history books anyway

[Beetwasher]

3. 67 Votes?

I think it only has to be a majority for impeachment.

[BattyDem]

6. Yes, but it's 67 votes to convict.

But at this point, I'll take the impeachment so the facts can be known and I'll worry about the conviction later.

[LynneSin]

7. Impeachment does NOT remove a president from office (remember Clinton was impeached)

The next step after impeachment will determine if the president (or resident idiot) is removed - and that requires either 3/5 or 2/3 vote (I need to look up the exact numbers).

If anything, our founding fathers were smart with this process in order to prevent one side from randomly removing presidents at will. However, I highly doubt the founding fathers expected the political system to become as highly divided as it is right now.

[EFerrari]

4. You can't get an answer unless you raise the question. n/t

[spanone]

5. and if we don't try?

[LynneSin]

8. I'm just worried that the last thing the voters will remember going into 2008

is they wasted alot of time on an impeachment that was nothing more than a hand slap. Sure, we might lose a few voters from progressive websites when it comes to voting democrat, but we keep forgetting that we aren't the only voters out there.

The media would warp this impeachment into such a frenzy that Bush would probably end up gaining popularity and the republicans will pull out on top.

I'd rather the democrats fight harder on things such as the war and healthcare

[1monster]

9. This isn't the same as the Clinton impeachment which was nothing more

than a witch hunt. They looked for seven years to find something to hang on him to unseat him and could only come up with a little hankypanky.

Dick Cheney, on the other hand, has been able to escape official scrutiny and still a large plurality of the people know that he is dirty.

An investigation and formal hearings should make it clear that he is guilty of crimes against the state, against the people, and against the Constitution.

That sure is a lot different, and will be seen as different, than going against a man of rather insignificant sins of the flesh.

[LynneSin]

13. You still don't get it....

You're absolutely right about the crimes.

But when Joe & Jane SchmoeUSA turns on their TV and watch the news - will that be how it is reported?

[1monster]

20. I get it. I simply don't think that the fear of Joe and Jane SchmoeUSA

is a legitimate reason for letting the criminals get away with their crimes.

[Didereaux]

11. impeachment is indictment(charged with), Senate holds trial CLINTON was NOT convicted...

c'mon folks, it's your COUNTRY for gods sake, don't you give a shit enough to even learn the rudiments of how it functions?

[LynneSin]

14. wait, I thought that's how I explained it

:cry:

[Didereaux]

15. Sorry Lynn your 'votes to pass it' threw me...

I read quickly and when you jumped to the Senate and said it needed 67 votes to pass there, I read it as you thought the Impeachmnet Bill was being voted upon. The Senate holds an actual trial, usually with the Chief Justice of the SupCt presiding as overseer. It doesn't have to follow the federal court rules, but still is in fact a trial. Then the Senate votes guilty or not guilty on the various charges contained in the impeachment. At that point the Constitution provides that the offending official is removed from office.

The Constitutional crisis would be if the official refused, there was fear that that would be the case with Nixon if it got to the Senate finding him guilty. But to his credit, maybe his only credit he bowed to the Constitution at the 'release the tapes' point when the USSUPCt so ordered, thus averting an impeachment and removal(also averting loss of benefits of office).

Some Constitutional scholars point out that the last defense is actually the military in the event that the US MArshalls(who would be responsible for the removal) failed or refused to do their duty. Considering the sate of the general staff in the military today that is an uneasy comfort, as only the Navy Admirals could be counted upon with confidence.

sorry about the mis-read.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. They'll hold hearings...The Judiciary Committee will hold hearings and then

the crimes are exposed after the investigation. That could rally THE PEOPLE to DEMAND the criminal be Impeached! It could happen!

[rateyes]

16. Perhaps Darth will resign before he lets this crap see the

light of day, and Bush will pardon him. I don't care how he goes, just so he goes.

[LynneSin]

18. That's what I've been thinking.....

He resigns for "health reasons" and Bush appoints the 'heir-apparent' for 2008 republican nominee (perhaps Jeb?)

[rateyes]

19. I think Jeb's chances of ever being president went

down the tubes with his brother's ineptness.

[iamthebandfanman]

17. well itd probably mean criminal charges

after bush is outa office.

sounds good to me.

assuming bush doesnt widespread pardon everyone before even being charged with anything ;)

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Perhaps grand juries should disband nation wide

after all what if we cannot get conviction.

I know politics is that important to some folks, but in reality there is a reason why Impeachment is in the Constitution SIX times