Tags
What constitutional experts say about high crimes, misdemeanors
– Chelsea Schilling
Should Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th president of the United States, be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors?
It’s not a question yet being asked or debated in the Big Media. But it is a question being addressed by some members of Congress, by an increasing number of pundits by activists on the left and the right – and for more than one or two alleged constitutional offenses.
Some of those who have broached the subject include Reps. Trent Franks, R-Ariz.; Walter Jones, R-N.C.; Trey Radel, R-Fla.; Steve Stockman; former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas; former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio; Fox News’ Mike Huckabee; former assistant U.S. attorney Andrew McCarthy; left-leaning investigative reporter Dave Lindorff; talk-radio host Mark Levin; former House Speaker and presidential candidate Newt Gingrich; author and columnist Pat Buchanan and others.
Article II, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution states, “The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”
The U.S. House of Representatives has the power to commence impeachment proceedings. If the House adopts an impeachment resolution, the U.S. Senate conducts a trial and determines whether to convict or acquit. If an official is convicted, he or she is removed from the position and may be barred from holding office again. The official may also face criminal prosecution.
Only two U.S. president have been impeached by the House: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. However, both presidents were acquitted in the Senate. President Richard Nixon resigned before the full House had voted on his impeachment.
This powerful legislative check on executive and judicial wrongdoing is reserved for the most egregious offenses against the U.S. Constitution and the republic.
During the debates of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, James Madison explained the requirement for impeachment: “[S]ome provision should be made for defending the community against the incapacity, negligence, or perfidy of the chief magistrate. He might pervert his administration into a scheme of peculation or oppression. He might betray his trust to foreign powers.”
In the Federalist Papers (No. 65), Alexander Hamilton wrote that a president should be impeached for “offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated political, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to society itself.”
WND assembled a bipartisan panel of top constitutional experts to evaluate 12 popular arguments for impeaching Obama:
Freedom First 
Have you heard of Operation Inaction?
Here’s an idea: Do nothing.
Sit at home and chill. Don’t go out to eat, don’t go to the movies,
shopping, work, school, don’t drive your car, don’t do anything!
Just stock up on a month’s worth of supplies, like food, medications – those regular things you’ll need – and do nothing.
If more than half the United States does this all at the same time, can
you imagine what would happen to the economy? Can you imagine the sort
of response that would be triggered?
What’s even better is that this isn’t violent in any way. It’s a silent message. It’s not even rebellion. But it will get their attention in as little as one week’s
time.
There have been studies made on how the country would be affected if just a smallpox outbreak was reported at several key transportation areas like JFK, O’Hare, etc.
Think of what it would do – how your voice WOULD be heard if you were to DO NOTHING for just one week. Two weeks or even one month.
All that’s necessary is to do absolutely nothing – don’t fly – don’t drive or ride a bus or
even a subway. Don’t leave your home to go to work or shopping – don’t
send your kids to school – don’t pay your bills – don’t do anything.
If you are a health care provider – a nurse or doctor – don’t go back to
your normal duties because once you have all shut down and are not doing
your normal activities the beast will be forced to send in its military
personnel to staff regular civilian duties until they end the Country’s
strike.
But in order to bring this beast to its knees you will
need the vast majority of people to follow suit. In one weeks time –
just 7 days of no activity the President will be urging every American
to go back to work and their normal activities.
In two weeks time he will be begging you – and in one month the government will be in such dire strait they will be willing to listen to the people’s voice.
All done without firing a shot or any kind of violence – simply unify
and DO NOTHING until the beast is brought to its knees by your inaction.
Pass it on! Operation Inaction Starting April 1, 2013
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Operation-Inaction-Tame-The-Beast/569548326396301?ref=ts&fref=ts