As seen on http://notonthiswatch.com/
Dear #MrSpeaker:
Recently, I addressed a posting on impeachment to you. I am making one last, major attempt to get your attention on this matter. Our lives depend on it. It is useless for me to address anything to #Obama. He is so entrenched in his “world-view” and is so delusional that not even his own friends, not even his own party, not even catastrophic world events, can get through to him. So, I am making one more attempt to get through to you, #MrSpeaker.
Several years ago, I wrote an instructional piece on impeachment for Breitbart: One Voice Silenced, Millions Awakened. Those who were kind enough to read it seemed to appreciate it and said they found it enlightening. I am re-posting it here in hopes you will take note. I am no lawyer. I am not a “Constitutional expert.” But, I have a brain and the Founders actually made the Constitution and the impeachment process and the causes for impeachment pretty simple to understand. So, I hope you will read this piece and also find it enlightening. The first sections are very short, very factual and deal strictly with the Constitutional framework and rules on impeachment. One middle section deals with the history of presidential impeachment in this country. The last two sections were written to emphasize the latest events of that year which precipitated the writing of the piece: Benghazi and the opening revelations of the IRS scandal. Those latter sections are still timely even now. Perhaps, they are even more timely today.
But, since that time, other things have happened that have also led, or are about to lead, to more un-Constitutional actions by the current occupant of the Oval Office, #Obama. I refer to the rise of ISIS and the illegal alien invasion through our southern, un-secured border. It is due to those two things that I am compelled to try one more time to get through to you, #MrSpeaker.
#Obama has known about ISIS for some time. His precipitate withdrawal from Iraq, against military and intelligence advice, has led to the current crisis. We are in grave and immediate danger. His refusal to address the crisis appropriately has led to the beheadings of two Americans, the deaths of many Christians in Iraq and a growing threat of world-wide attacks. He has broken his oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. He has not preserved, protected and defended the lives of American citizens, which is implicit in that oath. Our country is being violated by the very person elected to protect it. Our very lives are in serious danger. Americans have died during #Obama’s tenure that should still be alive. And, their blood is on his hands.
As for the illegal alien invasion, not only has he allowed and encouraged it, he is openly stating that he intends to grant immediate amnesty to 5-8 million illegal aliens via executive order either now or immediately after the November elections. We have definite laws that are being broken in this matter. By the elected official who is supposed to be the chief executor of our laws. Today, September 6, 2014, it has been reported that #Obama publicly declared “that he would change as many of the country's immigration laws that he could "by the end of summer."...It is not his job to change our laws. His job is to execute the laws we already have. Which he has not done yet. His statement certainly opens him up to impeachment. If Nixon could have an impeachment resolution set to go against him for "intending" to use the IRS for political purposes, then, certainly, Obama can be impeached the instant he "changes" our laws. Charges: Full and total violation of the Constitution.
#MrSpeaker, the onus is now on you to act. And, I humbly suggest that you seriously consider the following: Make it publicly clear to #Obama that if he makes a single move toward amnesty now or in the future, you will begin impeachment proceedings within twenty-four hours after any such move on his part of any type. And, have the resolution ready to go if he violates your warning.
If you do that, #MrSpeaker, I am realistic enough to know that he will not believe you and will most likely do whatever he chooses. The question will then be: Are you man enough to stand up to him and truly be the leader of the Republican Party that you should be? The leader that America needs right now.
I pray you will do this and, if necessary, will follow though, if you have to. If not, what can we do? I know not what course others may take, but, I know what I will do if you do not choose to fight him. I will begin an all-out campaign to un-seat you as Speaker. I am not anyone in particular. But, I am a fighter. You may not think I am anybody, and, indeed, in the grand scheme of things, I am not. But, I have a voice. And, I will use it. I will start to oppose you in every possible honorable avenue open to me. And, I even know the names I will suggest to replace you and your entourage: Jeff Sessions as Speaker. The Speaker does not have to be a member of the House. There are no rules that say Senator Sessions could not be both a Senator and Speaker of the House. He could choose which chamber in which to vote, but, he would make a superb leader of the GOP in your place. I would then suggest Jim Jordan (R-OH) as #HML and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) as #HMW. Most will probably laugh. Most will probably scorn. But, at least I will have made an honest effort, sir.
So, there you have it. Read the piece below, please. Think about what I have written there and here. And, please, do what you were elected to do. Uphold your own Oath of Office. Please. ~cj September 6, 2014...
An Overview of the Impeachment Process in the United States
Introduction
The following document contains six (6) separate, stand-alone parts. Each consists of documentation, research and facts about the Impeachment Process as laid out by the Constitution. Although each may be read separately, I urge readers to take each section in order. Some are very short. Some are quite lengthy. Some are bare-bones definitions. Some are full of detail. Of particular interest: the section describing the history of impeachment attempts in the United States to date (section IV). Please note, particularly, the articles of impeachment (indictment) against Richard Nixon. I found them to be highly relevant to our situation today.
I am not a Constitutional attorney. I am not an attorney at all. My background is in history, health care and politics. I feel we are in dangerous times and that our situation is quite desperate. But, I do not support in any way, any thought of a military coup or any attempt to go outside the law to redress our grievances. I feel strongly that we have the means at hand to help ourselves. But, it will take much courage and even more knowledge and skill for our enemies are determined, skillful, wily and not above both using and breaking our own laws to maintain their power.
I hope you will find this both instructive and helpful. At the very least, I hope those of you who are as impatient as I am to see America truly in good hands again will see that any impeachment process is long, arduous, fraught with difficulty and that it must be carried out with care and determination.
An Overview of the Impeachment Process in the United States
Part I: The Constitution
The Constitution of the United States
Article I, Section. 1.
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Article I, Section II. The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Article I, Section III. 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.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Article II, Section I : Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Article II, Section IV: 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.
An Overview of the Impeachment Process in the United States
Part II: Impeachment by the United States House of Representatives
The president, vice-president and all civil officers of the United States are subject to impeachment.
Removal of an elected president in America is a 2-step process with many smaller parts within each process. Those two steps are: Impeachment by the House of Representatives (simple majority), in effect, an indictment only; this is then followed by a trial in the Senate. If, at the conclusion of the Senate trial, there are enough votes to convict the president (a 2/3 vote of members present required), then he is removed from office and has the same legal status as any citizen of the nation.
How does removal of office begin? As with any crime, illegal or un-Constitutional acts must be committed.
First, the president must either abrogate his responsibilities through either complete incompetence or willful neglect. Or, he must commit acts considered un-lawful under the Constitution. (see Article II, Section IV of the US Constitution offered by this writer in the Overview, Part 1).
If a member of the House is convinced that crimes have been committed by an official of the United States Government, they can bring an individual impeachment article for vote; or, usually, the matter will be referred to a House committee, usually, the Judiciary Committee or a Special Oversight Committee. Many times, the House Rules Committee conducts the formal investigation; then, the Rules Committee will refer the matter to the Judiciary Committee for the decision on whether or not to recommend impeachment proceedings to the full House.
As with any legal investigation, witnesses are sworn and give testimony orally and/or in affidavits. Documents are sought and studied. If the House Judiciary committee believes crimes have been committed, a vote to recommend impeachment is made. That recommendation then goes onto the floor of the House. All other business is suspended and deliberations/discussion moves forward on the evidence and charges presented by the committee. If a majority of the full House votes to impeach, the formal case is then moved to the United States Senate for trial.
The president remains in office throughout the impeachment proceedings and, if indicted, continues in office throughout the trial in the Senate.
Impeachment is only an indictment and when discussing and voting on impeachment, the House is acting in a similar capacity as a grand jury would in the “real world.”
Addendum: Members of Congress (House and Senate) are not considered civil officers of the United States. Therefore, they are not subject to impeachment. As stated by the Constitution, each chamber sets its own rules and regulations, including allowable methods of discipline, within the parameters set forth by said chamber.
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An Overview of the Impeachment Process in the United States
Part III: Trial by the United States Senate on a Bill of Impeachment as Presented by the House
If impeachment has occurred in the House, the matter moves to the Senate for trial. All other Senate business is immediately suspended until the conclusion of the trial.
The Chief Justice of the United States is required to preside over the Senate trial of a president.
Due to an un-intended omission in the Constitution, the Vice-President would preside over his own trial in the Senate, if impeached by the House.
The president continues in office throughout the trial deliberations in the Senate.
For the trial, arguments are made for and against conviction, just as in a regular courtroom. Points are discussed and debated with the entire Senate acting as a petit jury would in the “real” world. At the conclusion of all legal arguments, questions, debate and discussion, a vote is taken. A 2/3 vote of members present is needed to convict.
If convicted, the president is removed from office, barred from holding further public office and there is no appeal. Once, removed, the president is considered a private citizen and has the same legal status as any other United States citizen. If convicted by the Senate, impeachable offenses are not pardonable by the succeeding president.
Addendum: President Ford acted legally and constitutionally when he pardoned Nixon in 1974. Nixon was never formally impeached nor convicted. The presidential pardon prevented Nixon from being tried in Federal or State court on the intended charges stemming from Watergate and the subsequent cover-up.
An Overview of the Impeachment Process in the United States
Part IV: A Short History of Impeachments of Presidents of the United States:
Andrew Johnson (1868): Johnson was accused of violating the Tenure of Office Act when he removed Edwin Stanton from the post of Secretary of War and was impeached by the House. The Senate voted against conviction by only one vote. Johnson remained in office.
Addendum: The Tenure of Office Act was later ruled un-Constitutional by the US Supreme Court. I would also point out that Stanton had been Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln. The war ended in early 1865. The radicals in Johnson’s own party were furious with him for: 1. Removing Stanton (although, no state of war existed in 1868); and, 2.Because Johnson was trying to implement Lincoln’s plans for a more conciliatory peace towards the South. The radical wing of the Republican Party wanted to continue to punish the South through a harsh Reconstruction in retaliation for the war.
Bill Clinton (1998/99): Clinton was accused of perjury and obstruction of justice. Initial investigations into the Whitewater scandal led to evidence of possible sexual scandal. When questioned under oath, Clinton denied relations with the woman involved. DNA evidence obtained provided proof for charges of perjury. Eventually, the Articles of Impeachment included two (2) charges of perjury; one (1) charge of obstruction of justice; and, one (1) charge of abuse of power. The case was sent for trial to the Senate. The Senate failed to convict. Clinton remained in office. However, on his last day in office, Clinton admitted that he knowingly gave misleading testimony about his affair with Monica Lewinsky in a 1998 lawsuit. Under an agreement with Independent Counsel Robert Ray, Clinton's law license was suspended for five years and he paid a $25,000 fine to Arkansas bar officials. He also gave up any claim to repayment of his legal fees in the matter. In return, Ray ended the 7-year-old Whitewater probe that shadowed most of Clinton's two terms.
Addendum:
Richard Nixon (1974): Nixon was not impeached by the House. However, the House Judiciary Committee, in a bi-partisan vote, recommended that the House begin impeachment proceedings and consider the following charges, all re-related to the Watergate break-in and subsequent attempted cover-up: One (1) charge of obstruction of justice; one (1) charge of abuse of power; and, one (1) charge of contempt of Congress.
The following is the complete recommendation for the impeachment of Nixon as drawn up by the House Judiciary Committee. It provides very interesting reading in light of our present situation:
Articles of Impeachment:
RESOLVED, That Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following articles of impeachment to be exhibited to the Senate:
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT EXHIBITED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE NAME OF ITSELF AND OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AGAINST RICHARD M. NIXON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF ITS IMPEACHMENT AGAINST HIM FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOURS.
Article 1: Obstruction of Justice.
In his conduct of the office of the President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, in that: On June 17, 1972, and prior thereto, agents of the Committee for the Re-Election of the President committed unlawful entry of the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, District of Columbia, for the purpose of securing political intelligence. Subsequent thereto, Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, engaged personally and through his subordinates and agents in a course of conduct or plan designed to delay, impede and obstruct investigations of such unlawful entry; to cover up, conceal and protect those responsible and to conceal the existence and scope of other unlawful covert activities. The means used to implement this course of conduct or plan have included one or more of the following:
(1) Making or causing to be made false or misleading statements to lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States.
(2) Withholding relevant and material evidence or information from lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States.
(3) Approving, condoning, acquiescing in, and counseling witnesses with respect to the giving of false or misleading statements to lawfully authorized investigative officers and employes of the United States and false or misleading testimony in duly instituted judicial and congressional proceedings.
(4) Interfering or endeavoring to interfere with the conduct of investigations by the Department of Justice of the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force and congressional committees.
(5) Approving, condoning, and acquiescing in, the surreptitious payments of substantial sums of money for the purpose of obtaining the silence or influencing the testimony of witnesses, potential witnesses or individuals who participated in such unlawful entry and other illegal activities.
(6) Endeavoring to misuse the Central Intelligence Agency, an agency of the United States.
(7) Disseminating information received from officers of the Department of Justice of the United States to subjects of investigations conducted by lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States for the purpose of aiding and assisting such subjects in their attempts to avoid criminal liability.
(8) Making false or misleading public statements for the purpose of deceiving the people of the United States into believing that a thorough and complete investigation has been conducted with respect to allegation of misconduct on the part of personnel of the Executive Branch of the United States and personnel of the Committee for the Re-Election of the President, and that there was no involvement of such personnel in such misconduct; or
(9) Endeavoring to cause prospective defendants, and individuals duly tried and convicted, to expect favored treatment and consideration in return for their silence or false testimony, or rewarding individuals for their silence or false testimony.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.
(Approved by a vote of 27-11 by the House Judiciary Committee on Saturday, July 27, 1974.)
Article 2: Abuse of Power.
Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, imparting the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposes of these agencies.
This conduct has included one or more of the following:
(1) He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavored to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposes not authorized by law, and to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigation to be initiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.
(2) He misused the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service, and other executive personnel, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, by directing or authorizing such agencies or personnel to conduct or continue electronic surveillance or other investigations for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; he did direct, authorize, or permit the use of information obtained thereby for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; and he did direct the concealment of certain records made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of electronic surveillance.
(3) He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, authorized and permitted to be maintained a secret investigative unit within the office of the President, financed in part with money derived from campaign contributions to him, which unlawfully utilized the resources of the Central Intelligence Agency, engaged in covert and unlawful activities, and attempted to prejudice the constitutional right of an accused to a fair trial.
(4) He has failed to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by failing to act when he knew or had reason to know that his close subordinates endeavored to impede and frustrate lawful inquiries by duly constituted executive; judicial and legislative entities concerning the unlawful entry into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, and the cover-up thereof, and concerning other unlawful activities including those relating to the confirmation of Richard Kleindienst as attorney general of the United States, the electronic surveillance of private citizens, the break-in into the office of Dr. Lewis Fielding, and the campaign financing practices of the Committee to Re-elect the President.
(5) In disregard of the rule of law: he knowingly misused the executive power by interfering with agencies of the executive branch: including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Division and the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force of the Department of Justice, in violation of his duty to take care that the laws by faithfully executed.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.
(Approved 28-10 by the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, July 29, 1974.)
Article 3: Contempt of Congress.
In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, contrary to his oath faithfully to execute the office of the President of the United States, and to the best of his ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, had failed without lawful cause or excuse, to produce papers and things as directed by duly authorized subpoenas issued by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, on April 11, 1974, May 15, 1974, May 30, 1974, and June 24, 1974, and willfully disobeyed such subpoenas. The subpoenaed papers and things were deemed necessary by the Committee in order to resolve by direct evidence fundamental, factual questions relating to Presidential direction, knowledge or approval of actions demonstrated by other evidence to be substantial grounds for impeachment of the President. In refusing to produce these papers and things, Richard M. Nixon, substituting his judgment as to what materials were necessary for the inquiry, interposed the powers of the Presidency against the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, thereby assuming to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by Constitution in the House of Representatives.
In all this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore, Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial and removal from office.
(Approved 21-17 by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, July 30, 1974.)
Addendum: Impeachment proceedings were not begun by the full House. Nixon intended to fight the proceedings. However, in August 1974, before the impeachment proceedings could take place, tapes were discovered containing irrefutable evidence that Nixon had known of the cover-up and was complicit in the attempts to sweep Watergate under the national and public rugs. Upon the disclosure of the tapes, the GOP leadership from the House and Senate, including Sen. Barry Goldwater, met with Nixon in the Oval Office and advised him that impeachment by the House would become fact and that conviction by the Senate would follow…with his own party leading the fight to remove him from office in both chambers. Faced with the facts that his own party would vote to impeach and convict him, Nixon resigned and was pardoned one month later by then-President Gerald Ford. The pardon prevented prosecution in Federal or State courts on any charges related to Watergate or the subsequent cover-up.
An Overview of the Impeachment Process in the United States
Part V: Some Final Thoughts
Impeachment is nothing more than an indictment. The House, in effect, when deliberating impeachment, is acting rather like a grand jury in a criminal case in the “real “ world: Looking at evidence and deciding if there is enough evidence, clear-cut, concrete, factual, or, at the very least, beyond a reasonable doubt, to recommend a trial by a petit jury. If the evidence is strong enough, the House votes. A simple majority will bring about impeachment. BUT…that is only an INDICTMENT. It will not cause someone to be removed from office.
And, something to think about: Many a case in the outside world has been lost because someone…a detective, a prosecutor, an attorney, a witness or a judge…has gotten in a hurry. And, in haste, has either over-looked evidence to the contrary of probable guilt; or, has missed a single, crucial step in the legal process. If an error occurs, the case will either never come before the grand jury due to lack of irrefutable evidence; or, if it is taken, in haste, to the grand jury, they will vote a bill of no indictment. So it is here, in the House.
After hearings by the House Committee, a vote can be taken by the Committee to ask for a special, independent prosecutor to take the case on formally. That person then has to conduct more investigations. And, finally, the decision may be made to formally pursue impeachment. All this will take much time. It has to.
Therefore, great care and great patience are necessary in building a potentially successful case. And, that all adds up to listening to tons of evidence and testimony. And, it finally all adds up to one thing…taking one’s time. The more complex, the more major the case, the more time that is required here, up front, in order to increase the chance of impeachment/indictment. For without impeachment, there will never be a trial. In the case of a potential presidential impeachment, accuracy is hugely crucial. For no matter the outcome, impeachment or attempted, successful or un-successful impeachment, the repercussions are vast and awesome to behold.
And, ever-mindful that impeachment is only an indictment, what of conviction? Right now, that is an impossibility. We do not control the Senate. A conviction takes a 2/3 majority and is close to impossible in the “best” of cases. Without GOP/conservative control of the Senate, it will never happen.
So…if we hold the House and take the Senate in November 2014, impeachment is remains possible; and conviction also becomes a possibility. But, even then, the first date that it could possibly happen would be the first working day after Jan. 1, 2015. For that is the day the new Senate and House are sworn in. And, that is the first moment in time that both impeachment AND conviction become more than a fantasy. And, with that realistic date in mind, the House stands a chance of having time to compile a full, correct, legal, and potentially successful case to the Senate
Yet, even then, it will not happen unless WE insist upon it. Perhaps, if the American people truly make that…impeachment and conviction…a requisite of being elected next November, we might get what we need. Justice.
An Overview of the Impeachment Process in the United States
Part VI: Benghazi vs. IRS: Which Takes Precedence
Now, speaking to two present, specific concerns…Benghazi and the IRS, please consider the following when folks start wondering why the IRS hearings have supplanted the public Benghazi hearings, for the moment, at least:
The House Oversight Committee is handling hearings on both. Issa and Trey Gowdy are on both. Both men are excellent at what they are doing. As are many others on this committee. But…both matters are of crucial importance. Both merit careful investigation, study and thought.
Consider the almost-deadly mistake Issa came close to making the other day with Lois Lerner. It was not his fault; he is a businessman, not an attorney. Trey Gowdy saved the situation. Imagine the pressure on Issa, on the entire committee. Think about the things offered for consideration in the previous five parts of this discussion. Please.
Both these matter are grave. Each deserves the full attention of this committee. And, the full attention of the American public. And, continue to consider what haste can do to the simplest of cases. These are not simple cases. Each or both could lead, truly, to impeachment. With true justice, they could lead to conviction. But, not if haste causes inattention or sloppy work. We ask our elected officials to think. Many times they do not think. We all know that. Or, they think only of themselves or their narrow constituencies. These two potential legal cases deserve full scrutiny. By the committee and by the American public. Haste will not accomplish that. Neither will focusing on two major problems at once. These men are human. I know I would not be capable of handling full public discussions of both at once. Neither are they. They are no smarter, no more capable, than many of us, when you get right down to it. If you and I could not manage both issues at once, why do we expect them to do so? Yet, many do. Please consider what you are asking. Just, consider.
Now, why the IRS hearings at present? Well, I would be willing to wager that Benghazi is still being looked at. But, not in public, at the moment. Background work is most likely being done and the results will help when the public discussions begin again. Yet, many want Benghazi worked on, publicly, first.
Consider this: Yes, Benghazi is hideous. Americans died. And, they died because of failed regime policy and also because of deliberate abandonment by the very people mandated, by the Constitution, to protect them. This cannot be allowed to go un-punished.
However, in terms of national crisis, the IRS crimes must take precedence. Benghazi was a horror and should never have happened. But, the IRS crimes? Well, those strike at our national heart. Abuse, intimidation, the instilling of fear, the destruction of one of our most basic freedoms…the freedom of speech…and the deliberate manipulation of what has always been a given, a trust, in this country: the holding of free, just, fair elections. Yes, voter fraud has occurred in the past; the books have been “cooked” many times. But, there has never been a deliberate and successful attempt by the very government sworn to maintain free elections to subvert, to pervert, to destroy the process itself. Until now. Others may have contemplated it. Others may have tried. But, they were never successful and they never got very far with their wishes. This regime succeeded. This regime planned and executed the national manipulation of our election process using thug tactics and the most powerful agency of their regime, the IRS, to defraud the American people.
A free and fair election process is our heart. Without it, all other matters become irrelevant. Without our heart, our national body ceases to exist. Without our heart, international matters go by the way-side. It is difficult to destroy a nation from without. The great civilizations, the great nations, the great cultures of the past died from rot within. Any historian will tell you that. You know that yourselves, if you have studied any history at all. The rot set in and the “patient” was truly dead long before the external enemies made it completely apparent to all.
So it will be with us…if the IRS matter is not dealt with and dealt with first. If we lose our heart, we die. We were once the “last, best hope of mankind.” If our heart is destroyed, we become nothing. Without our heart, we have no hope; we have no life. Without our election process, we are truly subjects, slaves, to whatever dictator comes along. The crimes of the IRS affected our national heart. If allowed to go un-punished, if allowed to continue, our heart is destroyed. And, we all truly die. Without this heart of our system, America dies. ~cj Anno Domini 2013
http://www.nps.gov/anjo/historyculture/the-articles-of-impeachment.htm
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/impeachments/clinton.htm
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/impeachments/nixon.htm
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters_downloads.html
