(The Erosion of Constitutional Commitment)
Article II, section 4 of the United States constitution gives The House of congress the power to impeach civil servants for treason, bribery, high crimes, and misdemeanors. The Senate is given the power to determine guilt or innocence. The proceeding is presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. One purpose of the article is to put checks on a president who prefers despotism to democracy. Congress has a civic duty to protect the nation’s well-being by fulfilling this responsibility when the need arises. It preserves the integrity of the purpose of checks and balances between the three branches of government.
Most impeachment charges in American history have been brought against federal court judges. In the past fifty years two presidents have been so charged. Stemming from The Watergate burglary, in August of 1974, The House brought impeachment charges against Richard Nixon for obstruction of investigation, misuse of law enforcement and intelligence agencies for political purposes, and refusing to comply with the Judiciary Committee’s subpoenas. But Nixon Resigned before the Senate could make a decision about his case. Stemming from a sexual affair with a White House Intern, in February of 1999, The House brought impeachment charges against Bill Clinton for lying under oath and obstructing justice. The Senate cleared him of both charges.
The House presently is confronted with a decision about impeaching sitting president Donald Trump. The decision by democrats about whether or not to do so seems to be split between political expediency and civic duty. Those advocating political expediency say that it won’t make any difference if the Democratic controlled House votes to impeach because the Republican controlled Senate will certainly vote it down. Thus, why go to the effort, especially when the Republicans will spin the Senate vote as an exoneration of Trump and this could have an adverse effect on the 2020 election.
Those advocating for civic duty say that the House has no choice because the case for impeachment is so compelling it cannot be denied. The call is to impeach and let the chips fall where they may. They say let us fulfill our civic duty to the citizenry and let the citizenry make its response in 2020.
Even before the Mueller Report it was clear that Trump had committed numerous impeachable acts. This report simply made this conclusion too obvious to question. What this debate means is that many Democrats are as captured by the politics of expediency as are Republicans. Otherwise, they all would be calling for impeachment.
What is also obvious is that since the impeachment of Richard Nixon the Republican Party has almost totally sold its soul to becoming the party for economic imperialism. Economic imperialism sees democracy as a utility for profit-making and the federal government as a subsidiary of big business. It makes democracy the servant of capitalism. Donald Trump is the model economic imperialist and all his decisions are made on its behalf. So, yes, unless there is a wholesale conversion back to democracy by the Republican Party their controlled Senate is unlikely to vote for impeachment despite its clear demand.
Two other reasons compel toward impeachment. One is that if the Democrats do not impeach they are setting a future precedent for non-impeachment of civil servants despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The message is: “Let future presidents be despots if they wish. We will only impeach if we believe we can win.” A second reason is that if Democrats do not impeach they are taking a step closer to where the Republicans have already gone – selling their soul to the highest bidder. Non-impeachment is a case for allowing the federal government to complete is descent into the slough of economic imperialist corruption. It validates despotism.
Political expediency is doing what is convenient rather than what is responsibly right. It speaks to a lapse of integrity. Here is the question for every elected democrat: “If your responsibility is to safe-guard the constitution and uphold democratic principle for the sake of the common good, then why is political expediency decision-making different than any other betrayal of your office?”
Robert T. Latham
Robert, I agree with you that impeachment is imperative as a proper exercise of our constitutional government. At first I was all for impeachment as soon as a case could be made after Trump’s took office. The mid-term election results were a clear indication of his behavior and poor performance had a negative impact on the public. So my position changed becoming much like that of Nancy Pelosi’s announcement to the new congress. There are currently some 16 investigations into his wrongdoing and some of those may turn out to be blockbusters, e.g., his tax returns. I’m going to enjoy watching his swing and sway, squirm and squeal during the coming 18 months. My hope is that in the next election Democrats will pickup sufficient seats in the Senate to make impeachment a reality. The House will have ample time, if they develop their case in advance, to have a vote on the articles of impeachment in the final two months of 2020. Senators will take their seats early in 2021 with time to vote before Trump either leaves, or heaven forbid, remains in office. He deserves to be the first president impeached and removed from office.
I emphatically agree Robert.
Thank you, Robert, for your continuing and insightful commentary on how we can protect our
democracy from brazen interests which, if unchecked, could lead to its eventual demise.
Well said, Robert.
Spot-on!, Robert. This man, DJT, has repeatedly demonstrated his incompetence and his unethical behavior. He represents the worst of an imperial presidency, committed to his own survival and growth, unaccountable to the public, and protected by many layers of secrecy. Our role is to confront the evidence of what he has done, and by our neglect, we have done. It is not just his record that’s on trial, but also who we’ve become. But, first, we must move quickly to impeach and remove Trump, before any further harm is caused.