Let's talk about the real meaning of impeachment.

It is so difficult to remove a sitting President from office, it's almost impossible. 2 of our US Presidents were impeached, but still remained in office. There were impeachment talks for little Bush, but they never happened. And while Nixon resigned from office in 1974, he was neither impeached nor removed from the office. While everyone is flinging the term "impeachment" around like it's a dishtowel, I find that so many are misguided in its actual meaning (and implications).

The term impeachment means to be formally accused of a crime while in office. If found guilty by the House, then the Senate, you can be forcibly removed from office.
Johnson was impeached by the House but the Senate failed to convict him. He remained in office. The opposing political party, who made up a majority of Congress, emphatically called for his removal to no avail. It was for a relatively minor legal offense.

Clinton was also impeached by the House of Reps, acquitted by the Senate, and remained in office. Remember, that at that time, Congress was made up of a majority of Republicans who wanted him OUT. It was for a relatively minor legal offense.

Reasons for impeachment include:
"Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” The other is removing a President for his "disabilities". I am quoting here, not making fun. Basically, the Vice President and members of the party (in this case, the GOP) would have to call for his impeachment based on the fact that he could no longer serve in his current state of mind. With lots of Republican support *ahem*Blackmail*ahem*, this isn't happening.

Currently, the ideas being tossed around to charge Trump with:
Income Tax Fraud; Building code violations; Bribery to obtain contracts; Defrauding students; Violation of election laws by collusion with Russians; Jeopardizing national security through collusion with foreign powers; Misuse of Presidential authority to obstruct justice by blocking investigations; Lying to the public and the press; Violations of first amendment press freedoms; and, Stupid tweets.

It's harder than you think. With Johnson, Clinton, and Nixon, the opposing party was responsible to bring up charges and convict, and they couldn't do it.
Now, if charges against Cheeto Benito were brought up, 2/3 majority of both houses would have to vote in favor of impeachment/guilty. Highly unlikely with a Republican majority.


ugh

Re: Let's talk about the real meaning of impeachment.

What I'm hoping really happens is that there is enough groundswell around the idea of impeachment that the rest of the Republicans in Congress start to distance themselves from trump, in order to try and keep their office at reelection time.
If trump starts getting resistance to even more things, and he can't do anything he wants to do, he'll either have a complete meltdown or a huge hissy fit and step down from office "Because Congress isn't fair. I was making America Great Again, but they kept stopping me, so it's their fault.... And Obama... and Hillary..."

I don't see a full-on impeachment process happening until at least after the next mid-term election, and even then, it would be a long process. I'm just hoping the pressure of impeachment talk makes things happen.

Let's talk about the real meaning of impeachment.

Vice news did a great explanation of the impeachment process last night and it was definitely depressing to see it laid out.

Re: Let's talk about the real meaning of impeachment.

Re: Let's talk about the real meaning of impeachment.

How long would an impeachment process even take?

Re: Let's talk about the real meaning of impeachment.

Re: Let's talk about the real meaning of impeachment.

Hillary Clinton even needs this refresher ......
LA Times article

In our current situation basically being a fool isn't necessarily illegal.

Re: Let's talk about the real meaning of impeachment.