Comments on: More Goofiness on Impeachment http://archpundit.com/blog/2008/12/16/more-goofiness-on-impeachment/ Illinois, From Misery Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:34:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stuart Shiffman http://archpundit.com/blog/2008/12/16/more-goofiness-on-impeachment/comment-page-1/#comment-18782 Stuart Shiffman Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:49:05 +0000 http://archpundit.com/blog/?p=11045#comment-18782 The Supreme Court gambit is now out. I am beginning to think that something more needs to be done because the legislature appears unwilling to take any action at other than a snail's pace. The Supreme Court gambit is now out. I am beginning to think that something more needs to be done because the legislature appears unwilling to take any action at other than a snail’s pace.

]]> By: Stuart Shiffman http://archpundit.com/blog/2008/12/16/more-goofiness-on-impeachment/comment-page-1/#comment-18779 Stuart Shiffman Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:57:56 +0000 http://archpundit.com/blog/?p=11045#comment-18779 If in fact the Supreme Court accepted the Blagojevich argument then impeachment would be eviscerated. I believe there is a separate law that requires removal from office upon conviction for certain offenses. So, why would there ever be the need to impeach unless the process could be used for something other than a criminal offense. I think what troubles me the most about what is happening is that the legislature and the media are equating the impeachment process with their notions of a trial. They constantly speak about due process and trial rights. There is an irony here because when the legislature seneses public outrage about an issue they have been known in the past to draft a bill and pass it and have the Governor sign it in one day. No one ever talks about due process when they want to pass a bill quickly. As a citizen it is frustarting to watch what is going on and to be helpless in the face of inaction. This is a challenge to democracy that we appear to be unable to meet. If in fact the Supreme Court accepted the Blagojevich argument then impeachment would be eviscerated. I believe there is a separate law that requires removal from office upon conviction for certain offenses. So, why would there ever be the need to impeach unless the process could be used for something other than a criminal offense.

I think what troubles me the most about what is happening is that the legislature and the media are equating the impeachment process with their notions of a trial. They constantly speak about due process and trial rights. There is an irony here because when the legislature seneses public outrage about an issue they have been known in the past to draft a bill and pass it and have the Governor sign it in one day. No one ever talks about due process when they want to pass a bill quickly.

As a citizen it is frustarting to watch what is going on and to be helpless in the face of inaction. This is a challenge to democracy that we appear to be unable to meet.

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