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farmbo

(3,120 posts)
28. Major differences: No Special Prosecutor Act, no Senate majority
Mon Nov 12, 2012, 10:58 PM
Nov 2012

In 1997-9 the Special Prosecutor Act loomed over the Presidency. Under that federal law (since expired), the DC Circuit Court appointed an "independent" investigator with unlimited budget, no limitations on staff, and virtually unlimited subpoena powers to go after the Clinton's.

Even though the first Special Prosecutor, Lawrence Walsh, found no probable cause for impeachment, the DC Circuit Court-- in an extra-judicial meeting over lunch-- decided to appoint a second one; the infamous Kenneth Starr.

The Special Prosecutor Act was an abomination against democracy and a mockery of our constitutional separation of powers. It died a quiet but deserved death at the end of the Clinton Administration.

Also, the GOP controlled the US Senate during the Clinton impeachment. Ergo, we Americans were inflicted with the spectacle of watching segregationist Strom Thurmond sitting in judgment against an popular young president. The Big Dog's numbers started ratcheting up as soon as the impeachment silliness began and were in the stratosphere by the time his term ended.

Thankfully, the American people voted to increase the Democratic majority in the senate last week.

Will the majority in the US House attempt to institute a Stalinist-style show trial to embarrass the Obama Administration during the next few years? Seems likely.

Will it backfire without the added heft of a Special Prosecutor and a Senate majority?

You bet.

Yup, they will nadinbrzezinski Nov 2012 #1
Fine. Let'em try. man4allcats Nov 2012 #2
This Petraeus thing and Cantor knowing about it early and Karl Rove being pictured with the mistress kimbutgar Nov 2012 #3
"...to stop it." WilliamPitt Nov 2012 #8
They can impeach him 100,000 times, but it doesn't mean that the Senate will take action Panasonic Nov 2012 #11
It. Doesn't. Matter. WilliamPitt Nov 2012 #13
Well, in 1994-95, we didn't have one thing: Social media. Panasonic Nov 2012 #16
Which is why Dems were smart not to impeach Bush LTR Nov 2012 #23
How would it take 18 months. I think it would probably be ignored by democrats in the house. madinmaryland Nov 2012 #18
Yup jpak Nov 2012 #4
Great minds WilliamPitt Nov 2012 #6
sweetie all their witnesses will be in jail. The Benghazi drama underthematrix Nov 2012 #5
Agreed....unfortunately. Smickey Nov 2012 #7
Let the GOP try - it's going to end their majority for 2014. Permanently. Panasonic Nov 2012 #9
The last time the House pulled impeachment they lost a lot of seats! Zen Democrat Nov 2012 #10
I think that's wildly off the mark given the position they're in right now. Poll_Blind Nov 2012 #12
I don't think that they're really THAT stooopid. BlueMan Votes Nov 2012 #14
What the hell do you Wellstone ruled Nov 2012 #15
This whole thing stinks of republicans sandyshoes17 Nov 2012 #17
they can't and it's unlikely that they will cali Nov 2012 #19
This is why I began stressing the importance of down-ticket a long time ago. dogknob Nov 2012 #20
This would be a death sentence for the GOP former-republican Nov 2012 #21
Let them try...it will make the GOP look even worse for the 2014 mid-term elections. nt. OldDem2012 Nov 2012 #22
No way will they attempt impeachment. Marr Nov 2012 #24
You cant be series that they are not "that stupid". They will go for impeachment and/or rhett o rick Nov 2012 #29
What is truly frightening is the face they showed they do not care and how desperate they are. glinda Nov 2012 #25
I hope they try hack89 Nov 2012 #26
Well, then... bring it on Canuckistanian Nov 2012 #27
Major differences: No Special Prosecutor Act, no Senate majority farmbo Nov 2012 #28
I don't have room for the cows and the barn, but I'll take the tractor. onenote Nov 2012 #30
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