Reply #72: Impeachment as a shorthand term

[Jack Rabbit]

When most people say impeachment, they really mean impeachment and removal. I use the word like that quite often, and I have a degree in political science. Under the present extraordinary circumstances, impeachment has become shorthand for invetigations leading to the impeachment of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney and their removal from office.

We have had investigations and they continue. So far, they have revealed that Mr. Bush thinks he's above the law and can use executive privilege in such a way as to avoid accountability for what is probably criminal activity. That in itself is an impeachable offense.

Last November, we knew little about the Justice Department scandals. Do you not believe that Mr. Gonzales is guilty of perjury? He's told the truth about five different ways now, about three of those under oath. And what does that say about Mr. Bush's fitness to be sitting in the oval office? Any real leader would have fired Gonzales long ago.

As for Mr. Cheney, the transcripts of the Libby trial should be enough to sink him. To refresh some memories, there was sworn testimony from Mr. Cheney's former aides that he was directing the plot to reveal Valerie Plame's employment at the CIA. Fitzgerald didn't bring charges against Cheney because Libby's obstruction of justice prevented him from building a case against Cheney that he could win in court. However, the standard of proof in an impeachment proceeding is clear and convincing, not beyond a reasonable doubt.