Per CT Constitution: If Lieberman goes GOP, We can Impeach Him Here in Connecticut

[SuperTrouper]

Go Ahead Lieberman, make my day!



COMMITTEE’S FINAL STATEMENT OF INFORMATION


The investigatory committee’s Final Statement of Information also described the role of the House: “To enact Articles of Impeachment against respondent, the House must not only determine—with sufficient certainty to place respondent on trial—that the claimed conduct occurred, but that respondent’s conduct constituted impeachable conduct. ” It adds that “…leading legal scholars in the early 19th century saw the imprecision in the language of impeachment standards as an inevitable outgrowth of the nature and purpose of the impeachment inquiry. The emphasis of the impeachment process has been on the significant effects of the conduct—undermining the integrity of office, disregard of constitutional duties and oath of office, abrogation of power, and abuse of the governmental process. ”

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2004/rpt/2004-R-0144.htm

[phantom power]

1. I'd be happy if you'd just quit @!#$! electing him.

[wroberts189]

2. we are trying ..believe me we are trying. n/t

[speedoo]

5. He was elected by Republicans. nt

[speedoo]

3. I am by no means defending Lieberman, but at first glance....

I don't see how it can be demonstrated that he has been guilty of this kind of conduct:

"undermining the integrity of office, disregard of constitutional duties and oath of office, abrogation of power, and abuse of the governmental process. ”

[SuperTrouper]

11. He has betrayed us in CT completely ignoring us for over a year to

run around with McCain. He was defeated by the Dem. primary and created a new Party Independents for Lieberman to get elected and now he will abandon his second party in less than 2 years to go to the GOP. That is abuse of power and abuse of his office with high disregard to his constituents. Of course we will push hard for Impeachment. If the GOP impeached bill Clinton on bogus charges we can try to get Joe out of office for his behavior.

[DCBob]

4. That's great news!

Impeach his arse!

[WeDidIt]

6. US Constitution outweighs

United States Constitution

Article II

<snip>

Section 5. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide.

Once elected, only the body to which they've been elected can alter that.

Sorry, Joe is there unless he resigns, is expelled, or expires.

[yodermon]

8. he can actually threaten his resignation as leverage bcz the guv is repuke

am i right on that score

[WeDidIt]

10. It's not much leverage

HE's either in the Dem caucus or the GOP caucus.

Joe is there, though. The people of Connecticut have no leverage until 2012.

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. We elected colorado Dem Senator Nighthorse Campbell and then he went Republican

turning his first term. We had no impeachment process for him and we were pissed.
I don't see anything in the committee's statement that is hopeful, but you know your
state better than me.

[SuperTrouper]

13. We'll take a closer look to the Constitution but there is wide latitude for discretion there

to commence impeachment articles or at least to visit the topic.

[onenote]

19. there really isn't

In fact, the Connecticut Constitution doesn't even allow for the impeachment of state legislative officers let alone federal legislative officers. Only the governor, executive officers, and members of the judiciary are liable for impeachment under the Connecticut Constitution. Art 9, Sec 3.

[WA98070]

9. Wouldn't that be sweet, and so deserved.

[S_E_Fudd]

12. Impeachment is not constitutional....

The only federal officers that can be impeached are the President, Vice President, and federal judges...

They cannot be recalled either. The constitution makes no provision for a term less than 6 years...

[SuperTrouper]

14. The state has its own Constitution. I am not talking about the Federal Constitution

[S_E_Fudd]

15. United States Senator is a federal office...

A state cannot proscribe the length of term nor impeach a Senator...

Recalls as well are not constitutional as the constitution explicitly proscribes the length of term with no mechanism of removal. The only way is by a vote of the Senate as they are empowered to make decisions regarding which members are seated. So he can be expelled.

SOme state have recall laws which are non-binding, but which politicians will voluntarily follow (Arizona has one)

[onenote]

16. small problem: Connecticut doesn't have power to impeach a US Senator

A US Senator is not an officer of the state of Connecticut, he/she is an officer of the United States. By its terms, the CT Constitution provides only that "The governor, and all other executive and judicial officers, shall be liable to impeachment." (Art 9, sec 3).

Sorry, but no soap.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

17. Dude, you are totally killing my buzz...

:)

[onenote]

18. sorry...

[grantcart]

21. oh, so can we still tar and feather him?

[galaxy21]

20. Impeach!

[xultar]

22. Exactly, Reid knows that too. tee hee hee

[onenote]

23. if you're suggesting Reid knows Lieberman could be impeached, you're wrong

Indeed, Reid almost certainly knows that Lieberman cannot be impeached or otherwise removed from the Senate except by a vote of the Senate, and that's not happening.

[xultar]

24. You're right, I've done some additional reading. I am wrong.