Speaker Pelosi announced the intention to file articles of impeachment against Donald Trump…
Pundits, eager for readership, attempt to recall impeachments past as evidence of political courage. – **only in 1974 and 1868. 1999 was a gross overreach of Congressional power, for some reason. ?
Historians are getting involved in the debate- citing the historical necessities of the 1974 and 1868 impeachment proceedings. Opponents were obviously partisan hacks lacking in political courage. Edmund G. Ross is the obvious target from 1868- historian David Greenberg called him a “scoundrel.”
What did Ross actually think about impeaching the President of the United States?
“Conditions may, and are not unlikely to arise, some day, when the exercise of the power to impeach and remove the President may be quite as essential to the preservation of our political system as it threatened to become in this instance destructive of that system. Should that day ever come, it is to be hoped that the remedy of impeachment, as established by the Constitution, may be as patriotically, as fearlessly, and as unselfishly applied as it was on this occasion rejected”**
** Ross was ostracized by the radicals in his party and voted out of office two years later.
As long as the democrats refuse to allow certain witnesses, I can not consider these proceedings as proof of anything. No matter what the debate, there are always more than 2 sides to any story, yet they won’t allow any side but their own to speak.
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Were he being charged criminally, I would agree. These are not criminal proceedings, however, so due process is not a consideration.
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Nor are rules of any kind – according to Nader.
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