🚀 go-pugleaf

Deckard wrote:
> 
> The Tibetian Traveller wrote:
> >
> > Deckard wrote:
> > >
> > > The Tibetian Traveller wrote:
> > > > What constitutional power has the Presidency lost?
> > >
> > > He has lost the right to have private conversations.
> >
> > I must have missed that court ruling.
> 
> You must have missed his private conversations in the Starr report.

Private conversations are not protected if they are relevant to a
civil or criminal case.

> > Smothered????  Do you really believe these histrionics?  He had exactly
> > ONE laswuit filed against him while he was president.
> 
> Two (an ex-lover from Texas) and counting...

Your right.  I forgot about that one.  I haven't heard anything about it
since she filed the complaint.  But two lawsuits is not being smothered.

> > > How many important bills has the President passed since 1993? Its close
> > > to a very round number.
> >
> > If you feel he is too incompetent to get any legislation passed, why are
> > you so concerned about keeping him as president?
> 
> I'm not. I'm concerned about the Executive Branch.

Historically, the executive branch has been weaker than it is today. 
FDR
was the one who expanded the scope of the government and the executive
branch.  So I am not upset to see some of its power scaled back.


> > > Perjury and obstruction of justice are legal charges, which are
> > > appropriately and generally handled by the courts. As are sexual
> > > harrassment charges. Congress has taken this power away from the courts.
> >
> > The sexual harassment suit was being handled in the courts.  Congress
> > had no control or influence over it.  When Starr submitted hir report
> > to Congress which contained allegations of impeachable offenses,
> > Congress, and only Congress, has the constitutional authority to
> > initiate impeachment hearings.
> 
> All true but beside the point. These aren't impeachable offenses. 

We disagree on this point.  I think perjury, suborning perjury, and
obstruction of justice are impeachable offenses.  Since the
Consitution gives the House sole power to impeach a president and
it doesn't define 'high crimes and misdemeanors', the house will
have to decide if it is an impeachable offense.

> To be
> fair, Congress should refer the charges to the attorney general.

What would be the point?  Presiential immunity prevents anyone from
trying a sitting president on criminal charges.

> Congress is worse than the press when it comes to providing a fair trial
> and guaranteeing defendant's rights.

True.  That may be why the worst punishment they can impose is to
fire the president.

--
And I feel like picking a fight, with everyone who thinks they are
right.
All the preacher men, the politicians, all the critics, and the things
they write.       -Rainmakers-