Are there legal grounds for impeaching President Bush?
151901
Here is an article from CNN.com discussing this topic:\n\nhttp://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/06/06/findlaw.analysis.dean.wmd/\n\n(FindLaw) -- President George W. Bush has got a very serious problem. Before asking Congress for a joint resolution authorizing the use of U.S. military forces in Iraq, he made a number of unequivocal statements about the reason the United States needed to pursue the most radical actions any nation can undertake -- acts of war against another nation. \n\nNow it is clear that many of his statements appear to be false. In the past, Bush's White House has been very good at sweeping ugly issues like this under the carpet, and out of sight. But it is not clear that they will be able to make the question of what happened to Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) go away -- unless, perhaps, they start another war. \n\nThat seems unlikely. Until the questions surrounding the Iraqi war are answered, Congress and the public may strongly resist more of President Bush's warmaking. \n\nPresidential statements, particularly on matters of national security, are held to an expectation of the highest standard of truthfulness. A president cannot stretch, twist or distort facts and get away with it. President Lyndon Johnson's distortions of the truth about Vietnam forced him to stand down from reelection. President Richard Nixon's false statements about Watergate forced his resignation. \n\nFrankly, I hope the WMDs are found, for it will end the matter. Clearly, the story of the missing WMDs is far from over. And it is too early, of course, to draw conclusions. But it is not too early to explore the relevant issues. \n\nPresident Bush's statements on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction\nReaders may not recall exactly what President Bush said about weapons of mass destruction; I certainly didn't. Thus, I have compiled these statements below. In reviewing them, I saw that he had, indeed, been as explicit and declarative as I had recalled. \n\nBush's statements, in chronological order, were: \n\n"Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons." \n\nUnited Nations address, September 12, 2002 \n\n"Iraq has stockpiled biological and chemical weapons, and is rebuilding the facilities used to make more of those weapons." \n\n"We have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons -- the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have." \n\nRadio address, October 5, 2002 \n\n"The Iraqi regime . . . possesses and produces chemical and biological weapons. It is seeking nuclear weapons." \n\n"We know that the regime has produced thousands of tons of chemical agents, including mustard gas, sarin nerve gas, VX nerve gas." \n\n"We've also discovered through intelligence that Iraq has a growing fleet of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles that could be used to disperse chemical or biological weapons across broad areas. We're concerned that Iraq is exploring ways of using these UAVS for missions targeting the United States." \n\n"The evidence indicates that Iraq is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program. Saddam Hussein has held numerous meetings with Iraqi nuclear scientists, a group he calls his "nuclear mujahideen" -- his nuclear holy warriors. Satellite photographs reveal that Iraq is rebuilding facilities at sites that have been part of its nuclear program in the past. Iraq has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes and other equipment needed for gas centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons." \n\nCincinnati, Ohio speech, October 7, 2002 \n\n"Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent." \n\nState of the Union Address, January 28, 200
192154
Impeachment is reserved for 'high crimes and misdemeanors'. Incompetence doesn't qualify - if it did, half of the government would be gone.
412340
bush should not be impeached
417089
Top Reasons for Impeaching Bush\nWhat are the top reasons for impeaching Bush?\nIraq\nInvading Iraq without any threat to the U.S. \nLying about Iraqi WMD's to Congress and the American people \nCausing the deaths of over 2,000 U.S. troops and the maiming of over 10,000 more \nFailing to provide adequate equipment and armor to U.S. troops \nAllowing illegal torture and murder of prisoners \nCausing the deaths of 100,000 Iraqi civilians \nSpending $300 billion in just two years for an occupation that could last for decades \nLetting Halliburton steal billions through no-bid contracts \nUsing vast quantities of depleted uranium weapons that will poison Iraq now and for generations to come \nSeptember 11\nIgnoring countless warnings of an attack in the U.S. \nReading "My Pet Goat" during the attack \nLetting Osama Bin Laden escape from Afghanistan \nHolding no bureaucrat accountable for ignoring warnings \nDelaying and obstructing the 911 Commission investigation \nTurning Afghanistan into the world's largest opium producer \nTerrorism\nAllowing international terrorism incidents to quadruple and trying to cover up the facts \nFailing to secure our borders and ports to prevent terrorism \nCreating a new generation of terrorists through the invasion of Iraq and the killing of 100,000 civilians \nLetting terrorists buy high-powered weapons inside the U.S. \nLetting North Korea build nuclear bombs and missiles that can cross the Pacific Ocean \nRefusing to shut down Pakistan's nuclear weapons exports \nForeign relations\nTurning the world against the United States \nPreparing for another war with Iran \nSigning treaties that cost America jobs and undermine American laws \nEconomy\nLetting gasoline prices double at devastating cost to the economy while oil companies make record profits \nLetting corrupt companies like Enron steal billions from consumers and employees \nCutting taxes for the rich and turning a $5 trillion budget surplus into a $5 trillion budget deficit \nAdding trillions to the national debt, which our children and grandchildren will have to pay off with interest \nLetting millions of American jobs go overseas \nFreedom\nLetting bureaucrats wiretap Americans without a court order \nLocking up suspects for years without charges or trials \nArresting nonviolent protesters at Bush events \nPacking the courts with right-wing judges to outlaw abortion \nOrdering federal courts to interfere in the Terri Schiavo tragedy \nTaking away our right to sue corporations through class actions \nTaking away our right to declare bankruptcy under Chapter 7 and forcing middle-class Americans into debt slavery <http://debtslavery.org/> \nDemocracy\nStealing the Presidential elections of 2000 and 2004 \nRefusing to investigate the disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of voters in Florida and Ohio \nPromoting black-box electronic voting machines without paper trails \nEmbracing dictators in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Russia, and China \nOverthrowing democratically-elected leaders in Haiti and Venezuela \nEnvironment\nAllowing global warming, which will cause massive environmental damage \nAllowing more toxic mercury in the air and water \nAllowing oil drilling in wilderness areas \nScandals\nIllegally "outing" CIA agent Valerie Plame, an important anti-terrorism official \nLetting a gay male prostitute (Jeff Gannon) roam free in the White House \nPaying journalists to give favorable coverage to the administration \nRelying on an earpiece for answers during debates and press conferences \nGoing AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard in 1972 and covering it up ever since \nDefending the most corrupt Member of Congress (Tom DeLay)
358516
First, to answer your question, yes!!!!!!!\n\nNow for the poster that said Clinton was impeached.  He was not.  It was never even put on the Senate floor, it was only a show of force in the Congress.\n\nAs for Bush, he can lie, steal, cheat and do whatever he wants.  The republicans are too scared of him to even censure him.  But just wait until the next Democrat takes office.  They will be investigated if they use toilet tissue instead of a Kleenex to blow their nose.  Lets see, what kind of charge could that be?  Improper usage of government property?  God help this country!!
122594
Democratic leaders aren't so immature and petty as to go around impeaching everyone they don't like.  Unlike Republican leaders who impeached a president for his lying about his sex life, Democrats are able to behave in a mature and responsible fashion and realize that impeaching a president for a couple minor infractions like forging evidence to starting a war and ordering illegal wiretaps on US citizens won't accomplish anything.\n\nI, however, am not as mature as many of our political leaders and think it would be really freaking cool if Bush were impeached.  However, if he were removed from office we'd be left with Cheney.  This would be unfortunate in that we'd have all the same policy without Bush's highly entertaining abuse of the English language.\n\nOh, and just to clarify, Clinton was impeached.  Impeachment does not refer to removal from office, but rather the initation of a hearing to determine if removal is necessary.
584564
When a president is elected, they hold the office for 4 years. Even if a majority of the population decides they don't like him, after all, he can't be removed unless he's impeached by the legislative branch of our government.\nHe has to have committed what they deem to be an impeachable offense.\nThen he still may retain the office if not convicted for the offense.\nSo, no, we the people, cannot get rid of Bush.\nAs far as the vote goes, Bush "won" with only a 2-3% majority, and a lot of people here dispute the accuracy of that. There are a lot of people who believe that the election was "rigged" in various ways to ensure that slight majority.
7529
You could check the Constitution to see if he has, in fact, done anything worthy of it, but as regular citizens, we cannot impeach him.  If you find evidence that he does deserve impeachment, write letters to your senators and congressperson.
855759
Yes, he lied about the reasons to go into war which has caused the deaths of people he is sworn to protect. If Clinton could be impeached for lying about his private sex life, then Bush can be impeached for some far more sinister.
129254
Refer to Article 2, Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States.\n\n“The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”\n\nNo he cannot be fired and as far as is in the public arena, there is no evidence of such crimes.
470862
We can't. This administration is really makin it hard. Sorry there is no answer. It would be alot easier if we Impeached BUSH though!
545042
no... but this is in Bush's future\nArticles of Impeachment\n\nof\n\nPresident George W. Bush\n\nand\n\nVice President Richard B. Cheney,\nSecretary of State Condoleezza Rice,\nSecretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, and\nAttorney General Alberto Gonzales\n\nThe President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. - - ARTICLE II, SECTION 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA\n\nPresident George W. Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales have committed violations and subversions of the Constitution of the United States of America in an attempt to carry out with impunity crimes against peace and humanity and war crimes and deprivations of the civil rights of the people of the United States and other nations, by assuming powers of an imperial executive unaccountable to law and usurping powers of the Congress, the Judiciary and those reserved to the people of the United States, by the following acts:\n\n1) Seizing power to wage wars of aggression in defiance of the U.S. Constitution, the U.N. Charter and the  rule of law; carrying out a massive assault on and occupation of Iraq, a country that was not threatening the United States, resulting in the death and maiming of over one hundred thousand Iraqis, and thousands of U.S. G.I.s.\n\n2) Lying to the people of the U.S., to Congress, and to the U.N., providing false and deceptive rationales for war.\n\n3) Authorizing, ordering and condoning direct attacks on civilians, civilian facilities and locations where civilian casualties were unavoidable. \n\n4) Instituting a secret and illegal wiretapping and spying operation against the people of the United States through the National Security Agency.\n\n5) Threatening the independence and sovereignty of Iraq by belligerently changing its government by force and assaulting Iraq in a war of aggression.\n\n6) Authorizing, ordering and condoning assassinations, summary executions, kidnappings, secret and other illegal detentions of individuals, torture and physical and psychological coercion of prisoners to obtain false statements concerning acts and intentions of governments and individuals and violating within the United States, and by authorizing U.S. forces and agents elsewhere, the rights of individuals under the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.\n\n7) Making, ordering and condoning false statements and propaganda about the conduct of foreign governments and individuals and acts by U.S. government personnel; manipulating the media and foreign governments with false information; concealing information vital to public discussion and informed judgment concerning acts, intentions and possession, or efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction in order to falsely create a climate of fear and destroy opposition to U.S. wars of aggression and first strike attacks.\n\n8) Violations and subversions of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, both a part of the "Supreme Law of the land" under Article VI, paragraph 2, of the Constitution, in an attempt to commit with impunity crimes against peace and humanity and war crimes in wars and threats of aggression against Afghanistan, Iraq and others and usurping powers of the United Nations and the peoples of its nations by bribery, coercion and other corrupt acts and by rejecting treaties, committing treaty violations, and frustrating compliance with treaties in order to destroy any means by which international law and institutions can prevent, affect, or adjudicate the exercise of U.S. military and economic power against the international com
849878
Why would you want to waste taxpayer money doing this? Yes, once the Dems take office in January, there will be enough votes in the U.S. House for impeachment, but to impeach a President (or any federal officer) is only to bring charges against them. It is like an indictment in criminal court. It does not remove the President from office. They then stand trial in the U.S. Senate, where a 2/3 majority is needed to convict and remove him from office. The Dems do not have the votes needed for that. \n\nI will be writing my newly elected Congressman and telling him NOT to pursue impeachment against Bush because the money can be used elsewhere (like healthcare).
1085093
unfortunately, yes.  as the commander in chief of the armed forces, the president can send them in to any place he wants, and technically they are supposed to follow his orders.  in the event that he doesnt leave office, impeachment obviously wouldnt work, and the only way to get rid of him would be to kill him, as Thomas Jefferson alluded to when he said that the people had the right and responsibility to overthrow a government that is corrupt and reestablish the old system.\n\nnow, to your question.  in debate on the house floor a few years ago (right before the invasion of iraq), representative mcdermott quoted an article from the Sydney Morning Herald titled, "Foundations are in Place for Martial Law in the United States."  Bascially, during the Iran-Contra Affair, Ronald Reagan issued an executive order giving FEMA even broader powers than Congress gave it, and among these powers were the ability to prevent violent and widespread internal dissent or national opposition against a US military invasion abroad through the use of the military, basically, declaring martial law.  all of reagans papers, including this order, were sealed by the bush administration.  therefore, we do not know the full story.  \n\ni hope that this answers your question.  ive got the whole speech, and id be happy to give it to you if you want it.
406857
President Bush has not been impeached because his party controls the branch of government that does the impeaching. That is the answer, and it is exactly that simple.\n\nIntelligent people on both sides of the aisle can debate whether or not the president should be impeached, but the people whose opinions matter are in congress. \n\nA president would have to act in a significantly egregious manner before his own political party would participate in his impeachment. Even then, an impeachment is unlikely.\n\nThe Bill Clinton impeachment is an accurate and recent example of the process. A Democratic party controlled House of Representatives would never have impeached him, but a Republican House did. The Democrats did have enough members in the Senate to block Clinton's removal, so that is what happened.\n\nWho was correct? The answer is not particularly relevant to this question. The fact that both sides tend to stick to the party line is the main relevant factor.\n\nIf the Democrats gained control of the House in the 2006 elections, an impeachment attempt would be highly likely.
571843
i don't think it will happen.  after all, he's destroyed our public image, bankrupted our country, broken international law, broken american law, spied on american citizens illegally, made secret contracts with major corporations, eliminated many civil rights and liberties, made a fool of our country on numerous occasions, hired people to do fake news reports to make him look good, allowed a natural disaster to turn into an embarrassing chaos, hired incompetent people repeatedly, and lied hundreds of times to the american people.\nif we let him do all this, will we draw the line at anything?  maybe if he got a blowjob from an intern, people would finally get upset.\n\nif you're interested, there's a major movement to impeach bush going on right now.  sign up here:  (also includes a list of all the legal reasons to impeach him)
490708
I'm all for impeaching Bush. Get him and his entourage out of there before they either a) finally succeed in bankrupting the country, or b) touch off WWIII. This administration is answerable under the Constitution of the United States, as previous administrations were, and November, I feel, will prove that for all and sundry to see.\nWe need reforms, good, honest reforms, and these guys to rid off into the sunset or whatever...