I also want to reiterate something that I said over and over before the elections.

If Rove were such a genius his prized possession, George W. Bush wouldn’t be at 26% in the polls, loathed domestically and internationally, saddled with two losing wars and a faltering economy.

Rove is one of THE most inept men on this planet.

He has taken Bush from 90% in the polls, where the French were saying in newspapers “We are American!” and where Iranians were holding candlelight vigils in support of America to the pits, the bottom, OJ Simpson levels.

Stop thinking that he has everything gamed out with his brilliance. The facts don’t bare that out.

-GSD

This is one of the most UPLIFTING postings I’ve ever read.

Please make this a banner, a war cry, a rally point, a pep talk, WHATEVUH!!

I SO needed to hear that put into perspective.

Despite all the challenges we still face, and our deepest fears of the WORST things could get, morale wise your post was the equivalent of ‘they put their pants on one leg at a time, just like we do’ . . . it’s a lousy analogy, maybe Ernie Banks and ‘Let’s Play Two’ is worse . . .

But it keeps me in the fight, and makes my heard sing.

Thanks so much, GSD. That was pretty bitchen for THIS Larue.

*G*

Woodhall Hollow @ 268

Very interesting and detailed diary by a lawyer-type over at Kos on the wisdom of the Conyers Committee report voted on yesterday. I feel better after having read it. And am thinking that it puts Spector’s saber-rattling re Roberts and Alito into perspective; he may be warning them not to go to far wrt any notions of Unitary Executive Power.

Yes I read that one too and it helped my mood a lot. I recommend it.

SAYYYYY! That IS a good read!!! Thanks to the original linker of it, and thanks Neon for bringing it up again . .

I gotta say, some of this constitutionalist and lawyering stuff is SO over my head at times, but, man this place sure does put it out there, and explain it . . . it’s like taking a masters level course at times . . . . and I HATE school. ;-) But, I KNOW it’s good for me, like Cod Liver Oil!!! lol

Thanks to all . . . even the ones I don’t agree with!!!!! lol

Warning to self (and others paying attention):

Do NOT under any circumstances get CHS, JH, and the other Ladies of the Lake p*ss’d at me. It is done with peril.

Huh, too funny. Yer on yer own hoss!!! lol

We the people just can’t save someone who won’t save themself’s!!! ;-)

Outrage is good–directed against BushCo, not against other FDLers.

Logical questions and comments are good. Ranting is not.

Ranting is an essential freedom.
As was said, freeform insanity leads to idea generation and unconsidered platforms with which to jump off of into unchartered waters that MIGHT hide the keys and clues to some serious problems.

A whack up the side of the head.

Brainstorming.

All them corpspeak phrasings you hear in meetings when the leader of the group uses them, but don’t really want anyone really DOING it.

Harumph. *G*

dakine01 @ 106

In order to be blocked from future running for office, it has to be specified in the order of removal iirc. With Hastings, the Senate did not so specify so he was free to run and get elected.

I think you’re right. I thought the Constitution specified the penalty as removal from office, loss of all emoluments, and banning from future office.

I was wrong, the constitution itself only specifies removal from office:

Article II, Section 4. 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.

BC

It’s in Article I Sec 3…elucidating the powers of the Senate in regards to impeachment.

“The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present.

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States: but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.”

The power to prohibit further officeholding is specifically stated.

The power to prohibit any emoluments of office is based on the “disqualification to hold and ENJOY any office of honor, trust or profit”.

That could even be interpreted to prevent that individual from receiving government grants or loans, contracts, subsidies, land grants, etc. The use of the symbols and titles of previous office could be stripped, especially in areas where that person was involved in making money…for example, speeches. Franking privileges and Secret Service protection could be stripped…as that it something that requires Federal expenditure and is an “enjoyment” accorded to former Presidents. A disgraced former President might be compelled to hire his own security.

No official Presidential Library. No ability to fundraise as the “former President”. No pension. No use of the Presidential seal or “Hail To The Chief”. There would be an embargo against using his advice in Federal decisionmaking by Congress or the Executive.

More importantly, his Presidential papers would be embargoed and he could not use his Executive privilege to block access to them under the George Bush I (revised by GWB) Executive Order.

If Congress cannot muster the votes to impeach NOW, then there is STILL PLENTIFUL: REASONS to impeach after he has left office…to prevent a perpetual coverup.

Barbara the ignorant here. Who appoints a special prosecutor?

Normally it’s the AG, given he and the DAG have to recuse, it falls to the Solicitor General (Paul Clements?)

Paul Clements signed the “legal opinion” attached to Fred Fieldings “Executive Privilege is Universal” letter. That’s a clear conflict of interest on this issue.

Another danger is that they will appoint a Special Prosecutor of their own choice during the “recess”. And that would essentially prevent any “advise and consent” function.

. . . .

Home sales down 6.2% this morning.

Yeah, but foreclosures are up at a 20 year or more high in CA!!!!!!!!

SOMEONE’S making out on this . . .

selise @ 222

do you know why?

Because the housing crash is finally being acknowledged. The subprime mortgages are worthless and the banks and funds that own them are taking a huge hit.

Even the boat builders say that consumers can’t buy their product because the credit isn’t available.

Translation, the credit industry realizes that the average American is stretched too thin and their equity in their homes is not going to bail them out.

Any econ’s out there wanna edjukate this Larue on what’s up with trillions of worth of junk bonds about to be written off? How’s that gonna hit the stock markets? Value of dollar internationally?

‘Specially in a bad housing market and all the overreach in general this house of cards is based on?

And Iran told Japan to pay in Euro’s (or was it yen?) instead of Real AmeriKan Dollars?

And there’s more econ news like that but I forget who and where and when lately . .

Russia was broken in Afghan by overextension and MONEY issues . . .

How close ARE we, the USA, from being broken economically?

Just askin . . . . there IS some talk ‘out there’ about these issues . . . . I’m thinking, these isues may be a HECK of a lot more immediate than anyone wants to let on . . .

The Cleansing can’t help THOSE econ issues, not now, anyways . . . but I’m not an econ. *G*

Christy Hardin Smith @ 224

. . . . .
That’s what I mean.

Christy-you are awesome, and right.

While I heartily applaud CHS’ post, please folks, let’s NOT forget what GOT us to this point and GOT us to the loss of our Republic and a Unitary Executive-we fell asleel and LET them do it.

So, while I heartily applaud the red white and blueness of Christy’s upbraiding of criticizing those who may actually be working for us, I gotta add one thing:

QUESTION AUTHORITY!!!

It’s a LACK of american’s taking an active interest and QUESTIONING AUTHORITY that led us to this mess.

Now is NO time, to squelch ANY view or perspective.

To come together is admirable, but not at the extent of the ‘coming together’ being just another sheepherding social experiment NOT IN OUR BEST INTERESTS>

So, I close with, they BOTH gotta get done.

We pull together and get louder, but man, NO ONE, NO ONE loses a voice or place to criticize and Say, HEY, THAT’S BS!!! Especially when it may very well be . . .

The Coming Together will neuter many other valid issues, and they will get swept under for a ‘common good’ which history has proven before, is NOT a good thing.

There’s room for everyoone on this bus. Including the marginal whacked out conspiricists. And the pseudo lib’s posing as Shilary. Plenty of room on the bus.

Let’s make sure we don’t start booting folks off the bus just cuz they don’t agree with the mainstream movement . . . cuz that’s as authoritarian and Unitarily Executively Privilaged as what’s been crammed down our gullets while we were feeding and sleeping the decades away.

Now, on with The Cleansing!!!

*G*