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Warning: Impeachment Will Do Nothing

November 27th, 2019 by dk

Puritans can’t dance. What’s worse is that you can’t even teach them to dance, because they fear for their souls. Understanding a series of steps might lead to some worldly satisfaction. That’s a risk that many Americans, however far from those New England roots, won’t take.

We’ve been watching some important two-step moves in the news lately. Those moves are too complicated to rouse the rabble. For example, no protest sign ever has called for what’s actually needed to remove a president from the White House.

“Impeach, then Convict” just doesn’t have an attractive rhythm to it. Impeachment alone won’t do the job. You probably understand this, because you are steeped in political news, as only a newspaper reader can be these days. But do others get it?

Our Constitution requires the U.S. House of Representatives to determine whether the president has disqualified himself by “high crimes or misdemeanors.” You understand this is purely a political question, only roughly similar to a criminal indictment.

And you understand that impeachment is then passed to a trial in the U.S. Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required to convict. (Instructively, Bill Clinton was impeached, but not convicted, allowing him to complete his second term.)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell makes the rules for how the Senate will stage (that’s the right word) a trial for any defendant indicted by the House. He will determine who can be called to testify, under what rules, questioned by whom and for how long.

Long story short, there will be no conviction unless 20 Republicans break ranks and vote to convict, or 30 Republicans suddenly become too sick or distracted to attend the final vote, allowing Democrats to prevail with two-thirds of those present.

Brace yourself for widespread disappointment when protesters learn that the solution on their signs will not suffice. We may soon see an impeached president running for reelection for the first time. But even if he loses and leaves the office peaceably in 2021, there may be further disappointment ahead.

Candidates are barnstorming the country, promising to make people’s lives better. They almost never acknowledge the extra steps required to implement their solutions. Winning an election doesn’t guarantee free college or better health care or a cleaner environment or really almost anything else. It’s just not that simple.

Our system doesn’t allow the president the power to tax. They can advocate for a wealth tax, or higher marginal rates, or larger earned income credits, or a “freedom dividend” of $1,000 per month.

But none of those become law unless passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, where the Constitution requires all funding actions to begin. It’s called “the power of the purse strings.” If it costs money, the House must approve.

Will a majority in the House approve the financial maneuvers endorsed by some current presidential candidates? Will the Senate affirm those changes? Those two steps must precede any presidential action.

A candidate’s signature move may look good at a campaign rally. But nothing happens unless other feet start moving to make the dance.



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