Tuesday, July 3, 2007

A Quick Note on Scooter's Commutation

I wonder what our forefathers would think of today's America. I'm pretty sure our Fourth President James Madison (right) and George Mason (left) would have gone nuts if they had heard about a President commuting a buddy to keep himself and his own administration's illegal directives from coming out or being fully investigated. Such an obstruction of justice was looked at in pretty harsh terms then and according to the judges and juries in this case, now.

Here's what they both said when they fought vehemently during the Virginia Constitution Ratification for more stringent Impeachment policies for corrupt Presidencies (also here's a link to a terrific article on the Libby topic that includes these quotes as well)

George Mason (1725-1792), the father of the Bill of Rights (1791-2002), argued at the Constitutional Convention in favor of providing the House of Representatives the power of impeachment by pointing out that the President might use his pardoning power to "pardon crimes which were advised by himself" or, before indictment or conviction, "to stop inquiry and prevent detection."

James Madison (1751-1836), the father of the U.S. Constitution (1788-2007), added that "if the President be connected, in any suspicious manner, with any person, and there be grounds to believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him; they can remove him if found guilty."


What are we to expect from this Administration though? We know their plans and we know that they have zero regard for the law.

Yet impeachment is off the table.

What a sad state America is on the Fourth of July of our 231st year.

Rp

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