The "impeach Cheny" bill

[there buster]

Quote:

domestic spying, on detention without charge

There has been no domestic spying, and combatants-- regular and non-regular-- are always detained without charge.

During WWII, German and Japanese combatants were detained without charge for years.

Any President has always had the authority to intercept communications with foreign nationals.

Lincoln actually suspended Habeas Corpus for several years. A little perspective might help.

[Dr. Shane]

Lincoln also defied the Supreme Court and I don't think any of us want to allow Presidents to do that. However the CIA has employed torture, spying and detention without charge under several administrations so much that to use any of those charges to impeach a president would be highly hypocritical.

[Bravus]

The idea that because something has been done before no-one can ever be held to account for doing it in future is pretty terrifying. Wouldn't it be better to hold every president to a higher standard - what is right - rather than to the much lower standard of what his predecessors did?

[Dr. Shane]

Congress can change the law and if they have 2/3 majority they can over-ride a presidential veto to do it. The President can challenge any such change with the Supreme Court. However when previous Presidents have been allowed the use of certain powers, we cannot impeach a sitting President for using the very same powers. That is, unless we pass a low forbidding their use and he or she violates the law.

Should we have higher standards as time progresses? I believe so. But there is a process to get there.