Impeachment---What is it??

You can look it up and maybe you should since it may become a part of the political landscape from now on. Impeachment is a two step process. A legislative body votes articles of impeachment or just impeaches someone and then the senate or in some cases the same legislative body rules on conviction and removal. Everything about it is vague and a civil officer (whatever that means) may be removed from office if the legislative body finds he or she has done something that warrants such action. It sounds a little like that Supreme Court decision on pornography when a justice trying to define pornography said, "I know it when I see it."

We all have a history schoolbook memory of impeachment by Congress of President Andrew Johnson and how he avoided being expelled from office by one vote. He was very unpopular and many thought it was political and a way to remove a president without shooting him. (although they tried that too)

Our modern day memory is of Bill Clinton and many think he was successfully found guilty and impeached when in reality the House (Republican controlled) voted out articles of impeachment against him and lost at trial in the Senate. To complete the impeachment process it takes impeachment and conviction followed by removal from office. At the time, I remember thinking it felt like a "witch-hunt." Clinton had engaged in an extra-marital affair and then lied under oath about it. ( I have often said, Clinton Lied, Nobody Died....Bush....(you finish it))

Everyone was quite disgusted with Clinton and the Republicans saw a chance to get rid of him seeing as they could not defeat him in an election. I remember I was constantly arguing with someone that impeachment was inappropriate and even dangerous if Congress used it to remove a President they didn't like.

What is my point here? This is a long way to get to the present day and the Governor of Illinois. Today Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office and I, for one, am worried. He has not been indicted, charged with a crime and he had no trial. Yet, he is gone for acts unknown. Oh, of course I know about the alleged selling of the Senate seat and other charges of buying and selling favors, etc but all I know is the talk---and more talk. Where are the actions. I can talk about a lot of things but the conspiracy that comes from that talk needs an act toward an end. Everyone respects the Atty General Fitzgerald but noone is perfect and he may have acted too soon. After all, he has now requested more time to investigate. That smells of someone without the requisite elements necessary for the crime. With delay and more time, it is hoped that some useful information might drop out of the tree.

Being a staunch believer in "process", I am worried about what is happening here and that is my point. Maybe Blagojevich is a crook but the people elected him and unless he is convicted of a crime, impeachment is closer to a lynching than I like. What will stop this from happening elsewhere? If a political party wants to remove a duly elected official, they can discover something off-base, whip it up publicly on our 24-7 news cycle or on the blogs and have the person out within 30-60 days. There isn't any appeal.

The public is like a mob that acts with one mind based upon information that may be accurate but may not. That is why we have our legal system that affords the accused rights...rights to an attorney, a trial, a jury of peers. We did not give that to the Governor of Illinois. He is gone---Should we hang a sign...Mission Accomplished!!