Impeachment is a process included in our Constitution, Articles of Confederation, that the founders of the USA expected us the use.  They fully expected that the inevitable would happen, that a corrupt or indecent or dishonest president would fall out of favor with the congress .   So impeachment was included, mentioned six times in the Constitution.

With no call from the people, congress would not impeach by themselves, as no automatic trigger exists to begin investigation towards impeachment.  If it were not for the voice of the constituency, as is with all situations under the tool of democracy, no action would even begin.   And so here in 2007 the people see an obvious condition in our White House and they cry out “impeach!”  ; And the congress investigates to validate their desires.  Oddly as it may seem to modern folk, the congress is not compelled in any way to hold investigative hearings into matters in any detail, into the crimes of nuance levels, or definitions of ways and means.  Impeachment arguments for or against could very well be heard on the floor of the House of Representatives prior to votes or a single vote up or down. 

Factually, the constitution included one obvious word what’s meaning has apparently grown weak in  220 years, but this word if enforced to its original intent would be enough to excuse most seemingly needed investigations.  The word is:  Honorable.   It had one meaning: honesty.  It referred to a man who can be trusted to never be dishonest.  Who did not reach his station in life by any dishonest means.  No dishonesty.  No man who can not say he is honorable, was ever supposed to take a seat at the highest office of the executive branch in the United States. 

Section 1; Oath of the President of the United States:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

To the letter:  when George W. Bush refused to adopt already agreed up on treaties (each refusal to comply represents a constitutional violation), the Anti Ballistics Missile treaty, the Kyoto Protocols on reducing carbon emissions treaty, the UN brokered Land Mine treaty.  When his office furthered violated the constitution (Separation clause of the 1st amendment) with the creation of the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, he become dishonorable and became perfectly eligible for impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives.  In a United States where its elected representatives follow the intent of the constitution, the Bush presidency would have been over by the spring of his first year.  A more honorable man could then be designated president.  Because reputation is honor, and honor reputation, a man with a standing and proud reputation of honor (never lying never deceiving) would be placed in office to carry out the term.

Several reasons allowable for impeachment are mentioned, giving congress wide girth in decision making and giving a sitting president a narrow passage of good behavior that only an honorable man could walk through.

Section 4 – Disqualification:

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.

In a political pool of sharks and chum for a representative to come out and say aloud “impeach him!”  Might be draping chum around one’s neck for those sharks.  But who said congressional duty was supposed to be comfortable and easy?  It is a once in a lifetime political public service position.  A chance to be bold and brave in the face of career ending possibilities should be expected, and often looked forward to, if you are a servant of the people in the federal office of Congress.

Impeachment is the law.  Some congresspersons are fearful of stating that their goals may very well be impeachment.  Imagine a county or state prosecutor who will not tell the alleged, or his defense attorney, or the judge presiding, that he or she “doesn’t want to say whether or not his goal is conviction of the defendant.”  Of course his goal is conviction, that’s his job.  A jury will vote on whether he made is case for conviction.  A congress will vote on whether a congress had made its own case for impeachment.  Incidentally the Senate then conducts a trial on the Senate floor, complete with testimony.  Its Okay to say conviction; its okay to say impeachment.  The later term is merely a removal from a job, a trusted job that had required honorable service. 

For the sake of history our Congress and Senate should investigate all dishonorable acts committed by this Presidency.   For the fulfillment of a code of conduct spelled-out definitively in our Constitution that must be followed by every president, an impeachment proceeding should begin post-haste.  A trial, in the Senate, complete with testimony, should follow immediately.