Sorry, Thursday’s vote on an impeachment resolution won’t be a vote on an impeachment resolution

Sorry, Thursday’s vote on an impeachment resolution won’t be a vote on an impeachment resolution
Definition of ‘nice’: Winning through chicanery, then marching defiantly with your nose in the air, brandishing a giant mallet

And here you thought the Democrats were ready to play fair — to vote on an impeachment resolution as the House did in the case of Bill Clinton and would have done in the case of Richard Nixon had he not resigned first.

“Impeachment resolution?” say the Dems in the same ironic tone of voice used by the Morgan Freeman character toward the end of “The Shawshank Redemption” when asked if he considers himself rehabilitated. “Well, now, let me see. You know, I don’t have any idea what that means.” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer channeled Freeman this morning, telling reporters, “I don’t know what an impeachment resolution is.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seconded that emotion, clarifying that the vote planned for Thursday was “not an impeachment resolution.” (RELATED: Pelosi on impeachment, then and now)

So was it that the House will be voting on? As Pelosi explained in a “Dear Colleague” letter,

Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?

This week, we will bring a resolution to the Floor that affirms the ongoing, existing investigation that is currently being conducted by our committees as part of this impeachment inquiry, including all requests for documents, subpoenas for records and testimony, and any other investigative steps previously taken or to be taken as part of this investigation.

In other words, they will be voting on giving the appearance of conducting a real impeachment inquiry instead of the sham they have been running and will continue to run.

Earlier in the letter, Pelosi reminds her fellow House members that the “Constitution provides that the House of Representatives ‘shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.'” She is right, but she should read that passage again for what it doesn’t say. As Andrew McCarthy notes at The Hill, it doesn’t say that the sole power of impeachment shall fall to the speaker or the majority party but to the House as a whole. And whether Pelosi and pals like it or not, that includes the Republican members.

Ben Bowles

Ben Bowles

Ben Bowles is a freelance writer and regular contributor to "Liberty Unyielding."

Comments

For your convenience, you may leave commments below using Disqus. If Disqus is not appearing for you, please disable AdBlock to leave a comment.