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Dave Bugg

wrote:

If there is insufficient evidence it may be because there
is insufficent support in the House of Representatives for
impeachment hearings. Sufficient evidece to support
an impeachment of Richard Nixon did not appear until
after the impeachment hearing had begun.

Actually, Nixon resigned PRIOR to the House even beginning to consider the
merits of the articles of impeachment. So there was no impeachment hearing.
Articles of Impeachment have to have a valid basis for consideration *prior*
to presenting them to Congress. This means that there must be evidence in
existence. The basis for Impeachment must already be in-place.

If there is evidence that "Bush Lied", and if the lie is considered by
members of Congress to rise to the level of Treason, Bribery, or Other
Crimes or Misdemeanors, then the basis and facts supporting an impeachment
are drawn up into Articles of Impeachment. Any group of congressfolk can do
this. Democrats can do so right now, if they have the facts to support the
Articles.

The Articles are then presented to the House of Representatives for
acceptance and passage by a simple majority. This is where a Republican
controlled house can quash an impeachment of Bush, regardless of how
compelling the facts in evidence are. However, if the facts *are not* in
evidence, not even a Democrat controlled House would likely risk the rath of
the electorate and public opinion when it becomes clear -- during televised
proceedings -- that the Democrats are trying to cover up a lack of factual
evidence with a witch-hunt for unknown and hoped-for evidence.

If the Articles pass the House, an Impeachment has occured. The Articles
would then go to the Senate to try Bush on the charges. Testimony and
evidence presented during the trial will be the basis for the Senate to
decide if the impeachment should lead to a conviction. Once the trial is
complete, two-thirds of the Senate must vote to convict. Conviction would
automatically remove Bush from office.

So, yes, sufficient evidence *must* be in place prior to presenting the
Articles to the House.

--
Dave
www.davebbq.com