# If the GOP wins the House, how long before they start Impeachment against Obama? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 27, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531 "2010-10-27T15:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/1 "2010-10-27T15:18:16Z")
I say, as soon as next year. There are no longer any real rules as to what constitutes grounds for impeachment, so my bet is that they start the process as soon as they can. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/2 "2010-10-27T15:21:29Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I say, as soon as next year. There are no longer any real rules as to what constitutes grounds for impeachment, so my bet is that they start the process as soon as they can. I’m betting they’ve already got the papers written up- all they have to do is fill in the blanks. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/3 "2010-10-27T15:36:54Z")
You’re being paranoid. As unpopular as he is, trying to impeach him would be suicide for the Republicans. What do you think the charges would be? ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/4 "2010-10-27T15:45:19Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > You’re being paranoid. As unpopular as he is, trying to impeach him would be suicide for the Republicans. What do you think the charges would be? Fraud (for not being an American citizen) and violation of the Constitution (for the health care bill). ---
**Author:** ![Rafe\_Hollister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/5 "2010-10-27T15:48:06Z")
I’m with Skammer, but not just because it would be a political nightmare. NFW will there be impeachment proceedings. There have been no grounds for such. I am saying this as a right wing hatemonger, also. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/6 "2010-10-27T15:51:31Z")
Perhaps not impeachment, but they sure won’t be legislating… > [@](#): > > ``` > Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has a plan for what the Republicans should do if they win control of the House of Representatives: Spend all their time investigating the Obama administration. > > "Oh, I think that's all we should do," Bachmann told the Three Fingers of Politics website. "I think that all we should do is issue subpoenas and have one hearing after another, and expose all the nonsense that has gone on." > > ``` Cite: [http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/bachmann-all-we-should-do-is-issue-subpoenas-if-gop-wins-house-audio.php](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/bachmann-all-we-should-do-is-issue-subpoenas-if-gop-wins-house-audio.php) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/7 "2010-10-27T16:09:47Z")
> [@Rafe\_Hollister](#): > > I’m with Skammer, but not just because it would be a political nightmare. NFW will there be impeachment proceedings. There have been no grounds for such. I am saying this as a right wing hatemonger, also. They have at least as much grounds as they had vs Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/8 "2010-10-27T16:16:41Z")
In other words, the Republicans will “investigate” and have one hearing after another until they CAN concoct some kind of fig leaf for an impeachment proceeding. It would not be a political nightmare if they prepared for it, and spun it endlessly in the media. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/9 "2010-10-27T16:32:20Z")
I would almost hope that they do considering it didn’t work out well for them last time. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/10 "2010-10-27T16:33:51Z")
What are you talking about? They got Clinton out of office after only eight years! It was a tremendous victory for family values! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/11 "2010-10-27T17:31:31Z")
Actually the plan was to keep him so busy defending himself that he would be unable to spend time politicking and governing. They investigated 20 year old business deals and even tossed his wife in the mix. They were not trying to get to any truth. They wanted to hamstring his admin. There are plenty of repubs who will push to do it again. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/12 "2010-10-27T17:41:27Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > You’re being paranoid. As unpopular as he is, trying to impeach him would be suicide for the Republicans. What do you think the charges would be? G.W.B. – Governing While Black ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/13 "2010-10-27T17:44:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They have at least as much grounds as they had vs Clinton. But Clinton got a blowjob! [scary voice mode] A blooooowjob! [/scary voice mode] ---
**Author:** ![Rafe\_Hollister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/14 "2010-10-27T19:46:48Z")
Clinton receiving a bj was not grounds for impeachment. Lying to a federal grand jury investigating sexual harrasment and trying to establish a pattern of behavior? Yeah. That’s impeachable and I believe it was certainly justified. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/15 "2010-10-27T19:58:02Z")
It’s about as likely as Rep. DiFazio’s proposed impeachment of Chief Justice Roberts. In other words, it ain’t gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/16 "2010-10-27T20:07:05Z")
Impeachment? No. They’ll spend the next 2 years trying to overturn the progress that has been made, and the following 4 years trying to gut any oversight that has been established and giving more millions to millionaires. Voters are idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/17 "2010-10-27T22:09:42Z")
Chefguy is right. At least with Clinton they had the “lying under oath” to hang their hat on - an actual crime. - There is no evidence Obama is not eligible to be president - Even _if_ the health care bill is unconsitutional: 1. It’s not a crime to pass an unconstitutional law 2. The President doesn’t pass laws anyway, Congress does No grounds for impeachment. It’s a masturbatory fantasy to appeal to extreme right-wing voters. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/18 "2010-10-27T22:18:55Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Impeachment? No. They’ll spend the next 2 years trying to overturn the progress that has been made, and the following 4 years trying to gut any oversight that has been established and giving more millions to millionaires. Voters are idiots. Agree. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/19 "2010-10-27T22:21:56Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Chefguy is right. At least with Clinton they had the “lying under oath” to hang their hat on - an actual crime. > > . Lying Under Oath is not a crime. It is punished by Contempt (and indeed Clinton was so punished). Perjury is a crime, and of course lying under oath is a critical part of that crime. However, Clinton was never found guilty of Perjury and in fact was never even criminally charged with Perjury. No doubt, somewhere along the line, Obama made a statement to Congress which could be considered a lie, and thus they could attempt that. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531/20 "2010-10-27T22:27:35Z")
I’m betting while \*Republicans \*won’t try to bring impeachment proceedings against Obama, without some sort of solid evidence, like video of him blowing Hugo Chavez or something, but I’m willing to bet at least one Republican Congressperson gets CNN level coverage for insisting they do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-gop-wins-the-house-how-long-before-they-start-impeachment-against-obama/558531.md?page=2)