Do you think the President should be impeached?

I think he did some very naughty things. I don't want to see Congress have a long, drawn out proceeding over it, although I'm not convinced that censure is enough. How about a public flogging?

I am so saddened by all of this. President Clinton was just not thinking to do what he did & then he continued to compound it with his deceptions & lies. It makes you wonder how in heaven's name he thought he could get away with this. My mother always said, "Don't do anything you wouldn't want printed on the front page of the newspaper." I guess his mama forgot to tell him.

Several months ago I did a similar survey (which I believe was a repeat of one from Elijahblue), in that survey it was my opinion that the censure option would be best. I have since changed my mind, I think he should resign. It's not just the perjury thing. I came across a report recently that the President appointed someone to "acting" Assistant Attorney-General for Civil Rights with no intention of ever submitting the person to the Senate for confirmation and no intention of nominating someone else for the job. In effect the President is knowingly bypassing the Constitution; and the Senate is just a guilty for allowing it to happen. The President even came out and said that he felt there was no constitutional way to fill the vacancy.

"I have done my best to work win the United States Senate in an entirely constitutional way. But we had to get somebody into the Civil Rights Division." President Clinton, Dec. 15, 1997

Those who like politics and sausage should not watch either being made.

The politician in me almost wants to see him impeached by the House, because I'm convinced that (a) he would never be convicted by the Senate, and (b) the impeachment and trial would further tarnish the image of the Republican party. However, the result would not be worth the distraction from more pressing policy questions both at home and abroad.

I don't care about what he has done in the reports but I dislike him and would like to see him removed for other reasons. Therefore, in a classic political move I would vote on this issue based on issues that have nothing to do with it.

Correction on the quote. I misspelled the word with. The correct quote is:

"I have done my best to work with the United States Senate in an entirely constitutional way. But we had to get somebody into the Civil Rights Division." President Clinton, Dec. 15, 1997

Isn't this like the third time around for this survey topic?

Not only impeached, but convicted in the Senate, removed from office, indicted, convicted, and sentenced to jail time. I think people who seek out positions of power should be held strictly accountable to the very rules which they wield against others.

jjg: I read about that in the Worcester Telegram on Sunday - I believe they also quoted him saying in essence "I know this is unconstitutional". The Telegram was sad that nobody even cared that the govt was blatantly being unconstitutional. They said something about congress being sheep that could merely 'stamp their hooves'.

jjg: You are very right. When I did my search I looked for the word 'impeachment' for some strange reason instead of the root of the word which would have found two additional; I am learning.

I am still interested in everyone's opinion with the feelings & politics at the moment. I lived abroad during the Nixon-Watergate thing so this is my first experience with the mechanics of impeachment.

I feel like there's a problem with "high crimes and misdemeanors." I appreciate the vagueness of the Constitution which allows it to be applicable 200 years later, but sometimes it is exasperating. I don't believe Clinton should be drummed out of office for this and I'm annoyed at how much time we're wasting on it. I've been kind of intrigued by the idea of censure, just because I think it would make good TV, but that's an awful reason for a political decision. On the other hand, that's all the whole thing amounts to, anyway.

lisashea: that article broke the last bit of support that I had for this President. Any president who knowingly breaks constitutional law should step down. I can live with the perjury, I can't live with a President who has little regard for the Constitution. Reminds me of Nixon.

The guy got a Nobel Peace Prize! They (the republicans - competitors!) want to impeach him for something most or every US president has done, and it's not even public matter! recently it was dicovered that George Washington had children from his servant. are they going to take off his statue from Rushmore Mountain?

hillel - I believe you are thinking of Thomas Jefferson.

It's true, George Washington was just about perfect - he did nothing wrong - really. I'm really impressed with some of the things he did and how much respect people had for him in his time.

This impeachment is a farce that has more to do with the "prestige" of the GOP rather than any legitimate expectation that Clinton deserves it. Clinton does a good job as president and still has the respect of other nations, why should we get rid of him. Name me a single politician, including Eisenhower, that did not philander or lie.

Handle: how can you say he has the respect of other nations, when everything he might choose to do internationally is seen in light of him trying to move the focus off of the Lewinski scandal? How can you say he's been a good president? Just because the economy's good? I'm not an economist but I don't see why people assume the president has any responsibility for the economy being good. He's lied to the American people time and again, he's lied under oath, he's broken beaucoup promises on everything from homosexuals in the military to taxes to health care to social security... I am just flabbergasted that so many people think he's a tolerable, let alone good, president.

One prez sold arms to our enemies and lied to congress, the other had oral sex with a consenting adult and lied to congress-which should we impeach?

traciy: both, let's set a standard that everyone knows before they get elected President.

I think that if the president can get away with breaking the law, everyone should be able to.

My reading of the law pertaining to perjury is that the crimes alleged by Ken Starr are not prosecutable in a court of law. But Congress, and public opinion, are not a court of law.

The whole thing has been "blown" out of proportion and I'm sick of hearing about it.

This was a particularly US-centred survey in a way that was unnecessary