Friday, January 29, 2021

Investigate And Prosecute. At Least Investigate.



Representative Jimmy Gomez, a Democrat from California, has announced he will introduce a bill to expel Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) from Congress. Former Representative Joe Walsh of Illinois disagrees. However, many tweeters have lambasted him, these with a particular theme:

And if 75% of the voters in her small district are as brain damaged as her, the country is then forced to deal with her dangerous lunacy?

Sorry but that’s not full description. The woman is detached from reality. We cannot keep crazy people in government offices deciding out future.

Sorry, but some voters in tiny district who voted for her because there was no other option can impose crazy person on entire country.

About vetting  and having anyone who wishes to run for office take a written psychological test and a full psych evaluation by a mental health professional. All police officers have to do it, many jobs require as part of job. Why do we let mentally ill people get into congress?

Lunacy; detached from reality; crazy person; needs a full psych evaluation.

Can we of a liberal or progressive bent stop saying that everyone we disagree with is "crazy" or "psychotic" or a "lunatic"?  Many people have different values and opinions than we have; some of these are simply bad people, a minority even evil. 

Few of them are mentally deranged and psychiatrists have differing opinions. We all know of criminal trials in which both the prosecution and the defense call for testimony from a psychiatrist because psychiatrists are like economists- get ten of them in a room, you'll get ten different opinions.

Admittedly, it's interesting to read of leftists, who generally are repulsed by prejudice against physically, mentally, or emotionally ill people, demanding punishment for someone reputedly mentally damaged.

These critics take a slightly different approach, at least barking up the right tree:

Plotting to  kill some is not important and serious, is that what you are  saying?,?.

I can’t agree with you on this one. If any citizen threatens an elected official it’s a crime. Why would an elected official not be subject to the law? What about inciting violence against another individual? That’s a crime too. Why is she above the law?

She ran unopposed because her opponent kept being threatened. Letting her remain in Congress is another example if no real consequences for people who threaten their co-workers and engage in spreading unfounded conspiracy theories. She needs to be removed.

Hmm. Except we allow Presidents and Judges to be expelled by Congress do we not? Why should members of Congress not also be expellable? She is actively and knowingly doing harm. She is not acting in good faith.



Representative Greene has demonstrated a wanton disregard for decency and human life, the latter recently and in the past. However, as Walsh recognizes. "you don't expel someone for being a repulsive, depraved conspiracist. That's up to her voters." Instead, "Congress should censure her, and her Republican caucus should condemn her & deny her committee assignments." Democrats should sponsor a resolution to censure Taylor Greene, not only because she's deserving but also because it's unlikely more than a few Republicans would agree. Democrats could easily make this malignancy the poster child of the GOP. 

Nonetheless, there is more which can be done. The Congressional Research Service in 2012 found

While there are no specific grounds for an expulsion expressed in the Constitution, expulsion actions in both the House and the Senate have generally concerned cases of perceived disloyalty to the United States Government, or the conviction of a criminal statutory offense which involved abuse of one’s official position.

There is an extensive group of lawyers in the Department of Justice. In all likelihood, that department soon will be headed by a Democrat and former judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals.  

The Department of Justice very likely soon will be headed by a Democrat and former judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals. The office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia is led by a Democrat. We must expect, therefore, that neither will cover up the misdeeds of a Republican member of Congress.

Either one or both should do their (its) job and investigate the congresswoman. It would not require a conviction, which could be delayed years, nor even an indictment to determine the likelihood that the congresswoman has either been disloyal to the United States government or committed a criminal offense.

Marjorie Taylor Greene does present a clear and present danger- but that could be demonstrated by the legal system.  Even when the danger is established, there would remain a substantial number of Americans opposed to her expulsion. However, a rough consensus supporting removal from Congress of a duly elected official will have been formed. Democrats believe voters matter, and should in this case.

Prosecutors are charged with recognizing someone, including elected officials, who have violated the law. Let's not let them off the hook.

 


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