- Joined
- May 5, 2019
- Messages
- 9,708
- Reaction score
- 4,682
- Location
- Staten Island, NY USA
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Other
In comments about the proceedings against President of the United States of America Donald Trump in the US House of Representatives, the phrase 'overturn the will of the American people' comes up again and again.
The process of impeachment, when used against a president [Ed.: It can be used against other specific government officials.] can result in the president being removed from office. In the case of any president, it is not the will of the American people that is set aside, but rather that of the Electoral College, which elected both the president and the vice president.*
For the present Oval Office occupant, the will of the American voters [Ed.: Only a sub-set of the American people,] was that someone else occupy that position. Impeachment would not place that person in the president's seat. Instead, the vice president would take the helm. The vice president is, in all probability, the sitting president's personal choice.
The actual will of the American people at the time of the election is not, and will not be known. Only those who voted made their decision known. Even there, the contorted mechanism of the Electoral College** produced a different outcome.
And that's how it goes in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
* Contrary to the comments of some extremists, we as a nation do abide by the Constitution from time to time. Election time's one of those instances.
** A vote cast in certain states will have an effective 'weight' of more than three votes cast in some of the others. Wyoming and California form a paired example.
The process of impeachment, when used against a president [Ed.: It can be used against other specific government officials.] can result in the president being removed from office. In the case of any president, it is not the will of the American people that is set aside, but rather that of the Electoral College, which elected both the president and the vice president.*
For the present Oval Office occupant, the will of the American voters [Ed.: Only a sub-set of the American people,] was that someone else occupy that position. Impeachment would not place that person in the president's seat. Instead, the vice president would take the helm. The vice president is, in all probability, the sitting president's personal choice.
The actual will of the American people at the time of the election is not, and will not be known. Only those who voted made their decision known. Even there, the contorted mechanism of the Electoral College** produced a different outcome.
And that's how it goes in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
* Contrary to the comments of some extremists, we as a nation do abide by the Constitution from time to time. Election time's one of those instances.
** A vote cast in certain states will have an effective 'weight' of more than three votes cast in some of the others. Wyoming and California form a paired example.
Last edited: