Did the president act in "BAD FAITH?"

[Jeffersons Ghost]

After comments by Arlen Specter, which imply that censure is somehow reserved for presidents acting in "bad faith" Russ Feingold said while Specter did not help draft the resolution, he agrees the words "bad faith" best describe actions by Bush.

Is censure only reserved to presidents acting in bad faith?

[paul_fromatlanta]

1. I'm pretty sure rules for Presidential censure do not exist

Somebody can correct me if I am wrong but I have never seen a constitutional or other legal basis for Presidential censure.

But congress can pass any resolution the like so there is nothing stopping them.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. HA HA

they just applauded Lehey... he said "WE KNOW THE PRESIDENT BROKE THE LAW"

[bluethruandthru]

2. Yes...they save Impeachment

for those acting in bad taste (monica)

[Jeffersons Ghost]

10. CALL NOW

TELL C-SPAN YOUR VIEWS ON RUSS OR CENSURE

202 585 3885

[Burning Water]

3. I would think so.

Their job is to make decisions, and they cannot always make the right ones. So, yes, I would have to say that they should have acted in "bad faith" before they are censured.

Do you really this will be a problem with censuring *?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

11. was this next example considered a "bad faith" act?

The Senate has censured a president only once -- in 1834, when an anti-administration coalition demanded that President Andrew Jackson produce a document having to do with his veto of a bill to recharter the Bank of the United States.

The body voted 26-20 to censure Jackson when he refused to provide the document to the Senate. The censure was "expunged" from the record in 1837 by a Senate again in the hands of Jacksonian Democrats.

[Burning Water]

14. I have no idea.

Things have changed considerably since the days of Andrew Jackson.

And, as the entire episode shows, 'censure" doesn't even go on his "permanent record" (Andy's, I mean). It's a PR stunt only. And it may work. I hope so. Or it may backfire. We'll see shortly.

[mdmc]

4. He said the law worked fine, then broke the law cause the law sucked

we need a better way to fight terror. Bush skirts the law...always...this weakens america and requires censure.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

12. Others in this hearing, including a real expert Dean say he broke the law

Russ is trying to stop the bleeding from the gaping wound Republicans have put in our Constitution.

[Thorandmjolnir]

5. No, you don't need bad faith for censure

Bad faith is a legal term. When it comes to public officials, it means that they loose their official immunity and can be held personally liable, when they act in bad faith and break the law or constitution.

A government official can break the law and not be held personally liable if the court finds that the official thought he was within the law, or if the law is vague or unsettled in that particular area.

The immunity is meant to shield government officials from all kinds of lawsuit, when they are acting within their official duties. Bad faith proves that the official knew he was outside of his official duties.


BAD FAITH IS NOT REQUIRED FOR CENSURE!

[paul_fromatlanta]

8. Do you have the rules for presidential censure? I cant find any.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

13. Thank you for such an articulate description of term Bjarne

Obviously you have good grasp of the law.

[LaurenG]

7. He embodies bad faith

and they ALL know that, what is the problem? No integrity again, what can we expect from those who REFUSE to snatch this country back from the dangerous course it's on?

[European Socialist]

9. Bad faith isn't needed--No man is to be blindly trusted.

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. Bush has broken the law multiple times

and even admits it whenever he declares that a particular law doesn't apply to him.

That is not only bad faith, he breaks the law deliberately. That's criminal.

[Uncle Joe]

16. I don't think faith had anything to do with it,

he was just acting bad.

[realFedUp]

17. yeah, that'll stand up in court.....

I guess crooks and criminals could try that excuse...

bad faith is just listening to the devil

[sutz12]

18. When has he ever acted in GOOD faith? nt

[yellowcanine]

19. Damn straight he did. Bush epitomizes bad faith.

[martymar64]

20. Better question, has he ever acted in good faith?

n/t

[Doctor_J]

21. No, president acted IN A CRIMINAL FASHION