At what point do we start charging the GOP with treason

[Rosco T.]

I'm dead serious. The absolute outright attempts to damage this country can not be ignored any longer. Can we make a citizens arrest of Boner, Yertle the Turtle, Ryan,et all?

[Isoldeblue]

1. I totally agree!

Start a petition. They crossed the line 2 years ago in the deficit ceiling debacle and will continue to push the envelope til they are stopped. We can't afford their ugly, greedy ideology any longer!!

[benld74]

2. I called it back when Cheney outed Plame!

[hollysmom]

4. me too

still want to see his ass in jail for shooting that guy when he was drunk. I will die waiting though.

[libodem]

3. I'm there

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

5. How about....After they commit acts of treason

Pursuing policies you don't like doesn't meet the legal definition of treason.

[Rosco T.]

10. Grover Norquist's pledge

Several constitutional scholars have given the opinion that signing that could be a treasonous act

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. No. Not even slightly, remotely close...

I don't know which constitutional scholars you're referring to, but taking a pledge to not raise taxes is not the equivalent of making war on the United States or giving aid and comfort to its enemies.

[xxxsdesdexxx]

14. +1. I completely disagree with their politics and think we'd be better off without them in congress

but I see no evidence of "treason". We need to watch it with the hyperbole, that's what the "right" specializes in.

[Paulie]

18. Your concern is noted.

[geckosfeet]

6. Dereliction of duty? Aren't they sworn to protect and serve the country?

[world wide wally]

17. It would be an interesting trial considering such concepts of swearing allegiance to a lobbyist over

protecting the welfare of the nation. Then there is the idea of all enemies "foreign AND domestic". Sabotaging the economy for political gain, collusion to obstruct the government...etc
Treason, I'm not so sure. However, I think impeachment might be in order.

[Mona]

7. I've often thought the same thing

At minimum, failing due diligence, and also failing their fiduciary duties.

[NYC Liberal]

8. A political part can't be charged with a crime.

[Recursion]

9. When we have testimony by two witnesses of the same overt act, or confession in open court

The overt act being one of:
* levying war against the United States,
* adhering to its enemies, or
* giving aid and comfort to them.

Article III, Section 3.

I'm not sure what the legal limits of "adhering" are.

[Agnosticsherbet]

11. What they do doesn't meet the test for treason in the Constitution...

So the answer is never.

Article 3 Section 3 - Treason

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

No, you can not make citizen's arrest of the Boehner of any of them for actions in Congress because they have broken no laws.

I do not agree with them, but I don't think that disagreeing with me should be an act of treason. Those who disagree with us can do a lot of damage. That is why it is important to win elections so we can decide the course of the country.

[reteachinwi]

29. adhering to their enemies

Bin Laden's strategy was to bankrupt us. Hasn't Republican leadership done the same?

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-05-02/business/35264896_1_bin-laden-qaeda-gartenstein

[Agnosticsherbet]

30. Republican's may be crap, but they are not allied with Bin Laden (who is dead)

or seeking to bring some foreign group to control the U.S. Their tactics are not used for the same reason, even if they are using those tactics. Political tactics don't define treason.

Republicans really do believe the bullshit the pedal, for the most part. They have a vision for America very different from those of us operating from the left, but they do operate within the system. Ossama's ultimate goal was to destroy our system and create a righteous Caliphate. He even believed he was a good guy, and we were the geat evil. Republicans see Democrats, liberals, and progressives as evil, another thing they hold in common with Bin Laden. But since they never alliied with him, or gave comfort to him, they did not comit treason.

The founding fathers, for valid historical reasons, set a very hgh bar on treason. I would be happy if we could charge them for a crime due to their successful work at supressing the vote. Voter supresson should be a crime and it certainly is wrong.

[reteachinwi]

32. I was being glib

but the confluence of tactics seem more than coincidental.

[brooklynite]

12. How about...never?

with perhaps a suggestion that you study up on the Constitutional meaning of treason?

Or, just go ahead and vent if it makes you feel better.

[Hosnon]

15. Treason has a very specific constitutional definition.

For this very reason. Otherwise, it would be used for political purposes.

[world wide wally]

16. My guess would be the day after we prosecute Bush and Cheney for their war crimes

[TexasTowelie]

19. December 12, 2000

Bush v. Gore, 531.

Can't we do it retroactively?

[2pooped2pop]

20. Not sure

Causing the downfall of this country on purpose for financial gain sure as shit should get somebody incarcerated. But as long as they are rich, it won't.

[whistler162]

21. the same day they prosecute Democrats

For treason.

[Resonance_Chamber]

22. If ya want to charge them with treason including their followers and financial backers

I would support that 100%

Ya might as well just march them into the sea.

In the long run it would be faster more efficient and better for all involved.

[meow2u3]

23. I'd call for charging the GOP with advocating the overthrow of government and/or sedition

Those are charges that can stick. Seditious conspiracy can stick, too.

[RomneyLies]

24. WOW!

Replace GOP with "DEMONRATS", and "Boner, Yertle the Turtle, Ryan,et all?" with "Obama, Scary Harry, Pelosi et al?" and we'd be on FreeRepublic.

[Filibuster Harry]

25. Well, let's see: when McConnell said his job was to make the president a 1 term president or

when McCain didn't want to go to the depths of hell to find Osama. Or as soon as that 100th filibuster came from the senate back in 2009? Take your pick.

[samsingh]

26. individual repugs should be charged with whatever crime they've broken

if the repugs can impeach our President for a personal matter, they need to be held as accountable.

[socialindependocrat]

27. I've been posting this sentiment for the past year....

I wrote a note to Obama/Biden, Palosi and ALMOST to Boehner.
(Boehner only accepts e-mail from his local constituents)

I said something to the effect:

You need to construct a mission statement that should be read before every session
that, basically, states that every decision made by congress should be made to benefit
all American people.

I never got a response nor heard anything in the future.
They continue to show that they are paid to benefit the wealthy.
Even the SCOTUS contributed with citizens united.
We do have a very broken system.

[spin]

28. The idea that you purpose is usually used by third world dictators to control

those who oppose their policies.

Are you seriously suggesting that our nation should become a banana republic?

I understand your frustration but I believe our representative democracy is a far superior form of government to a tyranny or a dictatorship.

Interestingly, an idea somewhat similar to yours was purposed by Harry Belafonte on MSNBC.

Belafonte on GOP: Obama Needs To "Work Like A 3rd World Dictator & Just Put All These Guys In Jail"

http://m.

Of course if Obama did start throwing Republicans in jail for treason we would have an uprising in this nation and/or a military coup d'état.

If you personally tried to make a citizens arrest of a Congressional Republican you would end up in jail.

[butterfly77]

31. K&R!

[Sunlei]

33. agree, they have run America into the ground. They are probably immune to prosecution for anything.

I still can NOT believe CONS like M. Bachman managed to squeak in a win this recent election. A very small number of votes let her win again, she must have scammed, cheated & rigged her district maps big time.

It's like America has a cancer called GOP..that keeps coming back.

[BanTheGOP]

34. I've been advocating this for YEARS and YEARS

I've been advocating banning the republican party for the longest time. Indeed, I've come up with several iron-clad legal arguments that can actually tie in GOP policies with RICO statutes, so that we can effectively eliminate legal campaign funds for the GOP, or anyone who espouses their anti-constitutional policies.

Proof? Start from HERE, and work your way forward. This will give you a complete, comprehensive plan on following through. I've stopped DU journal writing because of other commitments, but in general, what you propose to do here, I've been advocating and working the phone lines to git it done.