Could Obama Be Impeached For Taking Two Bucks Off Of Biden?

by Charles Boyer on Jun 19, 2011 11:44 AM EDT

When the Fabulous Foursome of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker of the House John Boehner and Ohio Governor played golf yesterday at Joint Base Andews in Maryland, the widely reported result is that President Obama and Speaker Boehner won two bucks each.

Maryland, you say?

Hmmm, what are the statutes concerning gamblng in Maryland?

§ 12-102. Betting, wagering, gambling, etc.

(a) Prohibited.- A person may not:

(1) bet, wager, or gamble;

(2) make or sell a book or pool on the result of a race, contest, or contingency;

(3) establish, keep, rent, use, or occupy, or knowingly allow to be established, kept, rented, used, or occupied, all or a part of a building, vessel, or place, on land or water, within the State, for the purpose of: (i) betting, wagering, or gambling; or (ii) making, selling, or buying books or pools on the result of a race, contest, or contingency; or

(4) receive, become the depository of, record, register, or forward, or propose, agree, or pretend to forward, money or any other thing or consideration of value, to be bet, wagered, or gambled on the result of a race, contest, or contingency.

(b) Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not less than 6 months and not exceeding 1 year or a fine of not less than $200 and not exceeding $1,000 or both.

Ruh roh, Relroy.

If you slept through Civics class in high school, a quick review:

The Constitution, Article II, Section 4:

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

So technically, it was a misdemeanor for the foursome to bet on their golf? And three of the men could ostensibly be impeached, tried by the Senate and removed from office for "misdemeanors?"

Apparently, though I am no lawyer.

And if you think that I am serious about all the above, I urge you to go get a life. I can't wait, however, for some wingnut on NRO or the DailyKos to make a serious case for the above to actually happen. Meanwhile, if you listen closely, you can hear violins above the crackling of America burning.

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Comments

You'd have to prove the case first

and I assume they would ALL “plead the 5th”! Two bucks each? Skinflints!!

by WendyUK on Jun 19, 2011 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

Waddaya mean Skin flints...you and Easy

are only betting one a them sandwidh thingys….STUB

STUB

by thinker on Jun 19, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

A pint & a bacon buttie

will cost more than $2 I assure you.

by WendyUK on Jun 19, 2011 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I know, I know… ;-)

But…given the tone and tenor of our politics here, I could almost see it happening.

First of all, what grown men do in private should not be the concern of the government so long as no one is hurt and all are willing partners. We clamor for government to get off our backs in election seasons, then the winning party proceeds to add more intrusive laws upon election.

Secondly, the idea of actually solving problems and improving things for the people has escaped notice of the major parties and politicians. It’s a simple power struggle now, a zero sum winner take all game. “Pyrrhic victory” comes to mind after every election, because American politicians have scorched the Earth here for so long one has to wonder if winning truly is winning. Oh wait, that’s right, most pols come to Washington not being millionaires, yet the always seem to leave well esconsed in that bracket. Hmm. Maybe winning has a different meaning.

Finally, both parties are so petty now, they would do something like open an impeachment investigation for something this trivial if the polls told them it would give them any kind of edge at all.

by Charles Boyer on Jun 19, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

So no coalition government on the cards then? ;o)

Ours is lasting pretty well – although they still can’t resist interfering in every aspect of our lives even though the said they would devolve. Do wish current politics in US weren’t quite so divisive. Enough problems in the world without tearing fellow Americans throats out.

by WendyUK on Jun 19, 2011 2:01 PM EDT reply actions