Impeachments Worldwide

[SuperHornet]

Is the corruption in government getting worse lately?

It sure seems like it. Since 2000, impeachments in general are up by a TON, and they're more likely to result in a conviction when they actually make it to the trial phase. Sitting presidents have been impeached since 1788 (in that case, a British Governor General in India; it failed). All impeachments in the 1800s either didn't get to trial, or (in the case of President Johnson) resulted in acquittal. In fact, until about 1980 or so, this power has been used very rarely, and it has been successful very rarely, either because the case doesn't make it to the trial phase, or because the president in question resigns before the trial (that's happened three times, counting President Nixon). The first successful impeachment didn't happen until 1981 (in Iran), and it didn't happen again until 1992 (Brazil, with the trial continuing after his resignation). A few more attempts happened during the '90s, including President Clinton's that ended in an acquittal.

Since 2000, however, the rate of the process starting AND finishing in conviction has picked up steam. Actually, the trend seems to have started somewhat in the '90s, but now it's just going crazy. The Sovs REALLY wanted to get rid of Boris Yeltsin, impeaching him THREE TIMES (two failed, but he actually retained his position the second time by force of arms). Seven attempts have failed to go to trial (including twice in Romania). Two have resigned prior to trial, including a guy in Peru facing his second impeachment attempt. Eight cases have actually gone to trial, and of those, six resulted in convictions (Peru again, Indonesia, Lithuania, Paraguay, Brazil, and South Korea), one allegedly resigned during the trial (the Philippines, though he claims he was ousted by a coup), and one actually bolted the country during the trial (the Ukraine).

That seems like a lot of corruption. Most if not all of it seems to be legit, too. And since 2000, it seems like the trend is that if it goes to trial, you're toast. Our world is getting worse, it seems....

[JohnStOnge]

Almost certain it's going to be done here soon. And if we had an honest Republican Party there would also be a removal from office. But we do not have an honest Republican Party.

Really, there was enough in the Mueller report to justify impeachment and removal from office. Republicans were very successful in spinning it otherwise. But the truth is there was plenty there. Now we have this.