mariagarnett's review against another edition
4.0
This is a highly digestible book that all Americans would benefit from reading, especially now. I do think the authors could have examined and named their own biases more explicitly.
mmazelli's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It is comprehensive in its handling of the uses and abuses of impeachment throughout US history.
george_odera's review against another edition
4.0
This book is conclusive of the impeachment process and its ramifications. Extensively covers matters American constitutional law, and, needless to say, it is a cache of knowledge for the ardent reader. Reader be warned, however, that Larry Tribe is a leftist, and was in fact lawyer for Al Gore in Bush v. Al Gore. The prose of the book, especially in its dying embers, may thus appeal more to the liberal than the conservative. Overall, a great read. Where Bob Mueller stops, this book will begin.
tonthur's review against another edition
5.0
Timely, educational, and essential reading for anyone who wants to be an informed U.S. citizen.
justinvasel's review against another edition
5.0
This book is the perfect companion to what is happening in American politics at this moment. I am writing this review in November 2019, when the House impeachment inquiry is in full swing. I was hoping for a book that laid out the history, rationale, considerations, procedures, and politics behind the impeachment process in a scholarly way, and that's exactly what this book does.
The authors are experts in constitutional law and did a really nice job of exploring the nuanced nature of removing a president from office. While this book is about impeachment in general—and not about impeaching President Trump specifically—the authors recognize that regardless of whether he is ultimately impeached and removed from office, the Trump presidency will have still influenced the way that we think and talk about impeachment going forward. For that reason, they do discuss some aspects of his presidency so far, but it's not the main focus. They are also up front with the disclaimer that one of them has actually faced the Trump Administration in court. But again, this book is not about Trump per se.
I walked away from this book with a deeper appreciation for the process of impeachment and the role that it is meant to play. It turns out, nothing is black and white when it comes to removing a president from office. Even the founding fathers were extremely divided on how impeachment should be organized. The process of impeachment that ultimately made it into the U.S. Constitution was ultimately a compromise, and nearly no one was fully satisfied with it.
To give you a better idea of what to expect, here are some of the broader points that the authors delve into:
What is impeachment and why does it exist? How was the current process of impeachment decided upon, and how did it take shape throughout the debates taking place at the Constitutional Convention in 1787?
What are impeachable offenses? What does "high crimes and misdemeanors" really mean, both at the time of writing and now?
To impeach or not to impeach? What are the risks of impeaching prematurely? What are the risks of impeaching too late, or failing to do so at all? What are the risks associated with impeaching at exactly the "right" moment? Impeachment is basically guaranteed to subject the nation to intense political trauma. When does it become worthwhile, and when is it not? Should it always be about principle, or should we take a more pragmatic approach by taking political considerations into account?
Congress is the decider, but why? How has this played out in the past? What affect does "impeachment talk" (ie: use of the "i-word") on our political discourse? Can using impeachment talk too soon actually strengthen a president's ability to push back against impeachment? Or, on the other hand, can impeachment talk compel a president to give way to the will of Congress, without the need of a formal impeachment process? How has rhetoric around impeachment been used against past presidents?
Finally, how does the impeachment process fit in to our modern political era of "fake news" and tribalism, when polarization and hyper-partisanship are so abundant? What does the 25th amendment say about removing a president like Trump, who many have claimed is mentally unfit for the office? How do we move forward and heal as a nation after we have attempted (either successfully or not) to remove the President?
5/5 stars. I would recommend this book to any American resident who is currently steeped in impeachment news. It will really give you a more nuanced and complete understanding of the process, and provide some meaningful context for whatever is going to happen next.
The authors are experts in constitutional law and did a really nice job of exploring the nuanced nature of removing a president from office. While this book is about impeachment in general—and not about impeaching President Trump specifically—the authors recognize that regardless of whether he is ultimately impeached and removed from office, the Trump presidency will have still influenced the way that we think and talk about impeachment going forward. For that reason, they do discuss some aspects of his presidency so far, but it's not the main focus. They are also up front with the disclaimer that one of them has actually faced the Trump Administration in court. But again, this book is not about Trump per se.
I walked away from this book with a deeper appreciation for the process of impeachment and the role that it is meant to play. It turns out, nothing is black and white when it comes to removing a president from office. Even the founding fathers were extremely divided on how impeachment should be organized. The process of impeachment that ultimately made it into the U.S. Constitution was ultimately a compromise, and nearly no one was fully satisfied with it.
To give you a better idea of what to expect, here are some of the broader points that the authors delve into:
What is impeachment and why does it exist? How was the current process of impeachment decided upon, and how did it take shape throughout the debates taking place at the Constitutional Convention in 1787?
What are impeachable offenses? What does "high crimes and misdemeanors" really mean, both at the time of writing and now?
To impeach or not to impeach? What are the risks of impeaching prematurely? What are the risks of impeaching too late, or failing to do so at all? What are the risks associated with impeaching at exactly the "right" moment? Impeachment is basically guaranteed to subject the nation to intense political trauma. When does it become worthwhile, and when is it not? Should it always be about principle, or should we take a more pragmatic approach by taking political considerations into account?
Congress is the decider, but why? How has this played out in the past? What affect does "impeachment talk" (ie: use of the "i-word") on our political discourse? Can using impeachment talk too soon actually strengthen a president's ability to push back against impeachment? Or, on the other hand, can impeachment talk compel a president to give way to the will of Congress, without the need of a formal impeachment process? How has rhetoric around impeachment been used against past presidents?
Finally, how does the impeachment process fit in to our modern political era of "fake news" and tribalism, when polarization and hyper-partisanship are so abundant? What does the 25th amendment say about removing a president like Trump, who many have claimed is mentally unfit for the office? How do we move forward and heal as a nation after we have attempted (either successfully or not) to remove the President?
5/5 stars. I would recommend this book to any American resident who is currently steeped in impeachment news. It will really give you a more nuanced and complete understanding of the process, and provide some meaningful context for whatever is going to happen next.
josephtremblay's review against another edition
4.0
For a book written by two lawyers, this is quite readable.
It is an exceptional history of presidential impeachment and—far more importantly for 2019—a wonderful examination of when and why Congress should seriously consider impeaching a president.
It is an exceptional history of presidential impeachment and—far more importantly for 2019—a wonderful examination of when and why Congress should seriously consider impeaching a president.
ljkinkad's review
5.0
Tribe did an excellent job of addressing both the history and trends of the use of impeachment and how those trends apply today to Trump. His basic message is that impeachment was added by the Founders to protect against a tyrannical president and was purposely made difficult to use. It has been used or threatened much more since Clinton’s impeachment and has become a partisan tool. As a result it is more difficult to use for its intended purpose. The increasing partisanship and tribal activities also make it less likely to be used because it will require some bipartisan to reach the 2/3 vote to convict. Tribe advocates for reasoned, not political, use of impeachment weighing all of the risks, including the potential risk to our democracy of not impeaching. Most troubling is Tribe’s assessment that democracy is currently threatened and we may have already become too partisan and tribal to use impeachment for its intended purpose. He cited polling showing the people are less convinced that a democracy should be maintained.
tellthewolves's review against another edition
2.0
Partly this is on me because I powered through the end of this book and that may have impacted my view on it. But even without that, this book was just not engaging. There could have been so many excellent juicy details but it was a pretty dry recitation of the facts. Simultaneously pretty repetitive while also feeling rushed. Just not as good as I know a nonfiction book can be.
canada_matt's review against another edition
5.0
In a political era where ‘impeachment’ has become a buzzword, Laurence H. Tribe and Joshua Matz offer a comprehensive book on the topic. Their exploration is firmly rooted in the academic aspects of the topic without drowning the reader in too much minutiae. The discussion commences with the emergence of impeachment in the US Constitution, examining how the Founding Fathers debated and decided to include the ability to remove senior federal officials for certain reasons, though the list was neither specific nor exhaustive. The Founders struggled with impeachment, wanting to ensure the ability to remove the aforementioned officials with not impossible, but also wishing it to be a last-ditch effort, due to its severity. Thereafter, a discussion ensues about how to define the list of reasons acceptable for impeachment, including treason, bribery, and ‘other High Crimes and Misdemeanours’. That last has long been a confusing and open-ended addition to the list, one which Tribe and Matz refuse to specify. With a foundation in place, the book moves on to discuss the actors in the process, as well as a loose discussion of how impeachment would play out, basing some of the discussion on the two actual impeachment trials that have taken place, as well as the start of the middle experience (Nixon), which failed to transpire when the sitting president resigned. Tribe and Matz offer wonderful detail here, including some of the pomp and circumstance, while peppering their discussions with documents from the congressional record. As the attentive reader will know, both impeachment trials failed when the Senate failed to meet the two-thirds threshold for both Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. There is an ongoing theme throughout the tome that partisan attacks will rarely create a conductive situation to impeach a president, though some would feel this is a wonderful means to fuel hatred or help begin an electoral campaign in the opposite direction. The latter portion of the book looks at impeachment as a useful political tool to ward off excessive abuses of power, as well as how the ‘I’ word has become a regular part of political discussions over the past two decades. As there has never been a successful impeachment in the United States, the authors cannot substantiate how its fallout might flavour the political horizon, though they posit some of the horrors that could occur, should a POTUS refuse to cede power. This is a great concern in an era where impeachment is being discussed with more vigour each passing day. While the sentiment may be there to bring forth Articles of Impeachment and hope for a successful outcome in the Senate—which I feel is no certainty—Tribe and Matz caution that impeachment should not be a knee-jerk reaction. There are other means of punishing a POTUS who strays outside of the permissible limits of the office. Before pulling out the weapon, one must survey the potential damage and how this could irreparably harm the Republic.
Looking to the present, Tribe and Matz wonder about how the current Trump Administration might fit into the rubrics they have laid out. While there is a great deal of fodder that comes up in this portion of the book, the authors are quick to explain that there is no rush to judgment when it comes to removal. Exploring presidential censure as an option comes to mind, which would still permit COngress to offer a slap on the wrist without the excessively dramatic fallout of impeachment. Of great interest to those who love constitutional discussions, the authors explore use of the 25th Amendment (replacement of a vacated presidential office and temporary incapacity of the POTUS). Tribe and Matz deliver a detailed discussion of the rules laid out in the amendment, as well as how it could be accomplished in a current situation, though they counsel against its use, for it is by no means a way to remove a sitting president through ‘backdoor antics’. So intriguing to look at the possibilities in a vacuum. I cannot say enough about this piece, which has helped educate me on so many aspects of the impeachment process in the United States. Highly recommended for those who enjoy political discussions about these matters, as well as the reader who likes analyzing the US Constitution through history and modern application.
There will be some who feel this is surely a book about how to bring about the downfall of the current American Administration. While Tribe and Matz admit that they are not fans of Trump—going so far as to explaining that they have active cases against him—their analysis of impeachment and use of modern examples does not openly argue in favour of a Trump impeachment. They allow the reader to draw their own conclusions. There is much to be said on the topic, which they do effectively by mixing laws, history, and outsider interpretation to present a well-rounded and thorough exploration of this thorniest of topics. Broken into six comprehensive chapters, the authors take their time and build a better understanding for each angle of impeachment, so the reader is not making an ignorant choice for themselves. Filled with many substantial arguments to help provide much more than a primer could on the topic. Tribe and Matz also issue dire warnings about getting pulled into the middle of a partisan swamp, which could lead to significant blowback and, as some have cited, a potential Civil War. While this all seems a little far-fetched, nothing really surprises me any longer. Politics has always been an odd beast!
Kudos, Messrs. Tribe and Matz, for such a wonderful piece. I feel much better educated and wait to see what other political permutations await between now and the next presidential election in 2020.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
Looking to the present, Tribe and Matz wonder about how the current Trump Administration might fit into the rubrics they have laid out. While there is a great deal of fodder that comes up in this portion of the book, the authors are quick to explain that there is no rush to judgment when it comes to removal. Exploring presidential censure as an option comes to mind, which would still permit COngress to offer a slap on the wrist without the excessively dramatic fallout of impeachment. Of great interest to those who love constitutional discussions, the authors explore use of the 25th Amendment (replacement of a vacated presidential office and temporary incapacity of the POTUS). Tribe and Matz deliver a detailed discussion of the rules laid out in the amendment, as well as how it could be accomplished in a current situation, though they counsel against its use, for it is by no means a way to remove a sitting president through ‘backdoor antics’. So intriguing to look at the possibilities in a vacuum. I cannot say enough about this piece, which has helped educate me on so many aspects of the impeachment process in the United States. Highly recommended for those who enjoy political discussions about these matters, as well as the reader who likes analyzing the US Constitution through history and modern application.
There will be some who feel this is surely a book about how to bring about the downfall of the current American Administration. While Tribe and Matz admit that they are not fans of Trump—going so far as to explaining that they have active cases against him—their analysis of impeachment and use of modern examples does not openly argue in favour of a Trump impeachment. They allow the reader to draw their own conclusions. There is much to be said on the topic, which they do effectively by mixing laws, history, and outsider interpretation to present a well-rounded and thorough exploration of this thorniest of topics. Broken into six comprehensive chapters, the authors take their time and build a better understanding for each angle of impeachment, so the reader is not making an ignorant choice for themselves. Filled with many substantial arguments to help provide much more than a primer could on the topic. Tribe and Matz also issue dire warnings about getting pulled into the middle of a partisan swamp, which could lead to significant blowback and, as some have cited, a potential Civil War. While this all seems a little far-fetched, nothing really surprises me any longer. Politics has always been an odd beast!
Kudos, Messrs. Tribe and Matz, for such a wonderful piece. I feel much better educated and wait to see what other political permutations await between now and the next presidential election in 2020.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
shannaconda's review against another edition
5.0
A readable and levelheaded overview of the impeachment power as written in the constitution, the ways it has been invoked in history, and the context in which it is discussed now in the Age of Trump. The authors remind us that impeachment is neither a panic button nor a panacea, but a multi-layered political process that requires multiple considerations beyond “Did the president commit high crimes and misdemeanors?”