--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a political reality about…" description: "\"There's a political reality about impeachment. It's purely a political process. The interpretation of \"high crimes and misdemeanors\" can reach a long w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/john-dean-22943_absurd_there-s-a-political-reality-about-impeac_3110893.jpg" --- # There's a political reality about impeachment. It's purely… ![“There's a political reality about impeachment. It's purely a political process. The interpretation of "high crimes and misdemeanors" can reach a long way, all the way to sex in the Oval Office, which was an absurd use of the impeachment clause.” quote by John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/john-dean-22943_absurd_there-s-a-political-reality-about-impeac_3110893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/john-dean-22943_absurd_there-s-a-political-reality-about-impeac_3110893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/john-dean-22943_absurd_there-s-a-political-reality-about-impeac_3110893.jpg) > “There's a political reality about impeachment. It's purely a political process. The interpretation of "high crimes and misdemeanors" can reach a long way, all the way to sex in the Oval Office, which was an absurd use of the impeachment clause.” [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Impeachment is driven by politics rather than strict legal standards, allowing broad interpretation of misconduct. **In simple terms:** Impeachment is political, not just legal. Key Takeaway Recognize political motives in legal processes. Themes politics law governance Mood cautious critical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - Congressional hearings - media analysis - public opinion - legal reforms Key Concepts Constitutional law political strategy Questions to Reflect On - How does politics shape legal outcomes? - What safeguards exist against misuse? A Different Perspective Political bias can undermine accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes and misdemeanors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-and-misdemeanors/) [Impeachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impeachment/) [Impeachment Clause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impeachment-clause-5432858/) [Impeachment Purely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impeachment-purely-1456826/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-way/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Impeachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-impeachment-5432856/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Use Impeachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-impeachment-5432857/) ## Related quotes > [Impeachment really is not a criminal proceeding. The American people have been conditioned to believe that, you know, high crimes and misdemeanors means what?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/impeachment-really-is-not-a-criminal-proceeding-the-american-people/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Clinton's egregious act of self-indulgence was outdone by an impeachment based not on constitutionally required high crimes and misdemeanors but on a vindictive determination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/clinton-s-egregious-act-of-self-indulgence-was-outdone-by-an/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [I am neither accusing President Obama of having committed high crimes and misdemeanors nor advocating his impeachment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-limbaugh/i-am-neither-accusing-president-obama-of-having-committed-high-crimes/) [David Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-limbaugh/) > [“To those who will decide if he should be tried for 'high crimes and misdemeanors' -the House of Representatives- And to those who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-bernstein/to-those-who-will-decide-if-he-should-be-tried-for-high-crimes-and/) [Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-bernstein/) > [If a politician takes a bribe to do what he thinks would have been best for the public anyway, he still goes to jail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/if-a-politician-takes-a-bribe-to-do-what-he-thinks-would-have-been/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [“The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were adamant that impeachment not reach to errors of judgment, or what Edmund Randolph described as “a willful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-delegates-to-the-constitutional-convention-were-adamant-that/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“The two impeachment articles charged President Clinton with perjury and obstruction of justice.16 The charges satisfied the “high crimes and misdemeanors” threshold, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-two-impeachment-articles-charged-president-clinton-with-perjury/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [Evidence has proven that Secretary Mayorkas' sustained and willful betrayal of the public trust makes him an accessory to the poisoning of millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/evidence-has-proven-that-secretary-mayorkas-sustained-and-willful/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [Joe Biden abused the power of the Office of the Vice President, enabling bribery and other high crimes and misdemeanors, by allowing his son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/joe-biden-abused-the-power-of-the-office-of-the-vice-president/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [The President of the United States would be liable to be impeached, tried, and upon conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-president-of-the-united-states-would-be-liable-to-be-impeached/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [It is a coup because while the Brazilian Constitution allows for impeachment, it's necessary for the person to have committed what we call high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva/it-is-a-coup-because-while-the-brazilian-constitution-allows-for/) [Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva/) > [All societies make necessary moral distinctions between high crimes and misdemeanors, mortal and lesser sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/all-societies-make-necessary-moral-distinctions-between-high-crimes/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Funny that all of Nixon's crimes - anonymous campaign cash, wiretapping, undeclared wars - are all legal now. Discuss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/funny-that-all-of-nixon-s-crimes-anonymous-campaign-cash-wiretapping/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“Willful and repeated violation of the Constitution is the textbook example of high crimes and misdemeanors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/willful-and-repeated-violation-of-the-constitution-is-the-textbook/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. It is only we, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/events-unfold-so-unpredictably-so-unfairly-human-happiness-does-not/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More by John Dean > [History never exactly repeats itself, but it does some rather good impressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/history-never-exactly-repeats-itself-but-it-does-some-rather-good/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [Doing time is like climbing a mountain wearing roller skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/doing-time-is-like-climbing-a-mountain-wearing-roller-skates/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [We are all encouraged that Bush appears, really for the first time in his experience on the stage of presidential politics, relaxed. His comfort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/we-are-all-encouraged-that-bush-appears-really-for-the-first-time-in/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [Bush had expertise in one thing: How to run a Presidential campaign. He understands campaigns and Presidential politics. He has no interest or disposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/bush-had-expertise-in-one-thing-how-to-run-a-presidential-campaign-he/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [I began by telling the president that there was a cancer growing on the presidency and that if the cancer was not removed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/i-began-by-telling-the-president-that-there-was-a-cancer-growing-on/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [Warrantless wiretapping is an impeachable offense. It couldn't be any clearer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/warrantless-wiretapping-is-an-impeachable-offense-it-couldn-t-be-any/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [Had the Senate or House, or both, censured or somehow warned Richard Nixon, the tragedy of Watergate might have been prevented. Hopefully the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/had-the-senate-or-house-or-both-censured-or-somehow-warned-richard/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [Who voted for Trump? Who are these people who, as he famously said, would let him shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and still support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/who-voted-for-trump-who-are-these-people-who-as-he-famously-said/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [There is only one thing Donald Trump is interested in, and that's Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/there-is-only-one-thing-donald-trump-is-interested-in-and-that-s/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [Trump hasn't really done anything yet to abuse his powers. I don't even know if he knows what all his powers are as president.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/trump-hasn-t-really-done-anything-yet-to-abuse-his-powers-i-don-t/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [Granted, terrorism is a real problem everywhere. But you can't prevent it. Terrorists are nutcases who are hellbent on killing people for ideology. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/granted-terrorism-is-a-real-problem-everywhere-but-you-can-t-prevent/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [Bill Rehnquist makes Barry Goldwater look like a liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/bill-rehnquist-makes-barry-goldwater-look-like-a-liberal/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [To me the fact that a Vice President can go to Capitol Hill and lobby for torture is just unbelievable. Just unbelievable! The fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/to-me-the-fact-that-a-vice-president-can-go-to-capitol-hill-and-lobby/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [There's no good that can come out of secrecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/there-s-no-good-that-can-come-out-of-secrecy/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) > [There's a cancer on the presidency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dean/there-s-a-cancer-on-the-presidency/) [John Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) [Explore all 26 John Dean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dean/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. 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But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) [Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's a political reality about impeachment. It's purely a political process. 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