By Kelly O'Connell ——Bio and Archives--June 15, 2014
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Given his astounding indifference, breathtaking incompetence and incomprehensible malevolence towards America's interest, can Barack Obama be removed from office? The simple answer is, of course--Yes, he could be. Next, yet if Barack's status, being a member of a historically downtrodden and currently protected group, would keep him from being considered for impeachment, can any other theory be used for removal?
Yes, if one considers the West's fascinating development of representative government theory, outlined during the Catholic Church's "Great Schism" crisis, which resulted in Conciliar Theory. Quentin Skinner, in The Foundations of Modern Political Thought, Vol. 2: The Age of Reformation, claims the foundation for modern constitutionalism was laid during the great debate regarding heretic Pope Urban VI.
Study of the Great Schism offers fascinating insight into modern power plays, like defining a "true leader," or pondering general options during a crisis in a constitutional state. In fact, the notion of Popular Sovereignty derives from the response to the Schism. The biblical writers promised that His Church will always retain a "true remnant" on earth (Romans 11:5). So, if God's Church is an expression of His sovereignty, but His leaders have gone rogue against His Word, there must be an ethical response available. That response became Conciliar Theory, which vested all power and authority in the Elect, or God's people, who then loaned it to the See of Cardinals. The See then used this to elect a leader, the Pope. But, should the Pope prove to be a heretic, God's Church does not lapse into heresy, but retains the right to reject the rogue Pontif.
Centuries later, such thinkers as John Locke would use this Conciliar Theory and adapt it to a secular setting. It was employed by the Founders to craft the Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights, according to Daniel Elezar in Covenant and Commonwealth: From Christian Separation Through the Protestant Reformation (Covenant Tradition in Politics Vol 2). Therefore, Conciliar Theory revolutionized the secular world. And while many Americans dismiss the notion of impeaching Obama for manifest destruction, a secular view of Conciliar Theory reveals Barack must be judged a secular heretic, or traitor, and immediately removed from office.
Recent events lead to the inescapable conclusion the current DC Administration is hovering somewhere between incompetence and utter treason. While it is in vogue to blame Washington in general, instead of Barack; history is driven by both great and also incompetent players. It would therefore be absurd to claim Obama is a symptom of a larger problem, so is himself morally blameless. Instead, while he may be a symbol of America's larger struggle with competence and efficiency, Barack is yet the single most culpable figure in the US. Therefore, some analysis should be made of whether he can be ejected from office before his term ends.
We have just allowed painfully gained territory back into enemy hands for no clear reason. Meanwhile, wolves are at the gate as hordes of foreign kids are brought into the US, with no means of support or family ties. Mexican gang members have also been given entry. Barack just released five Taliban generals for a single American who walked away from his platoon, and later declared Jihad against us. And, just last quarter, the economy shrank by 1%, another wretched twist in 7 years of recession. Across the globe unrest surges as the US downsizes its military. The president touts Islam, apologizes overseas, and shows either ignorance or a lack of enthusiasm for all things American.
People now wonder, with all the mainstream media worship of Barack, and the Politically Correct defense of racial minorities, whether he could be impeached under any circumstances? Meanwhile, America burns while a worried globe shakes its collective head at the gathering travesty by the Fool on Capitol Hill.
What was the Conciliar debate from the Great Schism and what is its import today? In brief, it was a battle in the medieval Church that resulted in creating the theory now used in all secular democracies for government theory. The Conciliar Theory offers an overall scheme that puts the people in charge of the government by vesting authority in them, according to Brian Tierney, in The Foundations of The Conciliar Theory.
Conciliar Theory therefore frames an approach to ejecting a failed secular leader the same way a rogue pope can be booted for leaving the Church. In the Roman Catholic Church, a pope who begins following his own devices and beliefs is a heretic. Similarly, a democratic secular leader becomes a traitor by rejecting his state's founding documents or creed. It's the same idea--that lack of fidelity to the constitution of the organization is not so much cause for removal, as an announcement that the leader has abandoned ship, voluntarily giving up his or her post.
The Great Schism occurred when The Roman Catholic Church elected Urban VI, then discovered he was a heretic. What to do? Since he did not resign, a power struggle in the Church saw the papal headquarters relocated to Avignon, France for 70 years.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Bartolomeo Prignano, who became Pope Urban VI, lived from 1318--1389. His conclave and installation occurred under a cloud in 1378, which never truly dispersed, given manifest irregularities. For example, during the historically brief consideration period for the new pope, the people rioted, staged an all-night chant and stormed the Vatican, drunkenly demanding an "Italian Pope." Much like Barack Obama, many claimed his election did not produce a consummated leader.
Again like Obama, Urban started with strong public approval, but his personality was capricious, accusatory and self-righteous. He made foolish decisions, alienating his natural allies and antagonizing early supporters. In fact, both men have in common that they had just a few successes, but almost unlimited failure during their reigns. And both leaders claimed their election, by itself, justified their decisions. Urban's faults are described here:
He lacked Christian gentleness and charity. He was naturally arbitrary and extremely violent and imprudent, and when he came to deal with the burning ecclesiastical question of the day, that of reform, the consequences were disastrous...Urban VI did himself no favors; whereas the cardinals had expected him pliant, he was considered arrogant and angry by many of his contemporaries.
The unrest caused the cardinals to decide upon a new pope--Robert of Geneva, who became Pope Clement VII. This was the start of the Great Schism of 1378. A number of plots were hatched to depose Urban. Some even detailing plans to name him a heretic and burn him at the stake.
The problem with Urban's theory of leadership is a problem that still haunts us today--that of absolutism and tyranny--also known as theory of the Divine Right of Kings. In other words, when a leader decides he or she is so gifted or correct in their opinions as to need no help, what is to stop them from exercising absolute power?
The Conciliar Theory pondered this and posited that the power of the Church was vested by in the people, who then allowed this power to be loaned to a leader. So even a pope could have his authority removed if he stopped representing the church. The conciliarist document Sacrosancta outlined the derivative power of the Pope, which could be removed the General Council. Normally a pope was immune from human judgment, but this did not hold if he became a heretic, according to Tierney. A heretical pope ceased to be a pope at all, and therefore was immediately under condemnation. Likewise, instead of seeing Obama as above criticism, Americans must empower themselves to fight off tyranny wherever found.
Many folks today ask themselves how it is possible that a single man of obviously limited intellect, and of questionable skills can push history's greatest country so far off track. What might be claimed a perfect storm of opportunity and PC driven support lacking in any ethical or moral restraint.
It would be, at this point, of little value to argue whether Barack Obama purposely fails, or by accident. To give him the broadest "benefit of the doubt" conceivable, certainly Barack toils on a project most Americans reject. Further, the assumptions and premises of Obama's socialist theories have been roundly dismissed by countless thinkers.
Does not Obama seem more self-satisfied than Aristotle's Unmoved Mover?
It almost seems that Barack believes he lives in a counter universe where nothing is as it appears. Apparent failure is secret, massive success. An economy, still sputtering after 7 years of recession is the genius answer to shrinking Global Warming, and pushing back against greedy ogres. Chaos enveloping foreign climes, influenced by American decisions, is actually the formation of the grandest order. An apparently sagging economy is, in reality the most blessed kind of marketplace--one rejecting hateful things like unfettered capitalism, excess profits, and lower minimum wages. An apparently insane influx of illegals, dropped off at random cities, is the crafting of the most brilliant new socialist polity. The takeover of the US health care system, is then buried under a new but defunct online portal, is a historic achievement in medical care, etc etc etc.
To quote the film Apocalypse Now, what was said about Col. Kurtz could plausibly be claimed about Obama.
Because there's a conflict in every human heart between the rational and the irrational, between good and evil. The good does not always triumph. Sometimes the dark side overcomes what Lincoln called the better angels of our nature. Every man has got a breaking point. You and I have. Walter Kurtz has reached his. And very obviously, he has gone insane.
Barack acts as Lex Animata, the living law. Furthering the problems associated with one-man-rule, is the troubling fact that Obama seems to have rejected Plato's dilemma from the dialog Euthyphro. He naively seems to believe that his decisions become good, in the matter of alchemy--simply by having been authored by Obama.
Consider if George W Bush had made any of the same mistakes as Barack. Certainly, Obama would have given full-throated denunciation to them. This is an expression of almost unfettered political commitment over any other good. It creates the most dangerous leadership crisis--the mentally unfit, morally obtuse, blind to reality emperor.
Whether Obama is incompetent, purposefully causing harm, or wholly unhinged, no longer matters. The idea that Americans must stand by while he destroys the country is false. Further, the deepest roots of American democracy show us the way forward.
A conciliar-styled removal of a failed president would not simply focus upon impeachment. It would first grant that a secular heretic leader had rejected the founding premises of his society. In America's case, Barack put his hand on a Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. Obviously, the crafty, smug and condescending Barack has actually rejected our founding documents and has pledged himself to another.
Next, we now see Obama as a self-deposed leader. He is no longer vested with the power of the presidency because he walked away from its duties and obligations. Therefore, here are some ways in which the self-deposed Barack could finally be removed from office before crisis destroys America's foundation.
Eleven Ways in which Obama could be removed from office:
Obama is clearly unfit to lead America, for reasons which may never be known. But Americans do not have to wait around for the impeachment that will never happen. Barack can and should be permanently booted from office, ASAP.
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Kelly O’Connell is an author and attorney. He was born on the West Coast, raised in Las Vegas, and matriculated from the University of Oregon. After laboring for the Reformed Church in Galway, Ireland, he returned to America and attended law school in Virginia, where he earned a JD and a Master’s degree in Government. He spent a stint working as a researcher and writer of academic articles at a Miami law school, focusing on ancient law and society. He has also been employed as a university Speech & Debate professor. He then returned West and worked as an assistant district attorney. Kelly is now is a private practitioner with a small law practice in New Mexico.