In the midst of the Clinton impeachment, Bill Buckley had Ann Coulter on Firing Line to talk about her research into how the founders understood impeachment. In 1998, Coulter thought impeachment was an excellent, Constitutional thing.
Coulter argues that the founders were concerned with virtue. "The first aim of the constitution was to ensure that men with the most virtue would become the nation's rulers. Impeachment is designed to keep them virtuous while they hold the public trust."
Around 5:00 Coulter says that she thinks we should be engaging in impeachment even more often, not less often. At 6:30 Coulter says that adultery very well might be a high crime and misdemeanor. As well as drunkenness.
At 9:35 Coulter says the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors changes over time. "The amazing thing about this president is watching standards crumble before your eyes just over a couple of years. Each step he takes, people say ok, that's fine."
Then Coulter goes on to say that Clarence Thomas had been treated very unfairly in 1992 during the Anita Hill hearings. OMG, she's such a horrible human. Buckley, to his credit, calls her on this BS.
At 12:10 we learn that Presidents are supposed to be held to a higher standard. Clinton's behavior with Lewinsky, in Coulter's eyes, disqualifies him to be president. Remind me again, what was her take on the Access Hollywood tape?
14:10. Coulter: "Yes obstructing justice and lying to the American people...are clearly impeachable offenses."
Around 15:10 Coulter riffs on how appalled Americans were by how much swearing was on the Nixon tapes. And that was nothing compared to what Clinton has done, she says. Imagine if we still had the standards of the early 70s, she says wistfully.
Around 16:00 Coulter points out that we've impeached people "not for huge grand abuses of power. Two were for tax evasion. One was for drunkenness and senility." So obviously Clinton's actions meet or exceed that standard.
"We basically are just saying the country doesn't give a damn about decency or honor and as long as you have a pack of good lawyers and spinners to go out you can lie and cheat and steal."
Coulter: "We're just saying our leaders like to us and lie to us repeatedly and we don't care because our mutual funds are doing well?!?!"
"He cannot look the American people in the eye and send their boys to war and have them believe we really need to do this and not have people believe it is some sort of political stunt. His word is worthless now. He's the commander in chief!"
Coulter: "You're already talking about a man that has absolutely no reputation, no shame, no dignity." Thus a censure is meaningless, he must be impeached.
At 22:20 Buckley asks why the American people don't seem to agree with Coulter. She says she doesn't believe those polls and that the American people will show they agree with her at election time. Can't get 'em all right I guess.
At 24:00 Buckley asks Coulter what she'd say if the Nov elections show that the US ppl aren't with her on impeachment. She says it doesn't matter. "It's Congress's constitutional duty to impeach a civil officer who's committed high crimes & misdemeanors."
If Clinton is not impeached then Coulter says "we had a good long run as a Constitutional republic but it's over now."
Coulter: "Making it acceptable to lie to the American people is unacceptable. You really can't have civilization if people just casually tell lies, everyone knows it, and you can't rely on people's word."
Just gonna leave this bad boy here to cap off this thread. washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/…
If you're curious about where Coulter is on impeachment in the age of Trump, here's a conversation she had in June with the host of the Federalist Radio Hour. Impeachment talk starts at 16:25. podcastone.com/episode/Ann-Co…
And as for the Access Hollywood tape. Coulter thought it was not a big deal. Sure, Trump is a lout, but that doesn't matter. It's the policy and the issues that matter. deadline.com/2016/10/ann-co…
She felt the same way about the Access Hollywood tape after he was elected as well. Here she's saying "build the damn wall" or else maybe I'll stop defending your lack of virtue. 
One more thing. Today's right wing talk of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" takes on new meaning in light of the "Clinton Derangement Syndrome" manifested by Coulter here.
If for some reason you're feeling the urge to watch more impeachment-related episodes of Firing Line, here's one from 1974, recorded exactly 1 month before Nixon resigned. Buckley is decidedly not a fan of impeachment here.
