Vermont senators voted Friday to call for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, saying their actions have raised "serious questions of constitutionality."
The nonbinding resolution was approved 16-9 without debate all six Republicans in the chamber at the time and three Democrats voted against it.
Bush and Cheney's actions in the U.S. and abroad, including in Iraq, "raise serious questions of constitutionality, statutory legality, and abuse of the public trust," the resolution reads.
The Vermont Senate is believed to be the first state chamber in the country to pass such a resolution, said Bill Wyatt, a spokesman for the National Conference of State Legislatures.
"Many chambers passed resolutions about the war in Iraq, but none that we are aware have called for impeachment," he said.
Advocates were thrilled with the vote.
"I think it's going to have a tremendous political effect, a tremendous political effect on public discourse about what to do about this president," said James Leas, a vocal advocate of withdrawing troops from Iraq and impeaching Bush and Cheney.
Vermont lawmakers earlier voted to demand an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq in another nonbinding resolution.
Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington has kept a similar resolution from reaching the floor in her chamber. She argued that an impeachment resolution would be partisan and divisive and that it would distract Washington from efforts to get the United States out of Iraq, which she says is more important.
In the Senate, Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie had opposed the resolution, but he was absent Friday. That left Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin in charge, and he immediately took up the measure.
Forty towns voted in favor of similar nonbinding impeachment resolutions at their annual town meetings in March. State lawmakers in Wisconsin and Washington have pushed for similar resolutions.
LOL...yet another nonbinding resolution from the Democrats...granted, there is not much that a state legislature can accomplish to impact federal affairs, let alone an impeachment of the President...so why bother?The nonbinding resolution was approved 16-9 without debate
Apparently 3 Democrats realized this was a pretty stupid idea.all six Republicans in the chamber at the time and three Democrats voted against it.
At least some of the Democratic leadership gets it...nonbinding resolutions and partisan shenanigans are not going to get our troops out of Iraq any sooner, nor will they hold Bush and Cheney accountable for any alleged crimes...there are more pressing and urgent matters at hand then these little political pissing matches.Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington has kept a similar resolution from reaching the floor in her chamber. She argued that an impeachment resolution would be partisan and divisive and that it would distract Washington from efforts to get the United States out of Iraq, which she says is more important.
Better yet, a binding one. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:Originally posted by: Astaroth33
It's a shame they can just pass nonbinding resolutions in this case.
Originally posted by: jpeyton
I hope so too. Crooks belong behind bars.
O..K... Again, where are the facts? It's the same FUD that's been going around for years now.Bush and Cheney's actions in the U.S. and abroad, including in Iraq, "raise serious questions of constitutionality, statutory legality, and abuse of the public trust,"
Originally posted by: XZeroII
Ok, so where are the hard facts? What specifically would they charge them with?
O..K... Again, where are the facts? It's the same FUD that's been going around for years now.Bush and Cheney's actions in the U.S. and abroad, including in Iraq, "raise serious questions of constitutionality, statutory legality, and abuse of the public trust,"
Originally posted by: XZeroII
Ok, so where are the hard facts? What specifically would they charge them with?
O..K... Again, where are the facts? It's the same FUD that's been going around for years now.Bush and Cheney's actions in the U.S. and abroad, including in Iraq, "raise serious questions of constitutionality, statutory legality, and abuse of the public trust,"
Originally posted by: SexyK
Originally posted by: XZeroII
Ok, so where are the hard facts? What specifically would they charge them with?
O..K... Again, where are the facts? It's the same FUD that's been going around for years now.Bush and Cheney's actions in the U.S. and abroad, including in Iraq, "raise serious questions of constitutionality, statutory legality, and abuse of the public trust,"
Exactly. Plus, the fact that the Vermont Senate thinks they have anything to do with controlling the federal government, let alone impeaching the president, is laughable.
nonbinding resolution
Originally posted by: Harvey
Better yet, a binding one. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:Originally posted by: Astaroth33
It's a shame they can just pass nonbinding resolutions in this case.
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Originally posted by: SexyK
Originally posted by: XZeroII
Ok, so where are the hard facts? What specifically would they charge them with?
O..K... Again, where are the facts? It's the same FUD that's been going around for years now.Bush and Cheney's actions in the U.S. and abroad, including in Iraq, "raise serious questions of constitutionality, statutory legality, and abuse of the public trust,"
Exactly. Plus, the fact that the Vermont Senate thinks they have anything to do with controlling the federal government, let alone impeaching the president, is laughable.
They're democrats. Being ineffectual is not a problem in their minds so long as everyone knows they care.
Originally posted by: XZeroII
Ok, so where are the hard facts? What specifically would they charge them with?
O..K... Again, where are the facts? It's the same FUD that's been going around for years now.Bush and Cheney's actions in the U.S. and abroad, including in Iraq, "raise serious questions of constitutionality, statutory legality, and abuse of the public trust,"
Originally posted by: Jaskalas
If you impeach Bush, you?ll create a lot of hatred and put Cheney in the seat. If you impeach them both, be prepared for unprecedented civil unrest. The country is divided, do not act without thinking about the retaliation of the other half.
Originally posted by: compuwiz1
It's amazing that so many good presidents have been assasinated, but not a bad one. :shocked:
Just a thought that came to mind. No real intent, just wondering.
Frankly, I'm surprised that this has not happened yet. He's too dumb to keep his mouth shut, or refrain from saying things that totally piss off the world, but yet nobody has made the hit. Had I known 6 years ago, what I know now about this president, I would have bet that he would be eliminated by someone.
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Originally posted by: compuwiz1
It's amazing that so many good presidents have been assasinated, but not a bad one. :shocked:
Just a thought that came to mind. No real intent, just wondering.
Frankly, I'm surprised that this has not happened yet. He's too dumb to keep his mouth shut, or refrain from saying things that totally piss off the world, but yet nobody has made the hit. Had I known 6 years ago, what I know now about this president, I would have bet that he would be eliminated by someone.
Don't forget the replacement order six years ago...
Dick Cheney
Denny Hastert
Ted Stevens
Now that's what you call insurance!
Originally posted by: JD50
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Originally posted by: SexyK
Originally posted by: XZeroII
Ok, so where are the hard facts? What specifically would they charge them with?
O..K... Again, where are the facts? It's the same FUD that's been going around for years now.Bush and Cheney's actions in the U.S. and abroad, including in Iraq, "raise serious questions of constitutionality, statutory legality, and abuse of the public trust,"
Exactly. Plus, the fact that the Vermont Senate thinks they have anything to do with controlling the federal government, let alone impeaching the president, is laughable.
They're democrats. Being ineffectual is not a problem in their minds so long as everyone knows they care.
Haha, thats great. :laugh:
Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington has kept a similar resolution from reaching the floor in her chamber. She argued that an impeachment resolution would be partisan and divisive and that it would distract Washington from efforts to get the United States out of Iraq, which she says is more important.