No, I am NOT kidding.
Posted on 08/28/2003 8:22:26 PM PDT by bicycle thug
Last week, the Arcata City Council considered a resolution to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Again we face the issue of whether our City Council should tackle national issues. A Town Hall meeting will take place Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Community Center's Senior Dining Room to ascertain the will of the public on this matter.
1. Should Arcata consider a resolution on a national matter, specifically to impeach the president and vice president?
2. Regardless of whether the Arcata City Council takes a stand, should Bush and Cheney be impeached?
1. I question whether Meserve's proposed resolution is not an attention-getting grandstanding play to publicize his personal political agenda, beyond the scope and authority of the office for which he was elected. A small cabal cannot assume that the contents of the resolution (as set forth in its whereas clauses) represent the general view of the majority of Arcata residents, without a prior and definite canvassing of those persons. 2. Impeachment of the nation's leaders is a complex decision for the U.S. House of Representatives, following detailed analysis and based upon its specific legal merits. The individual citizen can only implore his or her lawful representatives to express the desires of its constituency. It is not a yes or no decision for the average person, who logistically cannot be privy to all of the relevant facts. Generalized accusations and condemning conclusions are too simplistic and unreliable.
Forbes E. Forbes
The Arcata City Council should not waste time and energy on symbolic resolutions concerning national issues. These resolutions may stir up some publicity, but don't really accomplish anything. Further, what evidence does the council have that these resolutions have broad popular support? The left-wing student radicals make a lot of noise, but don't necessarily speak for the majority.
Impeachment is the role of the House of Representatives, and we have a liberal Democrat representative in this district who could undertake the task if he thought it was reasonable. But then, it is probable that David Meserve doesn't really expect any impeachment procedures to ever take place, but he simply wants to get on national television again as the far-left councilmember from that weird California nut-case community.
In any case, the president and vice-president can only be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and Mr. Meserve's indictment doesn't even come close. The resolution is based primarily on the assertion that Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney lied about conditions in Iraq in order to promote a war. Neither Mr. Bush or Mr. Cheney are front-line intelligence agents, and they are supplied with information by various government agencies, filtered through their aides. It may be that some of this information was incorrect or misleading (although that is still not proven), but there is no evidence that the president deliberately falsified his statements. On the other hand, we have good evidence of Mr. Merserve's facility for twisting the facts (Eye, Aug. 12) when he was bashing the police force. His indictment of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney is typical hypocrisy of an accomplished demagogue.
Becky Luening
Should the criminals in the White House be impeached? Absolutely! Using the administrative office for their own personal gain, they care not a whit for the American public. They grow richer by the second while saddling our country with a debt of trillions! Just today I learned of a "joke" delivered by W. at a $1,000-a-plate dinner that just about says it all: "I am pleased tonight to be dining with the Haves and the Have-Mores. Some call you elites. I call you my base." Should Arcata City spend time to consider this resolution on a national matter? Absolutely! (Don't worry, the potholes will get fixed too...) Along with the rest of Americans, we Arcatans are being hit below the belt. Bush and Cheney have nurtured a climate of fear while undermining many of the things that give us real security. They have shamelessly lied about reasons for war with Iraq. Their reckless foreign policies and plans for ever more destructive weapons are designed for one thing: monetary profits for themselves and their cronies.
The best reason for resolutions such as these is the publicity. Although it may be embarrassing for some Arcatans, such actions cause a ripple effect among the grassroots, emboldening others to speak out. Our elected officials don't seem to have the intestinal fortitude to challenge these corrupt elites that have stolen our democracy, so it's up to "we the people" to make our voices heard in whatever way we can. Go Arcata!
Marcia Tauber
In my opinion the distinction between national, regional and local issues is a specious one. I think any issue that affects the citizens of Arcata is one that is properly within the purview of the City Council as a voice for our community. That doesn't mean, necessarily, that the City Council must weigh in on all issues, but rather, that any issue that affects us is a proper one for the council to consider if a member of the council feels strongly enough about the issue to bring it up. It then becomes a question to ask when electing city council people; whether they are going to focus solely on local issues or also on broader issues.
On the subject of whether George Bush and Richard Cheney should be impeached, I say yes. If ever there was a reason to impeach a president and vice-president, I have to believe lying to the American People and Congress about something so terrible as waging war on another sovereign nation would have to be it. I am dumfounded that anyone could consider lying about one's private sex life in a civil forum an impeachable offense, and yet turn a blind eye to a president, in his official capacity, misrepresenting facts and lying to Congress, the American people, and the rest of the world in order to send our children across the world to kill other children.
Paul Cienfuegos
Yes, I think it is highly appropriate for our Council to consider such a resolution. Opponents always say municipalities have no business meddling in national politics. But just look at what is continuing to unfold regarding the now more than 150 cities, counties, and three states which have passed resolutions opposing the so-called "Patriot Act," representing over 18 MILLION local residents. There's a national grassroots citizens' rebellion brewing against our (dare I say it) fascist national leadership, and it's getting so loud that the White House has pushed (Attorney) General Ashcroft out into public space - insisting that he tour the country to defend his outrageous Bill of Rights-busting "Patriot Act" and "Patriot Act 2." The White House smells trouble, and they're scrambling to respond.
How did this trouble begin? With one city, and then another, and then a few more, adding their elected officials' voices to an ever-growing chorus of American cities saying NO to this outrageous behavior from Washington. The latest cities to join include Farmington, New Mexico; Astoria, Oregon and Santa Clara County, CA. (Visit www.bordc.org to see how many new cities were added today!) Americans know that municipal government is the last vestige of actual representative democracy left in this sad country where large corporations own most of our elected officials. And folks are demanding - all across the US - that THEIR local elected officials speak LOUDLY in defense of the Bill of Rights - before it's too late.
Dave Meserve's impeachment resolution is simply another in a series of ideas that may very well spark another nationwide grassroots rebellion. And until rank and file Democrats rescue their party from the corporatists, and Greens get better organized, the only national "opposition party" the American people have is the collective voice of hundreds of elected city and county councils saying STOP. This ISN'T a left/right issue; it IS an emergency. Let's STOP Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Ashcroft's war on the world (including our own citizens) and let's demand impeachment before it's too late.
Judith Maxey
As anyone who has read The First American Revolution realizes, it was exactly the grassroots efforts of people in towns such as ours who dared to take a stand that allowed We the People to take control of our government instead of the government taking control of us.
So, yes, sure, the City Council should be able to consider and debate this issue even until the wee hours, if necessary. It also keeps them out of real mischief.
And, regardless of whether the Arcata City Council takes a stand, Bush and Cheney should be impeached, recalled, whatever, and then allow anyone who has $3,500 and 65 signatures to be on the ballot.
If that were true, subversives like this guy would be rounded up and shot.
He'll just have to settle for being laughed at.
No, I am NOT kidding.
If you haven't read the Arcata Eye's police log, you haven't lived.
"Arcata: Where the debris meets the sea."
They grow richer by the second while saddling our country with a debt of trillions!"
Next time I go I'll be prepared. I'm bringing and industrial grade butterfly net to protect my personal space with.
Just today I learned of a "joke" delivered by W. at a $1,000-a-plate dinner that just about says it all: "I am pleased tonight to be dining with the Haves and the Have-Mores. Some call you elites. I call you my base."
Just today, Becky? Where have you been for the last three years? A little behind on our reading, I see...
Well, Bush did tell that joke, at the "Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner" held on October 19, 2000 - a traditional event which raised $1.6 million for health care programs in the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. (Al Smith was a Democrat Governor of New York who ran and lost the 1928 Presidential race). "Becky" probably got the latest demonrat talking points off of an Internet site and presto, she had her "facts". What a maroon...
Both George Bush and Al Gore were attendees and speakers at the white-tie dinner where Bush said the following:
And among other jibes, Gore said:Bush, whose proposals have been criticized by opponents as benefits for a small percentage of the rich, said as his opening remark he was glad to join those on the "distinguished dais, better known as the top one percent."
"This is an impressive crowd of the haves and have mores," he said. "Some people call you the elite, I call you my base."
Gore jokingly crowed about his strategy of using "real people" to illustrate policy points.
"Like the woman who's here tonight, whose husband is about to lose his job. She's struggling to get out of public housing and get a job of her own. Hillary Clinton, I want to fight for you!"
Source: CNY Lead Story Archives
Source: CNN All Politics, October 20th 2000
It's like that game of 'telephone' where Democrats start off with the truth, and by the time it gets relayed to the last Democrat, they don't know what was said originally except that it is George Bush's fault...
dvwjr
I'm sure they would b pros at looking hurt, angry and outraged at the orld going by them waving their little "Impeach Bush!" resolution.
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