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Effort to impeach Bush backfires on Newfane (pop 1,680) By Philip Sherwell in Vermont (Filed: 09/04/2006) After approving funds for pavement repairs and discussing new property tax assessments, the burghers of the New England community of Newfane (population 1,680) turned their attention to weightier political matters. Among the usual community affairs on the agenda at the annual town meeting was a motion of impeachment. And the target was not locally elected officials, but George W Bush, the President of the United States. Impeacher: Dan DeWalt with his tally of war dead As befits the traditionally liberal state of Vermont, the...

In Vermont, vote to impeach president spurs backlash NEWFANE, Vt. -- The protest unfolded in a white meeting house on one of the prettiest town commons in Vermont. The debate at the Town Meeting was by all accounts unfailingly polite. And when the secret ballots were counted, residents of this tiny resort town had voted 121 to 29 to impeach President Bush. The roomful of rural neighbors expected a reaction. But none of them thought their small act of dissent would provoke national outrage. Angry calls and e-mails flooded Newfane, population 1,680, the next day. One critic sent a mock...

NEWFANE, Vt. (AP) -- A small town is urging Vermont's only U.S. congressman to file articles of impeachment against President Bush. Voters gathered for Newfane's annual town meeting on Tuesday to conduct routine business and vote on the impeachment call. It passed 121-to-29. The impeachment item says Bush misled the nation into the Iraq war and engaged in illegal domestic spying. A justice of the peace says that the town is run by what he calls the "far-left." But a local teacher says she can't tell students "that what happens on the national level doesn't affect us at the local...

ROCKINGHAM -- A Newfane resident's call for the impeachment of President George Bush is echoing in Rockingham. Maya Costley, who lives in Saxtons River, heard about Newfane Selectboard member Dan Dewalt's town meeting article asking Rep. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., to open impeachment hearings against the president. If Newfane voters approve the article, Dewalt is going to send Sanders a letter asking the Washington politician to open the impeachment hearings. "I was inspired when I heard about that," Costley said about Dewalt's push. "A light turned on and I said 'This is what we need to do.'" Costley was too late...

NEWFANE -- Among votes to approve the budget and education spending at Town Meeting, residents will wade into national waters and vote from the floor for the impeachment of President George W. Bush. Selectboard member Dan DeWalt wrote the Town Meeting resolution and gathered enough signatures to get the question on to the ballot. The vote for impeachment will be taken from the floor. DeWalt said he was not going to bring any evidence to Newfane's meeting, claiming that the people of the town know enough about Bush's presidency to vote on the resolution. If voters approve the resolution, DeWalt...