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Vermont Senate calls for impeachment of Bush, Cheney
By Ross Sneyd
Associated Press
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MONTPELIER, Vt. -- 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.

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Reader comments on this story - 25 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

To: What is the Dif wrote on Apr 21, 2007 9:44 PM:

" Maybe the difference is that Saddam killed, maimed, tortured, raped, and gassed his people, while our troops are doing their best to protect them? If you can't see that, I'm not sure what to tell you. Sad "

to: to incorrigible Fachna wrote on Apr 21, 2007 1:03 PM:

" The incorrigble Fachna does have his facts straight. At one time the south was known for being " Dixie Democrats ". However after the Democratic party moved to embrace civil rights southern whites fled the party and joined the GOP in droves. That " welcome" alone should be enough for the GOP to be forever villified in America ! "

Lear from GOP's mistake wrote on Apr 21, 2007 12:34 PM:

" Motivated primaily by politics and an attempt to embarass President Clinton, of the Republican impeachment of Clinton was creating sympathy for him, the last person in the world Congressional leaders wanted to help. Democrats would be well-advised not to make the same mistake with President Bush. "

The Peddler says wrote on Apr 21, 2007 12:10 PM:

" I suggest we impeach the state of Vermont. They have a lot of granite there which is used to produce the brains of those who may cause us to one day soon lose our freedom. Then what will you people spew who have much criticism but no solutions, except defeat. "

James McLain wrote on Apr 21, 2007 9:59 AM:

" Dear people of Vermont: I urge you to go to www.democrats.com/organize and at least read the real reasons for impeaching Bush and Cheney. In the blog are listed the Amendments to Costitution and the steps needed for impeachment. On the main pages are listed the actual Articles for Impeachment to be presented to Senate by the House of Representatives. You should be aware of the fact that our Forefathers designed this government so that Congress would be the most powerful branch and that the presidency was erected as a figurehead in times of Congressionally declared war or Congressional recess and whose Presidential Powers should at no time become equal to that part of Congress known as the Senate and should Never equal the power of the House of Representatives in order to prevent a unitary government. Yes, we have pyramidal power, but the power is at the bottom - We the People! So please, go to www.democrats.com/organize, read, and decide. You can petition your Congressmen in less than five minutes to put a stop to unitary government now. Thank you. "

impeach judges instead wrote on Apr 21, 2007 9:47 AM:

" Isn't the the state that gives hard-core pedifiles 6 months probation for having sex with 9 yr old girls. They need to worry about more important things in that state. "

To To Mainer wrote on Apr 21, 2007 9:13 AM:

" Who needs terriost when we have Bush and Cheney making a mess out of the United States. The Bush clan has done far more damage to the United States than any terriost. Shouldn't we look at the VT shooting as a terriost attack. "

What is the difference? wrote on Apr 21, 2007 8:52 AM:

" I agree Bush and Cheney should be impeached. They should also be charged with crimes against the Iraqi people. What is so different about what they are doing than what Saddam did to his people? Both of these low lifers are using the war machine to make profit. It is disgusting to think they are going to get away with it at the cost of the American reputation. Do you really think Cheney has no ties to Halliburton and the Iraqi oil is of no consequence it the war? Wake up and put them in prison where they belong for the crimes against the US and Iraqi. I don't believe treason would be taking it to far. "

To: to; the people of Vermont must be proud wrote on Apr 21, 2007 6:20 AM:

" We can only hope the Vermont Congressional delegation is smart enough to ignore this silliness. Although the Democrats hatred of President Bush is so intense nothing is impossible. Also, there is nothing the Vermont U.S. senators can do since impeachment resolutions must be offered in the House. Plus, it is "their senator." "

to: The people of Vermont must be proud wrote on Apr 20, 2007 11:44 PM:

" these senators do this showing there senator to DC that this is what the people of the state of Vermont want. Now it is up to the DC senators from Vermont to proceed with what the people wish. "

To: The Incorrigible Fachna: wrote on Apr 20, 2007 10:50 PM:

" In the last two presidential elections the Republicans won substantially more than Mississippi and Alabama. They won enough states to win. Don't take my word for it, ask Al Gore and John Kerry. By the way, who, or what, is a Fachna? "

To Mainer wrote on Apr 20, 2007 10:45 PM:

" May I respectfully point out to you that there has not been a terrorist attack on U.S. territory since the Patriot Act was implemented. Coincidence? No. Yes, as a proud owner of a political science degree from ISU I have throughly read the Constitution and Bill of Rights. "

To: Ignorant Fachna wrote on Apr 20, 2007 10:02 PM:

" Alabama and Mississippi used to be strongly Democratic. If you want to comment of every story, do so with the facts. But, really, who cares about this? They weren't voting for a candidate. They were spewing political vomit. Rather DNCish and not newsworthy. "

Reality_Can_Be_Hell wrote on Apr 20, 2007 10:01 PM:

" Didn't we give Vermont back to England considerind it was pretty much worthless. "

To TIF: wrote on Apr 20, 2007 9:25 PM:

" What's wrong with Alabama and Mississippi? I am sure those people would like to know someone is implying that they are beneath you for some reason. Once again, stereotypes and mean comments. Look what it did for Don Imus. As for this Vermont vote. This comes from a state in which 2 liberal judges allowed convicted child molesters to go without any prison time. I am not meaning statutory or I thought she was 18. I mean brutal attacks on young children. That is not a "Foxnews or Republican" attack. Go check out the web on that one. It is definitely a far left state, so you should take this impeachment vote with a grain of salt. Seems like they have other issues they should be dealing with. "

To Mairner wrote on Apr 20, 2007 8:28 PM:

" What laws? What rights have YOU lost? Details. Not DNC talking points. Details "

Larry, Daryl and Daryl are running Vermont wrote on Apr 20, 2007 8:24 PM:

" Ever wondered what happened to the buffoons on Newhart, the CBS sitcom based at an inn in rural Vermont? Apparently, Larry, my brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl are running the state. No doubt, with the unable aid of those world-class airheads Michael and Stephanie. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if this ensemble would even come up with such an moronic scheme. "

Mainer wrote on Apr 20, 2007 7:32 PM:

" You guys must all be part of the RNC rhetoric machine or either brainwashed by the politic of corruption that pervades in the White House. Get a life and really read the news and understand what liberites you are loosing every day with this administration. Perhaps you should ACTUALLY read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to understand what ideal this nation was founded upon. Impeachment is our only hope if we are to survive as a FREE people and Nation. "

Chuck in Normal wrote on Apr 20, 2007 5:44 PM:

" What state is vermont in, and who cares? "

Still wrote on Apr 20, 2007 3:54 PM:

" Those who want to Impeach President Bush. What laws has he broken? "

Lawst wrote on Apr 20, 2007 3:28 PM:

" Alot of useless posturing. "

The Incorrigible Fachna wrote on Apr 20, 2007 3:16 PM:

" Back in the day, Maine was so reliably Republican that GOPers were fond of saying, "As Maine goes, so goes the nation." In 1936, Maine did not disappoint, but was joined by only one, other state, and James Farley, then-chair of the Democratic National Committee, quipped, "As Maine goes, so goes Vermont." Now they've lost Vermont, and Maine is wavering. Oh, well, there's always Alabama and Mississippi... "

The people of Vermont must be proud wrote on Apr 20, 2007 2:51 PM:

" Instead of voting on issues like roads and schools that the state legislature actually has power over, they're serving their citizens by wasting state resources on a nonbinding political statement. Nice. "

the dems wrote on Apr 20, 2007 2:17 PM:

" are dividing this country not the war "

India Joe wrote on Apr 20, 2007 2:08 PM:

" Does anyone pay attention to what the people from Vermont does? "
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