Small town provokes big outrage

[YankeyMCC]

(snip)

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.
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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 thank-you note, signed ''Usama Bin Ladin," that applauded the town for its help in ''bringing down" America. Some regular guests of the picturesque, 175-year-old Four Columns Inn notified its owners that they would never visit again.

''Shame on you," one caller said on the town clerk's voicemail. ''A little Socialist town like yourself is a disgrace to America."

(snip)

rest of article: http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/03/18/small_town_provokes_big_outrage/

I've sent a letter of encouragement to the local paper. And I will indeed put Newfane on my list of places to visit (and spend some money as a tourist). I ask that as many of you that can do the same (send letters or call and/or visit).


Official town site: http://www.newfanevt.com/

The local paper: http://www.reformer.com/contactus

[NoGOP]

1. Paranoid lot, aren't they..............

rather than discuss the issue rationally they go on the attack and yet again play the "You hate this Country" card. Don't they have anything else in their playbook?

[Arkansas Granny]

2. If this country had listened to people of that mindset a few

hundred years ago, we would still be pledging allegiance to a king.

[pretzel4gore]

3. and habeas corpus would be called a terrorist plot!

hey, that's what's going on now!

[WePurrsevere]

4. Sadly some still seem to think that they are. Different century, Different

Mad "King" George. The Tories have just changed their name to Republican.

[Frustratedlady]

5. I also applauded them

via a letter to the editor, in the hope that they will continue to stand tall.

What HAS this country come to?

[fasttense]

6. This story focuses on the bushbots that disapprove of the vote to Impeach

What about all those who approve of it. Hmmm, must be mentioned on page 2. Good for the Town of Newfane. At least they know what the Constitution says and are willing to speak plain about the pResident breaking the law. I sent them a thank you note.

[theHandpuppet]

7. DUers -- make sure you put this town on your vacation list this year

Stop pouring your tourist dollars into red states and red businesses. When folks like this take a stand, let's show them that there are plenty of Americans who would be glad to take up the slack when the neocons threaten to boycott.

[YankeyMCC]

10. Yes!

[NoGOP]

17. and miss the.........

Corn Palace in South Dakota! I'll need to think carefully about that.:sarcasm:

[Eric J in MN]

8. Every town should vote to impeach Bush. Then the US House

should do it.

[no_hypocrisy]

9. "Live free or die" n/t

[WePurrsevere]

11. WTG Newfane! Vermont is a gorgeous area to visit, lots to do & see.

Growing up and having lived most of my life somwhere close to the Vermont border in NY day and weekend trips into Vermont were common and always very much enjoyed. B-)

Vermont has a long history of being very Patriotic and no nonsense... I'm thrilled to see that they've taken yet another stand against yet another mad "King" George. Those Tories writing that town hate-mail wouldn't know what a TRUE PATRIOT was if it bit them on the backside. :patriot:

[cali]

12. The wingnuts love to hate Vermont

Civil Unions, Bernie Sanders, Pat Leahy, Jim Jeffords handing the Senate over to the Dems, Howard Dean and the list goes on. Bill O'Reilly trying to get a boycott going.

We're used to it, and many of us wear the disapproval of the wingnuts like a badge of honor. Screw 'em. I'm proud of my little state. We have a long history of standing up for civil rights (first state to ban slavery) and standing up to bullies, (Senator Ralph Flanders who was instrumental in taking down McCarthy).

[Hubert Flottz]

13. I emailed them a thank you!

The spirit of 1776, is still alive in your little town, thank God. I salute your courage, in defense of our Constitution. Your fine town, is what EVERY town in America should be exactly like. I will never forget your town's brave citizen's response, to this threat from within, to America's liberty, freedom and democracy. May God bless and protect you, each and every one! Your town's brave and patriotic, citizens are truly a national treasure.

Thank you;

X X X

Edit to fix a tiny boo-boo!

[matt819]

14. New Hampshire town passed similar motion

During last week's town meeting, the town of Marlborough, NH passed a similar motion - the only difference was that the man who presented the motion added the vp to the impeachment call. The man who made the motion must have been in his 80s and spoke eloquently about his decision to do this. The motion was easily seconded, engendered no debate and was passed by a voice vote, with yeas overshadowing nays by probably 65-35. I haven't read the papers much this week and so haven't seen the response, if any. This is the liberal corner of NH, and so it's not likely to provoke much in the way of argument. Thankfully, the rw in this area is the fringe.

[theHandpuppet]

16. Can we get a list of all the Vermont/NH towns voting for impeachment?

Such a list would make a great tourism guide for those of us planning our future vacations!

[Burried News]

15. Those townspeople could give a rats ass about what people think

I have many family members in VT. They are very independent.
Long live the Republic. We will take it back town by town.

[Ian David]

18. Let's have a DU Retreat Weekend in Newfane, Vermont!

[dddem]

19. Vermont rocks.

This is, after all, the state that gave us Howard Dean.

[pretzel4gore]

20. the Bob Newhart show was set in Vermont....

i loved that show. Bob was sorta a fish outta water with his new yorker sensibility, but it always worked out. The best show was when Bob was dragooned into the 'weekly' poker game at the firehall....Bob was terrified of losing his shirt! But the players insisted that Bob take part, so finally, reluctantly, he gave in. Lol! He won the first hand, easily. Then the second hand! And the next! In fact, the townsmen had no idea how to play poker, no desire to win at all! Bob won every hand etc! You hadda see the show to appreciate the offhand humour of it....
hahaha
Go Vermont!