IMPEACHMENT Victory in NEW MEXICO - Resolution Passes Judiciary Committee

[Hissyspit]

I've been posting the state impeachment resolution news for the past day or so and the updates from Vermont and Maine are on the Greatest Page, but this New Mexico news from late last night may be the most significant:

http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=455

March 5, 2007
NEW Impeachment Victory in NM, Passes Judiciary Committee!

Filed under: News, IfP, impeachment — Jodin Morey @ 9:13 pm

This just in, the Impeachment resolution has just passed the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee, the last of three hurdles that party leaders had thrown in our way before the resolution could appear on the Senate floor for a vote. Now all eyes turn to New Mexico as its State Senate will vote on whether to impeach Bush.

Here's the running commentary from a patriot who was sitting in the Judiciary Committee and live blogging as it happened… Linda at democracyfornewmexico.com…

Sitting here in Room 321 in the StateHouse … the good news is that all 6 (Democratic Representatives) are here today, so we have a strong majority.
We are behind aproximately 10 Bills … 7:38pm Central Senator Ortiz y Pino is now addressing the Committee. He is opening with discussion of his video Conference with Former Congresswoman Hollzman with her expertise in the matters of impeachment. They are getting ready to show a few moments of the interview. As he covers some of her answers. …8:06pm Central They are now going to the proponents for the this Resolution. The People will now get to speak in support of this resolution. Each person speaking will be given 2 minutes max. They are preparing for an hour of discussion. … 8:17pm Central Franster just spoke eloquently. She brought tears to my eyes. We have a great group of people here representing the American people. … 9:06pm Central Currently we have Senator Adair addressing us and mispresenting what everyone said. Claiming we want impeachment for a difference of policy - HA! ya da ya da ya. He's saying some pretty incredible things and accusations. 9:07pm Central] The Senate Committee HAS PASSED THE RESOLUTION. WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO

Even if you're not from New Mexico, please contact the New Mexico Senators and remind them of their obligation to uphold the Constitution in this upcoming floor vote on impeachment. Now is when we must add the pressure to get this going.

SEE LINK FOR CONTACT INFO

[Eurobabe]

1. K & R. do you know if the emails given are the ones we should contact

to voice support for this movement? The website was a little confusing. Thanks!! This is great news!

[Hissyspit]

2. My reading of it is that the emails given are the email addresses to which you SHOULD

send a message of support for the resolution.

[Jodin]

4. That is confirmed.

Confirmed

[Eurobabe]

8. Okay, so I know what I am doing for the next 30 minutes. :)

:bounce: Go New Mexico!!

[Greeby]

3. Question, what power does such a resolution have

to compel the relevant Congressional delegation to follow through at their end? :shrug:

[Jodin]

5. This IS how

impeachments are accomplished. There is a set of rules that govern impeachments in the U.S. House of Reps. It was written by Thomas Jefferson, it includes this as a path to impeachment.

[rock]

9. If this passes, what is the next step?

Does it go to the US Congress? (House or Senate?) P.S. Welcome aboard!

[Hissyspit]

16. See post #13. n/t

[rock]

18. Thanks, I did

Recommended

[mmonk]

6. Impeachment articles can be iniated by a state legislature

and it looks like that is the only way or chance we have as a people since the party on the national government level is controlled by interests uninterested in doing so.

[papau]

10. True - and a State impeachment vote bypasses "Rules" and goes straight to "Judiciary"

But of course Congress need never vote on it, and indeed Judiciary need never report it out to the full House.

But this appears that this is the only way the process will even start with out spineless Dems.

[Canuckistanian]

21. The House Judiciary? As in John Conyers?

Oh, I think he'd bring it before the House.

[npincus]

25. sorry-- Conyers on record opposing impeachment now

I also heard this from a caller on Sam Seder a few weeks back-- someone who had spoken with Conyers said he'd said it wasn't going to happen. Don't shoot the messenger (me).


http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A25008

Conyers on impeachment vs. other priorities: “Let’s get a grip on this, folks. We’ve got a timeline. This is February 22nd. The elections are in November of next year. It’s nice to say let’s get rid of him , we want to get rid of him sooner than he’s going out. But you can’t do it. We have a plurality of one . It takes two-thirds to convict….Let’s take over the government. I’d rather put in a president. And let me tell you, I like Obama, I like John Edwards from North Carolina, and I also like our colleague, Dennis Kucinich.”.

[Canuckistanian]

29. Bummer - I thought he was "fer" it

And I generally dislike this "not enough time" reasoning. Even if he's only able to be impeached on the last day of his presidency, it should be done.

Thanks for the info.

[femmedem]

7. K &R!

:bounce:

[berni_mccoy]

11. If even ONE state gets a vote on the floor, a cascade of floor votes from other states

will follow. There are many other states with such issues (last I counted there were at least 9). It only takes one. BUSH. WILL. BE. IMPEACHED.

[Hissyspit]

12. That's my thinking.

Needs to Bush AND Cheney, though.

[Hissyspit]

13. O.K., folks. A primer:

From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_in_the_United_States

House of Representatives

Impeachment proceedings may be commenced by a member of the House of Representatives on his or her own initiative by either presenting a listing of the charges under oath, or by placing a resolution in the hopper for referral to the appropriate committee. The impeachment process may be triggered by non-members, for example: when the Judicial Conference of the United States suggests a federal judge be impeached; a Special Prosecutor advises the House of information which he or she believes constitutes grounds for impeachment; by message from the President; or by a charge from a State or territorial legislature or grand jury; or by petition.

The type of Impeachment resolution determines which committee it will be referred to. A resolution impeaching a particular individual is typically referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. A resolution to authorize an investigation regarding impeachable conduct is referred to the House Committee on Rules, which then is then referred to the Judiciary Committee. The House Committee on the Judiciary, by majority vote, will determine whether grounds for impeachment exist. If the Committee finds grounds for impeachment they will set forth specific allegations of misconduct in one or more "articles of impeachment." The Impeachment Resolution, or Article(s) of Impeachment, are then reported to the full House with the committee's recommendations.

The House debates the resolution and may at the conclusion consider the resolution as a whole or vote on each article of impeachment individually. A simple majority of those present and voting is required for each article or the resolution as a whole to pass. If the House votes to impeach, managers are selected to present the case to the Senate. Recently, managers have been selected by resolution, while historically the House would occasionally elect the managers or pass a resolution allowing the appointment of managers at the Speaker of the House of Representatives's discretion.

Also, the House will adopt a resolution in order to notify the Senate of its action. After receiving the notice, the Senate will adopt an order notifying the House that it is ready to receive the managers. The house managers will then appear before the bar of the Senate to impeach the individual involved and exhibit the articles against him or her. After the reading of the charges, the managers return and make a verbal report to the House.

Senate
The proceedings unfold in the form of a trial...

[Hissyspit]

15. And federal prosecutors Elisabeth de la Vega's arguments for legal basis for charges:

Click at this link to find the working links in the blog entry below: http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/ticia/2006/dec/28/impeachment_watch_what_about_an_indictment

Impeachment Watch: What About an Indictment?
By Ticia | bio
3 of 3 people recommend this blog entry.

Part I: Scholars and experts such as Barbara Olshansky, David Lindorff, Michael Ratner, John Dean, and Elizabeth Holtzman have written about the legal grounds for impeachment arising from the president's misrepresentations about the grounds for an unprovoked invasion of Iraq.

According to federal prosecutor Elizabeth de la Vega, writing as a private citizen in United States v. George W. Bush et al, there is probable cause to believe that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, and Powell violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, which prohibits conspiracies to defraud the United States.

First, de la Vega claims that under the law that governs charges of conspiracy to defraud, the legal question is not whether the president lied. The question is not whether the president subjectively believed there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The legal question that must be answered is far more comprehensive: Did the president and his team defraud the country? After swearing to uphold the law of the land, did our highest government officials employ the universal techniques of fraudsters – deliberate concealment, misrepresentations, false pretenses, half-truths – to deceive Congress and the American people?

- snip -

Here you will find Part I.

More soon, Ticia

[Botany]

14. Washington, Vermont, Maine, and New Mexico

bush stole 2 elections, lied to get us into a war, made his friends
and supporters richer with his war, spied on us, broke many laws,
disregarded the Constitution (signing statements), screwed the vets,
and is kept in power to a large extent by a complaint media that has
NEVER really covered the fact that bush assumed power in 2000 by
what in all rights was a coup.

The will of the people must be felt.

[SpiralHawk]

17. k and r - for all true American patriots

who are intent on restoring democracy to the USA, and outsing the fatcat Skull & Bones darkside cabal of corrupt republicon cronies now infesting Washington...

[sinkingfeeling]

19. Come on, New Mexico!! We need this vote!!

[all.of.me]

20. kicking

[Hissyspit]

22. New Mexico Represents!

[porphyrian]

23. Yes. - n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. K&R!

[solara]

26. I am so proud of NM! k & r

[Hissyspit]

27. .

[Ghost in the Machine]

28. i'll kick this up...

[Initech]

30. JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL.

These criminal scum fucks will be tried before the end of the year. It is the only way we can bring justice to not only our country but the people of Iraq as well.

[BillOfLefts]

31. This is very good news

I hope it happens soon!

[puebloknot]

32. K&R Happy in Santa Fe! So proud!

Let's all wear out our dialing fingers to let the naysayers hear it from We the People that impeachment is *the* moral, ethical, bipartisan, *Constitutional* path to take!

[Danger Mouse]

33. Way to go, New Mexico! Show Bush that the will of the people can't be denied forever!

nt

[Hissyspit]

34. .

[Morgana LaFey]

35. AWESOME news, and perfect timing

I can't think of a better DAY for this to happen. HOORAY!!!

[terip64]

36. kick and recommend

[Hissyspit]

37. Both NM House & Senate controlled by Democrats...

according to Jodin at Democracy For New Mexico.com, "Both the NM House and Senate are in the control of Democrats. I think it will be close but we have a good chance according to the bill's sponsors."

[orleans]

38. k&r n/t