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Sebastopol Council votes to impeach President Bush

Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-06-01 19:38.

By Nathan Wright - Sonoma West
http://www.sonomawest.com

Sebastopol - The Sebastopol City Council unanimously approved a resolution last Thursday calling for a full investigation and impeachment of President George W. Bush.

The resolution cited seven different complaints when justifying the investigation.

They include: the president's misleading of citizens on the threat Iraq posed to the American people prior to the invasion of Iraq; his defense of torture of human beings; his inadequate response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster; the electronic surveillance of citizens without the use of a warrant; the indefinite detention of citizens without access to legal council; and for misuse of his office to add his own interpretation to new laws.

Also named in the resolution are United States Vice-President Richard Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Sebastopol Mayor Sarah Glade Gurney opened the special meeting by reading the resolution, which received applause by most of the 40 people in attendance. No one spoke in opposition of the resolution during the two-hour meeting.

“I thought it went very smoothly,” Gurney said. “There was so much agreement in what we were doing.”

While no one showed up to defend the President or his actions, Gurney believes that anyone with an opposing view would have been welcome at the meeting.

“I think they'll find themselves freely received,” she said. “We've had people with really divergent views show up to meetings. When the council makes decisions from a public forum, we need our public.”

Those who did attend the meeting spoke out against Bush and his administration, expressed fears and frustration, and called for an investigation and a change.

“One resolution can make a difference,” Mike Sandler said. “Grassroots movements are where voices are heard. It's very hard to find the voice of the people in Washington.”

Peter Plotzker, another citizen who spoke at the meeting, praised the city council for holding the public meeting. “We don't want to feel like we have no power and no hope,” he said.

Just about the only criticism of the event came from Amy Contardi, who supported the resolution but felt it should have come sooner. “It's been a long time coming,” she said. “I think this meeting should have been held six to nine months ago.”

After hearing the public speak the council took turns casting their individual support for the resolution.

“I'm very concerned about our civil liberties,” Councilmember Linda Kelley said. “Civil liberties are part of what makes this a democracy, and we need to honor them.

“As a people we've been in this dark place before,” Councilmember Larry Robinson said. “Don't ever give up.”

“Civil liberties are being stripped, and people are seeming to fall further and further asleep,” Councilmember Craig Litwin said. “Hopefully this is just the very beginning. It's very exciting. Thank you all again for your support. It really helps me support this and pass it forward.”

Gurney took the resolution a step further in her closing remarks.

“If you don't like the war in Iraq for oil, there's a bicycle you can ride,” she said. “I want my world to be different, and it will be because I make it different.”

The resolution will be sent to members of Congress, including Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, and Representative Lynn Woolsey.

“It would be nice if there was some follow through at a high level,” Gurney said.

http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2006/06/01/sonomawest/news/news4.txt

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