Governor of Massachusetts favors impeachment

by Robert Feuer
July 14, 2007

~snip~ "Deval, what's your view on state action for impeachment of Bush and Cheney?" His chagrin quickly changed to excitement, as he explained that as an active member of the NGA, National Governor's Association, he was aware that the organization is angry with the DNC, Democratic National Committee, for its foot-dragging on impeachment. He opined that there are far fewer members needed for a majority in the NGA, than in the Massachusetts Legislature; and he indicated such a majority may well already exist. NGA is one of Washington DC's most respected public policy organizations and serves as a key liaison between the state governments and the federal government. Presently, Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano (D), is NGA Chair. Suddenly, things are looking a lot brighter. Governor Napolitano was the first woman governor elected as a clean election candidate.

According to Jefferson's Rules of the U.S. House, one complete state legislature's petition for impeachment takes priority in the House. This would clearly blow away the Speaker's roadblock to immediate impeachment. What is unclear to me is whether a petition from the NGA would hold the same sway in the U.S. House. None the less, in the event an NGA resolution for impeachment is readily attainable; for one, it would gain national media attention, and, secondly, it would move this issue further along.

As to the Massachusetts Legislature, the representatives and senator present at the governor's fundraising, each confided they were personally in favor of impeachment. Each also tried to persuade me that he or she was the only one in the state house who would say so. They did their best to convince me that we would sooner have a new president inaugurated, than a Massachusetts legislative petition for impeachment to send to Congress.

I know a smoke screen when I see one, and this one is a classic. The majority of Americans, outside the beltway, which includes the individual members of both the GCA and the Massachusetts Legislature, want Cheney impeached yesterday. There are 200 people in the Massachusetts Legislature, it shouldn't take one month to voter ID each one on the impeachment issue. If we could then get the governor to propel a state bill for impeachment, we should have a Massachusetts legislative petition to send Speaker Pelosi before mid-September 2007.

http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/20/2007/2686

I'm not following all the NGA/GCA references in this interview with the Governor, but he sounds extremely tuned into the issue of impeachment--

thanks for the link!

Now I'm even prouder.

I actually thought he was too bi-partisan for me to support on the national stage, despite how much I support him in MA, but his public support for impeachment would certainly change my mind. Is there anything we could do to get the state impeachment bill passed?