Resolution calling for impeachment fails to receive necessary votes
Boulder City Council will not be voting on whether to draft a resolution impeaching President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Supporters for a resolution imploring the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney could not gather the same support from members of City Council Tuesday night.
At a meeting held at the Boulder Municipal Building, the Boulder City Council rejected the proposal to set a date for the further discussion of what was termed the “impeachment resolution.”
The resolution stated that there is alleged evidence of unconstitutional behavior conducted by the Bush administration and called for an investigation of such allegations. The resolution stated that proof of this alleged evidence could lead to the impeachment of both President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
Currently, 91 municipalities across the nation have approved similar resolutions.
Tom Moore, 70, said he wanted to emphasize that the resolution does not call for direct impeachment, but rather an examination of past executive actions that could lead to impeachment.
“All we are asking is that an investigation takes place,” Moore said.
Five members of the Council were needed to agree on the motion for the resolution to be further discussed; yet only two votes were voiced in support.
Lisa Morzel, one of the two council members who vocally supported the proposal, said it is the citizen’s right to ask their representatives to be their “sounding board.” She also said she felt, on a personal level, that the Bush administration has significantly harmed the nation.
“How can you let an administration do all the things it has done to bring down our country and not ask for accountability?” Morzel said.
Council members who opposed the initiative stated that, given the time frame of the proposal, the resolution would not be an effective measure.
Councilmember Macon Cowles, who initially brought the resolution to the table, said that he did not support the resolution on the account that he felt it was based on more of a figurative rather than a realistic initiative.
“The resolution is purely symbolic, is not effective and is not the action need from the citizens to catch a falling flag,” Cowles said.
Supporters who were present the meeting said they did not understand the decision of the council, considering that many members admitted to agreeing with the sentiment of the resolution.
Dan Winters, 71, said he feels some of the decisions made by the council members were a little hypocritical.
“Of the five council people who voted ‘no’, four of them clearly felt that our democracy is in danger,” Winters said, “Maybe we should impeach some of the people on the council.”
Judith Mohling, 70, said the resolution was not just based on action, but on also doing what was right.
“I feel that even if the resolution didn’t work, at least we were doing something ethical,” Mohling said.
Moore said he was “disgusted” with the decision of the council members. Using a quote from the political theorist Edmund Burke, Moore said that by the council refusing to further discuss the resolution, they are committing to what he feels to be a national injustice.
“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing,” Moore said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Sara Fossum at sara.fossum@colorado.edu .
