Freyne Land

Here's the complete text of the non-binding resolution that the Democratic Party bosses of the Vermont Legislature - House & Senate - insist they have "no time" to take up:

Joint House Resolution

J.R.H. 15

Joint resolution requesting Congress to commence impeachmentproceedings against the President of the United States

Offered by:  Representatives Pillsbury of Brattleboro, Zuckerman ofBurlington, Aswad of Burlington, Davis of Washington, Donovan of Burlington,Edwards of Brattleboro, French of Randolph, Haas of Rochester, Hutchinson ofRandolph, Leriche of Hardwick, Marek of Newfane, Masland of Thetford, McCulloughof Williston, Mitchell of Barnard, Mrowicki of Putney, Nuovo of Middlebury,Pearson of Burlington, Randall of Troy, Rodgers of Glover and Sharpe of Bristol

Whereas, George W. Bush, in violation of hisconstitutional oath and duty to execute faithfully the office of President,and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the UnitedStates Constitution, has violated federal law and subverted the United StatesConstitution by undermining the rights and protections of our citizens and byimpairing the administration of justice by:

(1) Repeatedly and intentionally violating the Constitution and laws of theUnited States, particularly the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA),the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the Convention Against Torture (CAT), and theInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), all of which areparts of the supreme law of the land under Article VI of the Constitution, and

(2) Appending "signing statements" to legislation asserting hispurported right to ignore laws as he alone sees fit, and

Whereas, George W. Bush has acted to stripAmericans of their constitutional rights by ordering indefinite detentionwithout access to legal counsel, without charge, or opportunity to appearbefore a judge to challenge their detention based solely on a discretionarydesignation by the President as "enemy combatants," all in derogationand subversion of the law, and

Whereas, on numerous occasions, George W.Bush has:

(1)  Ordered the National Security Agency (NSA) tointercept and record telephone and other communications without warrantsrequired by FISA and the Constitution, and

(2)  Designated American citizens as "enemycombatants" in violation of due process guarantees and Presidentialauthority, and

Whereas, George W. Bush has abused his powerby allowing, encouraging, and condoning crimes of torture, failing to prosecutesenior officials responsible for torture, and refusing to accept and obeystatutory bans on cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, and

Whereas, George W. Bush has violated hisoath of office by invading Iraq illegally without just cause or reason, incontravention of his constitutional obligation that the laws be executedfaithfully, and

Whereas, by making war on Iraq, based onintentionally misleading or recklessly false information, George W. Bush hascommitted criminal fraud against the United States and has subverted theConstitution and its guarantee of republican government and the separation ofpowers by undercutting the rightful authority of Congress to declare war,oversee foreign affairs, and make appropriations, and

Whereas, in all of this, George W. Bush hasacted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive ofconstitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law andjustice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States, and

Whereas, George W. Bush, by such misconduct,warrants impeachment and trial and removal from office, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House ofRepresentatives:

That the General Assembly finds the existence ofgood cause for the submission of these impeachment charges to the United StatesHouse of Representatives under Section 603 of the Manual of the Rules of theUnited States House of Representatives as grounds for the impeachment, trial,and removal of George W. Bush as President of the United States, and be itfurther

Resolved:  That the secretary of state bedirected to send a copy of this resolution to the Clerk of the United StatesHouse of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, to Representatives JohnConyers and Lamar Smith, the chair and ranking member, respectively, of theCommittee and to the members of the Vermont Congressional Delegation.



____________________________              Attestedto:

Gaye R. Symington

Speaker of the House

____________________________              ____________________________

Brian E. Dubie                                             DonaldG. Milne

President of the Senate                               Clerk,House of Representatives