Who's Listening?

New Hampshire Republican Senator John Sununu has just called for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. While it is remarkable for a Republican Senator to be in the forefront of calls for Gonzales to step down, it is more a sign of Sununu's political pragmatism and his understanding of the new political realities in his home state.

Last fall (after the New Hampshire Democratic party made impeachment part of their platform), for the first time in decades, New Hampshire voted Democratic from one end to the other. Sununu has to recognize and account for this shift. He has to own up to the fact that New Hampshire folks can tell when they're being lied to, and when they're being sold a bill of goods. This administration has been doing both and Sununu would defend them at his peril.

How ironic that across the river in Vermont, where 40 Vermont towns have now called for impeachment, where citizens have been lobbying their state legislature every day to get an impeachment resolution out of the Vermont House Judiciary committee, our Congressman, Democrat Peter Welch has decided that it is not practical or effective to consider impeachment, and that there is no need to even have this debate. The Democrat is affording more protection to George Bush than is his Republican counterpart. For that matter, Mr. Welch's refusal to invoke his constitutional rights and duties directly protects Mr. Bush while doing damage to the Constitution.

Mr. Welch instead pins his hopes on amendments to spending bills, or resolutions calling for a date to have the troops withdrawn. Mr. Welch is aware that the Republicans have the votes to uphold any Presidential veto. Furthermore, Secretary Rice has flatly stated that regardless of what Congress may say, the President will execute this war as he sees fit.

The only action that Congress can take that will have any meaning and any chance of success is to issue articles of impeachment. Mr. Welch could make himself a hero to our state and to the nation.

How could this Vermont freshman member withstand the fury of Pelosi that would undoubtedly come his way in response to introducing articles of impeachment? Consider this; in the last election, Welch was able to beat Republican Martha Rainville in part because a strong Progressive party challenger decided not to run. If Welch stands for the Constitution and calls for impeachment, he would earn principle credentials with many in Vermont who have been disappointed in him in the recent past. It would help him get a chance at a second term. If he stays loyal to the Pelosi plan, and is cast as another establishment Democrat, then he almost certainly will face a strong three way race for re-election. Would Pelosi prefer a maverick Democrat, or another Republican to represent Vermont?

We can only raise the volume, and trust that our representatives will hear before it's too late.