The following piece was produced by HuffPost's OffTheBus.
Last Friday, Representative Robert Wexler, along with Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Luis Gutierrez, called for impeachment trials against Vice President Dick Cheney. In that email he announced that he had put up a website to gather signatures.
"If we can get 50,000 or even more people to sign up in support of this effort I will report back to each and every Democratic colleague of mine the true power that exists behind this movement."
Well, congrats Congressman. Five days later you have 100,000 signatures. Josh Rogin, your press guy, said that the Congressman was "very surprised, but he knew from traveling around Florida how passionate people were, but [we got to 50,000] faster than imagined."
He also said 'the MSM is greeting [the press releases] with a yawn.'
The Washington Post'sPolitical Hour online chat dismisses the whole idea of impeachment as a viable topic to cover because in, the reporter's opinion ,it won't happen.
Winnipeg, Canada: Can you explain why the move by three members of the judiciary committee for impeachment hearings against the Vice President has not received much media attention? I didn't see anything in the online Washington Post, for instance. Rep. Wexler apparently has gathered 80,000 signatures supporting his position on his website. This appears to be big news to me.
Michael Abramowitz: To be quite honest, I am not aware of whether we have written about this. We have gotten these questions in one form or another over several years: Impeachment is not going to be happening under this Congress, even if there are some lawmamakers [sic] who think it is a good idea. So the media moves on to other things.
The Miami Herald finally posted Wexler, et. al.'s letter today and has received a bunch of comments, mostly egging on Wexler. (Two local Florida papers, the Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post have covered the issue.
Well, Congressman, I was interested in what 100,000 people (and counting) think. And as a potential constituent (for full disclosure - yes, I just moved into his district) I want to know what you are going to do next.
The Congressman is flying back from China tonight. Tomorrow night Rep. Wexler will be appearing on Florida Progressive Radio (blogtalkradio.com) at 9pm EST to discuss his next steps.
Rogin, Rep. Wexler's press guy, gave me a hint about what the Congressman will say. He said, "The goal is to go to Conyers and the leadership. This shows how many people are desperate for accountability." But he also said the new goal is 250,000.
I hope that the next steps will include more than just announcing a new goal for the number of signatures. If not, his efforts will look like another attention grabbing online scheme and sound a bit like a boy crying wolf. We'll find out tomorrow. I'll be listening.