How Some Vermont Towns Are Hoping to Influence National Politics

We know Vermont for gorgeous views at the turn of seasons, quaint bed and breakfasts, and real maple syrup. On March 7, 2007, more than 30 towns in Vermont took a stand that might make us think of politics before pleasure.

A grass-roots protest movement has begun in this northeastern state, calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney due to the handling of the war in Iraq. On Tuesday, citizens in 32 towns passed resolutions to impeach our president and 16 of those towns passed an additional resolution that demanded that our troops come home. These local resolutions are, of course, not binding and serve only as a symbol of the growing domestic frustration with the conflicts in Iraq. The Congress has stayed far away from this issue; impeachment is not a popular option in mainstream politics. Senator Feingold (D-WI) last year called for a censure of the president and, even that, could not find the necessary support to happen.

Even within Vermont, two towns rejected the resolution and some communities did not even consider the measure. There are no signs of support from the Vermont delegation either.

There have been nine formal attempts to impeach a United States President. Four of these resulted in articles being referred to the House of Representatives: John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Of these four, only two were actually impeached by the House: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. The Senate had not dealt with the impeachment of a president in 131 years until the impeachment of former President Clinton on articles of perjury and obstruction of justice. Before that famous case, Andrew Johnson was the last to face impeachment. He was tried for firing his secretary of war against the wishes of Congress. After a two-month trial, the Senate voted to keep him in office - by one vote. Clinton was also acquitted.

So, what does it take to impeach a president?