?? What's Up With New Mexico Legislature & Joint Res. 5 To Impeach Bush & Cheney?

[orleans]

anyone know when this will be "debated" in the house? anyone heard of this yet? the following is the joint resolution:

A JOINT RESOLUTION PETITIONING CONGRESS TO COMMENCE THE INVESTIGATION OF AND IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND VICE PRESIDENT RICHARD B. CHENEY.

WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney conspiredwith others to defraud the United States of America byintentionally misleading congress and the public regarding thethreat from Iraq in order to justify a war in violation ofTitle 18 United States Code, Section 371; and

WHEREAS, George W. Bush has admitted to ordering thenational security agency to conduct electronic surveillance ofAmerican civilians without seeking warrants from the foreignintelligence surveillance court of review, duly constituted bycongress in 1978, in violation of Title 50 United States Code,Section 1805; and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 .164705.1- 2 -

WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney conspired tocommit the torture of prisoners in violation of Title 18 UnitedStates Code, Chapter 113C, the United Nations ConventionAgainst Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatmentor Punishment and the Geneva Conventions, which under ArticleVI of the United States constitution are part of the "supremeLaw of the Land"; and

WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney acted tostrip American citizens of their constitutional rights byordering indefinite detention without access to legal counsel,without charge and without the opportunity to appear before acivil judicial officer to challenge the detention, based solelyon the discretionary designation by the president of a UnitedStates citizen as an "enemy combatant", all in subversion oflaw; and

WHEREAS, in all of this, George W. Bush and Richard B.Cheney have acted in a manner contrary to their trust aspresident and vice president, subverting constitutionalgovernment to the great prejudice of the cause of law andjustice and to the manifest injury of the people of New Mexicoand of the United States of America; and WHEREAS, petitions from the country at large may bepresented by the speaker of the United States house ofrepresentatives, according to Clause 3 of House Rule XII; and

WHEREAS, Section 603 of Thomas Jefferson's Manual on1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 .164705.1Parliamentary Practice and of the Rules of the United StatesHouse of Representatives states that impeachment may be set inmotion by charges transmitted from the legislature of a state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THESTATE OF NEW MEXICO that George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney,by such conduct, warrant impeachment and trial and removal fromoffice and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office ofhonor, trust or profit under the United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressionaldelegation be requested to cause to be instituted in thecongress of the United States proper proceedings for theinvestigation of the activities of George W. Bush and RichardB. Cheney, to the end that they may be impeached and removedfrom their offices; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of state beinstructed to certify and transmit to the speaker of the UnitedStates house of representatives and the clerk of the UnitedStates house of representatives, under the great seal of thestate of New Mexico, a copy of this resolution and its adoptionby the legislature of the state of New Mexico. The copiesshall be marked with the word "Petition" at the top of thedocument and contain the original authorizing signature of thesecretary of state. - 3 -"

http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/resolutions/senate/SJR05.html

[CrazyOrangeCat]

1. k&r

for bravery.

[demnan]

2. I imagine they have to work on a member of Congress

to get it introduced. At least that's what we're trying to do. Even though our Congressman is a Republican, we are petitioning him. I guess the next step for New Mexico would be to gather petitions of its citizens who want to call for impeachment, but I'm really not sure.

[orleans]

3. i remember reading that when a state introduces articles of

impeachment the house HAS to stop their business and discuss this.

they can't shove it aside--

i'm trying to find where i read this but...? (maybe john dean, turley? on findlaw.com?)

[papau]

4. It must pass the legislature in NM which effectively sends it to the House - then it they will

have to act on it by sending it to committee.

A state "charge" will go to Judiciary - it will bypass the rules committe where a Congressman's resolution would be sent. So it starts one step along in the process.

They do not have to debate it and vote - it can be ignored - at least that is what I believe the rules are.

I'd be interested if you find that it does get an automatic vote! :-)

[jakem]

5. Nicely done, NM... now what?

how do we get this ball rolling!

[phusion]

6. Is there anything I can do as a NM resident?? n/t

[Senator]

7. Yes -- Here's a Link

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/nm

This page seems to include all you need to know and do, including a local contact (Leland) who could probably use some help if you have time to spare.

--

[burrowowl]

8. Go here for more info

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x217541