Starting in August 2007, we formed an ad hoc organization and campaigned to start impeachment hearings for President Bush and Vice President Cheney because they violated the Constitution and the laws of our land. Between Sept. 15 and mid-January, Kate Finn and Stan Anderson led our petition drive in WKFL Park. More than 800 people signed our petition. Many of you waved, clapped, honked and spoke support at the WKFL peace park.
Only a small number showed opposition and of those only a few shouted and gestured. Both local papers published many of our letters to the editor. All this fits the spirit of democracy.
After we collected signatures and repeatedly communicated with the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives and our Alaska congressional representatives, only Robert Wexler, a congressman from Florida, responded positively. Therefore, we asked the Homer City Council to send an impeachment resolution to the House of Representatives because the council represents the citizens of Homer, has more power than we do and pledged to defend the Constitution of the United States.
The Homer News published an online poll about whether people thought the city council should pass such a resolution. Results showed that 64 percent of the people responding favored it. Next, the News ran an editorial saying that the council should not take up the issue because it is divisive. Think about the countries that ban public divisive controversial issues, particularly criticism of government officials: Burma, Pakistan, Russia, Libya, China and North Korea, places where peaceful protesters are beaten by the police.
Are you planning to move to one of those places?
Before the council meeting, Feb. 25, Councilman Dennis Novak sponsored a resolution to ask the House of Representatives to start impeachment hearings and it was printed in the council's packet. Ten citizens testified for the resolution and three testified against it which is about the same percentage of people as the Homer News poll showed for and against. At the council meeting, four of the six council members were present; it takes four members to pass a resolution. Mr. Novak asked to pull his resolution from the agenda. Only Novak voted to pull the resolution so it came up for consideration. Novak made a motion to pass the resolution. No one seconded it and no discussion took place. In the vote, Mike Heimbuch, Lane Chesley and Beth Wythe voted against passing the resolution. At the end of the meeting, when members make comments, Beth Wythe described her position that it is best to stick to local issues.
We disagree with her when a national issue can affect Homer residents so profoundly, but appreciate her willingness to explain her position. It is sad that Mike Heimbuch did not state his reasons for his obvious opposition to this resolution. We don't know why Lane Chesley did not state his opinion.
Technically, the Homer City Council followed their rules and took a democratic vote. We are disappointed that they did not follow the spirit of democracy by waiting to vote until all the council members were present or at least discussing such an important issue.
If there is a section in the hereafter for people who stood up for democracy, the rule of law and human rights, council member Dennis Novak will arrive to be welcomed by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abigail Adams, James Madison, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Abraham Lincoln. Bravo, Mr. Novak.
James Donally, retired math teacher, spoke at the city council Feb. 25, showed a fun mathematical graph and suggested that the momentum for impeachment is building and that public demand for impeachment hearings will reach a peak in late summer. Summer is not too late to send a message to future presidents that we want to maintain the three equal branches of government and will not tolerate a president who acts like a king.
Homer Citizens for Impeachment will send petitions to the House of Representatives again at some point, perhaps at 1,000 signatures.
This is what you can do. If you haven't signed our petition, please go to Smokey Bay Natural Foods or Fritz Creek General Store to do so. Congressman Robert Wexler, a member of the Judiciary Committee, has collected more than 230,000 online signers. If you haven't signed the online petition sponsored by Congressman Wexler, please do so at wexlerwantshearings.com.
Amy Bollenbach is a member of Homer Citizens for Impeachment.
