Here's something interesting...

[mdlbear]

Section 603 of Jefferson's Manual of the Rules of the United States House of Representatives allows federal impeachment proceedings to be initiated by joint resolution of a state legislature. What's more, such a bill is privileged: it goes ahead of all other business in the House. It seems that the Illinois General Assembly is preparing to do exactly that. It is considering a five count indictment, and one of the charges, a felony no less, is not in dispute: that the NSA was directed by the President to spy on American citizens without warrant. California has recently joined in the fun, and adds Cheney to the list.

Interesting times, indeed. (From annathepiper by way of technoshaman.)

Comments

[roaringmouse.livejournal.com]

Holy Hell, Batman!!!!

[elimloth.livejournal.com]

Backbone finally. Hallafragginluyah.

[catalana.livejournal.com]

I do find it entertaining that Illinois, with its less-than-spectacular record against corruption, is initiating such a thing. But I live here, so I'm not surprised. *grin*

Illinois: where if you don't laugh at the politics, it'll just make you cry.

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

Living in Illinois, I have to suspect that the legislature fussing about impeaching the President is mainly intended to distract the public from the miserable job Governor Bozo and the Marching Morons of the legislature are doing here at home.

[tagryn]

I really have to question the timing. A serious attempt at this would put all resources into the '06 elections, *then* try an impeachment motion assuming the Democrats are able to win the House or Senate. Doing it now doesn't stand much chance of succeeding, and trying it again later will seem like sour grapes ("didn't we just go through this?") & be even harder to get public support for. As it stands, its going to be difficult to shake the perception by the general public that this isn't just payback for Clinton's impeachment.

Seems to me that unless there's a really good shot at actually removing POTUS from office, going ahead with this is just an emotional indulgence. Given the woeful state of the opposition (Democrats/greens/etc.) right now, putting political capital into this isn't smart, however satifying it might be to try. And if one is able to knock out Bush, we get Cheney. Knock them both out, and it falls to Hastert.

Sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but that's the political realities of the current situation as I see them.

[mdlbear]

As tigertoy says, it's probably more about local politics than a serious attempt. It might, however, improve the Democratic turnout in November's elections, in hopes that a Democratic house could actually follow through.

[aerowolf.livejournal.com]

http://aerowolf.livejournal.com/327578.html -- wherein I quote rules 603 and the first paragraph of 604. (after getting rid of all the parentheticals)

All in all, it's Illinois, California, and Vermont currently with the motion currently pending, and Wisconsin and 4 others with it being thought about.

One other thing that hasn't been mentioned is this: An impeachment process is, as far as I can tell (though I am not a lawyer), NOT limited by the double-jeopardy clause. "An impeachment bill does not lose its privilege by the prior action of impeachment in the same session."