Chico debates: Is impeaching Bush good use of City Council's time?

Detroit did it. Then Santa Rosa did it. Huntington Beach said no. San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Arcata all said yes. Berkeley's aye vote, natch, was unanimous.

Now comes Chico, Calif., population 85,000, to consider the impeachment of President George W. Bush. Calling itself the "Chico Impeachment Team," a group of local residents is lobbying the City Council to pass a resolution Tuesday night urging Congress to impeach Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Even though the two are due to leave office in January.

Even though House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has nixed the idea of bringing an impeachment vote to the floor.

"They need to be held accountable whether they have one more day in office or two more years," said Marla Crites, who presented 1,000 signatures to the council to trigger the vote.

The local newspaper is not convinced. With local worries like a $6-million budget deficit, said the newspaper, it seems irresponsible for the council to waste time on impeaching a president who will be gone in four months.

Four months. Wow! It would take Congress more than four months of investigations and hearings and debates just to impeach that duo, even if it wanted to. And Congress, for its many flaws, is not collectively stupid enough to waste time on this matter.

But apparently, Chico's City Council is.

Mayor Andy Holcombe is not taking sides. In an e-mail to Countdown to Crawford, he predicted a large crowd but noted a full agenda of other issues like zoning laws, storm water issues and whether to require permits for organizations seeking to use city light poles to display flags. Asked if the impeachment resolution is hugely popular, he said:

There seems to be a lot of support vocalized in general, but mixed opinion on whether this process is the best way to push the issue.

Chico's City Council meetings are rarely dull. Last spring a group of advocates for independent living services for the disabled crashed a hearing, dressed in pirate gear and inviting everyone to a fundraiser. Watch here.

-- Johanna Neuman

Comments

[Thistle]

It is a GREAT use of their time. They realize where the problem is and know something about the U.S. Constitution. Bush and Cheny have broken the law many times in the past 8 years and they should be held to account for their crimes. Too bad congress refuses to uphold the constitution and do their constititional duties. It is not too late to impeach!