New Jersey: Invoking Jefferson's Impeachment Protocol

[puebloknot]

Here is an excerpt from an article posted today at OpEdNews.com. Follow the link for the complete article.

(Emphasis in bold is mine.)

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_stuart_h_061229_new_jersey_impeach_t.htm

The great Thomas Jefferson had the vision to anticipate a time when a Congress is become so corrupt, or bribed, or decadent, that it's no longer responsible to the needs of the people they are elected to serve. In Jefferson's Manual of Parliamentary Practices, which is part of the rules of the US House of Representatives, he created a mechanism by which a state legislature can transmit a resolution to impeach to the House of Representatives in Washington, and effectively direct the US House to address the question of an investigation to determine whether to impeach a civil officer of the United States, a judge, or a president.

The evidence proves George Bush and Richard Cheney subvert the Constitution and engage in conspiracy to impose fraud and deceit on the United States.

Our country is in a state of intense crisis. We don't believe the situation is hopeless. People in New Jersey are can-do people, and it's not too late to save our country. As citizens of our troubled, great, beloved country, we have an obligation to fix it. We can do this in New Jersey.

The bottom line for us all is the fact that success is not guaranteed does not relieve our state of its obligation to do all it can to defend the United States Constitution according to the oath of our officers. We believe our legislators can meet this obligation and offer a true profile in courage. The politicians cannot meet this obligation by themselves. It requires large and vocal support from us. It requires citizenship and devotion to democracy. When treason is committed we are compelled to take action.

If you're fed up, it's time to stand up for democracy. It's time to stop the spinning and focus on winning. Now's the time to act to save our country. Democracy is our birthright.

Resolutions to Impeach are pending in California, Illinois, Minnesota, and Vermont. The introduction of a Resolution to Impeach in New Mexico is pending.

Accordingly, people in New Jersey are joined in a campaign to pass in our state legislature, A Resolution to Impeach the President and the Vice President. In January 2007, a delegation of us is meeting with New Jersey General Assembly Assistant Majority Leader Reed Gusciora in Trenton to prepare the introduction of the resolution in our legislature.

So, my question is: Should any of these states pass such legislation and deliver it to the House, "effectively directing the US House to address the question of an investigation to determine whether to impeach..." what impact will that have, in light of Pelosi's "off the table" remark?

Does this have any more weight than the assurance we're getting that certain investigations will go forth, post haste, in January, even though "impeachment is off the table"?

This seems to me to be a directive specifically involving the impeachment process. I know this has been discussed here, but my understanding is that even though some states have passed resolutions for impeachment in their legislatures, none of them has specifically used this Jefferson protocol to *instruct* the House to take action.

Input is appreciated from those with legal knowledge!

[calimary]

1. I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. But I remember a move

that mentioned how states could initiate their own IMPEACHMENT proceedings if no satisfaction from the feds was in the offing. I know several dozen cities have issued their own IMPEACHMENT endorsements/recommendations/urgings. So far, none of it has gotten very far, or fallen on receptive ears in Washington. But then again, it was all-republi-CON-all-the-time for way too long.

[puebloknot]

2. I just wrote the author of that article...

...to see if he can give clarification about the legal status of this kind of action.

Of course, the legality of it doesn't mean it will get past first base!

[autorank]

3. Cool stuff - He goesnow...NOLA negligence is the easy route.

It happened here, it was on televisiou for all to see, and it's simple. Every one will be upset.

The NJ Pmpeachment fellow is a great guy. He'll get back. K&R

http://electionfraudnews.com/MichaelCollins.htm (for both below)

Jefferson's Rules (for the House of Reps.)

"Inception of impeachment proceedings in the House: … there are various methods of setting an impeachment in motion: by charges made on the floor on the responsibility of a Member or Delegate; by charges preferred by a memorial, which is usually referred to a committee for examination; by a resolution dropped in the hopper by a Member and referred to a committee; by a message from the President; by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State or territory or from a grand jury…”

Illinois Resolution (died in committee)

Illinois Joint Resolution 125

Bush is charged with the following “high crimes and misdemeanors” in Representative Yarborough’s resolution (summary):


1. Ordering the National Security Agency to spy on American citizens without a warrant (a “felony”).
2. Violating the Torture Convention of the Geneva Conventions, “a treaty regarded as supreme law by the United States Constitution;”
3. Holding American and other citizens as “prisoners of war without a charge or trial;
4. Manipulating intelligence to start the Iraq war “resulting in the deaths of large numbers of Iraqi civilians and causing the United States to incur loss of life, diminished security and billions of dollars in unnecessary expenses; and,
5. Leaking “classified national secrets to further a political agenda” thus exposing U.S. agents “to potential harm and retribution while simultaneously refusing to potential harm and retribution while simultaneously refusing to investigate the matter.”

Noting that the Republican controlled Congress failed to investigate the matter, the resolution invokes the powers under Section 603 of the Jefferson rules. The resolution reaches its summary by arguing that:

“the State of Illinois has good cause to submit charges to the U. S. House of Representatives under Section 603 that the President of the United States has willfully violated his Oath of Office to preserve protect and defend the Constitution of the United States; and be it further

RESOLVED, That George W. Bush, if found guilty of the charges contained herein, should be removed from office and disqualified to hold any other office in the United States.