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Edwards backers seek impeachment

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By NANCY FOSTER
New Hampshire Union Leader Correspondent

Though Elizabeth Edwards was in town to talk about her husband's universal health insurance plan, once she turned the floor over to the audience, the conversation quickly turned to impeachment.

Several people from the audience of nearly 100 who packed into the clubhouse at The Fells of Amherst pressed Senator John Edwards' wife about the presidential contenders stance on impeachment.

Edwards said that her husband opposes plans to impeach President George W. Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney.

She said that devoting valuable time and money to ousting the administration would tie up Congress and wouldn't likely have the outcome pro-impeachment are hoping for.

Cheney would have to be impeached first, she said, "because none of us wants to end up with a President Cheney."

And once Cheney was impeached, Congress could go after Bush, but the result could be a President Condoleeza Rice or Michael Chertoff.

"We'd end up like a dog chasing its tail ... " Edwards said."I know there's frustration. I can see it on your faces. But it's better to attack the problem after the fact."

Though some wanted to push the issue, the crowd overwhelmingly demanded that impeachment supporters let Edwards move on to other issues.

However, after Edwards' finished speaking on subject, including the war in Iraq and education, the conversation about impeachment continued.

State Rep. Betty Hall (D-Brookline) said that she is prepared to submit a resolution in the State House asking legislators to send a message to Congress that impeachment is necessary.

Hall called Edwards' response to the impeachment question "the canned response of the Democratic establishment. What right do they have to take impeachment off the table?" she asked.

Hall said that impeachment was necessary to rein in the unchecked powers the Bush administration has enjoyed.

"I don't want the next president to have the powers that Bush has usurped," Hall said. "This usurpation will continue until Congress stops it."

YOUR COMMENTS


It's increasingly distressing to listen to folks expressing opinions, talking points and arguments untethered from the foundation of facts and truth. One wonders how truly far apart we all actually are if we agreed to vigorously seek and respect facts and truth first. Yogi Berra said: "You can observe a lot just by watchin'."
A great deal of evil, destruction and waste is the result of just ceaselessly yelling at each other. We need to just put down our weapons and armour and talk to each other again.
- Nathaniel Gurien, Kearsarge

Mr. Milano,

You certainly have the right to speak your mind and don't deserve the type of reaction you fear you will receive.

I do wonder why any criticisms of this administration are worthy of a statement such as "All you people that don't like Bush( I have my problems with him on issues as well) and the war on terror are just blind with your hatred of him and the US" was spoken out of anger.

I value your military service and don't question your love of our country and would appreciate the same type of courtesy.
- Michael Brennan-White, Manchester

Everyone needs to read the US Constitution. Clinton was impeached for lying under court oath (perjury).
So any impeachable offense should be easily defined.
- John Edward Mercier, Belmont

You know I am very tired of the myths propagated by the left as truth. " No One Died when Clinton Lied" WELL lets see all of the military forays that occurred to take Monica off the front page. We bombed Iraq, Afghanistan and several other countries and people died. US troops fought bravely and died in Somalia because of lack of proper support from the Clintonistas. Operations in Bosnia, Serbia etc.- people died. He refused to get Bin Laden -TWICE. First WTC bombing, US embassies in Africa bombings, USS Cole - Soldiers, Sailors, Civilians died. THEY DID NOTHING TO STOP IT. The list goes on. Stop looking back at the Clinton years with rose colored glasses. The US was set up for 9/11 by the ineptness and lack of backbone of this administration. All you people that don't like Bush( I have my problems with him on issues as well) and the war on terror are just blind with your hatred of him and the US. I find most of you just selfish people who want the big government to take care of your needs so you don't have to worry or work. So end the war pull the troops home, raise taxes through the roof to give us national health care and every other socialist program the nanny state can have. Then when you are waiting 16 hours in line to see a doctor and some city gets nuked by an Iranian, or Korean or Chinese missile via some terrorist organization you can be happy that you got your way. I thought 9/11 would have woken up the country but most just opened one eye lid for a few seconds then went back to sleep. And spare me the " we did 9/11 nut speeches" I am sure I will be called all sorts of names ending in " phobe" or such. But you Freedom of Speech is not just for the LEFT. Besides I paid for it with my service in uniform- Blood, Sweat and Tears!!
- Vince Milano, Epping

http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/2007/10/poll-numbers-on-impeaching-bush-like.html

A majority of Americans definitely agree that after misleading the country on Iraq, there should be an impeachment trial for the administration in Congress. The Democratic takeover of Congress and eventual Presidential success have been fueled by this fact.

1-3 candidates are working for impeachment; Dennis Kucinich (D) introduced a 43-sponsor bill to start a trial, (HR 333) and Gravel/Paul are not against the action. If impeachment is so important, why would any impeachment proponents ever vote for someone else?
- Hal, Dover

As Mrs. Edwards stated there are more than sufficient grounds to seek impeachment against the president but Cheney would be even more disastrous for our country.

One Last reminder:
When Clinton lied, no one died.
- Michael Brennan-White, Manchester

Impeachment? On what grounds? Hopefully the grounds are more firm than he simply wasn't their choice for President.
- John Edward Mercier, Belmont

John Edwards just another Liberal cry-baby millionaire headline hunting. Here is this phony trying to convince the voters that he knows what it is to be poor and he is doing that from his multi room mansion in Chapel Hill, NC afraid to allow photographs of his humble abode in one of the ritziest parts of that state. He would have made a lousy vice president and would be even a lousier president, the voters will send him back to NC 400.00 haircut and all.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

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