July 24, 2007
Takoma Park Votes to Impeach President Bush
No matter how you feel about a city known for its hippie culture or holier-than-thou aging baby boomers, you sort of have to love Takoma Park, Md. Commonly referred to as "The People's Republic of Takoma Park" or "The Berkeley of the East", the commuter suburb right on the border of the District is not only charmingly beautiful, but the people who live there wear their political proclivities on their collective sleeves so seriously they must employ an awfully good metaphorical tailor.
No doubt one of the best embodiments of this "we're so liberal it hurts" ethos is the Takoma Park City Council, which has passed a number of notable resolutions over the past few decades, including its famous "nuclear free zone" declaration in 1983, another that allows non-U.S.-citizen residents to vote in their city elections, and another still forbidding the city from purchasing World Bank bonds. Today, the Post reports that the Council has passed a new resolution in keeping with the spirit of the city: they voted to call for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
The resolution, passed 5-0, calls for the city to lobby the Montgomery County Council, the county executive, the Maryland legislature and the governor asking them to adopt similar resolutions. As noted in the Post article, Takoma Park now joins a growing number of other municipalities that have passed an impeachment resolution, including San Francisco, Detroit, Berkeley, and of course, pretty much every city in Vermont.
Increasingly, calls for impeachment of the administration are being taken more seriously, at least in the blogosphere. Despite Washington D.C.'s own historically very liberal leanings, we have a hard time imagining the D.C. Council taking up a similar measure, considering the delicate nature of our feudal status with the Lord on the White House Manor -- but if they did, would you support it?
Photo of a stop sign in Takoma Park by DottieboBottie
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As a MoCo resident, I say all the power to them. Not that I think it will get them anywhere, but at least they have a stance and they're actually DOING something about it, rather than just complaining and slapping another bumper sticker on the car. Just as a side note, Takoma Park is one of the best places to hang out in the DC suburbs (not that there's a lot of competition). Metro-accessible, good food, excellent off-the-beaten path shopping. I lived there as a kid and I'm still pissed at my parents for moving to Silver Spring.
Would I still "sort of have to love Takoma Park, Md" if they were right wing Republicans?
Left or right cheek... same shitty old ass.
Best bumper sticker ever in that photo.
Hi Sommer - you can laugh all you want (when was the last time you were in Takoma Park, BTW. The hippies and flower children gave way to the yuppies long ago), but Alexandria is going to pass a similar resolution in the near future.
Thank goodness Takoma Park ( and a few other jurisdictions) have at least made their disapproval of these arrogant (*&^%%%$ known... While the rest of America goes shopping for flip flops for the office, and gets in line for another latte, well, there's some stuff going on in the name of-ahem-dee-mocracy... And it is funky. And I don't mean in a good way!
Sarahlucy says: "[at least they're] Actually DOING something about it, rather than just complaining and slapping another bumper sticker on the car. "
But...isn't this just another more or less meaningless protest gesture? Bigger car, more visible bumper sticker, but I can't see how this is more translatable into the dude leaving office...
The DC council has lots of things on their plate to fix before expending time on any feel good resolutions. When they have fixed the schools, provided healthcare and affordable housing for all, lowered the crime rate, and eliminated wasteful spending, that will be the time to spend making resolutions that have no force.
WOV, I see what you're saying, but I still disagree. Whether or not it has traction, it's still a formal resolution and to me, shows that they mean business. Would it be better that they did absolutely nothing at all? I'm glad to see this kind of civil protest here and in the other cities.
sometimes the act of standing up and speaking is more important than anything else. have you ever been in a situation where you saw something wrong but remained silent, either our of fear or because you thought it would not make a difference? maybe it won't happen, but it starts somewhere and one hopes will inspire other to follow course if they feel it's the right thing to do. i would love to see the DC city council at least debate this. i feel they are too afraid to do it though. so scared of losing, they will never win.
Nah, it's an empty gesture. At the farmer's market this weekend, some dude first tried to hand me a doggie doo doo bag with bush's face on it (thanks, but I have enough plastic bags), then asked me where there was a Starbucks around there. People love to do something really easy (like buying hybrid cars) and pretend that they are actually somehow making a difference.
A law should be passed by Congress that assures voters that half the members of the DC City Council must come from a political party other than from the Democrats. This would probably result in better government.
The same Takoma Park City Council is responsible for (1)not paying its police officers a reasonable wage let alone refusing to run an accredited police department;(2) refuses to budget for any fire equipment that is under a decade old and(3)has installed speed humps everywhere making it all the more difficult for rescue and fire vehicles to reach you home in an emergency.
But, oh yeah, they have a Free Burma Committee and a Nuclear Free Committee. Yippee. Oh yeah, let me tell you about the time the Council couldn' afford to buy new olice cruisers or radios because the nuclear free ordinance would allow them to buy from nuclear "profiteers" inlcuding Ford, GM, Chrylser, Motorola, GE, etc.
Lived in Takoma for 38 years. Sure its beautiful. The hippies Like my parents (who were more likely to be mechanics, carpenters and musicians than "professionals") wanted to be left alone. They didn't like politics - geopolitical or local - and they sure as hell are skeptical of the public interest attorneys, labor lawyers and assorted activiststhat inhabit the town now. At least those that remain.
Thank goodness Takoma Park ( and a few other jurisdictions) have at least made their disapproval of these arrogant (*&^%%%$ known... While the rest of America goes shopping for flip flops for the office, and gets in line for another latte, well, there's some stuff going on in the name of-ahem-dee-mocracy...
Huh? At this point, we're piling on an unpopular lame-duck president. Pretty much the entire country is "making their disapproval known".
Yes - impeach Bush - then I'll be President! Thank you, Takoma Park idiots!
Signed, Dick Cheney
Impeach Bush? Takoma Park has a bounty on Karl Rove's head.
This resolution is about as meaningless as candidate websites, political blogs, and YouTube debates.
It's fine in that it adds to the growing list of jurisdictions that are on the record as wanting this admin gone. In a small way, it adds to the momentum.
I love how all three options in the poll take it as a given that, in principle, you think Bush & Cheney are a couple of lying scumbags and that your only three choices are to impeach them, not to impeach them in order to protect the District, or to take a potshot at the City Council.
I mean, sure that's the way I and everyone I know feels... but from what I read in the newspaper, there's still like, what, 17% of the country that still supports these guys. Don't they get an option, like "No, impeaching them would be wrong. I have not been paying attention for the last 6 years and/or am a compete tool."?
Maybe Cindy Sheehan should run for Mayor of the People's republic.
hi. people may well disapprove of this bunch in power, but what are we doing? writing a check to someone isnt going to change america-nor is wearing a pair of birkenstocks when we go to vote... some things need to be taken head on, america....
GO TAKOMA PARK !!!!!
F U SMIRKING CHIMP !!!
Worst
President
Ever
Well he's wanted to make history in these United States.
Why not let him be know for being the:
WORST. PRESIDENT. EVER.
Go Takoma Park! Be an inspiration to us all!
lou