- In what may be a national first, a State-initiated impeachment
resolution against the President and Vice-President of the United States
has reached the floor of a State Senate. Drawing support from hundreds
of supremely dedicated citizens willing to wait hours on both weekends
and weekdays for the opportunity to speak, the five Democrats present on
the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee, voted in favor without doubt
or hesitation. No audience member spoke against.
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- Former Congresswoman Liz Holtzman's expert witness testimony
appeared via videotape and was enormously influential due to her standing
as a member of the Judiciary Committee that begain impeachment proceedings
against Richard Nixon.
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- Senator Rod Adair, the sole Republican willing to answer
the charges made a best effort to deny them, but was ultimately unconvincing.
Predictably citing the now suspect war powers of the Executive Branch and
claiming that the United States is the guardian of the free world against
fascism and totalitarianism, Senator Adair used the propaganda term Islamofascists
to vilify America's opponents in the Middle East and justify the ongoing
wars. No Democrat attempted to refute Senator Adair's position, but the
hour was late and their vote said it all.
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- The resolution now goes to the Senate floor where the
vote is expected to be close. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, who controls
the floor schedule, voted solidly without comment for the Resolution in
Judiciary and recently stated to the press that he expects the measure
to pass in a party line vote. However, Democratic Senators John Arthur
Smith and Shannon Robinson have declared their hesitance to vote for the
measure and Senator Tim Jennings and Phil Griego remain uncommitted. There
is some question as to whether or not the vote must pass with a majority
of the Senate (22 yes votes) or a majority of those present. Authorities
on the Rules of the New Mexico Legislature are working on the question
but believe that a majority of those present will suffice.
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