Democrats Against Impeachment
By JOHN MCCLAUGHRY WSJ May 12, 2007

CONCORD, Vt. -- George Will recently observed that the Democrats are so confident about their chances in 2008 that they are willing to "surrender to the tugging of groups to the left." In no place has that tugging been so urgent as in Vermont.

The Green Mountain State arguably has the most left-wing state legislature in the nation's modern history. The Senate is 23-7 Democratic, with two of the Republicans suffering identity confusion. The House has 93 Democrats, two independents, six hard-left Progressives and 49 embattled Republicans.

In mid-2006 Dan DeWalt, a selectman in the town of Newfane (population 680) launched a campaign to pass resolutions calling for President George W. Bush to be impeached. He had his aim on March 6, 2007, "Town Meeting Day" in the state. To generate enthusiasm, he attracted anti-Bush activist Cindy Sheehan.

She came earlier this year and testified in front of the state Senate in support of a "get the troops out of Iraq" resolution -- a resolution that had already been approved by the legislature. Nonetheless, her appearance helped push voters in 38 of the 40 towns that considered the impeachment resolution to approve it.

Mr. DeWalt's home county, Windham (except for its lightly populated mountain interior) is a hotbed of liberal causes. Gay marriage, socialized medicine and shutting down the state's only nuclear power plant are all popular there. One of its state senators, Jeannette White, sponsored the Sheehan appearance. The other, Peter Shumlin, is the ambitious Senate president pro tem and a favorite of the county's teeming Left.

At an April 18 news conference, Mr. Shumlin and House Speaker Gaye Symington declared firmly that the legislature, deeply concerned about global warming, "did not have time to deal with impeachment." Mr. Shumlin did, however, offer his opinion that President Bush ought to be impeached. But he also threw up a host of excuses for why the legislature couldn't take up the issue. But Mr. DeWalt continued to pressure him.

Realizing that he may need the support of the hyperactive Impeachment Left in a future Democratic primary for governor, Mr. Shumlin relented. He waited for a day when the presiding officer of the Senate, Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, was out of state and then sprung into action. At 8:30 a.m. on April 20, Mr. Shumlin presented Mr. DeWalt's resolution to the Senate and whisked it through in five minutes without debate. The vote was 16-9, with three Democrats joining six Republicans in opposition...."

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