Walking For Impeachment

60-Year-Old Vermonter To March Through 8 States To Washington To Lobby Against Bush, Cheney

(AP)  John Nirenberg has waterproof sneakers, a bright yellow poncho and a plan. He also has outrage in his heart and much of his retirement savings tied up in his cause.

The 60-year-old author and academic plans to walk from Boston to Washington, D.C., to confront House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in hopes of persuading Congress to take up the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Nirenberg says he's no activist. He hates snow, cold and darkness. He's not even sure he'll make a difference, but he's going to try.

He plans to hit the road Sunday, leaving from Faneuil Hall and walking 15 miles a day until he gets to Capitol Hill, stopping at the Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall and other symbolic locations as he makes his way to the U.S. Capitol.

Wearing a "Save the Constitution, Impeach Bush and Cheney," sandwich-board style sign, Nirenberg hopes to rally support for an issue Pelosi has said is no longer on the table.

"This is about satisfying my conscience. I just don't want to be the guy who says in five years that I regret not having stood up and said something.

"With a name like Nirenberg, you're very sensitive to that kind of environment," he said, referring to the post-World War II Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals.

Nirenberg, a New York native who was a member of the Civil Air Patrol as youth and later served in the U.S. Air Force, was a social studies teacher, college professor and organizational consultant.

A former dean at the School for International Training, in Brattleboro, he has also written three books.

In October, frustrated by what he sees as constitutional abuses by the Bush administration, Nirenberg decided to "activate my citizenship" and do something about it.

He settled on marching, set up a Web site and made cards, pencils and literature in support of his plan.

He has accepted donations and plans to wear the names of his supporters on yellow 6-by-24-inch panels hanging off his body as he traverses U.S. 1 through eight states and into the District of Columbia, walking six hours a day.

With one supporter riding along in a car and another occasionally walking with him, Nirenberg plans to stop for events with anti-war and impeachment advocates along the way.

Among them is Stuart Hutchison, 49, an actor and producer from Wayne, N.J., who is trying to organize a Statue of Liberty event with Nirenberg while he treks south.

"People like him are the real heroes," said Hutchison, an impeachment activist. "These are the people who are going to save this country."

Nirenberg, who is unaffiliated with any impeachment organization, says people who have heard about his march have been supportive.

"I can't believe what's already happened, and I haven't even started walking," he said Friday. "People are calling me, and they're having a send-off and a bunch of people want to organize a turnout at Faneuil Hall for me. I didn't even pursue this."

Nirenberg said his idealism, which he concedes sounds "almost Jimmy Stewart-ish," just might persuade Pelosi that America supports impeachment.

He planned to send her a letter before he leaves to let her know he's coming.

Pelosi, through a spokesman, didn't directly comment on Nirenberg's venture.

"The New Direction Congress will continue building a record of progress for the American people - holding the Bush administration accountable, restoring fiscal discipline to Washington and investing in our national priorities," spokesman Nadeam Elshami said.

"If they can rise above strategy and spin and focus on the principles of what America's all about, they will get the overwhelming support of the public in `08, which is what they're really concerned about," Nirenberg said.

[libsluvsuvs]

Impeachment???the DNC had given up..Liberal Hollywood had given up..they had given up because there is nothing to impeach..the only morons left are THE RADICAL LEFT WINGED NUTS AND OSAMA that is calling for an impeachment...IT IS ALL SHOWBOATING...JESUS H CHRIST..THE DNC HAD LIED TO YOU GUYS....THAT IS HOW THEY GOT IN...
MORONS..

[mudrose-2009]

There is a big blizzard in the midwest today. Hopefully this idiot is now a snowman!!!
Posted by von_marko

It'' takes all kinds now doesn''t it?

[rowdytexan2]

Code? How about from the Declaration of Indpendence..."whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it.

Committing an illegal act of war.
Lying and presenting false information to commit an illegal act of war.
Publicizing the name of a covert CIA operative and endangering her mission, and jeopardizing all those in the mission.
Despite no credible evidence threatens war against Iran.
Violations of the United Nations Charter.

...for starters.

[von_marko]

There is a big blizzard in the midwest today. Hopefully this idiot is now a snowman!!!

[candide777]

For once we agree, Candide777, scarey, huh? lol
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 04:18 PM : Dec 02, 2007

Yes, these are scarey times; you don''t have to be of any particular political persuassion to be appalled and frightened by the rogue "above the law" nature of the Bush administration. There was a time when holding someone in custody with no evidence and nothing to charge was thought to be un-american. Now, you are considered a terrorist, and I suppose even risk being arrested, simply for objecting to the illegal actions of your government. I do wonder if we won''t eventually be jailed for speaking our mind on this website. This country is no longer above torture. I suppose it is no longer above "disappearing" citizens it considers hostile to the president.

[denn034]

Bush and Cheney have a mere 13 months in office remaining so, this seems like political grandstanding to me not to mention unnecessary.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by Candide777 at 02:41 PM : Dec 02, 2007

For once we agree, Candide777, scarey, huh? lol

[candide777]

Enjoy the pneumonia!
Posted by ToddonCapeCo at 04:35 PM : Dec 01, 2007

In the meantime, Todd, enjoy getting screwed over by your heros who continue to lie to you about what they stand for and whose lies you continue to buy in the vain hope that you might one day get a piece of that pie. You are a true American dipsh*t!

[candide777]

Fortunately, Kucinich, who is generally well ahead of most others, has provided the solution to this problem. He created House Resolution #333, the articles of impeachment for Cheney.
Now, if we only had Dem leaders in Congress that were not total spineless, gutless wimps, we could restore the Constitution on the rule of law.
I wish John Nirenberg the best of luck - but given the pathetic Democratic "leadership" in Congress - nothing good will happen from his good efforts.
Posted by ImpeachNOW at 12:57 PM : Dec 01, 2007

It really is too bad that the only thing nearly as disgusting as the lawless behaviour of our president (Cheney) and his chimp (Bush) is the appalling silence of the democrats in congress. We really need to hold them accountable. If only we make an example of one of them, it may send a message to the rest: if you are too scared to do the job we sent you to do, we will give you something to be scared about! Sadly, it seems that fear is the only motivating factor for democrats in congress, who seem to be afraid of their own shadows.

[von_marko]

There is a big blizzard in the midwest today. Hopefully this idiot is now a snowman!!!