Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, On Foot

Vermonter Who Walks 480 Miles to Deliver Message Of Impeachment Finds Dismay In D.C.

(CBS)  To many, it seemed quixotic, in a season where so much attention is showered on prospective presidents-to-be, to raise flags about a lame duck.

But John Nirenberg, who has called for hearings into the conduct of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, with the possibility of impeachment, says rescuing America's standing in the world demands it.

The 60-year-old professor from Brattleboro, Vt. argues that, with a year left in Mr. Bush's term, there is still time to investigate his conduct of the Iraq war, as well as other issues which have brought criticism against his administration - the outing of a CIA agent, the surveillance of Americans without warrants, and the abuse of detainees.

He said he shudders with anger and fear in response to actions and statements, such as a willingness to redefine what is torture and when it can be used, made by Mr. Bush and Cheney: "Anger because we have stooped so low, fear because all of what we have cherished as a nation - indeed, all of the great things about the United States that we have shown the world - are being destroyed by the current administration."

With the White House refusing to turn over documents or testimony in response to Congressional subpoenas, the only weapon in the arsenal of lawmakers seeking accountability, critics say, is impeachment. Yet even before the Democrats officially took back control of Congress and she was elevated to House Speaker in January 2007, Rep. Nancy Pelosi announced that impeachment was "off the table."

And so Nirenberg, an Air Force veteran who built a career as a social studies teacher, college professor and organizational consultant, and is a former dean of the School for International Training, decided to take action.

Although he did not consider himself an activist, Nirenberg decided to test his mettle in a way to attract attention to his cause: walking the 480 miles from Boston to Washington, D.C. His goal was to meet with Pelosi and hand-deliver petitions and letters from citizens pleading for the Speaker put impeachment back on the table, if only to shed light on the administration's behavior.

"I can’t sit back any longer satisfied with my outrage," he wrote on his Web site, Marchinmyname.org. "It isn’t enough."

Putting Rubber (Soles) To The Road

Nirenberg set out on foot on December 2, from Faneuil Hall in Boston, walking primarily along Route 1. Averaging 12 miles a day, he carried his posters reading "Save the Constitution: Impeach Bush/Cheney" through good weather and bad, being joined along the way by supporters, and often stopped to give talks.

Nirenberg blogged about his experience on the Web site, telling of the hazards of walking along a highly-traveled route - ideal for visibility but less so for comfort and personal safety. And he writes of the reactions from and connections made with people along the way, such as the father and son who approached him in Princeton, and addressed him by name. It turned out the man's brother in Japan had read of Nirenberg's trip, and the father sought him out.

What got the man interested in impeachment, Nirenberg asked?

He told Nirenberg, “There has just been too much blood spilled. Too much. Over 600,000 people have died in Iraq since we’ve been there."

In cities and at universities along his route, he attended rallies and vigils organized by anti-war groups, students and other activists.

Such demonstrations also attracted counter-demonstrators, who displayed signs proclaiming "Protestors strengthen the enemy and kill our troops" and "The surge is working."

"The public's reaction was fabulous. Ninety percent of those people who chose to express themselves - we're talking in terms of horn sounds on the roads, thumbs-up, a few fingers thrown in - were positive. Incredibly, people know what's going on, even without it being a major topic of concern in the press."

It may not be surprising given recent polls: In November American Research Group said that 64% of American voters believed Mr. Bush had abused his powers of office, and 34% said such actions warranted his removal from office. Seventy percent said Cheney had abused his office, with 43% calling for his removal.

But impeachment is rarely a topic of conversation when so many other issues - Iraq, recession, the subprime mortgage crisis, health care, Britney Spears - are at the forefront. The challenge for impeachment advocates like Nirenberg is to make the case that most every issue affecting Americans today can be linked to the question of whether high crimes and misdemeanors in the executive branch occurred and are provable and, if so, prosecutable.

And the hardest ones to convince are the very ones with the power to do something about it.

A Capra-Esque Journey

In the classic 1939 film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," Jimmy Stewart plays a political appointee sent to the Senate to keep a seat warm and not make waves. But the Junior Senator finds himself caught in a one-man fight against corruption which ties the chamber in knots - a filibuster! - until right triumphs amidst a flood of telegrams.

But this is 2008, and life is not a Frank Capra film. At least that's what Nirenberg saw when he arrived in the capital to spread his message.

[jerr11]

It''s obvious impeachment is off the table because of a secret deal between Bush/Cheney and Pelosi.

Pelosi is BETRAYING her party and her principles by keeping this Butcher of Crawford in office.

SHE NEEDS TO GO FIRST!

THE BLOOD OF THOSE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO DIE IN IRAQ IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS IS ON HER HANDS.

[creeper00]

There are still heroes, after all.

Thank you, John Nirenberg.

[secundus2]

The lunatics are already out there calling for Hillary Clinton''s impeachment. Impeachment is the only word in the US Constitution they know; the ordinary processes of government escape their comprehension. The Senate would have to remove 77% of its members and the House 70%, if those who voted for war in Iraq and signed on to the reasons for doing so were to be impeached. This fellow is not like the hero of Capra''s film, but like his hobo sidekick who mumbles about the "heelots" (really "helots") throughout the film. Three screens about an unfortunate who needs his head examined?

[toolmangler-2009]

King George seems to have built a very good ''Bi-partisan'' shield around himself. I watched Pelosi prostitute her office very soon after the elections in ''04. I guess it''s too late to stop ''Big Brother/business'' from completing Orwell''s ''1984'' predictions. He (Orwell) did slow down the advance by writing the books but prophesy is hard to change, The Biblical books of Daniel, Isaiah, Revelations and the Nostradamus Prophecy''s all back up Orwell if you search them through.

[monkfellow]

for his LIES,and his ignoring of the Constitution, Clinton was IMPEACHED,but the cowards in Congress refused to convict him.So, now, what do we have? A bunch of ideologists in the seats of power,waking up each day,trying to figure out how to harm our President.The Fools will fail,thank God!

[toolmangler-2009]

There are still heroes, after all.
Thank you, John Nirenberg.

Posted by creeper00 at 11:31 AM : Jan 27, 2008



I agreee 100%

[piercetheval]

IMPEACHMENT? Hangin'' would be to good for ''em.

[toolmangler-2009]

Bushy_baby, You sound like the teenager laying on the Emergency Room table, giving birth and crying to her Mother who just came in "IT''S NOT MY BABY, MAMA!!!!!". The ultimate in denial... Over 935 direct and willful lies show that this is ''your'' fault. Tell us once more about who the guy is behind the green curtain.

[wolfpeace-2009]

Bush could be impeached. That only takes a majority of the House of Representatives. But he can''t be convicted unless congress finds it is a gross abuse of power and laws because there are not enough Republicans who would break ranks right now.

[slim1h2o]

With uncertain times ahead, I believe there will be more poets created. Seems more great poets were born or created, during these bad times, that lurk ahead.

Maybe we can find (discover) a new Allen Edgar Poe, or a Fanny Forester, even a Hemingway!

We can only spare ourselves, through creativity, the misery, that awaits us.

[obama1289]

Obama supporters watch the video, talk about tears coming to your eyes:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jPev5sEdTjg

[lyfizgood]

If the cowards do not impeach, do not keep them in office. It won''t resolve the problem now facing us, but it will say to the House and to Congress that we are still in charge. Or has that too become just an illusion, and we are really no longer a Democratic nation?

This fellow is a truly great American. The impeachment of Bush/Cheney is about one thing - the rule of law.

The story of the Iraq war - the lies justifying it, the war crimes (torture) committed, the huge amounts of money that have been "lost" or misspent, lead to the conclusion that high crimes and misdemeanors were probably committed.

We have a well established mechanism in this country for dealing with a situation like this - it''s called impeachment. At this point, it''s not so much about removing these guys from office but about having a trial where the country and the world can view all the evidence and determine whether US leaders committed criminal acts or not. Justice!

[cdfoxtrot]

If the cowards do not impeach, do not keep them in office. It won''''t resolve the problem now facing us, but it will say to the House and to Congress that we are still in charge. Or has that too become just an illusion, and we are really no longer a Democratic nation?

Posted by lyfizgood

There is no democracy here. You need to be rich or incredibly well connected to have any possibility of running for high office. Lobbyists determine policy on all major areas. Status quo is the norm, which is why there will never be universal health care in the US. And as for the war criminals currently in power, no-one has the guts to challenge them, except for ordinary people like this Vermont professor -- and what power do ordinary people have? The idea that America is this great bastion of freedom and democracy is one that is well past its "sell by" date.

[slim1h2o]

and what power do ordinary people have? The idea that America is this great bastion of freedom and democracy is one that is well past its "sell by" date.

Posted by cdfoxtrot at 01:44 PM : Jan 27, 2008

Yup I agree. But we can''t give up the hope.

[rowdytexan2]

"So I guess I learned that I have a lot more courage than I imagine"

Yes, you do, and thank you!

When the truth became a political issue it just died. And our leadership has become scum and cowards! Pelosi first on the list. I''m sure the deaf man in her office is totally competent. But the message she delivered by using that man is contemptible.

How do we remove HER?

[creeper00]

" Or has that too become just an illusion, and we are really no longer a Democratic nation?"

Posted by lyfizgood at 01:25 PM : Jan 27, 2008

Short answer: yes.

[mainclown]

This article and the comments are the sad last gasps of the New Deal. The alternative new media are rendering this sort of juvenile world view irrelevant and self damning. The fool who would impeach George Bush (no successful terorist attacks since inital sucker punch) is a de facto straw man for the liberal who gave the go-ahead to this article. This guy or gals worldview is so embarassing to those of us who actually have to work and endure our childrens childhood flirtation with socialism. Your philosophy requires the rejection of logic- the most powerful mental tool created by western thought. The thought that becoming in-offensive to our enemys is the way to protect American lives scares the hell out of serious men that wish to protect their families.

[tonic1661]

slim 1h20 your defeatist attitude that everything is bad and will also be and that poetry can save us is... well what is it...nothing!

Do something stand behind Dr. Nirenberg and support impeachment. The death of all we stand for is occurring before our eyes.

[erasmus6]

My question is, why did John Nirenberg have to go to Washington by himself? Who is going to listen to one man, petition or no petition? Are they going to take it seriously when only one person could be bothered to come? There must be millions of Americans who are against Bush, yet nobody got off their fat a-s-s to go with him. Everyday on this site, people are whimping and whining about Bush. It is time to put up or shut up!

The fact that Americans have put up with Bush all these years is pathetic. There should have been a major revolt years ago.

[ssm9451]

Finally someone who has the guts and b*a*l*l*s to go to Washington and raise some h*e*l*l. Hope he gets some followers along the way. If I could, I''d go with him.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by MainClown at 03:09 PM : Jan 27, 2008

Men that wish to defend their families while killing other peoples families is a disgusting ideology.

Our march off to an illegal war has done nothing but brew more hatred against our country. Is this what your demand to protect your family is all about? You would go over and kill the families of of thousands of other people who were ABSOLUTELY no threat to yours?

[feelfree1]

Re: "But John Nirenberg, who has called for hearings into the conduct of President George W. Bush and Vice President *** Cheney, with the possibility of impeachment, says rescuing America''s standing in the world demands it."

Thank you so much, Mr. Nirenberg!

(Ironic that his name is so similar to Nuremberg, as in the "Nuremberg Trials". How appropriate.)

This demonstrates that one determined individual really can make a difference.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by george2221 at 01:35 PM : Jan 27, 2008



And this ''amazing'' discovery means what?????
I bought the yard beside me also so no one could build without my permission

[cdfoxtrot]

The fact that Americans have put up with Bush all these years is pathetic. There should have been a major revolt years ago.

Posted by erasmus6

Yup, and there was an opportunity to do that at the ballot box four years ago. Knowing the moron-in-chief had dragged us into an illegal war and all for no good reason, people still voted for him. I can''t fault people for voting for him the first time round -- no one knew what a disaster he was going to be. But second time round, there''s no excuse. Anyone who voted Bush in ''04 is partially to blame for the low standing we have in the world today.

[slim1h2o]

slim 1h20 your defeatist attitude that everything is bad and will also be and that poetry can save us is... well what is it...nothing!

Do something stand behind Dr. Nirenberg and support impeachment. The death of all we stand for is occurring before our eyes.

Posted by tonic1661 at 03:42 PM : Jan 27, 2008

I never said that poetry was going to save anybody. And also, I''m not a defeatist, either. The only thing I said was, "When times are hard, some of the best poets come out of those times". And not exclude anybody, some of the best novelists come from hard times.

[crick1452]

I never said that poetry was going to save anybody. And also, I''''m not a defeatist, either. The only thing I said was, "When times are hard, some of the best poets come out of those times". And not exclude anybody, some of the best novelists come from hard times.
=================
True. Hemingway wrote some of his best in times of war.

[crick1452]

Many of the greatest novels and poems are written about the hardships man endures.

[slim1h2o]

Many of the greatest novels and poems are written about the hardships man endures.

Posted by crick1452 at 06:56 PM : Jan 27, 2008

Yup, like death,, poverty,,war,,,injustice, the list can go on. All hardships that we endure everyday, in these times. About like the "Great Depression" and WWII.

[crick1452]

Yep. The Grapes of Wrath. Fahrenheit 451. Brave New World. Heck, Moby ***!

[walt1944-2009]

We may as well all face the inescapable fact that there will be no impeachment of the Great Emperor Bush II, Darth Vader VP Cheney, or anyone else in the Great Emperor''s court.

Impeachment is "off the table", and won''t go back on the table, even if the Great Emperor Bush II physically tore up the Constitution as a part of his State of the Union speech tomorrow in front of Congress and the TV networks.

The only hope anyone has of having these Nazis criminals answer to any court is to have them up in front of an international tribunal being tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Rumsfeld is already on the run he can''t travel in Europe anymore, we can only hope that will extend to Bush and Cheney too.

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[oleander8]

The only thing the career politicians think about is the next election - not the people and certainly not the country.

TERM LIMITS are the ONLY way to stop this slide to self-destruction. Vote them in while they''re idealistic and fired up - and get them the H3LL out when they become cynical and self-serving.

[popstom1]

The Sentate and The House of Representatives are forgetting what there job is. It is to uphold. The Constitution of The United States Of America and it''s Laws and when thay do not do the job thay were hired too do. We the People who vote have to fire them. and find some who will do the job there hired to do.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by STDdating

You will learn, as others have, not to spam these threads with off topic spam to your porn sites.

You have been reported.

[brianbwb-2009]

"TERM LIMITS are the ONLY way to stop this slide to self-destruction. Vote them in while they''''re idealistic and fired up - and get them the H3LL out when they become cynical and self-serving." Posted by oleander8

This might backfire, and cause these people to grab all they can, they know they only have a certain alloted time to do so, and those who are doing actual good will be cut off from continuing to do good.

I posit that hard prison time and fines totaling more than the amounts stolen, (steal 10, will cost you 20) even including capital punishment for the worst offenders, without judges'' discretion, as well as the impeachment and legal sanction, according to the crimes committed, of the current administration as an example and precedent, would do more to put the fear of the people into our elected officials.

[ov442]

Not that there are THAT many darlings to go around. Kucinich''s Cheney resolution has 24 co-sponsors (out of 435 representatives). There were twice as many co-sponsors on a resolution honoring the late winemaker Ernest Gallo....

hahaaa, thats cuz these congressional boozers drink gallo like breathing air.

[gunownerdan]

"Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom.
The cause of liberty, the cause of American, cannot succeed with any lesser effort."
- President John F. Kennedy, January 29, 1961

www.A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com