There isn’t enough evidence for conviction.

Remember, an impeachment is basically a trial where, instead of the quasi-random jury one gets in all other US cases, we have a 100 jurors chosen in advance.

Given the evidence we have to hand *right now*, name for me the 67 senators who would convict Mr. Bush.

Mind you, this is exactly why I said the impeachment of Bill Clinton was also gesture politics — it was very clear from the start there would never be 67 votes for conviction.

Just as I would fault any District Attorney for starting what amounts to a frivolous trial (if there is no possibility of conviction), I would say that *both* the impeachment of Clinton as it was, and a speculative impeachment of Messrs. Bush and/or Cheney, is just as frivolous.

I’m open to being persuaded otherwise — but present your evidence, and tell us the 67 senators you think will vote to convict. Name names. Show me.

Oh, and again, just as I said at the time there was no possibility of Clinton resigning, there is no possibility of Bush resigning. So that option is closed.

If my representative, Barbara Lee, asks whether she should agitate for starting impeachment proceedings, then I’d support her all the way. But I think it makes a joke of local politics for it to have the pretence of pronouncing on national or international matters.

I strongly suspect Berkeley mayor Tom Bates supported this measure as a way to bolster his support among the more left-wing voters in Berkeley. Although all electable officials in Berkeley are to the left of the US political spectrum (which is another reason why I’m so positive about living here), Bates is to the right-ish side of left in the Berkeley context. Here was a zero-cost way for him to show his progressive cojones.

If you are saying “Berkley doesn’t have time for gesture politics so I voted against it because its a waste of time” than SAY that.

But its a very weak argument.

The question before you on the ballot was not ’should Berkley spend time on this?’. You were asked a direct question. You had the opportunity to give a direct answer.

No, but they seem to revel in it. Therein lies the problem – the politicians, not any specific deal.

If Berkeley residents take the opportunity to eject these goofballs and replace them with leaders who will actually do their jobs (you know, governing local matters within their actual jurisdictions) perhaps Berkeley can overcome its nutty reputation and improve itself.