"Any review of what the founders had in mind when they drafted the impeachment clause of the Constitution would make it abundantly clear that the outrageous abuses of power, the violations of our Constitution and of sacred treaty obligations, the dictatorial assumption of powers and derogation of the balance of power between the three branches of government implicit in our democracy and the disgraceful human rights abuses are far beyond anything that would have to be established to demonstrate a high crime or misdemeanor," he said.

"All of these actions have been incredibly injurious to this country, unlike the perjury by President Clinton in a private lawsuit that had virtually no ramifications on the welfare of this nation."

Oemig's resolution, though, is also being questioned by some Democrats. Two of Washington's Democratic congressional representatives, Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Jay Inslee, have said the calls for impeachment distract from efforts in Congress to end the war in Iraq.

Anderson has little patience for those concerns, calling them "sadly reflective of how incredibly timid and irresponsible so many members of Congress, including Democrats, have been while these atrocities have been committed in the name of our country, with virtually no accountability."

The mayor said the Olympia trip does not signal a new campaign on his part to push for impeachment, and he has no other speeches or trips planned related to it. "But I will do everything that I can to achieve accountability by an administration for the most heinous and immoral conduct ever undertaken by a president and his administration."

Anderson's trip is being paid for by a grassroots group, Washington for Impeachment.

---

E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com