This past August, my town of Stockton Springs celebrated its 150th anniversary. The parade down Main Street was one of those quintessential New England small-town events, full of fun and pride, the generations

mingling, good-natured banter everywhere. Rep. Mike Michaud marched in that parade, and as he passed by, he came over to us and shook our hands. He seemed to recognize us, as well he should have, since we’ve

been to his office in Bangor many times this past year. He may have recognized our banner as well.

We stood on the sidelines, myself, my husband and a friend, holding a large red and white banner that read: “Impeach Bush and Cheney – Change History!” We were getting mostly thumbs-ups from the parade marchers, and Rep. Michaud’s coming over like that seemed to be approval of some kind, certainly a sign of recognition.

The parade ended, but a couple of hundred people remained in place along the route, as if expecting more. So we decided to see what would happen if we marched up the middle of the street holding our banner. Much to our

surprise, people began to cheer and applaud, running out in front of us to take pictures by the dozens. The message on our banner was a big hit!

Over the past six months, waves of diverse groups have come to Rep. Michaud’s office asking him to either introduce articles of impeachment or to sign on to Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s bill to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney (H Res. 333).

To each group, he stated that he believes impeachment is “important” because whatever party inherits the presidency next will also inherit the abusive powers that this administration has arrogated to itself. He has spoken directly to the heart of the matter: Never, before this administration, has the power of the Executive Branch been so expanded with such impunity nor have constitutional protections been violated so blatantly nor

international treaties ignored without accountability. He seems to understand perfectly what is at stake.

On May 29, a group of constituents presented Rep. Michaud with more than 12,000 signatures on a petition demanding that our representatives introduce articles of impeachment against President Bush and Cheney. At that time, the congressman said that when he finished reading up on the issue, he’d let us know. But the months roll on, while our democracy is weakened and Congress keeps funding a war, which, according to the intelligence community, makes America not safer, but more vulnerable to terror.

When I received a letter from Mr. Michaud dated July 13th, it seemed to be his final response to the issue of impeachment. In it he wrote:

“I am concerned that pursuing impeachment at this time might not be the best way to undo the damage that the President has done, and most importantly, for finding a way to end the war and bring our troops home. I am concerned that instead of looking at the realities of our domestic and foreign policies, impeachment would cause many to reflexively rally around the President, and turn what should be a united effort to find our way out of our current mess into a partisan struggle. What we need, and what I have sought, is the bipartisan and independent support of all who are concerned with the current direction of our nation in order to work together to heal this country and move in a positive direction.”

Unfortunately, this kind of spineless position only serves to perpetuate the impeachable offenses of Bush and Cheney: the unwarranted wholesale wiretapping, the torture of prisoners, the contempt of Congress, the lying

in order to wage a war of aggression, the defiance of international treaties. Perhaps, by keeping impeachment “off the table,” the Democrats think the new Imperial Presidency will serve them just as well if they take the reigns next.

There is no other conclusion to draw: Those who do not rise now to protect our Constitution and international treaties when they are being violated with impunity must be seen as supporting their demise.

In these historic times, we need leaders who will stand on moral high ground, not ones who submit to the pressures of politics as usual.

A pro-impeachment rally will be held at Pickering Square across from Rep. Michaud’s office in Bangor at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. It is our duty as his constituents to tell him that he should step up to the plate and sign on to impeachment investigations.

The town of Stockton Springs has survived in good stead for 150 years, but I wonder what our country will be like in another 150 years, and I cringe. Will our fragile hold on democracy and civil liberties survive?

Nancy Galland is a resident of Stockton Springs.