At a Saturday, October 14, 2007 Town Hall meeting in Southern California, Representative Diane Watson (CA-33) responded to a constituent question about impeachment. Watson brought up numbers to illustrate her point, but was clearly ill-prepared to use the numbers effectively because she got them wrong. Even though she got the numbers wrong, I think she believes that the Dems don't have the numbers to pull an impeachment move off. I don't doubt her sicerety when she says, "I'm all for impeachment this moment."
The video begins with a statement/queston that lasts for a little over two minutes. There's a lengthy, informative set-up that flows into a question about whether the Democratic Congresswoman would be willing to sign on to H. Res. 333. Representative Watson's reply begins about two minutes and five seconds into the video:
Transcription below the jump.
[2:05]
I think I have signed on to every impeachment resolution that has come to me. Now let me explain to you what's going on today in Congress.
Somebody gave me a little note that said, indict - impeach - imprison - the three "I"s. [applause]
We have enough substanitive evidence to impeach. What we don't have is an agreement in the House to be able to get an impeachment motion off the floor. It would take two-hundred and ninety. We could get some where around - I'm looking at it from here - maybe around two-hundred and forty to two-hundred and sixty. Until we can get that magic number - two-hundred and ninety - it won't move.
Now. Our leader [the Speaker] has looked at this issue and her strategy is to be sure that we take the White House and that we win sixty seats. And we will have the numbers for impeachment. The numbers to over ride a veto like on S-CHIP. And so she's laying out a strategy now that would make that occur. That will achieve that.
But I'm all for impeachment this moment. It cannot be done unless we can reach that magic number.
I just found the video on YouTube and thought it interesting enough to transcribe Representative Watson's remarks. Is she right about needing the magic number [290]?
[Update] Watson begins by stating that she has "signed on to every impeachment resolution that has come to [her]". Thank goodness for YouTube. I thank Representative Watson for saying that she favors impeachment, and I hope that she will sign on as a co-sponsor to H. Res. 333.
[Update 2] Take a look at a Red Bean diary posted this past July for background on Diane Watson's position on impeachment.
Representative Watson's Washington Office
125 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0533
phone: 202-225-7084
fax: 202-225-2422
Representative Watson's Los Angeles Office
4322 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 302
Los Angeles, CA 90010
phone: 323-965-1422
fax: 323-965-1113
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