Dennis Morrisseau
Encyclopedia
Dennis Morrisseau is a former US Army
officer, a retired businessman and the first Republican
to run for Congress on a platform that promises to pursue the impeachment
of U.S.
President
George W. Bush
and Richard Cheney. Morrisseau ran in his home state of Vermont
in the 2006 election, coming in third place with 0.5% of the vote. He was one of the founders of the Vermont's Liberty Union Party
in 1970 and their first candidate for U.S. Representative that year, after narrowly losing in a Democratic primary to a Democratic party veteran who had the leadership's backing. Morrisseau
had been court-martialled for opposing the Vietnam war while he was a US Army Officer
in 1968 and for refusing to serve. (His small legal team defeated the court-martial which carried a penalty , had he lost, of 5 years in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.) Until recently a Republican, he says that he voted for John Kerry
for President in 2004. Now a political independent, Morrisseau appeared
on the November ballot under this descriptive "party" label: 'Impeach Bush Now'. This creates the only state-wide referendum in the nation on Impeachment, says Morrisseau. "Maybe this one move up in Vermont will bring him down," he said.
, contending that the influence of television
and the high cost of political commercials on the public airwaves had effectively established an unconstitutional means test
for federal office. The case was thrown out. "I still like the point,"
Morrisseau said to Frankel in 1999. "So do I." Frankel added.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer, a retired businessman and the first Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to run for Congress on a platform that promises to pursue the impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
of U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Richard Cheney. Morrisseau ran in his home state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in the 2006 election, coming in third place with 0.5% of the vote. He was one of the founders of the Vermont's Liberty Union Party
Liberty Union Party
The Liberty Union Party of Vermont, founded in 1970 by former Congressman William H. Meyer, Peter Diamondstone and others, originated in the anti-war and People's Party movements of the late 1960s and defines itself as a nonviolent socialist party.-History:...
in 1970 and their first candidate for U.S. Representative that year, after narrowly losing in a Democratic primary to a Democratic party veteran who had the leadership's backing. Morrisseau
had been court-martialled for opposing the Vietnam war while he was a US Army Officer
in 1968 and for refusing to serve. (His small legal team defeated the court-martial which carried a penalty , had he lost, of 5 years in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.) Until recently a Republican, he says that he voted for John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
for President in 2004. Now a political independent, Morrisseau appeared
on the November ballot under this descriptive "party" label: 'Impeach Bush Now'. This creates the only state-wide referendum in the nation on Impeachment, says Morrisseau. "Maybe this one move up in Vermont will bring him down," he said.
Lawsuit
According to New York Times editor Max Frankel Morrisseau was an underfunded Vermont congressional candidate in the 1970s who sued the local television station and the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
, contending that the influence of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and the high cost of political commercials on the public airwaves had effectively established an unconstitutional means test
Means test
A means test is a determination of whether an individual or family is eligible for help from the government.- Canada :In Canada means tests are used for student finance , and "welfare" . They are not generally used for primary education and secondary education which are tax-funded...
for federal office. The case was thrown out. "I still like the point,"
Morrisseau said to Frankel in 1999. "So do I." Frankel added.
On the Bush Administration
Morrisseau has issued the following statement:External links
- Morrisseau's website
- "GOP candidate calls for impeachment" Burlington Rutland Herald article
- Editorial which quotes Morrisseau press release
- Posting on iburlington.com