Adam Sullivan, who was challenging Congressman Nadler in the Democratic primary Sept. 9th mainly over the issue of impeachment, has declared he is ending any active campaigning. From his website:

New York, NY Adam Sullivan announced today that he will no longer actively seek to unseat Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-8) in the September Democratic primary, but he will continue his fight to persuade Nadler and the Congress to initiate impeachment hearings against the Bush Administration.

On Daily Kos the other day, interested parties could learn, if they were so inclined, about a primary challenge to Congressman Jerry Nadler in the Eighth District. Had you been interested, you could have learned the same from this post on Democrats.com, Bob Fertik's hub of activism on impeachment and other issues of interest. The challenger in question is one Adam Sullivan, and his issue is impeachment of the criminal cabal that currently stains the White House. Judging by Sullivan's own commentary, he's a backer of Dennis Kucinich, the so-called Progressive who just so happens to have one of the worst anti-choice records in the House and, incidentally, claimed to Shirley MacLaine that he'd seen a UFO; or smelled it, as it wafted near his window carrying an odor of roses.

So far so good.

But here's why I would consider this challenge a complete waste of time for Progressives. Now, I personally think impeachment is a necessity for our constitutional heritage, and to safeguard unborn generations. That said, it is not, contrary to what Sullivan claims,

Mr. Nadler, a powerful, popular and by all accounts progressive Democrat from New York’s Eighth is by no means a bad man. But when I met with him personally, I was disappointed because it seemed that he had become lost in a maze of his own arguments, excuses and rationalizations. I was also disappointed that the meeting was mostly him talking; I’d thought he was going to listen to a group of the people he serves.

...free of contention within the Progressive Movement that impeachment is a desirable goal.

I'm not a big fan of the elfin Ohio Congressman - frankly, his support of a given issue practically guarantees its political death - but when he's right, he's right. As he is now in introducing Articles of Impeachment against George Bush in the House today, which will probably be voted into John Conyers' Judiciary Committee today, there to die their own slow and unnoticed death.

But you should know about them. After the fold, the full text, from his Congressional web site.

Today I received the summary of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats' (CBID) first endorsement meeting of the year. This first meeting covered the Presidential election and uncontested local elections.

CBID endorsed Barack Obama. This doesn't surprise anyone because CBID's territory overlaps two of the districts in NYC that voted for Barack Obama: CD 10 (Ed Towns' district) and CD 11 (Yvette Clarke's district). CBID did not endorse prior to the primary because their membership was split among several candidates, predominantly John Edwards and Barack Obama with some support for Dennis Kucinich and even a little for Hillary Clinton. But now that it has narrowed down to two candidates, they decided to take the plunge.

Is Impeachment Necessary to Protect the Constitution?
Sunday, March 9, 2008
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South, New York City

A Town Hall Meeting organized by AskNadler2Impeach.org with support from Village Independent Democrats, Democracy for NYC, Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, and Progressive Democrats of New York CD 14.

Featured speakers will include Bruce Fein (Constitutional scholar, former associate deputy attorney general, and Chairman of the American Freedom Agenda), Elizabeth Holtzman (Former Member of Congress and co-author of The Impeachment of George W. Bush: A Practical Guide for Concerned Citizens), Scott Horton (Contributor to Harper's Magazine, adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, and member of the board of the National Institute of Military Justice and the Council on Foreign Relations) and John Nirenberg (Former professor, college dean, author, and "March in My Name" impeachment activist). New York City Congressman Jerrold Nadler has also been invited.

Admission is Free. For information call 212.340.9548 or email: info (at) asknadler2impeach.org

There are people – I am one of them – who think that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have committed impeachable offenses. Some of us have written our Congress Members to ask that they sign on to an impeachment effort; essentially to prepare an indictment of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney. Many Congress Members have not done so. (For a Politico report on a pro Impeachment speech by Rep. Wexler -- with video of the speech (D-Pa)click here.)

On this page recently one writer says, in effect, that Congress Member Jerrold Nadler lacks balls , courage in less sexualized terms, while others have been sitting in at his office. They want Mr. Nadler to sign on the impeachment idea and he has not. Because he lacks balls? Well that’s what they say. I have great respect for Mr. Nadler as a progressive Congress Member, worked with him and “the kids” for decades.

What does Mr. Nadler say? Well, I called up, asked, got this statement below. Two caveats: I did not speak with Mr. Nadler directly and the people I spoke to have not responded when I asked for a review the quote they gave me. After the jump.

Impeachment is being whispered everywhere I go. And, since I live in NYC, Jerrold Nadler and Anthony Weiner are among those who immediately are brought up when the issue comes up. I have several email discussions going about it. I see diaries on Daily Kos about it. And when I got to local Democratic club parties and meetings I hear it brought up.

Here, in progressive Brooklyn it comes down to this question I get asked a hundred times:

Are Anthony Weiner and Jerrold Nadler supporting Yvette Clarke on impeachment of Bush and Cheney.

Oddly, no one asks me about Velasquez and Rangel...or even Towns, who HAS signed on with Clarke.

The bottom line is this: I am being asked several times a day (whether I want it or not!) who in NYC is backing impeachment.

The simple answer is this: Yvette Clarke and Ed Towns are signed on to impeachment. No one else in NYC has so far.

Visiting our local Congressman

It is an odd thing when a group of anti-war, pro-impeachment activists have to pay a visit to a local Congressman who is considered the most liberal of representatives in a completely "blue State." Unfortunately, that is just what we had to do. Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), who is extremely progressive and has been an advocate for civil rights and civil liberties for his entire time in office, has for some reason gotten amnesia.

Tonight was a forum on Iraq sponsored by Democracy for NYC, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, Independent Neighborhood Democrats, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Brooklyn Parents for Peace and MANY other groups. Jarrold Nadler, Anthony Weiner and my own Congresswoman Yvette Clarke showed up. Nydia Velazquez had planned to make it but had to attend a funeral. Ed Towns begged off with another commitment. Vito Fossella politely declined (big surprise...imaging HIM facing the common people about a real issue). Senators Clinton and Schumer were invited but chose not to even respond to the invitation, if I understood correctly. This goes along with what I have personally experienced with Chuck Schumer's office in the past where a bunch of disgruntled New York City Democrats were basically told upstate was more important than NYC.

My view of the event was affected by the fact I was watching Jacob. I missed all of Nadler's opening satement and half of Clarke's opening satement. I also had to leave early, as I am sure the audience heard when Jacob started feeling sick and calling loudly for mommy! But I have Joy's impressions and notes as well.

Unfair fare?How much of the costs of building and operating mass transit should NYC bus & subway riders bear? More, it appears, but without any debate of the policy alternatives the MTA tells us via Newsday. MTA staff proposes a 6.5% fare increase Why not an increase in state/city funding instead?

Economic Integration?The hostility of the Supreme Court to racial integration has stirred enthusiasm for an alternative: economic integration – now advocated by John Edwards builds on the work of The Century Fund’s Rick Kahlenberg .

Breslin’s Best Ever I think all this impeachment talk is a waste of time. Progressives have the smallest of edges in Congress (non-existent in the Senate). But, if you want to read the best case ever for impeaching President Bush, read Jimmy Breslin’s column here

Phantom Voters? In NY State, incarcerated prisoners (who, pre-prison, largely resided in NYC)