California Trying to Impeach The president and vice president

[pezdespencer]

I e-mailed all 3 local news stations about California trying to impeach the president this is what i emailed them all.

I have a problem with the president of the USA and I would like to see a
story ran on the impeachment bill that has passed in california and the
other 5 states pushing similar action Vermont, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Nevada and
North Carolina."

SACRAMENTO - In a 4 to 3 Assembly Rules Committee vote, legislation
calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President
Richard Cheney was referred to the Committee for further consideration ..
The resolution had been initially proposed on April 21, when Assemblyman
Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood) submitted language to amend AJR 39 ..

"The key reasons cited for impeachment include: 'the Bush Administration
intentionally misleading the Congress and the American people regarding
the threat from Iraq; exceeding constitutional authority to wage war by
invading Iraq; exceeding constitutional authority by Federalizing the
National Guard; conspiring to torture prisoners in violation of the
“Federal Torture Act” and indicating intent to continue such actions;
spying on American citizens in violation of the 1978 Foreign Agency
Surveillance Act; leaking and covering up the leak of the identity of
Valerie Plame Wilson, and holding American citizens without charge or
trial.'"

Also I would like an e-mail back as to when this story will run and why
this republican majority state is so quite about the issue.

These are the 2 responses I received

Thomas,
I don't think we're quiet about much of anything.
It seems republicans think we're too liberal and democrats think we're involved in some conservative conspiracy.
As a part of the Oklahoma media for 18+ years now... I can tell you, we're neither. We report the news... period.
Ours is not to take sides... sway public opinion... or anything of the sort.
We're to report what's going on... as objectively as possible.
(Just like any other business, we are trying to figure out the best way to do our job so we can keep our job. Breaking a story or reporting a story...
those are our first 2 objectives to beat the competition. So we're not here to keep a lid on things.
Quite the opposite... We're here to "win the story", educate our viewers and be good, solid journalists.)

I'm glad you brought up the impeachment issue. I read Time & Newsweek and watch national news networks -- I really hadn't heard much about it, to be perfectly honest. After getting your email.. I looked up more information.
On the surface, it looks like more partisan politics.. but I certainly plan to do a lot more research.

I would love to give you a time, newscast, etc... of when this might air. I have no idea. I don't decide when things air.. and local breaking news or weather could change the air date of any story. I would imagine this national story fits more of the 5pm and 10pm newscasts. I will certainly bring it up in our morning story meetings... but I cannot tell you when it will air. That's not really the way the newsroom works. If it's an urgent story.. it will most certainly run today... but we have 4 newscasts - 4/5/6/10. It could air in any one or all of them. I have no idea at 10am in the morning. I know that's frustrating... BELIEVE ME!! But we are constantly shaping our newscasts throughout the day.

I did want to mention something about the idea of a conspiracy to keep something quiet. Probably there hasn't been much talk about it-- as a
whole-- because it has happened in other states... and hasn't made a big splash in the national arena yet. Believe me, the national media folks will eat this stuff up... conflict with the President?.. they'll be all over that. But as far as Oklahomans? Yes, because we are listed as a "red state", folks here probably aren't going to pass something like that.. and aren't likely to be as interested unless it becomes a national issue or a true possibility. Just my thoughts..

But yes, as you see this explode.. believe me, it'll be like Clinton and Monica... the cable news networks will probably beat it too death. We only have 30 minutes (except our morning show) to report the news... so as it becomes bigger, we too will definitely have stories. They may not be as in-depth as cable news.. but I think we do a pretty good job of keeping folks informed in the time we're given.

If I find out when a story might air.. I'll let you know.
I'm usually out on investigations all day.. and come in right before the 5pm to anchor.. but if I get the heads up, I'll certainly let you know.
Other than that, my advice? Keep watching.. as this becomes more and more relevant to our lives and our president... you'll DEFINITELY see more on it.
Cindy
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Thanks for the feedback, Thomas. As a local news organization our coverage is focused primarily on eastern Oklahoma. Our sister station in Oklahoma City focuses on that side of the state. The story you reference is something one of the national news organizations might cover. In fact, they may have done a story on this movement. I could have missed it since I'm not always able to monitor all the network newscasts. You might go to cbs.com and submit your story idea to their national assignment desk. Thanks again for your comments and thanks for watching The News On 6.

Ron Harig
News Director
KOTV, The News On 6
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