More than 20 people spoke about the various outrages suffered under the Bush administration at the meeting, which was organized by the Cooperstown Peace Corps and held to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

"We’ve had a failure of our national government," said Adrian Kuzminski of Fly Creek to the assembled gathering of more than 70 area residents. "I don’t think the war is a mistake. I think it’s a crime."

Kuzminski read a resolution that was passed around at the meeting and signed by nearly all of the attendees which calls for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney for a host of violations against the U.S. Constitution.

"Failure to impeach the president and vice-president will allow future presidents and vice-presidents to continue these abuses of power," reads the resolution. "Let it therefore be resolved, that our representatives in the House of Representatives immediately begin hearings in the several House committees of jurisdiction for the purpose of impeachment of the President and Vice President."

Kuzminski said the petition will be sent to Reps. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson.

Michael Whaling of Sharon Springs said local efforts in support of impeachment were important because if enough towns and municipalities around the country passed them, the effect would snowball and force Republicans to consider removing Bush from office.

"At some point, their conscience has got to overrule their party loyalty," he said.

Not every one of the 23 or so people who spoke agreed that impeachment was the answer or a wise course to pursue.

Wendell Tripp of Cooperstown said the 2003 invasion of Iraq was based on false grounds and happened primarily because of this administration’s desire to invade, but suggested that calling for impeachment deflects energy away ending the "evil war."

"It makes people against the war seem extremist," he said.

Others thought impeachment didn’t go far enough and was only the first step in a larger reform movement.

"Let’s not stop with impeachment," said Bill Sanford of Cooperstown. "Let’s put them on trial and when they are found guilty, let’s put them where they belong."

Joe Brill of Oneonta said impeachment was necessary if the U.S. was to regain some of the respect worldwide that had been tarnished by the Bush administration.

"I see the impeachment as absolutely necessary," he said. "It’s bigger than ending the war in Iraq. We can’t expect a modicum of respect worldwide without bringing our criminals to justice."

Brill also said it was time to "start taking some chances and risks" and making sacrifices in the street if necessary.

Bill Schaeffer of Fly Creek echoed that sentiment when he pondered what impact a group of 200 or so people committed to being arrested could have if they protested the war with an act of civil disobedience on a busy summer day in America’s most perfect village.

He said an action, such as forming a ring of people around the flagpole at the intersection of Main and Pioneer Streets, could create the kind of stir that would arouse national media attention.

"That’s the kind of effect a town like this can have on a national level," Schaeffer said.

Several attendees spoke about the need for various other reforms in hopes of preventing future abuses by government officials, including the need for clean money elections, an end to gerrymandering and a return of control to the people.

"It’s time to take our country back from those who control it and run it for their own profit and power," said Hilda Wilcox of Cooperstown.