Late Tuesday night, President George W. Bush, White House aides and a handful of close friends waited with bated breath for the results of a crucial vote. The president appeared haggard and unkempt. Heavy purple rings had slowly formed underneath his eyes over the past 24 hours. Vice President Dick Cheney rubbed his temples compulsively as former Bush strategist Karl Rove spoke in hushed whispers, explaining avenues of recourse. The Bush presidency had never been in greater peril, and Mr. Bush's spot in infamy was never so assured. Outgoing White House Press Secretary Tony Snow quietly entered the oval office, striding dramatically over the presidential seal. A cascading silence overtook the room as Mr. Snow traversed through a dozen muted stares and an ocean of apprehension. He cupped his hand and spoke carefully into the president’s ear. “Ald. Tim Gruber, District 11, is approaching the podium.” The countdown had begun. Sometime after 3 a.m. Wednesday, the Madison City Council rejected a resolution calling for the impeachment of President Bush. Eight alders voted for impeachment, three voted against and eight abstained. We believe the resolution did little more than help draw attention away from relevant local policy. Therefore, the best response to this frivolous resolution was to refuse to dignify it with a vote, and we commend Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, for taking such a stand. We wish we could say the same for fellow campus-area alder Mike Verveer, District 4. Especially in his capacity as city council president, Mr. Verveer's decision to vote "yes" and lend legitimacy to this discussion is disappointing, to say the least. The council members who voted on this issue should keep one simple fact in mind: No matter how much they wish it was true, they are not members of Congress. If Dennis Hastert and Tammy Baldwin ever pass an ordinance tightening restrictions on horse feces, we will be sure to defend the city’s jurisdiction. Until then, the city council should focus on city business.