Conyers brings up the Impeachment polls
Rep. John Conyers spoke on ABC's This Week about the stonewalling of the White House on Congress's investigation of the firings of the US Attorneys (he wants the President to waive Executive Privilege). He said he wouldn't hold Sara Taylor in contempt to compel her to testify, since according to her attorney, she wants to testify. Duncan asks how the WH can prevent a former employee from testifying about anything? John said he'll press on with subpoenas if Bush refuses.
Conyers then told Stephanopoulos that he thought the White House would be more cooperative in light of the latest polls that say a majority of Americans want Cheney impeached while Bush is at almost 50%.
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CONYERS: Well, I certainly wouldn’t hold her in contempt. And we’re in negotiations with Mr. Fielding in the White House. We’re hoping that as the cries for the removal of both Cheney and Bush now reach 46% and 58%, respectively, for impeachment that we could begin to become a little bit more cooperative, if not amicable, in trying to get to the truth of these matters.
This White House will never comply, Mr. Conyers. (Full transcript below the fold via ABC)
STEPHANOPOULOS: You've asked the president -- you're asking the president to waive executive privilege in this case on the pardons. You've also asked him to waive executive privilege as you investigate the firing of those U.S. attorneys. And you've given the president a 10 a.m. deadline tomorrow to come forward with those documents.
But The Washington Post reports this morning that the White House is going to deny that request. They say that they're not going to turn over the documents you've requested or the detailed justification for the executive privilege claims. So what's your response going to be?
CONYERS: Well, I'm glad The Post finds out about what the president plans to do before anybody just gives us a call. We're going to pursue our legal remedies to press forward with the subpoenas. I don't think, if this is correct, we don't have any other choice.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So that means holding the White House in contempt of Congress?
CONYERS: Well, yes. It means moving forward in the process that would require him to comply with the subpoenas like most other people.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So how will you do that, sir? Will you actually introduce that resolution, put it forward for a vote in your committee and then on to the floor?
CONYERS: Well, look, you're telling me what The Post told -- the president told The Post. I would rather comment more fully on that after I find out what they're going to do. I don't want them to be infuriated because I said what I'm going to do if they don't do something else. What I've got before me right now are Wednesday hearings before our full committee on the question of this Libby commutation. But we also have outstanding subpoenas for materials and records and persons from the White House that are still being resisted in the case of the nine attorneys who were fired for what appears to be reasons that they weren't prosecuting Democrats vigorously enough on alleged election fraud, and that they were being -- some were being too severe on Republicans in terms of wrongdoings that they had encountered.
STEPHANOPOULOS: One of those individuals is the former White House deputy political director, Sara Taylor. Her lawyer wrote a letter yesterday saying that she wants to testify, but the White House won't let her. In that case, who would you hold in contempt, the individual or the White House? Her lawyers think she wants to testify.
CONYERS: Well, I certainly wouldn't hold her in contempt. And we're in negotiations with Mr. Fielding in the White House. We're hoping that as the cries for the removal of both Cheney and Bush now reach 46 percent and 58 percent, respectively, for impeachment that we could begin to become a little bit more cooperative, if not amicable, in trying to get to the truth of these matters.
We have so much more work to do, George, as you know. And we keep getting stalled. They keep pressing us. We're seeking cooperation. This is not partisan in any way whatsoever. I would have the same attitude if it were a Democratic president.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Congressman, we're just about out of time. But I'm surprised you put impeachment on the table there. Are you open to pursuing that?
CONYERS: No, I didn't put impeachment on the table. I was just telling you that 46 percent of the American people polled want Bush impeached, and 58 percent want Cheney impeached. I'm saying...
STEPHANOPOULOS: But not you?
CONYERS: They're saying that we could -- we could move -- no, well, if I -- if I wanted impeachment, I would probably be on your program next Sunday.
The 58% figure may be a little high.
i watched the interview. i've said this from the beginning, why are the high paid interviewer such as stephanopoulas given a pass, when he asks conyers, are you putting impeachment on the table? he's only asking for a reaction that will hit the papers and the evening news and boost his ratings. to hell with the country. to hell with impeaching anyone in the crooked administration. it's only about his ratings. does he think his line of slippery questioning makes him the edward r. murrow of the day??? hardly, just another cheap media whore. the questions really need to be put back on the interviewer. when they ask the questions turn it around on them, "well, george, do you think the current administration has done enough for impeachment proceedings to begin. if not all then whom would you first impeach and why?" i know it's their show and that's how it's always been done, but a submissive and boot licking press changed all the rules some time ago. so play the game and turn the tables.
I agree with John - "This White House will never comply, Mr. Conyers."
But the problem is getting Democratic Comgresspersons to accept that fact. Writing to Leahy and Welch about this or anything else of importance to Vermonters and Americans is like talking to a wall. All I ever hear back from them is basicly DLC talking points.
Re. polls, I was asked a few months ago to be a Gallup partner. I was told that I would get a questionnaire once/month. After the one & only questionnaire I answered--in which I asked them to ask impeachment questions--I have not had any more questionnaires.
So this is how the skew the "scientific" polls.
I think more people are opposed to this administration and want impeachment than we even know.
Now you KNOW more of the American public wants this administration impeached more than they did Clinton. C'mon, Clinton just didn't want his wife to know he cheated. This administration didn't want the WORLD to know that they were misleading the public into backing the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people for O-I-L OIL!!!!!!
He said 46% for Bush and 58% for Cheney. I don't think that is high for either one. Who, in our whole history has deserved impeachment more than these two?
Give me break. Impeachment would require our leaders to grow some balls and lord knows that's not gonna happen with Reid and Pelosi!!
I have lost all faith in the leaders of my party to do anything!! Fuck 'em! Next election, I just might be staying home.
If any one has the courage to put impeachment on the table fr these clowns, its Conyers, or Waxman.
Yes! Finally the "I" word came up. Now, I'd like some follow through action please...
its about time...call your congressmen and get them on board now!!!!!!! im from st louis and Rep. Lacy is onboard, but my rep, Russ Carnahan hasn't..yet!!!! calling all reps...sign up for hr 333!!!
Conyers was wimpy. Hello, can we have some leadership please...with some backbone. People's lives are at stake. Is it not time to get tough? Say it...IMPEACHMENT...yes...ON THE TABLE.
Conyers is a bulldog and one of the few men with integrity in all of the House - but he is an awful public speaker. Good luck to him in pursuing this - I hope the Dems find a more eloquent and forceful mouthpiece however.
"Well, I certainly wouldn’t hold her in contempt" ranks right up there with "Impeachment isn't on the table" in terms of giving away the strength of their position. Representative Conyers, if it takes putting the poor Ms. Taylor in jail for comtempt to get her to testify then so be it. Of course if she does ever testify more than likely she'll either have a faulty memory or claim the 5th but at least make her sweat a little. Or maybe this is just her way of fishing for immunity in that certain special vapid blonde Bushiefembot way.
More stonewalling to cover up the crimes of this administration. I can't even begin to fathom the depth of the lies and crimes of this rogue regime if they're willing to go this far to keep it all a secret. Who indeed has the keys to the kingdom and is willing to give them back to the United States citizens? While I'd take impeachment I'd much rather see the whole bunch in prison in The Hague.
and then what do we do if they decide they don't want to leave office, take them to court, hold some more hearings, and talk about it some more.
the white house will never comply and the democrats will not impeach.
Rep. John Conyers one of the proud few dems with BALLS among the Scroteless. . .
"We’re hoping that as the cries for the removal of both Cheney and Bush now reach 46 % and 58 %, respectively, for impeachment that we could begin to become a little bit more cooperative."
Right! This is no-spine Democrat-speak for "we, as the most gullible saps in the history of the planet, are going to sit here and do absolute squat for another 18 months, then forget all about it." We are so screwed.
Scarecrow @ 1:
Really, even if the "correct" poll number was 54%
Are the pollsters calling cell phone numbers or only land lines?
What time of day did they call?
Wouldn't it be nice to hear the Dems, just once, answer the "But I’m surprised you put impeachment on the table there. Are you open to pursuing that?" with "Yes, and so are the American people", rather than the wimpy "No, I didn’t put impeachment on the table."
They have more courage saying things which agree with the wingnut line, like "well I certainly wouldn't hold her in contempt" concerning Sara Taylor.
Conyer's approach in this interview was pure passive-aggressiveness: throw out a vague threat, then back away from it when challenged. Sorry, but it doesn't work. It only shows weakness.
How are the cries for impeachment going to encourage the White House to cooperate? The move to impeach is driven by the corruption and abuse of power we assume have occurred and are continuing to occur. Cooperating with the subpoenas will only solidify this evidence and increase the demand and grounds for impeachment.
The democrats keep using words like "hope," "expect," "believe," etc. when referring to White House cooperation. The facts are nothing but bold and definitive action will produce results, but I believe the democrats are too afraid of losing the showdown to actually attempt it. This, however, is misguided because attempting and losing a showdown over executive privilege would at least show the democrats had the will to take this White House to task and at least discourage further abuses. Taking weak measures like assuming public polls of disapproval will force the White House's hand are, at best, idiotic. This White House is already bottomed out in the polls has nothing to lose. Allowing them to get by with passive refusals, first, prevents it from becoming a major news issue and, second, will only embolden this type of behavior as this lame duck administration finds it can do as it likes without significant challenge.
Why is it every dang week, the same old crap is spouted, but nothing EVER done!! Look Dems, you were elected to at least attempt to do something, not yak about it continually and blather on every week on television. Attempting to do something and failing, at least shows you have the balls to try. Quit playing the American voters for dumbasses. We aren't all living in a trailer married to our first cousins with serious dental problems. DO SOMETHING OR SHUT UP!
I'd like to remind Pelopussy & Rockless Reid that they were empowered to:
1) End the occupation of Iraq
2) Impeach Fuck'in gop criminals
@ BradBlog
Flash Says: and then what do we do if they decide they don’t want to leave office, take them to court, hold some more hearings, and talk about it some more.
Marty Says: Conyers was wimpy. Hello, can we have some leadership please…with some backbone. People’s lives are at stake. Is it not time to get tough? Say it…IMPEACHMENT…yes…ON THE TABLE.
So, I assume that you have written and called your representative already. If not, get off your butt and do so, now.
http://myfightfordemocracy.blogspot.com/2007/07/new-declaration-of-indep...
jesus zimmerman Says: the white house will never comply and the democrats will not impeach.
So, I assume that you have written and called your representative already. If not, get off your butt and do so, now.
Look, I think these guys should be impeached, starting with Cheney.
And I'd like to believe that 54% of Americans agree with me, at least
on the Cheney part. But that number seems suspicious to me. I'll feel
more comfortable when at least one other polling organization (preferably one
I'd heard of before this) replicates this result.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
If the worst thing that happens to Cheney for lying this nation into war so Halliburton can get no bid government contracts, causing more deaths of innocent people than Saddam Hussein, and his traitorous outing of a covert CIA agent who was working to keep Americans safe is that he gets impeached, then Cheney is getting of very lightly indeed. But if impeachment is the best punishment we can get for this sinister cowardly cretin then I'll take it gladly.
"So, I assume that you have written and called your representative already. If not, get off your butt and do so, now."
And this would accomplish what besides getting a nice polite form letter reply? I hate to remind you, and don't take this personal, because I don't mean to sound like it is, BUT, the voters have already told their representatives what they want them to do. Have they? No. It's the same old, same old, with millions of excuses, what if's, and lack of backbone.
John Conyers cannot PUT impeachment on the table, anymore than Nancy Pelosi can take it off!!!! Impeachment is ON THE TABLE, and that table is the CONSTITUTION of the United States. It is a Constitutional remedy for an out of control executive or even the entire executive branch. The only way to take impeachment OFF the table is to pass a Constitutional amendment.
Claiming that impeachment was off the table was just Nancy Pelosi's cowardly way of shirking HER Constitutional DUTY!!!! She is as cowardly and as calculating as all of the Washington politicians. They are rushing about trying to figure out what to do while MILLIONS of Americans are crying out for impeachment!!!!
54% of the American people want Cheney impeached!!!! 54% is MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. 46% want his sock puppet, George Bush impeached. Again that is MILLIONS OF AMERICANS!!!!
THE CANCER REMAINS
Over 30 years ago John Dean told Richard Nixon there was a cancer on the presidency. He was right and he was wrong. Nixon was the cancer, but it was in the body of America.
The small tumor was removed, but the cancer was not destroyed. When Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon, he allowed the cancer to survive. He said that we needed to forget the cancer in order to heal the nation. You don't cure cancer by forgetting it. So the cancer cells were allowed to remain in the body and to matasticize. The cancer is back in the executive branch, but now it has invaded the legislative branch and the judicial branch.
The cancer is killing America, and if America is to be saved, then the cancer must be destroyed.
It must be cut out of the body through impeachment, it must be irradiated through prosecution and it must be eradicated from the body through the chemotherapy of justice.
It will not be easy or fast but it is imperative if America is to be saved.
And then just like cancer survivors, there needs to be regular checkups to make sure the cancer never returns again.
Impeachment must start now and followed through completely to the end.
Brawlin_Dem @ 7:
I'm very inclined to agree with you. Unless the people that were voted in display some brains and courage and impeach these idiots, we're doomed till 2009. And our children will pay the price. Seriously, they will literally pay the price: the nation's debt will be put on their shoulders.
How We Know Bush's Privilege Claims Are Dubious
Executive privilege is something that shields documents. When legal counsel create documents, and they expect "executive privilege claims" to succeed, the expect that the documents under their control will not see the light of day.
However, there is a problem. Today, we're being asked to believe the opposite: Despite the "expectation" that the documents would not see the light of day, those documents were destroyed. This makes no sense. IN fact, it defies the WH current and former counsel assertions that they "believed" privilege was a valid claim. No, it tells us the opposite.
Breaking It Down
Conyers in his TV appearance did something important: He told us he's watching the polls on impeachment. Think of that: The support for impeachment is at or past 50% for both Bush and Cheney.
But there's a problem: WE haven't seen any evidence. Imagine what will happen as the evidence surfaces. Some say, "Well, the GOP won't convict." Let the GOP argue that and defend their decision.
Again, nobody knows what the evidence is -- yet -- so it's too early to pre-judge whether we should or should not convict. Conversely, in the absence of information -- which the GOP has not seen in the impeachment -- let's not argue against doing what is needed: Finding facts to make decisions about what will prevent this from happening again. Cheney during the Iran-Contra hearings wanted fact finding; today, he wants to hide facts.
White House Staff Demoralized: Under Political Siege By We The People
Share with your friends the Presidents' problem: If he really believed those documents would be protected by privilege -- and never see the light of day -- why did he destroy them? There's on only one reasonable answer: The President did not believe his claims of privilege would prevail; and that the courts would conclude, as they did with NIxon, that there was evidence of illegal activity.
Rather than rest soundly with assurances prevail would prevail, the President and WH legal counsel knew they were joined in an illegal enterprise. Rather than let the courts have any say on releasing the documents, the President directed others to destroy documents.
Three is no other reasonable explanation. In fact, it's reasonable to conclude the opposite about WH Counsel: They, in 2007, are knowingly, and recklessly asserted a "claim of privilege" knowing full well the WH Conduct is not consistent with that claim.
Where privilege should have conduct consistent with that }expectation of documents never seeing the light of day," we see the opposite: Conduct consistent with the expectation that the privilege claims would fail and the documents would see the light of day.
Fielding has a problem. As do formerly and current WH-EOP-OVP-DoJ Staff counsel. They are on the run. The public has decidedly shifted against them. The evidence that has been destroyed does not support any credible claim of innocence. Rather, document destruction, where there should have been an expectation of privilege, means only one thing: Those in the WH legal counsel's office knew full well that they were linked with illegal activity; and that the evidence in the RNC e-mails would implicate the President and them for war crimes, FISA violations, prisoner abuse, and other illegal conduct. There is no other reasonable expectation.
What You Can Do
Contact your friends. Share the good news: The President is on the run. Share with them the disconnect there is between the privilege claims and what is going on. IT does not add up. There is only one reasonable explanation: Current and formerly white House counsel know they were involved with illegal activity; and the evidence in the back-up email systems is evidence of that illegal activity. Let you friends know: The President's support is falling because his staff counsel is still lying. His former staff counsel has been reckless in misleading Congress: The only reasonable explanation is that staff counsel did not believe their claims of privilege would survive, so they cooperated with, supported, and actively encouraged others to destroy that evidence that -- had it been appropriately covered by executive Privilege -- would not see the light of day.
Outside and current EOP-OVP-DoJ-WH legal counsel now full well there is no way to reconcile these two things: [1] Supposed "expectations" that the documents would never see the light of day; and [2] Destruction of the very documents that would "never see the light of day." There is only one reasonable explanation: Counsel is lying, they never had a genuine belief the documents would be hidden, and they are complicity in destruction of evidence they knew would never enjoy reasonable protection of privilege.
This President and his legal counsel have a problem. It is July 2007. WE the People know full well this reckless, incompetent, and buffoonery legal staff counsel for the President cannot give us a straight story. They have cooperated with illegal activity. They have invoked dubious claims of privilege. They have been parties to evidence destruction. They cannot explain why the "expected" privilege to shield documents, so they ensured they were destroyed.
This President's' leadership has given this nation FISA violations, war crimes, illegal warfare, prisoner abuse, and other to be understood illegal activity. WE are a nations of laws. The Constitution is on the table. This President has not destroyed it. His actions cannot destroy what is on the table. Rather, his actions are evidence of war crimes; and his legal counsel's cooperation with the RNC e-mail destruction is evidence of those war crimes.
These issues of war crimes attach to WH current and former legal counsel: There is no statute of limitations: WE the People outnumber and shall outlast them. The Constitution remains the Supreme Law. This Presidents' defiance of it is not a problem, nor can he destroy it. His actions are evidence of his illegal orders to implement, cover-up, and dissuade reports of war crimes.
Members of Congress who refuse to review these war crimes, or refuse to convict could be prosecuted for refusing to fully assert their oath of office. You are either with WE the People and the Constitution; or you may be prosecuted.
These are not political issues. These are issues of international criminal law. The Grand Jury knows. WE the People know. Prosecutors know. Even those involved with the evidence destruction know. The only person who pretends he does not know is the President. Baloney. He knows full well what is going on: He is the target of these war crimes prosecutions ; and he an and former-current White House counsel are alleged war crimes defendants.
We Retained The Power To Prosecute This President
That is on the table. That is the issue you need to share with your friends. And that is why the State AGs need to listen to you on Monday: They need to hear your voice. This Congress refuses to act. That inaction is the basis to work outside Congress and outside impeachment to prosecute this sitting VP and President for war crimes. Your State AGs need to hear from you. These prosecutions are based on one notion of standing: Your States have retained through Amendment X the inherent power and right to prosecute a sitting President.
We the People only delegated to Congress the Power to Impeach; we did not delegate to anyone -- but ourselves and prosecutors -- the power to prosecute this sitting President and Vice President.
We the People retain the power to prosecute this sitting President and Vice President for the following crimes: Evidence destruction, war crimes, and the violation of their oath to ensure the States enjoy an enforcement mechanism under a Republic.
We the People have made significant gains. DoJ Staff counsel is on the run. Make them present to the Court why WE the People do not have this power through Amendment X. Just as they have recklessly lied about privilege, so too much they lie about powers WE the People retain: The inherent power and Right to persecute this sitting President and Vice President. The DOJ Staff Counsel has the burden to block We the People. They have no hope.
Congress refuses to lead. On Monday, show the AGs you are willing to stand up for the Constitution, and encourage them to do the same. They have an oath. Their job is to defend this Constitution -- nothing the DOJ-EOP-OVP-WH legal counsel or staff can say will inspire any reasonable confidence they take their oaths of office seriously. You are making this happen. Time to increase the pressure. Call your State AGs Monday.
What Does America Want
As of late, for the Democrats, this has been a very unforgiving journey. Instead of looking at their efforts as an ongoing attempt to set our country on the right foot, in addition to Republicans masking as Democrats, you get this unforgiving line stating you are the same as the Republicans.
I cannot distance myself from my Party to the degree of not taking offense to claims "we aren't all living in a trailer married to our first cousins with serious dental problems. DO SOMETHING OR SHUT UP." Does this mean we better rally around those who make childish statements , for if you don't, they will be talking about you next? I believe in freedom of speech, but I find it disingenuous, for the sake of dirty politics, to pretend you speak for a Party you hate. The obvious give away is the Radio show tone in which these nasty talking Republicans speak in.
It's is simple, before we become critical of our Parties leaders, at least consider things like their up to date efforts put forth so far. I think what you will find is committed passionate people, like John Conyers , who in being human, make mistakes sometimes but generally have America's interest at hand.
Joseph
Save America now. Impeach Bush and Cheney!
OK, I've said it before, but I REALLY hate it when reporters/interviews take something out of context, change it through tangential logic, magnify it to an absurd extreme and put words in the interviewee's mouth...
BAH! I heard Conyers clearly say that because there is such a high % of Americans supporting impeachment, that he would expect the White house to be more "Willing of not amicable" about clearing this all up. Not "Impeachment is on the table."
BAH!
I would also second that Conyers is pure bulldog, angry when provoked... Under that fluffy exterior you just know he is taking care of EVERY little detail extremely methodically and will make things happen. Not fast enough for you? Too bad that's not how it works. I for one trust Conyers to do the job right, the first time, and completely above reproach. Personally I don't care if Bush/Cheney and all are impeached, just as long as they're made an example, taken to court and charged with the treason we all suspect they've committed. We'll see if these criminals maintain their ideological hubris through their trial as long and as fervently as Sadam. Only time will show how deep the insanity runs.
Dunno if it's true, but from a recent post at This Modern World:
"I’m not sure if this is correct place, but the aide I just spoke to in Congressman Conyer’s office told me that Rep. Conyers is now in support for Impeachment.
"I asked her what Rep. Conyers’ stance is concerning Impeachment of president george w. bush and vice president richard b. cheney and she said and I’m quoting:
“Congressman Conyers supports Impeachment of the President and Vice-President.”
"I’m not sure if this is going to actually mean anything, but this is what I was just told by Conyers’ office less than 5 minutes ago.
"I also asked her if I could quote her and she said “yes”. Let us hope this is a good sign."
I’m getting so tiered of all the whining little babies blaming the dems for not having the balls to impeach the criminals that have commandeered the government. I think many of you are just closet trolls mudding up the water and keeping the progressives in confusion. Impeachment is a waste of time and will give the pigs ammunition to divide us further. I share your frustration and wish to remove the blight that continues to destroy our constitution. The realistic thing we can do is to gather all the evidence against these thieves to be used after they leave office. Then we can try them not only for treason (for outing an undercover agent and lying to congress to start an illegal war) but also in the world courts, try them for war crimes!
NChomsky @ 28:
So call and write them again. Call the republican reps too. Staying quiet doesn't work . Most of us stayed quiet too long already.
what THE hELL DO THESE CRIMINALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE TO DO, TO BE IMPEACHED CONYERS, WHAT, WHAT,WHAT? BE caught in bed w/ 5yo's. Im sick of tired of political cowards and criminals from BOTH parties, who witness CRIMES happening daily and do absolute nothing about it. we don't need any more suuuuuupeeeenaws, they will stone wall and run out the clock, and the next necon will take office to continue the occupation in Iraq and continue NAFTA, with help from Sam Nunn and guided by trustees including Richard Armitage, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Harold Brown, William Cohen and Henry Kissinger, who all want one north american ECONOMIC SYSTEM, THAT WILL DESTROY ALL MANUFACTURING AND THE MIDDLE CLASS.
And if you think cars will be built in the untied states forever, HA, don't kid yourself, can you say Navigator in espanol ?
Conyers talks out of both sides of his mouth, and pelosi is complicit in allowing bush to get away with his crime spree . Hagel MENTIONS the word impeachment , yet tells Gregory " we'll have to see" if bush has proven to be unethical, WHAT, are you fuking kidding?
The impeachment process should have been started, the first day, the FIRST DAY, THE DEMS TOOK OVER.
No, there are no "closet trolls muddying up the waters". Just very concerned people who want the Dems to take a strong stand in public. If they do not plan on impeaching, they should say so up front and exactly why and how they will hold these members of the administration personally and criminally accountable through other means, rather than passively-aggressively threatening impeachment and then backing off from it.
Impeachment is less of a waste of time than trying to pass legislation through an obstructionist congress. Impeachment may not succeed, but it WILL rally the public to their side. Many people would be perfectly happy just seeing that the Dems are willing to take a strong stand, even if they fail trying.
Impeachment is not an either/or proposition. These members of the administration can still be held criminally accountable whether or not impeachment goes through.
"This White House will never comply, Mr. Conyers."
Yes, I'm SURE that's a huge piece of news for Chairman Conyers.
"John Conyers cannot PUT impeachment on the table, anymore than Nancy Pelosi can take it off!!!! Impeachment is ON THE TABLE, and that table is the CONSTITUTION of the United States."
Impeachment has NEVER worked. And it won't be started by the Dems, so you lot may as well BOMBARD THE REPUBLICANS, because they will have to start the impeachment of THEIR OWN GUY.
The total waste of all this anger at the Dem leadership MISSES THE POINT that these problems are not of our making.
• I know a lot of you don't understand our two-party system, but if you have the desire for an impeachment process, ask yourself why the Republicans don't share your desire, and work on THEM.
Dems will simply not put a year-long impeachment effort in front of the efforts they want to make to improve the country, especially when the Speaker will become President. That would be the rallying cry of 'partisan coup' for the next century.
No, the R will have to start the impeachment AND VOTE FOR CONVICTION, if they want their political future back -- and it is your jobs to make them feel the heat. Chairman Conyers already wrote a whole book of impeachment causes -- ten seconds after Ranking Member Smith files the bill it will be voted to the floor, guaranteed.
And, in terms of 'being silent,' I fought for impeachment for two years of passing out flyers, holding hands of terrified people, and FIGHTING OFF JEERS FROM THE MAJOR BLOGS, back when we were in the minority. And I am well over 500 hours of street protest -- I've been maced, handcuffed, punched, spat upon, and threatened with knives -- I haven't been 'silent.' OUT IN THE STREETS, SHOUTING.
So, PLEASE, understand that Chairman Conyers, who was on the HJC during the Nixon impeachment review, knows where we are in the process, and that's waiting for the Republican yeggs to come to a boil and start popping to the surface CRYING OUT for impeachment of THEIR GUY. And that time is probably coming, if people REALLY want impeachment.
PRESSURE THE REPUBLICANS
Chairman Conyers already supports the process IF they start it and IF enough R Senators realize that their party is OVER if they don't get with the Constitution and fry these bastards hard.
If the Democrats can't even try for impeachment, which is the ONLY honorable course of action, then they need to get` the hell out of our way and the People can do this one at the end of a rope.
Republican neocon traitors, your day of reckoning is coming, and we are pissed
Chimpy won't be smirking when this revolution comes
Please dear Lord, before I die
Break me off a slice o'that IMPEACH PIE.
"And I say........ death to King Louie !!!"
--- Cloris Leachman, History of the World - Part 1
Impeachment. It'll never happen.
Cooperation from the White House? Never happen.
This is all just a pipe dream.
Look what Cindy's doing!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070708/ap_on_el_ho/cindy_sheehan_pelosi
I hope Nancy is listening...
ron i'm quite vigilant
> This White House will never comply, Mr. Conyers.
That doesn't matter because Sarah Taylor no longer works for the White House so Executive Privledge doesn't apply. She has the strong hand and is playing it out to see who will give her the most in the end, Congress or the President. Personally, Congress should stop pussyfooting around, stop being polite and just have the DC police arrest her if she ignores the subpeona.
Stop FBI CRONYISM
Petition Requesting Congressional Hearing on FBI interference in Aruban Investigation
Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
Representative John Conyers, JR. Chairman, House Judiciary Committee
For over two years the US media has reported about the disappearance of American Natalee Holloway, in Aruba.
Now we are learning that a wealthy, politically connected group may have pressured the legal attaché of the FBI, the highest position of the American Federal Police in the Caribbean based on Barbados to not only fail to cooperate when asked for mutual assistance, but to systematically disrupt and frustrate the investigation to protect a wealthy and politically connected few.
According to a July 4th article in Amigoe, a newspaper of the Netherlands Antilles, 'The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has systematically hindered the work of the police and the judiciary on Aruba in the investigation of the missing student Natalee Holloway. Especially when it came to investigating her direct relatives, mother Beth, stepfather George ‘Jug’ Twitty – who apparently has direct or indirect contacts and influence reaching as far as the White House- but also when it came to investigating the more than 120 fellow students and the chaperones who accompanied them in their trip to Aruba .
“You do your own dirty work”, is what was said to former police commissioner Gerold Dompig in charge of the Holloway investigation by a high ranking FBI staff member.
“Myself and also the field officer of the justice department on Aruba (at that time the European-Dutch Karin Janssen ) not only had to deal with the enormous pressure from the FBI, who arrived on the island in no time, but we were also obstructed and even threatened.”
As American voters and citizens of US allies, we are outraged at the media cover up, but more importantly, the cronyism and corruption that apparently exist in the highest levels of the US government's federal law enforcement agencies. Have we not learned anything from 9/11?
The Judiciary is tasked with oversight of the Department of Justice (including the FBI) and the Federal Courts.
We believe America should work for everyone – not just the privileged few. This 110th congress promised to restore accountability in government and re-engage her diplomatic allies.
We respectfully request a joint congressional hearing of the judiciary to investigate this matter.
The US cannot continue to be seen as a worldwide bully. National security depends upon a commitment to building diplomatic, cooperative alliances.
Aruba and the Dutch are too important as allies in the war on terrorism and US interests in the Caribbean Basin to tolerate this cronyism and corruption.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-fbi-cronyism/index.html
Is there such a thing as a citizen's impeachment, like a citizen's arrest? Could we just drag Bush out of the WH into the town square (where people are standing by with rotten fruit and other projectiles; pitchforks sharpened)?
Ron Says: Hey Ron, I have contacted my Democratic Rep and Sen a number of times on this issue. Want to know what they say? They say what the DLC tells them to say! They're deep in the lobbyist pockets it looks to me.
Should anyone ever wonder about a proper definition, show them Congressman Conyers and the exemplary "gentleman." Regrettably, at the moment we need a few street brawlers to hold their own against the thugs in the BFEE. That does not, however, diminish the respect due Mr. Conyers; but, where are the young, passionate, hot bloods to stand behind him and let the repugs know they are there, without gloves, should Mr. Conyers step out of the room for a moment.
What We Need
What we need is a process that will lead to undoing some of the wrongs committed by this president for the last six years. We will not see magic, in one broad stroke, undo the everything so we can live happily forever after. I cannot emphasize strong enough the ongoing nature of how some change occurs. If Americans were able to endure 6 years of Republican free passes to do anything and everything without oversight, we can surely wait longer then six months to undo it. Right now, I think we need lots of realistic perspective on how change is going to happen.
Joseph
It is time to impeach the Cheney administration the real president. Why should anyone obey the law when every day we here something new about how the Busch or Cheney administration is circumventing it. They took prisoners to other countries to be tortured They lied about the reason for war in Iraq. First saying it was Iraqies behind 9/11 then saying it was because of WMDs neither was true. He tried to change senate rules about filibustering judges so he could pack the court more. I sometimes wonder if the Cheney reason for war was money and the military industrial complex. I wonder how much the media was controlled by industry before the war since it was so unamerican then to critisize going to war. I think the Busch Cheney war is
promoting terror because people like to gang up on the bully and that is what our country is now. I wonder if someone could come up with a legal way to circumvent the law to make Cheney pay someway for the trouble he caused our country. Lets play by Cheneys rules and just impeach him for being such a bad guy. we don't
need to prove anything. This is from someone voted for Nixon in 1972. Even though Nixon turned out bad
Cheney is alot worse. He is more mafia like ,maybe we need to play by their rules
"If the Democrats can’t even try for impeachment, which is the ONLY honorable course of action, then they need to get` the hell out of our way and the People can do this one at the end of a rope." --Thomas
What an irresponsible screed that was, Doubting Thomas.
"Congress should stop pussyfooting around, stop being polite and just have the DC police arrest her if she ignores the subpeona." -- fred
The DC police have NOTHING to do with such issues.
What you call 'polite' is actually the political method of due dilligence, which has PRODUCED the Sarah Taylor subpoena in the first place.
I do love watching people taking the Dem process of oversight out of context, and then blaming them for not acting on WHAT WAS THEIR ACTION in the first place.
"They say what the DLC tells them to say! They’re deep in the lobbyist pockets it looks to me."
There aren't any 'lobbyists' involved in these political decisions. The impeachment process HAS NEVER WORKED. The reason is quite simple -- it's a partisan body, being asked to swear to being non-partisan jurors -- and that is quite simply a NAIVE proposition. Of course, the Founders didn't have political parties, and hoped they would not appear, but they did, within twenty years or so, and the rest is history.
INDICTMENT is a workable path. And the Shitehouse is "NOT going to just be able to close the curtains and shut off the lights and hope it goes away" (to paraphrase Chairman Conyers). Indeed, they are teetering on the thin edge of JUSTICE, and clearing the cronies out of the way IS THE JOB. And the Dems, bless their little hearts, are doing exactly that. It's slow, it's not the solution to the betrayal of the country by the Republican party and the corporate media -- but btw, you do realize this is a system of gov't with THREE branches (not four)?
The Judicial Branch has to be resurrected, and the process for doing that involves removing the cronies from the DoJ, and ultimately from the SCOTUS (Scalia, Thomas, Kennedy -- all three of whom committed high crimes when they conspired to install Bushco in the first place). Blaming the Dems is the work of disaffiliated leftists and those who don't understand our system of two party gov't.
Should anyone ever wonder about a proper definition, show them Congressman Conyers as the exemplary "gentleman." Regrettably, at the moment we need a few street brawlers to hold their own against the thugs in the BFEE. That does not, however, diminish the respect due Mr. Conyers; but, where are the young, passionate, hot bloods to stand behind him and let the repugs know they are there, without gloves, should Mr. Conyers step out of the room for a moment.
Impeachment of both Bush and Cheney is long overdue. This administration is a history lesson in the abuses of power.
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men. - Lord Acton
True democracy has been shamed as never before by these lying, self-serving criminals. Be a true patriot. Work for the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney. Visit http://impeachbushcheney.net
"Cooperation from the White House? Never happen.
This is all just a pipe dream." -- Robert
If you think Conyers doesn't know that, you are the one not getting a signal.
As for 'pipe dream,' no, this is an ongoing FIGHT to bring justice back and close out a failed coup. And we WILL prevail.
"Should anyone ever wonder about a proper definition, show them Congressman Conyers as the exemplary “gentleman.” Regrettably, at the moment we need a few street brawlers to hold their own against the thugs in the BFEE." -- Horst
If you don't think Conyers is a brawler, you haven't watched his career.
So far:
• Conyers held hearings in the broom closet basement of the Capitol.
• Conyers published a book listing 25 major felonies by Bushco.
• Conyers went to Ohio in 2004 and documented the abuses.
• Conyers (along with Senator Boxer) formally protested the 2004 stolen election.
• Conyers has held hearings which put Gonzales, Rove, Cheney, and Bush in the ringer, if we can only get a bit of justice.
Chairman Conyers understands, as many do not, that speak softly and swing the big stick is not just for Republicans. And one of these days, he's going to hit it out of the park.
And then people can blame him for taking too long.
Brawlin_Dem @ 7:
Presumably because you're hoping the Republicans will win ....
YOU GO PAUL!!! We should be calling Conyers a hero instead of blasting him. This admin does not follow the rules or makes them up as they go... one of our biggest complaints. Conyers is doggedly following the rules, as it should be. He was one of the first pols to actually read what bloggers where saying. He was one of the first to put up a web site that detailed all the wrongs of this whitehouse.
I know only too well that there is great urgency in getting rid of those thieves running the country but we don't want to rush in and blow our chances either.
You may not agree with his methods but he has been fighting this admin. from day one and he deserves respect for that.
Yes, well past time to impeach, so why are the Demos/Dinos running away from public opinion & burying their head in the sand? I wrote my Congresscritter (Pete Stark of Calif., against the war from the get-go & the "only" (declared) atheist in Congress) a long email on Fri. asking them to go after Gonzalez & Cheney as first order of business.
Not holding my breath, obviously. . . Like SHilary, Pelosi & Reid are controlled by the permanent ruling class of lobbyists & corporate scum, not overly concerned w/ what the voting peons think. After all, what's the alternative? Vote ReThuglican solid rather than Lite?
"Yes, well past time to impeach, so why are the Demos/Dinos running away from public opinion & burying their head in the sand?"
• If it's so obvious, then why do you think the Republicans haven't filed impeachment yet?
Why do you think Republican Ron Paul hasn't filed impeachment, since he says he thinks it's the right thing to do. Why is that?
We're nearing a political consensus across both parties. What's left of the honest part of theirs may not be enough, but they can certainly file the bill and take the heat as their due for being in that party. Or else they, and Ron Paul, are cowards.
Here is what is going to happen. Unless the American people pull their heads out of their collective asses and threaten a mutiny (never happen in a million years), then Dickhead and chimpy are going to sit and laugh all the way to the bank the next 18 months. These two are guilty of crimes that would make most Americans want to throw out the constitution and write a new one, sans the executive branch. The repugs know that. The dems know that. Neither party is interested in the truth coming out.
So much for government of, by and for the people.
Sufficient evidence exists to both indict and convict Cheney and Bush of numerous felonies, including treason. Congress is OBLIGED to impeach in such situtations. Regardless the public sentiment for or against impeachment, Congress is derilect in its duty under the Constitution because it has thus far failed to do so.
When are the democrats in Congress going to start to do the job taxpayers are paying for instead of "political vendetta" games? Enough is enough! They are doing nothing about the border,have no plans for Iraq, but continue to scream and yell "full of sound and fury" but not much else.
Impeach them all! Both parties are so loaded with hacks like Conyers it is amazing we still have a country...
Vote RON PAUL!
Bush and Cheney should both server out the rest of their natural lives in prison for causing the deaths of thousands of US soldiers and many more Iraqi citizens--not to mention all of the people who have been maimed for life.
I'm saying this as someone who used to be a Republican, and someone who was foolish enough to vote for Bush in his first election.
Every American should see "Why We Fight" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" There was a time when I would have protested Michael Moore when he attended speaking engagements, but now I feel like a real dumb ass for forming an opinion on a movie I had never seen. Check it out. I don't know of anything in that movie that hasn't been proven to be true. If there is something in it that isn't true, I'd like to know what it is.
A poster who uses Fahrenheit 9/11 to form their opinions. Ask the Service Man who sued Michael Moore for misquoting him in the movie What a bunch of idiots. You all call Bush and Cheney liars. Your pals Kerry, Clinton (Both of them), Edwards and a majority of Democrats all voted for the war. They all saw the same intelligence. They would have to be liars too. When things go wrong they all run for the hills and point fingers. What a bunch of cowards!!!! It's easy to complain from the back seat. Try driving. Clinton did nothing about the first Towers Bombing, ran with his tail between his legs from Africa as they dragged a U.S. Service man through the streets. Did nothing about the US Cole bombing and he bombed an aspirin factory while getting a BJ in the oval office. If any one in the world had clear intelligence it would be Ms. Clinton, the smartest women in the world according to you people. She voted for the war and bragged about her vote when Suddam was captured. You guys will probably get your Socialist President this go round but after she ruins the country there will never be another. She wants to make us a basket case like France. France are going down the tubes worse than us. We are going to have to fight these extremists some time. It's either over there or here. The choice is yours. If you think they will leave us alone your smoking something.
can you please start to use open codecs for encoding the videos? like Theora or at least a mpeg . Last thing i want is to have to use shit from crooks and liars like m|cr0$0ft or @ppl3 to watch the damn videos, thanks
In the midst of this very serious battle, everyone needs to take pause and let a little humor in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSVYkQoFADs
Conyers brings up the Impeachment polls
[...]Write your congressional representative to support HR 333 to impeach Cheney and to support the impeachment of George W Bush.[...]
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