Now the Hard Part Begins
We did it! We won at least 29 House seats and took the majority. We won 6 Senate seats and took back the Senate too, not to mention 28 Governors and several more statehouses. We had incredible turnout of Democratic voters across the country. Thanks to you, we had a vigorous election protection program in place to fight those who would restrict our right to vote. We ran a positive campaign on the issues that really matter to American voters.
The past two years we have worked very hard to bring a new majority to Congress and to restore accountability in Washington. We have fought together on issues such as the unanswered irregularities in the Ohio presidential election, the scandal of the Downing Street Minutes, the shame of outing a CIA agent, and much more. Together we proved that a number of dedicated online activists, working in conjunction with a single congressman, could become a force to be reckoned with.
Although we won back control of Congress, none of us should delude ourselves into thinking that running the legislative branch in a nation wracked by years of one party rule will be easy. We need to put aside any thought of anger or payback. Instead we need to focus on identifying and correcting abuses and pass legislation which serves the interests of the American people.
We also need to recapture the White House in 2008 and maintain and expand our majorities in the Congress. In order to achieve these goals we need to be totally united as a Party. It is fine to debate and argue behind closed doors and among ourselves, but at the end of the day, we owe it to the American people to unite and lead.
Thus, in my opinion it serve,s no one,s interests but the Republicans for anyone, including my friend James Carville, to suggest dumping DNC Chairman Dean less than three days after the most sweeping Democratic Congressional victory in more than thirty years. As many of you also know, I have agreed with Speaker-to-be Pelosi that impeachment is off the table. Instead, we agree that oversight, accountability and checks and balances - which have been sorely lacking for the last six years - must occur. I have nothing but respect for those who might disagree, but that is where I come out.
Having devoted a considerable amount of time and attention to detailing the many abuses of the Bush Administration, I firmly believe that we have brought these matters to the attention of the American people and the mainstream media, and that their verdict was reflected in the elections on November 7. I consider the now famous "basement hearings" and the issuance of my "Constitution in Crisis" Report to be among the watershed achievements of my more than forty years in Congress.
I also remain committed to the seminal issue of election reform. As one who held several hearings in the immediate aftermath of the Ohio debacle and went on to author "What Went Wrong in Ohio," I believe more than ever that we need a paper trail on voting machines. We also need to strengthen our laws to put an end to intimidation schemes, like the stealth robo-calls voters received before the election. I intend to introduce legislation next Congress concerning these matters.
Additionally, none of us should underestimate the continued anger and vitriol of our political opponents, even after the election they are engaged in a permanent campaign to discredit Democrats and thwart our agenda of change. You need to go no further than the November 9 editorial in the supposedly mainstream Investors Business Daily, which smeared not only me but my constituents, writing, "[Michigan congressman John] Conyers led the defense of Bill Clinton in last decade's impeachment hearings and is clearly out for blood. So are many of the constituents he serves." Pejorative and prejudiced statements like this should have no place in our political discourse.
I am hopeful that I will be selected as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee is one of the most important committees in the House, and has jurisdiction over the Justice Department, the civil rights laws, criminal laws, the civil justice system, the courts, immigration laws, antitrust laws, patent and copyright laws, bankruptcy laws, administrative law, and Constitutional amendments. If I am selected as Chair, I believe it will place us in a position to make real and meaningful changes for the good of the American people.
We remain in this together, and I continue to look forward to receiving your ideas, your support, and your advice in the coming months and years.
Your Friend, 
John Conyers, Jr.
Being diplomatic, or the results of blackmail?
Last year, Tom DeLay, waved a list of travelgate co-conspirators around, and pronounced that he had enough evidence to criminalize half the Democratic Party along with himself and Jack Abramoff. The names mentioned included most, if not all, of the new elected Dem majority leaders of both the House and Senate. As the so-called radical left wing is left to ponder the feelings of betrayel created by their Democratic saviours, the Abramoff affair is being quietly dispensed with. No impeachment? No prosecution of the newly elected Dem leaders. Quid Pro Quo. Alberto Gonzales has shown a criminal willingness to ignore the admissions of illegal activity by BushCo, and a ravenous appetite to silence and imprison anyone who could damage the GOP/Neocon legacy. The AIPAC/PNAC cabal of big thinking world conquerers are working on a formula that has worked for generations. If we get discouraged, they win. George Bush lied to America's face when he told us just before the election that Don "Tamiflu" Rumsfeld was going to be his man until the bitter end, less than a week later he canned his ass. The pressure the Constitutional Left exerted, was IMO, what turned the tide on November 7, 2006. How many Iran/Contra style cover-ups can America endure before the entire concept of Democracy is a farce? I respectfully disagree with Mr. Conyers decision to not seek impeachment. Not only do I disagree with him, I feel that ANY elected official who allows this type of criminal activity to continue, and does nothing to enforce the laws covering these violations, can be considered a co-conspirator. How do we know that bribe money wasn't a factor in the decision making process? We don't. Isn't that what happened to Cunningham and Ney? While I don't think Mr. Conyers would do such a thing, anything is possible. That's why our forefathers devised our system of checks and balances. When this system is circumvented, it is our job to force the issue. Mr. Conyers is a politician and a diplomat. I believe he can be convinced to change his mind. Bush didn't bat an eye after firing Rummy. He won't bat an eye after he gains amnesty then demands the arrest of every Dem on DeLay's list. What ever happened to DeLay? Wasn't he supposed to be joining the other rats in prison? Or was that part of the quid pro quo? With everything on the table, anything is possible. It isn't like there isn't precedent. The American public pulled a political Rip Van Winkle and has been sleeping since Congress allowed the Nixon pardon. It's going to take much more than one mid term election to convince our rulers that we are now awake. Noone thought the Dems could retake both houses of congress, but we did it. It wasn't the DLC type Dems either, it was the pissed off radicals. If we don't go back to sleep, or get discouraged by the fickleness of our elected leaders, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. With millions of citizens in jail every day, many of them for victimless crimes, it is an insult to America and the Constitution to even consider amnesty, for the crimes and criminals of BushCo. This is no longer about party loyalty, this is about honoring all of the citizens who gave their lives so we could have something to piss away. WE are the generation history will record as having fallen asleep at the switch. Not our elected leaders, but "We The People". The Constitution tells us there might be times like this. I believe Mr. Conyers to be a good man. I also believe that when the Dems gain control, the evidence will force them to change their minds, but only if we keep the pressure on. Otherwise our children and our grandchildren will have to deal with the next generation of Neocon criminals. Stop the cycle of abuse. Support the Constitution.
Slap on the back Mark,
For a great summation!
My Impeachment Op-ed
I wrote this about Pelosi for publication prior to your email of today; so, it applies to you as well. You say you are for "justice" and "peace" at the top of your web page. As I point-out, the primary reason for impeachment is to end executive impunity. By putting ypourself in the same category as Pelosi, you state you are against what you say you are for.
Pelosi Announces She,s Corrupt and a Liar:
Another Lying Corrupt Speaker We Don,t Need
By declaring "impeachment is off the table," Nancy Pelosi announced to the world she,s corrupt and a liar, of little difference from the disgraced Republican Speakers of the House and the Bush administration. She,s a liar because she took an oath of office that swore her to "uphold and defend the Constitution," which by not pursuing impeachment means she doesn,t intend to defend the Constitution by upholding the law. This in turn leads to her corruption, as she is essentially protecting an provably corrupt executive and thus becomes corrupt herself. Do we really want an admittedly corrupt liar as the House Speaker again?
The Speaker We The People deserve must be as tenacious as the US Marshal in the film The Fugitive by insuring that executive branch impunity is finally disciplined to the fullest extent of the law--we have several million people in prison whose crimes aren,t nearly as heinous as those committed by people in and out of the Bush administration. Indeed, one of the main reasons Cheney and Bush thought they could get away with their crimes is because of previous impunity "enjoyed" by prior administrations that ought to be disciplined as well. This is at its foundation a Law & Order issue, not political. Members of Congress are supposed to be the primary officers of the law, which is why they are given the power to enact law. If they refuse to enforce the law or look the other way as is often the case, then they are corrupt and liars, and essentially guilty of treason, for their acts debase and fundamentally weaken the country. Historians like myself who dig into the past behavior of our Empire know that this must come to a halt NOW for it has gone on far too long.
Even if Pelosi changes her position, could we trust such a person? I say NO! We also must be wary of Congressman Murtha, who is on record as saying we should have invaded Iran instead of Iraq! [http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/15817001.htm] Given the criminal Iraq debacle, imagine how badly that would have turned out--and still might unless we literally shackle the current administration by applying the law so we can arrive at some semblance of order.
There is one Congressman who has proven himself to be tireless in his pursuit of executive malfeasance--Henry Waxman. He would make a great Speaker for the People. Doing the right thing--applying and enforcing the law--would by itself constitute a revolution of sorts; and given the great disconnect between Washington D.C. and the rest of the country on almost every issue, it,s a revolution the great majority of People will welcome.
11/14/2006
karlof1
Impeachment DO IT NOW DAM YOU
MR. Conyers, Are you just part of the same scum? or did they get to you...?
To regain respect for Truth and Honor and Justice in the world this process of Impeachment is Essential. To not do this is to make a FARCE of all we teach our children about "Truth Justice and the American way" and what we profess this Nation is about. How can we punish severly soo many folks in our society for far less and let these men go unjudged or even go through the process of investigation trial? WE CAN NOT...
To have this issue dissmissed as payback or revenge is an obscene misrepresentation of the issue. It is about REAL SIMPLE MORALITY and JUSTICE and TRUTH ... the things we PROFESS to stand for. LET'S STAND FOR THEM OR SIMPLY ADMIT TO BEING THE HYPOCRITS WE ARE IF WE DO NOT...
It we are to be honest with ourselves we should see plainly that this type hypocrisy is what brings terror to our shores... CAN WE REACH THAT DEEP INSIDE TO FIND THIS TRUTH...??? TO REALLY END A GOOD PART OF THE REASON TERRORISTS ATTACK US??? If we cannot finally reach this deep inside FOR TRUTHS WE HAVE DENIED FAR TOO LONG I fear for our Nation...
Morality was fine for george bush when he put more people to death in Texas as Governer than any one in history, including mentally handicapped people. The same morality is good for this man now...
There is MORE than enough evidence to open this up and I DEMAND you do it for the good of the world. I am soo tired of hearing it doesn't make political sense. If "Political sense" is not doing this then it is time we change what Political sense means. This kind of Political sense is what got us into this hell hole and caused soo much DEATH OF INNOCENTS and Destruction OF A SOVERIGN NATION in a war based on lies and greed.
I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THIS CHANGE THE DEMOCRATS ARE TALKING ABOUT TO BE EMPTY WORDS THAT IGNORE THIS MOST VITAL ISSUE FOR ALL OF OUR SOULS. If these men are innocent then so be it. If they are found guilty then they should be punished to the full extent of the law and then sent to the world court for possible trials for war crimes and crimes against humaniety.
I RESPECTFULLY DEMAND THIS NOT BE "OFF THE TABLE", AND IT BE PERSUED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Impeachment Now!
Mr. Conyers,
How can you, knowing all you know, take impeachment off the table. If there were ever two elected officials that deserved to be impeached more than Bush and Cheney, I don't know who they are. We The People have elected a Democratic Congress to right the wrongs of the past six years. Do your job and impeach the lying warmongers today!
Investigations first
Dear Mr. Conyers,
I have been following your actions ever since the Downing Street Minutes. You called for accountability and restoration of our Constitution.
In a political climate where upholding the Constitution is of little interest, I admire(d) your willingness to speak up.
I believe the only reason impeachment should be "off the table" is because no oversight has been conducted to warrant impeachment. However, it galls me to think that impeachment might be considered "off the table" even before any oversight happens.
In either case, it is fact-free decision making--certainly worthy of your Republican colleagues, eh?
Question: If congressional investigations demonstrate that elected officials, notably the President and Vice President, committed high crimes and misdemeanors that clearly qualify them for impeachment, will you, Representative Conyers, follow the rule of law and initiate impeachment proceedings?
I ask and expect nothing less than oversight and accountability.
I vote, but only when my vote is earned.
We are forgetting an important lesson!
I am in complete agreement with most of the posts that express disappointment on a pre-emptive Democratic stance against impeachment. In a lawful society no one would be able to escape accountability, and investigations are absolutely necessary to establish the facts that this administration needs to be accountable for. Remember that when Bill Clinton took office in 1992 he gave a total 'pass' to the perpetrators of the Iran Contra crimes. He was trying to achieve a good working relationship with Republicans who responded with what? good will? cooperation? No Way!! They started unending investigations (at our expense!) of Clinton himself, resulting in not only articles of impeachment, but the unintended consequence of Rumsfeld, Cheney, Elliot Abrams, Paul Wolfowitz, et al to get away with murder and re-appear in this administration to do even worse to our country and to other countries around the world. The reconciliation strategy DOES NOT WORK!! Don't give them any better than they deserve!! We expect transparency and accountability, and if the Democrats want to become irrelevant real fast, they will pursue a soft-on-crime policy towards obvious wrongdoing.
LauraLeo, Sacramento
Lessons Not learned
Excellent point, LauraLeo!
Not only did they give no quarter, they took so much away, it can never be replaced!!
But it CAN be punished!
J.
What the Democrats Feel They Have to Lose with Impeachment
I am thinking that one reason that some Democratic Party leaders are not interested in investigations and the impeachment that would likely follow any thorough investigation, is that there are many Democrats who may feel that they would get caught in the net. After all, many of them voted for the war in Iraq and feel morally culpable, and many are on the take from the same corporations that feed the GOP.
I understand that there may be other reasons that are less ignoble. It is easy to feel fatigued by all the negativity and deceit of the last 6 years, and to want to move ahead with a progressive agenda. It is also easy to be afraid of alienating many centrist voters who helped swing the recent mid-term elections to the Democrats, and pay the consequences in the 2008 election.
But I have to agree with 99% of the bloggers (less a couple crackpots) who feel that it is irresponsible to take impeachment off the table. If it is taken off the table, that should occur AFTER the necessary investigations. Impeachment, as we know, is simply a hearing to decide whether someone should be tried in the Senate. Let,s investigate the important concerns, many of which were inumerated and published by John Conyers, THEN decide whether to impeach either or both of Bush-Cheney. At that point, let the Senate accept its mandated responsibility to either remove or not remove Bush and/or Cheney from office.
I believe the 2-party system has evolved into a failed system. I think a system of proportional representation--like exists in a parliamentary system--would be superior. This would enable better representation of various political views, and help to prevent the kind of 1-party rule we have had lately.
But for now we are stuck with the two major parties. Although a strong 3rd party could present itself soon, there is the risk of harming the lesser-of-two-evils party and electing the worst party. So I hope we can at least live up to our constitutional responsibilities and proceed with proper investigations, whether or not they lead to impeachment.
I respect John Conyers, and I hope such serious concerns are not off the table, and that it is not "the end of the day" yet.
Shucks, why would any American be angry
with Bush and his Republicans just because they SLIT THE THROAT OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, HIJACKED THE ENTIRE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND CRASHED IT 2,000 DAYS IN A ROW INTO THE CONSTITUTION'S TWIN TOWERS OF CHECKS AND BALANCES?
YUP. THAT FLAMING WRECKAGE THAT USED TO BE THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION CAN BE HOSED DOWN AND REASSEMBLED IF WE JUST BEHAVE LIKE NICE LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS AND LET OUR FRIENDS NANCY AND HARRY TAKE TURNS KISSING BUSH'S ASS FOR TWO MORE YEARS.
JC. JC. JC. Anger is the only rational response to six years of pervasive Republican treachery, crimes, and fascist demagoguery. Any American who is not angry is either brain dead or admires pervasive Republican treachery, crime, and fascist demagoguery.
I still believe that when the new Congress convenes you are going to do what integrity and patriotism demand of you, JC. But your week of silence, followed by your Nov 15 post, in which you bow and scrape before the throne of Nancy, the New Uniter not Divider, is a demeaning spectacle the likes of which I never thought I'd see on ConyersBlog.
You tell us you firmly believe that we have brought the many abuses of the Bush Administration to the attention of the American people and the mainstream media, and that their verdict was reflected in the elections on November 7.
That was not a verdict, it was an ARRAIGNMENT. It is now the responsibility of Democrats to INDICT and CONVICT these Republican criminals so the nightmare of the past six years can be ended and will never have to be endured again.
Justice is not negotiable. It is not something to be abandoned for the sake of projecting "unity." Justice is the only foundation upon which we can rebuild our shattered government and reclaim our honor in the world.
Millions of progressive activists are demanding justice. We are not going to settle for anything less. There will be no unity if justice is not reestablished throughout our government, there will be only shame and further degradation.
I couldn't agree more!!!!
I couldn't agree more!!!!
Shucks, why would any American be angry
I couldn't agree more!!!!
Impeachment
Dear Representative Conyers,
I, too, am concerned about the impeachment is off the table comment. What table are you referring to? I think the people's table's got impeachment all over it. But also what of your oath of office? Aren't you sworn to uphold the Constitution? Does anyone know better than you how much this Administration has repeatedly violated the Constitution? I am hoping that your comments are merely polite politics. So okay, forget impeachment for now, let's just proceed with investigative hearings. If you and your colleagues will follow through on open public hearings concerning Iraq, Katrina, wiretapping, energy policy formulation, the Wilson/Plame Affair, etc., I think we, the people, will take care of the impeachment part.
thanks for all your efforts,
David Lasagna
Impeachment
It is with a heavy heart that I read that you (of all people - author of What Went Wrong In Ohio) agrees with Nancy Pelosi in that impeachment is off the table. In fact it feels more like a slap in the face.
It is not anger or payback but justice that influences me to want impeachment investigations. I believe crimes have been committed and need to be investigated.
If the Democrats abandon this chance to investigate wrong doing then I will feel abandoned by the Democrats. If this happens then the Democrats will be no better than the Republicans, catering to political interests instead of being a watch dog of American principles. If we don,t stop and prosecute any wrong doings we find then we are condoning them and it is not much different than if we had done them ourselves.
I personally don,t believe we will ever be able to advance as a just and honorable nation until the obstructing block in our national path is removed. That block, I believe is a corrupt government, starting with the Presidency. I,m afraid that using a regulator will only be slowing down a stream that is still going in the wrong direction. We need to remove the blockage to get us going in the correct direction once again.
It is not revenge I want, it is a removal of an influence of what I have come to believe is evil, doing only what will profit themselves instead of doing the best for us, "We the people".
I urge you, for the sake of our country, to reconsider your opinion of impeachment. Lives are dependent on it.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, Bob
Howard Dean
Patrick Monk.RN.SF.
Howard Dean has more cojones than most any of the 'go-along' congressperson benchwarmers occupying our house. Dump him at your peril. Impeachment should NOT be off the table. Realise that the current situation is 'delicate' and we radical types may have to be on a slow boil for a couple of years untill the final nails are driven into the coffin of the radical rebublican fascists, but that does not mean we should abrogate our rights and responsibilities. There must be immediate full exhaustive hearings into all matters leading up to the Iraq Insanity, including DSM, on the floor of the house this time, not in the basement, and if grounds for impeachment are found, it is the duty of our elected representatives to take appropriate action and Impeach the traitors.
Tidal Wave
I am amazed at how the majority of responses in this blog unite to express a deep sense of moral outrage and a call to hold our elected officials accountable.
I was devastated by results of the 2004 elections; they were rock hard evidence pointing to tampering and fraud. What really hurt me though was that regardless of republican tampering, people actually VOTED bush back into office. I asked myself over and over again, what were they seeing that I couldn't see? We all heard the same man speaking the same words and displaying the same behavior as recorded in bush's various public appearances and press meetings. How could these people think this man capable of tying his own shoes let alone running a country? I was embarrassed to the bottom of my soul by bush's performance in debates against John Kerry. The proceedings and rules for holding and recording these debates were obscene and obviously intended to restrict as much as possible, unfavorable comparison of bush to Kerry. Despite all of their machinations, including wiring bush so he could be fed words during the debate (that's NOT a debate, that's a ventriloquist act), his performances in all of the debates proved to the rest of the world that we elected an idiot to the highest office in our country. Then he was re-elected, sort of, but not really.
November of 2004 I began chanting in my head "impeach bush and cheney." It became my mantra, the 2006 elections the means and John Conyers picked up the torch for the people's truth. It was all so simple until the last weeks before the election. But each passing day made it clearer to me how much of our country's future was tied to the outcome of the election and a win for the right would truly spell the death of our democracy. I fought with everything I had, money to campaigns, telephone calls, petitions signings and letters. The passion and energy of the peoples' grass-roots activisms was awe-inspiring. But like everyone else, I think I held my breath through most of election day.
Then we won. Oh shit, we WON. Not just the house but the whole damn thing. Our post election-bliss lasted what, two days maybe? And the legacy of the outgoing legislature is far worse than I think any of us could imagine. Folks, we the people, can have our house and senate back but first we have to dig them out from under a huge pile of crap. Time to roll up our sleeves, put on the waders and start cleaning house. I can see that the issues we are faced with have not changed, but priorities have been shifted by forces of human nature and the random vectors of life. Now it's not quite so easy to continue chanting "impeach bush and cheney" because I am in danger of getting a mouthful of crap in the process.
Until we know together, as a people, the issues on our "to do" list and we must all be clear on them together, we cannot prioritize and we cannot get anything done. I, too, was disappointed by the long delay in communication from Mr. Conyers on this blog after the election results. The delay in communication taken together with the context of his message does give me pause and does shake my confidence in him. But before we jump into torch and pitchfork bearing mode, we must think this through clearly and look at the entire situation as it now stand at the federal level. Acting other than with clear, cool thinking is too big of a risk for our newly transplanted party. I, for one, am taking a step back so I can think things over and get some perspective.
I that John Conyers is holding one hell of a hand in a high stakes political poker game but, it IS poker, so timing is crucial. I believe John Conyers has most if not all that is needed to put in motion a public investigation that exposes the president and vice president for their crimes. I have to trust that he will do what is right for us and by us and that his intent and will have not changed or been corrupted by the play of power. Time will show us the truth and . . . .
We know too much, our eyes as a people, have been opened and we cannot deny nor ignore the reality that our country is in trouble. Think on it. What could be more terrifying than to be a politican right here and right now, knowing that a couple, two or three hundred million pissed off citizens eyes are watching your every move? Think on it.
If you won't impeach, shame on you
This country has suffered the most egregious abuse of power, laws, international laws, and the constitution, all by the current administration. If we are unwilling to use the remedy provided by our founders to address this, then we might as well disband the country and destroy the laws and constitution.
First among your priorities should be defending our most important principles - how we are governed. I did not vote for Democrats to simply change who is in power. I voted with the expectation that you would restore the constitutionality of our governance.
Do your duty, or resign your post! Shame on you for saying impeachment is off the table!
Well said...
Unfortunately, it seems as though CONyers is afraid of Pelosi and is therefore willing to sell out in order to secure his chairmanship position.
"Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession.
I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance
to the first." - Ronald Reagan
Impeach Bush
So, forget about accountability. Forget about Rihcard Clarke. Forget about the Downing Street Memos. Forget about all the innocent Iraqis killed. Forget about the soldiers who have given their lives and limbs. Forget about the people who have given their time, money, and trust to the Democrats to right this wrong.
If you take impeachment off the table, you are an accomplice to these war crimes. You become a war criminal.
If you take impeachment off the table, you lose all the support and trust you have gained.
The neocons still hold veto power. They can still block legislation.
Dragging Bush and Cheney through a trial is a duty not revenge. It is your responsibility under the Constitution.
Here Here!!
Yes, you DO become a party to the same crimes by protecting the perpetrators. As I said in my op-ed, behavior akin to treason!
karlof1
Op-Ed
You are both right on. You're either for 'em, or against 'em.
And a very excellent Op-Ed piece it was, karlof1. IMHO.
Jewels
don't back down !!!
i am very very disappointed and outraged that you and nancy pelosi are not stepping up to the plate on impeachment. i am a registered and very active dem, and would like to understand exactly why it is that you are backing down from you oath to defend the constitution. dems will be accountable, too, for their actions or lack of action in the 2008 election.
not pursuing impeachment is a serious mistake that needs to be corrected immediately. the dems have been homogenized by howard dean--his lack of focus and backbone, and the chickens will come home to roost in 2008. the republicans were voted out because of the gross and deceitful subversion of the constitution. for the good of the country, both nationally and internationally, impeachment must be aggressively pursued.
thanks.
total betrayal
see subject
Impeachment doesn't come first
Impeachment doesn't come first. The primary work on the new congress is the resumption of meaningful congressional oversight. There is much to discover. For example, who attended Cheney's energy policy meetings and what was dtermined there; what are the realities of the NSA evesdropping procedures, how were they established, and who did what; have the recent practices of the Internal Revenue Service served to benefit certain economic strata at the expense of others; what was the intelligence-gathering and analysis process leading up to the invasion of Iraq; and much more. I have two points here. The first is that there is a great deal of substance (as opposed to emotion) that the congress can investigate WITHOUT promoting the appearance of a party obsessed with payback. That course will backfire. The second point is that these investigations just might uncover hard facts that would, in themselves, create a national demand for impeachment, as happened after Watergate. Whether impeachment does or does not follow, let congress do the job that the founders intended.
we already have enough evidence
bob,
in case you don't know it, there already has been and IS a national demand for impeachment. john conyers was instrumental in the call for impeachment. and the congress has NOT done the job that the founders intended. i think you need to do some more homework on a topic of which you apparently are not informed.
You are right, he should be arrested not impeached.
In the America that 65% of the public lives in(the uneducated), there is already ample evidence to arrest, not impeach, Mr. Bush. Simply say FISA over and over again. He admitted on camera that he needed warrants in 2004, only to admit that he was participating in domestic spying at the time of his statement. The fact that he has 3 days to wiretap prior to requesting permission, negates the entire argument that he needed a quicker response. In victim class America if someone admits to knowing an act is illegal, then admits later on that he was doing it at the time of admission, the rationalization process is part of the sentencing procedure. It become why did you break the law? The reasons might mitigate the damages, but the admission is enough for a conviction. If the Dems desert the people that put them in power, they will have failed us in a bigger way than the criminals of BushCo. Petty criminals exist. It is up to the DA's of America to press charges. If they benefit from allowing the crimes to continue, as the Dems are doing now, they become co-conspirators. It isn't the original criminal who is now at fault, it is the individual who refuses to utilize the system that enables it to continue. I live in Northern New York. When the judges and DA's of my area were questioned by the New York Times as to why they're doing nothing as our rights are being systematically denied. These overeducated members of the bar blamed the uneducated justice court system. They conveniently neglected to mention the fact that this county of 50,000 controls the entire NYS court system via their DA's involvment as head of the NYS DA's association, and former Supreme Court Judge who now oversee's the entire county court system North of NYC. We, the uneducated, know that the fox has been in charge of the chicken coop for a very long time. All you have to do is read the Times article that outlines the abuses of the public by NYS's court system. If we don't pursue justice(not revenge) now, when do we do it? Please don't wait as long as the North Country did. I've been aware of these problems in the Franklin County Court System since 1975. I didn't start writting to my elected officials until 2 years ago. I waited so long that they act offended that someone of my ilk would expect to have any rights at all. But I believe in equal justice. The people who perpetuated the crimes and covered them up are responsible for whatever backlash is meted out in response to the admission of these crimes. It isn't the messenger that is wrong, it is the perpetuator. Every citizen in America, irregardless of party affiliation, should be mad as hell right now. It isn't the conmen who will be thought a fool, again. It's you and me. The conmen will be praised highly for their skills in managing people while the suckers(we the people) will shoulder the historic blame. Allowing our elected officials to do nothing as the world waits for our response, will do more to harm the institute of Democracy than any number of erronoeus wars. Of course the uneducated victim class has always known that the America the fortunate classes brag about has never existed, but with all the educateds lined up to take advantage of us, noone noticed. It isn't only all politicians that are looked at as suspect, the entire educated caste demands we trust them to protect us. They've failed us. It's time to treat the fortunate educated elite the way our constitution tells us, equally. If little Johnny can go to prison for attempted posession of marijuana, Alberto Gonzales should be imprisoned for not enforcing the laws that cover our Governments' crimes. As a member of the victim class I can no longer listen to people prattle on about how misunderstood the actions of BushCo are. They apparently aren't members of the victim class. It isn't rocket science. The Dems gave way to blackmail. The GOP isn't afraid to go toe to toe in regards to the corruption we witness daily because they control every aspect of law enforcment. George could rape a little boy on the White House lawn and the MSM would question why to child forced himself on poor little Georgie. The truly sad thing is that half the educateds in the country would swallow his talking points and regurgitate them every where because they are so convinced of our stupidity that they think they can convince us that the election was about the war, even though most Americans cited corruption at the exit polls. The corruption came first, the war second. You don't think it's possible? Why haven't the 12,000 Catholic priests the US diocese has admitted to knowing about, been placed on some kind of verifiable list so we can track their asses down? The same people who excused the rape of thousands, are now trying to convince us that we are wrong to seek justice. As far as I'm concerned they can follow Mr. Cheney's direction and "Go F**k Yourself". Go make excuses for Foley.
GREAT RANT
Mark! I can't believe I missed it!
Your ideas and sentiments clearly represent what most of us are feeling~powerless! It is a feeling I, like many, despise.
Except one all important issue: Arrest FIRST, yes. Then IMPEACH!
Jewels
Impeachment of George W. Bush
If Adolf Hitler were the American President, would you and Nancy Pelosi still be reluctant to impeach and remove him from the White House? The differences between George W. Bush and Adolf Hitler are differences in degree, or quantitative, not differences in kind, or qualitative. Do you not realize that when U.S. troops kill Iraqi civilians daily, torture Iraqi prisoners, and carry out atrocities against Iraqis, these are all war crimes? And the buck stops at the War-Criminal-in-Chief, George W. Bush!
Impeachment
Why would impeachment be off the table?! This president has endangered our Country and everything it stands for. He, and his regime, should be held accountable, and impeachment is the proper,and fully justified, remedy. Please explain why you reject this out of hand.
Please explain why you reject this out of hand.
We've all been CONyered. Good luck getting an explanation.
If Bush does not get
If Bush does not get impeach, the grassroot will be so pissed that the Democratic Party will get destroyed (along with the Republican Party), and a new third party will form, made from those from either side, sick of the stupid partisan politics. That is what I see happening in the near future.
There 's that Third Party again...
I think the guy named Albert came up with a GREAT third Party~
The Armed Patriot Party! Like I said, count me in!!
J
Impeachment of smirky
I think that there is no getting around impeachment, despite the comment above.
But I also believe the time to talk about it is after the new Congress is in place.
But first, we must reverse
But first, we must reverse all of the horrific laws that the Bush regime passed.......then we get to impeachment, which betetr happen!!!
Got that backwards, AD.
If there is no impeachment, there is not a snowballs chance in hell that ANY of that foul legislation will be repealed.
And every chance Another Foul Judge will be enshrined on the Supreme Court.
Impeachment. It's not just a good Idea. It's a mandate.
Frosted Flake
Thanks, FF. And I agree with
Thanks, FF. And I agree with all of the new members of this forum......Conyers promised us impeachment, and now, we get nothing? WTF?
We need to impeach NOW! Or else throw the bums out of our own Democratic party!!!
First Things First
Fifty Cal says; Everyone just sit back and watch what happens. I want the sons of bitches all impeached as much as the rest of you guys, BUT, this is how things work in Washington. Or at least how they are supposed to work. We really can't expect our elected representatives to start screaming bloody murder this soon. There are more important things to worry about; ELECTION REFORM - get the system out of corporate America's hands. We do not need black boxes to cast our votes. Elections should be conducted by a government agency, by employees who were there before the candidates came to Washington and will be there after they are gone. Civil servants who are putting in their time towards retirement. PUBLIC FINANCING of elections - get the Jack Abramhoff's and the big oil & pharmacutical's money out of it. OVERSIGHT - where have all of OUR tax dollars gone? With this will come investigations. Think about this; you can't impeach anyone without figuring out what you are impeaching them for! Investigations will show what charges must be brought forward. Then and only then will it become apparent what the procedure will be. One point to remember - he can be impeached AFTER he has left office. Hell, we can even expunge the record of his so called presidency. Let us first repeal the tax cuts for the top 1%. Let us first repeal the PATRIOT Act. Let us first correct Medicare Part B. Let us first RAISE the MINIMUM WAGE. Let us first repeal the torture bill and stop the NSA spying on American citizens. All these things we do to him while he still sits in the oval office. If he vetoes anything - we IMPEACH HIS ASS!. We got his nuts in a vise grip, and while I suspect he likes the rough trade, he will none the less be the biggest lame duck president ever. We now have the power to humiliate this bastard the way he should have been as a child. He never learned proper behavior, now is his chance. One chance, that's all, veto one piece of legislation and he goes down in flames. I was kind of hoping that Rove and the rest of the Pink Mafia in the Gay Old Party would pull off another theft. I think that enough people would have been outraged that we could have seen the revolution begin. That still may be the best option for WE THE PEOPLE to get our democracy back, but I am willing to let the Dems take their best shot at the bastards. Make no mistake - I do not consider the Democratic Party to be our saviors, they just happen to be the lesser of two evils right now. There are 535 members of Congress, about 500 of them should be fired. They have forgotten who they are working for. Actually they didn't. They forgot who they are SUPPOSED to be working for. WE THE PEOPLE. If changes aren't made in the next twenty four months they should all be discarded like the worthless garbage they turned out to be. There are a few good ones of course, Mr. Conyers for one. Sen. Kennedy comes to mind. Our new Senator from Ohio, Sherrod Brown, has been an exemplary representative. While he was not my Congressman, (different district), I am now proud to call him my Senator! Dennis Kucinich has been an outstanding public servant. Bernie Sanders will be a great Senator. There are five names for you. There must be thirty more, although none are popping into my head. Help me out. Got one you like? Throw his/her name out there. Patience people, patience. We've waited six years for this, let us savor it!
Uuuumm....
I'd just be repeating myself.
See comment just above.
Frosted Flake
I think what the majority of
I think what the majority of posters here are offended by is the declaration that impeachment is "off the table." We all know that an investigation has to happen in order to determine actual charges. Armed revolution in the name of restoring our constitution is still "on the table" though. You have many great ideas for repairing the damage done these past 6 years. I like Jack Murtha and Joe Biden.
Hmmmm! Where to start!
Your comment:
"Think about this; you can't impeach anyone without figuring out what you are impeaching them for! Investigations will show what charges must be brought forward."
O.K., let me give you a list of credible and proven reasons for starters, summed up well by www.Democrats.com and there are even more than are shown:
"Ten Reasons to Impeach George Bush and Dick Cheney
I ask Congress to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney for the following reasons:
1. Violating the United Nations Charter by launching an illegal "War of Aggression" against Iraq without cause, using fraud to sell the war to Congress and the public, misusing government funds to begin bombing without Congressional authorization, and subjecting our military personnel to unnecessary harm, debilitating injuries, and deaths.
2. Violating U.S. and international law by authorizing the torture of thousands of captives, resulting in dozens of deaths, and keeping prisoners hidden from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
3. Violating the Constitution by arbitrarily detaining Americans, legal residents, and non-Americans, without due process, without charge, and without access to counsel.
4. Violating the Geneva Conventions by targeting civilians, journalists, hospitals, and ambulances, and using illegal weapons, including white phosphorous, depleted uranium, and a new type of napalm.
5. Violating U.S. law and the Constitution through widespread wiretapping of the phone calls and emails of Americans without a warrant.
6. Violating the Constitution by using "signing statements" to defy hundreds of laws passed by Congress.
7. Violating U.S. and state law by obstructing honest elections in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.
8. Violating U.S. law by using paid propaganda and disinformation, selectively and misleadingly leaking classified information, and exposing the identity of a covert CIA operative working on sensitive WMD proliferation for political retribution.
9. Subverting the Constitution and abusing Presidential power by asserting a "Unitary Executive Theory" giving unlimited powers to the President, by obstructing efforts by Congress and the Courts to review and restrict Presidential actions, and by promoting and signing legislation negating the Bill of Rights and the Writ of Habeas Corpus.
10. Gross negligence in failing to assist New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina, in ignoring urgent warnings of an Al Qaeda attack prior to Sept. 11, 2001, and in increasing air pollution causing global warming."
Sign the Petition
You are not wrong in what you say. The issues of which you speak have been staved off six long years. And they must be dealt with. But first:
1. All unconstitutional laws, i.e., the Patriot Act, the NSA spying, the Military Commissions Act, and all unconstitutional acts, including those provided by "signing statements" must be dealt with and repealed.
2. Simultaneously, Impeachment and criminal trials must be sought NOW. Yes, you are correct that we can impeach at a later time, or after a new president is elected, etc. But time dulls the intensity of purpose and memories. We cannot afford that time. We have an obligation to citizens of the world -- that includes us. We need to restore ourselves as a credible and just nation, which we have always purported ourselves to be. If we cannot show ourselves and the world that we honor that sense of justice by impeaching and seeking criminal justice of the criminals in our government, then, our credibility as a nation and our sense of purpose may become permanently lost. On the other hand, if we pursue Impeachment and pursuit of criminal trials of these criminals, then there is a very good chance we can at least commence restoring our credibility as a nation to the world and to ourselves. Then, once that is achieved, we can rigorously commence the arduous task of cracking down on all the REAL and serious issues, socially and environmentally, that haunt us all -- and, hopefully, we now have the people who want to do it. But REMOVAL of the "plague" is FIRST!
Oh my goodness
Mutiny appears imminent! Everyone get out your 60.00 books and start reading.LOL
OK, WHO LET POINTLESS
OK, WHO LET POINTLESS DISORDER BACK ON THIS BLOG???
I never left angry person
but I would think you had more important things to worry about.
We do..........IMPEACHMENT
We do..........IMPEACHMENT IS ONE OF THEM!!!
So now go crawl back under whatever slimy and filhty rock that you came from, you facist loving neo-con a**hole, and mind your own freaking business!
angry person
WOW
As you can see, POO, we have been mislead and duped! Grrrr......
Well, as you can see, POO, we have been duped, from reading all of the posts. I have been thinking of these comments posted while I was alseep, and I sense the outrage. I am sure, if you looked at it objectively, you see why we are all mad. We elected Democrats to Congress for naught now. WTF?
Yeah, those $60.00 books are worthless now, as you pointed out. I want my money back, POO.......I can buy a lot of Starbucks with that, since I love Starbucks (obsessed with it, seriously).
I could also use those 60 bucks for a couple of nice carwashes for my new car my parents bought me, or buy a whole bunch of DVDs or some new PC games like Halo2 or Counterstrike, that I want. But NO, it has been WASTED on a stupid-ass book, that I was duped into buying.
The Democrats are no better than Bush and his Republicans in lying and decieving the American people!!!
- A very pissed off American Patriot/Citizen
Angry Democrat
wow again
you also could have donated it to the victims of Katrina, to a homeless shelter, to any of a number of charities of your choice . You could have bought a whole Thanksgiving dinner for a family that might not have one, or donated to a school that distributes gifts to children who other wise might not receive anything over the holidays.
That is what I should have
That is what I should have done.......instead, my $60 is wasted! I am PISSED right now.
Katrina
POO,
If you read up on the atrocity that is Katrina, you will find that much of the money sent there by millions of people has been squandered-per usual-by this inept and corrupt Regime.
And by many locals. It has not gone to benefit many of the most disenfranchised individuals it was meant to serve.
Many of the other causes you mentioned are worthy, but beware they do not, in any way, have ties to a "Terrorist" Org., as you will then be incarcerated without benefit of Miranda, phone call, lawyer, trial, jury or even knowing WHY you were arrested and taken into custody in the first place.
I can provide numerous documents to back up my statements. Why do you think we are so angry? On October 17th, the Despot Supreme signed into effect numerous mandates (The Military Commission Act, for one) that strip not only 'foreigners' but citizens, of their Constitutional rights! It amazes me how complacant most Americans are to these horrible proceedings! I just don't get it...
Impeachment is NOT optional!
Jewels
I am deeply disappointed! On
I am deeply disappointed! On behalf of thousands of California Democrats, I urge you to impeach.
Failing to impeach this president shows our children that we are condoning wrongdoing of the worst sort, at the highest level. Bush amd Cheney must NOT be allowed to get away with the crimes they have committed, which have cost hundreds of thousands of lives in Iraq and New Orleans.
Oversight and undoing the changes to our constitution are important, but they are not enough. There must be accountability!
I authored the impeachment resolution passed by San Diego County's Democratic Central Committee and our local Assembly District Committee - the first in California. Every single Democrat I know here feels impeachment must be imperative! I am a member of our County Central Committee, an officer in our AD Committee, cofounder of a progressive PAC (East County United), a member of 2 Democratic clubs, and publisher of a progressive newsletter that reaches thousands of readers. I've not heard from a SINGLE Democrat who does not want impeachment.
If we don't impeach this president, we might as well throw away the constitutional provision detailing when impeachment should occur,as it will have been rendered meaningless.
Voters gave Democrats a mandate. We want Bush gone now -- now in office for two more years to do further damage. We also want Bush and Cheney held accountable to America and the world for the horrendous crimes they have committed.