Congressman John Conyers Betrays the American People
I remember before the 2006 election being at a fundraiser in Los Angeles for the Democratic Party when one of the featured guests was Rep. John Conyers. The issue of impeachment came up and the crowed roared in approval when Conyers said that if the Democrats took control of Congress, he would become head of the powerful House Judiciary Committee and would initiate impeachment proceedings. That, he said, was one of the reasons why it was so important to go all out to get Democrats elected.
Fast forward to July 23, 2007. About 300 of us gathered at Arlington Cemetery, convened by peace mom Cindy Sheehan, to march to Cong. Conyers office to demand that seven months after coming to power, he fulfill his promise about initiating impeachment proceedings. Shouting “Conyers, Conyers need a reason? Torture, lies, war and treason,” the angry crowd packed the halls outside the Congressman’s office while Cindy, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern and former Conyers’ protégé Reverend Yearwood met with the Congressman inside.
A hour later, they emerged stone-faced and disillusioned. Cindy said that Conyers had told them that “impeachment isn’t going to happen because we don’t have the votes” and that “our only recourse was to work to get a Democrat in the White House.” The crowd booed and 45 people sat down inside and outside Conyers’ office. They were arrested by the Capitol Police as the supporters shouted “Shame on Conyers” and “Arrest Bush and Cheney, not the peacemakers.”
While the arrestees were being booked, about 40 activists visited the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. We know that from the day she became Speaker, the Congresswoman has insisted that impeachment was off the table. She has refused to support H. R. 333, the bill introduced by Cong. Dennis Kucinich to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney for high crimes and misdemeanors. With 13 co-sponsors, the resolution is destined to languish without ever coming to a vote, thanks to both Conyers and Pelosi.
We told Pelosi’s chief of staff, Terry McCullough, that it was totally irresponsible for the Speaker to say that impeachment was off the table. When her chief-of-staff replied that the Speaker’s priority was ending the war, not impeachment, we all insisted that the two were intertwined and certainly not mutually exclusive. We also reminded her that the people of Pelosi’s district were overwhelmingly in favor of impeachment, and that they would start looking to newly announced candidate Cindy Sheehan for representation.
The arrest of impeachment activists and their forcible eviction from Conyers’ office today is proof of the bankruptcy of the two-party system. It is shameful that Conyers and Pelosi are putting their perceived interests of their party above the Constitution, which clearly makes impeachment the remedy for dealing with presidential “high crimes and misdemeanors”. With the Democratic leadership refusing to rein in an administration run amok, it is crystal clear that we, the people, must uphold the Constitution. People’s power, like the kind in evidence today in the normally solemn halls of Congress, is our only hope.
Medea Benjamin (medea@globalexchange.org) is cofounder of Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org) and CODEPINK: Women for Peace (www.codepinkalert.org).
congress is made up of all the big brothers who hold up the toy mom got you-right out of your reach and keep taunting, ” see. i’m in charge-i was here first ”
they don’t care if you’re right or the urgency of it all-they just run things, and you ” can’t have it. ”
time for this territorial brain based system to end. to hell with the ” US government ” it’s killing us all.
It’s funny that the Dems say we should concentrate on getting a Democrat into the White House. It hasn’t done us a damn bit of good to give them control of Congress, so what difference would it make to give them the White House? Bunch of Republican lapdogs.
the “election event” of 2000 was not an election. was a coup, these nazzi’s won’t leave in ‘09, or any other year, the money never relinquishes power voluntarily. we must shut down their cash cow, or show willingness to do so.
Kuchinich and Gravel ought to get out of the Democratic Party because it’s impairment to their credibility.
—
The two did pretty good last night on CNN/YouTube debates.
Gravel, was allowed half the time of the others, I thought that wasn’t funny!
I agree with these sentiments entirely, but question one key piece of the chronology.
Nancy Pelosi as I recall announced that impeachment was “off the table” prior to the 2006 Congressional elections, not just after formally becoming House Speaker. To my recollection, Rush, Hannity and the usual neo-con demagogues were rabidly fear mongering the notion that liberals were planning a “coup” that would make Pelosi the President. Taking impeachment “off the table” (and having Nancy Pelosi keep an incredibly low public profile prior to the 2006 balloting) was a way of blunting that right wing propaganda campaign.
Please correct me if I’m wrong about this chronology.
In any event, I wholeheartedly agree that that was then, and this is now. The Democratic leadership should have responded to Bush’s surge/escalation by putting impeachment very much back on the table. Not only is the threat of impeachment intertwined with ending the occupation of Iraq, it remains the trump card for purposes of actually forcing the White House to begin the withdrawal process prior to Bush leaving office.
Conyers should start the hearings, while the Senate should focus on repeal of the AUMF and the most noxious provisions of the Patriot and Military Commissions acts.
Bill from Saginaw
Conyers and Pelosi can’t be as unprincipled as they seem to be. Did they receive a visit from a couple of guys, five feet eight, 250 pounds, saying “Now, we wouldn’t anything bad to happen to youse guys…” or were more sophisticated techniques used to frighten them into the abject submission they now display?
Dims always have the same answer as they sell us out — elect us and contribute to our campaigns . . .
Repugs never worry about “having the votes,” they know how to push even the most horrendous legislation through.
“…proof of the bankruptcy of the two-party system…”
Exactly. It’s nonsense to believe that the greatest democracy on the planet can only have 2 viable political parties. This only leads to oligarchical collectivism, hence, impeachment is off the table.
Also, note that no other country on the planet has an American form of government. The 231 year old form of government is past its prime. It’s time for a new American revolution.
Conyers told you why he will not move to impeach. He’s not unprincipled. It’s the same with Pelosi. They don’t have the votes. It would be futile and useless and they’d look like buffoons. And, occupying his office won’t help.
He told you what to do if you want him to move to impeach. Get him the votes. Start turning GOP reps and senators. Put the pressure on them. Get them to propose impeachment.
Any other tactic and you’re preaching to the choir. Convert the GOP.
DUMP THE DEMOCRATS!
UNITE INTO A NEW THIRD PARTY NOW!
We the people, opposed to the destruction of the planet and it’s peoples, now atomized and powerless in “grass roots” and “special interest” groups, must unite our efforts and resources into a new party to replace the corrupt Democratic Party! A new party that rejects corporate funding in order to end the corporate plunder of the federal government.
A new party explicitly opposed to the Project for the New American Century. Opposed to unending war for profit and power. Cut the military budget by 50%, shut down the 700 military bases around the world. Re-instate taxes cut by Bush gang.
A new party that commits the entire resources of the country to end global warming, end imperialist wars, implements true non-profit universal health care. promotes mass transportation, develops renewaable energy, and produces the essentials for human survival.
A new party that promotes an economy that works towards fulfilling the economic needs of all the people, not just to profit a tiny minority of super wealthy. No more people living on the streets! No more hospitalized people being dumped into the streets when they have no money or health insurance! (See the film SICKO)
A new party to unite all of the oppressed people of this country. A new party that cuts across all the false social and cultural divisions that keep us forever powerless (racial, ethnic, age, language, etc.). A new party to unite us against the unending destruction of peoples and planet.
A SOCIALIST HUMANIST PARTY to promote the end of gangster capitalism, run-amok capitalism, which is supported by both Democratic and Republican parties.
A new party to support the labor movement and all working people. We urge the labor movement to stop supporting the Democratic Party (already besotted by corporate money), and to focus its precious resources to fund a new national radio and television network. By being on the air 24 hours a day the labor movement can provide the latest news, information, education and current affairs analysis desperately needed by all working people. This effort, combined with the formation of the new party, will be a bold step towards reviving the organized labor movement.
For years we have listened to radio programs like DEMOCRACY NOW! that has discussed with numerous “grass roots” groups desperately struggling to make a positive change in society. Anti-war protest groups, civil rights groups, union struggles, affordable housing groups, teachers unions, health care access, seniors about Social Security, have involved millions of people. Now is the time to unite the energy and resources of the people into a new party.
The new party provides a means of uniting the “special interest” agendas of each group into the platform of the new party. The new party candidates, selected from the various individuals and groups, would become the candidates representing their cause and the new party. The new party will contest for office at every level of government in order to take power. The new party will provide the new leadership and new programs this country desperately needs.
There is still time before November 2008 elections to start this process. Even the announcement and preparation for a founding convention of such a new party will shock both Democrats and Republican incumbents. They will know that their days are numbered!
The needs of all previous “minority” and “special interests” people now become the platform of the new party representing the vast majority of people. Can the existing activists of so-called “minority” and “special interest” groups overcome their existing powerlessness, and link up with each other to start this new party?
This all-inclusive struggle will attract millions of atomized working people, often non-voters and uninvolved people, who have been atomized, exploited, brain-washed by corporate media and ultimately destroyed by gangster capitalism.
This is why we need to urge other voters NOT to vote Democrat or Republican. Get the word out. If someone somehow can get on television at the next Democratic Party debate, sequester Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich (they are the good guys) and blast the rest of the panel. Let the public see our outrage and expose the other candidates for the myopic, feckless, corrupt, corporate sellouts they are. Support the blast with a laundry list of irrefutable facts. Tell Conyers, Pelosi & Co. to enjoy their remaining days in office because we will vote them out. Seriously folks, it is time for the blitz, or I apologize for the term, but “shock and awe” politicians by seeing millions of people vote them out of office. We need to deliver the referendum and recall on these idiots. And we need to do it now! But the only way is by expanding our base and sending Washington an unmistakable message: your days are numbered in political office!
We need to change the democratic system in this country to be based less on economic value and more on democratic value.
The same goes for the mainstream media. We need to keep the internet open and flourishing.
Then we will have leaders who will be more in line with the goals of peace, legitimate governments, fair markets, and healthy environments.
We shouldn’t be shocked that the current system has us in this type of environment. We also shouldn’t give up. We need to be active, not passive.
I totally agree that we need a Third Party and this is the time to do it. More than 40% of voters in this country actually are ready to vote for an Independent candidate. We need to capitalize on this!
As soon as I learned that Pelosi was a tool of AIPAC, I reckoned she was irreconcilably damaged goods. Unfortunately, this does not distinguish her in Washington. Nothing she has done since this revelation has countervailed my lowest expectations of her politics and her morality. The Clintons, Pelosis, Feinsteins, and Liebermans of the world are not now, nor have they ever been Democrats, progressives, populists, or legitimate statesmen. They are professional scammers, virtually indistinguishable from the slightly more rabid Republicans. Expect very little. Conyers doesn’t know what time zone he’s in.
the POINT of the impeachment proceedings is to GET THE VOTES, it’s like evidence at a trial, you convince the jury. Perhaps if they started the proceedings and the media had to pay attention some people might wake up and lean on their reps, isn’t this how it’s supposed to work.
The problem is with Pelosi, she is one of the top 10 wealthiest members of congress(both houses), do you really think she has your best interests at heart? These people live in such a different world they don’t really know we exist.
Read Charles Derber’s framework in his book Hidden Power. There are two kids of Democratic Party politicians: corporate and progressive. We need to replace the corporate, militarist Democrats with progressive Democrats *and* strengthen the Green Party. A two-party strategy wouldn’t be necessary if we had legislatures that were structured with proportional representation like Germany, New Zealand and Ireland. But we don’t. So we progressives need to work with both from precinct to county-level to state-level to Congress.
the Dems and Repubs are wearing out their fingers washing each others backs
its a shell game with only two shells, and no pea.
1. Impeachment.
The House’s appointment of a special counsel would garner publicity and public outrage as evidence of impeachable offences would be gathered and exposed. The American majority now supporting impeachment of Cheney would increase considerably, as would the current near majority in favor of impeaching Bush. This public support would, in turn, force reluctant Democrats and possibly even some Republican members of the House to support impeachment.
The public airing of the administration’s crimes in this process, and impeachment by the House, even without conviction by the Senate, would be sufficient to destroy the legacy of the administration in the public mind. It would help to jell the public preception of this presidency as a dark one, at least as bad, as Nixon’s. It would also discredit the senior people and policies of the administration and help to ward them off in the future.
2. Electing a Democratic President.
Getting Hillary or Obama elected will not solve the basic problems. Hillary has pledged to keep tens of thousands of US tropps in Iraq even AFTER the war is over (Washington Post, July 16, 2007, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/15/AR2007071501112.html?nav=hcmodule). She would continue her Republican-lite political tactics and give a fresh face and a Democratic seal of approval to many of the Bush policies by continuing them, not apologizing for supporting the war, not exposing the extent of the NSA eavesdropping, etc. Only an impeachment process can expose the extent of these policies and repudiate them.
As a lifelong Democrat (I’m 63) I gave up entirely on the two party system this past year. It’s completely obvious to me that the two parties are simply two sides of the same ruling class and our only salvation is to create a multi-party system. Oh, yes, AND we MUST impeach the violators.
Do we prosecute criminals only when we’re convinced that we will win the case? Refusing to impeach the violators is tacit approval of the violations.
“Pelosi’s chief of staff, Terry McCullough”. That explains the DLC’s meathooks on both Pelosi and Conyers. It’s about corporate campaign cash, as usual, with some threats thrown in for good measure. They may know something we can’t know. But let’s face it. Politicians can’t save us. Only we can save ourselves. And that means direct grassroots democracy, as in the Green Party. Vote for progressive Dems, but switch2greens.
Welcome to the world of Ernst Roehm, Leon Trotsky, and Lin Biao. All three represented the more radical elements of the Nazi, Soviet Communist, and Chinese Communist parties.
All three and their followings were tolerated as neccessary head count on the way to siezing control on behalf of their movements. All three were ultimately banished and subsequently executed by those movements whose power they helped to build.
Common dreamers you will be tolerated for as long as you are an interesting side-show in the circus of power. The moment you seek to move to the main ring you better either be willing to die, have way too many people to be easily killed, or have way more guns than “they” do.
As for those Democrats like Conyers and Pelosi, my bet is that if anyone’s life was threatened it wasn’t their own but rather the lives of their children and grand children. That’s how organized criminals do it.
As for Cindy and Medea and all the other brave leadership in the peace movement. Know that you have been infiltrated from the beginning and are not only being closely watched, but also being carefully influenced buy “them”.
Case in point Ray McGovern “former” CIA operative (as if anyone in that “comnpany” is ever “former” short of being in the grave).
One problem is the well know “Potomac Fever” that hits politicians after a few years in Washington. They get the power, lobbyists are sending them on cool trips, they are paid
150,000+ for what should really be a part time job, they are surrounded by synchophatic ass-kissers, and they get treated like rock stars. Pretty soon they forget the people that sent them there, except 6 months before election time. Once an incumbent, trying to defeat them is like joining a 100 meter race where your opponent gets a 25 meter head start.
Bring back the idea of term limits. Put it in the Constitution,
since we remember how many Republicans and Democrats that took the pledge to not run again actually kept their word.
Repubs and Demoprats - both horns on the one goat. I still think there is a shiver out there looking for a spine to crawl up.
Today, loyalbushieGonzo admitted there were “other secret intelligence activities” being conducted illegally above and beyond the NSA party we already know about. So let’s do the math: Cheneybush have been illegally spying on US for over 6 years now, and not a single terrorist cell or terrorist or friend of a terrorist or plot or plan or scheme has been discovered. Which means either A) the “homeland” is secure, or B) an ulterior motive. Like, say, threatening Congress members and Senators with exposure of whatever dirty laundry they’ve found via the illegal spying, for example… Maybe JC and NP have skeletons in their closets Rove is dangling over their heads…
“Congressman John Conyers Betrays the American People.”
He’s not alone. Didn’t you mean the Congress?
Well, Medea, I guess it had to take a bare slap in the face by the Democratic Party leadership in Congress to finally wake you up to what the Democrats really are. You played footsie with these corporate-dominated people since 2004 thinking that the Democratic Party was the progressives’ only hope for change. SURPRISE! Now, come back to the Green Party where your leadership is sorely needed.
Greenman is right: The purpose of beginning impeachment proceedings is to GET THE EVIDENCE OUT ON THE TABLE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT. It’s the PROCESS which is important here, because the beginning of the proceeding will mean the beginning of the gathering and assembling of the (massive) evidence necessary to convict after impeachment. Once the evidence starts to come in, even the RepubliKKKan enablers of these fascist thieves will be hard-pressed to vote “no”. Or at least the ones who want reelection will be.
I saw the same dynamic work with Nixon; at the beginning there were far too few votes to impeach, but within months that had completely changed. And the Bush syndicate is worse than Nixon ever thought he could get away with; the threat posed by them (Iran is next on their neocon-attack list!) is so great that they MUST be stopped.
Paul Craig Roberts, former treasury official under Reagan and the inventor of Reaganomics, said last week that he believes that in one year, we will be a fascist dictatorship at war with Iran. For this reason alone we should be vigorously checking-and-balancing the Bushthieves. But I fear the “mainstream media” poison has set in too deeply. And that Roberts is right.
Heil Bush…
For all of you Ralph Nader haters and bad-mouthers — that includes quite a few in the so-called “liberal-left” community — here is yet another reason why the Nader candidacy is so valuable.
What is the fail standard for Democrats?
How many times must they spit in the eye of the people before the people decide to vote for a third candidate and party?
Nader has said, time and time again, that there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the “..craps” and the “..pugnants,” and we see, with the arrest of peace activists yesterday, that he’s right.
For Christ’s sake, don’t vote for the Democrats in 08! Send 5, 10, 20 bucks to Cindy Sheehan and to John Conyers’ opponent(s) in the primary! At least do that much.
I agree with Medea that Conyers’ action is proof of the bankruptcy of the two party system. But then isn’t everything they do proof of their bankruptcy.
It used to be said that the difference between Democrats and Republicans is that Democrats use vaseline. I’m getting the feeling that is no longer true.
lksafford:
I completely agree with you. We are all singing to the CD choir and pushing the Democrats to move the Bush administration mountain without the votes they need to get the job done. The goal is impeachment of an imperial president and vice president. The Republican House Representatives are the reason that impeachment is “off the table”. They are the ones that need to hear from all of us on a daily basis. They need to feel our anger. We need their votes. We need to speak loudly enough that they can’t avoid hearing us.
Taxation without representation.
America has the best democracy corporations can buy. The industries of the military elect our politicians and feed them afterwards. Common people have no voice in this government.
May the revolution be as swift as it is peaceful.
Vote out ALL incumbents.
Peace to you and yours.
Don’t vote.
Let this be the least participated in election EVER. There is NO difference between a Dem or a Rep, so WHY VOTE?
Let’s bottom this thing OUT and get some EFFECTIVE change.
Peace to you and yours.
p.s.
KUCINICH ‘08 (dreaming)
The key problem with Conyers argument that “we don’t have the votes” is that it fails to acknowledge that the importance of impeachment proceedings is the PROCESS, not the OUTCOME of the proceedings.
Whether impeachment goes through and a hearing begins in the Senate or not, the purpose of the proceeding at this point, as pointed out by Nichols and Fein in the Bill Moyers show, is to restore balance to our system of government.
It’s simple. Our democracy is off kilter. Impeachment proceedings are the mechanism to right the ship. Whether Bush gets impeached or not is not essential to that end. The end is democracy, not removal from office.
Impeachment fever is speading. The body is fighting back, though we are only seeing a small part of it. Impeachment fever is spreading — the body is fighting back.
When will we learn that there is no difference between the “two” parties.There are only the ruling elites and then the rest of us.
Seconding alamac and greenman: Impeach to bring the info out in an organized and ery public manner. Do this because we must for the sake of the Constitution. The proceedings will raise the number of votes necessary.
I would not want any of the current Dem candidates to become President thinking he or she just might take advantage (just a little) of the expansion of executive power that would be left behind in the White House if this Administration’s actions are not challenged. Esp. Ms. Clinton and the other hawks (a-military-base-in-every-country-and-a-thumb-in-every-economy imperialists) in the crowd.
We have politicians; we need statesmen and women–Big Picture people. I’m rooting for Ms. Sheehan for reviving the Congress in 2008.
The problem with the word “elites” is that it confers too much respect on those with money. It reinforces a “wimpy, worthless us” and “almighty, great them” mindset.
IT’S TIME PEOPLE. With the vast majority of people visiting this site and sites like moveon.org, we can make a difference. Write to your congressmen, representatives, newspapers, and anyone else you can think of, and let them know how ANGRY and DISGUSTED you are. Jam their phones with calls. Remind them that they work for us. DO IT TODAY. Attend your local demonstrations, DON’T GIVE UP! CHANNEL your anger and disgust. HIT THE STREETS. TIME TO TAKE BACK WHAT BELONG TO US. WE ARE THE MAJORITY.
http://www.house.gov/pelosi/contact/contact.html
John.Conyers@ mail.house.gov
http://Kucinich.house
www.house.gov/writerep/
feingold.senate.gov/
reid.senate.gov/
the democrats are SO worthless. how could any crowd roar approval over any speech of theirs? i’ve seen them stand there and make so many promises. it’s time to end this pathetic 2 party system and get something new
The two party, money corrupted, corporatists have got us by the neck, and they know it. They have things organized to make it virtually impossible for a serious opposition (third party or revolutionary movement) to develop here. The media who are in bed with them–after all they are fellow corporatists, aren’t they–create and enforce the day to day consensual reality of the United States and that reality is: the disempowered and discouraged majority–us– live under a fascist government doing the bidding of the very rich and corporations who gather ever more of the country’s wealth and power onto themselves. They keep us passive and compliant by keeping most of us in debt and worried about losing jobs and benefits. That used to be called debt peonage, and proved an effective method of keeping down the restive working drone class in earlier times. The prospects of real change in the United States are slim it seems. The rest of the world marvels at how the majority in the so-called model democracy puts up with this tyranny.
I’m going to say it again: They were most likely bribed by the GOP. I think the last time I posted this it was edited out of the blog. But for heaven’s sake, people, use Occam’s Razor!
If the other side has enough money to hire private mercenaries like Blackwater, and there is virtually no oversight of the official war spending, there’s lots of money to grease palms.
Impeachment is off the table because Karl Rove deposited too much suitcase money there.
Improve your state, abolish the federal government!
Or, limit all elections to one person, one vote.
The tax rate for all corporations should be: 1.) full medical coverage for every person in US, 2.) global peace, 3.) a chicken in every pot & a roof over every head. Then they can distribute their obscene profits to their share holders.
I completely agree with ‘goner’ above. I’d like to add an analogy…
For Conyers to say that he won’t pursue impeachment because they don’t have the votes is like seeing your own child drowning in a lake, and not jumping in to save her because you can’t swim.
I’m sorry that his government, his country, and the US Constitution are not important enough to Rep Conyers to risk his own embarrassment (or whatever the hell it is he thinks he has to lose).
There’s one other thing I’d like to point out: for Democrats to say ‘let’s focus on ‘08′ is basically agreeing with the Bushies that the Presidency is more powerful than Congress. They’re either co-equal branches or they aren’t, and eschewing impeachment in favor of focusing on an election over a year away is inherently defeatist.
There is no such thing as “co-equal” branches of government!!!!
Go read the Constitution. The powers and duties vested in Congress far outweigh those of the Executive and Judiciary.
Or, better still, go read Madison’s Notes on the Federal Convention.
Maybe it’s time to reject so-called Democrats altogether. We’ve know for a long time that there’s little difference between the two parties. The Republicans are maybe a bit better groomed. The Democrats may have a little more formal education. What they share is an unprincipled view of government. an utter disregard for the public interest, and a treasury kept fat by rich patrons. Promise now to work against every Democrat, even to the point of asking people not to vote at all, and you might be heard. No Democrat for mayor. No Democrat for state rep. No Democrat for selectman or constable. No Democrat for dogcatcher. If Republicans win, so what? Republicans win when Democrats win, as they’ve proved in a few short months.
Hello Medea,
Thank you for continuing to demand and end to the war and impeachment.
But we need to introduce new ideas into the political discourse. Each electoral season, politicians tell us what we want to hear, and then we express indignation and even surprise when they betray us in office.
I have a new idea. Last year, in fact, I made the idea concrete, running for Congress under the auspices of Nevada Vote Direct, a new organization that had implemented a perfectly viable and fully operational system for putting registered voters in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District directly IN CONTROL of the votes of their representative in Washington. The system incorporated fair and secure open-source Internet and telephone technology to enable citizens to vote on specific legislation pending in Congress. As the candidate, I pledged that I would vote in Congress strictly and only as directed by the majority of my constituents. Naturally, I can’t tell you about the system in just a few words, but I can assure you that it was thoroughly thought through so that the design of the system and its rules of procedure ensured that it would honestly reflect the will of the people.
I should add that this new technology may be easily (indeed MUST be) implemented at all levels of society; for example, in labor unions where leadership has been either notoriously corrupt or merely incompetent in their representation of the real needs and desires of their rank-and-file memberships.
I am continuing to pursue this project at America Vote Direct, which I hope you may be interested in looking up. I am appending below our announcement email, which I hope you will consider forwarding to your friends and associates.
With best regards,
Daniel Rosen
Hello,
I’m writing to ask you please to help me spread the word about America Vote Direct.
We are inviting prospective candidates for Congress who are willing to take our “PLEDGE” to apply for support through America Vote Direct. We will provide Vote Direct DMS technology, customized and free of charge, to all successful applicants, one per congressional district. And we will coordinate campaigns in each state under our national campaign umbrella to maximize the efforts of all.
The Vote Direct PLEDGE: “As your Representative in Congress, I will vote exactly as you, the citizens in my district, direct me to vote through your participation on our district’s Vote Direct website, or by secure telephone connection to my office in Washington: no ifs, ands, or buts.”
Last year, in my campaign for Congress, I took this Pledge and created Nevada Vote Direct, a secure and fair, open-source voting system for the registered voters in my congressional district. This system promises to give citizens full CONTROL over the votes of their representative in Congress. As I explained, political corruption is actually guaranteed by our current horse-and-buggy political technology. But new technology invites us to cut off corruption at its source. No lobbyist would even attempt to buy the vote of a congressional representative who is bound by the will of registered constituents as measured by their participation in the Vote Direct system.
My campaign introduced this new technology, and the idea of direct citizen CONTROL, for the first time. Due to my very limited campaign fund ($2500), I was unable to inform large numbers of citizens about this new political option. But the majority of those I did inform were extremely enthusiastic about the idea of citizen control. (Please read this full report on my campaign.)
Now, America Vote Direct is taking this idea national. Do you want government that is truly responsive to the will of the people - government of, by, and for the people? Then, please help us to spread the word about America Vote Direct. Forward this email to your friends and associates, or as we say “Pass It On.”
With thanks and appreciation,
Daniel Rosen
Vox Populi Systems
P.O. Box 2963
Stateline, Nevada 89449
rosen@vpsystems.net
Just curious.
How many of you commenting here were in DC yesterday?
What needs to happen in this country to let the politicians know that they are not the ones who get to make the decisions? John Conyers has obviously been personally threatened with death and/or dismemberment by Bush, otherwise he would not have turned around this way. This is the way Bush gets his way. It’s a mobster thing, to be sure, but who do we think wired those buildings in NYC with demo charges? The american kristallnacht can’t be that far away if we let it happen. Perhaps the people of this country will rise up but the police state will be ready. Mobs in the streets will mean lots of spilled blood. Do politicians respond to pressure? Only when that pressure is coming from something they can smell.
No impeachment ??? okay hang the King and his puppet George. Demand the elected do what they promised, but keep the rope handy for them too.
Two party system ? what happened to competition ? well that never really was the case anyway General Motors, General Electric and Standard Oil either grouped all the big companies into theirs and ran the small guy out of business. Bigger is better crap, well some of the Dems got big. So get a big rope.
Conyers and Pelosi took an oath to “uphold and defend the Constitution” seeing as they are not doing that is there any way to rid ourselves of them before ‘08?
There was a very interesting observation by a French citizen in Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko”:
In France the government is afraid of the people but in America, the people are afraid of their government.
I think that sums up the problem very eloquently. So how do we get our government to fear us?
when will the realization come that change does not occur through channels afforded by the institutions of the status quo? we need BOTH non- violent and violent means, we need a unified program of insurrection, we need more than 40 people willing to be arrested at a member of congress’s office. we need people willing to sacrifice themselves, willing to be crushed in the cogs of this odious machine, at the very hands of those willing to bear arms against there fellow citizens. the elite will never give up power willingly. the question remains, will we (the masses) in a complicit riven already blood soaked society find the passion, desire, and character to confront the states monopoly on violence and those that support it? indeedm there will have to be bodies stacked up in the streets of our cities…indeed, there already are….so why do we hesitate?
“Until impeachment there are NO Democratic candidates for President.”
The raging words against the Democrats in Congress and against Conyers and Pelosi in these and other posts seem so extreme and inappropriate. It’s clear that both Pelosi and Conyers hold a significant interest in stopping the war and holding the administration accountable for its treasonous acts. What the heck are activists hoping to accomplish by raking their common-interest congressmen and women across the coals? Democrats in Congress are hard-pressed to pass legislation to de-fund the war, and impeach this administration. Why are we vilifying them?
I would respectfully remind those claiming there’s no difference between the Dems and Reps that Nader ran around using the same argument. Does anyone seriously believe that Gore would have been the same as or worse than Bush? We played this dangerous game before and the world lost big time. This is no time to repeat that mistake. I am as frustrated as anyone about the current state of affairs, but I refuse to allow another corrupt, war mongering Republican to complete the destruction of this country. I am not fond of all of the Democrats, but any one of them would be an improvement. We are close enough to the abyss so that degrees of difference matter. The German people weren’t fond of Hitler, but they were fed up with the alternative and the result was a horrifying disaster. Unfortunately, as bad as conditions are now things can always get worse.
Mr Conyers, Impeachment is a process by which the House decides, AFTER hearings have been held, whether or not to hand the subjects over to the Senate for trial.
How precient of you to know in advance what that decision would be.
I know, being a professional politician involves a finely honed ability to count.
Maybe that’s the problem. Too many professional politicians who know how to count: Votes, campaign contributions, favors done in return, and how many of the pesky people show up to interrupt their otherwise idyllic existence.
I hope there is some credible person in Conyer’s district to run against him in a primary race.
As for Pelosi, I didn’t know she was that rich but it doesn’t surprise me.
I’m really sick of the idea that us poor working stiffs and small farmers and retirees can be represented by the members of the Millionaires Club.
As the old Wobblies used to say: The working class can only be freed by the workers themselves.
They will do ANYTHING to stay connected to the feeding trough–except follow the directives of their constiuency!
lost_progressive,
I will take it that you are being sarcastic.
You can call your members of Congress now toll free at 866-338-1015, 800-459-1887 or 800-614-2803. Phone Chairman Conyers at 202-225-5126 and ask him to support HR 333 and to start the impeachment of Dick Cheney; and phone your own Congress Member at 202-224-3121 and ask them to immediately call Conyers’ office to express their support for impeachment.
As Frederick Douglass said, “Agitate, agitate, agitate
badavis…
don’t sell out. Use your vote and have faith. Dennis can win if we ALL believe.
interesting post about Peloisi being “encouraged” to behave…
well, you guys in the US seems you really are up against it…if your dems wont do the deal they promised then Bush has no opposition at all; a few more of these blogs and Martial Law is not a threat, it’s a promise. A neutered USA at home with internal strife leaves the way back for Putin and the Chinese. Of course, Bush and his backers are obviously planning something that will completely paralyse any opposition…..you had better be quick, quiet and damned effective……………….tx and good luck
oh, and I am mindful that your government and mine have an international treaty which gives your people the right to extradite any Brit without argument from our legal people and can do so without the need to produce ANY Evidence of wrong-doing.Your government suspicion or claim is enough. Now, I wonder how that all came about. You have a few of our people locked up already (the Nat West bank 3 were taken last year without as much as a squeak from our politicians!) if they can do that to foreign nationals, I dont give your own people much chance….is it true about all these new prisons that are supposedly being built by ?Halliburton?
Conyers is one of the good guys, even somewhat of a radical compared to the other bastards, and he’s among the very best in congress. 95% are corrupt, and he’s not one of them. I think you dear peacemongers are over simplifying the matter and making far too many ill informed assumptions.
As Conyers suggests, we have to go for what is attainable. Hell he knows about the totalitarian powers that are hidden behind the USA’s mask of democracy and what they will allow and won’t.
Without a major uprising and revolution, the positive changes are going to be gradual, like it or not. They’re coming too fast for some and too slow for others. Keep fighting by all means, but please beware of being too naive and counterproductive!
———
“Be bold, but be sensible, for boldness is [often] a child of baseness.”
Basil King
Screw both parties. If a viable 3rd party candidate doesn’t run I’m gonna just sit this out. I am never gonna vote again anyway as long as there’s only 2 parties to pick from. I’m sick and tired of voting for the ‘lesser of 2 evils’. As far as I’m concerned they’re all in bed together. I said this the night of the state of the union message by numbnuts. As he was walking in Pelosi had a dreamy eyed look on her face like she was gonna do a Monica Lewinsky on the motherflucker.
know_buddee July 24th, 2007 6:20 pm
Conyers is one of the good guys,
No he’s not. He’s a whore like the rest of them - he sold everyone out.
Impeachment would serve no purpose because Democrats would be unable to convict and remove Bush and Cheney. It would thus be a waste of time and prevent other important parts of the Democrats’ agenda by OSUgradstudente
They must teach shit at Ohio state because you have no clue as to what its intent really is - at least from many of our perspectives. It would TELL THE WORLD that not all of us in this country are morons and that we will not stand for criminals in the white house! It’s a message to the world. Get it yet? Even if it fails it would send a loud message.
Does anyone OTHER than me see a problem with accusing the Democrats of being “losers,” and then insisting that they attempt a course of action that is GUARANTEED to fail? They don’t have the votes. Just what exactly is “Losing some more” supposed to prove?
The Republican-controlled house impeached Clinton, and look how much damage that did, even though his vindication by the Democratically controlled Senate was never in doubt. Check out the vote-count. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_of_Bill_Clinton#Senate_vote:_perjury_charge
It’s a good refresher on how Impeachment actually works, by the way.
That’s said, they DON’T have the votes. Then again, look at the AMAZING political points the Republicans scored even without being able to convict… Yeah, your’e right: Pelosi, Conyers et al ARE spineless sellouts, aren’t they?
ducklady July 24th, 2007 4:23 pm
So how do we get our government to fear us?
I think the answer is obvious. Let me put it this way - didn’t the French have a revolution and use the gullotine on people that bush probably loved? Soooo…. [g]
And for all these reasons and more, I support the idea of Cynthia McKinney running for president as an independent peace and justice candidate (like Ms. Sheehan is doing against Ms. Pelosi, or as the nominee of the Green Party, or some new independent progresive party. Like this:
http://myspace.com/draftmckinney2008
So many ideas I agree with (term limits, voting all incumbents out, etc.). However, as has been proven, our ability and energy is limited. We must finish what we started and keep incredible pressure on all of Congress to impeach. If we don’t, we are setting a precedent that our children will condemn us for. We must show them how to fight back, even if we think we’ll lose. We must.
Uh, hate to throw cold water, but the Brits have a far harsher policy with respect to detention without trial than the US. I’m just sayin’…
Notice to Congress: JUST LEAD & THE ELECTIONS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES!
Notice to Democrats: Patriots of all stripes have flocked to your side since 2004, in one last attempt to work within the system. You have a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, but a VERY SMALL WINDOW, to increase your numbers and return to being THE PARTY OF THE PEOPLE.
You must hear the RUMBLE of the PEOPLE, and become the VOICE of the PEOPLE, or you will surely lose the newfound PASSION of the PARTY. If you do not know, it is WE THE PEOPLE who are propping you up.
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY, or GET OUT OF THE WAY. I can say it no clearer: all who voted for this war, or to legalize torture are in defiance of the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions. We have not overlooked your complicity in these crimes. DO YOUR DUTY or we will hold all of you accountable as accomplices. Be mindful of your own role in these crimes. This is not idle chatter; the LAW of the LAND is on our side.
Either you are with us, or you are against us. There are only two parties: the PATRIOTS and the LOYALISTS. Choose today which side you are on, and be judged accordingly.
If you are under threat, go public and announce it, as Hugo Chavez has done. Would that a single one of you were as brave as the little brown man, who had the nerve to call the devil out.
To the Democratic Candidates: The question is not whether you would meet with Chavez; the question is whether he would meet with you. He did not generate the ill will that exists between our countries. Bush did. Calling names and issuing threats is what cowards do, and embarrasses all Americans; attempting assassination of a democratically elected president of a foreign country is against the law; interfering in the elections of foreign countries is against the law. The American government is not superior; it just has the biggest gun. It will not always be so.
To Bush: you have endangered the lives of all Americans with your juvenile tactics. You have no understanding of cause and effect. You have failed to protect the constitution as you are sworn to do; quite to the contrary, you have done your best to destroy it. For this reason alone, you are unfit for duty. You are an illegitimate president, engaged in an illegal war. You have robbed Americans of their treasure, their reputation in the world, and their pride. You are a DISGRACEFUL, ILLEGITIMATE SON, who has brought shame upon us all. You have broken the Geneva Conventions and you have broken faith with the American People and the World at large. You have committed murder on a scale with the worst players ever on the world stage. You stand a condemned man, by popular opinion, in all the world. If you have one ounce of decency about you, RESIGN YOUR POST, disinfect your office, and BE GONE FROM US.
Sen. Gravel and Rep. Kucinich: WE HEAR YOU.
Sen. Edwards: LISTEN TO US. You’re on the right track, but you have a ways to go.
To all on this forum: Stay the fight. The enemy is exposed; there is no turning back.
Someday soon, we must march on Washington and we must be prepared to stay until the deed is done. Remember yourselves. Do not become what you despise. Break no laws, and harm no one. Your cause is just; it can stand on its own merits. Take your case to the courts. Be mindful that the world is waiting and watching. If there is a shred of our reputation left, we must not destroy it. When the Americans come, let them come in peace, and speak with a unified voice, for all the world to hear.
How does it really matter if Pelosi or any other member of the Democratic party was threatened, cajoled or coaxed by a Republican, a Republican thug, a member of the Democratic leadership or whoever.
The fact is nobody among the elite political circles in Washington is doing the right thing. Not only are they not doing the right thing, but down to the last man and woman, they are aiding and abetting evil every where you care to look:
Iraq-millions killed, country turned into the 2nd level of hell.
U. S. Environment: going, going, gone-with the assistance of many wonderful Senators like Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin who are bending over backwards to make sure the U. S. car companies, stuck in the ditch, are given our last breath of fresh air to pull themselves out of their self made quagmire.
U. S. job picture-worsening every decade so Walmart can obtain a better return on their dollar. Plan here?
Impoverish more workers, enrich Walmart, and we’ll all only have one place to shop-Walmart.
I could go on but every where you look, the people in power, and yes Virginia, even Dennis Kucinich would not be able to change this,get stronger.
People in power in the Oval Office, (does anyone think pretty girl Clinton will return all the power Bush has grabbed in the last six years?), people in power in the Dept of Defense, inside the marble halls of Langley, VA; all of these people have taken over the U. S. government.
Want a change? Fire those folks in power-there’s about
1,767,000; make certain 535 folks who sit under the big dome from time to time are the first to go.
Then we can talk about change.
Until then, stay sober, stay in touch and watch your back.
“Uh, hate to throw cold water, but the Brits have a far harsher policy with respect to detention without trial than the US. I’m just sayin’…”
The Brits are a pretty bad source of inspiration when it comes to individual rights & freedoms. That’s a large part of why we had the revolutionary war, you know. Barracked a red-coat lately?
go here:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/debates/scorecard/youtube.debate/
to vote for Dennis.
Let’s show some support for a non-monied candidate!
IMPEACHMENT FOR BUSH AND CHENEY…
Where do I sign…
After a good exchange last week, I find myself agreeing with Salia when s/he says the Conyers is not alone is betraying the people. We are stuck with a congressional leadership which is more scared of a nebulous undefined fear than any real danger.
What are these “representatives of the people” afraid of? WHile we come at it from differing foundations, Saila and I, I believe, would be the first in line if any Congressman of stature, [no offense meant to the Kuchies and Gravels who have been marginalized by the MSM], had the balls to do what needed to be done: Get on board the train that 60% of Americans are already on. What danger is that to them?.
In selling you’re taught that the worst thing a prospect can do to you is tell you “no”. S/He can’t physically harm you. What if a congressperson got up and said “I believe the majority of my constituents want me to sign onto HR 333″ What’s the worst that could happen? Maybe they wouldn’t get re-elected, maybe they would, but by making the stand, by actually doing what his/her constituency instructed, whether you agree with or not, you gotta give credit.
Why are there no leaders in Congress? Because the People’s House is not the House of the People. It is USCongress, Inc, where the job of the employees is to keep their jobs, not do their work: representing the people who employ them.
Disgusted? Yep. Wasting any more time? Nope the next election is too far off to matter, so it’s back into the cave. WTF, I bought a t-shirt this weekend. It says, “Quit Bitchin’ Start a Revolution” but it didn’t come with an instruction book, and I’m not that good a leader. Hell, I can’t even get along with Saila.
Cindy’s right on one thing. The only language these politicos understand is the ultimatum. Cindy promised to run against Pelosi unless Pelosi acted — I suspect she’ll follow through. Given the current national opinions of both the Repugs and the Dims, it wouldn’t take forever to organize a meaningful third party — it could be done as a coordinated series of write-in campaigns.
The Dims can’t or won’t give his W-ness a date certain for withdrawal of troops, and aren’t willing to bring the impeachment arguments (and evidence) into the spotlight. Too important that they protect the inside-the-Beltway class. I suggest we give them a date certain for withdrawal of support — impeach (Cheney first) or become involuntarily retired.
thaddeusstephens said “Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin are bending over backwards to make sure the U.S. car companies…”
Uh, I am not the most observant guy in the world, but imagining Carl Levin bending over backwards would be a rather cumbersome and painful task without seeing him pop a few buttons and collapse under his own weight. Just an observation Carl, nothing personal.
Believing a Democrat is like putting a fox in the henhouse.
Big Protest coming up. Aimed at all of these bumps on a log…
http://www.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=S15_homepage
I don’t know if Cindy is doing the right thing or the wrong thing. All I know is that she is doing SOMETHING! If you go on over to Daily Kos and lurk on their comments, it’s a whole different world than it is here. It’s very strange.
I agree that their is no difference between the two parties. The vast majority in both parties have been bought and sold. But I also believe that there are some truely good people from both sides in both parties. All you have to do, as a progressive, is look at the names of the folks that have signed on to HR333. I would postulate that there are a lot of old time Repubs that believe in fiscal responsibility that are none too happy with their party either.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that we don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water in ‘08. The test is going to be which congress critters vote for ending the occupation of Iraq, not invading Iran or Pakistan, and who supports impeachment. You all need to let your reps know that this is a test and that you are watching them every step of the way.If you already know that they aren’t worth a vote, mobilize in your State or district to find someone to run against them that is.
Cindy might be on to something. Here in Oregon, Gordon Smith HAS to be unseated. All of the good guys have other things to do. But we’re working on it.
Thanks for listening
A strong third party that truely represents the people that put them is office would be ideal. Being fairly realistic, however, I don’t think that is a winning strategy for ‘08. I think that Cindy’s approach of challenging Pelosi in the Dem primary is a good strategy. It would be an excellent strategy against ANY incumbant Dem that has proven that they don’t represent us, the people. If Cindy and others win in the primaries, what is the DLC going to do? Not support them? That would be pretty stupid. If Cindy and the others don’t win the Dem nomination, then they can go and run as independents. In districts where the Dems are pretty strong, I would bet that Repug support would come out of the woodwork. Just like it did in Conn. for that traitor Joe.
Poet
Yes, what do you suggest?
Watching the Bill Moyers Journal regarding impeachment was extremely helpful to me and I encourage any who have not seen it yet to take some time and do so. Bruce Fein and John Nichols made it very clear that this isn’t about Bush and Cheney. This is about our country being in a constitutional crisis and the only, the ONLY cure is impeachment. I agree with those who say it must happen even if there aren’t enough votes. It is the process and the precedent being set. Misters Fein and Nichols got me to go beyond my anger and despair with Bush and Cheney and see that it is all about challenging the executive power grab.
When will the rest of America wake up and realize that democracy and egalitarianism in this country are simply lies-more propaganda to ensure the privileged elite not only remain in power, but increase their power. The Democrats do not represent the progressives. They, like the Republican party, represent their own agenda. They don’t care about WE THE PEOPLE or the Constitution. The Dems know there is a very good possibility of taking the White House in 2008 and they want to make sure they can obtain and abuse the same arrogant POWER and perpetuate the same lies that the Bush Administration has perpetrated thanks to their obsequient permission. Like the Cheney/Bush syndicate, these people make my skin crawl.
Mommy 64 asks:
Poet
Yes, what do you suggest?
****************
First thing:
If Cindy is really serious about trying to unseat a politician who got over 80% of the vote in her last election Cindy needs to stop the theatrics and get her butt back to SF and start spending 12-16 hour days every day from now to November 2008 building an army of canvasers to cover Pelosi’s district and get out the word on Pelosi and the vote for Cindy.
Medea Benjamin has over 20 years of political organizing experience with the Green party which in the SF Bay area has actually gotten local officials elected.
Next:
Mass protests and sit-ins only work when you have masses of people too big to push around–thousands and tens of thousands are the kind of numbers about which I am talking.
The best candidates are the very young (elementary to middle school aged kids) and the elderly (social security and pension recipients with some secure income and lots of time on their hands). (Recruitment should focus on these populations and not college kids many of whom are on the occupational make and too distracted by both hormones and materialism to really care).
Finally:
Understand that it took the fascist neocons about 20 years (from Goldwater to Reagan) to capture the White House and they have had control for a little longer than that. This effort should be for the next generation and all who are in it should be in it for the long haul (as “long” as they have left to “haul” anyway).
When all or most of the efforts to unseat non-progressive cnadidates fail in 08, the very next day after election day should be the start of the next campaign to recruit more volunteers, reframe the issues, document and inform constituents of the misdeeds of their representatives, and fund raise.
That’s the way the opposition views it and for progressives to do any less is plain foolishness. We have had fun with stunts and consciousness raising exercises–now it is time to get seriously to work. By the way there are more of us than there are of them so if we never forget that fact, it just becomes a question of how we make connection with our natural allies!
If Sheehan runs it will be a laughable joke.
Sheehan and Code Pink did more to help the Democrats gain control of Congress than Raum Emanuel and DLC.
It is typical and cynical that Conyers, Pelosi and the DLC should shun Sheehan and Code Pink.
“True success in this world is not determined by how much money you make, or by how many possessions you have, but by the positive impact you have on other people, as you work toward your goals and dreams in life”.
Congress knows they have given away so much power to the Executive that they realize [OR SHOULD] they HAVE NO EFFECT against the current occupant’s signing statements. Whatever GWB INC. wants, he creates it through his own silent [under reported] Executive Orders or even less reported signing statements. Congress essentially has NO POWER!
THE ONLY thing our ‘representatives’ can effectively do is subpoena, hold in contempt, impeach, convict and hope the current occupant does not create or ‘allow’ another 9/11 to change the apathy in the citizens of this ‘great nation’ into fear once AGAIN.
WE MUST keep the pressure on for them to ALL they CAN and ALL they SHOULD and ALL THEY MUST DO to relieve this nation of the criminals in the Executive offices.
In response to Wemistikashw and PJD:
Last winter, following the election I packed my two girls up and headed for Washington to join the protest calling for an end to the war. It was publicized well in some circles, but we still had to go looking for for it. Often these events have come and gone before the public is aware and can mobilize in order to participate. We work, we have jobs like most everyone else, but we would have made the effort this time too, had I known about the Conyer’s sit-in in time. My family and I and all the friends I could have mustered would have been there.
Surely there must be a way for the many different groups in favor of this impeachment effort to unite at one, large, overpowering Washington event, well publicized and allowing time for everyday citizens and families to get there. They would come. And, I believe, they would come en masse.
I think it must be said too that at the protest we did attend - one intended to show support for bringing troops home - there were signs and groups for a myriad of other concerns and interests in additon to the ending of the war which only weakened the message presumably bringing us all together. Cindy Sheehan has been demoralized, as she stated several weeks ago, because of these fractured efforts from the left w/ so many just but pet agendas.
Many of us, as evidenced by all of these submissions, see how imparative impeachment is to the future of our republic and I pray, pray, pray we will find someway to unite around this one, all-important issue: to demand the removal of this present administration. Only then, it appears can the way be cleared for an end to this illegal war of aggression while preventing another. The constitution and it’s division of power is our foundation, and its integrity is at risk, it’s a foundation holding up the rest of our house. If it continues to crumble the rest of our pet issues we wish to build upon it aren’t going to matter much. (This, for the record, from a pro-life and, until the last election, registered republican).
.If your interrested in impeachment , it starts at the local level,organize,show up at your local townhalls,council chambers and put heat on the locals,thats where it starts not in washington, they are oblivious to to the sounds of the people in that town.Their ideal of working is to get up and deliver one min. speechesdeclaring their out rage and then going about raising money for their next election. What we must do is make their local districts hot for them.
Interesting reading — !!!!
I checked the Pelosi “off the table” declaration and it does go back to before the election to 5/12/06 …
she made various comments, i.e.–
Pelosi said that “impeachment would not be a goal of the the investigations [administrative energy policy and other matters] but she added, “You never know where it leads to.”
Conyers had made a case for impeachment hearings on the lies that led us into the war on Iraq and on wiretapping.
Conyers agreed with Pelosi’s thinking that Republicans are in desperate shape. We don’t want to give them anything to grab onto. Therefore, Pelosi had never considered impeachment a priority.
I changed the wording around on this so here’s the link for anyone to decide for themselves what was said and by whom . . .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/11/AR2006051101950.html
and additionally post-election . . .
that she “wouldn’t lead a liberal inquistion against President Bush”
that “Democrats aren’t about getting even”
John Dean reminds us that IMPEACHMENT turns “Executive Privilege” into ashes . . .
This is very interesting because we have been bogged down so long with the INVESTIGATIONS GOING NO WHERE BECAUSE OF BUSH/CHENEY CLAIMS OF ‘EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE’ . . .
QUOTE . . .
Paraphrasing John Dean.
Impeachment is valuable BECAUSE Bush CANNOT assert executive privilege over ANY ITEMS needed in the investigation AGAINST HIM.
All the records regarding the energy policy, the Plame leak, etc…everything loses it’s cover and becomes property of the investigating body (The House). This also means that all the people that REFUSE to acknowledge the subpoenas…Rove, Rice, Miers, etc. HAVE to testify in an impeachment hearing and there is NO getting around that.
The media can ignore Congressional hearings. The media can ignore parliamentary procedure BUT the media CANNOT ignore an impeachment hearing.
SO, if you think pulling the media cover and executive privilege cover off of this administration wouldn’t net the support in the Senate (because it sure as hell would get the attention of the people who aren’t being told exactly what is going on)…then I am sorry that you simply do not understand the reason we NEED impeachment proceedings.
I’m breaking these down for easier reading –
grappa,
I could not agree with you more, and in fact mentioned that a month ago. Starting at the local level is an ideal place to begin the protest. Put so much heat on local and state officials, that politicians on Capitol Hill will clearly get the message that they are next.
How many of you, seriously, would join with others and refuse to pay your income tax? To find out where our income tax money really goes, go to: http://www.warresisters.org/piechart.htm
What we do not want, we will not buy. Why is it that we apply this dictum to consumer goods, but not to our government’s pernicious projects?
Coupled with unremitting, unified, single-issue protest, a protracted tax revolt will help to de-fund the war, give us all a real sense of community for a change, and send a strong message to those who would serve us in government.
To those who do not support A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition’s call for a UNITED, single-issue protest, please remember that a coalition is just that: a union of separate bodies. When this struggle is over, we can all go back to our individual causes. If we don’t unite, there may not be any chance of going back…to much of anything.
I haven’t actually read every post completely . . .
but just want to say that everything I know about politics I learned first from Ralph Nader –
Nonetheless, I think even he is shocked at the speed with which fascism has crossed our threshold in America.
When I first awakened in 1988, I hit the library to check my own life philosophies first and to find some truthful history. Most of that rested in the FDR era where we have some pretty frank discussions about labor and corporations. They did try, of course, to kill FDR — the corporates that is: Dupont, and a bunch of them. It was investigated by the USHR.
I tried immediately to work with the Democrats — they will let you work your head off — but it takes money to move within the party; you quickly see this and it’s not pretty. Many, many honest people are drawn to the party, working for it during campaigns, etc. After elections; usually nothing happens. I worked for Jerry Brown/was a delegate for him from my area — and for a short time his campaign had a liberal impact on the party and the nation. For a short time.
I worked with the Greens where there is a wide open field for citizens to pursue office. Excellent platform. And I did run for office for them. Very interesting. I got a lot of votes/didn’t win. Many, many honest and hard working citizens have come to the Green Party.
It got really exciting when Ralph Nader ran for president with the Greens — fantastic platform. I didn’t end up voting for him because my children were so concerned that Bush would win. The “Swiftboating” of Nader after that by Democrats evidently frightened the international Green Party so much that they didn’t support his coming on board again for the 2004 election. That really shocked me.
And, behind that decision it became obvious that the Green Party had been co-opted by Democrats who were making Green Party decisions and barring Nader. Both parties — Dems and Repubs — have erected so many barriers to third parties that it’s a wonder that any of them last even a few years. We have to have IRV — Instant Runoff Voting as other nations have.
Of course, the 2000 election was stolen as the 2004 election and 2002 elections seem to have been stolen.
Nonetheless, it is difficult for the public to give up the feeling that Nader had something to do with the loss.
My feeling is that Nader voters were intelligent and where they felt that it would harm a Clinton win, they didn’t vote for him. But, Nader brought out a huge number of liberal voters. On the other hand, I certainly understand that the Perot campaign had something to do with the Bush I loss and the Clinton win.
It was Susan B. Anthony’s hope that Labor and Women would come together to form a party. How far we seem from that idea!
Certainly one of the biggest and most obvious booby traps in the Democratic Party is the DLC — the conservative/right-wing of the Democratic Party.
Many Democrats don’t even know it exists within the party.
It’s the Republican wing, so to speak.
Personally, I’d like to see a united fight for the Democratic Party — it would just be easier.
What would it take to get Kucinich elected?
Obviously, the establishment wants Clinton –
I’d take Bill again, but I’m concerned about Hillary’s positions and her anxiousness to compromise with Republicans and their agendas.
The Gonzales hearing ended today with SPECTER/Magic Bullet suggesting the need for an Independent Prosecutor!!!
I hadn’t heard any Democrat mention that very logical possibility. I’m sticking with impeachment, please . . .
Meanwhile, we’ve all woken up late and we have Global Warming which is really climate crisis — and the threat to humanity and the planet is growing every day.
We don’t have a lot of time to fool around.
Last night in the Democratic/You Tube debates the questions were a farce and unlikely representative of the questions that were really supported by those using the website.
No one asked about nationalizing our own natural resources; especially oil which is in the hands of a few private families. We have know for decades that it is the burning of fossil fuels that causes GW.
There is talk about getting mpg up to 50 in the next decades but not one reminds us that in the 1960’s we had cars that did almost that.
Did no one see “Who Killed the Electric Car?”
We could have all electric cars on the highways in 5 years by replacing 20% of them every year — subsidizing both ends — manufacture and purchase.
Bush, Cheney, Gonzales don’t see to have anything to fear though they have been literally and figuratively torturing humanity for 6 years now.
Insanity seemed to prevail as first Cheney and then Bush proclaimed that they aren’t part of the Executive Branch!!!
Maybe if we all keep at it, Pelosi will change her mind . . but the hearings are going nowhere and documents have obviously been tossed, shredded and perhaps lost forever.
Echoes of “Operation Northwoods” and Nixon’s “Huston Plan” are still out there –
“DUMP THE DEMOCRATS!
UNITE INTO A NEW THIRD PARTY NOW!”
I believe the system is rigged to destroy third parties. The structure of the system makes it impossible to unite behind a new party. Read:
http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/change/science_egalitarians.html
That’s why I think the best way to promote change is vote in the primaries as a Democrat to get rid of people like Lieberman, Pelosi, Clinton etc… THEN if we fail to get someone similar to Kucinich to replace them, vote Nader or Green.
Democrat is just a label. Registering Democrat or Republican isn’t a sell-out. What scares them the most is taking over their idea of what a Democrat or Republican is, replacing Clinton with Kucinich or Guiliani with Ron Paul.
SO FEW PEOPLE VOTE IN PRIMARIES. We could throw these people out if we got organized. Seriously. Not voting in the primaries is worse than not voting in the general election because that’s the place where the most change can occur. Once the election comes around it’s already narrowed down to corporate candidate #1 VS. corporate candidate #2. Let’s change that in 2008!
VOTE IN THE PRIMARIES!
seems only Kucinich is the answer for candidates
impeach and hang the rest
give to me for fish bait
ask Hilary about Mena
someone please
foamweapons —
[like your name]
QUOTE: . . .
That’s why I think the best way to promote change is vote in the primaries as a Democrat to get rid of people like Lieberman, Pelosi, Clinton etc… THEN if we fail to get someone similar to Kucinich to replace them, vote Nader or Green. QUOTE
Voting Green I don’t think will make any immediate change at the presidential level. And could put us back in the hands of Republicans — maybe a Jeb Bush — ???
Newt Gingrich? Maybe a Swartzenegger? It can help a great deal with local and State offices — there are a lot of wins. That’s my opinion.
Nader has outlined that primaries take the decision about who a party is running out of the hands of the party.
It’s rigged — and with computers, now more than ever.
The smoked-rooms were evidently the safer places for these decisions.
Kucinich is the least worrisome of the Democrats —
I also like Edwards —
I’d like to see a female president . . .
but I’m not looking forward to voting for Hillary.
PS: We’re still left with the question . . .
Is John Conyers betraying us by denying us impeachment of Bush? Is Nancy Pelosi betraying us?
Or do they both see this as strategy???
Coupled with the foot dragging of Sen. Harry Reid and the refunding of the war . . . I don’t like the odds that they don’t quite have the same concerns that we have!
Yesterday’s exercise had some considerable value, in that it should put an end to Conyers’ ability to work both sides of the street. By going out of his way to cause the arrest of impeachment advocates, Conyers defines himself as a Bush Administration supporter and the enemy of any effort to call that administration to account.
Put another way, the Democrats simply want the Bush presidency for THEMSELVES. They have not the slightest interest in keeping government within constitutional boundaries. As old Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island once put it, any professed motive but power and self-enrichment is simply “sentimental rot.” A pity this confrontation didn’t happen in early January instead of late July!
From other articles on the same subject, it would appear Conyers’ tactic is a classic example of bait-and-switch. Last Fall, and to select audiences as late as this Spring; Conyers has PROMISED impeachment. He will do so no more!
Lacking constitutional provision for recall of the president, vice president and members of Congress; the only course for the antiwar, impeachment crowd would appear to be this: refusing to engage in or with this premature campaign for president–no money, no work, no attendance at meetings or rallies–UNTIL impeachment and our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are satisfactorily addressed.
This premature presidential campaign was always a diversion from war and accountability of present office holders–and it will be “off to the races” again with whomever is elected president. I’ve read of HRC telling her military briefers she expects US troops to still be in Iraq at the end of her administration (20 January 2009 through 20 January 2017)!
ask Hilary about Mena
Presumably, MENA was part of Iran-Contra?
It’s another reason why we have to end the phony drug war.
It’s white gold and those at the top aren’t going to ignore the profits — never have.
Naturally, drug trafficing can’t go on without the corruption of government officials — not everyone — just some — and police enforcement.
As if anyone has time to read comment 103. Still, I want to stick up for Conyers. Medea Benjamin is a writer I always take time to read. But this time she doesn’t give Conyers credit for all the good he’s done. He led the investigation of election fraud in Ohio and published a book detailing it. He sponsored HR 676, enhanced medicare for all. He called Bush on the #10 Downing Street scandal. He has not betrayed America. He has a conscience. He and the other members of the Black Caucus, and Kucinich, Schakowsky, … not many. He seems to want to bypass impeachment and, instead, fuel the revolution.
Two comments:
First, lksafford is right that Conyers did not necessarily sell out. Conyers ALREADY carried out an investigation in 2006, without virtue of subpoena power, and made a compelling case in an enormous report. It didn’t work. The Conyers report didn’t turn the tide. We all know this. The public is convinced, but the media and the politicians are not. The votes are not there.
We all need to push our congress-persons to sign on to this. If the democrats in the house vote yes, the impeachment proceedings will begin.
Second, beginning IS ALL THAT MATTERS. That is, I disagree completely with OSUgradstudent who says that impeachment in the house if futile since the 2/3 majority needed for conviction in the senate is unlikely. Remember, NIXON WAS NOT IMPEACHED. He resigned in disgrace before the trial phase was done (before it started? can’t recall exactly), because preliminary hearings exposed his crimes for the world to see.
Right now Bush and the repubs and the mass media are scared. They are scared of the spectacle of a public trial that strikes at the heart of what our government does. This time, its not just a matter of one person with a loose zipper– its about warmongering and despotism, its about a cabal of power-mongers run amok, guided by an anti-democratic anti-rights political philosophy.
But if there is a public trial, can anyone doubt the outcome? Bush is guilty as sin. With subpoena power, congress can prove this.
Once the trial begins, Bush’s auro of invincibility will vanish, the media will turn against him and say all of the things they should have been saying for years (because now it will be official news from congress, the only kind of news they can report). All the Republican leaders are all *on record* (from the Clinton trial) saying that the president is not above the law. The mass media pundits are going to make them eat their words.
Its all about the house vote, people, so don’t let this week go by without calling or faxing your rep (email doesn’t work, they get too many of those). Lets get to work!
“As if anyone has time to read comment 103. Still, I want to stick up for Conyers. Medea Benjamin is a writer I always take time to read. But this time she doesn’t give Conyers credit for all the good he’s done. He led the investigation of election fraud in Ohio and published a book detailing it. He sponsored HR 676, enhanced medicare for all. He called Bush on the #10 Downing Street scandal. He has not betrayed America. He has a conscience. He and the other members of the Black Caucus, and Kucinich, Schakowsky, … not many. He seems to want to bypass impeachment and, instead, fuel the revolution.”
The so-called “good” things Conyers has done will be washed away in the flood of consequences stemming from the subversion of the bush administration. This country has been destroyed. It lingers merely from the momentum of the old economy as it winds down. Impeachment is the Constitutional method of removing a despot from the White House. Revolution, military mutiny, and assassination are the other methods.
“It is shameful that Conyers and Pelosi are putting their perceived interests of their party above the Constitution, which clearly makes impeachment the remedy for dealing with presidential “high crimes and misdemeanors”.”
It’s time for people like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul to run as Independents. They really need to remove themselves from the one-party system of misrepresentation and deceit.
“If we do not impeach President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, we establish that it is permissible for future presidents and vice presidents to deceive Congress and the public into futile wars, engage in widespread illegal spying on Americans, detain prisoners without charge, engage in torture, operate in secrecy and refuse to execute laws passed by Congress.” -M.E. Marino
Are we supposed to believe that Democrats are going to repair the Constitution which George Bush has torn to shreds with his “unitary executive” theory and “signing statements”?
If you think that a Democratic President will defend and uphold the Constitution with a “unitary executive” theory in place, consider this:
“Those who seek or want to hold onto their existing power are not about to condemn the man (or his actions) who has done so much to extend its reach.” -?
Excessive government secrecy on an unprecedented scale as we are experiencing today does nothing for the people; what it does do is increase and preserve “unconstitutional” governmental power while it covers up fraud and gross mismanagement of U.S. Foreign Policy along with our tax dollars.
Promises, promises, promises! We’re tired of the rhetoric from both parties!
Karl Rove is pulling it off AGAIN. Ever read about his method of taking down political enemies? It’s always much the same. He spreads destructive gossip through a number of sources. Divide up the votes and keep the Republicans in power. Do you really want that? REALLY? I would suspect that there are professional blog posters on the payroll of the RNC as well as the news and commentary writers. Rove has been doing this for many years. Stop being so darned gullible.
Basis For Impeachment
Americans must blame themselves for the dreadful policies of Bush’ team. After allowing them to steal two elections, we then stood by while the Senate defaulted their primary duties by allowing this theocratic (and unelected) president, to select unfit and dangerous people to key judgeships and other vital positions. Other unprecedented abuses that have proceeded unabated (or with token resistance) from congress include manipulation of science and facts to impede vital environmental reforms, impediment of investigations into 9/11, gross misinformation concerning the war and terrorism, character assassinations of those who oppose his policies (remember Senator Max Cleland, a triple Vietnam amputate who was branded unpatriotic and unseated for sponsoring an investigation into 9/11 which Bush opposed)–and the list goes on.
The gravity of abuses from this administration eclipse the Lewinsky scandal which led to an impeachment, and are more serious than the Watergate affair which brought down a presidency.
Ugh. Can we just call it like it is for a change?
Impeachment isn’t going to happen, nor are we going to leave Iraq BECAUSE the Democrats think, probably correctly, that all they have to do is give Bush enough rope & he’ll hang himself. Their logic is that the war is HORRIBLE PR for the Republican party, and so far they’ve been spot-on. As far as their concerned the worst thing that could happen would be Bush pulling out, blaming it on them, and having the whole country fault them for losing Iraq just like we did Vietnam.
What are we going to do about it? NOTHING. That’s right, nothing, because we STILL know that calculating, spineless pricks are “marinally better” than lying, stealing, murderers.
We talk about POLITICIANS being all talk: there’s idjits on here advocating not voting, the very barest minimum a US citizen can do to perform his civic duties. You won’t vote, but we’re supposed to believe you’ll start some sort of revolution? Boy, you’re FUNNY. Have some more Doritos - american Idol is on ina few minutes.
Bear in mind, this bozo in the white house has been lawfully elected at least once. That goes to show just how gullible we are as a nation.
Thank you Medea Benjamin for lending some creability to what I have been blogging about on Conyers and his supposed stnads against Bush-n- Corp since last election. He sounded too good to be true andif you want mroe info on him look at his ameded speches in Record and compare them to hias actual vote, who pays his campaign funds and the increase of the amounts for last two years.
He is a phony held up by the Democrats to rally the more radical persons who want to impeach Bush and get brign power back tot he people.
No amount of or body of work by his staff has shown they realy care about inpeachment but they sure know who to hit up for funding and spend more time researching for other party members to add Conyers pork to home district.
Conyers actions in regards to Sheehans group shwos his true stripes once and for all. find someon to run against Conyers, we already have one against Pelosi.
Conyers is a consumate politco and has survied by kissing the butts and not having any real position of his own since he gained office.He is a good co-sponsor to the right bills by the right