A Cameo by the Old John Conyers
I’d been waiting for the old John Conyers to reappear.
Conyers rightfully brags about being a leader in the movement to impeach Richard Nixon back in the day.
And in the last Congressional term, before the Democrats took over, Conyers introduced a bill to explore grounds for impeaching Bush. He explained to Lewis Lapham of Harper’s in early 2006 why he was doing so:
” ‘To take away the excuse,’ he said, ‘that we didn’t know.’ So that two or four or ten years from now, if somebody should ask, ‘Where were you, Conyers, and where was the United States Congress?’ when the Bush Administration declared the Constitution inoperative and revoked the license of parliamentary government, none of the company now present can plead ignorance or temporary insanity, can say that ‘somehow it escaped our notice’ that the President was setting himself up as a supreme leader exempt from the rule of law.”
Well, this old John Conyers made a cameo on Tuesday at a town hall meeting in Detroit.
Now the head of the House Judiciary Committee, he finally declared his independence from Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the urgent question of impeachment.
According to rawstory.com, Conyers said: “Nancy Pelosi has impeachment ‘off the table,’ but that’s off her table. It is not off John Conyers’s table.”
That’s a relief, since I thought Pelosi had permanently gagged Conyers on the subject.
Not anymore.
Nancy Pelosi, he said, “cannot prevent me from introducing an impeachment resolution.”
He added: “I want you to know that I have no reticence, no reluctance, no hesitation to use the tool of impeachment . . . whenever I feel that it is appropriate.”
So what’s his hesitation now?
And when is a more appropriate time than now, after all the crimes Bush and Cheney have already committed?
When is a more appropriate time than now, just as they are about to commit another heinous one, by illegally attacking Iran?
Under pressure from Cindy Sheehan and other impeachment activists, the old John Conyers this week put his toes back in the impeachment pool.
It’s time now for him to dive right in.
Matthew Rothschild is the editor of The Progressive magazine.
© 2007 The Progressive
As with any Democrat, watch what he does, not what he says.
Me, I’m not exactly holding my breath thinking he’ll launch investigatory hearings as soon as this recess ends. I’m guessing its all talk. Probably been told to go out there and try to mollify the Democratic voters a bit.
Kucinich’s resolution calling for the impeachment of Cheney is just sitting there. Conyers as chair of this committee could pick it up and carry it forward the first day back from recess. I’m betting he won’t.
Of course, instead of making speeches about it, he could also have picked up this resolution and started moving it forward BEFORE the recess too.
I recall John Conyers musing about Bush’s WMD scam being like another Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Maybe Iraq is closer to Vietnam than we thought.
COMarc is 100% right.
First let’s see some action from John Conyers before we congratulate him and the first action should be to proceed with implementation of H.R. 333 to dump Cheney. Now that you have said the right words. let’s see some action to back them up Mr. Conyers.
And let’s see a formal apology to Cindy Sheehan and her followers who were arrested for urging Mr. Conyers to move forward with impeachment. However, I am not holding my breath.
after conyers had cindy sheehan and company arrested in his office, i looked up an old email he sent me before the 2006 election and replied to it. maybe he noticed.
before apathy and despair totally win, let’s put out one more push for impeachment. it begins with whom the senate confirms for attorney general, since that person will have to investigate the bush administration. investigations is how impeachments start.
Conyers answered Rothschilds’ questions a few days ago on Democracy Now!:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/28/1526252
Of course, he didn’t say why the Democrats couldn’t have done this a year or more ago, when there was just as much evidence of crimes but more time in which to hold impeachment hearings. But hey, any excuse is sufficient when you’re rationalizing.
Words are easy. HR 333 awaits his action, and action is what matters. “Where WAS John Conyers when the crimes of the Bush administration were being committed with impunity?” we’ll be asking for years to come. Is the answer “hiding” or “cowering”–or “pursuing justice with vigor and courage”? With Kucinich, Lee and many others, we know the answer. With Conyers, the jury is out. It is up to him to act now. I predict that what has happened will continue to happen–in a blatent display of utter cowardice, he will continue to DO nothing (regardless of his progressive rhetoric). I hope I am wrong, for John Conyers has a long, strong progressive record.
JOHN CONYERS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, SPOKE AT A TOWN MEETING IN DETROIT ON TUESDAY [8/28/07]. HE SAID HE IS WILLING TO PUT IMPEACHMENT ON THE TABLE IF HE THINKS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SUPPORT IT.
E-MAIL HIM AT JOHN.CONYERS@MAIL.HOUSE.GOV AND LET HIM KNOW THAT WE NOT ONLY SUPPORT IMPEACHMENT, WE DEMAND IT.
EVEN THOUGH ALL THE POLLS SAY THE MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC NOW WANTS IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS TO BEGIN, LET’S SAY IT AGAIN LOUD AND CLEAR!
PASS ON.
Ultimately it’s a question of faith– faith in the validity of political process, and faith in the politicians. Mine runs through my fingers like water.
So I believe that Conyers is indeed stringing along the partisan faithful one more time. The Democrats have long since repudiated any intent to directly challenge and contest the criminal regime; instead, they are cajoling and pacifying the faithful and the desperate to support their quest for power and domination in 2008.
I find the Republics to be harsher, greedier, and generally more sociopathic than the Dems. But I think that the current crop of office-holders, regardless of party, are equally cynical in manipulating their constituencies.
So I’m not going to any Conyers/impeachment rallies just yet.
I agree with Little Brother-
I have repeatedly emailed and called Pelosi, Reid, Conyers, my congressmen-Sherrod Brown and Voinovich, urging action on impeachment and a halt to this illegal and immoral war but nothing, only form responses and at this point I say screw the democrats, they are part of the same corporate ruling class that regards the constitution as fancy toilet paper. Only massive economic constriction and disaster will bring about the fundamental political change and reconstruction we need.
Amy Goodman interviewed Conyers on Democracy Now just last Tuesday. He made it quite clear he has no intention of moving ahead with Impeachment. Based on what he had to say in that interview, vs. what Rothschild is reporting in this story I would have to say I think Conyers is talking out of both sides of his face.
In the interview he made some lame comment about having to weigh the Constitution in one hand and his calculator in the other. The man clearly does not understand his duty, if he did he would put down the calculator so he can have both hands free to more firmly grasp the Constitution! Then he mad it clear that he feels it would be a waste of time and energy.
I think too much time in office has corrupted Mr. Conyers principles, so that he is now more concerned with maintaining his own status quo than with upholding the rule of law and the spirit of what is left of our representative democracy.
Here a link to the interview:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/28/1526252&mode=thread&tid=25
“e didn’t say why the Democrats couldn’t have done this a year or more ago,”
Well, why they didn’t do it as soon as the new Congress was seated, which is still much less than a year.
“Based on what he had to say in that interview, vs. what Rothschild is reporting in this story I would have to say I think Conyers is talking out of both sides of his face.”
The talking-point now is “We’ll be glad to impeach when we feel we come across enough evidence” — as the killing fields & torture chambers of the imperial army are there for all to see.
“I think too much time in office has corrupted Mr. Conyers principles, so that he is now more concerned with maintaining his own status quo than with upholding the rule of law and the spirit of what is left of our representative democracy.”
‘Both’ parties buy into the notion that the choices must be limited to column A or column B. They hate third parties, much less fourth or fifth parties, and as everyone who’s gone to a town meeting with their Democratic congressian in the last eight months knows, they hate like hell for the real people to show up and insist that their will be followed. ‘I represent you, how dare you question me?!” is their attitude.
Please, let’s not be fooled again. Yes, I wrote Conyer’s office as soon as Cee Miracles posted the address, but as other posters have noted, the man is talking out of both sides of his mouth. He could ahve moved things forward months ago. We are not fooled, they will dink around and say this and that, hoping (like Shrub)to run out the clock and have all we loyal demos and independents ‘vote the lesser of two evils’. No more! Don’t be fooled again–I say we toss every single one of these hypocrites and criminal conspirators out–they took an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution–by NOT pushing for impeachment, they are co-conspirators and are not performing their sworn duty.
the argument that “we don’t have the votes” is crap.
Congress’ approval rating is lower than Bush’s! Still, most of the country supports impeachment and the *process* of impeaching will change the political climate in DC. When those criminals are on trial and every day the media broadcasts revelations of their wrongdoings, opinion will shift even more towards impeachment. Any Republican that hopes to retain a shred of credibility and a chance at re-election will have to think long and hard before voting against impeachment.
i sent the following email to conyers today:
You have done so much good in your tenure in your office that it surprises me I need to say this again to you: to uphold the constitution and the balance of powers, you must allow consideration of impeachment of both Cheney and Bush. Their administration has been one long constitutional crisis. You hold the power to place that issue before the House of Representatives.
If you think impeachment would cloud the 2008 elections, imagine what an unchecked executive power will do.
I agree with you, Longview. I’ve e-mailed, faxed, sent snail mail, phoned, etc., to senators and congressman but these so-called Democrats do NOTHING according to the will of the people. There are a scant number of true democrats who are exceptions, like Dennis Kucinich, but they are ostracized by the imposter democrats currently in ‘power’. I’ve had enough of this stolen party. I refuse to vote for any more Republicans — even the ones dressed up like Democrats.
Why do you all seem so surprized that the Honorable Congressman isn’t doing what you want him to? Have you sent him an extremely large check today? If not, then STFU. That’s American Democracy today. Welcome. The Democrats and the Republicans both pray at the same altar. And that’s not a cross up there, it’s a dollar sign.
It’s not about serving the People. It’s about staying in office. And you never know; if you do the right thing, someone might get upset with you and vote for someone else. Can’t have that, now, can we?
This government makes me want to puke. The whole damn lot of them, save two or three.
Sadly I don’t believe John Conyers any more. It should have been clear to him long ago what America is calling for, and anyway, he’s supposed to do the right thing - when did it have to be what most of us want? I thought he stood for something. But I am just sad at the state of affairs, recognizing that he did well in the past. I think he should stop raising expectations, though; that is very painful to see. It seems he is being used, and he is submitting to it.
‘Leadership’ doesn’t mean ‘getting in front of a crowd when it’s safe,’ but in speaking out & taking action when one is in the minority; but if you can’t take action just because you don’t have a ‘veto-proof’ majority, then you aren’t in any way a ‘leader’.
The Rova Nostra ruled for six years without even a real majority, but a fake one via theft & intimidation; the Democrats would one an unbeatable majority if they abandoned the “consultants” and the lobbyists.
Chances are Conyers is hinting at impeachment merely as a threat to Bush in hopes that Bush will work with the Democrats instead of fighting them tooth and nail.
Conyers has asked to hear from people so let him and then make judgments.
Pelosi did threaten him with his chairmanship and I don’t know why he’s standing up to her now, but let’s give him a chance to prove himself before we execute him. He has done well in the past, and has stuck his neck out.
Write him and the HR Committe on the Judiciary:
http://judiciary.house.gov/Contact.aspx
Ask him what’s up with HR333
Hope springs eternal. Conyers is stalling. He knows that the longer he and Pelosi put off Impeachment, the greater the likelihood everyone will shrug it off and say “It’s too late to bother. He’s nearly out of office.”
I don’t trust the Democrats anymore - not even Conyers. During the last six years they have shown their true color as being “Bush enablers”.
Nevertheless I sent the following email to him. at JOHN.CONYERS@MAIL.HOUSE.GOV
It would not be a bad idea if more people would prod him. But you know what? Unless proven otherwise “Dems = Bush-enablers”
- - - - - - - - - -
Dear congressman Conyers,
I implore you to start impeachment proceedings against the current administration. You know better than most people that their crimes against our constitution is unprecedented. Your continued inaction will be seen by future generations as complicity in the downfall of our republic. Your continued inaction is also severely hurting the Democratic Party.
I understand that you are hesitating because of lack of sufficient majority in the Congress. But there are two good reasons to set aside arithmetic now: (1) even if you do not have sufficient majority in Congress you do have a sufficient majority for this cause among the American public, and (2) true leadership does not wait for the majority to be ready; rather the essence of true leadership lies in creating the majority for a worthy cause. And right now there is no other cause worthier than this one for our country.
Please show us that I was not wrong in the past for having exemplified you as a true leader. Thanks.
Best regards,
Hi Kathy!
You don’t have to wait for Conyers to listen to the people. He has already said today on Democracy Now today that he IS NOT going to put impeachment on the table.
Go here and read excerps from his interview with Amy Goodman:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/31/8217/75215
Sorry for the bad news…….
There may not be time. There may not be the votes. But, not to act is to lie complicit with criminal violation of this nation’s and the international community’s laws.
This is good news. I’m glad he’s back.
Citizen1
This is an excellent letter that you sent. I will do the same. It can’t hurt.
Earthenian,
Actually, John Conyers HAS been around and noticing the bush family crimes for a long time now. In fact, he put together a lengthy document regarding the information on the phoney intelligence for the war, once it was all being exposed in Britain, (the downing street memos) even though it never made it to the main stream media here.
So, he’s actually been “on it” for a quite a while, going back to the middle of the previous Congress. So, he hasn’t been idle. If anything, he’s been the most vocal,and the first vocal, for the longest. (along with others of course) But, for those who have been ready to impeach him from way back when, and Cynthia McKinney was one who wrote up articles just before the last Congress concluded it’s business, but her proposal was seen as only “symbolic”, since she could get no support for it. (Nancy Pelosi effectively chopped her head right off).
Still, my point is that there are indeed some dems working very hard on this. But, they are of course the same handful that has been on it from the begining. The hold-back on the Dems side, is the provusion of Blue Dogs Dems. They’re the corporate hound-dogs, so their really just republicans in democrats clothing. I mean, look at Joe Lieberman. All these years, we’re thinking he’s a democrat, because that’s the party he was always affiliated with. But, Lo and behold, we find out last year, that he’s really a damn NAZI!!
So, that just goes to show you that none of it makes sense anymore. The party has been infiltrated, and the people and states that have sent these Blue Dogs to Congress, have effecitvely screwed the rest of us. People keep saying the dems finally have a majority after 12 years, and they aren’t doing anything with it. BUT, folks aren’t realizing that with the Blue Dog dems, they DON’T really have a majority. The Blue Dogs nearly always vote with the repugs.
Therein lies the problem…more traitors. Still, if their constituients put enough pressure on them, it would seem that they wouldn’t have much choice. That’s where Nancy Pelosi has so fallen down on her own responsibilities, because she should be rallying EVERYBOBY, as impeachment is NOT a partisan issue. It’s just the thing that is required under exactly these circumstances. Instead, she’s playing political appeaser, instead of just doing the job required.
Some additional pressure on her wouldn’t hurt either.
talk is cheap.
I sent a letter to Conyers, too, per Cee Miracles’ advice, attached below. It’s a numbers game. No one will read my letter, but it will get added to a pile. When “our” pile is bigger than the campaign contributions pile, we get what we want.
Please write your letter, too.
——————
Dear Representative Conyers:
I understand that you are willing to go forward with impeachment proceedings against Mr. Bush, and possibly Mr. Cheney if the American public supports this action. I want you to know that I heartily encourage you to do so. Here’s why:
a. I believe that the cabal of NeoCons the run U.S. foreign policy, including Feith, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Abrams, Woolsey, Podhoretz, etc. did everything possible to induce us into war with Iraq, and aggressively suppressed or misrepresented the truth in order to accomplish that cherished NeoCon goal. Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney actively abetted and enabled that scheme, and it has cost this country the lives of thousands of our best people, and tens of thousands of maimed bodies and families, hundreds of thousands of dead or maimed Iraqis, a ruined Iraq, a trillion dollars of our taxes — past and future — poured into the sand, and the absolute and complete loss of the U.S.’ standing in the court of world opinion.
b. I believe that Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney have taken the position that the Executive branch of government has hegemony over the Legislative and Judicial branches, and that dangerous perspective must be curbed immediately. The branches are equal. Congress must vigorously defend its legislative and oversight role in government operations.
c. Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney have authorized illegal eavesdropping and torture. It is absolutely unacceptable for our government to be eavesdropping on U.S. citizens without a warrant, and with no oversight. There is no possible reason with the current FISA regulations could not have been followed, or amended to meet timeliness-of-response requirements while still providing for an audit trail and for independent and concurrent oversight. Retroactively changing the law in order to preclude prosecution for breaking that same law in the first place invites further and substantial erosion of the rule of law.
These three egregious, offensive violations of the spirit and letter of our laws and of our culture of government must be immediately and vigorously rebuked. I believe that it is your duty as a sworn upholder of the U.S. constitution, and as a Representative of the People to impeach Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney.
I want to be a citizen of a country that I am proud of. I am not currently proud of my country. Please help us fix this problem.
Respectfully,
OuterBeltway
“Put his toes back in the impeachment pool”? Conyers needs to do a cannonball into the deep end of the pool! Well, Johnny boy, I’ll believe it when I see it. Just another lying politician. Party affiliation means nothing at this point. Our imperialist duopoly needs to end.
If Conyers were ACTUALLY changing course, he would have announced his new course to the group he was addressing. Instead, Conyers tells them he’s staying on the Pelosi course–until in his sole judgment, others make a sufficiently convincing case that he should change course. Some find this encouraging news?
A pity the Senate decided long ago members of Congress could NOT be impeached and removed from office–for such dissembling or anything else. The man is a FRAUD!
For Labor Day
Join in the battle
Wherein no man can fail
For who so fadeth and dieth
Yet his deed shall still prevail
William Morris
Think we need to impeach the whole damn congress! But, I am willing to start at the top with Bush and Cheney and get to the pin striped bandit’s later.
This government needs a real awakening. They have become fat, lazy, rich and complacent.
They believe all they have to do is stand on a soap box and pronounce that it will be so, and the ignorant masses won’t notice that they have done nothing.
It is time to make them take notice, that we the people, are watching, and we don’t like we see.
I believe that if you are to have true democracy that the old saying applies, that says “governments should fear the people not the other way around”.
After years of sending me emails begging for my money and assuring me that, if the Dems took the majority in Congress in 2006, he’d get right to work on impeachment proceedings, Conyers now tells me that there’s not enough time to remove BushCo from office.
Thanks, John, for defrauding me and, while you might not think 16 months is long enough to rid us of the Little King and Dick, that’s plenty of time for them to start more wars and kill more American troops, steal more of our money for their cronies, and further damage our constitutional rights.
Conyers is consummate proof of Edmund Burke’s warning, “All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.”
Thanks for nothing, Rep. Conyers.