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Tag(s): Conyers-John; Courage; Democratic; Fear; Impeachment; Impeachment; Impeachment; Impeachment; Kucinich-Dennis; Newspapers; (more...) Republican; Thinking; Wexler-Robert (less...)
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January 29, 2008 at 17:23:46

How Could Impeachment Be in Conyers' Interest?

by Kevin Gosztola Page 1 of 2 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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The word “interest” is a key word in Washington. Anytime you can show that a politician has an interest in doing something, you will most likely get him or her to proceed and take action.

“Shared interest” is an even better key word in Washington. It means that you both will benefit---you and your representative.

The one way we can make sure that Rep. John Conyers, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, proceeds and holds two impeachments is if we produce a case for impeachment that benefits him greatly.

“That’s no way to run a democracy” – Dennis Kucinich

Well, people may disagree but the wheels go round and round in Washington based on interest. I’m not going to qualify it as being good or bad even though I have an opinion on it. I’m going to clearly outline the fact that these are two perspectives. One is idealist and the other is pragmatist.

With the two leading Democratic frontrunners for president being pragmatists rather than idealists, we have to shift gear here. Speaking from the heart is valid but not as valid as being able to prove that in reality it pays to act upon what the hearts and minds of Americans desire.

What do we desire? Impeachment. Now, here it goes.

One, if it can be shown that Conyers is indeed being stopped by Pelosi, than perhaps we can show that it is in John Conyers’ interest to pursue impeachment because Nancy Pelosi should not be allowed to tell Conyers what he can and cannot do to defend the Constitution of the United States of America or more importantly, our system of checks and balances, which the Republican president and his majority have so greatly destroyed.

Two, if it can be shown that his greatest critics will not care if impeachment proceedings fail to produce the results desired, than he has nothing to fear.

I’m thinking about Ray McGovern, Cindy Sheehan, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Ann Right, and others. I’m tempted to also write down outspoken critics of Conyers from the Right but I cannot find any names of people who fit that description nor do I think at this point in the political landscape of America do they have any credibility whatsoever.

Three, what do his constituents think? Where do members of the 14th District in Michigan stand on the issue of impeachment? Where do the members of Allen Park, Dearborn, Hamtramck, Highland, Southgate, and Trenton stand? Where do those in Wayne County, Michigan stand on the impeachment of Bush and Cheney?

If it seems like I am repeating myself, I am and I am giving more and more information on his district so the impeachment movement can see how important it is to engage members of this district to pressure John Conyers to proceed on impeachment.

The one lone newspaper from Wayne County or John Conyers’ district, the News-Herald, does not provide any proof that the people of his district have impeachment on their minds and that may have something to do with the fact that the only thing the newspaper has ran on the issue of impeachment was John Conyers’ statement on impeachment being off the table after the midterm election in 2006. (I cannot find any opinion or letters to the editor where impeachment was mentioned either.)

Phone calls, mailing letters to members of Conyers’ district, going to his district and holding a town hall meeting or forum now on impeachment, asking people of his district to write letters to the editor to newspapers read by members of the district, etc. are all actions the movement to impeach should be taking. We could call into liberal talk radio shows or whatever radio show we listen to and single out John Conyers’ district as the place where this impeachment thing could really light up like a wildfire.

That’s not to say it hasn’t already been fired up. Dennis Kucinich got it rolling with the introduction of articles of impeachment for Cheney and his candidacy for president where he was the only candidate other than Gravel to say anything supportive about impeachment in the debates or on the campaign trail. Robert Wexler has taken the movement to a new level by working to get hearings going on the matter. And Kucinich has impeachment articles waiting for Bush if Conyers and the Judiciary Committee fail to act now.

If Conyers' district does support impeachment, we need to prove to him that taking time out of his busy schedule to do the right thing is the right thing to do and even if he fails, his constituents won't choose to quit supporting because he started something that was "doomed to fail."

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Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral system, its military-industrial complex, its foreign policy of American exceptionalism, its media which has become the Fourth Branch of government,etc.)
His ambitions have him currently organizing and raising money for a Chicago Conference for Media Reform in April or May of 2009. It will be organized by college students to promote youth involvement in media reform and justice. Those interested in attending or helping with the organization of the program should contact him.

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8 comments

Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Kevin GosztolaKevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Blast from the Past

John Conyers on impeachment in 2005:

The Report concludes that a number of these actions amount to prima facie evidence (evidence sufficiently strong to presume the allegations are true) that federal criminal laws have been violated. Legal violations span from false statements to Congress to whistleblower laws.

The Report also concludes that these charges clearly rise to the level of impeachable conduct. However, because the Administration has failed to respond to requests for information about these charges, it is not yet possible to conclude that an impeachment inquiry or articles of impeachment are warranted.

In response to the Report, I have already taken a number of actions. First, I have introduced a resolution (H. Res. 635) creating a Select Committee with subpoena authority to investigate the misconduct of the Bush Administration with regard to the Iraq war and report on possible impeachable offenses. In Watergate, for example, the Congress did not begin matters as an impeachment inquiry, but investigated matters -- through the Ervin Committee -- and referred impeachable evidence to the Judiciary Committee.

by Kevin Gosztola (235 articles, 127 quicklinks, 72 diaries, 907 comments) on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 5:37:46 PM

Brett Paatsch is an Australian born secular humanist with degrees in management and science and an interest in politics. He is a former pro-American that wishes to be pro-American again and thinks the impeachment and repudiation of President George W Bush for the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 is necessary to reestablish trust in American signatures on international treaties and confidence in the global rule of law.
Brett PaatschBrett Paatsch is an Australian born secular humanist with degrees in management and science and an interest in politics. He is a former pro-American that wishes to be pro-American again and thinks the impeachment and repudiation of President George W Bush for the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 is necessary to reestablish trust in American signatures on international treaties and confidence in the global rule of law.

Prima facie evidence is important. Prima facie evidence

falls short of proof but creates an obligation to investigate so that the rule of law doesn't fall into question.

There is a prima facie case (at least) that the invasion of Iraq was illegal, that it was pursued opportunistically and based on false statements.

There is a prima facie case (at least) that Americans have tortured.

It is beyond argument that Americans have signed treaties and have taken on obligations not to launch aggressive wars and not to torture and yet the fact of the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath and the fact of photos like those that emerged from Abu Graib must have raised the question in the minds of the people of the world about whether aggressive wars and torture are now to be a part of the American way. This generation of Americans, on whose watch the serious questions about American values have occurred, owes it to the rest of the world and to future generations of Americans not to be good Germans.

By setting up impeachment hearing in the right framework, in the framework of this generation of Americans taking care of serious questions and threats to the future of America in the world, that have arisen on this generations watch, Conyers can virtually ensure that they cannot fail because either an acquittal based on the evidence or a conviction based on the evidence will show that the process is working.

I think this is close to Wexler's approach. Wexler is trying to keep the party politics out of it. He is trying to concentrating on the substance not the personalities.

No future President of either Democratic or Republican flavour will have a full range of diplomatic tools at their disposal or even have a reasonable prospect of being trusted by foreigners if impeachment hearings aren't used to answer the serious questions about where Americans now stand on launching aggressive wars and on torture.

by Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1041 comments) on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 8:11:40 PM

Nadia is an online activist interested in using the miracle of the internet to save our country before it is too late.
NadiaNadia is an online activist interested in using the miracle of the internet to save our country before it is too late.

Keeping his job?

WE Should all work together to throw him out of office, as well as the other Bush enablers.

www.peacecandidates.com

Look, defend Conyers all you want, he LIED to everyone when he said he would pursue Impeachment if we gave the Democrats the majority and him the committee power. He went on tour around the country telling people, taking in applause and donations based on the idea that he was leading the Impeachment movement in Congress.

Shortly after the election, he said it was off the table.He states himself that he has it in his power and Nancy is not stopping him, so he alone is responsible for his lying and inaction. He needs to be thrown out of office. That is how you tell your Congressional 'Representative' that you do not approve of their enabling war criminals.

by Nadia (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 49 comments) on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 6:17:07 PM

Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Kevin GosztolaKevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name

I didn't defend him

The point of this article is that we need to be more direct with the impeachment movement.

We've already made the case for impeachment and have a majority of Americans no matter what poll you cite that support impeachment of Cheney and/or Bush if they committed impeachable or criminal offenses. They have so...

Next, we need to target the representatives like Conyers who need to support impeachment in order for it to move forward.

If I am correct, the impeachment movement has been vicious with Rep. Nadler. This is how we need to be with Conyers. We need to find people in his district to make the sacrifice for their country---to do the patriot's task.

by Kevin Gosztola (235 articles, 127 quicklinks, 72 diaries, 907 comments) on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 8:06:05 PM

What is needed is lots of good data from clearly non-partisn

sources that shows that America is on the nose internationally because of illegal wars and torture.

Foreigners aren't polled on whether Bush and Cheney should be impeached and generally foreigners stay out of each others politics. But torture and illegal invasions are everyones business.

Get Conyers evidence that the rest of the world wants an answer to where Americans stand on illegal invasions and torture and Conyers and others can use it.

What is needed is statements from organisations representing civil rights and amnesty. What is needed is letters from foreigners to Americans that are not concerned about political party affiliations but about values.

by Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1041 comments) on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 8:18:36 PM

Nobody special.
WatchingNobody special.

Impeachment does not = removal from office

Clinton was impeached but still served out the remainder of his term. If Bush/Cheney are impeached, they would likely remain in office as well. An honorable man would step down in the face of such a scandal, but we are not dealing with honorable men here.

by Watching (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 313 comments) on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 11:59:40 AM

Nobody special.
WatchingNobody special.

Impeachment does not = removal from office

by Watching (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 313 comments) on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 12:00:12 PM

I am a retired opera singer. I was a leading soprano with the New York City Opera for ten years. I am a strong supporter of Dennis Kucinich and worked for his campaign in 2004. I believe that he is the ONLY honest man in congress. He has been working against this insane war since before it began. I am 72 years old and I have been so frustrated with the media, the Congress and the American people that they don't tell the truth.
CaronomeI am a retired opera singer. I was a leading soprano with the New York City Opera for ten years. I am a strong supporter of Dennis Kucinich and worked for his campaign in 2004. I believe that he is the ONLY honest man in congress. He has been working against this insane war since before it began. I am 72 years old and I have been so frustrated with the media, the Congress and the American people that they don't tell the truth.

But these bums are criminals - hence they go to jail!!!!!

Clinton just lied to protect himself the way anyone would. Haven't you all done that at one time or another? I have.

But these criminals have been guiltyof sooooo many crimes that they should be in Jail and that is where we must put them. Does anybody disagree? I don't think so.

So about Conyers - impeach him, too! He's worthless as is Pelosi and all of the other bozos in Congress except for Dennis Kucinich. So if all goes as usual, Dennis will not be re-elected. The only honest person in Congress and the evil ones have shut him out of the democratic process.

Now is it time to write in Dennis Kucinich's name for president? That's what I will do on Feb 6 and on election day. I cannot vote for any of those whores.

And as far as I can see, it doesn't matter which party is elected. They are all the same.

by Caronome (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 241 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 2:31:58 PM