House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers has said that if three more Congress Members get behind impeachment he will start the impeachment proceedings.
I was a guest today on Bree Walker's radio show. She's the progressive radio host from San Diego who purchased Cindy Sheehan's land from her in Crawford, Texas.
Bree attended an event on Friday in San Diego at which Congressman Conyers spoke about impeachment. Her report was extremely interesting. I had already heard reports that Conyers had said: "What are we waiting for? Let's take these two guys out!" But, of course, what we're waiting for is John Conyers. Is he ready to act? It was hard to tell from that comment. In January, Conyers spoke at a huge rally on the National Mall and declared "We can fire them!" but later explained that what he meant was that we could wait for two years and Bush and Cheney's terms would end. Was this week's remark just more empty rhetoric?
It appears to be more than that. Bree Walker told me, on the air, that Conyers said that all he needs is three more Congress Members backing impeachment, and he'll move on it, even without Pelosi. I asked whether that meant specifically moving from 14 cosponsors of H Res 333 to 17, or adding 3 to the larger number of Congress Members who have spoken favorably of impeachment but not all signed onto bills. Bree said she didn't know and that Conyers had declined to take any questions.
Either way, this target of three more members seems perfectly doable. It's safe to assume, I think, that we're talking about impeaching Cheney first. But, even if Conyers is talking about Bush, the target is perfectly achievable.
First, there are Congress Members like Jesse Jackson Jr. who have spoken out for impeachment but not signed onto H Res 333. They should be urged to act now! Second, there are dozens of members who signed onto H Res 635 a year and a half ago, Conyers' bill for an investigation into grounds for impeachment, who have not signed onto H Res 333 yet. Third, one of the excuses citizens often hear from lots of Congress Members for not signing onto articles of impeachment is that not enough of their colleagues have signed on and therefore "we don't have the votes." Well that just changed. Now three more votes is all that's needed to get this machine rolling. Fourth, many of the 14 Congress Members backing H Res 333 have used similar excuses to justify refraining from lobbying their colleagues to join them. That can now end. Our 14 leaders can do more than just put down their names.
Now, if Conyers begins impeachment proceedings in the House Judiciary Committee, we should all be clear on what that will mean. If it is serious, it will not mean sending any subpoenas or contempt citations to the emperors' court. Bush and Cheney have already repeatedly refused to comply with subpoenas.
President Richard Nixon did the same, of course, and his refusal to comply with subpoenas constituted the offense cited in one of the three Articles of Impeachment approved by the House Judiciary Committee on July 27, 1974 as warranting "impeachment and trial, and removal from office." But Bush and Cheney have gone further, ordering former staffers not to comply with subpoenas, and announcing that the Justice Department will not enforce any contempt of Congress proceedings.
What the impeachment of Cheney or Bush will be is very, very fast. It will not disrupt or distract from the important business of passing nonbinding resolutions and holding all-night gripe sessions over bills destined to be vetoed. Impeachment in the case of Dick Cheney need not take the three months it did for Nixon or the two months it did for President Bill Clinton. In fact, it could take a day. Here's why:
Bush and Cheney's lies about Iraqi ties to al Qaeda are on videotape and in writing, and Bush and Cheney continue to make them to this day. There was no al Qaeda in Iraq until the invasion.
Their claims about Iraqi weapons have been shown in every detail to have been, not mistakes, but lies.
Their threats to Iran are on videotape.
Bush being warned about Katrina and claiming he was not are on videotape.
Bush lying about illegal spying and later confessing to it are on videotape. A federal court has ruled that spying to be a felony.
The Supreme Court has ruled Bush and Cheney's system of detentions unconstitutional.
Torture, openly advocated for by Bush and Cheney and their staffs, is documented by victims, witnesses, and public photographs. Torture was always illegal and has been repeatedly recriminalized under Bush and Cheney. Bush has reversed laws with signing statements.
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Ex Marine, University of Maine, ex-paralegal-public defender, retired, wife, two grown children, a yellow lab, 2 birds and a super dislike of the war-mongering bush administration. |
Impeachment This is great news. If you pray, pray. If you cross your fingers start crossing. Remember to make the call to your representative. by
Johnny T. (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 14 comments)
on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 6:12:15 PM
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Join A28 for Impeachment Funny this should turn up here already, I just finished sending it out to the members of A28 Impeachment Space and posting it in the forum there; after finding it on 9/11 Blogger this morning. This is as serious as it gets folks and if you don't believe me, I've posted 18 stories about the Internment camps that Halliburton has built; stories dating back to 2002. ( see 9/11=PNAC Plot ) My previously posted article here at OpEdNews about dub declaring War Protest Unlawful, pretty much takes the Patriot Act to it's most extreme absurdity, and has turned each of us into arrestable dissidents who qualify for indefinite jail time without legal represenation or legal charges being filed. I STRONGLY urge everyone to call anyone they can and get this thing DONE before it's too late, ( as if it's wasn't too late already) In Sincere Fury, Rev. Michael V. Goldsun by
Rev. Michael Valentine Goldsun (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 37 comments)
on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 12:13:14 PM
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Practical idealist -- committed to restoring government of, by, and for the people, and re-establishing our core American values of justice, equality and community. |
Send Impeachment questions to Ask George Here's another important thing we can do to bring mass pressure to bear. by
my2cents (0 articles, 5 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 30 comments)
on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 7:02:35 PM
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close the sale I'd like to suggest that not only should we contact our reps and those such as cosponsors of H. Res. 635, we should be sure to call/fax Conyers and ensure he does not back off that commitment. Call, Thank him and repeat his statement back that he will even without Pelosi, pursue impeachment if 3 more members of Congress support it. (202)225-5126. Also, below is a link to members who cosponsored H. Res 635 with direct links to their websites and D.C. phone numbers. It indicates who has already signed onto H. Res. 333 and the status of the rest (some no longer in office), some have expressed an inclination, etc. by
Cheryl Biren-Wright (16 articles, 13 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 258 comments)
on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 9:10:55 PM
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A Bleeding heart liberal from California |
Former Federal Prosecutor: 'Bush Admin Asking to Be Impeache Also on Brad Blog Quote: "Congress really needs to get serious, at this point, because [the administration is] just being completely defiant and have absolutely no grounds for taking this position," she told me. "I really think, it's almost as if the Bush administration is asking to be impeached," she said. "It is not true that the President can instruct the Department of Justice not to charge his own people. Especially when he's implicated in this as well." In reference to the administration's claims of Executive Privilege to block the Congressional subpoenas for testimony and documents from former Bush attorney Harriet Miers and current Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, de la Vega advised Congress to ignore the claims made by the unnamed official and proceed with contempt charges. If Bush should make that legal argument officially, that in itself would be grounds for impeachment, according to the former federal prosecutor... "They should just proceed and completely ignore what the President has said right now --- because he actually hasn't said it in any formal way, in fact, no one has even ascribed a name to the person who is saying it." "They should proceed. Find these two [Miers and Bolton] in contempt and refer the matter to the D.C. U.S. Attorney. At that point, if the President says to the U.S. Attorney in a formal way, 'You can't proceed' that is a grounds for impeachment." by
Bleeding Heart Liberal (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 48 comments)
on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 10:21:26 PM
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PHONE!!! WRITE!!! SCREAM!!! Blitz the lines! Call your Congress person, again and again! We need just THREE! by
Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 1056 comments)
on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 10:57:30 PM
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I'm a psychotherapist who woke up to politics when my only child was born 5 days after 911. |
THE PERFECT GIFT It's not always easy to find the perfect gift for someone, especially if they already have everything. But congress is currently in the enviable position of giving the perfect gift to our "Unitary Executive"...Solitary confinement. by
Steve Sherman (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments)
on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 12:47:33 AM
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By December Can they get this done by December? Wiping that arrogant smirk off Bush's face would be the perfect Christmas gift for millions of Americans. by
skyreader7 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 182 comments)
on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 2:18:51 AM
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What Conyers might have meant
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Mikael Rudolph (49 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 76 comments)
on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 4:24:52 AM
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My family is another victim of corruption in the US DOJ. Our RICO complaint, which was first lodged with NH US DOJ was in 1997, has been forwarded to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The subject of the RICO complaint is the theft of the High Birches Mountain Springs located in NO. Woodstock, NH. The basis of the complaint is that private individuals under the 'color of law' and by using organized crime thugs were able to steal my family's springs, businesses, and other assets and phys... |
3 more Congressional members to impeach The choice is simple. Do our representatives represent the citizens of the United States of America or those who pay to play for influence over the Consitutitional rights of the citizens? The representatives have all taken an oath to support the Constitution. They have no choice but to represent the citizens wishes. by
Butterfly (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments)
on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 6:50:01 AM
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benmarblemd.com- Some people apparently agreed that I did a good thing when I said "Go F*** Yourself Mr. Cheney" on live international television ruining The Dick Cheney's lame press conference in Gulfport, Ms. Now I say it is time to IMPEACH NOW!
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well.. I am trying to do some last minute schedule arranging so that I can be in Washington, D.C. with you guys tomorrow ;) by
BenMarbleMD (18 articles, 0 quicklinks, 172 diaries, 259 comments)
on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 9:03:57 AM
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I am nothing more than a patriotic American that is doing whatever I can to further the cause of democracy, the rule of law, and am absolutely outraged on how the Bush administration is defying our Congress, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights! |
Let's give Conyers the extra votes he needs! Let's give Conyers the extra votes he needs! Based on the above article I am shamelessly reprinting on my own site, it appears that Congress may actually be considering impeachment - in spite of Nancy Pelosi's vow to "keep impeachment off the table." If that's the case, let's give Senator John Conyers some support and force the hand of Congress - just as we did on the impeachment issue! The above article requests that we call Conyer's office "to express their support for impeachment." I say we move it up a notch - and make tomorrow the beginning of a "week to remember" - and use the same tactics we used when we were faced with an immigration Bill that fell short of satisfying anyone except corporate America and those who are seeking to keep wages at record low-levels. EVERYONE should call the White House and every member of Congress they can think of, and express your outrage at this contemptuous administration that refuses to obey our own laws! Here are the numbers - reprinted to give all of us the best chance to successfully support the impeachment of George W, Bush and Dick Cheney - and when you call, don't be afraid to voice your outrage and disgust to whoever it is you speak with - while still remembering to be polite, and requesting that your voice be heard: William Cormier by
Justanothercoverup (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments)
on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 12:25:18 PM
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Many thanks ... It certainly was good to see this more clearly explained. Thanks for the article and the comments. Lots of blogging and posting around to do. Time for this abusive administration to GO. Virginia by
ladybroadoak (37 articles, 20 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 390 comments)
on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 3:45:22 PM
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