Conyers: On ‘Edge’ of Starting Impeachment
Filed under: Impeachment Progress News — Jodin Morey @ 9:52 am 
After Downing Street, David Swanson – On Thursday, Chairman John Conyers’ House Judiciary Committee held a hearing at which Attorney General Michael Mukasey said that he would not investigate torture (video) or warrantless spying (video), he would not enforce contempt citations (video), and he would treat Justice Department opinions as providing immunity for crimes (report).
None of this was new, but perhaps it touched something in Conyers that had not been touched before. Following the hearing, he and two staffers met for an hour and 15 minutes with two members of Code Pink to discuss impeachment.
Conyers expressed fear of what might happen following an impeachment, fear of installing a Bush replacement or losing an election. The “corporate power structure”, he said, would not allow impeachment without unleashing “blowback.” Conyers told Ellen Taylor and Manijeh Saba: “You need to be more than brave and courageous. You need to be smart.”
Their response? They are asking people who care about justice to help them let Conyers know that the smart thing right now would be bravery and courage.
On Rosa Parks’ birthday last week, Leslie Angeline began a fast for impeachment. Taylor and over 20 other activists have joined the fast. Conyers has agreed to meet with Angeline to discuss impeachment on Tuesday.
The Chairman told Taylor and Saba that he is listening to several advocates for impeachment, including Liz Holtzman and this author, and asked “So how would it look if I allowed two women to push me over the edge?” Conyers leaned out of his chair for dramatic effect.
A number of organizations will be sending their members this alert Monday morning:
| Let’s push Conyers over the edge by flooding his office with phone calls, faxes, and Emails on Monday and Tuesday. Let him know that only impeachment hearings 1-will make it on TV, 2-will force compliance with subpoenas by eliminating “executive privilege”, 3-will hold brazen criminals accountable, and 4-will convince voters that Democrats care about the Constitution. Call 202-225-5126 Fax 202-225-0072 Email john.conyers@mail.house.gov |
Angeline, whose father was on the original Freedom Riders bus that was firebombed in Anniston, Ala., in 1961 began her fast and a sit-in in Conyers’ office on Rosa Parks’ birthday, and within a few minutes had been granted an appointment with Conyers for Thursday. He postponed it until Tuesday because of the duration of the Mukasey hearing. Taylor, Saba, and others attended the hearing and were told by Conyers’ staffer Therise West that they would be removed by force if they did not cover up shirts and pins with messages including “No Torture,” “Arrest Bush,” “Not One More,” and even the text of Article II Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution. Rather than comply, Taylor and Saba wore shirts displaying that section of the Constitution, were not removed, and were granted the meeting with Conyers to discuss it.
The meeting took place in the rooms attached to the committee room. After an hour delay, Conyers came in with three beers, a bag of nuts, and two staffers. Nobody drank the beers. Conyers ate the nuts. The staffers were Perry Appelbaum, who left early, and George Slover.
As Taylor recounted it to me, she and Saba pushed Conyers on the importance of the Constitution, on the crisis it faces, and on Congress’s lack of action. Of course, Conyers wrote a book two years ago called “The Constitution in Crisis,” which details many of Bush and Cheney’s impeachable offenses.
Conyers’ initial reply was along the lines of “Didn’t you see the hearing we just had? Do you know how many people saw that?” To their credit, the two Code Pink women replied “Not very many, since most people don’t get C-Span.” Conyers said he would keep following up with Mukasey, but Taylor and Saba asked to what end he would do so and advised him to shift his focus to the executive.
Conyers, Taylor said, then began giving reasons why he was afraid of impeachment. That wasn’t the word he used, but Taylor understood his concerns to all be expressions of an inchoate fear. Conyers spoke of “potential ramifications that haven’t been examined.” Interestingly, among his concerns was not the one he has used a lot recently, namely that impeachment would not pass the House. Instead he was concerned about what might happen after a successful impeachment and removal from office. Of course, the inconsistency in the excuses Conyers uses could simply be a reflection of the lack of importance he places on the choice of excuse.
The two women argued for the wisdom, bravery, and courage of Congressman Robert Wexler’s proposal to simply begin impeachment hearings on Dick Cheney and see where they go. The impeachment movement is urging people not only to contact Conyers but also to ask their own representatives to sign onto a letter Wexler has written to Conyers, and to themselves sign Wexler’s petition at http://wexlerwantshearings.com
Conyers said that he knew all about Wexler’s idea and that he was listening to various impeachment advocates. The two names Taylor remembered him mentioning were mine and Holtzman’s. He’s certainly not listening closely to me, and I would love to meet with him at his convenience. Holtzman, I know, has wanted to meet with Conyers on this topic for quite some time, but to my knowledge has never been able to do so.
I think the people Conyers is really listening to are too smart for their own good but lacking a bit in the bravery and courage area. Their wise strategy places the outcome of elections ahead of preserving the democracy in which those elections are held or even the verifiability of those elections. And, on their own terms, they are probably wrong. Nothing (except perhaps hand-counted paper ballots) would benefit the Democrats in the next election more than a real fight to stand up for justice. If Congress chooses to cede all power to the White House and move to the back of the bus, Conyers’ legacy will not be what it might have been.
2426 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 Contact John Conyers Now
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax
2615 W. Jefferson
Trenton, MI 48183
(734) 675-4084
(734) 675-4218 Fax
669 Federal Building
231 W. Lafayette
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 961-5670
(313) 226-2085 Fax
Comment by MARK — February 8, 2008 @ 10:54 am
His Website: http://www.house.gov/conyers
Comment by MARK — February 8, 2008 @ 10:56 am
Mail him a postcard, repeat emails, and letters.
Comment by MARK — February 8, 2008 @ 10:57 am
There is little question that this administration has,not only broken the law, but shown absolutely no respect whatsoever for either the system or idea of checks and balances. I wish that congress could see just how impetant they appear in the eyes of the american people.
STOP PLAYING THE GAME SO THAT YOU WILL NOT LOOSE, AND START PLAYING TO WIN!!!!!!!!
Comment by Walter E. Sams — February 8, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
Could we possibly be getting close?
Comment by Mikael — February 8, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
The most important reason to impeach both Bush and Cheney is to send the message to all future Presidents that they cannot get away with usurping the authority of Congress and obviating whatever portions of the Constitution don’t suit them. In my view this President and Vice- President are guilty of ongoing treasonous acts and should be punished accordingly. All those members of Congress who shy from their duty in this regard will be viewed as cowards when the history of this period is written; that is, if we manage to avert the growing fascism the Administration has engendered and encouraged.
Stop worrying about the political calculations and do the right thing!
Comment by Greg Cahill — February 8, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
Rep.Conyers,
You say “You need to be more than brave and courageous. You need to be smart. ” You say, The “corporate power structure, would not allow impeachment without unleashing “blowback.”
Wouldn’t it be smart to follow the demands of the great majority of AMERICANS who have been demanding accountability?
Is this not OUR GOVERNMENT? Why should you care if there is “blowback” from the corporate power structure. Corporations don’t have to eat or breath and they DEFINITELY CAN’T VOTE! 80% of the country knows they own and use the TRAITOROUS news media for their lies and PROPAGANDA. Trust that we are intelligent and see right thru them. We don’t pay attention to them and have’nt for years. Why do you think they’re trying to take the internet away from us? It is our free speach. You (Congress) has let them steal OUR AIR WAVES!!
We are so fed up with them destroying our treasured CONSTITUTION. The same Constitution YOU and ALL our City, State and Federal representitives swore on the Bible to uphold and protect. If ever the words of our founding fathers needed to be upheld it is NOW. Our Country and Great Republic is DROWNING and the ENTIRE Executive Branch has their GOD DAMN LAWLESS foot on our heads constantly PUSHING US UNDER!!!! They have taken Lady Justice’s sword and stabbed us through our hearts. You are our lifeboat and you just stay DOCKED.. when are you going to decide to save our country?!! IMHO, Nancy Pelosi has been so ignorant. She as one Representitive has no right to SINGULARY take impeachment off the table. This is going to be her last term. Does she not see the anger of the ENTIRE NATION?
Paul DeMasi, FL
Comment by Masi — February 9, 2008 @ 1:03 am
Senator Conyers,
I urge you to proceed with impeachment hearings as soon as possible. The crimes are numerous and the country is aware that if we do not start impeachment proceedings, this administration will have set precedence for all future presidents. Democracy, is on trial, and the whole world is watching to see how we stand behind our Constitution and our Bill of Rights.
Senator McCain will be the Republican Party Candidate. Should he win, do you want him to inherit the unchallenged power that this administration has built by ignoring Congress, Contempt of Congress, Lying to Congress about going to war, Outing a CIA operative, and the list goes on;, but we have a Justice Department that refuses to investigate. Do you want any president to inherit this unchallenged power?
We elected our Representatives and Senators to protect us and defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC.
My partner and I have been canvasing neighborhoods and business in our areas and putting the word out that NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION We must do this before we elect a new president. Or the real war on Democracy will be lost.
Sincerely
Timothy McDowell
Comment by Timthy McDowell — February 11, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
Dear Senator, I am an American Legionnaire and a Republican. Sir I urge you to open impeachment hearings immediately. Our Republic is at stake. President Bush and his Vice President Cheney, have made a mockery of the Constitution, the Congress, the Senate, and the Judiciary. Senator we can not afford another President to wield ungoverned and with such contempt for the law as the Bush Administration. This is a true challenge to the laws of the Union not to have a king as an executive officer. Sir, 1,100 signing statements and contempt of Congress by not even showing up for testimony. Can we afford an Attorney General that will not prosecute torture. Please Impeach.
Thank You, Scott McDowell
Comment by Scott McDowell — February 11, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
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