Jodin Morey and a colleague of ImpeachforPeace.org, along with David Swanson of AfterDowningStreet.org, met with a number of Representatives in DC yesterday, delivering DIY impeachment petitions and copies of “The Genius of Impeachment” by John Nichols, discussing the critical importance of impeachment and encouraging support for H. Res. 333.
Below you’ll read the opinions of many congresspeople on the topic of impeachment. However, despite repeated calls, faxes, and emails, the following representatives on the Judiciary Committee failed to make available for a meeting even one of their aides: John Conyers (D-MI), Artur Davis (D-AL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Melvin L. Watt (D-NC), Howard L. Berman (D-CA), Rick Boucher (D-VA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), William D. Delahunt (D-MA), Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).
Here is a chronological report of their day:
9:45 a.m.
We supplied impeachment materials to the office of Republican Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC), who has been critical of the Iraq war. We encouraged him to support impeachment.
Contact Rep. Walter Jones
202-225-3415
Contact Him
10:00 a.m.
We met with Washington Director John Doty of Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s staff. We had a detailed forty-five minute conversation, starting with an explanation of the DIY impeachment process and presentation of ImpeachCheney.org signatures supporting the impeachment of Vice President Cheney. Although Mr. Doty did not choose to accept the memorials for presentation on the floor of the house, we shared with him considerable information about the impeachment process in its historical context and explored in some detail the possible ramifications of impeachment. It was clear that Mr. Doty was informed on the issue in general and had considerable insight into Rep. Nadler’s current stance on the subject. Mr. Doty expressed skepticism about some aspects of impeachment, and was particularly concerned about the possibility that a failed attempt at impeachment might make Democrats look weak. Mr. Doty expressed Rep. Nadler’s curiosity about the public’s perceptions on impeachment and willingness to consider arguments for impeachment. We also presented Rep. Nadler with the book “The Genius of Impeachment.”
Contact Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s (D-NY)
202-225-5635
Contact Him
10:45 a.m.
We had a meeting scheduled with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) herself, but when we arrived we were informed that Rep. Waters was busy at the moment. We discussed impeachment for about ten minutes with one of her staffers, who was not well informed on this issue and was unaware of Rep. Waters’ current thoughts on impeachment strategy. The staffer made an attempt to locate Rep. Waters, but she remained busy. He encouraged us to call the scheduler as we were leaving to make an appointment with the Representative or an informed staffer. When we did so, the scheduler informed us that Rep. Waters would be busy for the duration of our stay. When we asked if we could schedule a phone conference, the scheduler stated they would call us back to do so if they had the chance.
Contact Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
202-225-2201
http://www.house.gov/waters
Contact Her
11:45 a.m.
After a series of phone calls by David Swanson, we secured a meeting with Rep. Kucinich himself. Rep. Kucinich was clearly very busy, and this meeting was brief, but his energy and commitment to the cause was immediately apparent. After we explained our purpose in meeting with him, the Congressman agreed right away to submit the DIY Memorials to the Congressional Record in a manner that indicates the house rule which makes their submission possible and that references their historical precedent. The Congressman also agreed to enter into the Congressional Record the more than 100,000 ImpeachCheney.org signatures gathered in support of impeaching Vice President Cheney. Because there is a limit to the number of pages that a representative can submit to the Congressional Record each day, Rep. Kucinich stated he will continue to submit petitions every day until all the names are submitted. He also intends to hold a press conference about this. Details are still being determined.
At one point, Rep. Kucinich stated, “we’ve got to get this thing going.” Although the meeting was only five minutes, this meeting was probably more productive than anything else we did today.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
202-225-5871
http://kucinich.house.gov/
Contact Him
1:00 p.m.
We met with Legislative Aide Adrienne Rose of Rep. Adam Schiff’s Staff, again presenting the DIY Memorials and petitions. Ms. Rose was polite to us and stated that Rep. Schiff did not have a position on impeachment, which we understood to mean that the Congressman says he does not currently have an opinion about impeachment. We presented Rep. Schiff with the book “The Genius of Impeachment” and gave some information on the necessity of it.
Ms. Rose did not appear persuaded, but remained polite and emphasized several times that, among other factors influencing his opinion, Rep. Schiff values the opinions of his constituents. Representative Schiff’s constituents should contact the Congressman to give their perspective on impeachment.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
202- 225-4176
Contact Him
2:30 p.m.
We met with Legislative Director Ellen McLaren of Congressman Robert Wexler’s office. Once more we presented the DIY Memorials and petitions, though Director McLaren did not choose to take the memorials or petitions. Director McLaren explained that Rep. Wexler, who has supported censure, has been moving closer to supporting impeachment and that he would likely make his decision on impeachment within the next few weeks, possibly after Congress adjourns in August. We spoke about the necessity of impeachment, its historical context, and possible consequences of supporting an impeachment resolution. Director McLaren noted that impeachment is discussed frequently in Rep. Wexler’s office. We supplied the Congressman with other offenses for introducing another impeachment resolution in case the Congressman believes that H. Res. 333 is too controversial for some Representatives to support, and indicated that we could help provide considerable support for this. Director McLaren also expressed the congressman’s concern about lack of support for his censure resolution. We explained that we believe the reason for this was because censure is not generally well understood, and when it is, Americans perceive it as weak. We also encouraged the Congressman to consider coming out for impeachment before going on vacation and presented Rep. Wexler with the book “The Genius of Impeachment.”
Honorable Robert Wexler (D-FL)
202-225-3001
http://wexler.house.gov/
Contact Him
Here are some previous comments which were accidentally erased:
We need to start drawing up articles of impeachement for Vice-President Cheney because he has not fulfilled his oath of office, committed treason when he conspired the outting of a CIA covert spy, obstructed justice, told and repeated lies about the true war on Terror, claimed he’s not part of the Executive branch of government.
Comment by Roland Madore — July 27, 2007 @ 6:49 am
Keep up the fight to impeach Cheney. He is a blight to the human race, and he is going to ruin the United States with his agenda. He is the reason almost 4000 of our soldiers have lost their lives in the illegal invasion of Iraq. He needs to be impeached, tried, and sentenced for treason.
Please tell Dennis Kucinich how much we admire his courage to carry through on this quest. Also tell Rep. Wexler that even in Florida, we do not consider this too controversial. I am disappointed in Rep. Waters being “too busy” to meet with you.
And I am most disappointed with John Conyers whose office I personally called to encourage him to bring up impeachment. He did, indeed, wimp out. And he has the audacity to send me emails asking for money! He is no better than the Republicans.
Will somebody in congress grow a backbone!! The future of this country depends on it. How many more will die before this happens?
Comment by Laura Fausone — July 27, 2007 @ 7:04 am
At this point of time in the history of the USA impeaching the Cheney – Bush team remains the only way to preserve for what it was made to stand for.
GET ON WITH IT BEFORE WE MISS THE BOAT!!!!
Comment by Eva Cutler — July 27, 2007 @ 7:30 am
GO FOR IT!!!!
Comment by rosemarie milazzo — July 27, 2007 @ 8:19 am
bush and cheney are thieving, beady eyed little oil pimp thugs. theyve disgraced our nation long enough. its high time we removed these corrupt, wasteful, incompetent criminals from office. but to save face, they should then, along with rice, rumsfeld, gonzalez, and ashcroft be taken to the hague and tried for war crimes.
Comment by DL Payne — July 27, 2007 @ 10:54 am
cheney is very dngerous to our way of life
Comment by john mc gillion — July 27, 2007 @ 11:54 am
cheney is dangerous to our constitution
Comment by john mc gillion — July 27, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Contact your Representative and implore them to cosign H. Res. 333 to impeach Cheney today!!!
Comment by Mikael — July 27, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
[…] Read about the previous day here. […]
Pingback by Impeach Bush For Peace » ImpeachforPeace Lobbies Reps. Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Scott (D-VA), Jackson (D-IL), McCollum (D-MN), Ellison (D-MN), Pelosi (D-CA) — August 1, 2007 @ 1:17 am
I prefer to have Bush/Cheney and their entire junta deported to Afghanistan and turned over to the Taliban who would know just what to do with them, they could be traded for a peace accord in Afghanistan and Iraq, there by sacrificing their lives for peace, that way they could go down in history as willing to sacrifice their lives for the good of the country!
Comment by Jonathan Stephenson — August 2, 2007 @ 12:40 am
Report from the National Impeachment Network Lobbying Group
NOTE: A similar communication from NIN representatives in Washington DC will be sent out to media outlets in the next few days. This report reflects the opinions of the lobbying delegation. You’ve been “blind copied” on this email– it went to approximately 40 NIN participants.
MEDIA ALERT
July 2008
National Impeachment Network
http://nationalimpeachment.org/
A spokesperson for a National Impeachment Network (NIN) lobbying delegation, which has been meeting with Congress members in Washington DC this week, said “There is clear evidence that the mood of Congress has shifted. Impeachment hearings could start
this month. It appears that hearings will likely focus on impeachable offenses not requiring testimony and lengthy investigations because evidence is on the public record — the administration’s refusal to honor subpoenas, the nearly 800 signing statements used to alter the intent of legislation passed by Congress, and the deliberate misinformation given to Congress to get approval for going to war. We are very optimistic that Cheney and Bush are finally going to be held to account and investigated.”
Said another member of the NIN delegation, “The reception we’ve received has been positively amazing. Every Representative we’ve met with supports impeachment strongly. Our team is working hard and will continue lobbying efforts through the month of July. We’ll be there tomorrow when Kucinich introduces his new resolution for impeaching Bush for the deliberate intelligence deceptions leading to the Iraq War.And Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers invited the group to sit in on the Judiciary Committee hearing where Karl Rove is expected to be cited for contempt of Congress. Conyers told the group that he would like to deliver the inherent contempt citation to Rove himself. This is incredibly exciting. The majority of Americans favor impeachment and want
the Democratic Party to listen to the grassroots. Congress members are going to insist on restoring their oversight authority. We should take heart that the breakthrough we’ve been seeking appears to finally be happening.”
Contact:
Cynthia Papermaster, [email protected], 510-333-6097
Comment by Cynthia Papermaster — July 10, 2008 @ 2:14 am