AP Breaking News (SFGate): Democrat Urges Inquiry on Bush, Iraq

[Barad Simith]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/06/16/national/w153112D91.DTL

Democrat Urges Inquiry on Bush, Iraq
By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, June 16, 2005
(06-16) 17:01 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP)

Amid new questions about President Bush's drive to topple Saddam Hussein, several House Democrats urged lawmakers on Thursday to conduct an official inquiry to determine whether the president intentionally misled Congress.

At a public forum where the word "impeachment" loomed large, Exhibit A was the so-called Downing Street memo, a prewar document leaked from inside the British government to The Sunday Times of London a month and a half ago. Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, organized the event.

Recounting a meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair's national security team, the memo says the Bush administration believed that war was inevitable and was determined to use intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify the ouster of Saddam.

"The intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy," one of the participants was quoted as saying at the meeting, which took place just after British officials returned from Washington.

Also mentions the signatures, Wilson and Plame, impeachment, and includes a great quote from John Bonifaz (lawyer and co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org) at the end.

[rodeodance]

1. "Was the president of the United States a fool or a knave?" I think he

IS a fool!!!



The president "may have deliberately deceived the United States to get us into a war," Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said. "Was the president of the United States a fool or a knave?"

The Democratic congressmen were relegated to a tiny room in the bottom of the Capitol and the Republicans who run the House scheduled 11 major votes to coincide with the afternoon event.

"We have not been told the truth," Cindy Sheehan, whose soldier son was killed in Baghdad a year ago, told the Democrats. "If this administration doesn't have anything to hide, they should be down here testifying."

The White House refuses to respond to a May 5 letter from 122 congressional Democrats about whether there was a coordinated effort to "fix" the intelligence and facts around the policy, as the Downing Street memo says.

[rodeodance]

2. McClellan says Conyers "is simply trying to rehash old debates."

The White House refuses to respond to a May 5 letter from 122 congressional Democrats about whether there was a coordinated effort to "fix" the intelligence and facts around the policy, as the Downing Street memo says.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan says Conyers "is simply trying to rehash old debates."

Conyers and a half-dozen other members of Congress were stopped at the White House gate later Thursday when they hand-delivered petitions signed by 560,000 Americans who want Bush to provide a detailed response to the Downing Street memo. When Conyers couldn't get in, an anti-war demonstrator shouted, "Send Bush out!" Eventually, White House aides retrieved the petitions at the gate and took them into the West Wing.

McClellan says Conyers "is simply trying to rehash old debates.".......

[dchill]

4. A debate ...

actually has to occur before it becomes an "old" debate. So come on, Scott - let's have those debates. On TV. Now.

[SaveAmerica]

10. Isn't the White House the people's house? And they stopped him

at the gate like he's some criminal? I can't wait until Bush is sent packing.

[Straight Shooter]

3. The Repubs scheduled the votes AFTER they learned the date of the forum?

Can it get any more transparent?

[Malva Zebrina]

7. they still prevailed in spite of it

and did well!!!

only serves to prove that these courageous Democrats are a threat deserving of all the dirty tricks of which the Republicans are capable to shut them up.

Why on earth must they resort to this kind of bullying still?
they have a majority in the congress, the president is Republican, and they prevail in the judiciary--why on earth would they keep this kind of skullduggery up when they run the place to start with?

I presume that thuggery is inate within the Republican mind set.

If it were not a threat, they would not have to go through such manipulations.

I think that the tiny room was an asset. It portrayed ever the more how these truth seekers, who represent the American people, are being abused, Sensenbrenner style.

That is not admirable and it is not honorable.

[VegasWolf]

12. I think he is a common criminal whose family has tried for years to

pressure Saddam into giving the bush cartel control of the price of oil.

[nicknameless]

5. PLEASE VOTE TOO!!!

Currently only 2 out of 5 stars.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050617/ap_on_go_co/downing_street_memo_9

(Edited to add link)

[Politicub]

6. MSM all the way

YEEEEEEEEAAAARRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

:bounce:

:kick:

[AuntiBush]

8. Now's the time: We ALL need to CALL OUR REPS/SENATORS

And "demand" a full-blown investigation.

[Barad Simith]

9. the lack of interest by Republicans is like...

...Congress during Nixon's presidency saying "we don't want" the Watergate tapes

John Bonifaz, a lawyer and co-founder of a new group called AfterDowningStreet.org, said the lack of interest by congressional Republicans in the Downing Street memo is like Congress during Nixon's presidency saying "we don't want" the Watergate tapes.




http://www.afterdowningstreet.org

[mzmolly]

11. "Democrat" How bout over 100 DEMOCRATS along with numerous citizens

and families of those lost in Iraq.

[LightningFlash]

13. How about this instead....

The 1 million citizens, activists, everyone on that list who have nailed their list of questions and petitions to the white house door?

Answer the call: Answer the call After Downing Street.....

Senators and Represenatives
http://www.usalone.com/warlies.htm afterdowningstreet.org

[gate of the sun]

14. we can say what we like

but we can only sit back and watch this scenario play out. I for the life of me can't figure out why no one has called for impeachment even before this. I think they should do it, they have plenty of ammo. I hope it happens but yet I'm not sure it will be called for.

[The_Casual_Observer]

15. It will take more deaths in Iraq to soften up the rw & public

to the point where they will admit that chimp is a dangerous lunatic. Another year or so.

[Spazito]

16. I am glad the article included what the Republicans did...

"The Democratic congressmen were relegated to a tiny room in the bottom of the Capitol and the Republicans who run the House scheduled 11 major votes to coincide with the afternoon event."

I find it appalling that they would schedule those votes, it is beyond mere spitefulness and shows how out of control they are, imo.

[anitar1]

17. It is now officially out in the open.

One of the Congressman said that the Shrub cartel have "gone to the mattresses behing a stone wall". That describes them completely. I feel this is not going to fade away.

[wallwriter]

18. I just read this on the AP Wire, too.

I hope lots of the dailies in the MSM pick it up...

[u2spirit]

19. It would have been nice

If the Democrats would have done this prior to the invasion. I know, I should put the blame where it belongs. It would also be nice if our Senate leaders would join Conyers.

[alfredo]

20. It is time to impeach. I am glad that things are moving forward.

That doesn't mean we won't hit a brick wall.

Anyway, it is not just a legal battle, it is a PR battle.

[NVMojo]

21. An inquiry is needed on which congressional reps/sens were also in on it!

I know that US Congressman Jim Gibbons openly marketed the war for Georgie Boy. These folks need to be impeached too. It was gang politics.

[NVMojo]

22. with all due respect to the Shiavo family ...this is a much bigger issue .