Please John Conyers: Impeach Bush NOW by Bob Fertik ACTION>>>>

[helderheid]

**

Edited to draw attention to the action items further down the thread

**


On Thursday, Harper's Magazine held a truly outstanding forum on impeaching George Bush (photo by Kate Anne).

The panel could not have been more distinguished. It included former Rep. Liz Holtzman, who became famous through her diligent service on the House Judiciary Committee when it adopted Articles of Impeachment that forced Richard Nixon to resign; John Dean, Nixon's White House Counsel whose conscientious refusal to cover up Nixon's crimes played a crucial role in Nixon's downfall; Harper's editor Lewis Lapham, who has analyzed American politics with profound insight for decades; Michael Ratner, the passionate human rights lawyer from the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is leading the legal battles to stop Bush's torture; and Rep. John Conyers, the civil rights legend who is Bush's most passionate and determined critic in Congress.

If anyone came to the forum doubting Bush deserves to be impeached, that doubt was dispelled immediately when all of the panelists emphatically agreed that Bush's war in Iraq, his torture of prisoners, his illegal wiretapping, and his assertion of dictatorial powers all rose to the level of High Crimes as intended by the Founding Fathers.

Sam Seder of Air America Radio, who was an excellent moderator, tried to play devil's advocate, but even he found it impossible to come up with a reason not to impeach Bush.

So the question for the evening was not whether to impeach Bush, but how - and when.

<SNIP>

More here...

http://www.democrats.com/please-john-conyers

[helderheid]

1. More (damn this is good stuff! Wonder if there is an Mp3 or vid of this!)

My time was up, so I could not continue the debate. But if I could, these are the arguments I would make for the immediate introduction of Articles of Impeachment.

First, the Articles of Impeachment have been written. You can find them in Michael Ratner's brand new book. http://www.mhpbooks.com/aoiReferral We don't need a committee to struggle for months over the wording; Conyers and his allies can simply "throw the book" at Bush.

Second, when House Republicans impeached President Clinton in 1998, they emphasized ad nauseum that "impeachment" is merely the equivalent of an indictment, the determination that there is sufficient evidence to charge a suspect with a crime. Impeachment, like an indictment, leads to a trial, in which a jury (in this case the Senate) determines whether the evidence is sufficient for conviction. The evidence we have in hand (as presented in Michael Ratner's book, as well as John Conyers' thorough report on the Iraq War lies, The Constitution in Crisis) is far more than is needed for an indictment. There is absolutely no reason for Conyers' proposed Select Committee to do the work of the Senate in weighing the evidence.

Third, Bush's criminal activity is ongoing and must be stopped. Our occupation of Iraq has already cost 2,300 American lives and at least 28,636 Iraqi lives, if not well over 100,000. We are committing war crimes by torturing and murdering prisoners, using chemical weapons and depleted uranium, and pushing Iraq to the brink of civil war. Bush is still wiretapping countless Americans without a warrant, in direct violation of the FISA law. And even though Bush's crimes are flagrant and obscene, the Republican Congress refuses to either investigate them or stop them.

[mikelgb]

8. No, Wait. Articles of Impeachment should....

be introduced in the house during the last session possible before the election. That will make it the election issue. Every candidate for the House will have to have a position on it. Oh please Conyers wait for November.

[helderheid]

13. YES!! C'mon John, introduce 'em!

[robbedvoter]

2. Good points Bob! K&R GOP-ers didn't wait for evidence! W admitted

breaking the law - more than once!

[helderheid]

3. TAKE ACTION >>>>>>>

Finally, as the panelists made clear, the American people are truly in a state of despair that George Bush is able to commit these unspeakable crimes without any effort to hold him accountable. By introducing real Articles of Impeachment - even if only a few Members do so - those Members will make a powerful statement that they are determined to challenge that despair and demand accountability. That act of leadership, in and of itself, would galvanize the 52% of Americans (when last measured in January, long before Dubai and the Katrina tapes) who support impeachment. And it would most likely persuade even more Americans that Bush's impeachment was both necessary and urgent. So if 55% or 60% or even 65% of Americans supported impeachment, Republicans in Congress would have a very difficult time standing in the way - especially as they faced a disastrous election in November.

After four distinguished decades in Congress, John Conyers is not a man who acts rashly. But all of us who have watched Bush shred the Constitution know that Conyers has tried to stop him every step of the way by sending urgent letters, filing Freedom of Information requests, and proposing Resolutions of Inquiry. Through those diligent efforts, Conyers has laid the most solid groundwork possible for impeachment.

So please John Conyers, I honestly beg you to introduce Articles of Impeachment now.

Action items:

1. Send this article with a few words of your own to [e-mail]

2. Urge your Representative and Senators to support Impeachment:
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=8329176

3. C-Span taped this outstanding forum but it does not appear on C-Span's schedule for Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Email [e-mail] and urge them to broadcast it.

4. The New York Times is one block from Town Hall, yet it did not even mention this historic event. Email Executive Editor Bill Keller [e-mail] and Public Editor Byron Calame [e-mail] and demand to know why.

5. Link to this article from your favorite blogs and ask the blog owner to join ImpeachPAC's Citizens Impeachment Commission.

6. Register to join in local protests:
http://www.democrats.com/user/register

7. Read the whole protest plan:
http://www.democrats.com/cd

8. Organize your congressional district:
http://pdamerica.org/orgs/cdpp-form.php

9. Support our efforts by contributing to ImpeachPAC.

Thank you for your tireless efforts to save American Democracy!

_______________

UPCOMING EVENTS TO END THE WAR AND HOLD WARMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE

Sign up for these, find others, and create your own at
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

See Also: UFPJ's 3rd Anniversary of the War Calendar of Events
http://unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?caltype=39&lcountry=&state=&search=Search

See Also: PDA Events
http://pdamerica.org/events/main-list.php

4th Annual Party for Progressives!
Activist San Diego presents:
We say NO to War! We Support Peace & Justice for All!
Special Guest: CINDY SHEEHAN
Sat March 4, 8 -11pm
Balboa Park Club Ballroom, San Diego, CA
Dancing to award winning dance band LIQUID BLUE
To purchase tickets: 619-528-8383 or www.ActivistSanDiego.org



Scott Ritter and Gore Vidal in LA
U.S. Tour of Duty's Real Intelligence Project, Los Angeles City Beat, and Progressive Talk AM 1150 present an emergency public discussion about Iraq, Iran and America's constitutional crisis with Former UN Weapons Inspector SCOTT RITTER and GORE VIDAL
March 4, 4 - 5:30 p.m.
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
3300 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles
Doors open 3 p.m.
http://www.ustourofduty.org

IRAQI & U.S. WOMEN SAY NO TO WAR!
March 5 - 6 Events in NY
March 7 - 9 Events in DC
Tuesday 7 March 7-9 PM
Foundry United Methodist Church
Meet the Delegation:
Gold Star Mothers Cindy Sheehan and Elaine Johnson
Eman Khammas, Nadje Al-Ali, Faiza Al-Araji and Others
Medea Benjamin, Ann Wright and Others...
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Dupont Circle Metro, #30 bus - Suggested donation $10.00

March/Rally to Deliver Women's Peace Plan
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Wednesday 8 March NOON
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start at Iraqi Embassy
and finish at the White House
NOON meet: 1801 P streets, NW - Dupont Circle Metro

Iraqi Women's Briefing and Q&A for Congress
Thursday 9 March 11 AM
Sponsored by Out of Iraq Caucus (Room TBD)
For more Info about the Iraqi delegation and additional events:
http://womensaynotowar.org
or call Allison at 202 487 5112 or email [e-mail]

[helderheid]

4. I just sent the following to c-span:

Subject: Forum Thusday March 2nd on impeachment

On Thursday, Harper's Magazine held a truly outstanding forum on impeaching George Bush with Sam Seder, Rep. John Conyers, John Dean, Liz Holtzman, Lewis Lapham, and Michael Ratner. I am aware that C-span was there filming but I don't see it on your schedule to air it. Please air this program. I am anxious to watch it.

Many thanks from a loyal viewer,

helderheid

[helderheid]

5. their response

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On Thursday, Harper's Magazine held a truly outstanding forum on impeaching
George Bush with Sam Seder, Rep. John Conyers, John Dean, Liz Holtzman,
Lewis Lapham, and Michael Ratner. I am aware that C-span was there filming
but I don't see it on your schedule to air it. Please air this program. I am
anxious to watch it.

Many thanks from a loyal viewer,
helderheid

[xiamiam]

6. good topic for email to ten people, each day for ten days, requesting each

of the recipients to do the same.....as suggested here the other day by csheeler4u, that would reach 1000000 people in 2 weeks....dont know if the statistics are correct but this is a great action item to test..please....i will do this...hope at least some of you do as well...

[helderheid]

7. I will too - thanks for the suggestion and thanks csheeler4u too! edited

to add - REMEMBER TO SEND ON TO ALL LISTS YOU ARE ON!!

[helderheid]

9. .

[Senator]

10. Yes, the unanswered question was/is HOW?? .... (my answer>>)

From Mr. Conyers's blog:

We had a rousing and informative evening last night in New York at the impeachment forum hosted by Harpers Magazine. ...

There was a lot of discussion about how impeachment should be presented, how we develop more support -- among Members and in the Media, and most importantly, where we go from here...

I have no doubt that not only would we take back the House and the Senate, but that we would be able to hold the Bush Administration accountable for their mistatements, misteps, and yes, their lies...

I think last night was a milestone. It was so gratifying to see all of our hard work in action outside the beltway...

=======


Since I was lucky enough to be in attendance, I want to report that the most "rousing" part of the evening -- bringing the audience to their feet -- was the introduction of Mr. Conyers himself.

And while I'll agree that the event was a milestone, I must also agree with the lukewarm reaction of the Salon reporter. Mainly because there was very little from the panel on what Mr. Conyers identifies in his entry here as most important: "where we go from here."

And this is where I must take issue and be frank; because the "where" is not in question. Mr. Conyers held the "where" in his hand; a special committee to investigate charges. It is the "how" that is in question and "develop more support" is not specific enough to be actionable. While I don't claim to have any magic bullet, I would like to suggest where the discussion was lacking on this issue because I think these failures are pervasive (on the left) and, at least to some degree, correctable.

So is most important "how do we proceed?" No, MOST important is "what do we do about it right now!" And there is a big difference between those 2 phrases.

To illustrate I'll report the fuller context of Mr. Conyers's phrase (above) - "and yes, their lies." There was a well-received question from the audience lamenting that none of the panelists used the word "lied." The point needs to be well taken that we've all been trained to speak (and therefore think) in euphemisms; particularly those who speak publicly. Screaming "imminent conflagration" will not compel a movie house crowd to move to safety.

Former Congresswoman Holtzman illustrated a different failure. She remains convinced that "more information" can solve the problem. When enough people "know," they will rise up. Like many on the left, she refuses to accept the fact that only the "reality-based community" prizes knowledge above belief. We cannot "teach" our way to impeachment.

Mr. Lapham, after reading the Conyers report, has correctly concluded intellectually that there is a "slam dunk" case and that our nation is in peril. Therefore he politely lays the burden to act on the Congress, in their collegial, non-partisan capacity as oath-takers. (Insert your own joke/expletive here.)

Mr. Rattner is pursuing and recommends a "legal" solution. While it may be helpful to have the regime "found guilty" of some crime in some court, he urged to panel to focus on the most easily provable (already proven?) impeachable offense(s). He has published a cogent, precise brief of only the clearest violations. Thereby giving them less to fight back against?!?

And of course the entire evening was peppered to some degree with our usual rationalizations for inaction: "but we'll just get Cheney" -- "we must wait 'till we take the house" -- "what about electoral backlash." Not to mention the lobby talk about futility, being doomed, and confident pronouncements of "never gonna happen."

So, how do we overcome this -- what do we do right now?

Get violent. (Come again?!?) No, not physically violent. Rather intellectually, politically, and rhetorically violent. We are dealing with fascist thugs/cowards and must deal with them and their tactics accordingly. The public and euphemedia must be slapped to attention and our "leaders" and/or the perpetrators must be forced and/or frightened into action and/or surrender.

This violence is in self-defense. These people don't listen to reason. In fact, they pride themselves on their preference for "belief." Labels like theocracy, monarchy, totalitarian, and authoritarian are irrelevant -- it's all some form of fascism; the conviction that some minority has a right to rule the majority. Whether it's based on divine right, a master race, a family dynasty, or a power theory makes absolutely no difference. It is Anti-American.

We need to make "violent use" of whatever means we have.

• For nearly all of us that only means contact with "leaders" (in person, faxing, etc) and the euphemedia (emails, calls, LTTEs).
• For bloggers, that means public assault (not polite differing). Particularly with those whose silence makes them complicit with this ongoing treason. (See democrats.com -- just replicate.)
• For those with benefit of a larger megaphone, media-related and political "leaders," that means risking the loss of that megaphone -- shouting the unvarnished truth then turning viciously on those who will (euphemistically) try to dismiss and dillute your message.

By ALL these means we must ALL do the same things:

• We need to banish euphemisms. Period. In fact, we need to employ hyperbole when possible. But since "war crimes," "torture," and "terrorized the nation into war" are merely descriptive, it could be difficult to find hyperbole. We must try our best.
  
  
  • The simple fact is that a large segment of the public has been well-trained to ONLY hear such language; and worse to equate such anger/alarm with importance/urgency. Sad? Yes, but we must deal with it as it exists.
  • If you find yourself trying to be polite or subtle, or even just witty, stop it and just be blunt.
  • The regime DID NOT "sidestep," "ignore," "go around," or "flaunt." They DID NOT "overreach," "cross the line," or "display hubris." They BROKE THE LAW. They VIOLATED SWORN TREATIES. They SHREDDED THE CONSTITUTION. They COMMITTED WAR CRIMES.
  
  
• We need to up the ante. Make them an offer they dare not refuse. Threaten. Blackmail. Whatever ugly word you want to put on it.
  
  
  • We must hand over for international prosecution those whose actions have warranted it. The torture and war crimes charges are "above our pay grade." We can expect zero moral standing in the world if we do not abide by the treaties these criminals have violated in our names. Redemption of our National Soul demands nothing less.
  • We will take the money back. Yes, the "tax kickbacks." Yes, the crony contracts. Yes, the not-so-blind trusts. Every penny we can find.
  • We will reverse ALL acts of this never-legitimate regime. All appointments. All legislation. All Executive Orders. We need to cleanse the social fabric of their contamination.
  
  
• We must resolve to never stop. We will never "get over it." We must loudly declare that we will have our children take up this challenge if necessary. This will be our legacy.
  
  
  • Perhaps the largest applause (save Mr. Conyers intro) was in reaction to the statement that you don't have to still be in office to be impeached. We need to make it clear that this goes beyond election cycles. There is no short term attention span to hide in. We will impeach and convict them posthumously if necessary.
  • This is already true with Bully Bill Rhenquist. We must make clear that ALL crimes against the nation will be accounted for. This includes both stolen elections. The Felonious Five and all other perpetrators of anti-democratic, thereby Anti-American, acts will be accused, tried, and punished. No matter how long it take or how many resources it requires.
  
  
• We cannot get lost in "legalisms," "strategies," or our usual "neuroses."
  
  
  • We waste far too much time and effort falling victim to "paralysis by analysis." It is irrelevant at this point what any ultimate impeachment charges may be lodged. ALL crimes and misdemeanors of the regime will need to be brought to bear. From the first Stolen Election to the latest Indian nuclear "free pass" debacle/PR stunt.
  • We must stop worrying about what "they do." Will they change the rules? Will there be backlash? Will they start jailing people? This obsession with the perpetrators is akin to a "battered syndrome." We must really let the chips fall where they may.
  • We must make EVERYTHING about impeachment. Don't be "anti-war," demand impeachment over the "criminal war." Don't be "pro-environment," demand impeachemnt over "defecating on our environment." Don't be "fiscally responsible," demand impeachment for "looting the nation." You get the idea -- don't you "issue wonks?"
  
  That's it. Thanks for reading this far.
  
  Now, let get on with it and FINISH THIS THING.
  
  There really is no other moral or patriotic option.
  
  ----
  www.january6th.org

[xiamiam]

17. wow...create another thread with your post please senator....

for what its worth, i wouldnt use the word violent....but i think you get your message across...eruptive, abrasive,intelligent,determined and demanding...or one word which equals all of that...i think you are right...i think that right now demands right now behavior...not strategic planning...no time for that...in your face, supported willful action...and we must support each other in this...i hear the call for action...im ready...

[helderheid]

18. I second that!

[Senator]

21. I put a new thread in the "Politics" discussion

As this is what I'm talking about: "political violence."

But use of "the V word" is critical. When you qualify with "creeping" or "whiff of" nobody hears "fascism" even when it's said. And it has been said by some.

I would wager that a Lexis/Nexus search would find just as many instances of "I-word" as it does "Impeachment." This self-censorship is one of our biggest obstacles.

--

[omega minimo]

23. Kicking. Thanks for cross-posting Senator

:patriot: :loveya:

[Swamp Rat]

11. Is there a VIDEO of this?

I'd love to hear them speak.

:kick:

[Senator]

12. CSPAN was said to be recording

And a weekend airing was speculated. But I've seen nothing definite yet.

There were cameras present and rolling. Who else I don't know.

Do email cspan to demand it.

--

[helderheid]

14. absolutely do write them - here is an action alert thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x574431

[Swamp Rat]

15. I will, but I think I should say "please."

:D

[helderheid]

16. See post 4 :)

[druidity33]

19. my letter...

To Whom it may concern at C-Span,

As one of the true remaining public servants i respect and applaud the effort by Rep Conyers to bring Impeachment proceedings to the floor of the House. I am told C-Span filmed the recent forum at NYC Town Hall and was wondering when i could expect to view it. Please e-mail me with the times you are intending to show this important event. Thank you for being an impartial testament to history.

Sincerely,
Adam G

maybe i went overboard with the "testament" bit... waddaya gonna do.

[Swamp Rat]

20. I love your Rove pic

:D

[helderheid]

22. kick - anyone hear from C-SPAN as to whether or not they'll air this?

[grasswire]

25. I watched it Monday night

It was on c-span. There was at least one thread going on DU. It was must-see TV.

[helderheid]

26. Keep an eye out for it to be available online :)

[helderheid]

24. kick!