Replies: 41 Comments
Comment #1: Alma said on 3/11/06 @ 1:28am ET...
Looks like momentum is finally taking hold. Thanks for the link for writing to the newspapers. It makes it much easier.
Great links Reed. Word is really starting to getting out there.
Comment #2: Patriot said on 3/11/06 @ 1:33am ET...
JC, I was struck by your comparison to the early civil rights act and your determination to go forward. We're solidly behind you.
Comment #3: Alma said on 3/11/06 @ 2:05am ET...
Admin, The media contact link isn't working correctly. After you fill out the first page with you name and such, it takes you to a blank page. Hope you can get it fixed.
Comment #4: Reed31463 said on 3/11/06 @ 2:32am ET...
Edwins A. Madscum
At this critical national discipline-learning period in Iraq under our continued presence there, the idea of leaving Iraq means those warring factions will be unleashed by our abandonment of responsibility, and let them exterminate each other, and in the process, tear the country apart. Furthermore, with Iran’s paw in the border ready to punch on its prey, our departure from Iraq would be like opening the chicken coop to more packs of wolves that would come down rushing in from the woods to claim their meal.
Suffice it to say that such irrational irresponsibility does not come from the mind that may be viewed as functioning normally. Let us just say that one has taken too much political caffeine, or thought-driving under the influence [DUI].
Talking of the impossibility of events occurring, if by our bare hands we can return the spilled toothpaste back to its tube, then the possibility of withdrawing our troops from Iraq may be reasonably visualized.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what I have been trying to point out -- a darkly-lit vision of the blind that leads us down the road to perdition.
Fear mongering and comparing the troops to toothpaste. I guess he just wants to wash them down the drain like toothpaste!
Comment #5: Reed31463 said on 3/11/06 @ 3:56am ET...
Edwin
Let's hope this works...the last one worked in preview..Hmmm.
Comment #6: St Louis said on 3/11/06 @ 7:56am ET...
Congressman Conyers,
Your letter is linked to the People's Network, which is usually a good way to reach Congress and the local newspapers.
I wrote a TRULY INSPIRED letter, but when I submitted, I think it was lost. My "copy" did not save, and it did not appear on the "last 25 submissions" page. In fact, the same 2 letters are just sitting there.
#1 Reed, "A Blow-hard..." We are all frustrated and impatient that no one in Congress has introduced articles of Impeachment. I know Cong Conyers has to go through the "channels", but I'll tell you what, it sure seems like those channels were streamlined and by-passed when the Repubs wanted Clinton. Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld have been, and still ARE breaking the laws of the land. Congress is passing laws to make illegal "legal".
Comment #7: Truth_in_action said on 3/11/06 @ 8:52am ET...
The "impeachment" groundswell really gives one heart and hope. We must take the steps we can to move this forward. Congressman Conyers, thank you for being our voice in the wilderness. The SOS is being heard. And a thanks for all who contributed sample letters to the editor.
Just something that caught my eye...
Bush spoke on Thursday at the annual White House conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, as stated in this story. A search then brought up this PBS News Hour transcript of some of Bush’s speech. Supposedly the White House is promoting 18 faith-based initiative conferences around the country. Several organizations have some litigation actions against the Faith Based Initiatives re: church and state issues.
Here we have an example of Dana Reeves’ paralysis charity going unfunded this year, perhaps because they promote stem cell research.
= Money for "Our Religious Friends."
= No money for those who oppose our religious views.
Here are my contributions to the “Newspeek” dictionary:
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives = Tax-funded religious Republican voter drive.
Patriot Act = Constitution and Bill of Rights removal program.
No Child Left Behind = public school dismantling bill.
Health Savings Accounts = health care shell game.
Medical liability reform at the federal level = pharmaceutical company expansion program.
Axis of evil = targeted oil acquisitions and Halliburton expansion program.
Global War on Terror = “Fear” marketing program to promote targeted oil acquisitions and Halliburton expansion program.
“I believe liberty is universally desired. And I know it's in our interest to help democracy spread.” = “Red, White and Blue” marketing program to promote targeted oil acquisitions and Halliburton expansion program.
Comment #8: koryannder said on 3/11/06 @ 11:02am ET...
There is ONE light in the darkness; Maryland has given the damn' crooked "Voting Machines" the boot, and at a cost of million$, returned to (horrors!) PAPER ballots! Hey - we might even get an HONEST election in Maryland, IF the "People who count the votes" are honest; of course, Karl Rove will try to sneak HIS goons in to the "Counting" process, but we hope that the powers that be in MD will take measures against that. Things are definitely looking up; now, if forty-nine OTHER States will just do the same - - - or, perhaps pass a few laws FORCING the Uroseviches to open their source codes, MAYBE we'll get an HONEST election yet. I said before, and I'll say it again; I have NOTHING against honestly elected Republicans; in fact, I have nothing against REAL Republicans in general - of course, Abraham Lincoln would be thought of, nowadays, as a "Gawdammed Liberal," but then so would Washington, Hancock, the Adamses, Monroe, Henry, Franklin, Hamilton, and all the rest of the people the miscalled "Republicans" wave like banners while they destroy everything those people fought for. Paper ballots worked well for two centuries, and the adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies. Get RID of the machines. As I previously suggested, they might make good boat anchors; failing that, what this Country needs right now is a rush of honesty to the polling places. We're not likely to get that, though - as long as chicanery pays off.
On another subject - the craven cave-in of the Senate on the illicit NSA wiretaps. Ex Post Facto legislation is Unconstitutional. A law passed that makes an illegal action legal is good only after it is passed. The illegal acts performed before ite passage are STILL illegal, and may be actionable, if the judiciary has any probity. Just a thought.
Comment #9: gcm said on 3/11/06 @ 11:42am ET...
Gee, only 29 other reps can see the light. Must be they have their heads up there asses. November is coming and barring the bogus Diebold and other electronic voting machines, both Republicans and Democrats that support Bush and crap like the Patriot Act should be run out of town on a rail, tarred and feathered. I will not give up my rights that are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Message to those pissants who have the easiest job in the world... Read that "goddamn piece of paper"... it is the rules of this game we call the United States of America and lest you forget, you swore to uphold and protect it. Get with it!
Comment #10: sanitysojourner said on 3/11/06 @ 11:43am ET...
At the risk of ragging on poor Congress a bit: getting citizens behind an impeachment effort won't be much of a problem, especially if impeachment is appropriately framed up as a fact-finding investigation to uncover truth.
However, where are the supporters in Congress? If there are 30 co-sponsors of the bill, how is the wind blowing for the others? How will we get more members of Congress on board?
Clearly citizen opinion doesn't count for much. Is that because members of Congress, especially in the GOP, are confident of the outcome of the 06 elections?
Comment #11: gcm said on 3/11/06 @ 12:02pm ET...
Sanity, the fix is in if we don't get rid of the electronic voting machines. They are putting on a show... witness the latest pissing and moaning Congress put up over the Dubai Ports deal. With Bush at 34% and Chaney at 18% approval ratings there is no reason why all these anal orifices will no longer be on the public dole...that is, if we have honest elections in November.
Comment #12: Ohiodem1 said on 3/11/06 @ 12:55pm ET...
#12 gcm - The Republican/Rove spin machine will say:
34% for Bush + 18% for Cheney = 52% approval rating for Bush/Cheney.
In reality the Venn Diagram would show A union B = 34% for Bush/Cheney, i.e., the supporters are the same people.
Note to all posters above. This is one of the best threads Conyers blog has ever had.
As noted above, we are seeing a major propaganda campaign for war with Iran. The company line is that the Aytollahs and the President of Iran, are the demons to which all hatred and fear must be ascribed. The nuclear card is once again being played, ala, Saddam Hussein (the last devil who must be destroyed before he nukes America), the fear card is being played, and the channels are being fed, as someone above describedd.
The twin track on this train is to raise fear through the Dubai Port issue, generate a port scare which will be reinforced by orders to perform 100 per cent inspection of freight containers. Other fear generating mechanisms will also be tried, and the perpetrator will be Iran, who MUST be punished by Regime Change. See PNAC Strategic Plan dated 2000 for details.
Yes, Korryander, the bill tries to exonerate the illegal and unconstitutional actions of the Bush administration on an ex post facto basis, and releiving of a law's restrictions cannot be done ex post facto. Unconstitutional actions can NEVER be excused by an unconstitutional law, and there is no statute of limitations on unconstitutionality.
Look for unconstitutional Bills of Attainders", (laws to single out a single individual for punishtment. There is language in the Constitution which specifically prohibits Bills of Attainder. See Article 1, Sectons 9 and 10. Article 9 prohibits Congress from passing a bill of attainder and ex post facto law, and Article 10 prohibits the State legislatures from them as well.
Of course, one of our trolls said I do not understand the Constitution. Maybe I am wrong on this, but I don't think so.
Comment #13: Ohiodem1 said on 3/11/06 @ 12:57pm ET...
Note #13 above - In the next to last paragraph, last sentence, I referred to Secions 9 and 10 as Articles 9 and 10. My bad.
Comment #14: Ohiodem1 said on 3/11/06 @ 1:00pm ET...
Sandra Day O'Conner's take on what is going on.
Sandra Day O'Connor on Court independence and Dictatorship
Comment #15: Alma said on 3/11/06 @ 1:08pm ET...
OD1, I think that troll had inhaled a little too much water under his bridge. I always find you to be right on, and unlike trolls, if you find you have worded something improperly, or inaccurately, you correct it. I'd like to see the trolls do that, but I don't think we would have enough room for all of their corrections.
Comment #16: Ohiodem1 said on 3/11/06 @ 1:11pm ET...
Follow up to #13 above. The goal of this fear mongering and war fever is to create a "National Emergency" if Impeachment talk looks like it has a chance of going somewhere.
Remember, Bush is the President who called Wolf!
If this happens, the suspension of Congress is a strong possibility.
And the trains will start rolling.
Comment #17: tahoebasha1 said on 3/11/06 @ 1:26pm ET...
Off Topic:
Thought some of you might want to see some pictures of yesterday's rally in Chicago against the Immigration Reforms Bill. It was, to say the least, massive. (Scroll down a little)
Immigrants' March
This should serve as "impetus" for us!
Comment #18: Ohiodem1 said on 3/11/06 @ 1:43pm ET...
Tahoe - WOW! This will motivate Sensenbrenner to introduce more anti-immigrant legislation. He will show his true racist stripes.
Comment #19: tahoebasha1 said on 3/11/06 @ 1:44pm ET...
Unless State of National Emergency has since been rescinded, State of National Emergency was declared Sept. 14, 2001, by Bush.
"America's New War?
Or War On Americans?
Executive Power Grab on Tap at White House?
Attorneys: Bush's post-attack directives could lead to liberty-curbing restrictions
By Sarah Foster
WorldNetDaily.com
September 27, 2001
With Congress hotly debating whether to grant sweeping police powers to federal law enforcement agencies in the name of combating terrorism, two attorneys who have studied presidential directives in depth are concerned that civil liberties will take a beating from the executive branch as well as the legislative – and no one would realize it until it was too late.
On Sept. 14 President Bush, responding to the terrorist attacks upon the World Trade Center and the Pentagon three days earlier, issued a proclamation declaring a state national emergency and reinforced it the same day with an executive order (EO 13223) calling the Ready Reserves of the Armed Forces to active duty. . . . "
America's New War . . . .
Also, see article on Patriot Act and how Bush could conceivably have the ability to cancel elections.
Patriot Act Gives Bush Power to Cancel Elections
Comment #20: tahoebasha1 said on 3/11/06 @ 1:54pm ET...
#19 - OhioDem1
Probably!
What was rather strange was that no one even seemed to have known that it was going to happen -- it just happened! My daughter had to wade her way down the middle of the street to get to the train and on the way met a young student who explained that "their" newspapers had blasted it everywhere and everyone was "well-connected," and, so, it happened!
I think we have the "means" to get "well-connected," as well!
Comment #21: Alma said on 3/11/06 @ 2:51pm ET...
#20 Tahoe, The bottom link, Patriot Act Gives Bush Power to Cancel Elections didn't work for me.
Comment #22: Patriot said on 3/11/06 @ 3:32pm ET...
gcm, welcome back. Haven't seen you in a while. Nice to see you.
Comment #23: tahoebasha1 said on 3/11/06 @ 4:09pm ET...
#21 - Alma
Sorry, Alma, try this!
http://www.prisonplanet.tv/articles/july2004/200704cancelelections.htm
Comment #24: Admin said on 3/11/06 @ 10:38pm ET...
Sorry about the link to the letter to the editor. I looked at it earlier and it worked, but I had clicked on the wrong link. I have just fixed it.
Comment #25: grod2005 said on 3/12/06 @ 12:17am ET...
Check out my article that was published in the Star & Stripes
New Pentagon Papers
If the release of the Constitution in Crisis: The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution, and Coverups in the Iraq War・by Congressman John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., does not seem dangerously similar to the release of the Pentagon Papers by whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg in 1971, which contributed to the ending of the Vietnam War and the eventual downfall of President Nixon, I don't know what else can be so close to the truth finally coming out.
We are witnessing the beginning of the end of the Bush administration. The latest news of the president authorizing the spying on Americans not only being limited to people with known links to al-Qaida, and in recent weeks more and more members of his own party standing up against him on key Republican issues and demanding hearings into the potentially illegal surveillance program make it hard to believe that this president will finish his term in office. If we can impeach a president (Bill Clinton) over a personal relationship that he lied about, compare that to what President Bush has admitted to doing to the American people.
The world is watching! Let's not forget the ongoing investigation into the CIA leak of a covert agent. The investigations of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay don't help the Republicans hold of power, either, with the 2006 midterm elections right around the corner. The Constitution In Crisis packs a huge punch toward the Bush administration and their ideological reasons for war in Iraq.
Read it and draw your own conclusions.
Gabriel Rodriguez
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=33510&archive=true
Comment #26: Alma said on 3/12/06 @ 1:35am ET...
Admin, Thank You!
#25 Gabriel, Wonderful letter. I'm so glad it got published. Thank you for your service to our country and I hope you are safe and well and stay that way. Take Care!
Comment #27: Rusty said on 3/12/06 @ 2:51am ET...
"Thank you for your courage and God Bless you for your moral courage to stand up and speak and act up what you believe is right even though there may be pressure to remain silent.
BE, KNOW, DO leadership attributes are quickly dying in the Pentagon and there are concerted attempts to censor information going to the soldiers in Iraq.
Rest assured that there are millions of people here back home, trying to end this nightmare for the soldiers. You guys are doing a tremendous job taking care of each other. I can only ask that you continue to do so to protect
each other and as many innocent civilian lives as possible.
The administration's plans have failed. Civil war amongst Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish factions loom and you will be caught in the middle. Even worse, their plans were designed with intentional flaws to create the conditions for continuing problems. Good offensive contingency plans were
available for years at CENTCOM HQ in Kuwait. (I wish I could find the link to Jay Lechnyr's page with the cover letter to a White House classified briefing, help me out Jay!)
This briefing uses an interagency Staff Study about a post-Saddam Iraq (See Tab C, a little help Jay). They knew exactly what would transpire. As soldiers, you should feel betrayed by your leadership and href="http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000398.htm">betrayed by KBR (See my comment #6). They set up a strategic failure. This is an abusive use of our military and is treasonous murder of troops.
Please hang on, be welcomed home by a caring public, be proud that you survived hell and took care of each other, get pissed that the military was "USED" by evil men hell bent on power, and stand up again, when the time comes, with moral courage.
Your comrade in arms,
Reed31463
MAJ, CM
USAR (Ret)
#25 grod2005,
href="http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=33510&archive=true">Stars
& Stripes
Comment #28: Rusty said on 3/12/06 @ 3:03am ET...
Thank you, Gabriel,
I posted #27 for Reed31463, he's been trying to post here tonight, but the system isn't accepting his posts for some reason.
Comment #29: Rusty said on 3/12/06 @ 4:57am ET...
"Shoplifting Extremist
by digby
Bush's Domestic Policy advisor, Claude Allen, inexplicably resigned a while back, and today it was revealed that the reason was that he had been arrested for shoplifting. Allen is not just some nobody. He was one of Bush's closest advisors and was paid at the very highest salary level along with Rove and Bartlet and a very few others.
Very odd. In the worst natural disaster in American history the Bush administration's response was assigned to a shoplifting religious extremist and a crony from the arabian horseshow association while the head of homeland security flew off to give a speech. The president and John McCain laughed and ate cake. This is Republican governance.
The administration has known about this for over a month. They lied reflexively and said he had resigned to spend more time with his family. Did they think this wouldn't come out?
First male prostitutes in the white house press room and now shoplifters in the president's inner circle. The vice president shoots an old man in the face. To say nothing of the indicted and soon to be indicted perjurers and corrupt GOP congressmen and Senators.
These are the people who are asking the nation to trust them with unfettered executive power because they are protecting the country."
They are lying criminals. Every one of them.
Comment #30: Rusty said on 3/12/06 @ 5:11am ET...
Admin,
In Reed's deleted post, he was referring to the author of that derogatory article about JC as a "Blowhard". He linked to that article to demonstrate what JC has to deal with from both sides.
No one has supported JC and progressive causes more faithfully than Reed. I hope he has not been inadvertantly banned because of a misunderstanding about that link.
Comment #31: Rusty said on 3/12/06 @ 5:26am ET...
(From NY Times review of "Crashing the Gates")
"The NYT review of Crashing the Gates is dead on:
The netroots' power comes from the same network effect that made eBay a retailing phenomenon. Far-flung political activists now join together on sites like dailykos.com, and inject themselves into matters that used to be settled behind closed doors.
The netroots helped make Mr. Dean head of the Democratic National Committee, over several establishment candidates. Now, they are backing Ned Lamont in a primary challenge to Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, who is about as popular among liberal bloggers as a computer virus.
Much of the authors' criticism of the party establishment is dead-on. They rail against political consultants who take 15 percent commissions on media buys while giving bad advice. They are especially incensed by what they see as the self-defeating role of special interests, notably Naral Pro-Choice America's decision to endorse Senator Lincoln Chafee, a Rhode Island Republican, over two pro-abortion-rights Democrats.
The Democratic establishment could not hold the netroots back even if it wanted to. Their ability to raise money, recruit volunteers and shape the debate will make them indispensable."
We are the People. We will take back our government.
Comment #32: Rusty said on 3/12/06 @ 5:40am ET...
(From Truthout.org)
"Letter to President Bush
By Joseph W. DuRocher
t r u t h o u t
Forwarded from Marni Harmony, the minister of a church in Orlando. Joe is one of her parishioners.
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As a young man I was honored to serve our nation as a commissioned officer and helicopter pilot in the US Navy. Before me in WWII, my father defended the country spending two years in the Pacific aboard the USS Hornet (CV-14). We were patriots sworn "to protect and defend".
Today I conclude that you have dishonored our service and the Constitution and principles of our oath. My dad was buried with full military honors so I cannot act for him. But for myself, I return enclosed the symbols of my years of service: the shoulder boards of my rank and my Naval Aviator's wings.
Until your administration, I believed it was inconceivable that the United States would ever initiate an aggressive and preemptive war against a country that posed no threat to us. Until your administration, I thought it was impossible for our nation to take hundreds of persons into custody without provable charges of any kind, and to "disappear" them into holes like Gitmo, Abu Ghraib and Bagram.
Until your administration, in my wildest legal fantasy I could not imagine a US Attorney General seeking to justify torture or a President first stating his intent to veto an anti-torture law, and then adding a "signing statement" that he intends to ignore such law as he sees fit. I do not want these things done in my name.
As a citizen, a patriot, a parent and grandparent, a lawyer and law teacher I am left with such a feeling of loss and helplessness. I think of myself as a good American and I ask myself what can I do when I see the face of evil? Illegal and immoral war, torture and confinement for life without trial have never been part of our Constitutional tradition.
But my vote has become meaningless because I live in a safe district drawn by your political party. My congressman is unresponsive to my concerns because his time is filled with lobbyists' largess. Protests are limited to your "free speech zones", out of sight of the parade.
Even speaking openly is to risk being labeled un-American, pro-terrorist or anti-troops. And I am a disciplined pacifist, so any violent act is out of the question.
Nevertheless, to remain silent is to let you think I approve or support your actions. I do not. So, I am saddened to give up my wings and bars. They were hard won and my parents and wife were as proud as I was when I earned them over forty years ago.
But I hate the torture and death you have caused more than I value their symbolism. Giving them up makes me cry for my beloved country.
Joseph W. DuRocher"
Support our troops by IMPEACHING Bush.
Comment #33: Alma said on 3/12/06 @ 1:05pm ET...
Admin, I totally agree with Rustys #30 post. Reed is one of the most loyal posters here. Maybe he should have labeled the link differently to let people know it was to show that the smear machine has come out in full force against JC, but I know Reed didn't do it to insult JC. If thats not what Reed was banned for, if possible, let us know what it was for. I don't remember anything else in the removed post that it could have been for. Thank You
Comment #34: Patriot said on 3/12/06 @ 3:29pm ET...
Admin, please reinstate Reed's posting priviledges. He's an important part of our campaign to bring justice and accountability to our government. He's been a devoted supporter of JC and his efforts. He's worked his butt off on our calling and signing campaigns. Surely this is but a misunderstanding. He's important to us and to you. Please bring him back.
Thank you.
Comment #35: Oakland said on 3/12/06 @ 6:50pm ET...
Rep. Conyers,
You and Feingold are so farsighted and on target. The rest (except Levin) need to find a brain and a backbone. Why are they so afraid??? This administration is so corrupt and so evil. If ever there was a case for impeachment, this is it. Not impeaching sets such a double standard of what justice is for the poor/average Joe and what justice isn't when you are rich and powerful. Please wake the dems up...
Comment #36: tahoebasha1 said on 3/12/06 @ 7:44pm ET...
Admin.
I am a little awe-struck to learn that Reed quite suddenly has not been able to post. To "echo" Rusty's #30 above, it certainly appears that Reed's intent by his post (since removed) has been misconstrued. I would vouch that it was meant solely to demonstrate efforts being pitted against Cong. Conyers (showing what he, too, is up against, and most probably anyone like him), and nothing more! Reed has been and is extremely dedicated to Cong. Conyers and the rest of us on this blog, and our purposes here. Kindly restore his posting privileges.
Comment #37: Neerav Trivedi said on 3/12/06 @ 8:48pm ET...
I see a lot that has been going on here, nad also see the disturbinbg news that apparently, one of our posters has been banned?
Am I hearing this right?
if it is true that Reed has been banned just for stating his opinion, then the Admin banning him is in violation of his First Amendment right to free speech.
If Reed was not defaming or using words hurful or angry against Mr. Conyers, then he should be reinstated, otherwise, you will have a revolt on YOUR hands, to which YOU will be blamed for!!!
Comment #38: Reed31463 said on 3/13/06 @ 3:07pm ET...
Seems like everything was sorted out. Thanks everyone for your support and thank you admin. for your attention to this matter.
Comment #39: tahoebasha1 said on 3/13/06 @ 4:49pm ET...
HAPPY NEWS, RR!
Comment #40: Rusty said on 3/13/06 @ 5:58pm ET...
It's good to see you back, Reed! If you can get Bush and Cheney impeached by Friday, we might let you stay here . . .
Comment #41: Alma said on 3/13/06 @ 6:17pm ET...
Welcome home Reed.
