Rep. Conyers predicts Bush cooperation as impeachment support grows
Video at Raw Story
Rep. John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, appeared Sunday on This Week with George Stephanopoulos to discuss his promise to hold hearings next week on President Bush's commutation of Scooter Libby's jail sentence. He also responded to questions on his committee's outstanding subpoenas in the matter of the US Attorney firings, offering the striking suggestion that growing public support for impeachment of the president might make the White House more inclined to cooperate.
Conyers began by explaining why hearings into the Scooter Libby commutation are appropriate, even though the president's pardon power is absolute. "What separates this from President Clinton's pardons, and anybody else's," said Conyers, "is that ... the president is not supposed to intervene until there has been an exhaustion of the appeal process. And here the president didn't wait. ... The suspicion was that if Mr. Libby went to prison, he might further implicate other people in the White House, and that there was some kind of relationship here that does not exist in any of President Clinton's pardons."
"You seem to be suggesting that President Bush commuted Mr. Libby's sentence in order to keep him quiet," said a surprised-sounding Stephanopoulos.
"That's what the general impression is," responded Conyers. However, he insisted that his committee was simply asking Bush to do what Clinton had done and release his lawyers from executive privilege so they could explain the commutation and and "put this kind of feeling, that is fairly general, to rest."
Stephanopoulos next asked Conyers what he intended to do in light of a Washington Post report that the White House plans to deny his request for documents on the US Attorney firings. Conyers refused to be drawn into speculation, replying that "we don't have any other choice" but to press ahead with the subpoenas.
Conyers emphasized that his committee is continuing to negotiate with the White House, and told Stephanopoulos, "We're hoping that as the cries for Cheney and Bush now reach 46% and 58%, respectively, for impeachment, that we could begin to become a little bit more cooperative, if not even amicable in trying to get to the truth of these matters."
"We're seeking cooperation," insisted Convers. This is not partisan in any way." He also told Stephanopoulos, "I didn't put impeachment on the table. I was just telling you that 46% of the American people polled want Bush impeached."
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CONYERS NEEDS TO STOP SMOKING CRACK!
john 'conjob' conyers needs to stop SMOKING CRACK COCAINE! when was the last time a DICTATOR COOPERATED WITH ABIDING BY RULE OF LAW??
and lastly, when ever did a CORNERED RAT not fight, and fight dirty, for it's political life?
get off the CRACK COCAINE, john! take up something constructive, like
representing your constituents and the American People.
Bush and Cooperation
DonP I respect Rep Conyers and have supported him in his campaigns for Congress. However, I think the man has lost his frigging mind if he for one moment things that Smirky gives a rats a** about poll numbers,voters opinions or whether or not Congress wants to play nice. If you want cooperation from this piece of sh*t impeach him, after you throw him out of office, bring him to trial for murder, human rights violations, malfeasance, misfeasance and non-feasance. Put him in jail where he belongs. Cooperation from POTUS is like expecting health care for all Americans.
I, too, respectED Conyers
well, I was fooled again. Conyers, Nadler, Emanuel and Pelosi are beneath contempt. Why the hell haven't I learned once and for all that dealing with ANY member of Congress is a fool's errand?
Short of a two-by-four across the head of these passive-aggressive ninnies who hide behind the laws instead of enforcing them, NOTHING will awaken them to the imminent and long-term threat Bush/Cheney are to our Republic! There are no "do-overs," Congress.
Failure to enforce the laws should be punishable, right? Who will punish Congress?
Fire the uber-radical ("Impeachment is off the table...?!") Rahm-Nancys in '08!
Congress' Behavior re: Bush/Cheney
When one, or congress in this case, walks into an impossible situation, it takes a while to straighten up the mess.
Everyone knows (except a few die-hard Republicans) that Bush/Cheney are hard headed goof ball liars and will go to any length to get their way. So, I believe congress should start impeachment proceedings against both immediately and maybe that will be the "2x4 alongside the head" that you mentioned.
Bush/Cheney are just like Missouri mules; they are just as dumb and understand nothing but force, so give it to them, congress, in the most forceful way - impeach them.
Impeachment
Conyers is fair, straightforward, and courageous: he is pursuing hearings, which is the process for uncovering information. If the information leads to further hearings, including impeachment of Bush or Cheney, it appears clear he will pursue that avenue as well if he and others can build the support needed in Congress. This is a process and he is approaching it responsibly through building momentum and coalition in Congress. As certain as I am of the administration's war crimes (not to mention the destruction of our economic well-being), I would proceed the same way Conyers is. He is a responsible negotiator and, assertive, even bold, he is proceeding in such a way as to establish legal documentation and move his co-members of the House to proceed with him. What more could a responsible official fairly be expected to do? We don't need crazies in charge. The fact is that those of us on the left support due process and legal procedures, even for those we condemn, such as Bush and Cheney. Conyers is showing respect for them in the handling of the hearings, not least by insisting that they respect Congressional authority - "expects cooperation". He also is showing respect for his colleagues in Congress. Finally, he is showing an iron will to follow the paths available and to use public support to do it. More power to him. He's an ally.
conjob conyers is a fucking COWARD
fuck you, don't be an apologist for these complicit traitors, he is fucking around while this republic burns. that's goddamned TREASON!
his oath of office to uphold the Constitution is paramount, it supercedes all other considerations, and dicking around while a dictator takes the nation further into ruin is not being 'careful' or 'thoughtful' or 'prudent', it's being 'complicit' and 'chicken-shit' and 'cowardly' and is, by all measures, 'aiding and abetting TREASON' by this inaction and pussyfooting around. He's had plenty of time and he's
letting the dictator garner and consolidate more power.
when NSPD 51 is finally invoked, you'll be a very sorry fucker for trusting his ass, dufus!
The constitution is our portection from the rich and powerful
The constitution is our portection from the rich and powerful. if our representatives won't stand up and protect us when we need them too, why should they get support from us when they need it? the 109 will go down in history for giving away our constitutional saveguards that protected activists first and formost.
Patriots Message
July 4, 2007
A Patriot’s Message
The hammer falls on the Constitution of the United States of America. Our freedom and Democracy, our sovereignty as a nation is coming to an end.
The politically appointed neoconservatives in Justice sneer at Habeas Corpus; Geneva Convention; worker, consumer, investor and environment protection; education; affirmative action; individual rights and “entitlements” like Social Security and health care.
The corporate neo-con conspirators (Establishment) have their own agenda of a New World Order; W.T.O; N.A.F.T.A; immigration; globalization and “free trade”; military seizure of foreign oil fields; employing a private army of mercenaries and propagandist; “dealing” with Afghanistan Opium drug lords harboring Osama Bin Laden and financing Al Qaeda.
The ideal corporate model is “Communism” where individual freedom and democracy are mute. The board of directors rule. The corporate neo-cons hate our regulatory government, Constitution and Individual Rights.
Our Federal Government is purposely bankrupt by war/trade debt and the ideal corporate nation, China, are carrying trillions of dollars of our debt. Communist China and their junior corporate American partner’s technically own the”U.S.A” resulting in “Globalization” and loss of sovereignty. Mission accomplished. The surge strategy is not to win the war but to pump oil and further indebt U.S.A to Communist China. Patriots, sign on! Impeach Bush, Cheney and nullify their Supreme Court appointments!
Lawrence Baker