English Translation of a John Conyers Press Release

By David Swanson

Below is the original text of a July 17, 2008, media advisory from House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers in the original Pelosiconi, followed by the English in all caps.

Conyers Announces Hearing on Bush Imperial Presidency
CONYERS ANNOUNCES BRIEF DISMISSIVE TWO-HOUR REVIEW OF SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS OF SUCH BLATANT AND DICTATORIAL CRIMINALITY THAT HE IS CONSTRAINED TO NAME IT WITH AN OXYMORON TO AVOID USING THE WORD "IMPEACHMENT"

(Washington)—Today House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. announced that, on July 25, the House Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing on the Imperial Presidency of George W. Bush and possible legal responses.
(CHENEYVILLE)--TODAY SENIOR MEMBER OF THE CAPITOL HILL DEBATE SOCIETY AND FORMER CONGRESS MEMBER JOHN CONYERS JR. ANNOUNCED AN INFORMAL GABFEST ON THE GEORGE W. BUSH DICTATORSHIP AND POSSIBLE RESPONSES THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN BY PROSECUTORS EMPLOYED BY THE ACCUSED, IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT NO RESPONSE WILL BE FORTHCOMING FROM THE DEBATE SOCIETY. A LIGHT BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED.

“Over the last seven plus years, there have been numerous credible allegations of serious misconduct by officials in the Bush Administration,” said Conyers. “At the same time, the administration has adopted what many would describe as a radical view of its own powers and authorities. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I believe it is imperative that we pursue a comprehensive review commensurate to this constitutionally dangerous combination of circumstances. Next Friday’s hearings will be an important part of that ongoing effort.”
SINCE THE OPEN COUP THAT STOLE THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WE HAVE SEEN AN END TO OUR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC AND THE INSTALLATION OF A DESPOT WHO OPENLY VIOLATES LAWS (WITH CONGRESS IN SOME CASES RETROACTIVELY LEGALIZING THE VIOLATIONS), OPENLY REWRITES LAWS WITH SO-CALLED SIGNING STATEMENTS, OPERATES IN NEAR TOTAL SECRECY ON MANY MATTERS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY PUBLIC, REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH REQUESTS, FOIA REQUESTS, SUBPOENAS, OR CONTEMPT CITATIONS, ORDERS CURRENT AND FORMER STAFF NOT TO COMPLY WITH SUBPOENAS, BLATANTLY MIS-SPENDS MONIES NOT APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS, KIDNAPS, DETAINS WITHOUT CHARGE, TORTURES, MURDERS, SPIES WITHOUT WARRANT AND OPENLY CONFESSES TO DOING SO, SOLICITS BRIBES, KNOWINGLY MISLEADS THE NATION INTO CATASTROPHIC WAR AND JOKES ABOUT IT, AND ABANDONS AN ENTIRE AMERICAN CITY TO DESTRUCTION CLAIMING TO HAVE HAD NO IDEA A MAJOR HURRICANE WAS COMING DESPITE VIDEOTAPE OF HIMSELF BEING WARNED. UNLIKE THE ABUSES OF POWER COMMITTED BY RICHARD NIXON, BUSH AND CHENEY HAVE WORKED TO ESTABLISH THE PERMANENT RIGHT OF THE U.S. DICTATOR TO ENGAGE IN THESE ACTIVITIES. AS SENIOR MEMBER OF THE DEBATE CLUB, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT NO FURTHER MENTION EVER BE MADE IN THIS CHAMBER OF THE BOOK I PUBISHED TWO YEARS AGO IN WHICH I LISTED NUMEROUS FELONIES COMMITTED BY BUSH AND CHENEY, AND IN THE NEW FOREWORD TO WHICH FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN ELIZABETH HOLTZMAN WROTE LAST YEAR "IMPEACHING PRESIDENT BUSH FOR LYING TO GET US INTO A WAR WILL NOT ONLY PROTECT US FROM HIM, BUT ALSO SEND AN UNMISTAKABLE MESSAGE TO FUTURE PRESIDENTS: NEVER AGAIN." ON THE BACK COVER OF THAT BOOK I SAID OUR SECURITY AND LIBERTY WERE THREATENED BY BUSH'S AND CHENEY'S ABUSES OF POWER. WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS "IF I WERE TO ACT, FOX NEWS MIGHT CALL ME MEAN NAMES." SO, I'M STILL STALLING, AND NEXT FRIDAY'S SESSION WILL BE PART OF THAT STALLING EFFORT UNLESS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES FAIL TO TOE THE LINE.

The Committee is expected to examine a range of legal and legislative responses to allegations of administration misconduct and their expansion of executive branch power.
WHILE THIS HEARING IS AN IDEA I'VE TOYED WITH FOR MANY MONTHS AS A POSSIBLE WAY TO ADVERTISE BUSH'S CRIMES FOR ELECTORAL GAIN WHILE HOPING NOBODY NOTICES MY FAILURE TO ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM, AND WHILE I'M ONLY GOING AHEAD WITH IT NOW BECAUSE THE PRESSURE FOR IMPEACHMENT HAS BEEN GETTING TO PELOSI AND SHE TOLD ME TO, I WANT TO BE CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET THAT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED IN DEPTH DURING THIS 2-HOUR EVENT INCLUDE ASKING EMPLOYEES OF THE DICTATOR TO TAKE HIM TO COURT AND ASKING THE DICTATOR HIMSELF TO VETO BILLS. IN CASE THAT'S NOT CLEAR ENOUGH FOR YOU, I'LL NONSENSICALLY REFER TO BUSH AS AN EXECUTIVE EVEN THOUGH HE'S NO MORE EXECUTING THE WILL OF CONGRESS THAN IS ANY FOREIGN DICTATOR.

Since the beginning of the 110th Congress, the Committee has conducted extensive oversight into allegations of misconduct by the administration, including: (1) improper politicization of the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorneys offices, including potential misuse of authority with regard to election and voting controversies; (2) misuse of executive branch authority and the adoption and implementation of the so-called unitary executive theory, including in the areas of presidential signing statements and regulatory authority; (3) misuse of investigatory and detention authority with regard to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, including questions regarding the legality of the administration’s surveillance, detention, interrogation, and rendition programs; (4) manipulation of intelligence and misuse of war powers, including possible misrepresentations to Congress related thereto; (5) improper retaliation against administration critics, including disclosing information concerning CIA operative Valerie Plame, and obstruction of justice related thereto; and (6) misuse of authority in denying Congress and the American people the ability to oversee and scrutinize conduct within the administration, including through the use of various asserted privileges and immunities.
EVEN THOUGH WE WON ELECTIONS AFTER TRYING TO IMPEACH NIXON AND LOST AFTER AVOIDING IMPEACHING REAGAN, AND EVEN THOUGH NO AMOUNT OF HUMAN BLOOD COULD DISTRACT ME FROM THE SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF ELECTIONS, I'M NOW GOING TO BRAG ABOUT SEVERAL OF BUSH'S AND CHENEY'S IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES I'VE LOOKED OVER IN DETAIL BEFORE REFUSING TO PURSUE THEM. IF THIS MAKES ME LOOK BAD AND HELPS DROP CONGRESS BELOW 9% APPROVAL, I WILL AT LEAST BE ABLE TO PLEAD OBLIVIOUSNESS. (1) AS PART OF A MULTIFACETED PROGRAM OF ELECTION FRAUD, BUSH HAS TURNED THE FORMER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INTO THE ELECTION CONTROL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. (2) THE GAO HAS FOUND THAT IN MANY CASES BUSH HAS VIOLATED THE LAWS HE CLAIMED THE RIGHT TO VIOLATE IN SIGNING STATEMENTS. THIS WOULD BE AN OPEN-AND-SHUT IMPEACHMENT HEARING IF I GAVE A RAT'S ASS ABOUT THE RULE OF LAW OR THE SEPARATION OF POWERS. (3) WHILE TORTURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNEQUIVOCALLY ILLEGAL AND ABSOLUTELY BANNED REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION, I HAVE "QUESTIONS" ABOUT WHETHER BUSH'S AND CHENEY'S TORTURING OF PEOPLE IS LEGAL. (4) BUSH LIED US INTO WAR, THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING, BUT I'LL TREAT IT AS IN DOUBT. (5) TREASON IS NOT A TOP CONCERN RIGHT NOW. (6) UNILATERALLY DISARMING BY REMOVING IMPEACHMENT FROM THE CONSTITUTION LEAVES ONE POWERLESS TO GET REQUESTS AND SUBPOENAS COMPLIED WITH, BUT NOT POWERLESS TO WHINE ABOUT IT.

The July 25 hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m. in room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Additional information, including witness participation, will be announced next week.
I WORK FOR YOU AND HOPE THAT YOU SHOW UP TO HOLD ME TO ACCOUNT SOMETIMES ON CAPITOL HILL. BUT I WOULD NEVER INVITE YOU TO SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT. I MAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE FOX NEWS IS THERE.

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AN ADDENDUM ALSO IN THE ORIGINAL AND ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.

Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.

Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.

Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte.

WHEN THE NAZIS CAME FOR THE COMMUNISTS
I REMAINED SILENT;
I WAS NOT A COMMUNIST

WHEN THEY LOCKED UP THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS
I REMAINED SILENT
I WAS NOT A SOCIAL DEMOCRAT

WHEN THEY CAME FOR THE TRADE UNIONISTS
I DID NOT SPEAK OUT;
I WAS NOT A TRADE UNIONIST

WHEN THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS
I REMAINED SILENT;
I WAS NOT A JEW

WHEN THEY CAME FOR ME
THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT TO SPEAK OUT