Posted on 07/26/2008 5:21:17 AM PDT by equaviator
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Call it the un-impeachment hearing.
The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing Friday it insisted was not about removing President Bush from office. But critics of Bush's policies couldn't pass up the chance to charge the president with a long list of impeachable "high crimes and misdemeanors."
Leading the way was Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, the former Democratic presidential candidate who has brought repeated impeachment resolutions on the House floor against Bush and Vice President Cheney.
Kucinich got a rock star welcome of whistles, hoots and clapping as he walked into the hearing room, holding hands with his wife, from hundreds of anti-war, anti-Bush people crammed into the room and lining the hallways outside. T-shirts reading "Arrest Bush" and "Veterans for Impeachment" illustrated the sentiments of many.
The House Democratic leadership, not interested in a bloody impeachment battle in the last year of Bush's presidency, steered Kucinich's resolutions to the Judiciary Committee where they could quietly fade away, but Friday's hearing gave Kucinich and his allies an opportunity to air their views.
"To the regret of many, this is not an impeachment hearing," said committee chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., pointing out the less incendiary title of the event, "executive power and its constitutional limitations."
Still, Conyers, a vocal opponent of Bush, noted that his panel had pursued many issues that Kucinich and others regard as impeachable offenses: manipulating intelligence about Iraq; misusing authority with regard to torture, detention and rendition; politicizing the Justice Department and retaliating against critics, as in the outing of former CIA agent Valerie Plame.
Republicans, clearly in the minority at the hearing, expressed suspicion at Democratic motives. Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif., called it "impeachment lite," where people were given free rein to impugn Bush but not to impeach him.
"It seems that we are hosting an anger management class," said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the committee's senior Republican. "This hearing will not cause us to impeach the president; it will only serve to impeach Congress's credibility."
The committee also reminded lawmakers and those testifying that House rules prohibit "personal abuse, innuendo or ridicule of the president." The House Rules and Manual points out that suggestions of mendacity, or accusations of hypocrisy, demagoguery or deception were out of order.
"The rules of the House prevent me or any witness from utilizing familiar terms," Kucinich said. "But we can put two and two together in our minds."
Former Los Angeles County Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, known for his prosecution of Charles Manson in 1970, acknowledged that "I am forbidden from accusing him of a crime, or even any dishonorable conduct" under House rules. But he could still encourage people to read his book, "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder."
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., was less circumspect in asserting that Bush was "the worst president that our nation has ever suffered."
Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., concluded that "this is the most impeachable administration in the history of America because of the way that it has clearly violated the law."
"I am really astonished at the mood in this room," commented one witness, George Mason University School of Law professor Jeremy Rabkin.
"The tone of these deliberations is slightly demented," Rabkin said. "You should all remind yourselves that the rest of the country is not necessarily in this same bubble in which people think it is reasonable to describe the president as if he were Caligula."
Republicans, clearly in the minority at the hearing, expressed suspicion at Democratic motives. Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif., called it "impeachment lite," where people were given free rein to impugn Bush but not to impeach him. "It seems that we are hosting an anger management class," said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the committee's senior Republican. "This hearing will not cause us to impeach the president; it will only serve to impeach Congress's credibility." The committee also reminded lawmakers and those testifying that House rules prohibit "personal abuse, innuendo or ridicule of the president." The House Rules and Manual points out that suggestions of mendacity, or accusations of hypocrisy, demagoguery or deception were out of order... "I am really astonished at the mood in this room," commented one witness, George Mason University School of Law professor Jeremy Rabkin. "The tone of these deliberations is slightly demented," Rabkin said. "You should all remind yourselves that the rest of the country is not necessarily in this same bubble in which people think it is reasonable to describe the president as if he were Caligula."November 2008 -- Be There!
And you're willing to sit back and concede them that victory, even when the commies in question openly advocate the violent overthrow of the American government? With a defeatist attitude like that it's no wonder we are where we are at today. We can't bend over and allow them to take over this country. It's not like it was in the old days where accusers would be labeled 'paranoid' or 'witch hunters'. Today, anyone with an internet connection can easily access the information themselves. That is, providing they know where to look. And the links I provided were straight from the horse's mouth.
You're absolutely right. Its alll my fault. I'm hopeless.
You do something. :-)
Not you, but rather the attitude that there isn't anything we can do to counter these b*stards. How on earth are we ever going to defeat them if we continue allowing them these victories? And this one would be major.
You do something.
I am. I'm providing the smoking gun evidence for the freaking coward republicans. I've been sending this and a bunch of other stuff just like it to FoxSnooze and other 'right-wing' media for years. Check out what I have on demonRat chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Charlie Rangel. Much of it is on my FR home page, at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/
The Republicans have ALWAYS wanted to "just get along" with the Democrats. The Republicans are timid when it comes to this kind of thing, practically apologizing for charging Clinton.
On the other hand, for all that you say about Conyers, do you seriously think the opposition party in Congress--ANY opposition--is going to spend all its time hunting down Democrat commie sympathizers?
Posting links to small-time news sources about obscure meetings and comments is going to do nothing. No offense, am just pointing to reality. The average American would see any action on these things as a revival of McCarthyism, and if you want a return of the backlash over prosecuting Clinton, you'll get it. I don't see how that will solve anything, though. We have to get some creative thinkers in congess. Now, we don't have any thinkers of any kind.
This would simply be because our side is too GD stupid to make the case properly. It isn't like the old days where such 'accusations' were difficult to prove. Today, anyone with an internet connection can easily access the information (such as I've provided). Again, Conyers is ON RECORD endorsing (and giving a speech to) a movement organized and controlled by the Revolutionary Communist Party. The RCP openly advocates for the violent overthrow of the American government. What the hell is so hard for the average American to understand about that? Are you saying people of reasonable intelligence couldn't be convinced that a communist overthrow of the government is a *bad* thing?? If they aren't, it just means we have a LOT more work to do. Not bury ourselves deeper in the mud.
No, you're pointing to your OPINION, not "reality". Have you even heard of the Revolutionary Communist Party until today? They've only been around for 30+ years. John Kerry probably knows a little something about them. They are part of the larger international Maoist movement. The same in which Bill Ayers' Weather Underground, the Black Panthers and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), belonged. Just because we've done such a lousy job of informing the American people of these things in the past, doesn't mean we should continue doing so in the future. We should all be doing our part in getting this type of information out to as many people as possible. And not just with bold 'claims', but with the straight-from-the-horse's-mouth evi-dence. (links to their own websites, such as I've provided). Only a complete idiot or hardcore leftist wouldn't be outraged and want investigations. Most of the "McCarthyism" stuff is based in total ignorance of the facts. Few are aware that there was, and still is today, a highly influential communist movement. Yet you seem to be suggesting we act like it doesn't exist and do nothing when leading demonRats are caught red-handed working with them. That is crazy, and suicidal. And exactly what the far left, hate America crowd wants us to do. I for one will never play into their hands.
Sorry, friend, but YOU are the one without a solid hold on reality.
Yes, of course McCarthyism has been warped and distorted--you don't want to admit that THAT DOESN'T MATTER. McCarthy and HCUA (not HUAC, as the lefties like to type) were about legitimate issues. HISTORY, though, as portrayed by the lefty press, has told us McCarthy was practically Stalin himself, and bringing up these issues will only get one labelled a kook.
You don't have to call names as a way of portraying yourself as having "special" knowledge just because I acknowledge the truth, which is that while I would LOVE such investigations, they're not going to happen, no matter how much we ask for them.
Your view of how such calls would be viewed is quaint, and uninformed. Sad, but that's the truth--not the way I'd LIKE it to be.
You don't seem to be able to get this.
I'm saying that every time this subject is brought up in our current media environment, the response is laughter and "Oh, man, the USSR is OVER! Come in contact with TODAY!"
You are ignoring the FACT that SOUNDING like the truth is more important than actual TRUTH in our current media environment.
I repeat for the 3rd or 4th time: NOT IF YOU'RE ARMED WITH THE EVIDENCE! They can laugh and call you a 'kook' all they want, but when you shove the TRUTH down their weasely throats, they will have no choice but to gag on it! Actually, a lot of them already know the truth. So it's really the American public that needs to see it, and then have it explained to them (many of them) that it is NOT a good thing for a major political leader such as John Conyers (chairman of the House Judiciary Committee) to be allied with an organization that calls for the violent overthrow of the American government. That such a person needs to be seriously investigated.
This is an open and shut case, no matter what the left says or does. For example, if Sean Hannity, Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly brought these facts to the American people, the liberal-leftist media will be forced into covering it, the facts will speak for themselves, and every normal American still left (republican or democrat) will be outraged by it. The only way out for them would be to TRY to rationalize to the America people that living under a communist dictatorship is actually a better way to go for the United States. I understand that the public has been substantially dumbed down over the past 30 or 40 years, but I doubt we are at the point (yet) where they will embrace such an insane idea. But if we continue to bend over to the far left and concede them these victories, and do practically nothing to inform the public of the truth, as you seem to be suggesting, you can almost be assured that the day will indeed come when the majority of the American people will be ok with the idea. In fact, we are halfway there now with this Obamamania nonsense! For more on that leftist moron and HIS communist connections, please see my FR home page, at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/
From the website of the Revolutionary Communist Party (revcom.us or rwor.org) :
"Create Public Opinion, Seize Power: We are preparing minds and organizing forces for the time when there is a major crack in the system, whenever it comes and wherever it comes from: an opening that makes it possible to bring the future Revolutionary Army of the Proletariat (R.A.P.) into the field and wage a revolutionary armed struggle that actually has a chance of winning. And we have said that building our party itself is the most important part of organizing forces for revolution. This is true now, and it is true looking forward to the creation of that future R.A.P. and the waging of that armed struggle.":
http://revcom.us/a/v20/1000-1009/1000/barw.htm
Also from the Revolutionary Communist Party website: "Tearing Up the U.S. Paper Tiger in Korea: How 300,000 Chinese Troops Snuck into Korea and Kicked the Ass of the U.S. Armed Forces" RW #1059, June 18, 2000:
http://rwor.org/a/v22/1052-059/1059/korea.htm
Fact: World Can't Wait--Drive Out the Bush Regime is a Maoist-revolutionary movement/organization initiated and controlled by the Revolutionary Communist Party. (scroll down the list that appears (after clicking link) to find the World Can't Wait organization --rwor.org is the website of the Revolutionary Communist Party):
http://rwor.org/a/rwlink/links.htm
From David Horowitz's FrontpageMag.com /DiscoverTheNetworks.org:
Profile: World Can't Wait (WCW)
*Revolutionary communist movement that stages protests against the Bush administration
*Organizes college and high-school students
*Founded in June 2005 by Charles Clark Kissinger, a longtime leader of the Revolutionary Communist Party
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7213
John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, endorses the World Can't Wait--Drive Out the Bush Regime movement Click on the WCW link just below and see: "Endorsers of the Call to Drive Out the Bush Regime Include". Conyers' endorsement appears right after Ward Churchill's. Al Sharpton's, Maxine Waters and Jesse Jackson Jr's endorsements are also on the list:
http://worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2538&Itemid=2
And on Oct 5, 2006, demonRat chair of the House Judiciary Committee, John Conyers Jr, GAVE A SPEECH to the World Can't Wait--Drive Out the Bush Regime organization! Here's full-page coverage of it from the WCW's own website:
http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3114&Itemid=243
Here's the Revolutionary Communist Party (see link below) boasting of a FULL PAGE 'World Can't Wait--Drive Out the Bush Regime' ad of theirs which appeared in the New York Slimes.(either "rwor.org" or "revcom.us" takes you to the website of the Revolutionary Communist Party). The NY Times has since allowed several additional full-page RCP/WCW ads.
Article title: "Who Hated the Bush Step Down Ad in the New York Times? ...And what that Tells Us About Why We Must and How We Can Drive Out the Bush Regime"(actual title)
http://www.rwor.org/a/028/who-hated-bush-ad.htm
I still find it deeply amusing on how the ‘dumbest’ President in human history has, time and time again, outmaneuvered and beaten the ‘far more intelligent’ liberal democrats.
It really must stick in their craw.
That must explain all the times socialism has been SO important in the last 11 presidential elections, right? Because communism/socialism is SO overwhelmingly important to the electorate.
You can quote all the facts--I'm not denying they're facts--and all the obscure websites you like. It doesn't change the FACT that the American electorate DOES NOT CARE about communism.
SHOULD they? Hell, yes. But typing in ALL CAPS and trying to shout down the voices of reason which merely point to reality doesn't make you right and everyone else "opinionated".
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2051660/posts?page=50#50
“...the ‘far more intelligent’ liberal democrats.”
Sooner or later the individual personal energy required to create the “synergy” in maintaining the vast left wing cover-up conspiracy (pseudo intelligensia) will wane and melt away like an uncomfortable blanket of snow. They’re only human and they tend to forget that fact.
...”We need another McCarthy.”
And give it a new name too. Substitute “patriotism” for “McCarthyism”.
I always know someone's lost the argument when all they have is personal insults, but you've taken the cake, m'man.
You don't even realize I AGREE with you and am merely pointing out why the message isn't getting through. (Your note shows your complete lack of comprehension on so many levels--I'll just take one: "Yet, somehow, according to you, we shouldn't be worried about it. " I never said this, you're simply making things up. "We should give him a pass because"--because nothing. I never said we should give anyone a pass. Your defensiveness is truly weird, and blinds you to any kind of informed discussion. That you can't see this is pretty scary...but frankly, it makes me suspect you're incapable of seeing beyond your own "I am the only one who sees!" silliness.
To go further would be to descend to your level of insult instead of intelligent exchange--which is something you're incapable of, obviously. Sorry I gave you too much credit.
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