Last week I had the honor of joining VFP to present petitions for impeachment to Congressman Conyers. While a lot of the vets took the nice approach, Bill Perry and I were distinct in confronting him directly, and expressing our anger and disappointment in his failure to start impeachment hearings. While a lot of people in the room were shocked with how I spoke to him, I have been receiving a lot of support for directly confronting him.
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Kokesh: I'm not here to blow hot air up your ass like some of these other people have. But I hope that the petitions in front of you have made it clear that there is significant public pressure and support for impeachment at this point. And I know you don't get to twenty-one terms in Congress without being concerned about reelection, and I hope that these petitions make it clear that not impeaching is a greater liability for you than impeaching at this point. And I hope that having known that impeachable offenses have been committed for some time now, that you will finally take it upon yourself to do what you can to support that impeachment and support your own oath to support the Constitution instead of abdicating that responsibility as you have thus far.
Conyers: Well, just a minute. I think you should know that the twenty-one terms that I have been voted into office didn't come from me currying favor with my constituents as much as it is for doing the kind of job that they wanted me to do. So I don't think I got here by backing off of the strong issues. As a matter of fact, my record might indicate to even you that it's because I took on the difficult issues that I am now the second most senior person in the House of Representatives.
Kokesh: And that's why it's all the more surprising that you haven't yet brought impeachment hearings.
Conyers: Well, let us decide how we're going to discuss this subject since it's surprising to you. I didn't agree to this meeting because I was going to try not to let you know what has been happening and what it is I intend to do about it. Maybe you will be surprised again.
Kokesh: I hope so.
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He didn't tell us anything about what he intended to do about the issue of impeachment at that meeting, but instead scheduled another meeting with us for July 8th. I am hoping, (but not counting on it) to be surprised. I will be there and I will be reporting on it here.
The documentation and some of the supportive emails I have received since then are below.
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In an article from Philly IMC:
Vets meet w/ John Conyers, Kucinich, & Wexler Wed, 6/11 re:IMPEACH
While most of the 20 some Veterans were conciliatory and pleased to hand our 23,000 pro-IMPEACH petition signatures to Chairman Conyers, both Iraq Veterans Against the War Board of Directors Co-Chair, Adam Kokesh, and Delaware Valley Veterans Executive Director, Bill Perry, made it clear to Judiciary Chair Conyers that we felt betrayed by Conyers failure to advocate for Impeachment, as he had done earlier, ever since the Downing Street Memos, in April, 2005.
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Veterans for Peace Meeting With John Conyers to Demand Impeachment
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Veterans for Peace Demand Impeachment of President Bush
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From Tarak Kauff:
Thanks Adam for speaking up the other day at Conyers. The rest of us were way too polite. I'm still kicking myself. What a song and dance he gave us. Next time, guaranteed, I won't be so mild.
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From Susan:
Hi! I just watched some of the VforP meeting with John Conyers(on youtube) about impeachment, wow- I could really sense your anger. Of course I don't blame you, in fact I admire your ability to be clear and not hold back, I would not have been able to be so icy.(Also liked the guy- i missed his name- who said 'impeach the bastards').
I tend to go from being very, very, very angry that this bullshit has been allowed to go on- (which I'm glad you made that point to Conyers, that something judicial should have been done by now) to trying to be more diplomatic than angry.
But, sometimes enough is enough- and your 'confrontation?' with him struck a cord with me. At first I thought, well Adam, way to alienate the one person who might be able to do something further about impeachment, then I thought about it and realized that you were reflecting your true anger at the situation and displaying what more people should do- which is hold our Senators and Reps. personally accountable- they work for us and should be confronted by the will of the people, esp. when they are not acting to protect our rights and the principles they swore to uphold.
So, I don't know, I was just inspired to write to you about it. I hope you know I support you(posting on your blog for awhile now), and even though I don't know you, your actions(as well as others who are standing up) have a reaching affect to many people. Even though we are strangers, we are all in this together.
Anyway, I have a renewed sense of hope that with Kucinich's resolution having been introduced, what is truly right and just will prevail. I admit I got a little teary eyed watching him read the articles- is that stupid?:)- I can't help it, hopefully you understand. It's just so important to me that someone is speaking these truths on the House floor, it's been a long time coming.
take care-
Susan
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Hi!
My name is Miranda and I have been talking to Ron Fisher about the impeachment articles against Bush. While speaking with Mr. Fisher he told me about you guys and asked me to come up when they go back to see Mr. Conyers. I went online and saw the video of when all of you spoke in his office. Then I looked you up, since yours was the first name I saw on the video and I saw your blog.
I just wanted to say that I am so proud of you and the others for your bravery and what you have done, not just on the impeachment, but all you have done for our country, no matter where you went or why. I am saddened and outraged by what has happened to my country in just a few short years and if it weren't for people like you, I don't know where we would be and what we would do. I hope that we can live up to your expectations of us. I live in Norfolk, VA and I believe that civilians have a duty to you to make sure that you are never sent anywhere that isn't absolutely necessary. Like I said to Mr. Fisher, we are taking chances with your lives that we shouldn't be taking, no matter how much money goes in your pockets or Haliburton's. I knew Bush was lying before we went into Iraq and I feel as though I failed in my responsibilities as an American. I did all that I could. It just wasn't enough. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help now. I have been very busy already.
Take care and keep up the good work,
Miranda
5 comments:
Thank you Adam!!
Susan
Classic confrontation: a titan vs. a titan!
Damn I wish I could have seen that live!
Nothing like confronting these cowardly politicians, while others defer to their bloody "titles".
You had the spirit of a native Washingtonian, Kokesh.
"...made it clear to Judiciary Chair Conyers that we felt betrayed by Conyers failure to advocate for Impeachment, as he had done earlier, ever since the Downing Street Memos, in April, 2005."
Thanks for continuing to say what needs to be said.
They are as responsible as the Republicans, and talking nice to them hasn't accomplished much of anything in the last two years.
The Misprision of Felony strategy for impeachment using the prosecutorial provisions of the USA Patriot Act, using the powerful discovery articles associated and the unlimited prosecutorial tools included with the USA Patriot Act, (and FISA continuation of that body of law), can discover that the CIA tapes of high level terrorist suspect detainees were destroyed in an effort to conceal.
The CIA destroyed the tapes to conceal them from government offices, but most importantly you. The law doesn't protect you from concealment, only your government. Brilliance and great care coupled with great knowledge of the USA Patriot Act body of law will make some prosecutor extremely famous, I wish Bugliosi would get a clue.
Sentiment will not bring about the successful impeachment of bush; only the accusation of felony crime, crime so horrible so as to shock and awe America will suffice to bring about the impeachment of the President of The United States of America in a time of war.
Impeachment is the great American Shakespearean drama. This drama will be played out on T.V., if it's good enough material. The media will kill it or it will live, they decide. Blogs alone won't do it. The great coliseum is the T.V., not the halls of Congress. The masters are Rupert Murdochs, not the men we elect, bitter truths that empower and free all of us.
So let’s play ball. I got felony violations of the USA Patriot Act in my corner, what've you got Kucinich?
An impeachment that commands the attention of Americans and grabs the short hairs of Congress, (including Kucinich), is the only impeachment that will not be ignored. Americans understand fear and terror. Any person who is indicted under the felony provisions of the USA Patriot Act will be terrified. People get stupid when they are afraid, when they are terrified. Would you like to see bush and cheney terrified, trembling, scrambling, sweating, branded as un-American?
Kucinich is being ignored. I said Kucinich is being ignored.
Americans would be absolutely fascinated and marvelously entertained by an impeachment trial of bush and cheney using articles of impeachment based solely upon felony violations of the USA Patriot Act, destruction of evidence, (CIA tapes), false information on terrorism, (Saddam linked to Bin Laden and the entire tapestry of deception), hundreds of felony violations of the USA Patriot Act, in plain sight. And this would go to trial, nobody is going to ignore a laundry list of USA Patriot Act felony violations.
Imagine the posse of FOX television consultant contractors hired to pontificate on USA Patriot Act theory, imagine the ratings. Imagine the discovery powers a prosecutor would have under the USA Patriot Act. Imagine what a good American could do with the felony prosecutorial powers of the USA Patriot Act at their fingertips, imagine. bush imagined, and look what it got him.
Can you imagine? Can you act as a good patriot must by using the USA Patriot Act to prosecute bush and impeach the President of the United States of America?
The USA Patriot Act is your law and it is the only law that will terminate this un-American administration. bush and his gang are literally pressing the Adz into your trembling hands, daring you, teasing you, playing you.
Tens of millions of dollars have been spent by the 'media' at large in conjunction with government propaganda offices to sell the war and the USA Patriot Act to Americans. This law shines, radiates an energy that when cast upon the accused paints them instantly and forever as horribly and terribly un-American. This is a directed political weapon and it must be focused on those who have committed felony violations of the USA Patriot Act.
The USA Patriot Act is a new political weapon and the people must coop the strategy of Misprision of a Felony within the scope of the felony provisions of the USA Patriot Act. The USA Patriot Act is the most powerful political weapon ever created in the history of mankind. It is brilliant, horribly un-American and treasonous, insanely brilliant.
Good Americans can use the USA Patriot Act to protect themselves from the invasion of Iran that bush desires. bush wants to slaughter millions of human beings in Iran and steal the oil again. Do you want to stop bush?
So tell me, what did you bring to the game Kucinich, you gonna knock it out of the park, all the fans mouths agape, wonder in their glistening eyes? Kucinich is going to put America ... to sleep.
- WAKE UP AMERICA ! -
You wanna watch a T.V. show about how bush was branded as un-American, a terrorist, and tried on felony violations of the USA Patriot Act, and then kicked out of office into the street an outcast from society, (sniff)? I want to make that movie and I want all of you to star in it.
John Edwards could have won the Presidency of the United States of America by calling for and leading prosecutorial efforts based upon felony violations of the USA Patriot Act, he would have been famous and loved. But John Edwards was to busy working on the 911 commission chasing those darn CIA tapes, I guess. John don't know nuthin 'bout the Patriot Act, does he? We shouldn't expect John Edwards to connect any dots, he's just a civil law attorney. John's just another hack, playing the game, filling his pockets with huge amounts of cash.
The articles of impeachment by Kucinich against President bush are old, tired news. For anyone who is truly interested in impeachment, we know all of this. Where's the charisma, the WhizBang blow-your-mind, front page exclusive? Where does it shine? It's a weak attempt that is being ignored, and that damages successive attempts. And here Kucinich is going to spout another 30 articles of impeachment, that will be ignored, and further damage any real powerful effort to impeach.
I mean, if your articles of impeachment fail to ROCK the house and senate, yer a freakin' LUSER! If you throw the dice on impeachment and lose, you've slapped all Americans in the face. If you are going to play this game, you better bring the right equipment, or everybody gets hurt. And planning to emit 30 more articles of impeachment when the first set are being ignored is like saying, I'm gonna rub dirt on your dirt you dirty ... dirtbags.
Felony violation of the USA Patriot Act, that's the beef baby.
Is Kucinich really taking a risk here? Is Kucinich a great Patriot risking his life against an evil empire?
What if bush and cheney were truly terrified of the accusations against them, and felt in their guts that they had been made, would be indicted soon, would be found guilty and would go to jail.
Do you think Kucinich would be safe?
It's going to take supernova brilliance, shock and awe to impeach bush, nothing less. bush can only be impeached with terror, wrap your brain around that my friend.
It would have been a huge news story if Kucinich charged bush and cheney with felony violation of the USA Patriot Act; I mean that would be HUGE. bush and cheney would be absolutely terrified, stammering their responses through the limbags. Blogs would fume, tongues would lather, ivory towers would crash down and the dust would cover all of the media with a conspiratorial cloak stinking of un-Americanism.
Do you have confidence in Kucinich and these articles of impeachment?
When the roaches scurry, they leave tracks, and of course that's all part of the hard-hitting prosecutorial strategy of using the USA Patriot Act to defend this nation from terrorism and those that aid and abet terrorism by disseminating false information on terrorism and by destroying evidence developed through investigations of terrorists. Both of these crimes are extremely serious, egregious felony violations of the USA Patriot Act.
New is good, new is better. We demand criminal accusations so astounding, so incredible as to be unbelievable and any person who stood against those indictments and impeachments would simply be, un-American. Make no mistake, you are either for impeachment, or you in felony violation of the USA Patriot Act. That is the only attitude that will win the impeachment of george bush and save millions of children, women and men in Iran from a horrible and gruesome, terrifying death from the invasion of their lands by United States private armies and your sons and daughters America. bush must be painted as un-American in order for impeachment to succeed, it's the only way.
If Kucinich would have fortified his articles of impeachment against president bush by opening the door for the use of discovery tools included in the USA Patriot Act by the Judiciary committee, by calling for felony indictment using the incredibly powerful felony prosecutorial provisions in the USA Patriot Act Kucinich would have effectively tarred and feathered bush forever. bush's lawyers could then only attack the USA Patriot Act itself in order to destroy the USA Patriot Act. Two birds with one stone.
Kucinich ! How many birdies ya' got? Thirty-five birdies, all in their gilded cage?
America adores irony, the wild story, gotta love da' juice baby. The vast majority has no interest in the Constitution or the law, unless it’s some hot babe on a police show pointing a gun at a dude and shooting him. Ratings talk.
Kucinich has no ratings.
If you are going to bring down a warring tyrant then you will have to throw him to some very real lions. The lions in the USA Patriot Act make Kucinich's application of old, tired laws, (that are being ignored also), a real disappointment. Kucinich needs some help with his presentation. He puts everybody to sleep.
- WAKE UP AMERICA ! -
Do you really want to drool yourself to sleep over 4 hours of droning old law stuff that has failed so often already, or do you want to see bush accused of un-American and illegal activities, felony violations of the USA Patriot Act ... or does everybody want to pretend the USA Patriot Act like, doesn't exist? New, new and improved impeachment brought to you by the felony prosecutorial provisions of the USA Patriot Act. How long would it take them to talk if their cellmate was in a secret prison in Egypt?
Whatever ... right?
Prosecuting by making use of the felony provisions within the USA Patriot Act will bring bush down like a chain saw clears brush. The lawyers will be forced to attack the USA Patriot Act law and its extensions, they will have to attack the theory of the USA Patriot Act and dismember and destroy the USA Patriot Act and associated legislation in order to save their hides.
And they would be branded as un-American for all time. Then they would hold up their executive orders signed by bush to shield him from the very laws he made to keep you in check, and then you would start to connect the dots. Then you would connect the dots.
It really is in plain sight.
Focus on real felonies, not emotional or bandwagon appeals and you will get your man. Felony violation of the USA Patriot Act is a huge, powerful accusation. Is this club so heavy in the hands that the ground itself gives way to the weight of our fears, pinning us?
The glittering generalities of crime, banging on pots and pans will not indict or impeach. Congress is complicit in all of this, and some of them must also be charged with felony violation of the USA Patriot Act.
Terrify them with the USA Patriot Act, please; they have terrified you with it all. Fight back with felony prosecution using the felony provisions of the USA Patriot Act and its extended legislation. Fight for your freedom and the lives and freedoms of hundreds of thousands of Iranian civilians who bush will murder with guns and bombs your labors and taxes pay for.
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