But here's the interesting news. John Conyers (or, as some pseudo-progressives would have it, John "Neo-CONyers") voted against tabling the measure. And he voted for referral to his committee.
Intriguing. In light of the above, consider this sphinx-like statement:
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), agreed that it was not in Pelosi's interests to advance the articles of impeachment. "If she were to let this thing out of the box, considering the number of legislative issues we have pending ... it could create a split that could affect our productivity for the rest of the Congress," Conyers told Fox News.As the dust settles, we can see more clearly why the Republicans didn't want to table the motion. Any Dem in a conservative district who voted in favor of the resolution during what some are pleased to call wartime would be vulnerable. Any Dem who voted against would incur the wrath of the bloggers. Since, under present circumstances, Cheney stands no chance of being removed from office, the situation was win-win for the Republicans.
On the other hand, if the Judiciary Committee were to investigate, circumstances could change.
2 comments:
Will the gentleman from California yield? You always have the advantage because you're 4 time zones out of sync.
Evidently the time is right to pacify the kvetching wing of the Democratic voters, before Keith Olbermann starts calling the Gentleman from Michigan "Sir". Also, Conyers just raised the ante yesterday with the criminal contempt charges. He's watched The Godfather enough times, he's not going to come out of November with just his dick in his hands, as Sonny put it.
Cheney is one heartbeat away from resigning every hour, or am I wrong about that? It isn't political, Sonny, it's cardiology. Besides, so what if Cheney looms as President Replacement? The horror? The humanity? What? Who cares? And where does it say Congress can't impeach and remove both with the same order, as long as the second entree is of equal or lesser value? Also the horse they rode in on, yeah, the Supremes, while they're at it. You can't imagine it only because you're not a member of Congress. But you and they can name -- by name -- the only official members of this government who were actually ELECTED and therefore are entitled by law TO BE HEARD.
We've already had a coup d'etat by the SCOTUS, another one in 2004 by the POTUS, so now it's Congress's turn, assuming things really do happen in threes.
The Constitution puts Congress in Article 1 to show that Congress is first among equal branches. I doubt too many members want to be voted out; I'd bet they want to stay there. I'd bet they don't want BushandorCheney to suspend Congress, either, and I'd win, right? All I wonder about is that Admiral in charge in the Persian Gulf, and if he has to get confirmation from his Chief of Staff. This is America where I grew up liking Annapolis, West Point, and learned to accept the Air Force Academy as their junior partner. I thrilled to that Army-Navy game with quarterbacks Rollie Stichweh and Roger Staubach. Four years ago an Air Force Academy graduate endodontist performed an emergency double root canal on me, on an hour's notice! No complications!
BushandorCheney have been given fair and pointed notice, and if they don't relax and take some stress pills, they'll be looking down the barrel of some overly due process. The military will defer to Congress if it comes to it because they don't want to see what will happen to their country if they defer to BushandorCheney. Do you think the Joint Chiefs haven't had their closed-door, back-channel discussions about all this? Do you think a few but important members of Congress haven't worried more than you and every other blogger? Do you think John Murtha isn't talking back and forth to the JCOS and a select few members of Congress?
Representative Conyers also said, and I quote (but in his code): "If you, Mr. President, and I say this with all due respect, won't turn over Meyers and Bolten to our justice, you'll want to pray for a pardon from President Pelosi." Can you imagine the queue of witnesses who will be champing at the bit to talk in open hearings? Horse's mouth stuff with no 18-minute gaps: giddyap!
Vincente Fox will admire those caballeros.
Also seriously, I worry that Jeb will play the savior card since there's no one yet who can bring out the Republican vote. Let's hope some 'mainstream' newsie's nose has been on the Jeb case, has been sitting on a pile of stuff that will send him away to Paraguay in a bum's rush.
While I'm sure the Republicans will try to make political hay out of the fact that their Democratic opponent voted to consider impeachment, I doubt it will have much effect unless that opponent lacks the courage of his convictions.
I believe a lot of people in this country are very concerned about the erosion of Constitutional government and the way this administration has trampled on the Bill of Rights. A Democrat who stands up for the Constitution and for impeachment is likely to get support from unlikely quarters to offset the wingnuts.
I have always believed that if the Judiciary Committee held a serious investigation and actually issued subpoenas and enforced them, a great deal of wrongdoing could be surfaced that would make Kucinich's resolution look pretty tame.
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