Reply #127: They accomplished at least 4 key things.

[pat_k]

Bush and Cheney are waging war on the Constitution in plain sight. They have been for years. Citizens have been calling on Conyers to act since he took the Chairman's gavel. They've been calling on him to introduce articles of impeachment against Bush and Cheney and to make the case to the public for years. Those demands have been bouncing off the irrational rationalizations for dereliction of duty that have pervaded the Democratic establishment for years.

Our so-called leaders are in denial. That denial is defended by the system of false memes they have built. The denial and the bogus excuses are akin to what we see in an addict.

If your family is being destroyed by the downward spiral of an addicted spouse, do you pussy-foot around "until the time is right"? Or do you take action on as many fronts as you can save them from themselves? While you might hope a single act will bring about transformation, it wouldn't be reasonable to expect it. When you directly confront resistance, you almost NEVER see someone "give in" on the spot. Time, and multiple interactions, are usually required to bring someone "around."

I haven't spoken to them, but I seriously doubt that Cindy, Ray, David, Medea, or anyone else expected Conyers or Pelosi, or any other Member of Congress hundreds who joined them visited to suddenly abdandon Pelosi's "off the table" edict.

Whatever they may have expected, they accomplished at least four key things:

1. They confronted Conyers and key staff "up close and personal." (There's a reason corporations hire lobbyists to lobby in person -- it is the MOST effective means to persuade.)


2. Many of those who joined them visited their own Representatives and other Members of the Judiciary Committeed and confronted staffers or Members face-to-face.


3. They got media attention and prompted insiders like Dana Milbank to report on it. Impeachment has been off the media "table." (Until about three weeks ago not even Olbermann had uttered the word in a broadcast.) The event helped to put it on the "table."


4. The reports from the participants tell other impeachment advocates what we are up against -- and how truly flimsy their excuses are.

Impeachment is gaining attention within the beltway -- and with attention, it is gaining momentum. It is absolutely the right time to start confronting those who can make impeachment a reality face-to-face. Any of us can do it-- we can FAX a meeting request and follow up until we get a meeting scheduled. But few of us find ourselves in the Media spotlight. Events like this, that bring the spotlight, are useful.