Conyers needs the support of the Democratic Leadership

[Q]

But once again we see the 'leaders' of the party hiding in the shadows instead of joining in the fray.

Just as it was so many times before in the last four years...those trying to make the Bushies accountable for their many crimes and misdeeds will be abandoned by the party leadership and left alone to face the RWing Smear Machine.

There WOULD BE official hearings on the 'DSM' and the Bush lies that took this nation to illegal, unnecessary war if every Democratic Leader demanded them and declared that Bush wasn't above the law.

Conyers can't do it alone. We need a Democratic party united against Bush & Company.

[tk2kewl]

1. Agreed. Kerry, Clinton, Schumer, Dodd, Byrd...

we need some high profile dems to hold a press conference demaning an investigation into the Downing Street cover-up

[Q]

10. The silence on this issue...

...from the so-called leadership is nothing new. Are they afraid to admit that they've been duped? Or have they wanted this 'war' all along?

There's no excuse for the Democratic leadership's SILENCE while Conyers and others are fighting so hard to expose the high crimes of this corrupt administration.

[bribri16]

44. Forget them. We need to become the Dem leaders.

Just like we need to become the RM (real media). If we lead, they will follow!

[msongs]

2. Is john kerry wind surfing again...according to the prevailing breeze?

tacking to and fro in search of a point of view he could actually endorse whole heartedly? looking for something he could vote for before he voted for it?

I still remember the election, John. I went to bed late on election night and before I woke up the day after you had already conceded and gone skiing.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Mass]

4. Him as well as all the ones you forgot

[Mass]

3. Agreed, we need all the names we can

Reid, Durbin, + all the names quoted above.

[TayTay]

5. Agreed, Boxer, Dean, Levin

Where are the leaders of the Party in the Senate and at the DNC. They should speak up.

[OneBlueSky]

6. we need a comparable investigation in the Senate . . .

hearings, witnesses, testimony, the whole nine yards . . . why are our Democratic senators sitting on their hands and letting Conyers shoulder the entire burden? . . . isn't there one of them with balls enough to schedule hearings on the Downing Street minutes? . . .

[Q]

7. And once again...it's the Black Democrats leading the way...

...in seeking justice in the name of the American people.

The party leadership abandoned the Democratic Black Caucus in 2000 when they needed help in fighting civil rights abuses and election fraud.

This time the leadership needs to stand up and be counted with Conyers and others leading the way in making the Bush administration accountable for their treason and war crimes.

[woofless]

8. Does anyone have a list of those Congresspersons

who signed the petition?

Thanks,Woof.

[Q]

9. I was also looking for that list...

...but Conyer's efforts will go nowhere if the Leadership doesn't help him keep it in the news.

The Leadership should be DEMANDING hearings in both the house and the senate.

Americans and especially those being sent to fight and die in Iraq deserve to know the whole truth about what they're fighting for...

[Cocoa]

11. so are you going to thank Nancy Pelosi?

you don't mention that Pelosi signed the Conyers letter. Why not?

If you care about the leadership supporting Conyers, why wouldn't you mention something the leadership did that satisfies your demands?

[Q]

12. It's great that letters were signed...

...and that 'some' of the leadership is supporting Conyers in the background. But this type of battle can't be fought with signatures.

For this effort to be successful...the leadership must come together in the PUBLIC FORUM and DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY.

[Cocoa]

13. look at this other thread, linked below

this person is playing the same game you are.

Of course, this game can be played no matter what anyone does.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3882268&mesg_id=3882268

[Q]

14. This is no 'GAME'...

...this is about the DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP getting behind the effort to make the Bush Administration accountable for high crimes against the US and for lying our nation into war.

There is simply no excuse...beyond cowardice or self-serving motives...for the Dem leadership to hide while Conyers is fighting the good fight.

Apologize for them all you want...but they are helping to coverup some of the worse crimes ever committed against our country.

[Cocoa]

16. so you consider Howard Dean a coward?

or is he self-serving?

Myself, I think he's neither. I think there's probably a political reason the party leadership is letting the grassroots handle the DSM.

But like I said, Pelosi signed the letter, and she booked the room for the hearing yesterday, so you can't really say she's not supporting Conyers.

Dean, on the other hand, I'm not sure he's done anything in regard to the memo. I just checked the DNC's website. Nothing.

[Larkspur]

18. The DNC offered their headquarters to host the DSM hearings if Conyers

could not get a conference room in the Capital. The DNC backuped Conyers to keep the hearings going.

[Dr Fate]

23. he did. Now he can issue one of his "controversial" statements about it.

And tell everyone else besides the base about it.

I think the public would like to know that the Republicans are hiding somthing to the point that they move us out of the hearing rooms.

I'd like to hear Dean talk about that today before the media allows everyone to forget.

[Larkspur]

25. Why don't you call Howard Dean and tell him that?

:eyes:

[Dr Fate]

26. I'd like everyone who agrees to do just that. That is kind of the point.

Thanks for the advice!!!

[Q]

32. Yes...I consider Dean a coward if he can't break the leadership's hold...

...on him and help Conyers with making this White House accountable.

In other words...you're saying that the 'leadership' should be more concerned about their political careers than demanding hearings into the high crimes of this administration?

Billions of dollars and thousands of lives wasted. The Democratic party leaders become complicit if they don't at least TRY to get the truth to the American people.

[MadHound]

15. What, you're expecting one arm of the two party/same corporate master

System of govenment to hold the other arm acountable for actions that both sides approved of? Hate to tell you Q, though you probably already realize this, it ain't going to happen. This is like asking the Miami Mafia to investigate the Chicago Mafia about cross country liquor smuggling. Both sides are responsible, both sides hands are dirty, and both sides are going to try and keep the lid on this immoral morass as long as possible. This way, more money gets sucked up from the taxpayer, and is transferred to the pockets of themselves and their corporate masters.

I hate to say it, but the DSM is going to go down the memory hole, and anybody who dares bring it up is going to be persecuted, villified and labeled as an unpatriotic, treasonous crackpot.

[Q]

17. Yes...that's exactly what I'm expecting...

...and I'm ashamed that these cowards call themselves 'leaders'.

These Dem leaders can no longer say that Bush 'duped' them into supporting HIS invasion of Iraq. They now KNOW he lied and they still refuse to do anything about it.

Cowards and self-serving politicians. All of them.

[Dr Fate]

19. They need to go on interview & debate shows and talk about this.

The media is trying to ignore it- the last thing we need is top DEMS ignoring it too.

[shance]

21. DF***you are right, but you mistake our Dems as individuals who have been

invited to talk on mainstream interviews and debate shows.

Have you heard of the Democratic Barbershop quartet?

These are the ones who are regularly asked on network television.

Joe Lieberman
Joe Biden
Dick Gephardt (atleast he used to be a part of the quartet)
Evan Bayh

All flaming throwing, diehard liberals as you can see.

How often is Barbara Boxer, John Conyers, Cynthia McKinney, Bernie Sanders or Jan Schakowsky invited on Meet the Press?

Better question, have any of them ever been asked?

[Dr Fate]

22. Who is denying interviews to Howard Dean or Kerry, Hillary, etc?

Dean has been on TV several times over the weeks.

I find your charge hard to believe.

Who are these hosts & interview shows denying Dean, Hillary, Kerry, Obama and other "star" DEMs slots? Do you have proof that this is happening?

Have any of these top Democrats gone on record saying that they are being censored form cable/network shows?

Sorry- but that excuse wont fly anymore. Dean & Kerry have access to those shows, I've seen them on the shows with my own eyes.

[mikita]

20. unfortunately,

democratic leadership is an oxymoron.

[Independent_Liberal]

24. We've already gotten 123 Democrats in the House...

I agree we need the help of some Senate Democrats like Boxer, Kerry, Reid, Obama, Dodd, Byrd, Dayton, Schumer, Feingold, etc.

[Dr Fate]

27. Exactly- we need "star power" behind this. Big, recognizable names...

...that papers & news shows are more likely to quote.

[KoKo]

28. Not yet....I don't think... much is breaking and it's up to the US House

to lay the groundwork for this. So, I'm on the "caution side" here before the Senate Dems go full gun on this.

Most times I agree with you...perhaps not together on this ...caution because this is probably the only time I would think that we need to let Conyers & Company have the spotlight. It's the US House job to bring "Impeachment" to light.

But, "piling on" too fast right now might not work for us. :shrug: Just my humble opinion, though. :shrug:

[Q]

29. Not yet? Caution side? Full gun?

What makes you think they have ANY plans on going 'full gun' on this issue? Looking at the last four years...it's more likely that they'll let it fall down the memory hole and allow Conyers to be labeled as just a 'anti-war' partisan.

Opps...they're already labeling him:

"When asked why the president hasn’t responded to a letter about the Downing Street Memo sent by John Conyers and signed by 122 members of Congress, Scott McClellan replied: "Because I think that this is an individual who voted against the war in the first place and is simply trying to rehash old debates that have already been addressed." When reminded that all those other House members had also signed on, McClellan shot back: "How did they vote on the war -- the decision to go to war in Iraq?" --- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Let's face reality here. The leadership will once again allow Bush to use his Smear Machine to character assassinate Conyers.

I'm not surprised that you and many other Dems are calling for a 'wait and see' approach while the other side laughs at our lack of resolve.

[KoKo]

38. I hear you but...

I'll hold firm on my opinion on this one. Standing firm that caution for just one more week for Bolton to Implode is worth the wait.

Always with you...(as you know) on this we have some difference. I stand by what I say...gut feeling..big one.

Back off and wait a week. (Hey...if i'm wrong on this...what's to lose for a week? :shrug:)

Glad to see your post, though. Always interesting. I'm just "holding back" on this one "strategy wise."

[mrdmk]

30. Mr. Dean did announce that they were going to bring voting fraud to light

this is following up on Mr. Conyers work on the same subject. I am sure there are many things in the works at this time. But the only people who can make sure the fireworks fly is us considering the state of our media. Stay tuned and aware, not to mention, spread the word.

[Cocoa]

31. Conyers himself EXPLODES the myth that the leadership isn't behind him

Like Conyers says here to Dana Milbank, who is also spreading this same myth, that Conyers is "left alone," it's "not difficult to find" Reid's and Pelosi's support for the effort.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1558643

In fact, just yesterday, the Senate Democratic Leader, Harry Reid, mentioned it on the Senate floor. Senator Boxer talked at some length about it at the recent confirmation hearing for the Ambassador to Iraq. The House Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi, recently signed on to my letter, along with 121 other Democrats asking for answers about the memo. This information is not difficult to find either. For example, the Reid speech was the subject of an AP wire service report posted on the Washington Post website with the headline "Democrats Cite Downing Street Memo in Bolton Fight".

[Dr Fate]

34. But what have they said on TV, where EVERYONE can hear it?

Swing voters and even most registered DEMs dont watch CSPAN and they dont go to blogs.

The dissenting DEMs are saying that these leaders need to be making some high-profile statements, on TV, in a way that everyone, not just donors, hears it.

Reid did right yesterday, but DEM leadership needs to be on TV- TODAY- talking about the hearings.

[Cocoa]

40. some people are USING Conyers

and pretending they're defending him.

Conyers DESTROYS Milbank for what he calls the "misleading" statement that he doesn't have the support of his party, which is EXACTLY what is being said here.

If Conyers says he has support, he fucking HAS SUPPORT.

Some people are using Conyers the way some people use Howard Dean, to bash the dems.

[Dr Fate]

41. I agree with that. I still need to see Dean, Kerry, etc on TV...

...discussing the DSM.

Is that too much to ask?

[Spectral]

33. Recommended.....And do we have a "Thank you" thread for the Congressman?

I think he deserves one.

[CatWoman]

35. why don't you start one?

:hi:

[zann725]

36. Kerry especially! He vowed to speak out on this over two weeks ago.

As much as I continue to proudly display my JK bumper sticker on my car...as Kerry as said many times himself, "judge a man by his deeds."

Speak up JK...speak up Dems! Especially our Senators!

[KoKo]

39. No........he waffled and his quote was "taken out of context."

I don't care for Kerry but on this...it's wrong to attack him, I think.

He is what he is. Sort of "flighty and whatever" but he has a good heart and maybe is sometimes "overly optimistic."

I'm not looking for Kerry to Lead the Dems Out of the Wildnerness. It will be the really GUTSY to do that.

But, I won't trash him for just being who he is...this time, anyway...over this issue. :shrug:

[Q]

46. This issue happens to be one of the most important of our time...

...and those who don't speak up about it will be thought of as part of the problem.

Recent history shows us that we can't expect the Democratic Leadership to use the truth to oppose Bush and his horrible policies.

No one is asking Kerry or any other Dem politician to fall on their sword over this issue. But we do expect them to pursue the truth and assist in the prosecution of high crimes against our country.

[Just Me]

37. Why are you assuming he doesn't have their support?

There's a LOT of things going on, simultaneously, and the party would not could not effectively function without delegation of tasks. Moreover, Conyers is NOT doing this alone. There are those who have even greater ammunition joining his coalition than elected Dems.

It takes time to build anything worth pursuing. Impatience will drive ya' nuts.

[Dr Fate]

42. Because we dont see them on TV countering the Bullshit....

...or at the very least, just discussing the issue.

[Q]

45. Even DISCUSSING this on television and radio...

...would help Conyer's keep this issue alive.

But by their absence...it's obvious the Dem leadership wants this 'scandal' to die as much as the Bushies. Perhaps they're afraid that Bush will throw their 'war vote' back in their faces? Or maybe their corporate benefactors don't want the truth to come out and kill their golden goose?

Bush is once again going to get away with blaming someone else. Some Democrats say he has more 'Teflon' than Reagan. That's not it. He escapes justice time and again because there's no loyal opposiition to call him on his corruption.

[Q]

48. What is needed is PUBLIC SUPPORT...

...How many Democratic Leaders have stepped up to the cameras to say they support Conyer's efforts to expose Bush's lies that took this nation to war?

Stop making excuses for inaction.

My guess is that the leadership has NO PLANS to pursue this issue.

They need to act now...before the corporate media covers it up and goes on to the next scandal.

[candy331]

43. As soon as we realize that their is no Democratic leaders, they have

all basically scurried like roaches when the light is switched on. Sure they peep their heads out in the dark but quickly pull it back in when the light is switched on.. Conyers is to be highly praised and applauded deeply for his efforts. A man of his age (75) should not have to be in the forefront of such a brutal battle, where is Clinton, Kerry, Kennedy, Dean,and the many many more. Lobbing a tentacle in the dark of night and scurrying when the light shines is not leadership. In the end it will just have to be said that what we have is two parties with one corporate head. In order for the country to be saved the masses of the people must rise up, but who will awaken them from sleep so they will rise?

Polls show that 1of 20/more/less believe that the congress is representing them and is on the right track, shouldn't a cry go out to start recalling these corporate bought shills? There are more working people in this country than the elite but the WP feel powerless and have given up, they wait on the few crumbs falling/ given to them from the corporate owned reps scrap tables..

Suppose someone could sound the cry to challenge the sleeping masses that the corporate owned reps are not there for you but there for the corporations and will not stop until everything that you have worked for so hard is long gone and gone even for your children perhaps a rise would start. WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS TIME TO THROW THE BUMS OUT.

[Q]

47. But Democrats vote the party line...

...just like Republicans. What makes us better than the other side if we refuse to make our own politicians accountable?

Why vote for ANY politician that avoids confronting the most corrupt executive branch in American history?

Lying a nation into war is the worst crime a 'president' can commit. With his lies and deceptions...Bush has directly caused the deaths of literally thousands of INNOCENT human beings. PEOPLE that had nothing to do with terrorism or 9-11.

Democrats MUST keep this issue alive.