Conyers: It's Checks and Balances, Mr. Russert

[ProSense]

Rep. John Conyers
05.07.2006

It's Checks and Balances, Mr. Russert

It's not every day a Congressman from Detroit has his name mentioned on, not one, but two Sunday morning news shows.

First, on ABC's This Week, I was taken to task by none other than the soon-to-be-ex-Congressman Tom DeLay. Democrats should not be allowed to take back the House, he said. Why? Because, he claimed, "John Conyers will be the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee if the Democrats take over.

John Conyers is to the left of your next guest, Howard Dean and he's already participated in mock impeachment hearings." Funny, I don't remember that hearing. I did organize a Democratic forum on the Downing Street Minutes, but that was not about impeachment, and the Republicans wouldn't even let us have a room for it

Next, none other than Tim Russert launched an attack. While interviewing my Leader, Nancy Pelosi, Russert intoned ominously "The chair of the Judiciary cmte would be someone named John Conyers, I went to his website and this is what was on his website." He then showed the headline of my website where I call for the creation of a Sam Ervin-style bipartisan Committee, equally composed of Democrats and Republicans, to investigate pre-war manipulation of intelligence and other matters and, if warranted, to make recommendations to the Judiciary Committee on possible grounds for impeachment.

"That's the man who would be Chairman of the Judiciary Committee," Russert ominously declared. He then asked if "John Conyers should take down his website."

Perhaps Mr. Russert has forgotten, but I have been a Chairman before. For five years, from 1989 to 1994, I was the Chairman of the House Government Operations Committee, now called the Government Reform Committee. I have a record of trying to expose government waste, fraud and abuse.

That was back when Congress did something called "oversight." You know, in our tri-partite system of government, when Congress actually acted like a co-equal branch. The Republican Congress decided to be a rubber stamp for President Bush instead.

Snip...

If I become a Chairman again, I intend to push for oversight of this Administration. Our Constitutional system of government requires no less.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-conyers/its-checks-and-balances_b_20549.html

[babylonsister]

1. I love John Conyers! He hasn't missed a beat, and keeps

fighting for all of us here. :applause: :patriot:

[goclark]

2. The man is a hero!

And TimCon Russet is the ugly shill for the RepubliCONS.

They are really getting scared and pulling out all the Russet type stops.

Next he'll let his son write a book about "Mean John Conyers."

[Canuckistanian]

3. Rapid response -That's what I like about Conyers

Strike back hard and fast, don't let them get away with anything. make them look like the petty ad-hominem attackers that they are.

Challenge their accusations, correct them and make THEM look like the fools.

The sad part is, he has to defend himself from the fourth estate as well as his actual political opponents.

Fortunately, he does it well.

[MadMaddie]

4. Let's see....Fuck Russert...the corporate whore....

When he was interviewing the two men after Nancy Pelosi this morning...and he was reading the article concerning Poll numbers...did anyone catch that he started to say
"Clint..Bushes numbers are at an all time low"....the article was up on the screen and had * name in it..but he is still fixated on Clinton...Rat Bastard....

[Martin Eden]

52. Tim, your freepian slip is showing ...

... yeah, I noticed he started to say Clinton!

[neoblues]

5. Conyers, You Have Our Full Support!

Russert is anti-Democracy and clearly doesn't believe we should seek, or be accountable to the "Truth". He doesn't deserve the privilege of occupying the Public's airwaves, not that that matters (only $profits matter while corporations & republicans run things).

[Vinnie From Indy]

6. Russert is a lying crap weasel

EVERY Democrat should realize that Lil' Timmy Douchebag is gonna come after them any chance he gets.

I propose that Dems seriously consider making Russert part of the debate by laying their own ambush for him. He needs to be confronted for his bias and marginalized at every opportunity.

[Supersedeas]

23. He was shilling this morning -- that's for sure.

[peacetalksforall]

7. You can tell. They have nervour stomachs. Maybe Phizer can invent

a 1500 dollar pill and a per cent can be given to the RNC.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. This is what they all need to do. If an attempt is made to smear

any Democratic candidate or officeholder, the response needs to be quick and set the record straight. It sure wouldn't hurt my feelings if they were a little more "in your face" and force their accusers to back up their statements with facts instead of just letting them throw around a lot of innuendos to cloud the issues.

[journalist3072]

9. Conyers can always be c ounted on

To speak the truth. He always manages to hit the nail on the head and bring the point right home!

I have so much respect for him.

[ChrisdemW]

36. Conyers did the most difficult thing of all

He achieved real power and they couldn't taint him with even a whiff of scandal. You know they must have tried. I bet that fine gentleman has had snoops in his undies and eyeballs on his checkbook for years now, trying to get something on him.

He's never embarrassed us and he never will. He's got real power and has earned respect forever from everyone I know.

[Timbuk3]

10. Thank you Mr. Conyers

[Gregorian]

11. "someone named John Conyers"

Oh, it's a big surprise, or so it would sound. Gee, Russert just discovered a man named John Conyers. And just look at his website!


Someone named Russert. Some guy, who is on tv. And just look at his show. It sounds to me like he's defending the most powerful man on earth. And why would that be? Just why does Russert feel the need to defend someone who doesn't need defending at all? I find this kind of behavior totally disgusting. It's absolutely no different than challenging an engineer on his design. How about this for an example- I propose a steam engine. But for the safety of those who benefit from this steam engine, I've designed into the mechanism, a governor. When the engine is under certain conditions, this governor engages to keep the steam from overruning the engine. Without it, the steam could provide enough pressure to turn the engine into a heap of metal. And it could become a lethal bomb without the governor. But along comes a smartass who thinks this steam engine can do just fine without a governor. Steam is good. More steam is better. Just think of all the work this steam engine can do without a governor. Only a fool would want to govern it down. Forget about the people who are near the engine. If they get blown up, it's their fault for being too close.

You know, it's ok for Russert to talk the way he does. In his own living room.

[madokie]

26. a good way of putting it, thank you

I just don't let him in my living room anymore and this just makes me prouder that I decided to do it.
I say to John Conyers cut'em down to the stump they are and then burn the damn stump.

[David K.]

54. "someone named John Conyers"

Get used to it. The extremist's talking points are very sophisticated. The "someone" is INTENDED to trivialize Rep. Conyers from the git go. Tim knew damn well who John Conyers is, but the Administration's framing police demanded that he start out to refer to John in a degrading way. Minimize his importance, etc. It will get worse as Novembner nears.

[IndyOp]

12. Funny, I don't remember that hearing.

Tom Delay said "John Conyers... already participated in mock impeachment hearings." Funny, I don't remember that hearing.

:rofl:

I remember it either - but :wow: do I wish it HAD happened.

Congressman Conyers, once again: :applause:

[Terran1212]

13. Stand up, John Conyers!

[Metta]

14. *His* face belongs on a damn coin.

Or a stamp. Or on a plaque on a court house wall.

[IndyOp]

15. If you put young John Conyers on a coin, women would hoard the coins.

:blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:

[jillan]

16. Whoa! That's what I like.

Immediate response :)

Thank you Conyers & I can't wait until he is Chairman of the Judiciary committee again.

[oxbow]

17. If anybody else wants to drop Russert a note:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6872152/

[madokie]

29. Just now sent this to timmy boy

I read about your todays reference to John Conyers on the internets because I turned your sorry tail off quite some time ago. Go back under your rock tim we don't need you in the real world. John Conyers could chew you up and then spit you out.
Pathetic

[itzamirakul]

32. Thanks for the addy...Here's what I wrote...

To Tim Russert:
You said, "...someone named John Conyers,"..."SOMEONE named John Conyers?"

How very DARE you show such contempt for an African American member of Congress by pretending not to know who he is? This man was a Congressman when you were 16 years old!

The very fact that you would dare show such disrespect on national television proves you to be a fat-headed racist who rolls in the dirt and filth with the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly. Until you made that statement on your May 7, 2006 broadcast, I had always considered you to be heads and shoulders above those two hate-mongering race-baiters. Now I see that you are three of a kind.
*************
I am glad to be able to vent my true feelings to Russert about his behavior.

I, too, stopped watching his show a few months ago when I could no longer take the rw praise the show reeks with.

Thank goodness for the internet to pass news like this on. Otherwise many of us would never know it.

[Martin Eden]

56. I do, I did, and here it is:

Tim,

I appreciate that you ask your guests tough questions and try to put them on the spot, but your tactics against Nancy Pelosi in regards to John Conyers' web site crossed the line between agressive journalism and active political spin for the Republican Party. John Conyers is calling for a long overdue bipartisan investigation to assert congressional oversight -- and, if warranted -- impeachment proceedings. This president seeks to increase executive power and secrecy while avoiding constitutional checks and balances. What you apparantly seek is to scare voters away from the Democratic Party by ominously characterizing such oversight as an extreme measure to be avoided and feared.

A journalist -- first and foremost -- should seek to illuminate and expose any potential wrongdoing by our government. Without a scrupulous fourth estate we are a democracy in name only. Your tactics on Sunday's Meet The Press serve only to reinforce the curtain that hides the truth from the public.

In the wake of a disastrous war launched under false pretenses, a few in the media offered mea culpas for playing the role of stenographer to this administration. You're taking that role a step farther by actively spinning on its behalf.

[oxbow]

57. drip...drip...drip

thank you all! Each of us alone doesn't mean much to these people. Our voices together do have an effect though/ If they care about their bottom line (which on bad days is all I think they care about) then they'll be listening to us and the other 68% much more!

[glitch]

18. John Conyers, one man rapid response team. Awesome job as usual, sir. nt

[WinkyDink]

19. It's Russert's racism, IMO.

[stevedeshazer]

20. John Conyers was elected to Congress in 1966. Timmy was 16 years old.

'Nuff said.

[faithnotgreed]

21. did russert ask pelosi if conyers should take down his website?

once i get back up off the floor i would like to know how pelosi responded to such an asinine question

thanks for any details

oh and on edit

THANK YOU JOHN CONYERS
you are just about the only sane person in this government and in this town

[SeattleGirl]

22. God, but I love this man, and what he stands for!

And most especially, how he stands up to bellicose bullies like Russert. John, you are the best!

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Vinnie From Indy]

31. LOL!

Geepers
creepers
I bet your one of them F*******

[RandomKoolzip]

34. Oh no! Black Helicopters!!

DUCK!!

[KoKo]

25. Good On Ya, Mr. Conyers!

The audacity of that POS Russert to ask Pelosi if Conyers should take down his website for having Impeach Bush on it.

Why not ask Ken Mehlman if he's disowned his buddies, DeLay, Cunningham and the host of Crooks & Liars who squat in the People's House there in DC to say nothing for those who have sullied and defiled or Congress.

:puke: On the House of Republicanism!

[Strawman]

27. "SOMEONE named John Conyers"???

That's an odd choice of words by Tim Russert. What the fuck is that all about? Someone? How many years has John Conyers been in Congress? He's always been a pretty visible member with a distinguished record of service. You'd think Russert might have heard of him.

As for this latest Republican talking point on Conyers, I could be wrong here, but I suspect that the real message that the Republicans are trying to put out here isn't that the Democrats will launch impeachment hearings. They want to drop John Conyers name as much as possible in the hopes that the media will put his picture on TV.

Why would they wanna do that, you ask? It's pretty simple. The message is that if you vote form the Democrats this fall the blacks are gonna take over. "We can't have a black guy in charge of the Judiciary committee! Christ, what the hell else will those people be put in charge of if the Democrats win?" The Republicans are going back to their bread and butter here. But it's subtle, and they'd love for us to make that the issue here for them to deny because they're banking they can win by appealing to the worst in people. They make me sick.

[David K.]

55. "someone named John Conyers"

Get used to it. The extremist's talking points are very sophisticated. The "someone" is INTENDED to trivialize Rep. Conyers from the git go. Tim knew damn well who John Conyers is, but the Administration's framing police demanded that he start out to refer to John in a degrading way. Minimize his importance, etc. It will get worse as Novembner nears.

(cross-posted at #11 also)

[me b zola]

28. You would think that Timmy would be ashamed & would STFU

Russert, IIRC, was pretty much outed with the first Plame grand jury as the "go to guy" for the WH to spread their lies & misinformation. You would think that if a bastard such as himself didn't have the decency to beg forgiveness from the public for his deeds--the public counts on a "free press" for facts and information--then why the hell hasn't this rat bastard hung his head in shame, tuck his tail between his legs, AND STFU???????????:grr:

Conyers did good on nailing the slime-bag Russert.

[BigBearJohn]

30. It pissed me off that Pelosi did not stand 100% behind Conyers w/russert

[myrna minx]

33. Thank you Mr. Conyers. n/t

[The Witch]

35. Is my memory faulty or wasn't Conyers part of the Watergate commission?

I vaguely recall hearing he was on some committee during Watergate. So he knows from impeachment.

[SunDrop23]

37. John is top notch.

I'm going to send him a note of kudos. Thanks for posting this.

[tabasco]

38. Bless Congressman Conyers !

He inspires me. He gives me a shred of hope.

My god how thankful I am for that these days.

[The Stranger]

39. Russert is a complete and utter jackass, beyond an imbecile, nothing

more than bleating, hopeless, helpless, worthless rubbish. Why do we have to be subjected to this thing?

[killbotfactory]

40. Chairman of the Judiciary Committee John Conyers

Hmm... yes... yes, I like that.

[eppur_se_muova]

41. A kick for Conyers, and a BIG kick in the direction of Russert's nuts.

:kick:

[toymachines]

42. One of our day's greatest patriots

John Conyers you are a light in dark times.

[Junkdrawer]

43. Are we hearing footsteps, Timmy?

:shrug:

[itzamirakul]

44. Kick! eom

[mod mom]

45. Amen! Russert is complicit w BFEE.

[Pastiche423]

46. I love that

"SOMEONE named Conyers"!

[robbedvoter]

47. hear!hear! Take THAT, Ruslut!

[dogday]

48. K&R

[kiteinthewind]

49. John Conyers Rocks!!

:yourock:

[Turn CO Blue]

50. Timmeh must have gotten orders from GE to smear Conyers

Timmeh, you're a sellout.

[blm]

51. Of course he did - a Dem sticks his neck out, Russert's job is to put it

on the chopping block.

This is just the beginning for Conyers - they will ramp up against him and everything he's ever done will get exaggerated way beyond proportion.

[peacetheonlyway]

53. Mr. Conyers is being glorified

by all this pundit and News Show Host Hype..

I love it, just keep saying his name, because the minute Conyers gets an ounce of subpoena power.. you'll all be hearing Conyer's name more than even Fitzgerald's name.

My heart and I daresay my love of America and restoring it's dignity rests with one man alone, Mr. John Conyers..

[faithnotgreed]

58. kicking for john - i love when this guy is on our front page

where he belongs