Marcy Winograd, former Democratic candidate for the U.S. House and President of the Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles (PDLA), sent the following e-mail missive to PDLA members earlier today describing a meeting on Tuesday with Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee.
The conversation regarding Impeachment, the Congressman’s views on same, and the arguments made by the activists in favor of it are interesting and offer some insight into both Waxman’s thinking at this moment and, undoubtedly, that of many other House Democrats who clearly are seeing things differently from inside the Beltway than those of us outside of it.
We can only hope that all U.S. House and Senate members are getting such an earful now that they’re on recess and back in their home districts. Here’s Winograd’s instructive report in full…
Waxman Says He Will Keep an Open Mind on Impeachment
Congressman Waxman, Chair of the House Oversight Committee, told an impeachment
delegation meeting with him in his Los Angeles office, Tues., Aug. 7, 2007, that he would mull over his constituents’ articulate arguments, watch the Bill Moyers’ interview on impeachment, and weigh whether there was sufficient evidence to, not just impeach, but convict Bush and Cheney. Waxman told the delegation it was not enough to believe Bush and Cheney were responsible for high crimes; his decision to support or co-sponsor an impeachment resolution must be predicated on the knowledge that there is overwhelming evidence for a conviction.Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, California’s 41st Assembly District Delegates, the Los Angeles National Impeachment Center, and the LA Green Party participated in the office delegation, while a group of impeachment supporters rallied outside, holding Impeachment is Patriotic signs and a huge banner that read Impeachment is on Our Table.
Inside, the 14 impeachment lobbyists meeting with Waxman offered multiple arguments…
Marcy Winograd, the principle organizer of the delegation and the President of Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, said the country was on the precipice of a police state with each new Presidential directive criminalizing dissent; Peter Thottam, a Green Party activist and the founder of the LA National Impeachment Center, referred to the many hundreds of thousands of people killed as a result of the Bush administration’s lies that led the nation to war; Joye Swan, a leader of the Progressive Caucus in the California Democratic Party, referred to a sign in Waxman’s lobby which mentioned the importance of a lone courageous voice; Michael Jay, Wayne Williams, Maureen Cruise, and Linda Sutton, all activists with Progressive Democrats of America, reminded Waxman that he took an oath of office to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution; Ricco Ross, a delegate to the California Democratic Party, said the impeachment of Bush and Cheney would redeem the United States in the eyes of the world. At one point one participant said, Congressman Waxman, we are asking you to defend us.
At the outset of the meeting, Waxman expressed a hesitancy to come out publicly for impeachment, explaining that his role as a vigorous investigator would be compromised by taking a stand that could be perceived as partisan or partial. Winograd responded with, At some point you, the investigator, have enough evidence to hold these criminals accountable. What is the point of continuous investigations unless an indictment or impeachment process is begun? Showing some hesitancy, Waxman insisted that a successful impeachment trial would necessitate strong and convincing evidence to persuade both Democrats and Republicans that high crimes had been committed. In the next breath, Waxman recited a litany of Bush and Cheney’s crimes, everything from the Iraq war to the outing of a CIA agent to illegal wiretapping. “You sound like you are delivering the opening argument for an impeachment trial,” said Winograd. With good humor, Waxman nodded and smiled.
Towards the end of the meeting, Dorothy Reik, President of Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains, urged Waxman to use the inherent contempt power of Congress to bring criminal charges against Bush and Cheney and their aides, hold a hearing in Congress on those charges, and then hand down the punishment, prison time. Reik expressed frustration with the refusal of Bush administration officials to testify before congressional committees, despite the fact that subpoenas had been issued.
Your witnesses aren’t showing up — They’re ignoring your subpoenas, said Reik, so it is time for you, Congressman Waxman, to recognize that there is a precedent for members of congress to initiate and follow through on criminal proceedings.
Waxman said he was unaware of the inherent contempt power. In a follow-up letter after the meeting, Winograd emailed him information on the inherent contempt precedent.
While only six months ago Congressman Waxman ruled out impeachment, this time he indicated he would go forward with an open mind, all the while praising participants for their passion and urging them to lobby the members of the House Judiciary Committee.
Let me get this staight: a multi-term bulldog of a Congressman is unaware of “inherent contempt”?
Who’s shuckin’ and jivin’ now?
I might forgive a freshman congress-critter this ignorance, but a sharp pro.
A clue for the clueless:
Yes, well Waxman’s full of shit. LYING. [25 minutes, audio]
Agent99@ #3
I listened. I did not like it. Not one bit.
He is shuckin’ and jivin’.
Thank you, gtash. Always good to know I’m not hallucinating. Keeps feeling as though I must be, but, well, no such luck….
President George W. Bush killed little animals when he was a child and he’s one of the primary instigators of the maiming and slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent lives as “leader of the free world.” He is a disgrace not just to America but to humanity as a whole. Like Charles Manson before him, he is a sick and criminally twisted psychopath. The dissemination of disinformation by the Overwhelmingly Fascist Media, makes them guilty of aiding and abetting his crimes against humanity. Hillary Clinton and other Democrats who have helped these tyrants are just as guilty. One feels, if there were real justice, all guilty parties be sent to prison. Thankfully there are a few intelligent and decent leaders such as Dennis Kucinich and Debra Bowen, rare exceptions that prove the rule.
I was a participant in this meeting and it was truly disappointing from my perspective. The wiliness to hear the message was not present. Mr. Waxman also had a private meeting with a group of 15 individuals today in Century City. The LANIC meeting and Rep. Waxman’s comments and awareness of his oath to uphold the Constitution were also brought up in this separate meeting. I call it the “swift boating of the Constitution”. LANIC: http://www.bcimpeach.com. Videos of meeting @ http://www.youtube.com/voiceofamericans2008.com
Our only protection
against abuses of the government
is the Constitution.
The only way to protect
the Constitution
is to enforce the Constitution!
Marcy is covering for Waxman. From the BCImpeach.com website — Thottam’s less generous take on Waxman’s “evasiveness”:
Below is an email which went out to Congressman Waxman’s office today as a followup to a fax of a petition inquiry that 25 rally participants prepared immediately after our Tuesday meeting had concluded and the office had closed for the day. Griffin (the intern working w/ Lisa Pinto at Waxman’s office) promised he would make sure that Waxman received the fax and e-mail.
The meeting’s results? Waxan patiently listened and said he would review the extensive materials (including a hardcopy bound collection of the 2,448 handwritten Los Angeles signatures LANIC had as of August 1st (gathered by over 100 volunteers in less than one month!)). We were disappointed and surprised at Waxman’s comments regarding a range of issues, including current poll #s, constitutional mandates and the extent of casualties in Iraq (both our side and on the Iraqi side). What did Congressman Waxman say? We’ll discuss this in detail at Saturday’s volunteer session. Here is the short version: 15 of us met at 4 pm with Congressman Waxman for just over an hour. Concurrently, close to an additional 40 people (after less than one day’s advance notice) rallied for Impeachment and in support outside of Waxman’s office (see photos below).
Numerous points were made by all 15 pro-Impeachment activists in attendance. Waxman said he would take our literature under submission. What were his expressed reservations and issues?
(1) Timing — Waxman said that he didn’t think Impeachment by the House could happen until May 2008 and that a trial by the Senate would create huge political problems for the Democrats as the trial would run into the November 2008 elections thereby ‘alienating’ many American voters much like the impeachment of Clinton — Waxman claimed — alienated many voters from Republicans;
(2) He did not think he had enough ‘convincing’ evidence’ to warrant impeachment and he valued his impartiality and ‘information gathering’ role on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee;
(3) He didn’t believe the poll #s in favor of impeachment were greater than 20%;
(4) He was worried about Congressional Paralysis if impeachment proceedings were initiated and accusations of ‘partisanship’;
(5) Waxman was ‘not sure’ about his constitutional obligations and stated he would have to look into this (hence the faxed inquiry by us below and the request for a response);
(6) He needed to consult with the Democratic Party’s leadership (presumably, Pelosi and Clinton’s campaign team).
………………..
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Peter L. Thottam, Esq.
Date: Aug 8, 2007 4:13 PM
Subject: Attn: Congressman Waxman & Lisa Pinto — Impeachment Rally Inquiry (Tuesday 5:00 pm) fax follow-up [please confirm receipt]
To: “Pinto, Lisa”
Dear Ms. Pinto and/or Griffin Barstis:
Thank you for confirming your office’s receipt of the fax I sent to Congressman Waxman’s office today (Fax#: (323) 655-0402). Per our discussion, below is a verbatim text transcription of the first paragraph (Citizen’s Rally inquiry):
“We expect tonight, Congressman Waxman, that you will investigate your constitutional duties and respond to us promptly by Friday morning as to what your constitutional duties and obligations to us, your voters and citizens, are regarding your oath to defend the Constitution.”
Signed – 25 signatories participating in the Tuesday, August 7, 2007 rally at Congressman Henry Waxman’s office. Finally, Please make ensure that Congressman Henry Waxman receive this email and the earlier sent fax transmission. The group requested that you please try to respond by Friday, as requested on the petition, to thottam@bcimpeach.com. Please also copy the copied parties on this email transmission. Each of these parties was an attendee at the office meeting in Congressman Waxman’s office. We truly look forward to his prompt response to the above inquiry from yesterday’s 50 person pro-Impeachment rally.
Thanks in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.
Impeach Now,
Peter Thottam
Executive Director
Los Angeles National Impeachment Center
http://www.BCImpeach.com
Mobile: (310) 497-7255
. . . John F. Kennedy . . . . . Pat Tillman . . . . . Paul wellstone . . . . . Martin L. King . . .
. . . . . Patrick Leahy . . . . . Joe Wilson . . . . . Tom Daschle . . . . . Larry Flynt . . . . .
Taking the nation to war cannot be considered a “misdemeanor” – but to do so under false pretences IS CERTAINLY A “HIGH CRIME”!
Just how much more evidence does this idiot need?
We have them on freaking video, lots of video lying continuously to take the country into an unjust and illegal war of aggression.
Bush has without question broken so many National, International, Constitutional laws and treaties that it is mind boggling.
He has already been tried and convicted in 3 separate war crimes tribunals.
The FACT that he stole 2 elections has been proven well beyond any reasonable doubt.
There are mountains of evidence that shows quite clearly this administration is guilty of planning and executing the false flag attack of 9/11.
This is by far the most impeachable administration in human history, not just Bush but the entire damn administration.
Get a freaking grip.
How long are we just going to allow these nutters to keep getting away with these crimes?
That includes these so called democrats like Waxman that are clearly enabling these Fascist every step of the way. They are just as guilty.
In fact ALL of us are guilty because we have about 100+ Million Americans that KNOW all of what I just listed and we do NOTHING about it.
A Thoughtful Discussion on Impeachment…
Bill Moyer’s Journal: Tough Talk on Impeachment
You might well ask what impeachment has to do with whistleblowers, my main crusade? Well, if not for the excesses and indiscretions of our current administration (Executive Branch) and the lack of resolve on the part of congress (Legislative Branch) in straightening things out, we wouldn’t have so much trouble in Justice (Judicial Branch), getting current laws upheld, wrongdoing investigated by various investigative agencies, and cases prosecuted, and such a hostile work environment for those who point out problems and illegalities, which I believe would mean fewer people labeled whistleblowers who are just trying to ethically do their federal jobs!
Click on the whole long address to view. Well worth watching the whole thing. There are two parts. Thanks Professor Nan for showing me this exists!
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journ...l;prefchange=1
The Dems have no spine. They have no desire to protect the Constitutuon. Forget it. It is over. There is no hope. Our childen will never forgive us.