CONYERS GIVES BUSH REGIME A PASS ON ITS CRIMES

[We have argued that while impeachment would be futile, House Judiciary Committee chair John Conyers should be assembling a list of crimes committed by the Bush regime, and supporting evidence, for the benefit of criminal prosecutions and civil suits after Bush leaves office. It appears that Conyers has decided to duck the issue entirely]

DONNA NORTON, SONOMA COUNTY PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS - On January 25th, I had a telephone conversation (40 mins+) with a legislative assistant in Conyers' office regarding impeachment. He had obviously been well-instructed on how to express their current policy. Our conversation included both Bush and Cheney, and took some strange turns, but this is basically the stand they're taking:

- Impeachment's not necessary. The next election will take care of everything. just elect democrats. (This chorus was repeated throughout our discussion.)

- A sitting President is not subject to court actions. Nothing in the Constitution says a President is subject to the law. He finally conceded this remains an "unsettled" question in the courts. . .

- Congress does not have an obligation or duty to investigate or take any action to prevent a President from breaking the law or abusing his powers. It's totally up to their discretion.

- The courts can follow up with any illegal acts of the President or Vice-President after they're out of office, and all will be fine.

- Correcting power-abuse really has no meaning because power is what it's all about. They all abuse it. So what? It's just politics.