Conyers calls for Deep Throat resolution (Raw Story)

[CottonBear]

Conyers calls for Deep Throat resolution

Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) has issued a statement announcing that he will introduce a resolution commending Mark Felt for his role in exposing White House involvement in the Watergate scandal. In the statement, he also likens Nixon-era corruption to current political events.

<snip>

"As the world now knows, Mr. Felt disclosed this week that he was the confidential source known as Deep Throat. As one who was a first hand witness to Watergate, I can only state humbly that Mr. Felt helped bring our country back from the brink of a constitutional crisis and an out-of-control White House.

<snip>

"With this latest revelation, I am reminded that the lessons of Watergate are eerily important today. Back than we had an aggressive press corps, men of courage, such as Mark Felt, John Dean, Leon Jaworski and Archibald Cox, who were willing to challenge authority. Back then we had a Justice Department that was willing to take an investigation wherever it would lead and a Congress that was willing to hold real hearings and conduct real oversight of official misconduct.

"Today it is unclear who will step up to the plate to expose the wrongdoing of the current administration."

http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/conyers_060105.htm

Thank you John Conyers: you are a true patriot. :patriot:

[Scout1071]

1. John Conyers impresses me every single day.

Not to sound corny, but he truly is an American hero.

Keep up the great work Congressman!

[Gregorian]

3. Totally. This just put a smile on my angry face. :)

And that's saying a lot. Cat vomited in the house. Chainsaws are blazing away for the third month in a row, outside my front yard, cutting down an entire forest!!! Which in turn has me already selling the house I just moved into!!! But Conyers has pulled me out of it again.


edit- The thing is, I don't think Felt is proud of his whistleblowing. At least not consciously. And the repubs must be so mad at Conyers for this. I love him!

[whistle]

2. Mark Felt is a true American patriot and a hero and should have

...a place of distinction for his courage to do the right and proper thing with a corrupt administration that what out of control and threatened the very foundation of American democracy.

I thing this news of Mark Felt coming forward now just brings forward to the collective American conscience that the battle against tyranny and corruption from the very government which has been entrusted with the security and welfare of the nation can not be trusted.

Mark Felt...America hero!

[central scrutinizer]

18. I am nostalgic for the Nixon years

I never thought I would type that, but the whole Deep Throat thing made me think: we used to have actual journalists who did actual work and real Senators and Representatives who put the country ahead of party and valued honesty and integrity more than influence peddling and felt corporations were supposed to serve the common good. All of those statements have been turned upside down over the last 30 years.

[Snap]

25. Those years.....

I too am amazed to think back on that time. Something that gives me a little hope is to remember how dark it was in America in the late 60's and early 70's, and things changed (briefly) for the better. I think it's a constant battle, the forces of greed and fear are mighty.
It's like 'whack a mole' or a dance; 2 steps forward, 1 step back.

[whistle]

27. Yea, well Nixon was that type of political slime ball and the cancer

...that John Dean alluded to in his testimony was already deeply embedded in the body politic working its way deeper and deeper into the bowels of government during Gerald Fords tenure and Jimmy Carter's presidency. Reagan came along and fed that cancer with a steady diet of political and social carcinogens for eight years and the country has never been the same since.

Granted, the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities to investigate Watergate, known as the Ervin Committee through its Chairperson, Senator Sam Ervin, was conducted primarily to get to the truth and did so for the most part. Nothing that has been seen since including the Iran Contra investigations, certainly the republican sleaze smear of President Bill Clinton and most recently the 9-11 commission has even approached the integrity and bipartisan goal and effort to get to the truth for the best interest of the country, that the Erwin committee demonstrated. We can only hope that such values for the truth may once again be held in the highest esteem for the nation.

[cawe24]

4. This may be a stupid question...

But why isn't Conyers' name being bandied about for a possible 2008 presidential nomination? Please forgive my ignorance....

[CottonBear]

6. I think that all of the possible candidates are lying low.

It's the Republicans who keep talking about Hillary in 2008.

In my opinion, I don't think that a congressman or a senator can win. They have a voting record. What we need is a Governor (Carter & Clinton were both governors) or a war veteran (Clarke). Gephardt could never get traction. I think that we would be better served with Conyers as the Speaker of the House or Majority Whip!

Welcome to DU cawe24! :hi:

[tinrobot]

8. Not sure...

But if the stays in the house, he really should get Hastert's job once we win it back.

[FreedomAngel82]

32. I think so too

He'd be perfect. I think he deserves it.

[sleipnir]

10. Ah, my friend, I think it is....this is his subtle way...

More and more every day I think that Conyers is placing himself in the running for '08 as the "left of center" candidate. To use a parallel, he's going for the Kucinich role. But, unlike the K-man, Conyers will have a ton of name recognition built up by then and probably be the blogosphere favorite.

Or, he's placing himself for VP...that's my personal vote, and he'd bring a lot to the ticket. A whole web of people, pardon the pun.


I hate to speculate too much, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him form an exploratory committee after the '06 elections Congressional elections.

[FreedomAngel82]

34. He could be doing that but

I don't think so. I think he's just the only one in politics now with the guts and he's fearless I think. At least with us. He could be fearful for all we know. :shrug: But he's so great!! I really admire him. :loveya:

[tavalon]

30. I can't believe I'm going to be answering this question but,

he isn't being bandied about because he is black. We at DU would vote for him and many in the north would too, but the south would turn their collective racist back on that idea.

I think Conyers needs to stay in the House and we need to get the majority back and then, he should be the majority leader.

[newyawker99]

37. Hi cawe24!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rurallib]

5. Wingnuts will have a hard time supporting such a resolution

I know they've already started their spin, but I'd like to think that NOT supporting such a resolution would be awfully hard to explain to the folks back home who so dearly just want some honest government.
But the spin machine that could turn war heroes like John Kerry and John McCain into traitors will somehow try to turn Felt into some kind of traitor also. Jesus, these folks have no decency. MAybe this will be the one to wake people up?

[onenote]

7. conyers' strategy

Seems open to question to me. The way the resolution is worded, no repug will vote for it and none will have to say that they were being an apologist for Nixon. They'll point to the language critical of the current administration. Defending the current administration doesn't put repugs in a difficult situation...they do it all the time.

I would've preferred that Conyers offered a straightforward resolution saluting Felt. Then let the repugs struggle between voting for it, and alienating the Pat Buchanan foam at the mouthers, or voting against it and being depicted as sympathetic to Nixon's abuses.

onenote

[CottonBear]

9. interesting strategy. You should e-mail him or call Conyers office

with your thoughts.

I am glad he's taking action. No matter what he does, KKKarl will try to spin it to Bu$h's advantage somehow.

[oxbow]

12. My thoughts exactly

He must know this thing won't pass with all the scorn he's piled on the admin in it. So what is he doing then?

[CottonBear]

13. We will soon know what he's doing.

I' really excited. The Republicans are melting down over Felt's revelation.
:popcorn:

[struggle4progress]

14. Let the 'Cons all stand up for Nixon. Fine with me. eom

[babylonsister]

17. IMO this is his way of bringing attention to all the ills

that this admin has created.

[Roland99]

11. Has he always been this on-the-ball?

Or is he making up for admitting (in F 9/11) that no one reads legislation?

[FreedomAngel82]

36. I really don't know

I have just started following him since the 2004 election. He's been working a LOT since then.

[Total Disaster]

15. Bad idea, I'm still pissed about the crimes he committed...

....against the Weather Underground.

[CottonBear]

19. Are you speaking of Felt and the Reagan pardon

for Felt's illegal surveilance of Vietnam protestors?

IMHO, the Deep Throat action cancels out the anti=-protestor action. He was second in command at the FBI during the war years, although that's not a good excuse.

[Total Disaster]

21. He authorized illegal break-ins and other surveillance....

...of the group, including family and friends of known Underground members. Just cause he was pissed about something the Nixon administration did to him and therefore ratted them out, he's still a rat.

[vince3]

16. Conyers is the best Congressman I have ever seen.

The other Dems could help him more. It seems like he has to do just about everything himself.

[CottonBear]

20. Conyers is fearless! He has the truth on his side. n/t

[grasswire]

26. he is the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee

That's why he's always out in front.

It's HIS place to request investigations and provide oversight.

[pinkpops]

22. We could use a Mark Felt right now

[Gregorian]

24. Yes. We need a Kamakazee journalist.

Because that's what it would take. Someone who doesn't care if his access was cut off. We're in deep shit, and either Congress has to place an order for the news to be posted, or it isn't going to happen. In fact, just reading Palast's latest, the Mai Lai incident was refused news space until the author threatened to read his piece from the steps of the Pentagon.

[AuntiBush]

23. What would we do "without" Congressman Conyers, I ask!?!

Can't thank this American hero enough.

Attention FReepers: You should thank this man - he works for all of us every damn day!

[Just Me]

28. Conyers is impressing the hell out of me!!!

WOW!!! That man is on a roll!!!!

:yourock:

[lovuian]

29. I love it!!!

:bounce:

[smartvoter]

31. Conyers is the best. nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

33. That man deserves a great big hug!

:hug:

[IndianaGreen]

35. "Back than we had an aggressive press corps... "

Ouch! The truth hurts!

[Pacifist Patriot]

38. Damn I love that guy. He does my heart good.