Madsen Reports Conyer House Dems Hearings Will Be a "Forum" Only

[jamboi]

(Farmgirl asked): "(I guess what I'm trying to get at is
whether John Conyers thought it was "looney" or really, really telling
evidence)? Thoughts?"

Madsen responds:

"Conyers and others are holding a "forum" a sort of "faux hearing" -- no sworn testimony, etc (GOP will not allow a full Judiciary Cte) hearing -- Wed in House Rayburn Bldg Rm 2237. However, proceedings can be entered into Congressional Record."

[NVMojo]

1. he's right.

[whalerider55]

2. jamboi

got the link, por favor?
just cos i haven't bookmarked it yet)
thanks
whalerider55

[jamboi]

12. Which link? Sorry I'm not understanding. Clarify? n/t

[jamboi]

13. If you mean the link where Farmgirl asked the question here it is:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=104937&mesg_id=111131&page=

[Atman]

3. Hate to say I toldja so...

Because I didn't. Not directly, not in the Conyers thread. But in many others.

The hill does not give a flying fuck what Conyers wants. He is a dem, dems control NOTHING. His hearings won't get covered, the leadership won't supply resources, it will be an exercise in futility. We're on the outside looking in, and they're just gonna draw the blinds.

[goclark]

4. We must call attention to this!

Conyers needs a full show of support.

Like a sit in until they recognize that this is urgent!


They need to have people present like Carter, Rep. from the UN, Jesse Jackson bring them all there for a press conference and rally after the faux hearing.

[jamboi]

6. Even if not full "hearing" w/ supeona, its still very valuable and starts

the ball rolling. W/o Republican support they couldn't do any more. Its a start.

[eleny]

9. Thanks for all your updates n/t

[geo]

8. e-mail and call C-SPAN, and your Reps. Ask them to attend...

WilliamPitt has a thread with the info for C-SPAN. He also mentioned that they were looking to at least have it webcasted. Jesse Jackson will participate in the hearing, so no doubt it will get at least some attention. :) -G

[eowyn_of_rohan]

5. This looks like a great DC protest opportunity........

:9

[Senator]

7. We can do more than protest....

...start trying to get these signed!

Declaration of Intent

Put these weasels on the spot.

[Woo]

10. I respectfully disagree --

This course of action is nothing but a waste of time -- I've been signing these things for a month and nothing has come of any of it -- the ONLY way we're going to be heard is to get into the streets and get loud NOW-- we should start trying to contact people who have a large influence over and can get people not only riled up -- but get them into the streets -- such as the Nation of Islam -- someone close to Jesse Jackson can get him to really turn on the pressure for the masses to come behind PUSH to come out -- so on so forth --

Just think -- hundreds of thousands of black muslims in the streets -- Bush is trying to have an election in Iraq -- and you have Muslims in the streets protesting a stolen election here -- IT WOULD BE HUGE --

One large group commits to this and gets their folks in the street - - the rest will follow -- that's the only way we're going to be heard -- the time has passed for petitions and signatures -- litigation is good, but it takes time... something we don't have... we have to buy time... and force action.

The link doesn't work for me btw...

[jamboi]

11. I agree. n/t

[Senator]

15. Well, if the link didn't work how can you....

...nevermind.

First, no one's asking you to sign anything (unless of course you're a member of congress).

But, just think -- hundreds of black muslims roaming the halls of congress demanding signatures from their "leaders" to demonstrate they are not racists when it comes to elections.

Try this other link: Declaration of Intent

Or even this one: Declaration of Intent


And perhaps read a little closer.

Then just also think -- hundreds and thousands of citizens emailing, faxing, snail mailing, stalking(?) --- members of congress to sign this declaration and refuse to let the Black Caucus stand alone as they did on Jan. 6th, 2001.

Just think?

[kk897]

16. I agree... I was hoping that the Columbus rally would turn into

something bigger, but it was so darn well-behaved and polite. I was going there ready to be arrested if need be, if we staged an impromptu sit-in or linked arms to block traffic or something. But, nah. Instead, I waved a little "Honk 4 Recount" sign that someone gave me at passing motorists, many of whom did honk, BTW.

Is everyone afraid? We had more action at anti-war rallies in the past (especially in the first Gulf war... there was one time when we had this huge march of people circling the City Center--a big mall downtown). Is everyone just giving up? I know of several people who believe there was massive fraud but who think there's nothing we can do about it.

Funny... in a way, it's like we're all so civilized about this. The woman at the rally who said this was like a second American Revolution was absolutely right (I forget... was it Susan Truitt?). I was hoping with Jesse Jackson in on it, that more people would see this as a basic civil rights issue, but I don't think he's been pushing those buttons hard enough, exactly, and I don't know why.

There's a poor, primarily African American neighborhood close to downtown. I was thinking that if I were Mr. Jackson, I would have organized a huge march from that neighborhood to the courthouse for the rally. OK, he was on CNN and will be at this meeting tonight, but I truly think that we need the type of actions we saw in the 50s and 60s civil rights movement RIGHT NOW. And what's more, he participated in those original actions. I can't understand why he's not spearheading similar ones now. Maybe later?

Another issue might be that people just don't think we have the kind of country where this kind of thing can happen ("this kind of thing" being widespread massive fraud). After all, those are the kinds of problems they have in the Third World or Eastern Europe... we have a democracy, we're America, dammit, and that kind of thing just doesn't happen here.

Not sure how we combat these problems, but I don't think standing around politely listening to speakers in front of the State House is going to get it done.

[jamboi]

17. How many were there? n/t

[kk897]

18. depending on the time, it could have been

anywhere from a few hundred to maybe about 1K. I was in the middle of the crowd and so perhaps not the best judge, but I could still see the sidewalks and the lawns to the side. There were more during the middle of the speaker roster.

I think the cold was driving people away. Feh.

[Twist_U_Up]

14. something tells me

blackwell will not be present

just a hunch

[Farmgirl]

19. Jamboi...

Farmgirl here. Thanks for the update and explanation. Do you, or does Madsen have any ideas on what Conyers or others may do with this information, other than have it as a public forum for expression, or the entering of information into Congressional Record.

Will Cliff Arnebeck be there? Could any of this information be used for legal proceedings? Am I fishing too deep in the murky waters?

Jamboi, thanks for all your work on this.
:kick: :kick:

[Zen Democrat]

20. Only Republicans can call "official" hearings with subpoena power.

They are in control people. That's part of the hole we're in now. I just applaud the fact that Conyers is holding a forum of members of Congress. This will get some media attention.

We can't have ANY hearing on ANYTHING as long as Republicans control Congress.

Nixon was facing impeachment because it was a Democratic congress.

Clinton was impeached because it was a Republican congress.

We have no political power now. Only the power of the voices that speak up. Only the power of the filibuster. And the Republicans are trying to change the rules to do away with the filibuster. The administration is controlling the legislative and judicial branches of government.

When the Democrats were in control, there were liberals, moderates, conservative and Southern ulta-conservatives -- and they fought amongst each other. There were also liberal, moderate and conservative Republicans. There were lots of ways to move votes on various issues. There never was a Democratic stranglehold on power because of the liberals and conservatives in BOTH parties buffering the center of both parties. As a result, almost all legislation was compromise legislation that hovered around the center. That's gone forever.

We now must develop a new political paradigm to oppose THE POWER.

[tommcintyre]

21. Time for the "SECOND SUPERPOWER" to rise again!

Remember when many millions around the world rose up against the 2nd Iraq war?

Time again to rise!

Can anybody say "Grassroots"? Fight now, before it's too late!

[Razorback_Democrat]

22. Anything new from Madsen???

Just wondering.

I have this wild feeling that he has it, if he can separate the wheat from the chaff, he will be able to crack the biggest scandal case in our country's history.

[ccarter84]

23. Is this a public hearing I would assume?

and if so, anyone know what time it is?

[jamboi]

25. Yes, its public. Don't know what time. n/t

[Razorback_Democrat]

24. kick n/t

[senegal1]

26. kick We need some innovation here....how to make this hearing

count big time????

[shraby]

27. I think it's at 10:00 on Dec. 8 in the

Sam Rayburn building.