Interesting timing. Who's pushing this story?

As Capital Hill Blue readers probably know, John Conyers is the leading member of Congress calling for Bush's impeachment. Tonight, March 2nd, he'll be speaking about it on a panel sponsored by Harper's Magazine at Town Hall in New York City.

I don't give a damn if Conyers sits on the right hand of God. If he abuses his office he gets nailed, just like everyone else.

Doug

Right on, Doug, re nailing abusers! There are lots of buttons to be pushed here. The timing on this prominent person is certaily interesting . . . Let's see how many other buttons we can push! Also, the question arises for me: has money changed hands with these "former" coworkers of Conyers and republican hacks? And, equally important, why didn't the ethics committee address these complaints fully two years ago? And . . . were these people "asked" to do things or were they "demanded" of them? Seems like a big difference to me, especially when people smile and say "ok with me" and then whine later . . . Caroline

Nice conspiracy theory Caroline but that dog don't hunt. I worked on Capitol Hill for six years and Conyers was well know for treating his staff like crap. It wasn't, however, until some changes in House rules that staff members were allowed to file complaints. This isn't the first time a staffer has filed charges against him and I doubt it will be the last.

Conyers is a venal little man who treats his staff like indentured servants. Perhaps the Democrats should pick a different point man to lead the charge against Bush.

Doug

Exactly, just what I thought, Steve, interesting timing. Doug you are right too. IF and that's a big IF you abuse the office..YOU NEED TO GO! But you have to admit..The timing of this is interesting..It makes me think "Does Conyers really want Bush out..impeached..Because I think and have been told what we see is just a dog and pony show for our benefit,just to make US,feel good. THAT SOMEONE IS REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR US! but really THEY ARE ALL THE SAME..ONCE THEY GET THAT TASTE OF GREED AND CORRUPTION,POWER! THEY ARE ALL EVIL. ALL OF THEM,NEED TO BE FIRED!! But then again, I have a hard time with the fact that everyone is evil! When I see stories like this, I think "ok,what is Conyers doing right? If "They" are going after him?" I thought the same about Delay.

BIG F'n Deal. Just goes to show you how far the
Repugs will go in the attempt to take the bright light of infamy off their leader, administration and corrupt party. Give me a F'n break. They are
just like flies looking for a hot pile of sh_t. Fact is they covered with it.

I am also interested to hear the answers to the questions posted by Caroline M.

It will also be interesting to see how much play the story gets in the media especially, by Fox News?

Rep. Conyers is one of the very few Democrats saying things out loud against Bush and the administration.

For this to come out now, with Bush's numbers at the lowest, the Port controversy, caught in yet another Lie over New Orleans, and the soon up roar about the deal with India, are republicans in desperation, trying to divert the news away from Bush, impossible as it seems?

Ok,Doug-Just read you're post on how you worked on the hill for 6 yrs and after reading your articles for a few months, You seem really knowlegdable, and credible..so yea..I believe that Conyers is a terrible person because I do read and hear a lot to on this corruption..so I go back to my initial thoughtS. THEY ARE ALL EVIL COCKSUCKER..THAT NEED TO BE FIRED AT THE VERY LEAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THAT THIS IS ALL A DOG AND PONY SHOW FOR OUR BENEFIT..NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO BUSH (REGRETFULLY)!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO PISSED!! CAN YOU TELL?!!!

Ok,Doug-Just read you're post on how you worked on the hill for 6 yrs and after reading your articles for a few months, You seem really knowlegdable, and credible..so yea..I believe that Conyers is a terrible person because I do read and hear a lot to on this corruption..so I go back to my initial thoughtS. THEY ARE ALL EVIL @#$%%^&&**!..THAT NEED TO BE FIRED AT THE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THAT THIS IS ALL A DOG AND PONY SHOW FOR OUR BENEFIT..NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO BUSH (REGRETFULLY)!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO PISSED!! CAN YOU TELL?!!!

This is just TOO Karl Rove convenient. How many good (or even not so good) Dems have to be crushed under the Bush juggernaut before we stop believing the propaganda. If Conyers did this, why wasn't it addressed two years ago, WHY NOW?

Doug,

Who are the squeaky clean politicians? Do any exist in any party?

Just wondering.........

I find Doug protestations disingenious. He hates Clinton and is too ashamed of Bush to stand up for him. I served in the military under both Democratic and Republican Presidents. I helped in Oliver North's war, Desert Storm, Grenada, Panama and a few covert operations. There is a difference in Party dogma when it come to killing foriegn leaders. The Democrates want to engage first while the Repubs want to eliminate all those who do not let big Business take the foreign lands resources and it's population. Witness the need to go after Hugo Chavez for helping his people up from poverty. The religious zealots calling for his assassination for what?

I loved the military and thrilled at going after the bad guy. But the Repubs turn this whole morality issue upside down. If Chavez nationalizes the resources, uses the money to help the people, he's a corrupt politicol or worse..a socialist/communist. (I wish they would learn the difference between the two). The real issue boils down to how far are you willing to go to grab money? Murder and torture in the name of National Security is about as far as one can go. And as a retired military, I believe the throwing out of the Geneva Convention for treatment of detainees will cause all other nations to follow suit and we have no moral standing to feign horrow at this developement. We have crossed the line!

I'll leave judgments about Conyers to those that know him. And, yes, he should be held accountable for any violations. Accountablility is severely lacking in Congress, and with Bush and his administration.

That said, This seems similar to the Clinton sex act being compared to the lies and deceptions used to start preemptive wars, and to place American troops in harm's way.

The acts of politicians should be addressed, but kept in perspective, and prioritized.

Well Dave, thanks for clarifying this whole topic.

As for the article having "interesting timing", when, exactly, is a good time for this administration? They are dealing with the disaster of the week.

According to Wikipedia (not exactly a referreed journal, but none-the-less a source of some information): "A winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes, the Free Press is the larger and more politically liberal of Detroit's two major dailies."

So now its a liberal conspiracy to rid the world of ... what?

I suspect its just reporting the story as it happens, like we expect from CHB, too.

I don't care what Conyers asked these lawyers to do for him. They were LAWYERS and if they could not stand up for themselves how will they find the courage to stand up for anyone else. They fully understand the issues of ethics and just how far they can be asked to go to serve this man. If they have a legal standing to sue...do so. When I served in the military I was held responsible for my action. If I was given an illegal order and carried it out, I go to jail and not my boss who gave the order. Don't you think fur flew from time to time getting this clear between us.

Dave:

I find Doug protestations disingenious. He hates Clinton and is too ashamed of Bush to stand up for him.

Ah, another dog that don't hunt. I don't hate Clinton. Never did. I hated his performance as President. Same for Bush. Why would I be too ashamed to stand up for him? I didn't expect anything from him and he lived up to my lack of expectations. Both are lying, scurrilous SOBs who, if there is justice, will rot in hell.

Other than that I have no opinion on either.

Doug

Kris writes:

Who are the squeaky clean politicians? Do any exist in any party?

Squeaky clean politician? A double contradiction in terms. One may exist but I haven't run across such a rare bird. Doubt that I ever will.

Doug

Don't you think the need to be in power is a sign of corruption? A flaw in their character?

Change the way we pick people..or how long they can stay. Did not the contract with America have as one of it's tenets a term limit? But I don't think that's the answer.

intersting timing.. do I know if conyers is corrupt? nope, but i have to say Conyers doen't speak about the 911 hoax.. all of them who don't should hit the road. they only one I hear is McKinney. this should be out of the mouth of every congresscritter.. ask yourself why are they all covering it up.. evey thing leads to 911.. we are still stuck in Daily Plaza Nov 22 1963.

If there is a cleaning of house of corrupt politicians, there probably will be a few Democrats kicked out on the curb along with a LOT of Republicans.

If Conyers, Pelosi, and possibly some others (Reid? etc.) have to go to get rid of DeLay, Frist, etc. it's a good deal (after all, if those particular Democrats haven't abused the system they won't get in trouble will they?).

I am not at all fond of Pelosi's instructions to Democrats not to bring any ethics charges in the House. What the hell is that? There may be some "political strategery" behind it, but as an average voter out here in America it just made me think that she was a bit afraid of ethics charges against herself.

I'm as anti-Republican as they come these days, but covering up for the much smaller percentage of Democrats with "issues" is NOT the strategy to win America away from the dark side...

I feel so sad for our country. Short of a revolution, I don't know how anything will change. I thought Congressman Conyers was one of the "good guys." Now I feel so hopeless, all I want to do is cry.

Dave,Thanks for fighting the bad guy. Who is the bad guy? Forgive me..Nowdays,I am so negitive about this Farce of a war on terror! Was the military that different when you were in? I'm not againist the military..I feel sorry,ashamed,scared for them. I want them home now! Hey,did you read the zogby poll. It was the rant yesterday. It was pretty encouraging. Dave it sounds like you think for yourself..thanks for that..really..it means so much to me that people think for themselves.
But on the issue of Dems and Repugs..lol..There is no such thing..They are one in the same.
And thanks Doug. And I agree about 9-11 and "they" are never going to admit the truth. They all know the truth but we wont ever here it from them..Thank God for alterative media!

Doug, Your observations, comments are interesting, but I think you're spending entirely too much time indoors! Dress warmly and take a brisk walk in your woods. There's more to life than sitting at a pc! Me, I'm saying bye for now (I'm taking my afternoon walk). elgee

One of the hard and seldom discussed realities of political life is that some of the people on the right side of many issues -- sometimes highly visible and important people -- have some pretty crappy behavior in their closets. John Conyers, a hero to many Democrats, is one of those people. It has been an old story for many years that Conyers treats his staff like surfs -- at best. This is not uncommon for Capitol Hill -- among Democrats or Republicans -- but it is increasingly unacceptable when news of it reaches the public. I doubt there is any conspiracy involved in news of this coming out at the moment. But there is, John Conyers has no one to blame but himself for this continuing and blatant pattern of abusive behavior toward staff.

All members of Congress, regardless of party or seniority, need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and reevaluate the way they treat their staff members. If they can't obey the law on employee matters, which sets a very low hurdle indeed, and treat their staff with basic human dignity -- they have no business in Congress.

I agree what good timing. One of the few congress people who have the courage to stand up and we have to smear him. John has done alot of good for our country. And I don't care if he asks his staff to wipe him butt if he has the courage to impeach george w, I will stand behind him. If his staff don't like their jobs they can quit.

I don't give a damn if Conyers sits on the right hand of God. If he abuses his office he gets nailed, just like everyone else.

Doug---- like who are you talking about??? With what Bush is doing to this country, we have time to attack Conyers??? Talk about the next 9/11 to befall us in America (TEXAS in particular) to ensure support for the planned NUCLEAR strike on IRAN. We have until the 20th. Now, that's a story. Bill Borgstrom

What a terrible crime!!

Now, if he lied about the reasons for going to war, or let an American city be destroyed while he lied about wanting to help, or gave no-bid multi-billion dollar contracts out to cronies, those would be OK.

But to misuse his staff for personal tasks--Isn't that a capital crime or something??

There are crimes, and there are misdemeanors.

Gosh-gee-willikers, it can be so difficult to tell which is which.

Not!

Why don't some of you people grow up ! Don't you recognize a smear tactic when it raises it's ugly head ? If Conyers asked some of his hired help to do other jobs, for which they were paid, and they did not want to do..then they had the right to Quit. And why the Delay of several years to even Complain ? Sounds pretty 'put up' if you ask me. Conyers is a hero in my eyes. He seems to be an almost extinct entity when it comes to standing up and speaking the truth to power..come what may. Now, if he were guilty of invading another country using trumped up charges, and the slaughter of over a Hundred Thousand Dead, and counting, and a cost of almost a Trillion dollars and counting.. then you would have reasons aplenty to fault him. Otherwise, keep your traps shut and let those three morons tilt at windmills.

Doug: Everyone abuses their office or position at sometime in their professional life-- even you no doubt. Too long lunches? Drinking during working hours? A "matinee" away from the office during the day? Clinton got a blow job in the Oval Office, and Conyers is "not a nice boss." Now we know. Since you did work on "The Hill" for 5 years I would expect you to put the acts of elected officials in perspective, and differentiate between high crimes and misdemeanors, and peccadillos. Otherwise your rants become ravings, and they have no value.-- Judy

Judy:

I did put the acts of elected officials into perspective. Any elected officials who abuses his position gets nailed. No exceptions. No excuses. I don't like politicians who abuse power. Never have. Never will. Conyers has a long record of abusing his staff. I also don't have any sympathy for the "everybody does it" defense.

Excuse them if you wish. I don't. And I don't give a damn who they are or what party they represent.

Doug

Rep. John Conyers Jr has taken an up front stance against the corrupt George W. Bush and the rest of his regime. It's time to 'walk softly and carry a big stick' before jumping to conclusions about relative trivia. There has never, ever been anything like this reported about Rep. Conyers. Bringing up such charges NOW sounds mighty suspicious to me!

So if this ocurred in 1997 why bring it up 9 years later. Oh,I know, they were so traumatized that they had to repress their memories. It was only after a psychiatrist using dolls in role playing therapy did these memories surface and they were able gain catharsis. My god the man had her babysit and gave her free room and board and the other fellow had to drive Conyers to meetings. They were afraid to quit be cause they were afraid for their lives or having to find a real job and work for a living. You know how that was Doug. After all you worked on the hill for six years.