Frustrated Anti-War Leader Pleads for Congress to Impeach
By Josiah Ryan
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
March 21, 2008

(CNSNews.com) - One of the organizers of this week's anti-war protests in Washington, D.C., is pleading with House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D.-Mich.) to make good on his repeated threats to begin impeachment proceedings against President Bush.

David Swanson, who runs After Downing Street, a coalition that includes hundreds of prominent liberal activist groups, including Veterans Against the Iraq War and Code Pink, prompted cheers on Tuesday when he called for Bush's impeachment at a rally in front of the White House. About 70 people attended the rally.

Swanson told Cybercast News Service he has grown frustrated with Conyers' posturing about impeachment. "He doesn't mean it," said Swanson. "He isn't really working on it with anyone in the House. It's just an applause line."

Nonetheless, Swanson is not giving up on urging Conyers and the Democratic leadership to take action on impeaching President Bush before the end of the year.

"This is up to you, Congressman Conyers, this is your chairmanship," said Swanson. "We won it for you. We voted for lousy Democrats all across the country so you could have the chairmanship and act on your promises and impeach these criminals."

"Congressman John Conyers has an outstanding record," said Swanson. "But now he is treating our Constitution as a joke and treating us as idiots. This is offensive to all of us.

"Congressman Conyers, do not throw it away," said Swanson. "Don't make your legacy be the destruction of the Constitution, and do not blame it on Sen. Barack Obama."

Swanson was referring to Conyers's comment to Cybercast News Service on Tuesday that he would like to impeach President Bush but was afraid the action would prevent Obama (D-Ill.) from being elected president. (See story)

Conyers said he was afraid Republicans would use an impeachment attempt to hammer Democrats in the campaign -- "and that we end up getting McCain (as president)," Conyers said. "I would regret that for the rest of my life. That's the only reason. That would be my fear."

Conyers admitted, however, that he was "struggling" with a decision on whether to try impeaching Bush before the election. The Judiciary Committee, which Conyers chairs, would ordinarily conduct an impeachment inquiry, if there is one, and approve any Articles of Impeachment for consideration by the full House.