Open Letter to Reps Pelosi and Conyers

[az chela]

Open Letter to Reps Pelosi and Conyers
We the People are Setting the Table Now
Cindy Sheehan

Dear Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Conyers,

I am writing this open letter to you both on the day after Veteran's Day. A day that has so much more meaning to me since my son Casey was KIA in Iraq for absolutely no reason but to line the pockets of the war machine. I cried in front of his symbolic tombstone at Arlington Northeast in Philadelphia and I dreamed of him before I awakened. Casey's "tombstone" was planted in the ground directly across from Liberty Hall which was the birth place of our Republic. How tragic it was to see 2842 tombstones of our brave young people who have been killed by people who are trampling all over our Constitution and making a mockery out of the separations of power and the original intent of that document. 2842 citizens who were willing to volunteer for service and were killed by people who lied to the world to send them to invade and occupy a country in a war of aggression that has killed almost a million Iraqi citizens. How tragic it is that you both, our newly elected Democratic leadership are already talking about abrogating their Constitutional responsibilities, again.

We the people are shocked that you two are already stridently saying over and over again that impeachment is "off the table." Since the historic Nov. 7th elections, I have talked to a boat-load of Americans who want impeachment on the table. We activists worked hard to make these elections about national issues, like the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq, and the culture of corruption that, especially you, Ms. Pelosi have been railing against for months now. And you, Mr. Conyers, have already written a brilliant and detailed indictment of BushCo. We the people are definitely puzzled by your rhetoric.

We the people put the Democrats back into power because we want to see a change in this country and a rejection of politics as usual. We want politics as unusual. We want to see the issue of impeachment and a speedy and safe withdrawal of our troops from Iraq de-politicized and brought into the realm of "right and wrong" where these issues belong, not "right and left."

We the people are here to tell you that we are the ones that are going to be setting the table, now. For too many years, we have allowed you people, who are just like us and elected by us and from us, to tell us what the agenda will be. Like I told George in a recent letter to him (no response yet, hmm), a sleeping giant has been awakened in this country and we are not falling asleep again just because the Democrats, only with grassroots involvement and commitment, are back in power in Congress.

It turns our stomachs when you talk about "working" with the Republicans. First of all, these people have allowed BushCo free rein in committing their high crimes and misdemeanors and crimes against humanity. Why would you want to work with murderers, liars, and crooks? When one works with criminals, one becomes complicit and culpable for those crimes. We elected you all to be different, not more of the same.

Secondly, and more importantly, BushCo have openly committed egregious crimes which they have all admitted to. The question really isn't: should they be impeached, but why haven't they been impeached, removed from office and criminally charged and tried for these crimes, yet? I believe that when Congressional Representatives and Senators are sworn into office they take an oath to protect the constitution, not to protect, aid, and abet criminals. The investigation and eventual rubber stamp to begin impeachment proceedings against Nixon was a bi-partisan effort and Nixon wasn't even investigated for the level of crimes that BushCo should be investigated for.

We realize that you have a tremendous and daunting task before you both. We know for six years that your governmental body has been busy giving its power away to a maniac who has abused and misused that power so incompetently and tragically. However, to say that impeachment can't be one of the issues that Congress begins immediate work on is not giving you all enough credit. We know that you can do it! We have confidence in your abilities. Impeachment has been done before in our country and it has never before been so urgent.

How many times has George said that the troops aren't coming home while he is president? How many times has BushCo lied to us and admitted those lies? Or been caught in those lies? How many people have they killed for greed of money and power and how many lives have been destroyed by them? How many laws have BushCo broken and admitted to breaking? How many people have they physically and mentally wounded by torture and by sending our brave young people wrongly to Iraq and not supporting them when they get there? How much longer will you allow them to violate and desecrate everything that we hold dear as Americans and human beings?

We the people demand that you do your duties as officers and protectors of our Constitution and we demand that you do your duties as members of humanity to call a halt to the crimes against humanity of the Bush regime.

When the 110th Congress is seated on January 3rd, we the people, who also have a duty to our Constitution (We the People is the first line) and a duty to humanity will be walking the halls of your offices to tell you what our agenda is and what we want on the table.

I admire and respect both of you and I know you will do the right thing, but you better heed the will of we the people, or we will find other people who will. I hope you do believe that we want you to represent us and not the special interests of the war machine.

We the people are serious about true change this time and we are willing to walk, work, sit, stand, write, travel, sweat, freeze, be arrested, and scream for these changes.

Impeachment and removal from office are not for the squeamish or faint of heart, but we are neither of those things. We are all brave and (p)(m)atriotic Americans who realize that healing of the political divide that has characterized the Bush regime will only begin when our young people and the people of Iraq see justice for all of the death and misery that they have afflicted humanity with. Our children who have been sent to early graves or have to live the rest of their lives with PTSD or missing limbs, and the people of Iraq (not to mention the victims of Katrina) are crying out for this justice. Justice is meted out everyday in our world and if BushCo are not brought to justice then justice loses its meaning and effectiveness.

Do it for Casey, do it for his buddies, do it for the people of Iraq, do it for the people who were devastated by Katrina, do it to bring legitimacy back to Congress and our Constitution, do it to raise our reputation in the international community, do it just because it is the right thing to do.

See you on January 3rd.

Peace soon,
Cindy Sheehan
Activists can contact the potential Madam Speaker at:
[e-mail]
and the potential Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee, Hon. John Conyers, or your personal Congressional Representative at:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/


Cindy Sheehan is Mother of Casey Sheehan who was KIA in Iraq on 04/04/04 by George's war of terror.
Co-founder and President of Gold Star Families for Peace.
Founder of Camp Casey Peace Institute
Author of Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey through Heartache to Activism
and Jail Bird for Peace.

[MariaS]

1. Exactly Right!

Cindy took the words right out of my mouth. This paragraph say it all. I don't want revenge I want Justice. Justice for the innocent lives ripped apart by a cabal of liars, thieves, and murderers. And Cindy is right. No free pass just because they are democrats. Get your asses in there and do right by the people.

"It turns our stomachs when you talk about "working" with the Republicans. First of all, these people have allowed BushCo free rein in committing their high crimes and misdemeanors and crimes against humanity. Why would you want to work with murderers, liars, and crooks? When one works with criminals, one becomes complicit and culpable for those crimes. We elected you all to be different, not more of the same."

[az chela]

3. I just sent this to Cindy and I thank you from the bottom of my

heart for writing it

[cali]

2. Sorry, I think this is an utterly dreadful letter

bordering on the delusional. Her starting every paragraph with "we the people" is grandly delusional. I can't stand it when someone thinks they can speak for all americans.

This letter is so overwrought it reads like a spoof. I got to say, Cindy Sheehan does not speak for me, grateful as I am to her having brought the war into focus.

[az chela]

4. Then you agree with Pelosi and Conyers that bush should be

supported for murdering millions of people and with no recourse???????

[cali]

9. Gee, like I really said that.

Not. I believe in investigations and wherever they lead, and I think that Pelosi and Conyers are damn smart for saying impeachment is off the table. Hey, it's not their fault if investigations turn up stuff that makes impeachment inescapable.

[az chela]

11. evidently your children are still alive or you would not feel the way

the rest of us who have lost kids in this war feel about losing our kids for no reason

[cali]

14. I'm very sorry for your loss

but that doesn't change my opinion on the letter or the way things should procede.

[LynneSin]

15. Evidently you want us to go storming ahead with an impeachment...

...with absolutely no support whatsoever from half of congress including the 67 senators (could be 60, I never remember if it's 3/5 or 2/3) we would need to get him out of office which will ultimately lead us to NOTHING!!!

Now, consider this:

We investigation the Bush administration, all the lies that lead up to war, the 'embezzlement' of our surplus to give to corporate war mongers and EXPOSE all of it right there on C-Span, then we strengthen the ability to get an impeachment and the feasiblity of getting republicans to support our impeachment.

You'd rather just waste this opportunity - really sucks you would want to do that

[LynneSin]

13. Seriously, you don't have a fricking clue whatsoever

Cali was 110% correct

We need to INVESTIGATE first before we can impeach.

Get a fricking clue!

6. I think I agree... noble as the sentiments are, could we rephrase them in a better context?

[MariaS]

7. Well She speaks for me

and for the millions of us who have paid attention to the hell that Bushco has put this world thru over the last 6 years. This election was a referendum on the Iraq invasion and if you believe that those evil monsters should continue to be enabled by democrats instead of the Republican sheep than I am confused. Clinton was hounded for 8 years and impeached for having a fling with an intern but Bush shouldn't be for mass murder, fraud, and treason. WHY? Please explain. No more death and no more lies.

[cali]

10. I just re-read the letter.

Christ, it's even worse the second time around. A couple of points: Politics is the art of the possible, is a cliche because it's so damn true. Investigation are possible. Rushing articles of impeachment to the floor is incomprehensibly stupid. And making the mistake that everyone agrees with your position? Blindness. Honestly, I think Sheehan has delusions of grandeur, and one more thing, this business of tossing around labels like evil monsters is juvenile and counter-productive.

[Bitwit1234]

5. Cindy Sheenan

is basically a very patriotic person. But she must remember that it takes 2/3's of the congress to vote to impeach a president. They would have to have at least 17 of the senators on board and I don't think so.

What they should do is start all the investigations and prove to this country just exactly bush and his henchmen did. A president and vice president, can be impeached after they leave office. If the democrats do their job well they might be able to pick up more democrats to fill the senate and the house in 2008. THEN THEY COULD START IMPEACHMENT AGAINST BUSH AND CHENEY. THEY MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM A JAIL SENTENCE.

If they start impeachment and it doesn't pass because right now with the new congress they won't have enough votes, it would mean bush beat the rap.

[Vidar]

8. I'm with Cindy.

[LynneSin]

12. Holy Mother of Sweet Jebus - doesn't anyone here have a clue

WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE FIRST BEFORE WE IMPEACH

Investigations will go much smoother if we don't have the media right-wing shrills going off the deepend about the impeachment.

No one said it wasn't happening, off the table just means we have other things on the table to deal with - like the investigation.

Geez, please, don't ever be a sports or team coach. You'll probably give the opposition the entire game plan before the game even starts.

Investigation - that's what we need. Trust me, if we expose the fuckers (and with someone like Conyers we will), there will be an impeachment

[lordsummerisle]

17. I agree that investigations

need to come first. Any talk of impeachment show come as a result of them. A botched impeachment effort would be very hard to recover from.

[LynneSin]

19. Exactly

I think it's a great plan and btw, welcome to DU :hi:

[stellanoir]

18. Okay can we all perhaps consider taking a deep breath.

Let's thank our lucky stars that we have at long last arrived at a point of checks and balances again.

Big Phew.

I can't empathize entirely with Cindy 'cause I thankfully have not lost a child for no reason. But I can honor and understand her point of view, especially after having spent Veteran's Day at Arlington.

I can understand both Pelosi's and Conyer's desire to do what is procedurally and politically correct, and start with hearings and investigations.

I can also understand the intense frustration that the general populace feels in the shadow of obfuscation, deceit, and the smearing of truth tellers that we have toiled under for so long.

We all mostly want peace ASAP.

We cannot possibly know what Pelosi and Conyers have had to endure.

I sense they are proceeding with caution, much warranted trepidation, and have their hearts in a centered place.

Let's show some compassion for all involved and pray for peace and justice in this world ASAP.

And in the interim. . .lets all just BREATHE and thank whomever for the restoration of checks and balances.

One step at a time. And phew.

[yellowdogmi]

16. Cindy is speaking for all of us.

Investigate. Then impeach. Case closed. Taking impeachment off the table is nonsense. You have a mandate to fix this mess. Congress must start investigations and follow them to the ultimate conclusion. I am sick of this bipartisan lip-service of impeachment being off the table. We won. Now let us set the agenda. Quit apologizing and agreeing to cooperate with this cabal of lying, treasonous bastards. Grrrrr!