Take Back America Conference: Day 2

The morning plenary was Bob Borosage hosting a panel of Julian Bond, Jesse jackson & Taylor Branch discussing the legacy of King and the Civil Rights Movement. My sister, who's sofa is my hotel this week, wanted to hear about Donna Brazile, whom she blames for both the 20000 and 2004 debacles, but Julian Bond was a sub speaker. No show, no explanation. And s much as I like Jesse Jackson

I'm writing now from a session on the Rogue Presidency, including David Cole, a regular witness at the House JudiciaryComm, and John Conyers, House Judiciary Chair (who got hung up in traffic,) and Christ Hardin Smith, who blogs on constitutional matters for FireDogLake.
Christy Hardin Smith, FireDogLake:"Giving up our rights doesn't make us more safe, it just makes us less free"
John Conyers refers back to Gingrich's "Contract ON America" (the phrase I've been using since 1994, thank you)as the start of the current attitude of the Republicans toward the presidency. (I'd think it goes back at least to Nixon.) He's now remarking on his committee's report, "What Went Wrong In Ohio" about the 2004 election, and the invitation (and threat of subpoena) issued by the Committee to former Sec. o' State Blackwell, who was responsible for that disaster.

Conyers says he isn't hopeful about the rulings of the current Supreme Court, and that the most important thing between now and November is voting integrity.

More later..I want to listen.

Finishing Conyers' session

Quick note: after spending some time trying to explain why there won't be an impeachment before the election (because "it would jeopardize the chance of a young, excellent man running for the White House") Conyers made two unusual statements. First, that there were already ample examples of crimes that Cheney ("the brains of the operation") and Bush had committed crimes they could be convicted for in both US criminal courts and in Int'l War Crimes tribunals, which could still end up with them being held responsible for their actions...
And second, that Conyers and several other members of Congress (no names mentioned) had sent Bush a letter saying that if he goes into Iran, he will be impeached.

Well, there's no hedging that statement...