August 30, 2007 (LPAC)--Again reflecting the intense pressure on his office from the population--both in his home state, Michigan, and nationally--Rep. John Conyers, the Democratic Party congressman who chairs the House Judiciary Committee told a town meeting in Pontiac, Michigan on Aug. 28, that "I want you to know that I have no reticence, no reluctance, no hesitation to use the tool of impeachment ... whenever I feel that it is appropriate ... I only wish that I could be moved by a lot of people coming to my office." LPAC yesterday reviewed the video of Conyers' speech, which was excerpted in an article yesterday in the internet publication RawStory, which also posted a videotape of the event.

Conyers said, reports RawStory, that there are not enough Democrats in the House at present who support impeachment. But, making clear that he is counting those votes, Conyers said that his decisions are not dictated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"Nancy Pelosi has impeachment 'off the table,' but that's off her table, it is not off John Conyers' table," said Conyers. "Nancy Pelosi, who I actually supported, cannot prevent me from introducing an impeachment resolution against, well I've got a long list of people who are eligible."

The videotape also shows Conyers reviewing his own history in taking the lead in impeachment, in the case of President Richard Nixon in 1974. At that time, said Conyers, he introduced an impeachment resolution, and it was supported by the Congressional Black Caucus. Conyers cited Representatives Shirley Chisholm (D-New York), and Ron Dellums (D-California) as playing an especially important role.

"I understand the politics of impeachment," Conyers said. "But we have something going on now that we've never had before." Other veterans of the Nixon impeachment battle, such as John Dean, who worked in the White House, and eventually testified against Nixon to the Congress in 1974, have called the crimes of the Bush Administration far worse than the charges against Nixon.