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TechnoratiVote Alert: Dick Cheney Dems Plan to Hide Votes On Iraq
Today is the day House Democrats are expected to vote on Iraq - except, news out of Washington this morning says the leadership has come up with a nifty little trick to try to prevent the public from seeing who voted for giving Bush a blank check, and who voted against it. If you thought Democrats were behaving like cowards by caving into a President at a three-decade low in presidential polling and giving him the very blank check they explicitly promised not to give him during the 2006 election, you ain't seen nothing yet. We are watching the rise of the Dick Cheney Democrats - that is, the rise of Democrats who endorse governing in secret and hiding the public's business from the public itself.
Here's how it is expected to work today in a process only Dick Cheney could love (though you never know - it could change). Every bill comes to the House floor with what is known as a "rule" that sets the terms of the debate over the legislation in question. House members first vote to approve this parliamentary rule, and then vote on the legislation. Today, however, Democrats are planning to include the Iraq Blank check bill IN the rule itself, meaning when the public goes to look for a vote on the Iraq supplemental bill, the public won't find that. All we will find is a complex parliamentary procedure vote. Lawmakers, of course, will then tell their angry constituents they really are using all of their power to end the war, and this vote on the rule - which was the real vote for war - wasn't really a vote on the war. It is a devious, deliberately confusing cherry on top of the manure sundae being served up to the American public, which voted Democrats into office on the premise that they would use their congressional majority to end the war.
All of this is happening at the time top Republican leaders are making ever more sociopathic statements at odds with mainstream public opinion. Today, as just one example, House Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-FL) cheered on the blank check, telling Roll Call that "You drop Murtha [troop readiness standards], you drop withdrawal, the troops win." He doesn't explain how popular proposals to better equip and train American soldiers for combat and force the Bush administration to come up with a plan for redeploying troops out of harms way means "troops win."
If this secretive behavior seems familiar, it should. You may recall that in the past two weeks, the same Democratic leadership that is now trying to hide its votes on Iraq negotiated a secret free trade deal with the White House, steamrolling its other key Election 2006 pledge to stop lobbyist-written trade policy. The legislative texts of the trade pacts in question remain concealed from the public, though K Street lobbyists have told reporters they have received "assurances" that any of the much-touted provisions that purport to protect labor and the environment will be written to be unenforceable.
Not surprisingly, Democrats are reacting to questions about why they are trying to secretly defy the will of the public and disrespecting their Election 2006 campaign in the same way they always do: Like wailing infants. Last week, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) took to PBS to lace into critics of the secret trade deal he negotiated, saying he should have "ignored" his own Democratic colleagues raising questions because they are "wasting my time."
On the war, same thing. Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), for instance, today criticized Moveon.org in Roll Call newspaper for asking Democrats to vote down the blank check proposal, saying "I would urge MoveOn and others to recognize that the person who is extending this war is George Bush." This is the same Artur Davis who whined to reporters that it was "unfortunate" he was exposed for taking thousands of dollars of credit card industry cash in exchange for his support for the credit card-industry written Bankruptcy Bill in 2005.
But, then, Davis is trying to pull the same kind of rhetorical trick that so many other Democrats pull: Attempting to make us believe they are merely innocent bystanders, and that there isn't that document known as the "Constitution" that gives Congress the power of the purse over George Bush. We're all just supposed to be totally psyched that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) says she is unhappy that this is all happening, even though Pelosi is simultaneously using her power to schedule this vote, and set it up in a way so as to hide it from the public. She would have us believe that September will be "really the moment of truth for this war," as Congressional Quarterly quotes her saying - as if it's no big deal that more troops will die because she and her colleagues are willing to drag their feet from the comfortable guarded confines of the U.S. Capitol. We're all just supposed to wildly applaud when Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) goes on national television to say that the bill they are pushing is "the beginning of the end of the president's policy in Iraq" - we're not supposed to know that he and his colleagues stripped out the timelines for withdrawal and even stripped out waivable troop readiness standards.
The good news is that the public is getting smart, and the traditional media's monopoly on news - which often means we don't actually get the real news - is ending. Today, it is more difficult than ever for politicians to go the Dick Cheney Energy Task Force route by trying to hide their shenanigans from public view. Democratic leaders, try as they might to negotiate secret NAFTA-style trade deals and use parliamentary pirouettes to hide votes on the Iraq War, aren't fooling anyone. And come 2008, they will be held to account.
I'll do an update on the Iraq vote at www.workingassetsblog.com later today when/if it happens. If you are watching C-SPAN, make sure to carefully watch the vote on the rule. All the Republicans will likely vote no - they want an open debate because they somehow think reiterating to America their steadfast support for the Iraq War is good politics. The Democrats voting yes on the rule are the ones who are casting their vote to give President Bush a blank check. The question after that will be which U.S. Senator is going to answer the "where's the beef?" question by putting their antiwar rhetoric into action by pulling an old-school, read-the-phonebook filibuster? Sens. Chris Dodd, John Kerry, Bernie Sanders and Russ Feingold seem to be girding for a big fight, while both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama parse their words, and refuse to take a position. Will we see a real filibuster, or will we see capitulation in the upper chamber? Stay tuned.
David Sirota is the author of the book Hostile Takeover. To subscribe to Sirota's regular newsletter, go to www.davidsirota.com and sign up on the left hand side.
© 2007 David Sirota
71 Comments so far
Show All"And come 2008, they will be held to account."
This is a very nice thought, but it completely ignores the endemic ballot fraud that occurs in ALL the states. Third party fans beware the fact that your votes are the first ones redistributed to the chosen candidate(s).
Until we get active enough to end the massive registration fraud, enabling party operatives to vote the bad registrations (including newly registered dead persons) by absentee ballot, and to end the crooked programs in the voting machines, both optical and no-printout, we cannot possibly get the candidates we vote for.
Under Motor Voter and HAVA, the states are responsible to have a clean statewide list 90 days before each election (primary & general), but they do not. The states are not requiring the county registrars to comply, and the US Justice Dept. is not enforcing any of it.
This is the true issue for all voters. All the other issues come after this one.
Let's not get ridiculous in thinking the Green Party should be a rational alternative to the DemocraticRepublican Party.
Remember the 2000 election, when the Green Party deliberately put Geo Bush in power because it was angry that Al Gore "had not done enough" in negotiating the Kyoto Treaty.
So, with the help of Ralph Nader, AND ACCEPTED FUNDING BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, the Green Party ran a spoiler election and took enough votes away from Gore to assure the successful takeover by the Bush cabal.
I would not vote if the Green Party was my only alternative to the present combined party.
Our "free press" -- or at least the myth of a free press died with the coup on JFK. The beginning of open violence by fascists in America.
Watergate wasn't the end; it was simply a flash card on what was to follow.
Even then, there was a tiny bit of a press to help.
A Supreme Court willing to challenge executive corruption.
And, of course, there was also much betrayal along the way; salvaging Nixon, putting Ford in place, not investigating the full corruption of Watergate.
Fascists come to power with a long trail of violence.
We have seen that violence in America in the many assassinations of leaders. Do you ever wonder why we no longer see strong leaders in America?
And, immediately after 9/11, the Anthrax incidents.
Americans are beginning to talk to one another about what's going on. At least that's a plus.
Power to the people! Gravel and the GP!
"Democratic leaders, try as they might to negotiate secret NAFTA-style trade deals and use parliamentary pirouettes to hide votes on the Iraq War, aren't fooling anyone. And come 2008, they will be held to account."
Unfortunately, the USA is currently at a point where this and comments like it in the forum are unsupported bluster. Kindly describe a realistic scenario whereby the Democrats will be held accountable.
pundit,
You forgot Hugo! And he is still alive, thank goodness, probably because Cheney has other priorities for the time being. And certainly Hugo has people on his payroll trying to protect him, because, as some have commented, those in power here do all they can to eliminate good examples of other ways to live.
Dang, this isn't what I learned in school. Maybe we'd all feel better if we went back to watching good old all-American television news like Brian William's NBC.
Seriously though, what is needed is a nation-wide shutdown.
Move-on might advocate a "let's shut down the country" until the war is stopped, medical care is universalized, taxes are re-progressivised and a constitutional convention is assembled.
Most of us need a vacation anyway. More work only means more tax money for the corrupted government.
Bush has removed Saddam, treated Congress with contempt, ignored the US electorate,
stiffed the UN, ignored demonstrations, and has defeated all attempts to influence his decisions.
Do bloggers and "activists" believe that they can effectively oppose Bush? The Zen question "Can the mosquito sting the iron bull?" summarizes the situation.
Has any person or group defied his will? The only two that I can think of are Kim il Sung, who has his Nukes, and did not appear to bow to Bush. The other is the brave members of the Iraqi insurgency who have refused to yield to this tyrant. Support our insurgents!
The only setback to Bush in his reign is his failure, so far, to plunder & destroy the Social Security system.
Perhaps the US electorate should obtain our own Nukes to prove to Bush that we are serious players in this drama.Congressional
Nukes might be a good idea also.
These are a few thoughts of how to play todays hardball politics.
Potential impeachers should review history: Impeachment has removed 1 president in 3 attempts, Texas Recall (asassination) has removed 4.
If a corrupted Congress refuses to impeach the criminals in the White House, the Constitution gives the people the right to do it themselves however they can.
@Ipenek:
Good idea; but it wouldnt work out. I think that Gore Vidal sayed:
The conservatives know what they want: everone else's money.
Move to Sahara; build up paradise there.
In a few years the marines will come to free you ... from your paradise
and your money.
If your target is "end time", then you cant allow anything beautiful
or besser around. Because even uneducated people do understand that
you should be able to choose ... when there are options. Therefore
"THEY" are making sure that there are no options for anyone. You swim
main stream; or you swim belly up. Thats how the game will look like
in the near future.
Watch television, preferrably Fox, then boycott any product you see advertised there. Write the manufacturer and tell them why. Stop buying newspapers. Cash in your 401's penalties be damned. Or better yet quit your job and withdraw your entire bank account(s). Sell all your stocks. Stop paying for auto insurance. Don't renew your driver's license. Smoke marijuana instead of taking anti-depressants. If you own a business offer your customers' tax free cash deals. Pay your employees like private contractors and don't file the 1099. Our man hours and our natural resources are the only real forms of currency in this free market. We control everything. Are you willing to stand up and fight? It's going to take sacrifice and doing without the comforts of imperialism. Or we could remain sheeple who allow killing and oppression so the elite can get bigger yachts, and enjoy our dollar menu. It's really up to us.
[b]Anybody out there got a third party?[/b]
Yes. It is called the Libertarian Party. And after the powers that be get through excluding Ron Paul and Mike Gravel from the on-going Republican and Democratic presidenial debate charade, one can only hope and pray that these two plain spoken gentlemen will gravitate over that way.
Just imagine this campaign bumper sticker:
PAUL GRAVEL 08
Yes, why don't we all just leave? This place sucks. And why don't we just say it: progressives are the brains of this shithole, the only ones who make life livable. Anyone using the Sahara at the moment? Because we can make it there and we can make it anywhere -- and leave the cretons behind. Lets see how well they can run the nukes without any brain cells. "Please come back, please, please, please..." F 'em. God damn it, I'm sick of living a Mad Max nightmare. Leave the muscle bound Humongous, we can make it in the wasteland. Screw Auntie-Em (Condi Rice) we'll take the little man and leave the Master-Blaster (Karl Rove). Someday the Captain will return (Mel Gibson...er...okay...Ralph Nader) and we'll return to City of Lights.
Oh, F it.
Face it folks, the US "democracy" is dead. If it ever existed is another question. I agree that one of the thing that the US really need is a third party telling the truth; with enough "power" to mobilize the complete country. I am just wondering: who would be financing that? And who would vote for it? Enough people to make a change? Woha, not in the US of the
21st century.
I am getting more pessimistic every day. I dont see any realistic chance that I will see any change (to the real better) during my lifetime. And I am just f*** 35. Even when the "end time" is coming and the whole system goes down in flames ... I doubt that we will see the rise of democracy afterwards.
Be afraid. Not of terrorists or evil muslims, but of the path that your leaders have in mind for all of you.
Slowly but surely, America is becoming a dictatorship, and boy, I love it, I love it, I love it. The chickens are coming home to roost. You see, for years the U.S. was toppling other democratic governments with your tax dollars and you people didn't do a thing. You were too busy with your TV shows, sports, American idols, SUV's and the like. Now, the corporations, oil companies, the arms dealers, the wealthy, and the powerful in America have decided that if they could suck it to other countries, why not to the U.S. of A? You're now getting a taste of your own medicine. What a good feeling it is to watch you suffer the same fate some other nations did. But you ain't seen nothing yet; the worst is yet to come. Call me a revengeful, psychic s.o.b., but that's not gonna change King George's mind—or your fate.
We are so broken. Is there a viable 3rd party? If there is no alternative, we have to create one.
Well boys and girls, it looks like the government just served the american public up another shit sandwich and were all gonna have to take a big bite. If it's america: love it or leave it then I am really starting to think that it is time to get the hell out of this country. It will be a long long time until this is a great nation again if ever.
"And come 2008, they will be held to account."
The pattern repeats: Mr. Sirota writes a lucid, wonderful essay, then caps it off with a patently bullshit quote like the above.
How will the Democrats "be held to account" in 2008? How exactly do we, as voters, do that? By voting Republican? By voting for a third party that stands no chance at all of winning? By voting at all, and pretending it makes a damn?
We've been sold out--not by one party or the other, but by both of them, and by the entire government at large. What are we going to do about it? And when?
A two party gov. system is the worst type of goverment system there is. The ruling party acts in a dictatorship way, and if or when they are voted out the incomeing party takes over the dictatorship role. Don't believe the propaganda lies about Canada's gov. what is happening in the states could never happen in Canada. The people would throw their ass's out,period.
That's ok. If they want to hide which Dems vote for this, then I'll just curse the whole damn party and I won't vote for a single damn Dem for a long time to come.
Any chance that we'll see less politeness?
To get the Congress' attention, all progressives should change their voter registration to the Green Party and SEND THEM A COPY, imagine if they received HUNDREDS OR BETTER YET, THOUSANDS of voters changing their party affiliation, that hits them where they live. The last thing ANY of them want is to get off that Government gravy train....
I called my rep, Pelosi, and expressed, politely, my "dismay and demoralization" over the recent capitulation.
Whoever was on the line listened, politely, in silence, offering only, "thank you for calling" when I finished.
They must be getting used to it, or know they have nothing to offer by way of explanation.
How about the third party being .308?!!!
http://www.speaker.gov/contact/
Disgusting, simply disgusting. Maybe Bush is right after all, perhaps the democrats are just a big bunch of pussies.
Who counts? If Bush gets a blank check to continue this war crime of the New American Century I will never vote for another Democrat. Of course I will never again speak to my child killing Republican neighbors either. This treason is the death of our Republic. A pox on both their houses. I have begun disinvesting and sending money to the Greens.
"I will endure another 10 yrs of republican rule ( it really cant get worse")
Yes, it can.
You will endure if you survive.
Here is a good start to solve the "political whore" problem: www,just6dollars.org If every American contributes $6 towards campaign funding, there is no need for any candidate to become a corporate lackey/whore. Granted this is no guarantee, but it's better than the status quo. No matter what you legislate for this problem, it ultimately come down to the character of the individual.
I will endure another 10 yrs of republican rule ( it really cant get worse ) as long as we can dimember/disembovel the fu~!@#g cowardly democratic party. They have never fallen so badly in my eyes before. The scum that represents us needs to surface at some point.
You all need to check out Mike Gravel views on how he would run this country/fix existing problems. He is running as a democrat but sounds more like a 3rd party we all would like to see.
htt//.www.gravel2008.us/meetup He is the man for a revolution that you want and we need.
Vote for Gravel/RonPaul
It seems to me that, "We the people", each of us, are not taking responsibility. We are quick to point fingers and make others to blame, Democrats, Republican, Bush, Cheney, the right, the left, the media, but what did you do today to make a difference? Notice I used the word "We", I include myself, I turned my back on my country of birth and decided to live in Europe, way back when this really all started, Reagan was elected president. I thought by not identifying with it and not directly supporting it, I was not part of it, which was then maybe partly true. But this is no longer true for me as I see and feel the ripples permeated through all of life, perpetrated by and in my land of birth. We are the problem, "We the people", for not making a difference, complaining will get us no where. It is each and everyone's responsibility to become Responsible to life and for ones own actions, do we give the corporations our money, then like it or not we are a part of that collective. Each of us will find, as we take more conscious responsibility for our own actions, all of them, we can make a difference! It is like America is very sick and we want to attack the symptoms, (Democrats, Republicans, Bush, Cheney, the right, the left, the media, corporate America, etc.), rather than the cause, we are the sickness. We can make a difference but we should begin in our daily lives and take responsibility there with the little things before we point our finger and make others responsible. Our problems did not begin with Bush and will not end with Bush and his gang of thugs, it will end when "We the people" take responsibility for our own actions. Peace be with you all!
Just reading the comment section gives me hope; however, I am not sure what to do next. I continue to email reps from both my state and other states and receive a polite email back thanking me for whatever it was I stated in my "letter".
I am seriously afraid that this land of ours will slowly sink into any abyss that like quicksand takes all prisoners.
Mr. Olbermann yesterday eloquently stated how our government has failed us. Perhaps if enough media people would begin making tough comments we might find a glimmer of hope for this country. It would be nice to see some of our Common Dreams writers interviewed on mainstream media
What were we supposed to expect?? They gave us the war in the first place! We need more options and there's no one to turn to but ourselves.
"However, with the Great Decider being able to call anyone an enemy combatant, he effectively has stopped everyone from even critizing him."
:)
Well, I always thought that this was funny that Americans
"courageously" "protested" following the permission by power
from here to there, from this moment to that moment.
:)
Karlof and Chicago are right, we need to stir things up and a revolution would be one way. However, with the Great Decider being able to call anyone an enemy combatant, he effectively has stopped everyone from even critizing him. It's hard to get people to stand up when they can disappear at anytime and never be heard from again.
Although he might learn to want some gun control if everyone come knocking on his door to evict him.
jjohnjj sez "The Republicans win by building coalitions." When Greens tried to do that with Dems, they were ignored, repudiated, attacked and sabotaged. Why? Maybe corporate Dems like the status quo. Even if they lose, they win.
"Does this mean we're supposed to put our blue, green,red or black shirts back in our closets — and pull out the brown ones?"
I thought you're wearing one all the time.
Was I wrong?
Are members of Congress guilty of Treason?
The Supreme Court Rulled that the president had committed/was guilty of felonies with the illegal wiretapping program he instituted and continues to operate. Congress has allowed this esentially convicted felon to remain in office and to continue to destroy the very constitution they swore to defend against ALL enemies foreign and DOMESTIC. At what point does not pursuing impeachment--turning oneself into a felon for having lied to congress by not upholding your oath--become treasonous?
For me, the threshold has been breeched. The government no longer represents the will of the people; as such, it is our DUTY to overthrow the traitors. But, are the traitors just the politicos? No! Their facilitators in media and business are also traitors. Time for 1776, again.
Again, Sirota reports the facts, and his revulsion... but fails to ask the question, "WHY did the Democrats Flinch"?
The easy answer is that they're all gutless spinless tools of the corporations, but I suspect there's a lot going on here that we won't know about until later.
It does appear that we can't end the war today with the current crop of Democrats, but do you think we can ever end the war without them?
The Republicans win by building coalitions. They manage to get different kinds of conservatives who normally can't stand each other to pool their cash, their grassroots action and their votes toward a common goal: Power.
If only progressives and liberals had as much tolerance for each other's company.
Over at DailyKos.com they identify six Democratic Senators who are bocking progress (based on their prior votes). Only SIX out of fifty-one!
(Pryor, Lincoln, Landrieu, Nelson, Nelson, & Salazar)
Will you damn the entire party because of these backsliders?
I'm angry about this too. The Dem's leaders could have and should have put up a bigger fight over this. But I've seen the first signs of the public relations blitz the White House had lined up for Memorial Day.
Have you heard Rep. Boner braying about "surrender dates"? Did you see the photo of Bush striding between two rows of saluting cadets at West Point? Did you hear Condiweasle Rice declaring that terrorism is as great a threat today as communism once was? Did you hear Bush telling reporters in the Rose Garden that "Al-Qaida is a threat to your children" ?
This kind of propaganda is widely distributed as "news". It's tough to fight these lies back in the home district.
Does anyone remember the still-unsolved anthrax attack on Congress in 2001? There's no telling what threats were issued to Reid and Pelosi through back channels.
Perhaps they didn't hand Bush a blank check.
Perhaps they gave himself enough rope to hang himself with.
"walter_map May 24th, 2007 12:05 pm
Even some Democrats are Neoconservatives, and it is not only Republicans who are owned by the Military-Industrial Complex and by AIPAC.
Anybody out there got a third party?"
THE GREEN PARTY, the largest, fastest growing and international third party EMBODIES EVERY SINGLE PROGRESSIVE ISSUE. The corporate Dems have been fearmongering, sabotaging and demonizing Greens like they did Nader successfully it seems, as a couple here still believe that we should continue to be taken for granted. "A third party can't win and we'll be handing the election to the Repugs!" they propagandize again and again, ignoring how much power progressives would gain over who gets elected.
"How many times must a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see?"
"Who could ever have imagined this great country being controlled by a moron like Bush and a criminal like Cheney?"
- clyde paige May 24th, 2007 3:21 pm
Actually, you'd be surprised:
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
- H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
General Strike! General Strike! End the War! End the War!
"Every bill comes to the House floor with what is known as a "rule" that sets the terms of the debate over the legislation in question. House members first vote to approve this parliamentary rule, and then vote on the legislation. Today, however, Democrats are planning to include the Iraq Blank check bill IN the rule itself, meaning when the public goes to look for a vote on the Iraq supplemental bill, the public won't find that. All we will find is a complex parliamentary procedure vote."
OK, I admit it, I'm confused. Could someone kindly explain this "democratic" process to me, and others, slowly, in simple English, so we might understand what is going on here?
As always, Members of Congress get great health care, wonderful pensions and get to keep any money donated that is not used in their elections. (remember the 15million Kerry had left over last time?)They also get first choice of the 'favors'. What We the People get is what we usually get...The Shaft. I'm sick of the lot of 'em.
In Japan they stack the pigs cages 8 high and only feed the top pig. That's trickle down economics.
"We are watching the rise of the Dick Cheney Democrats - that is, the rise of Democrats who endorse governing in secret and hiding the public's business from the public itself."
See, I told y'all the other day - the Dems are simply drooling over the prospect of getting their greedy little hands on the new "unitary" powers they've bestowed upon Dear Crazy Leader. And don't ignore the "Tom Delay" Democrats - those climbing over each other to pocket lobbyscum cash in exchange for more blank checks; the "Israel" Democrats whose support wouldn't waver if they nuked Chicago; and the "Gonzalez" Democrats who confirmed the SOB AFTER he wrote his "I heart Torture" memos and who continue to allow him to fully destroy what's left of the Justice Department.
Let's just get it over with and change the name of the country already: "The United States of Greed." United meaning "I got mine, go screw yourself."
Can y'all remember way back in 2000 when Ralph Nader said, "the only difference between Republicans and Democrats is the speed with which their knees hit the floor when big business knocks at the door?" Remember how many 'liberals' mocked Nader's assertion that there is little functional difference between the two parties? Or how many Democrats blamed Nader for the outcome of the 2000 election knowing full well the election was a fraud?
With 'friends' like Democrats, who needs Republicans?
Clayhughes: I called Harry Reid yesterday and today which I'm sure did no good but I can't sit here and not tell the weakkneed worthless democrat's what I think.Whomever said second party makes more sense to me than third party. After the cavein of the democrat's on the Iraq War funding bill with few exception's we havo only one party now.Who could ever have imagined this great country being controlled by a moron like Bush and a criminal like Cheney?
It is not about life and death. It is not about the difference of worldview.
Count the votes.
There are too few peace minded representatives. The anti-war representatives are only in reality anti-war because the USA is again losing another war . Americans like winners: "winning isn't everything it is the only thing."
In the Senate, Democrats who support aggression in the Middle East and in the Americas insulate the President from removal from office.
However, the really sad part is the difference on the war between Cheney and us is that he actively supports the war and we passively support the war.
Much work on our part will be needed for change.
Congratulations Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Party!
You are now 50% owners of the War in Iraq. You can expect your dividends in November, 2008.
And Now It's a Democratic War
Kerrycrats All!
By DAVE LINDORFF
The defining moment of the disastrous and laughable presidential campaign of John Kerry for president came when he tried to explain his vacillating and spineless position on the Iraq War, saying, of an earlier war funding appropriations bill "I voted for the bill before I voted against it."
http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff05242007.html
I forget if I posted this somewhere else, but what the heck.
Does this mean we're supposed to put our blue, green,red or black shirts back in our closets -- and pull out the brown ones?
Yeah, the more things change the more they stay the same. As long as you keep REWARDING Democrats with your vote why expect them to change their behavior? If you really want authentic change try something else.
Waking Up in America is the definitive journey of this moment in time.
Hey ... on a different note ...
Did you guys see American Idle last night?
;-)
The sad fact is that the people that don't visit this site, or others like it don't have a clue about what is going on in this country ... and they really don't care.
Once the USA becomes a fascist dictatorship (we're about 80% there), do you think these American Idiots will know the difference?
I have to admit I could only read about the first 2 paragraph`s before the urge to scream overtook me. Holy Schmeeyakaway Bat Man!!
What will it take for the American Sheeple to invoke the clause in the Declaration of Independence that states when the government no longer reflects the will of the people it must be overthrown?
I truly believe that the Generals ought to forcibly remove ALL of our elected officials for failure to follow our Constitution and its intention of government for and by the people. Elections for new officials should follow. Lobbyists are to be illegal and campaigns should be publicly funded and no longer than 2 months. If you cannoit succinctly state what your beliefs and plans are once you aquire the new office of PUBLIC SERVICE that you seek then you do not deserve the priveledge of serving.
I don't want to tell my liberal friends I told you so... but I will say that if you look closely enough you might find that no one in a federal elected position is ever adversely affected by the 'laws' they pass. most 'laws' are actually passed to garner financial gain for one or more of the groups that work to hold power in DC. They are all members of what I call the American Aristocracy. It is time to wake up and recognize that the stench you cannot shake is the feces of our government we are told is a priveledge to be standing in. There is no difference between Dem's and Rep's at the leadership positions and only 10-20 people in Congress today have any integrity at all.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!
A two headed monster feeding from the hand of the same master. This nation is no longer a democracy or a representative republic. Was it ever? The media is a propaganda machine of the corporatist state. Our so-called representatives don't listen to us anymore, only to money, corporations and AIPAC. One party has turned into the Brownshirt Party, while the Dems are now prostitutes to the corporate world. What are we the People to do? A third party will never be allowed to win anything. Maybe a little anger by the People.
A must read article that helps explain what America is becoming, and where it is headed, is "A Nation in Silent Anger". Great essay IMHO.
Link: www.valenzuelasveritas.blogspot.com
Also highly recommend "Unmasking of the Authoritarians" which explains the evolving state of the two party system and the evolution of the authoritarian personality.
Prostitutes have manners, politicians do not. Vote for a Gravel/Ron Paul ticket? We need a revolution, but the sheeple will not think for themselves.
What is the difference between a politician and a prostitute?
There are SOME things a prostitute wont do for money.
Third Party? At this point I'd be happy with a Second Party!
:)
Happy to see AIPAC listed as an accessory to this war. We rarely hear the Isareli angle regarding this war. Until a majority in this country come to realize that the interests of Israel and the United States are NOT alway parallel and that we, more often than not, work against our national interests in the face of the powerful lobbying of the mutliple pro israel lobbies, we'll get nowhere.
I'm down with the "third party? how about a second party" remark. There seems to be no choice anymore. We vote against the war, and get more war. Whoever is running this nation, it sure ain't 'we the people.'
"On May 9th, 2007, President Bush has signed a directive granting extraordinary powers to the office of the president in the event of a declared national emergency, apparently without congressional approval or oversight."
- Lew2007 May 24th, 2007 12:28 pm
Congress has made no objection to it. We can only assume that this is the only notification we're going to get, that the Dictatorship is now official, just as soon as Dubya gives the word.
Hiding from the voters to protect their winability...
Is winning really ALL that matters?
Monty Python teaches us that we must always look on the bright side of our lives, Class. And so it is that we may take comfort in the realization that the stolen elections, at this point, appear so much less important than they once did. WHAT A RELIEF!
Mr. Sirota attempts to menace the Dems with the threatening words, "come 2008, they (the Dems)will be held to account". And just which pig in the poke are we to cast a ballot for in 2008, the Democrat pig or the Republican pig? Let's face it, we are checkmated by corporatists and Zionists of almost equal hideousness. Things are so broken that the Naders and Kuciniches are laughingstocks, or worse, and the serious candidates are named Leiberman, Clinton, and McCain.
You may disagree, but I'd say we are F*CKED!
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55825
On May 9th, 2007, President Bush has signed a directive granting extraordinary powers to the office of the president in the event of a declared national emergency, apparently without congressional approval or oversight.
The new directive appears to supersede the National Emergency Act by creating the new position of national continuity coordinator without any specific act of Congress authorizing the position.
The directive also makes no reference to Congress and its language appears to negate any requirement that the president submit to Congress a determination that a national emergency exists.
I assume the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate knew about this before I learned about it on the 24th of May. Perhaps they were afraid President Bush would announce that the failure to fund the military created a national emergency and he was taking charge of the government to restore stability and our military ability to defend America.
It is good to be King!
A wonderfully written article, and I mean no disrespect, but what's new. The American people will never benefit from their votes for their representatives in Washington or even on the state level, until the special interest's influence is eliminated. The Democrats who are playing the Republican games are preparing for the inevitable fall of the Bush administration and they will simply move in an fill the void to better serve the special interests who actually put them all in office.
Yellow Horse
What is happening to our nation? I think we need to get at the root of the problem and it may not be ideological. I think we need to check our water supply for lead.
Third Party? At this point I'd be happy with a Second Party!
As long as we have an electoral college and do not have proportional representation in Congress, we will be stuck with choosing between the lesser of two evils. Under the current system, if we vote third party, we just elect more fascist Republicans who pull everything to the right and only make everything worse.
We desperately need to begin talking about amending the Constitution, though we probably cannot build enough momentum for it until after the coming economic collapse.
If this goes down the way Sirota describes, there are going to be MANY heated protests at the many parades over this weekend. It's time to demand the Democrats in the Progressive Caucus change their affiliation to the Green Party because the word Democrat is now synonymous with Republican in a very overt way.
As for MoveOn, they need to move from providing support for Democrats to prove they aren't an appendage of the Democrat Machine.
I admit I'd like to get mad at my Congressional rep, Hooley OR 5th, but she keeps voting for peace. San Franciscans must do something about Pelosi. Can they recall?
Even some Democrats are Neoconservatives, and it is not only Republicans who are owned by the Military-Industrial Complex and by AIPAC.
Anybody out there got a third party?