And you say we don't have a dictatorship here?

The illegal invasion of Iraq has RUINED the United States and the world IS NOT better off with Sadaam removed from power.

Had the US focused it's attention on Osama and brought him to justice, the world would have renounced the actions of terrorists and a new day would have dawned. Unfortunately, the US is ruled by MILITARY CORPORATIONS who instead desire a world at war FOREVER for their own greed.

It is ESSENTIAL that the Bush Administration be IMPEACHED so that these wrongs can be righted. Bush MUST be made example of if there is to be any hope of defeating terrorist tactics. As long as people rejoice after a terrorist attack, they will continue. The demolition of the Bush Administration will demonstrate that ALL EVIL-DOERS can be brought to justice. A lesson the world deserately needs to learn.

IMPEACH!!!

KUCINICH '08

Peace to you and yours.

lillulu,

North Korea has no OIL and they have a military that would actually fight back.

Here in the US, it's worse than a dictatorship, because it's presented as a democracy.

I hope she had the chance to present the petitions to Conyer's office staff. Keep his phone lines jammed!

The formula is tried and true.. Their action, your reaction, and the ultimately the solution, the war/occupation will end.. But in the mean time profits are made and they who profit play out as long as they can on the public's sentiment until it reaches a saturation point, then they let it end and they cash in and move on to the next war/conflict, that they can create.
The scenario has played it's self out many times before.. Most recently in history, Vietnam.

Even if we don't like to think about it. It really is just that calculated

All the other mothers out there who have lost a son or daughter, widows who have lost husbands, husbands who have lost wives and anyone else who has a heart should stand with Cindy in her brave efforts to stop the bloodshed.

I am reminded of Sting's song about the mothers, wives and daughters of the disappeared during Pinochet's regime, who were only allowed to walk in a circle silently.
"Why are these women here? Why is there a sadness in their eyes?"
"Dancing with their missing, dancing with their dead...their anguish is unsaid . . .dancing with their fathers,dancing with their sons, dancing with their husbands, they dance alone."
"One day we'll dance . . . one day we'll win our freedom ... One day we'll dance in our joy."

It is so sad that today, there are families suffering under a U.S.President, as families in other countries have by dictators. But, we too, will one day, will win our freedom from Bush, Cheney, & Co.

"Here in the US, it's worse than a dictatorship, because it's presented as a democracy."

And imposters used the latest tricks MAdison Avenue so good at. But thanks bush the smoke is fading and more people see our government the way it really IS.

So, forget Democrats, I would not bothewr even to vote for them, least of all canvas for them. I worked hard for Bob Menendez (D-NJ) only to watch in horror him voting for Military Commissions Act days before Novemer 6, 2006.

"This woman is inspiring."

She would have been a lot more inspiring if more than a paltry 300 would have turned out for the event.

You all need to get over this culture of celebrity. Were not the fourty five who stayed to get arrested along with her also inspiring?

When they have to arrest a million of of us trying to get in the Rayburn building, then things will change.

The real question is how many of us are willing to get arrested; to have our credit screwed; to have our assets seized; to lose our jobs because we were thrown in jail; to risk everything to finally take a stand. How many people have to step up before we, the rest of us, get up the courage to do the same?

This woman is inspiring.

I guess under the new order signed by the insano on July 17th, Cindy could be declared disruptive of the Iraq war policy and have her assets frozen by the Treasury department. What a fascist world this little mad man has woven and we just watch.

The thugs in charge of the U.S. government better not harm one hair on Cindy's head.

I thought bush said the mission was accomplished years ago. Pelosi says she wants to concentrate efforts to end the war. What war? It's an occupation now. She's just another Republican in Democratic clothing, a DINO -- as most Democrats are.
End the friggin' occupation!

By the way, how come the U.S. wasn't concerned about how Kim Jong Il treats his people? They're starving to death. Why didn't the U.S. attack and occupy N Korea the way it did Iraq. The Iraqis by comparison were better off under Saddam; women were the best educated in the middle east. Now they have to sell their bodies in order to survive, thanks to King George and his greed.

The charges are minor it is not going to affect your credit rating, nor are assets going to be seized.

And with enough people turning out they cannot arrest us all.

How many, within a 5 hour drive of DC, knew of ths action in DC yesterday and were supportive of it. And how many turned out - a measily 300.

Pathetic.

Yeah, sure, to the media, we were just Cindy's "entoutrage" yesterday.

Cindy is NOT the movement - she's not even a good speaker.

I just wonder what Ms. Sheehan hoped to accomplish by sitting in @ Conyers office. Rep. Conyers is definitely in the choir on this one.

It's also clear with the small Dem minorities in both the House and Senate that the Dems cannot initiate impeachment proceedings until there are calls from at least some GOP representatives and senators for Bush and Cheney's impeachment.

Let's say they do and the whole Democratic caucus votes in the affirmative. The impeachment resolution will pass, but just barely. Only a simple majority is necessary. Then it goes on to the Senate for trial. There a two thirds majority is necessary for conviction. If there is no GOP support for impeachment, it will fail. That's a lock.

Although there is no restriction to passing additional articles of impeachment if the first set fails, I suspect it will be politically impossible to do so. I can hear the press conferences of the GOP members now: "blah, blah, blah, vendetta, blah, wasting time, blah, blah, sore losers..." etc. etc. It would be a PR field day for them and would likely be a huge bump to GOP election prospects in 2008.

Get smart here. Stop jamming Rep. Conyers lines. He'd impeach tomorrow if he could. Work on the GOP reps and Senators. Turn them and we're in business. There have been some encouraging cracks already showing. Spectre, Lugar, Voinovich, Snow for a few. The Senators that voted for withdrawal from Iraq and those that publically called for it then voted against it. The hypocrisy of their position is a huge lever.

In the House, work on the members of the House Judiciary committee. The Admin ordering Harriet Miers to "ignore" a Congressional subpoena is a great lever there. Do the GOP reps really want that precedent to stand? Let's say we have another President Clinton in a few years. Do they want Hillary to be able to cite this precedent and ignore their subpoenas? They've got to be losing sleep over that already.

Stop being just angry and focus on the goal. I'd love to see Mr.'s Bush and Cheney in the dock at The Hague for their war crimes after being run out of office in the US, but it will not happen until the GOP stops protecting them. Turn up the heat on the GOP.

It's not how many got arrested yesterday that matters, it's how many will be arrested TODAY, that does.

Keep the heat on!

Peace to you and yours.

So people will be arrested, assets stolen, credit messed up and lose their jobs now if they dare protest the "war?" WTF?? How long are the fascists going to get away with taking our rights away from us? This is unbelievable!

These smug, arrogant, condescending criminals in charge of the U.S. need to be charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, abuse of power, treason, etc.

Cindy has shown Congress does indeed have the power to arrest, but apparently only those seeking truth and accountability. What a sad state of affairs. An empire with a petty little tyrant at the helm with his ship of fools to propagate his misinformation and lies.

Our Holy Warrior safe in the conviction that Jesus talks through him, that it is not enough that we invade and occupy a nation of 27 million people with nothing but a desert sitting upon a sea of oil. Indeed, Jesus tells him that the evil that is the nation known as Iran must be also be attacked. The Lord tells him to trust our Saudi "friends" however, though they compromised 15 of the 19 hijackers in 9/11, and though they represent 45 percent of the foreign militants and suicide bombers in Iraq.

The top 3 nations with the largest amounts of oil, of course entirely by coincidence, are:

1) Saudi Arabia

2) Iraq

3) Iran

*according to Wikipedia
Canada would come in at #2 only if the huge tar sands are
included, which would be prohibitively expensive to extract, with
enormous environmental damage as a consequence.

oneguy July 24th, 2007 9:21 am

Wow oneguy it looks like you want to impeach. Who in the government is going to impeach the Shrubs & Bushes? That represents a giant dilemma since the 1st Amendment is creamed along with the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. An impeachment is only possible with a functioning Bill of Rights. One possibility is to readdress the Declaration of Independence to this George rather than King George and do the abolish thing that the colonials did.

Ah, if only Reagain were alive; what did he do in Lebanon? Cut and ran!

RICK: Calculated, yes; but the ultimate calculus will alter as new variables such as climate change erupt the old formula.
COYOTITA: thanks for the Sting lyrics. I adore him! And those words were so apt to this discussion.
IKSAFFORD: You are an excellent strategist. Good ideas!

Conyers:

http://judiciary.house.gov/Contact.aspx

Along with IMPEACH! The mantra should include:

"WHERE IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? WHERE IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? WHERE IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? WHERE IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? WHERE IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? WHERE IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?"

There is no spin to make to that question; no place to hide from the reality that we are no safer from the terrorists who bombed us. "WHERE IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?"

When Pelosi loses the primary, she'll run as an independent and vote with the Republicans. So will the rest of the DNC crowd.

As someone who has done their fair share of bi-partisan work with legislators, I can honestly say that until protesters are willing to do much more than sit-in at a legislator's office - much less a Democratic one - it is indeed hopeless. In order to get GOPers to cross the isle on impeachment, censure, or what have you, one has to actually make it hard or impossible for those legislators to do their job, from their office at least. Actually occupying legislators offices is the way to go. You see, when it gets to the point that they have to actually close off access to the legislators offices, because so many people are willing to block the entrance to their office, they will get the message.

I have actually gone to a lobby meeting at a Republican Senator's office, while anti-war protesters were sitting in the lobby of the office, quietly chanting peace prayers. While it was heartwarming and all, the staffers were literally laughing about it behind closed doors. Now, if those protesters would have made it uncomfortable for the Senator to conduct his meeting, it would begin to actually irritate him. Dig?

Surely those with the sign had some shared qualities:
1) They were misrepresenting the "Patriots."
2) They were representing the Petrol-iots.
3) They did not know where Iraq is.
4) They did not know what victory means.
5) They were paid demonstrators, AND,
6) They were zombies with an extra butt for a head.
This country needs:
1) To have more than two political parties.
2) To trash Electoral College.
3) To trash electronic voting machines that give no paper trail.
4) To criminalize campaign financing.
5) To criminalize lobbying.
6) To prohibit media concentration.
7) To set Sundays for voting to make it easier to vote
8) To make voting mandatory.
9) To look at some European countries to see what democracy is.
10) To try Bush/Cheney and members of the Congress for, among others, war
crimes and crimes against humanity.

Run Cindy Run! Pelosi is worse than incompetent, she is complicit in continuing the war. She never had any intention of taking on the Bush-Cheney criminal enterprise. Her goals are parochial and partisan. Hey Nancy, how many more American soldiers and innocent Iraqis are you willing to sacrifice in order to ensure no Republican can be elected in 2008?!!

Nobody runs for Congress anymore to represent us. Come on, would you? Seriously, have you seen the benefits they give you? Healthcare, retirement, kids' college, nice paycheck. And you only have to be in Congress for one term to get all that! And on top of that, think of how much money you'll get from lobbyists! That's the best incentive for running again and again, building up that bank account and getting those free vacations. Who doesn't love a free vacation?

Impeach? Why are you going to bite the hand that feeds you? As long as Bush is in office, there's a reason for Democrats to exist.

Happystead,

"…the world IS NOT better off with Sadaam(sic) removed from power".

The world IS a better off with Saddam removed from power. In fact had the U.S. not betrayed Iraqis, they would have removed him before BushCo. Forget about the BushCo claim of removing Saddam to bring democracy; he was just an obstacle to get to the oil, as I'm sure you know.

I think you are comparing the horrible disaster BushCo have created after removing Saddam with the disaster when Saddam was in power. In that case you're right.

Saddam for long used to be a U.S. lackey and a despicable tyrant like Bush is now. It is good that he's gone. What Bush did AFTER removing him is a discredit to Bush, not a credit for Saddam.

I thought she quit?

Hey Pelosi (et al), need a reason?
Lying, torture, spying, treason!

That's a keeper!

lksafford if the Dims REALLY wanted to impeach Bush they'd be out working the media circuit, making speeches on the floor of Congress, etc. No the Dims are not serious because many of them voted for the war and are up to their necks in war profiteering gravy.

I hope Cindy runs and kicks coward Pelosi's ass all the way around the block getting at least 60% of the vote. If that happened the Dim would know they can't both hold onto power and go against the majority who wants us out of Iraq.

Why is everyone so critical of those that are on "our side"? I think if all those who want our Democracy back, or a similar facsimile thereof, would UNITE and encourage each other in what they do instead of always looking for something to criticize, perhaps we could be effective???
Here's what I am doing.
I attend a peace stand every Saturday.
I am working on the Kucinich campaign..doing such things as tabling.
I am collecting votes in the Impeach Cheney poll.
Criticize me. Say it will do no good. Say I am a poor speaker, etc.
Now, tell me what are you doing?? I'm open to ideas!

Dear SkySonia, and everyone else out there:

I am going to make myself a great big button asking:

"Where is OSAMA BIN LADEN?"

and I pass out flyers on busy street corners, and I pay for the copies, and I talk to people. And I want Kucinich and Edwards and Obama to win the presidential election.

Nauseating favoritism for the Dem war profiteers last nite on CNN "debate". Go Cindy. We love you.

If ever there was a time to dismantle the status quo it's now. Cindy should be an inspiration to anyone and everyone fed up with the DemoRepub stranglehold on this nation. Every Green, every Libertarian, every Independent, every Whatever (make one up!)should either run for office or fiercely support anyone but a DemoRepub Dog! Run for Congress, for Mayor, for City council, for the school board, for dogcatcher. Let's stir this stagnant putrid pot up, better yet, let's throw it out and start over.

lksafford - did the Repusgs wait around for Dim support when they impeached Clinton for lying about a BJ? No! they had their "moral high ground" and they went fo it, dragging the rest of the country along kicking and screaming. It is up to the "leadership" of the house of representatives to LEAD the way, not sit around and wait for the repugs to give them permision.

Cindy (and her fans),

Pleeeaaaaasse . . . don't wait until the general election to run against Pelosi. Run a two-step race. Run against her as a Democrat in the Primary. Then if you don't win, get on the Green Party ticket and run on their 2008 Progressive Platform against her in the general election for the House seat she currently disgraces. By working with both parties Cindy, you can get lots of support from true progressives in both parties--and support from the San Francisco progressive majority. Don't deprive San Francisco folks of the choice to vote for you in the Democratic Primary. Remember, San Francisco voters already voted to impeach Bush.

conyers...that is not your office..it's the PEOPLES

what next you freakin hack..gonna get some German Shepard attack dogs, and get out the fire hoses?

LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET THE HELL OUTTA THE WAY!!
IMPEACH NOW

Symbolic statement/protest/martyrdom may sometimes help, but I'd submit that this is one technique, among many, in the movement. Rather than head-banging politicians, in a co-dependent/dysfunctional relationship, we need to engage, convince, activate, etc. our fellow American. We should approach politicians more like forces of nature, rocks, mountains, etc. They're either onboard or not for the most part, since being elected, and probably cannot be convinced otherwise without a large amount of money (a huge bribe otherwise known as a campaign contribution) or massive shift in the political winds.

Lacking the money, our job is to get our fellow American engaged. Each of us should "work on" 5 new people, and get them to each work on 5 new people, etc. We need to encourage people to be active and engaged.

Run the warhawks out of office, and no such protests will be necessary.

Ha ha! So "Bull" Conyers shows us what happens when peace activists git all uppity. What's next, dogs and fire hoses?

Paul has it absolutely right. We need to consolidate the masses and expand our base. Be prepared for people to hurl profanities, insults, and objects at you. But stand together and keep fighting. Do not be afraid to hit below the belt (metaphorically, not physically) if you need to. Folks, the time has come. Let's get to work!

I have a great deal of respect for Cindy, and strongly support her cause, but could we PLEASE learn some new chants? we're creative animals arent we?

Prior to the start of the Iraq invasion, millions marched in protest worldwide; half million in Florence Italy, 1.5 Million in Rome, 1 million in London, half million in NYC, 200,000 in San Francisco, most every community had some form of protest. Entire cities were shut down.

Marking the one year anniversary the numbers of demonstrators were large (still in the 100's of thousands)but probably half that prior to the invasion.

Two years after, the numbers were down to 10's of thousands.

Three years after 100's showed up.

Four years after, in 2007, more people were killed in one week in car bombs in Iraq than showed to protest.

-----At the start of the Vietnam invasion, who knew?

A year later a handful of college professors and radical beatniks started to make a little noise, they were dismissed as kooks.

Two years later a few more profs and beatniks.

Three years later, enter the hippies, thousands start to show up to demonstrate.

Four years later, 100's of thousands,

Five years later millions of protesters took to the streets!

Are we in BIZARRO WORLD?

claudius: If approached correctly, no insults are forthcoming. ALL progressives need to all take a course entitled "Interfacing Outside the Choir 101".

* Establish respect. Show them what you can do with your hands, working on your house, your art, some expertise, something you can DO that they'll see and respect. Without respect, forget it. And keep in mind that, once lost, respect may be impossible to regain later.
* Show humor. People are drawn to people having fun. I met Paul Wellstone a couple times and saw him speak on a few occasions here in Minnesota. Even when he made his veins pop out in speaking earnest and frustration, he could manage a wink & grin to his audience. He was charged.
* Lead mainly by example, not by rhetoric.
* Never preach.
* When speaking, frame it in qualities your audience already understands. Don't waste time redefining labels (collections of qualities) they've long since departed from, don't understand or don't trust. Drop the word "liberal" like a lead balloon.
* Never solicit for money because it's pretty clear that this is a battle for heart & soul, dreams and hopes, not another excuse to make people depart with their hard-earned money.

In general, there's a joie de vivre out there which progressives too rarely tap into.

"The speaker is focused on changing course in Iraq by bringing our troops home safely and soon and refocusing our effort on protecting Americans from terrorism," said Brendan Daly, Pelosi's press secretary.

"protecting americans from terrorism" is what got us in this disastrous crime in the 1st place. is this pelosi's press sec, or w's? given that the war in iraq has made terrorism worse, wouldn't impeachment of w. and his black pope cheney make us safer?

here's a new chant:

DEFEAT TERRORISM! IMPEACH BUSH/CHENEY!

I think Pelosi might lose this challenge by Sheehan, and she better get wise quick. I don't think this is something that will pass or she can shrug off.

Some of what Cindy says is a bit over the top and anguished for my taste, but I can't hold it against her because she has suffered a terrible loss and was not given the dignity and respect from the President of a personal consolation.

Then, there is no doubt she has become a national hero. She is going to loom large in the history books. If California can hire the Terminator as Governor, it can hire Sheehan for Congress.

Paul,

Thanks for the tips. I will keep them in mind.

Hopefully Cindy can help transform the movement to end the war into something even larger -- a movement to end the empire. The American people are sick of the predator corporations using this nation's government and its people as pawns in their quest to dominate the planet for their insatiable greed.

Mr. Bramscher,

I grew up in one conservative area and currently live in another conservative area and so I have had conservative friends and family members my entire life, though I have been progressive since my teen years. I agree with much of what you say, though I would add some bitter medicine for some progressives. Positions on issues that may be interpreted as celebrating victimhood and the sexual issues are non-starters with any conservatives I know and it is impossible to make any meaningful progress in communication as long as those issues are part of the discussion.