Nancy Pelosi Should Listen to Karl Rove
Karl Rove might be a nasty guy, but he’s no dummy. In a press interview as he left office, he gave the Democrats some free advice. He described his politics as building on the energy of the base of the Republican Party and expanding it outward. He mentioned that the Democrats could build on the energy of their base, like the “Pink Ladies”, he said, referring to the Code Pink women who dogged him until the day he left office.
Instead of courting the “Pink Ladies” and the energetic peace movement that helped put the Democrats in power and turned Pelosi from Minority leader into Madam Speaker, Pelosi has alienated CODEPINK and most of the peace movement. It started the day she became Speaker, when she said that defunding the war and impeachment were off the table. It worsened when she compromised with the conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats on an Iraq funding bill instead of supporting the Progressive Caucus. And it totally fell apart in May 2007 when she allowed Congress to give Bush another $95 billion for war with no timetable for withdrawal. While Pelosi herself voted against the bill, many anti-war activists held her responsible since she failed to put pressure on the conservative Democrats to form a united front against another blank check for war. They also pointed out that in the case of both the unrestricted war funding and the expanded FISA wiretapping, she had the power to just keep the bills off the floor.
With a Bush Administration request for even more war money looming in September, CODEPINK and a coalition of 1,300 anti-war groups called United for Peace and Justice have been pushing for a meeting with the Speaker to see what her strategy will be this time around. If she really wants to end the war, as she insists she does, what lessons did she learn from the Spring defeat that will ensure a different outcome this Fall? How can the peace movement work together with the Speaker to make sure her new strategy works?
Despite countless requests, Pelosi has refused to have either a private meeting with the peace community or a public Town Hall meeting in her district. The last time she held a Town Hall meeting was in January 2006-almost two years ago!
During the August recess, while Congresspeople all over the country held meetings on the issue most pressing to their constituents-the war-Pelosi rejected a request from over 30 San Francisco peace and justice groups, ranging from Jewish Voice for Peace to Muslim American Voice, from the Labor Council to MoveOn.
So on August 12, CODEPINK took the request to her home, organizing an encampment and hunger strike outside her Pacific Heights mansion. It is a tactic that was successful with Senator Dianne Feinstein. After six days of having campers outside her home, Feinsten came out to have a cordial half-hour discussion with the fasters and promised a longer meeting. Not Pelosi. During the two-week campout and hunger strike, Pelosi’s only interaction with the activists was her hostility toward them. Arriving home late one evening, hunger striker Toby Blome asked “Why won’t you meet with us?” “I’ll never meet with you,” the Speaker screamed. “Get away from my house.” When Blome asked her about the homes of all the Iraqis whose privacy we invade, Pelosi snapped and called her “a nut.”
Hoping the Speaker would change her mind, the activists kept up the vigil, sleeping on the hard cement, drinking only liquids, and trekking to her downtown office every day singing (to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat) “Nancy, Nancy you’re our rep, It’s time to end the war, Meet, meet, meet with us, That’s all we’re asking for.”
On Day 5 of the hunger strike, Pelosi’s San Francisco Director Dan Bernal coldly told the fasters and their supporters that the Speaker would not have the time to meet with peace groups in her district anytime during the August recess, period. That very night, CODEPINK in Arizona emailed us an article from the Ahwatukee, Arizona paper saying the Speaker had made a surprise appearance at a “Democrats and Donuts” coffee klatch in their little town before going on to a fundraiser. “I was amazed she took so much time to speak with us,” gushed local organizer Pamela Jamar Wald in the Ahwatukee paper. The next day, CODEPINK Los Angeles passed on the news that Pelosi was meeting with high-dollar donors at the estate of Beverly Hills political fundraiser Daphna Ziman. While Pelosi had no time for her constituents, she spent the month of August jetting around to fundraisers in seven states.
Meanwhile, it’s not just passionate peace activists who are disillusioned. An August Field Poll of California voters found Pelosi’s approval rating plummeted from a high of 48 percent in March to 39 percent by August- a tie with Vice President Dick Cheney. The drop came primarily from Democrats and independents disappointed that Congress has been unable to change policy in Iraq. California voters’ view of the entire Congress was a disastrous 20 percent approval, 66 percent disapproval-the lowest rating since the Field Poll started asking the question in 1996. It’s even worse nationally. An August national Gallup poll found 18 percent approval, 76 percent disapproval–the worst since the group started asking the question in 1974.
Nancy Pelosi is not only blowing it with the peace movement-turning those who should be her base into her adversaries and paving the way for “peace mom” Cindy Sheehan to make a spirited run for her Congressional seat-she’s also blowing it with the majority of Americans.
Our advice? Stand up to Bush. Don’t allow Congress to give another blank check for war. Force the conservative Dems to follow your lead. Don’t only vote the right way, but use your power as Speaker to only allow bills to the floor that include a fixed timeline for withdrawal or stipulate that funds only be used for the safe and speedy withdrawal of our troops.
And one more thing. Take a clue from Karl Rove. Build on the energy and passion of the anti-war movement. Make them your allies. If you can meet with Syrian strongman Bashar al-Asad, you can surely meet with the peace-loving Pink Ladies, the Quakers, Veterans for Peace and others who have been the heart and soul of our nation’s efforts to end this shameful war.
Medea Benjamin (medea@globalexchange.org) is cofounder of Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org) and CODEPINK: Women for Peace (www.codepinkalert.org).
I have better advice for Nancy: choke.
To hell with the Democrats, never ever again will they receive my vote.
Yeah, it sounds like pelosi and bush are birds of a feather: My way is the only way sort of thing…..
Didn’t they all (nancy, georgie, laurie, and somebody else) just have a meal together in the currently non white house? Thats what i heard. I wonder whose way it ended up going…..
Peace,
Ken Hausle
Having written Pelosi and countless other congressional leaders, I am astounded at their deaf ears when it comes to the real issues. No matter the language, no matter the peril, their arrogance is beyond our voice. Let their heads roll! I’ll go to work for Sheehan anytime! Bush is threatening Iran and will pull the trigger just for spite. The Dems in both the house and senate sit on their deliberative asses. They don’t have a clue.
A couple of my brothers who are rather politically conservative were very dismayed at the prospect of Ms. Pelosi becoming the Speaker of the House. Obviously, they were concerned over nothing. I had expected so much more from her and the Democratic-controlled House but I should have known better, especially after all the grief she gave to Howard Dean for not supporting the DLC election “strategy.” She and her supporters are all falling nicely into place for following the lead of the Bush Administration and his corporate cronies.
I expect that the same will happen if we allow Hillary Clinton to become the Democratic nominee and next President of the United States. Nothing but corporate politics as usual, but then should we be surprised?
I agree completely with Jefferson’s Guardian. I’ll be there on Sept 15 (hell, I’m littering Charleston, SC with flyers and posters all about it) to show that a few people in the South have common sense. www.sept15.org
Sometimes the Democrats remind me too much of GM. We all know that GM refused to accept strong CAFE standards and fought against them tooth and nail, when obviously the long-term interests would have been better served by accepting them and working on fuel-efficient cars. And GM has never supported a single-payer universal health care system even though that would certainly help GM’s long-term prospects. In both cases, the GM managers felt more comfortable going against their own and GM’s long-term interests and choosing the socially irresponsible course because being socially irresponsible had usually served its managers’ interests in the past and that is what they felt comfortable doing.
And the Democratic leadership appears to suffer from possessing a similar mindset. Even though the socially responsible course (defunding the war and impeaching Bush and Cheney) would better serve the Democratic Party’s managers and the party’s long-term interests, they just feel so uneasy taking that course because the socially irresponsible course has served them so well in the past and so that is what they feel comfortable with.
Medea Benjamin, your ‘advise’ sounds like a cup of hemlock for the democrats. they should drink and be done.
“nut”
“idiot liberals”
If you listen closely, the Democratic leadership will tell you very clearly what they think of you. Every once in awhile the guard slips down and they aren’t politically correct and they say what they really mean.
What they think of us is clear. What I don’t understand is why anyone still supports them?
Go, Cindy, Go!!!!!
Hey there’s a thought, maybe you should ask the NEXT congressperson from that district for a meeting. I’d bet Cindy would be glad to talk to you.
If you want to talk to Pelosi, you’d better round up several hundred thousand dollars. If you really want her to listen to you and actually maybe do some stuff you request, then you need to show up bearing the appropriate bribe … uh, “contribution.”
kivals - don’t get me talking about “gm”.
you know about the whole mass transport hijacking don’t you?
a big reason why we have all the problems we have today is because of all the stinking cars……
Nixon promised to get us out of Vietnam. Promises promises.
They key idea here is to recognize the two key wordviews in operation in American politics. When Rove advocates that the Republican Party appeals to its base and expands from there, he is advocating to appeal to those who support the foreign and economic policies of the corporate-conservative regime where the money is in American politics. To suggest that corporate Democrats like Pelosi (like the majority of her colleagues in the party) appeal to the “anti-war” base of the Democratic Party is to ask them to betray their actual base–the corporate-conservative regime where (again) the money is. They won’t. We need to oust them from office. The choice is getting starker and starker: we can have a corporate-conservative regime edging towards a police state at home while conquering abroad–or we can have a new progressive regime in America and help humanity make the great turning towards a sustainable Earth community, as David Korten suggests in his book The Great Turning. To do that means supporting Medea Benjamin and Code Pink and many other groups; and the true progressives in American politics like Kucinich, Gravel, Lee, Lewis, Watson, Woolsey and (maybe) Conyers along with some others. It means getting more active than ever before. It means, above all regarding Pelosi, unseating her by supporting Cindy Sheehan. It is time for a new progressive regime. And the good news is that most progressive policies are supported by majorities of Americans. We can do this but it will take massive efforts for many years.
Well,you know what the solution is…Cindy Sheehan is right here on the same page–ironically enough, so is Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of “The Nation” which launched a campaign to undermine Sheehan by suggesting it was not her place to challenge Pelosi. You know, those Katha Pollitt columns were printed in the San Francisco papers, so I’d suggest, Medea, that you get the alternative view out there in the press too.
Who the hell does this woman think she is? Sold out before she ever got started….let’s find out who IS pushing her to such unexplainable positions and foolish arrogance right out of the gate….
I am appalled by Rep Pelosi’s treatment of these good people, but I am not surprised.
Our local Rep. Delahunt here on Cape Cod refuses to meet with the local peace group, and he even had them arrested in March 2006 when they staged a peaceful (no disruption) sit-in at his Hyannis office waiting for an appointment date with him after 4-5 months of calls with no response. He has refused all requests for a forum for close to 2 yrs. and has still not met with the group requesting an app’t. Those arrested went on a police list and were threatened with arrest by police at a subsequent peaceful antiwar demonstration outside his office.
Many of us contributed to antiwar candidates in other states for the 2006 election and it’s been disheartening to see them shift over to the right under Pelosi and keep mum about the war and vote to fund it.
The Democratic Party no longer represents not only the activists, but the rest of their fair and compassionate constituents who know the war is a farce and tell the press in the polls what they think of the Dem. Congress.
Jefferson’s Gaurdian is quite right! (please, put your words into action and march for an end to the occupation in Iraq (and to stop an attack of Iran). A few thousand participants isn’t going to do it, folks. There’s going to have to be over a million marchers to get their attention, and if you aren’t part of this attempt to find a solution, you’re just part of the problem.) I would only add that if you want to be seen on “The News” you need to start a riot. Otherwise, you will not be seen by anyone other than yourselves.
Ms Pelosi has got to go. I wrote to her as a concerned citizen, and got backa tersely worded email telling me that since they couldn’t tell what my freaking ZIP CODE was, they wouldn’t answer my previous inquiry. Pardon me, but I thought that the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE represented the ENTIRE country, not just San Fran. Apparently she doesn’t deal with her own constituents any better.
She either does not know what her job is, or she doesn’t care. I suspect that she is so eaten up with her position of power that she doesn’t give a flying rat’s butt about actually DOING the job. She has proven that she doesn’t know what the constitution says about impeachment at all, and doesn’t care.
The thing that annoys me the most about her is that she hasn’t learned a single thing from being in the minority. If she had a brain that functioned properly, she would have learned from the last 20+ years and would be using those examples against the very people who used them against her. She is a person who has no interest in helping the COUNTRY, just Nancy Pelosi. I almost with I lived in San Fran (Even though my Ex-Fiance lives there) just so I could vote AGAINST her.
Go, Ms Sheehan, GO! Take this lazy, no good, unanswerable goon out of the house where she doesn’t belong.
Ken Hausle,
Yes, I know a bit about gm’s many shenanigans, but too off-topic to go into here. Sorry about inadvertently hitting your hot button issue.
The apologetic language to these Democratic hacks gets tiresome here. If Pelosi had not backstabbed the 2006 voters, Bush would be well on his way out the Oval Office door now, and Cheney would probably already be gone.
And I have something else to say: If Bush and Cheney start a war in Iran, the blood of thousands of innocents will be on Pelosi’s hands. It is she, and no one else, who will be responsible for the next bloodletting.
Oh people. The inherent falacy is continually trying to make Pelosi part of the solution. SHE IS NOT! She is firmly part of the problem. She is part and parcel of the Corporate Democrats, Rethuglican Lite. Pelosi will do nothing for the good of the people that the corporate paymasters haven’t sanctioned. And the corporate paymasters want war. As the blood flows, so do the monies to their coffers. I say to you, quite trying to put lipstick–and a peace sign–on a pig. Neither changes the reality.
It is PAINFULLY CLEAR that Congress–Democrap majority or Rethuglican majority–has a higher allegience than to the American people. Our votes are just a rubber stamp on the process. Congress does not worship at the altar of Democracy, it worships at the feet of Mammon. And our children are just blood sacrifice.
Lets stop talking to our lying, corporate elected representatives; there is only one course of action…speak to them in a language they understand.
Get active locally and replace Pelosi and all similar democrats with people like Cindy Sheehan
I am so happy so many of you think the Vichy Democrats are going to save you.
That is if we assume that the two parties are really two parties and not just one with two different names to fool.
I wouldn’t advise anyone to listen to Karl Rove. Look what happened to Bush as he did listen.
Jack37, follow the money to AIPAC. They want nothing to do with troop withdrawal and are supporting the current saber rattling with Iran. Money always rules these spineless cowards and all our ranting and raving falls on deaf ears.
hey george fucking bush (the person posting here…)
Define vichy democrats or shut the hell up…..
i mean i know i cant make u shut up, but….
do you know anything about the vichy….
you call out the name of many who 2 the best of my knowledge sacrificed their safety on behalf of principle, but i’ll admit i do not know the whole story..who does because its always changing..the point is you are suggesting some sort of innuendo….but who knows what you really mean, and that is not good communication….
As far as i’m concerned, principles matter and so does scale…
and for heaven’s sake so does empathy…..crazy that this even needs to be said…..maybe i need to shut up myself…
Peace,
Ken Hausle
Ken, I’m assuming he is referring to the traitorous Vichy governmnent in France during WW2. They collaborated with the Nazi’s and betrayed their own people.
So george bush (the poster) very clever and accurate.
thank-you rebelnow that clarifies it a bit for me…
Peace,
Ken Hausle
re bongofury 12:41pm
there’s no need for us to start a riot, as there will be plenty of agents provocateur assigned to that task.
for safety’s sake, assume that anybody who suggests violent confrontation is a cop and move quickly away from him or her.
Pelosi is just another System Slut.
Get rid of her.
Nancy Pelosi should listen to her conscience.
That is,___ if she still has one.
Pelosi is part of the DLC (Hillary, Lieberman et. al.). The mainstream media (MSM) appears to be in bed with DLC candidates. The MSM strategy appears to be to portray the DLC candidates as liberals/populists to the blue states/regions and show their true triangulating untrustworthyness and foolishness to the red & swing states.
This strategy tries to ensure DLC candidates are elected in the democratic primaries while suppressing the swing democratic vote in the general election. [According to Rasmussenreports.com Hillary is least likely to be elected and is most likely to lose to Giuliani in the general election, whereas Edwards would beat Giuliani]
I’m not sure how long this MSM strategy has been operational. Bill Clinton (also DLC) could have foiled the MSM strategy in part because Ross Perot split the conservative vote. Not a factor anymore, nor a help.
It doesn’t matter who wins the general presidential election, the DLC will continue the neo-conservative agenda. Blue states would hear less about attrocities committed by a DLC president… and the cycle will continue.
With friends like DLC candidates, who needs enemies?
DLC = neo-conservative in sheep’s clothing
Run Cindy Run.
I’M old enough to tell you again, there is only the party of money.I don’t care who you vote for solong as I count the votes and pay those who run. Stop voting for “PARTY” vote for whats good for your family.Those who profit from wars always call on your PATROITISM.Americans for Americans and not for corperate wellfare
If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck and sounds like a duck….it’s probably a duck…
re: Vichy France
They not only collaborated with the Nazis but with the Imperial Japanese as well. When the Japanese army moved into Indochina the French there did nothing that would imperil their own well-being.
The decadent DUMOS have become a moral menace infected with rancid dreams and retarded rodent chromosomes never hearing the hideous call of death screaming over lost desert battlefields of depleted uranium mutations that hail from a dark and bloody ground of cash inspired madness and human depravity.
Go Cindy, Go kick the AIPAC girl’ butt.
Right on! Alex. The short-sighted children of privilege have ruined and will continue to destroy this nation. They believe that you and I should fight with others for the benefit of themselves; already having too much money to be useful citizens.
Many conservatives used to be liberals until Mammon took them.
I had posted a brief note to Cindy Sheehan about ten minutes ago and it has disappeared Why?
I was telling Cindy that she is the true leader from,by and for the people and the reason that she is given “friendly” advice by “liberal” and “progressive” personalities and publications to change her mind about campaigning against Pelosi is that they are afraid of Cindy. They know that the vision of Cindy for a world of peace, love and justice reflects the desires of the majority of the American people. And they know that such a vision by an independent candidate migh be the beginning of the
dismanteling of their corrupt and deadly “two”
party status quo. So Go Cindy, Go and we are with you.
I ask again the editor of these posts: WHY DID MY EARLIER POST DISAPPEAR ?
Its too late for peaceful change but still too early to line the bastards up against a wall and shoot them. That time is approaching though. And it is the only way to change things.
vangelaras–
Usually posts disappear automatically until an editor can look at them if they have certain swear words, “hot” words (racial slurs, etc.), or excessive amounts of links. I’m sure there are plenty of other reasons one’s post might be [temporarily] removed.
Common Dreams provides a valueable service, but the site “commondreams” has their own interests. I’ve been saying this for awhile and putting out some suggestions…
Nevertheless, i appreciate Common Dreams and the opportunity it provides..where would we be without these dreams…..
Peace,
Ken Hausle
To: bongofury (12:41P) & hazmat (1:51P)…
Confirming your statement, Hazmat, refer to archived C-D article recently. Go to www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/25/3411/ and read about police procedures that help shape negative image, in the public’s eye, of legitimate non-violent protest and demonstration.
Bongofury, take Hazmat’s advice and beware of those that tempt you into violent action. Walk away, quickly, and stay away.
ever go to the Nation threads?
spammers, libertarian fanatics, rightwing trolls, DLC bullies….It is near impossible to even carry on a thoughtful exchange with so many seeking to sabotage the process. I have had a few posts zapped here too. But it is glitchy software I suspect because others have also had the experience for no overwhelming reason.
It is worth it–don’t take it personally–it is not censorship as much as having the freedom without threat gestapos goosestepping over everything.
“and is sickened by the very real prospect of another unilateral and unprovoked attack, this time against Iran.”
Unprovoked and unilateral? Iran shells Iraq, and trains and arms terrorists to kill US soldiers.
i agree: Give the Common Dreams site a break…..but then……
where do we go from here…….
i think it needs to be much more about PLACE…..because
….regardless of the imaginary “heaven” in the minds of a few….
the place we live and those around are what matters most to which we ought be true…..
Peace to U,
Ken Hausle
I know Ms. Benjamin was trying to write in a diplomatic and non-confrontational tone, but I suspect that Peloshit will be rolling on the floor reading Ms. Benjamin’s appeal to listen to her “base.” Earthian (12:10) nailed it: she is listening to and serving her base, the one base, the only base. “I will never meet with you!” (you are all)”Nuts!”
My anger and my rage are about to master me, and I suspect this too has been calculated in advance.
hey Vince Lawrence, i doubt it.
I don’t think anger and rage can be “calculated”. Too chaotic.
Peace,
Ken Hausle
MtnGoat,
With your last comment (”Iran shells Iraq, and trains and arms terrorists to kill US soldiers”) you proved beyond any possible doubt that there is absolutely no reason for anyone here to read your posts. Some of us were under the mistaken impression that you might be some Ron Paul-supporting libertarian, with at least reasonable views on foreign policy, but now you have demonstrated for all that you are a serious KoolAid addict (or should it be “KookAid”?). Sorry, but that is the way it is.
I think Nancy Pelosi does an excellent job of clearly illustrating how untrustworthy and corrupt the national leadership of the Democratic Party has become.
MtnGt said
“Iran shells Iraq, and trains and arms terrorists to kill US soldiers.”
Who told you this? Fox Noise? Seriously, where is your link to proof of this? We arm and train terrorists ourselves so even if proof could be provided to such end, SO WHAT? We are illegally occupying a Sovereign nation, why wouldn’t Iran be worried about our close proximity to THEIR borders? Not to mention the sabre rattling neanderthals currently running the show. So tired of buffoons…
I don’t think most people realize yet that both parties are the SAME! They are both elitist rich people (with a few exceptions in both parties) that believe in elite rule, not majority rule or even representing the people which is what they were elected to do in the first place.
Until We The People replace our goverment with one that is truly representative (or even better a True Democracy) we will continue to have ELITE RULE.
One acronym, AIPAC explains it all.
AIPAC rules the government of the United States of America. You will find that almost all the candidates in every major election are under this power. Aquaint yourself with it and support only candidates that distance themself from thier influence.
Recommended reading: The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy by J. Mearsheimer and S. Walt, 2007.
vangelarus - there is a key somewhere on the left side of my keyboard (and probably yours too) that I occasionally hit by mistake and my message completely disappears. Don’t know which key, that’s the problem! I’m looking, though -
Common Dreams is great, don’t malign it!
Nancy Pelosi is a very nice person. She’s kind to Bush, loving to wealthy campaign contributors (lobbyists), and she certainly wouldn’t kick any of those cute war profiteers while they’re feasting at public expense
MtnGoat…
Since you addressed my earlier comment regarding “…another unprovoked and unilateral attack…”, I feel compelled to respond.
You mentioned, and I quote,”Iran shells Iraq, and trains and arms terrorists to kill US soldiers.” As Kristina40 asked, has this been documented or substantiated (beyond being spouted as propaganda dribble from Fox News)? I’m not aware of such claims.
Additionally, if it were true, would this be moral grounds for attacking another nation’s citizenry, just because that nation borders another nation of which the United States occupies (illegally), and of which the United States attacked, not in self-defense, but through flagrant imperialistic “nation building”, or “democracy building”, only to further the cause and agenda of multinational corporations?
MtnGoat, I have to say your arguments (which I have scanned on various posts) seem, at first, thoughtful and enterprising. But, on second glance, your logic is mostly empty and full of vague and hapless meanderings that I find typical of those espousing propagandism, deceitfulness, and lies. Or, as Mr. Corbert might say, full of “untruthiness”.
Grandma…I have had the same problem in exactly the same place on the keyboard and I still haven’t found that #$*&% key.
As for Pelosi: Nancy, your re-election is OFF THE TABLE!
I am retired and live in Southern California but I plan to spend some time in the district helping Sheehan’s campaign. I’ll give some $ too.
All of us posting here in support of Cindy should do what we can. Think of the impact on US politics: Speaker of the House Defeated by Political Novice!
To Medea Bejamin: Nice try but it’s time that the only effort you and CODEPINK and like-minded people spend on Nancy Pelosi is in getting her DEFEATED.
Go,Cindy,Go!!!!!!
Hilary: the east coast AIPAC girl
Nancy: the west coast AIPAC girl
What a pair we have!
Great work, Medea, my CODEPINK sister. THANKS!!!! I’ll see you in DC on September 15th!
To peace,
Linda
I am so tired of begging to those who will never ever listen to us.
It’s time to stop begging.
Go Cindy Go!
I emailed Madame Pelosi yesterday, informing her of our utter disappointment with their performance so far. As I reminded her, they got our support with campaign promises and tough talk about standing up to Bush’s bullying tactics. I also reminded her that she had acknowledged publicly that the reason the Democrats won control of both houses was because the voters used the election as a referendum on the war.
The only rationale that I can imagine is the terrible scenario that this Congress is using the lives of our troops as bargaining chips to get other bills through. (minimum wage, add-on amendments, etc.)
I assured her that, in my eyes, there is no issue so important that it should be paid for in additional American blood.
Pelosi is the daughter of an old Baltimore political hack, Tommy D’Alessandro, who was wired into the power structure back in the day as well.
Cindy for Congress! Kick Pelosi out on her militarist, pro-Bush arse!
Sundrily:
1. MtnGoat eats, drinks and sleeps imperialist ideology (be it neoliberal economics or right-wing foreign policy). I, too, have observed his hackneyed ramblings and his limping logic, not to mention his half-baked syntax and bad orthography.
2. On a totally different note, I agree totally with vangelaras (see above): Cindy Sheehan does put the fear into all o’ them liberal and progressive “personalities,” and into all o’ them Demopublicans. Cindy, you are red sun in my heart!
C’mon folks. Venting spleen here is a sanity saver for many, sure.
but it’s only cyberspace onanism if we won’t at least follow through with measureable support for more direct forms of action that other people ARE taking.
Protest marches and other actions are now being organized across the country (check-out various anti-Bush, pro-peace, pro-Constitution websites, to see where.)
Most of us here can’t be physically present at these real time prostests - for perfectly valid reasons. But we oughta do the next best thing (for now): At least support the marches and events by giving their organizers as much direct financial, political, and emotional support as we can.
If more of us can’t do this, then progressive websites like this actually function to the enemy’s advantage: they draw-off vital human energy and legitimate anger into a rat hole that has barely-marginal flesh and blood consequences.
The power holders who are ruining this country and this world need to see and feel us IN PERSON. Or the next best thing: Our direct material support for people who do get physical in opposing them.
I don’t doubt that with enough organization and material support, we could see Pelosi’s own grandkids marching in San Francisco against her implicit claim that she’s “doing the best she can.”
(One of her grandson’s has already joined an Impeach Bush org, in the Bay area)
I don’t agree with those who claim the cyberspace is less important than the streets.
The internet is where the war of propaganda is fought.
It is a very critical part of the fight.
So, the majority of posters on this site don’t seem to belong to either political party. That means most of the supposedly politically astute posters here are not part of the political process. You are just a bunch of marginal complainers.
That’s fine, but I have to urge you to get involved instead of merely sitting on the sidelines and carping. Go to a demonstration or work in a political campaign. Politics is only as good as the people involved.
America can be a better place, but you have to get out there.
thedeed /
I am also very familiar with the strategy you use: trying to make us feel guilty.
“The Iraqi Resistance is by definition democratic as it is the spontaneous expression of a people who took its destiny into its hands, and is by definition progressive as it defends the interests of the people.”
“The Iraqi Resistance and the other resistance movements of the Middle East are movements of the peoples and by nature egalitarian.”
America has been invaded and occupied by a fascist regime. We will soon have no choice but to join our Iraqi brothers and sisters. It’s time for an American Insurgency.
Vote em all out!!!!
Corrupt, Corporate Congress!!!!
K- Street whores !!!
Out Out Out I say!!!
Perhaps she fits the pattern described by Gloria Steinem years ago: “She looks like us but acts like them.”
Looks like I arrived late to the party. And what a party.
Vichy Democrats. Well yeah, we do have them. Unfortunately they’re the ones in power. That’s what the Vichy French were, the ones in power. Collaborators.
And then there’s good ole MtnGoat blaming the Iranians for the mess in Iraq. What the Bush administration isn’t talking about is that the Saudis have been assisting the Sunnis. What we’ve started is a regional conflict by destabilizing Iraq. We did it.
Back to Nancy. Bless her heart, loading the gun that will finish off her run for the House. Screaming at antiwar activists who want to talk to her and calling them nuts. In San Francisco! Bet that goes over big.
Okay. Polls say 70% of Americans want to stop the war and bring the troops home. But Pelosi and other blue dog Dems won’t let it happen. They evidently believe the polls are misleading. They believe that if they moved to end the war, they wouldn’t get reelected. They believe their constituents want the war to continue. They’re not afraid of getting thrown out of office in 2008.
Pelosi evidently believes that it’s more important to her future political career to do the bidding of large contributors. Why? Because it takes large amounts of money to run TV ads, and I guess there’s still a substantial majority of Americans that rely on the MSM, and are reliably influenced at election time.
Add to that the continuing addiction of Americans across the political spectrum to petroleum products. There’s certainly no boycott underway, is there? And so, although Americans, when asked by pollsters if they want the Iraq war to end, give the fashionable reply, deep down they know they want the establishment to control that oil. At least that’s the feeling I get when I see the road to the beach heavy with SUVs on the weekend. Is this just me?
Ken Hausle September 5th, 2007 3:25 pm
Common Dreams provides a valueable service, but the site “commondreams” has their own interests. I’ve been saying this for awhile and putting out some suggestions…
EECK! What do you mean? You just made me shit my pants, like I’m being bugged
Please tell me otherwise, I like this site.
These says the question isn’t whether you’re you paranoid. Its whether you’re paranoid enough?
Re:r06ue1 September 5th, 2007 4:53 pm
and: Favonian September 5th, 2007 6:50 pm
I’m in agreement with you. WeThePeople need to ask these leaders to step aside and let someone who is with the majority of Americans now vote the troops home without delay.
I suspect a great silent majority is with the marchers on Sep 15th and cannot for whatever reason, participate. So we have a way anyone who supports them can do their part easily and cheaply.
Please check out www.wethepeopleforpeace.org and sign the people’s declaration of independence. If nothing else, it gives them permission to get out of town while the getting’s good and no need to wait for the election schedule. How about it? One small step for our country..
Fran
Couldn’t find a more appropriate thread:
Does anyone know what this is all about?
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/hillarys-prayer.html
Just in case that address reflects my lousy typing too well. It’s an article in the recent issue of Mother Jones called “Hillary’s Prayer.”
Too bad for the women of the nation. It looked for a while that they had a chance to show what one of their gender could do to right this tragedy but Pelosi flunked the test. Now what are we to think about the already-chosen Hilary? We need people like Cindy Sheehan and Kucinich who know what they stand for and are not afraid to stick with it. The maniacs in the white house may start WWIII though and then none of it will matter anymore, so don`t worry, be happy!!
When I read MR. Pelosi attended the Bohemian Grove bash this summer … Bush, Kissinger, etc., I wondered … what was he doing there?
We Progressives, Peaceniks, old-time Democrats that really fought for the people … we’ve been sold out, that’s all.
Edwards and Kuchinich should combine forces and money and start running together for PREZ and VEEP and declare a new party … maybe, simply, if there isn’t one by that name, THE PEOPLE’S PARTY …
thedeed: where to start? Like you (?) tried very hard to work inside the system. Went to meet-ups for Dean and came away feeling slimed by political hacks and hangers-on. For a brief time tried persuading perrenial non-voters to register and vote. The typical response I got went something like this: “Do I have SUCKER tattood on my forehead? Get out of my face fool!”
Marched in Washington the January before the invasion and then waited for the news coverage of the half-million of us that went to say NO! … and waited, and waited…
In this backwater rust-belt hollow was one of the lone voices writing letters to the local paper exposing the lies of BushCo. Last letter I wrote was a very effective appeal to throw the bums out last November. And it seems we (the 70% majority wanting change) did our part. Now, seeing that we’ve been fooled again, am too ashamed to write any more such letters.
I’ve sung along for many years to The Who but this time I really won’t be fooled again. It is no longer possible to affect (progressive) change through the political process here in America. Every non-status quo voice is silenced, ignored, or ridiculed. Even if we were to commit ourselves to the truth you expressed it would take years to enact any substantive change to the corporatocracy. WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME.
Only a collapse will now advance change, so maybe it is our duty to hasten the collapse. This is not a rant, and it is a conclusion that I detest and abhor, but no matter what calculus or angle of attack I apply to our problems it is the only conclusion that remains standing.
Oh Vince, be patient, it takes time. We no longer have that luxury. And it takes more than time. It takes an honest-to-god majority of very angry citizens to realize just how far up shit creek we are without a paddle. Only a collapse will accomplish that.
an aside: anyone care to wager just what percentage of DLC money will be committed to defending Peloshit’s seat? Genius Cindy!
WHERE CAN I DONATE TO CINDY SHEEHAN’S CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN???
This is another example of the duopoly that we have all subscribed to and continue to support. The two party system must of course work within the restrictions of the two party financiers and adhere to their will. Such is the way with big money politics. As Vince pointed out before this post, only a collapse shall bring about any progressive change as collapse is an economizing process. So, what to do? Why do we continue to support one party or the other when it is painfully obvious that they are first and foremost nationalists that support the global monopolization agenda? This agenda will only keep us involved with ongoing conflict and advance human suffering, environmental devastation, and a constant world of separatist nations. I say we need to look for post-industrial candidates such as Nader, Sanders, Paul and the like. Forget Pelosi and the damned two party polarizing dynamics. We need to say that we are all set with this outdated form of political organization. It is time for a new party.
Lots of good ideas. My thought is that ridicule is powerful in our pop culture. The elder President Bush began losing his public stature when TV comedians started making fun of him. The same thing has happened to President W, who couldn’t get elected as dogcatcher now. Pelosi and Reid can be influenced the same way, and oh are they vulnerable to ridicule! These egomaniacs have chosen to put themselves center-stage, and they aren’t going to enjoy playing clowns. My guess is that damaging their inflated egos may inflict more pain on them than any amount of under-the-table money can compensate.
Yet any amount of media cynicism and ridicule will only last as long as the pop culture will give attention. The underlying problems will still exist long after the jokes stop rolling on the late night programs. There will be a new target and new jokes and we all laugh. No, this place that we are in right now requires something much more than a few jokes on the Daily Show, although I would agree that it is a good feeling knowing that we live in a society that we can ridicule our so called leaders.
However, it is an uneasy feeling knowing that we are limited in our ability to hold leadership accountable aside from a joke or two. Our government is a social contract of all of us. For the people, by the people or so it has been said. So, I would argue that when we crack jokes about our government and it’s conscribes, we are ultimately cracking jokes about our own social contract. It is good to be able to laugh at ourselves, but eventually the jokes end up making us shake our heads rather than entice feelings of delight. The joke is on us in the end.
Hausle, Hi, thanks for reminding to give credit where it’s due and express support for Common Dreams. They’ve been a great blessing through this long nightmare. You sound like a fairly righteous individual _ peace to you, too.
The Vichy comparison makes good sense _ not by promulgating the stereotype of the French being cowardly, which is certainly untrue. They at least have the balls to hit the steets when they should. The comparison serves us better by likening the Bush regime to Hitler’s. It’s time more people come out and say it. The only difference between Hitler’s mass murder and the Bush regime’s is a matter of method and number. That could change over time.
Here’s to wishing Pelosi and “MtnGoat” would elope and go off somewhere.
after what bush and cheney have been allowed to get away with, and not to have been impeached, they might as well take it off the table forever. this sets a precedant that may never be surpassed.
The achilles heel of the Democratic party is that it is so divided. The Republican party is comletely united, the ignorance of the masses if you will. The Democratic divide I believe, serves as proof that it is still a true democracy. Howard Dean has even said “the voters choose candidates for the Democratic party while the Republican party chooses its candidates for the voters”. Every Republican move is carefully caluclated as Democratic minority interests run around bumping heads with each other.
My call to action to anyone who wants make a real change:
WRITE IN GORE!!! (tell your friends)
terryb 6:52 am 9/6
** after what bush and cheney have been allowed to get away with, and not to have been impeached, they might as well take it off the table forever. this sets a precedant that may never be surpassed. **
Heck, lets just burn the table. It seems to me as if there is nothing on the table except maybe all everyday US citizens and we are just getting “reamed”. On the other hand, there is probably lots going on underneath the table that we have no idea about even though it so affects our welfare. This is just all out plum wrong. It ain’t RIGHT.
I mean come on…it is as if we are nothing more than “mere tools” for the elite or that is what they think. Time will tell, but i feel similar to Vince Lawrence when he says….”the anger and rage are building”.
Chaos by its inherent nature is uncontrollable. For those few out there thinking you are “pulling the strings” all i can say is be careful what you unleash….you probably won’t get what you expect….
Ken Hausle
Fran is too nice. It is not that we should “ask” them to step aside, We the People will tell them they are stepping aside! It’s all in the verbs and the votes. Sheehan will replace Pelosi (with our help). And the Edwards/Kucinich ticket is looking very good to me. And we need to take back the Democratic Party. To heck with new parties, it will be a Johnny-come-lately effort and the Republicans will walk away with the elections again! Or are you just too lazy to work for it? It’s always the easy way out to replace something with which you are not happy with a new toy. But easy doesn’t solve the problem. We need strength in numbers, not more divisiveness.
CommonDreams has been an extraordinary place to meet minds of all temperaments.
shenonymous: i don’t know.
i’m tired of this “lesser of two evils” thing; you still end up with something evil….plus,
i don’t want to take back a party that could give a crap about me…..
Lastly, why do you refer to “CD” in the past tense? CommonDreams has been extraordinary and no reason why it can’t continue to be as such (which is probably what you think also, i just thought this might be worth pointing out)……
as far as “DC” is concerned, well then, the past tense is fine with me….
Peace,
Ken Hausle
* I support Impeachment of DC
The energy that brought the Dems to power has turned to rage, but it will beat uselessly on the shores of the empire unless it becomes a concerted and focused opposition. Turns out the truth that Nader proclaimed about tweedle dee and tweedle dum applied to war, torture and mass surveillance as well as corporate control of social issues. An impeachment proceeding could have crippled this Presidency, corrected the most egregious constitutional mistakes and started the national debate that really needs to happen in the face of the fascist mentality of the new right. The current Democratic leaders want to steer the plutocracy , not challege it.
I personally think one possible effective battleground for the left is NPR. We should march on NPR stations and demand real news. We should pressure every NPR station to carry Democracy Now.
The other , as many have said, is congressional seats. Greens, Independents , hardcore anti-war Democrats.
We need to confront the media and the enthusiasm of uninformed citizens for Hillary by writing , talking, campaigning.
I am as angry about the corruption of Democracy as anyone here, but I am trying to consider what is actually possible. We need creative strategists. I would love to hear Medea, Zinn, Nader, Sheehan, Moyers etc. put forth more in the way of organizing strategies and specific goals.
The creative attack ads sponsored by Move-on were great . We need to compel the media owners to run political messages from whoever puts up the cash.
Am I crazy here? I would love some feedback on these thoughts.
WE NEED TERM LIMITS IN CONGRESS! Then and only then will we have change. Look at Kennedy, tons of democratic power, but too concerned about his legacy to help us out.
Zel- “Here’s to wishing Pelosi and “MtnGoat” would elope and go off somewhere”
Many voicing their opinion on this page seem frustrated as to why they can’t affect greater change- I would say that history shows that to make a difference you have to engage with those you disagree with and work through the issues in a productice way. Comments equating Bush’s executive power grap with Hitler are an insult to intelligent people and serve only to alienate those who make them as the Looney Left.
If the purpose of these posts is to blow off some steam and have some fun with hyperbole than by all means have at it. If however it is to have a serious discussion on how to turn our country around than the emphasis should be on sound critical thinking where those with different views are welcomed as an opporntunity to further our understanding and reslove.
clarity - what you are saying may be so (or so it seems to me…), but it also seems to me that we are just talking so we don’t really need any restrictions on what folks say. Say as you will, just be prepared to defend yourself — or at least it seems like it ought to be that way to me…
Regardless, i kind of liked Zel’s jab.
Peace,
Ken Hausle
furthermore, and with no flippance (really), i say it is now 11:11.
Peace,
Ken Hausle
* time is of the essence
This is disappointing. I had hoped that Nancy Pelosi’s experience and skill would be the tipping point for funding the war in Iraq. Not to mention disarming the Bush saber rattling with Iran.
What is so frightening about meeting with your constituents? What kind of scaredy-cat is our Speaker of the House of Representatives?
I’m still having trouble posting. Something about WordPress and MySQL….Anybody got any suggestions?
Rebel Farmer - for what its worth the only suggestion i can come up with is:
“be a rebel farmer or at least, be a farmer for the locality….”
Peace,
Ken Hausle
* I support Impeachment of ALL OF DC….but we should start with the top and let it trickle down as it will….
So Cindy is running as an independent right?
The sad question then is if she jumps into the race, who will be the Gore and who will be the Nader?
I think the best thing we can do now is to support the Libertarians or the Reform Party (not with votes however) until they’re strong enough to split the conservatives, then push the Greens until there’s 4 parties.
If only we had a Parliament.
Wonder if Bill would have won at all if not for Perot?
It’s hard for everyone to be farmers even though I agree with you in concept . There are large portions of people who live in blacktop and cement jungles. At best small cooperative gardens can be utilized.Only when the economic engine is defeated will those at the top be forced to discuss issues on life of the ordinary workers and peasants. As long as this corporate engine motors smoothly, we will all risk annihilation.Capiltalism as it is now being enforced is like a cancer,it must be cut out to save the planet.There in lies Pelosi’s problem,she is a previleged member of that class of corporate structure.
Let the chaos and revolution come, our species could stand to be thinned out and hardened.
hey phat jay — so if there is some “thinning”, i quess you have lots to loose, or are you not really all that “phat”.
Personally, i’d just assume the “thinning” never start because it will become indiscrimanent….and that is totally random…..and i suspect incredibly unpleasant for everyone….
rather than thinning can’t we just have some learning?????
Peace,
Ken Hausle
oh yeah, and SCALE matters….big time…
let me say one last thing, the 2nd message above (2:07) has been edited and should be changing (>95% confidence).
Peace,
Ken Hausle
* lets get all the planes down on the ground
** lets get all the nuclear subs back to shore
*** lets start making peace……why not?????????
Pelosi is the “Malinche” of the US progressive movement.
from what i’ve read so far, i agree…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Malinche
Nancy “no more blank checks” Pelosi is such a disappointment. She is not unaware, she is not dumb or unschooled, she is a sellout, pure and simple. She never had any intention of bucking the system and I’m beginning to believe she was a setup from the beginning, a bargain with the neocons; a public face of change in exchange for allowing the madness to go on. She’s complicit unlike Conyers who I think may have been threatened for his complicity. But this lady was part of the game from day one.
To support Cindy Sheehan for Congress here is her new official site:
http://www.cindyforcongress.com/
There isn’t much there yet, but there will be in due time.
There is also an unofficial, unauthorized site which I can’t yet validate as useful:
http://www.sheehanforcongress.com/
It has lots of videos of Cindy, but unless and until she endorses it, I can’t fully recommend it.
As far as political activity by progressives, there are some simple things we can all do (which I’ve done where I live):
Join or start a progressive caucus in your state Democratic Party. (There are now over 20. To find yours search for “your state” and “progressive caucus”. It will likely show up.) Ours in Kansas can be found at www.kansasprogressives.org.
and
Join Progressive Democrats of America (www.pdamerica.org)
and
Join and/or support local Green Parties and the Green Party of the United States (www.gp.org).
In Vermont, join the Vermont Progressive Party.
And there is no reason not to use a personal two-party strategy. Belong to your progressive caucus in the Democratic Party *and* the Green Party.
And be on the lookout for new progressive presidential candidates beyond Kucinich and Gravel. I was on a conference call with Salt Lake City’s Mayor Rocky Anderson last night (a PDA event) and he might possibly run. He is one of us for sure, and is more movement-oriented than Dennis Kucinich (who supported Kerry in 2004).
Regarding whatever CommonDreams may have as problems, I think it is important to give them a chance to fix problems.
If something doesn’t post, cut it into two parts and try each consecutively after waiting an hour or so.
Or write to editor@commondreams.org and pose a question or identify a problem and give them a chance.
The main editor at CommonDreams is a guy named Craig Brown. I see no evidence that he is anything but a true progressive. I look at the overall performance of the editing staff regarding the selection of articles and authors. I’m impressed. Some not-so-progressive articles appear. But we don’t need for CD to be a censored place. Non progressive pieces may still be important. I trust Craig and the other editors and suggest that we readers give them a chance to come through anytime there are problems. They have created a great home for the progressive community here.
There can be little pretense anymore that Democrates and Republicans are anything more than faithful factions of a single party, dedicated to fossil fuel and Arms Contractor lobbies and to the U.$. as a global empire. …….WAKE UP AND SMELL THE FASCISM, AMERICA ITS THE NEW WORLD ODOUR !
Vince,
I was at that same march on a cold January. It was maybe the largest anti-war march ever. But marching isn’t going to win it. I do applaud your efforts at voter registration. Though efforts of people like you hundreds of thousands of new voters were added to the polls in 2004 and we won the popular vote, if not the electoral college.
The question you pose is whether the system is irretrievably broken and what course a rational liberal person should take. Personally, I fear our democracy is in very treacherous waters and things can go very badly. However, we are at another turning point, and many people no longer believe the Republican propaganda and may be willing to take their chances with a Democratic President. We have the ability to make that Democratic President strong or weak.
I understand our system to be one in which various constituencies must form coalitions in order to win power. Republicans have been able to do this by organizing the religious right, turning out their people in droves, and minimizing their radical fringes. The came up with a storyline the public bought and bin Laden handed Republicans the fear card, which they have blasted us with ever since.
It is clearly very difficult to build a liberal coalition sufficiently strong enough to win because most Democrats are critical and independent thinkers. Republicans more naturally accept order, and maybe that is their weakness too.
Nevertheless, if we want to save America and make it the liberal democracy it should be, that is our task: Build the coalition and then do our field work to get the votes.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t seem to have a clue about how to work in coalition. It means having to compromise, but we only do that to get more power through the coalition. We work together and help each other. We don’t get everything we want, but at least we are heard and some attention is paid to our concerns, in direct relationship to our abilities in the coalition. The coalition, of course, would have values of caring for minorities and the weak, because that is what we all believe in.
The alternative to learning the skills necessary to function effectively in our coalition model is rather bleak. Deciding not to participate, or worse, participating by tearing down those closest to your own beliefs because they are not “pure” enough, is highly destructive. Not only is the opposing coalition empowered, but negativity and bitterness are the result.
One may believe that our democracy is failed and can’t be saved — that it is permanently controlled by the corporations and the wealthy. This might be true, and if so, one must adopt a philosophy of personal defense. I think maybe I might move to another country sometimes when I get discouraged.
But I reject that all is hopeless because I just can’t accept it. I have spent a lot of my adult life trying to make democracy work the way I imagined it would when I was in school. I don’t want the corporations to win. I’m not an artist or a musician and I can’t work for the corporations, so its what I have to do. Fight the man, or give up. I am fighting the very best way I know how and giving them hell every chance I get. I may not win, but I’ll at least be satisfied I did my best.
That’s all I’m asking people to do: think this through and use the most rational, powerful course of action you can. People used to think one person could spark the revolution through a single deed. Those were the anarchists. Other people thought “a small group of people can change the world.” I belong to the “coalition builders can save the world” group. We don’t know if it will work, but no one has a better idea.
I agree with Earthian, check out & join Progressive Democrats of America (www.pdamerica.org) for their vision of holistic, systemic change and the fact that they work outside the system in activism & demonstrations etc as well as inside the Democratic Party to create a truly progressive majority.
Also, I encourage everyone to call Pelosi after hours and leave messages on her machine: 1 415 556 4862. Let’s deluge her with demands for Impeachment, to stop funding Iraq occupation, to rescind the recent spying on citizens bill and to show our disgust that she refused to meet with the courageous fasting CodePink women . . .or anything else that so inspires us. Ring her phone off the hook.
Thank you Medea, and all the fabulous CodePinksters, for your wisdom, courage, vision & determination. You are an inspiration!!
I agree with some things said, but people who are hunger striking outside someone’s house, (especially if you plan on hunger striking outside mine), should consider their role in the mutual alienation. I know from personal organizing experience that having been falsely accused of something I didn’t say by certain people and then attacked subsequently for pointing out it wasn’t physically possible that I could have said what I was accused of saying led to more extreme attacks. Granted, the original accuser recanted and admitted it was a lie, but how do you think it made me feel about the people I was supposedly working ‘with’? The same has to be said of Pelosi. Its justified to ‘hunger strike’ outside her house? Is it justified to throw molotove cocktails at her car? Where do the organizers get off in thinking that they’re not in part alienating certain representatives. I have no sympathy for papperazzi who get beaten down harassing (assaulting) celebrities 24/7. Our representatives have a right to personal space and dignity as much as any other citizen.
ONE THING THE REPUBLICANS DO THAT WE PROGRESSIVES DON’T IS COMPROMISE AT LEAST WITH EACH OTHER, AND VOTE TO WIN FOR THE TEAM AS A WHOLE.
THEY STICK TOGETHER FOR THE TEAM AND WORK TO GET THEIR INDIVIDUAL AGENDAS PASSSED ONCE THE COMPROMISE CANDIDATE IS IN OFFICE.
HOW ELSE COULD POOR EVANGELICAL KANSANS AND LIBERTARIAN GUN LOVERS AND CORPORATE MONEY REPUBLICANS POSSIBLY VOTE FOR THE SAME CANDIDATE?
WITH SPEAKER PELOSI, JOHN CONYERS AND CINDY S. HAVE MUCH MORE POWER AND INFLUENCE. IF YOU THINK PELOSI IS ANYTHING AKIN TO DENNIS HASTERT, YOU’RE NOT SEEING STRAIGHT OR CLEARLY.
WITH A CONTINUED RIGHT WING ADMINISTRATION, THEY AND THE REST OF US JUST HAVE MORE CHANCE OF ENDING UP IN JAIL.
UNTIL WE AS PROGRESSIVES CAN UNITE BEHIND A WIDER MESSAGE, WE WILL REMAIN FRAGMENTED LOSERS JUST AS ROVE WOULD LOVE US TO REMAIN. AND YES FOLKS, THAT MEANS COMPROMISING AND WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT DON’T
DO EVERYTHING YOU WANT THEM TOO.
LARGER ISSUE: WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM AND A BREAKUP OF TOTAL CORPORATE MEDIA MONOPOLIES. IT’S THE MONEY FOLKS.
Hi there, clarity,
“Comments equating Bush’s executive power grap with Hitler are an insult to intelligent people and serve only to alienate those who make them as the Looney Left”
Not just his executive power grab _ his murder of Iraqi and Afghan civilians and his sacrifice of troops’ lives for his financial and political gain. Few things are more unspeakable evil, and the comparison to Hitler is legitimate.
One reason for decent Americans’ inability to stop this madness has been refusal to see how astonishingly bad it really is. Bush’s abuse have strayed beyond politics and are now in the realm of basic human morality. It’s not a matter of which team one cheers on in a football game. Even many critics, possibly like yourself, are in denial about how bad it’s become. That’s understandable _ it’s really hard for us Americans to comprehend that the worst of the worst can emerge from our culture. It really is difficult. I understand.
But we do have a responsibility to face it down, and fora like this are where those of us who are trying to reclaim our country will talk about it. It’s not just a matter of “blowing off steam” _ it’s a discussion about a severely awful reality and how to tackle it. Step 1 is usually, like in a 12-step program, a matter of accepting the fact that there’s a problem. And there is. Not just some “executive power grab.” Those of us who are older see our country falling apart, and it’s ghastly.
Smug Libertarian ideologues like “MtnGoat” _ I hope you’re not one of them _ are apparently posting here to have fun with their despised “Liberals.” Thanks to Common Dreams’ decency, they’re certainly free and welcome to do so. But, if they don’t like the response, they should take their hobby elsewhere. We are neither loony nor “left.” Just normal, decent people who care about our country and world.
Thanks again, Common Dreams. Keep the faith.
Thank you, Zell, you put it exactly right. When I think of the opportunities we had when I was young and what young people have to look forward to now, I feel sad for them. When I was growing up, we used to go to a community park, and the playground director would let us check out playground equipment - balls, etc by leaving a jacket or belt as collateral. College was free, so were zoos and aquariums and campgrounds and parks. Being poor wasn’t hopeless.
Ever since the Reagan “revolution” the infrastructure has been left to rot, the poor have been abandoned and the middle class is disappearing. We need to turn that around. This concentration of wealth at the top is destroying our country. They just take the money and run. They don’t reinvest it in the infrastructure, or education, or public health, or even a wage people can live on. We need to fight back. I think we should declare every 11th day of the month a day we refuse to contribute to their greed. A no compliance day.
i so agree with kathyodat…….she is incredible…..
A Pogoian Insight: The “party” is us. We are the Democratic party. I revisited all of the Democratic candidates and read their statements on all the issues. Biden is closest to my sentiments. Maybe someone else is yours. You decide. Then support your candidate. Ken Hausle there have been many extraordinary comments in this discussion forum and they bring me lots of hope that the people’s party still has strength. It needs basic concentration. That has always been a problem for Democrats, they are a loose bunch. Someone, hubcap_halo, made mention of that and I thought it was very insightful. jonabark (Sept6 10am) made very clear points. And LiberalBoy’s cry for TERM LIMITS is really excellent because there is nothing more scary to politicians than term limits. They cannot set up powerbases, or if they try to create a machine, it is a lot harder. With the blogosphere, it is now even harder for ratfinks to get away with anything. Libertarians are anathema to me and totally self-serving. I wouldn’t give them a piece of pig crap.
A parliamentary system would be interesting, if anything like England’s then we would really see the factions exposed for what they are, the rich vs. the poor vs. labor, vs. corporations, etc., etc. But dream on Umlaut. We are closer to a Machiavellian monarchy than ever in our history and thank the watchers most of the rats are abandoning the ship.
Grappa what economic system are you proposing instead of capitalism? And the planet will save itself. It’s people who need saved… from themselves.
BigPhatJay is a pathological killer who has a thin brain.
And Malinche was treated like women have historically been treated, as slaves then demonized. That day is gone! Isn’t it? And who betrayed who in that piece of history (herstory)? Typical male chauvinism.
thedeed is making the most rational plea. Learning to get the votes is the clue. We whine and moan about Bush (I do too) but there is only one solution, get rid of him and get rid of Republicans like him in the way Americans as a “coalition” can,”as thedeed suggests, at the voting booth. It is a national malaise that needs fixed.
Thank you for your nice words, Ken. It is so wrong that young people don’t even know how much ground we have lost, what this country used to provide for it’s citizens, and that they have been repeatedly told that Social Security won’t be there for them when it’s so easily fixable - just include all taxable income in Social Security. The rich get a big break. No one else does.
Nancy Peloski cannot win, because she is a lapdog for Bush, if you support a dictator, then your are also a dictator. Perhaps she is another Eva Braun?
Bring on the Green Party. Please.
The dems are a pretty pale lot (so to speak) and do not represent the progressive movement in the USA. Triangulations they called it in the Clinton years - ie. being just left of the crypto-fascists and maneuvering politically to be just a “little bit better” than the repubs is disgusting, spineless and cowardly. ie. democrats. Sucks to ‘em all, I say.
=Terry