Cindy, you bring up some wonderful points. The "fix" has been brewing for over 100 years. People tend to want to blame this administration for the brazen disinfranchisement of the American people, but this is a systemwide effort that has been in the works for many, many years, only showing it's horrible, fascist face now through this adminstration. Before that, the approach was more subtle and soft, as to not tip off the people as to what was really happening. Now they just don't care who hasn't caught on yet. The deal is done.

I think that who takes the White House in 2009 is largely irrelavent. The system will not allow anyone who doesn't follow the 'party line' into the White House now. We are not a Democracy anymore. Period. It's not a flagging democracy, it's not on it's last legs. It's GONE. It exists in name only. The majority of Americans still don't want to face this fact yet. A large segment of Americans (ones who, defying all logic, support Bush Co.) will never accept that America is not the country they grew up believing in. Nothing will change their mind, and they will support "The President" til they die, not realizing that "The President" is really part of a corporo-fascist global machine.

It is a joke, truly laughable, to think that an election could actually change any of this. I believe it's going to take a worldwide breakdown and a subsequent rising up of the global populace to end the march of the global elite. It's going to be a bloody, radioactive, violent fight for humanity vs. global slavery. Hopefully the planet can survive such destruction - with or without the people inhabiting it currently.

great essay, Cindy. you've stated exactly (and perfectly) the state of affairs as I see them, too, and it helps to see it in print, to know that "I'm not the only one" who believes precisely what you've said.

Thanks for finding the strength to keep hanging in there.

I have followed your progress over the years Cindy and I am so pleased to see that you have the whole picture now. Every President since FDR is nothing more than a lackey of the MIC and other predatory corporations. The 'fix' is in from everything from the illusion of a two party system to the idea of a 'fair and balanced' media. We tax the middle class and the poor to collect money to give to the elites, which in turn do everything in their power to maintain the status quo. Unless the American public reaches a sudden point of enlightened critical mass in which the whole system is replaced with a functional, egalitarian and compassionate democracy, more and more innocent Americans will die each year to preserve the elite under the false pretense of 'serving your country'.
You're doing your part Cindy to bring about a fundamental awareness necessary for real change. You're reaching people so please keep up the good work you're doing.

Unless there is someone to vote for, and that probably means an independent alternative, I will either stay home or cast a blank ballot. Why legitimize a fraudulent game?

Hi Cindy,
Thanks for your enthusiasm and efforts in exposing the tragedy of this government. I do tend to think we should be more positive and optimistic though about our future. Its easy to be critical and negative. We've exposed the negative, so let's start being positive about the future.Nobody's perfect but there are some candidates with good qualities, lets focus on that. A great leader can make a difference. Start putting positive energy towards your choice. When we focus on negativity and faults in others we also become negative. Yes this war is a total catastrophe and the present government has an insane global view but we need to see good or less good, not evil or less evil.Its time to change the tune:)

Wonderful article (again!), Cindy.

My ex-wife told me that I was paranoid and scaring our children with such talk.

Don't forget the detention camps being built 'for future projects'. I'll meet you there.

I think we all agree that we don't want to just vote for the lesser of two evils. However, to not vote at all will bring total defeat. You can be sure the MORE EVIL will win. What viable alternative is there beyond escaping to another country? I think we need to continue to make ourselves heard and get our fellow citizens awake and aware, vote for the best peace loving candidate in the primaries and then,if necessary, vote for the less evil in the general election. Then - continue the reclamation of the USA.

"In their little minds and black hearts they still assume that most of us are still stupid and we will believe anything they ever say again (true)"

I am not sure they are the only ones with little minds and black hearts. After all, most of us (myself included) still put our own short term gains before anything and everything else (little minds) and do not take a tangible, physical stance against all the torture and killings going on in our names (black hearts).

Maybe we should refer to the founding fathers as the founding fixers, with hamilton as the fixer-in-chief. they were all elite white men and founded this nation in their own image. but they nonetheless left us with a brilliant blueprint for democracy that has yet to realize it's potential, perhaps a society with the wherewithall to elect a cindy sheehan president. or even representative.

we are still hamilton's bewildered herd, lippman's sidelined beast, but as CD and it's ilk reveal, many among us are emerging from the sidelines not so bewildered. what we really need to do is take what we know to the streets.

go cindy.

Good article, but we have to figure a way to not just speak to the choir. Unfortunately the silent, majority of good, American citizens are being egregiously, screwed and they are not aware of it! Thanks, Cindy.

Your best article yet, Cindy! An incredible piece. You are so right on it hurts. Keep going, baby, although I can't imagine what you can write next.

Cindy, thank you again -- and I'm referring to Hillary as FemBush from now on.

Hey Cindy, Please stop referring to them as
"elite" anything. They are avaricious, inbred, scum. Unless there is a secret inoculation against radiation poisoning being given to the children of privelege and their get; all will suffer alike from this errant and self-destructive murder spree they have been on for far to long.

Keep going -- no change will take place if we do not object outloud and constantly. It isn't just preaching to the choir if you can change hearts and minds.

Another bullseye, Cindy-- I'm getting tired of complimenting you! ;)

I don't know whether you appreciate Bob Dylan, or if you are familiar with his work. One phrase that has stuck fast in my heart of hearts, from a song called "Queen Jane Approximately" written his late-Sixties stream-of-consciousness period, is this: ... Trying to prove that your conclusions should be more drastic....

That's you, babe! Me too. Expect to read disappointed reaction from "half-full" loyal Democrats, who exist to spin the flawed, doomed lesser-evil approach into both respectability and inevitability.

They may even argue that your opinion of Hillary Clinton, which I share, is a result of your uncritical acceptance of anti-Hillary corporate media hype. And it's true that there is such hype, just as it is certainly true that our vaunted corporate media infotainwhores deliberately trashed Al Gore in 2000. They will deplore your unwillingness to be "practical" and settle for a "good" Democrat who surely will be better than another plutocratic dictator!

Anyway, I'm with you, Cindy. I took the won't get fooled again "pledge" not long after Pelosi & Reid declared impeachment and defunding the war off the table. I see no sense in electing another fixer on the theory that they will fix the fix, or un-fix it by letting bygones be bygones and working to achieve True Bipartisan Consensus in fighting a Smarter Global War on Terror.

Go Cindy! ♥

Do you hear that ringing?
It's the ring of truth.

Republicans are the Problem.

Democrats are not the Solution.

Revolution is the Solution!

Thanks Cindy! See you in the streets!

Cindy counts the continued risk of compromised voting machines among her reasons for believing the "fix is in" one way or another. And she's quite right.

I have always wondered if Republicans (including the President and Karl Rove) were so surprised at the 2006 election results because some vote-counts were, in fact, rigged, but--oops--not rigged by quite a big enough margin.

The statement about moving to another country is, unfortunately, not going to allow escape from this mess. This is a global takeover of power from corporate and political interests. Moving won't help, because it's coming to a country near you, like it or not. True democratic movements are being crushed as we speak to make way for this.

I truly believe the only way out of this is through a global people's revolution, which will be born out of the coming global control being imposed everywhere.

What makes you think we'll get to vote?

The 'fix' actually became apparent during the Clinton years.

The billerys made a great show of siding with the populace but were also paid by the corporations.

There are those who say the polls showing billery with a commanding lead are grand deceptions not supported by any voters. How many people do you personally know who support billary?

Remember, the same money that elected Bush is now behind Hillary and it is the same money who financed Kerry to such a big lead over other Dem contenders early in last primary process. See a pattern?

For what it is worth(possibly zilch): a contest between Ron Paul and Bill Richardson could be a case of 'better of two choices' rather than 'lesser evil of two choices'.

The fix is already in. Everyone's half asleep, indifferent or basically
distracted while a distant political contest comes across their web browsers or TV screens. Government has always worked this way.

Excellent essay, Cindy.

My own theory is that:

* The ability to suspend elections requires MORE power than the ability to co-opt your opposition (especially when there's only a "two" party system and a highly friendly corporate MSM).
* Therefore, the prudent autocrat will take the least exposing, least expensive, least risky of the options in defending/expanding his power base.

So rather than suspending the elections, they'll suspend the oppositon. And that appears to have happened decades ago...

Great job, Cindy. We are about to see an unfolding of real events that will bring about the end of the America that we dream about. What will we teach our children? What will we be proud about?

Some friends are trying to convince me that Hillary was fooled by the Bush lies. These are the same people that were not fooled. We all knew that he was lying. I remember yelling at my TV when Powell lied to the UN and Bush lied to us. I knew there were no WMDs and no connection between Saddam and 9/11. My friends knew that, but they think Hillary was fooled. She is not that stupid.

Fear is used well to fuel the Fix. Americans are looking at terrorism as the number one issue in this election.

People in the USA killed by terrorism in the past two years = zero (0). People killed by drunk drivers last year = 18,000.

The Fixers are good at what they do.

Ed Graham

Cindy Sheehan - You could do a lot of good in addition to running against Pelosi.

You could help nationally-unify the progressive forces that are now so dangerously scattered.

You could call on the help of many people on this website (and other progressive gathering places) to either:

[1]organize and declare a new national Party -- encapsulating basic progressive principles and goals therein, or

[2]align yourself - as a NATIONAL figure-- with a Party that's already established, like the Greens.

The fact that you've filed as an 'independent' against Pelosi for a specific CA house district, wouldn't need to change.

What needs to change is: the present LACK of a coalescing force that can bring together progressives (and even disgusted average voters) under a more-unified, nationally-identifiable banner.

If the 'Banner' was only a defined Movement-with-a-name, at first, that recommended positions on issues and diverse-Party candidates, it still would be better than the present situation of Deep Fragmentation.

Doing this would also probably draw a lot more moral and finacial support to your CA house race against Pelosi....

(remember: you would have lots of help!)

Any thoughts on this idea?

Admiringly,
A Staunch Supporter

Nobody was "fooled by Bush's lies." They were knowingly complicit for opportunistic reasons. Some say that a boycott of a phony election will ensure the worse candidate's victory but is that really worse if the result is not significantly different and fosters illusions that cripple resistance?

Staying in Iraq until 2018 is not an acceptibe "lesser evil." Either we truly participate and run a progressive or we should opt out. If we do the latter, we should not do it quietly. Maybe we should hold alternative national elections and set up a legitimate government. Dual power should not be "off the table."

Scott-s: damned good points re. negativity etc.
Considerthis: ditto!
Hashfunction: - maybe a tad less 'hash' and a tad more 'function'? ;)

To sister Cindy:
~ Already high in my estimation, you have just climbed a notch or two higher dear lady! :)

When I read such lines as:
"The "fix" is in We the People who believe that we somehow owe any kind of allegiance or support to the elite establishment who have impoverished, imprisoned, oppressed and killed our children for generations while we furiously, but inexplicably, cling to a status quo that clearly only benefits a very chosen few.

and:
"It is acceptable to protest obvious infractions like the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq, but don't scratch the surface too deeply because we are not sure of what may ooze out.

- I then consider that you might be a bona fide reincarnation of that illustrious (-true, real, *genuine American hero*) ~ Mr. Henry Thoreau!

The USA needs, -most desperately- to be 'Fixed' - not *Foxed* and rapidly, but... patience, *patience* is required; and this, (-for an impetuous, rather hot-headed populace) might be hard won?

Looking at the whole picture, there needs to be both the short-term STRONG! and RADICAL! words and actions, -coupled with the long-term goal of *patiently* upgrading the dowdy consciousness of fellow US citizens, ~ those poor wee things who have been so deplorably duped, conned, bemused, distracted and lied to by the mEss media.

The present duplicitous rat's nest in the Grey House are pitted against all that's Lighted and Loving in this world, ~ but the good news is that there is a whole swathe of humanity who are diametrically opposed to these cowboy barbarians.

Without a scintilla of grandiosity, -we are, in fact, **the true hope for a new and better future**.

As humble, homespun, rough-hewn and funky as we undoubtedly are, we still constitute the *genuine article* - with our focussed intent to have progressive values writ large upon the world stage.

Should anyone ever doubt this 'righteous' element, consider this: If some 'Jesus-like' figure were to suddenly pop out of the woodwork and walk among us, who would this revolutionary teacher align himself with? - The fat-cat barbarians who daily stomp upon the poor, the sick and downtrodden, ~ or would he align himself with the likes of us who are trying to turn it all around?

And therein, -somewhere to the fore, one helluva brave, committed citizen. Her name: Cindy S.!

No matter what any dullard zealots may ever purport, God IS with you darlin' :)

Lotsa love,
UCD xx

UCD

YES!!!

And I love HD Thoreau and have worn out my copy of
"Civil Disobedience"

Love
Cindy

Good article Cindy... if the media (Project Mockingbird) fix doesn't work to elect FemBush or a Ghouliani, Bush has a backup plan. Perhaps Hellary will have the priviledge of using Presidential Directive 51.

Cindy, please check out the latest Common Dreams article on Pelosi: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/10/16/4561/
titled "What Did Pelosi Know About NSA, and When Did She Know It?" by Ray McGovern.

This is a hot ticket item with the electorate and they will likely know the context and understand it easier than PD51.

Staunch Supporter
Of course I would like the campaign to be a true people's movement and already having money and support flowing from all corners of the country.

We are coalescing our Candidates for Peace and encouraging others to run against all the corporate enablers in Congress: which are many.

But like UCD says: our problems are huge and while there may be quick fixes, a long term solution will require years and patience.

Let's take the first step and over-throw the one who another article on CD today calls: Nancy Pelosi, Public Enemy Number One.

Love---and thanks for the support!
Cindy

Voting the lesser of two evils. I did that once, regarding the first Clinton. I won't make that mistake again.

Bush is confronted by his own failures and yet ... I agree with Cindy that just in case, we should shine some light on a dark possibility. Only by preparing people by warning of this possibility is the possibility made difficult or even removed. Peace.

How to win an election in a rigged system.

1) Vote for a candidate that truly represents the people instead of corporate interests.
2) Then, don't go home. Head instead towards the Capital. Let the world see the sight of 70,000,000 Americans all congregating around their capital to insist that the candidate they voted for be declared the winner of the elections. Maybe we can all put purple ink on our fingers and wave 70,000,000 million of them in the air. Only I'd suggest we use the middle finger instead of the index finger.

THANK YOU CINDY! Any chance you might consider coming to a progressive little ski town (Sandpoint, ID) in the coming months, expenses paid, to help support our burgeoning indy community radio station? We just filed our application this week and are working on Jim Hightower and Amy Goodman coming to help us our sometime this year. We could pack our community theater if you would like to come to speak and raise funding for us and your campaign. Hang in there and thank you for being such a high energy progressive activist–For the People!

"I do not even think that Dastardly Dick could force him to remain President after January, '09." he could if he told him he could take the time of his presidency "off" somewhere OTHER than DC, probably Dubai."

And about those "lectures" he's looking foreward too. I thought it was against the law for a criminal to profit from their crimes! oh wait! i forgot, u.s. law doesn't apply to AL QAEDA.

Dearest Cindy:

The "Fix" is in. See my post on the previous article: "What Do We Have in Common..." concerning incorporating We the People. We don't have to wait for an election, for a politician savior, for a bloody revolution, for an end to the oligarchy.

We the People can take our power back right NOW by the simple act of Incorporating We the People into a for profit corporation with non-transferable stock and with public assets worth trillions that will accrue The People Inc. billions in tangible and intangible profits (money in exploitation rights to our public resources, clean air, water, unpolluted land, peace) and dividends now being stolen and resources destroyed by the Halliburtons of the world and the oligarchy's politicians.

Make us all rich economically, socially and environmentally. Beat corporations and financial institutions at their own game. Consider Incorporating We the People in your campaign.

The "fix" is in Cindy Sheehan's insistence on damning all of "the Democrats" instead of embracing the minority that are in agreement with her basic views and working with the majority who share her desire to end the US occupation of and war in Iraq.

The "fix" is her not being willing to challenge Nancy Pelosi in THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION, where she would have a real chance of winning, and could go on to win the seat.

The "fix" is in the deflection of Left energy at election time into ineffective third-party and independent candidacies that essentially always lose.

Cindy, you want people to sign a pledge not to vote for any candidate tainted by war. Other people want their folks not to vote for any candidate tainted by abortion, anti-abortion, gun control, anti-gun control, homosexuality, gay rights, etc. etc. etc.

That does not work. Politics requires compromise and coalition-building. Taking the extreme position when you don't have the support behind you is political suicide. Please don't commit that.

Run against Pelosi in the primary. You'll scare the pantsuit off her and be more effective sooner. It will be telling the Democrats that the forces on your side are among their voters and base of support. It will be telling Democratic voters across the country to stand up and challenge Democratic politicians who don't represent them. If you win, you will probably replace Pelosi in Congress; as House Speaker, she can hardly run against her own party. And if you lose, but make a good showing in the primary, you will still be demonstrating the strength of the peace movement, whereas your distant third-place showing in the general election would only demonstrate our weakness.

And if you do lose the primary, it will be almost a sure sign that you can't win the general election, but you can still run for the seat if you want. I wouldn't do it, but you could.

Cindy Sheehan -

You know you have my support. If unseating Pelosi needs to be your major focus - understood.

I'm aware of the long-term structural problems in the US that need to be addressed (with patience for what we are as confused Creatures.) But I don't think that the presently-named Campaign for Peace attracts enough people, beyond those who want to end the war, to make a more compelling Banner under which the averagely disgusted-but-hyponitized American might unite.

If you can agree that progressives need to Organize more effectively, under a broader banner than ('just') the war issue, then I hope you can agree that my suggestion (in the previous post) still has practical political merit.

We really need to re-constitute the progressive wing of the DEMS into a Party that is not perceived as a "peace" Party, alone. Not because the logic of Peace isn't the solution to most or all of America's problems, but because you can't draw-in enough of a national constituency if you label your intentions as Party/Movement only.

I think we progressives have to begin re-organizational efforts by acting on the fact that the collective national maddnesss is deeply rooted and re-inforced via multiple hypnotizing forces, and its isn't going to be challenged by implying - to all the millions in Denial - that their definition of Peace is irrational or faulty. However true that may be.

What I'm saying is: While peoples's deeper understanding of the dynamic of Peace may become the efficient lynchpin of reform, if Reform is simply called Peace, alone, just now, it's unlikely to be the sufficient lynchpin that enables wakefullness in a guilt-ridden, fearful populace.

Anyway, I understand that you must do it as you think best -- of course.
We all come at this problem from differently timbred sensitivities.

I love your being, no matter such differences.

Alembic Two

Hi Cindy ---

One of the best suggestions so far is to try to bring all the progressive organizations together -- !!!

Many ways are blocked, but obviously one opening will provide a way to move many steps out of our current stalemate with the two parties. Paper ballots/hand counting, IRV, public financing and barring corporations from any participation in our elections.

You've precisely described the "fix" we are in . . .
Even when we win, we lose -- 2006 -- Pelosi/Reid -- and some think the win was actually much larger.
I don't think we've had a legit election since JFK coup.

Democrats have done nothing to eliminate these machines.

Ralph Nader has been telling us for almost three decades
what's going on. You can't vote yourself out of a two party system when both parties have the same backers.

On the other hand, fascism is so close that no one wants to tempt getting on the Express by NOT voting for a Democrat.

We can decide on a candidate -- Bobby Kennedy -- or Cindy Sheehan and move them into the Democratic Party.

The DLC, of course, has to go ---

Thank you, Cindy -- !!!

CINDY: Just another vote of confidence. I applaud your uncensored, sincere & impassioned capacity and courage to speak truth to entrenched bastions of power. Your son IS watching, and is marveled by you! Sorry it took such a huge loss to galvanize YOUR inner power & treasure. God bless you and your efforts for a more humane and just society (and world).

I've long felt that progressives of all stripes should build their own issues IRV or issues Range mechanism. We'll vote on issues, not on candidates. Then we identify a small core set of issues (like 10-20) that the umbrella organization campaigns on. That core should be such that there's like 90% buy-in from the various participant groups. Anything which is divisive is simply shelved, no action to be taken on it either way.

If abortion is one of these wedges, then the compromise one would make is not for a pro-lifer to vote pro-choice, or an pro-choicer to vote pro-life. But under this mechanism you'd vote only for "no action taken".

I think this would be a superior mechanism to get at least something -- since under the Republicrats the majority of Americans are getting virtually nothing.

My own pet issues:
Range or IRV, out of Iraq, genuine single-payer health care, hardcore protection of remaining old growth and wilderness areas, paid maternal and paternal leave, shortened work week to 32 hours, reigning in the lending/banking/insurance industries, making solar/wind/geothermal a national priority, nuclear disarmament, severe ethics reform, reaffirmation of the Constitution, civil liberties, habeas corpus, and privacy.

Something along these lines -- give or take an issue -- would be compatible with progressives and populists left, center and right, Green, progressive Dem, libertarian Republican. We really need to re-focus the debate away from parties and personalities, and onto issues themselves. The larger problem with Iraq is that it's not even a (formerly) middle-class/working-class/poor issue.

I know there is a huge bunch of "do nothing but blog" people here in America ... and a large population of young people who would rather text message and talk on their cells then get off their butts and start a revolution, but I find it hard to believe that most would "shop" instead of finally getting so p.o.d at bushco that they would finally do something ...

How in the hell can anyone mention ralph nader's name as a hero ?? ..... Blatantly selling out to the pubs is to be admired ?? ... What hypocrisy!!

Please check out this on Counterpunch.org:

Stop Playing Their Game
Time to Boycott Voting
By JOEL S. HIRSCHBORN

After many years of political disappointment, more progressives, liberals and conservatives -- and certainly moderates and independents -- know in their hearts that voting for Democrats or Republicans is a waste. Just imagine if voter turnout was cut to 25 percent or less! Let the whole world see Americans boycotting a broken and corrupt political system and rejecting what has become a delusional democracy. To keep voting in an unjust political system makes us willing political slaves that the rich and powerful elites exploit.

Just leaving the major parties is not good enough and, besides, most Americans are not party members. We need a bolder strategy. We must humiliate the political elites in both major parties and the corporate interests that support both of them. We can send a shock wave throughout the political establishment by not voting in the 2008 presidential election.

The "FIX" is indeed "in".

Read Palast's book "Armed Madhouse", the last chapter on how they'll rig the 2008 election.

Thank you.

Nader2000, since you believe your vote (and my) vote for Nader cost Gore the election that he actually won, what excuse is there for Kerry flinging away an election when fouls were being called across the country? Kerry won an even bigger majority than Gore did in the popular vote -- but, as a family member said when I was screaming that the election had clearly, unambiguously been stolen, "there weren't enough votes in Ohio, you have to accept that."

The only Vichycrat strategy is WIN -- then surrender.

Ezeflyer:
I like the sound of your ideas (above):

"We the People can take our power back right NOW by the simple act of Incorporating We the People into a for profit corporation with non-transferable stock and with public assets worth trillions that will accrue The People Inc. billions in tangible and intangible profits (money in exploitation rights to our public resources, clean air, water, unpolluted land, peace) and dividends now being stolen and resources destroyed by the Halliburtons of the world and the oligarchy's politicians." (et al)

The other day on C-D someone wrote of not calling ourselves an 'Anti-war' movement, but something with the word 'Pro-...' in the title. I think this is both a good PR move, AND a good psychological strategy, -humans warm more towards something which is positive and upbeat, and such a 'heart' reaction ensures longevity of interest and support.

So, ... in the same way, I think your ideas are seminal:
If we design and set up a real, very 'physical' structure somewhat along the lines you suggest, this has two benefits:
1. It is earning much-needed cash for our cause :)
-and-
2. It is a focus / locus for our activities, and has then a permanent place existing outside (but working in conjunction with) our cyberspace / outreach activities.

If one centre proved successful, then other centres could follow suit. It could be using a (spit!) capitalist model, -or based around a not-for-profit / Co-operative sort of structure?

This venture would be a hive of activity; ~ offshoots being such things as visual arts, alternative film-making and theatre, a TV and radio station, educational outreach, publishing and music studios, maybe alternative energy production, innovative farming and home-building methods, ~ and so on.

I love the idea that WE should have a more *solid* base to work from, the fat-cats are in part successful because they have a solid base to their nefarious activities, and can thus finance and broadcast their antediluvian ideology; ~~ but now it's OUR turn!

And this project will very much inspire those of all races and ages, -from the (jaded?) seniors, to the 'hope-less and lost' young folk, and really show and prove WHAT IS POSSIBLE when we let go of the *empty and meaningless* way of living our lives, which is at present on offer from the mainstream...

There are *many* thousands of folk who would just LOVE to join in with this sort of venture, (and who could better afford to do so if it were eventually able to pay them a little!)

What's more, there are a lot of moneyed, philanthropically-inclined people (pop / film stars, business folk, etc) who would happily give or loan us the setting-up costs if it were gone about in the right way.
Other (ideologically sound) folk would subscribe smaller amounts of the initial costs, -either as a gift or loan.

The two primary aspects of this idea would be to earn our cause some much needed cash, alongside being a center (-then many centers!) which was a solid bastion / lighthouse of change, hope and optimism, and which was firmly committed to providing a more ALTERNATIVE view of things than all the gunge currently spewed out by those twin devils: morbid media and poisonous politicians.

Is there already a structure in existence like this? If not, how do we set about building it?

Lastly, another benefit of this idea is that it is something for progressive folk to be actually DOING, and doesn't depend on 'election time' and all that stuff. It's something that would be going on day-to-day, and helping to revamp / upgrade consciousness along the way, -- a much needed thing, in my humble opinion!
xx

UN-C-D: Seems like progressives are afraid of "PR"...seems dirty and dishonest, something conservatives have no problem with. BUT you're right, we need to reframe the discussion.

- We're Pro-Peace vs the Anti-Peace groups.
- We're Pro-Choice vs the Pro-slavery/Anti-choice groups. I would even say we're Pro-Life since life without Choice is death.
- We're Pro-Family vs Anti-Family groups, those who ruin families through their persecution (ala Frost, Wilkerson), send fathers to be killed, etc.

We have to talk this kind of talk, all of us, all the time.

Well said Cindy! I took the pledge before I'd even heard of it, but now it's official. Thanks for saying what so many of us are thinking. Keep it up!

Three things:
Why is "wars of aggression" in quotes?
And why is there no channel on the voters for peace site for me to communicate with them and let my voice be heard?
Because the DEms and Reps have lost ALL credibility, if Al Gore is to run he must run as an independent!

"Politics requires compromise and coalition-building. Taking the extreme position when you don't have the support behind you is political suicide. Please don't commit that."

HURRAY FOR NADER2000! Thank God there is at least one other reasonable person posting on this board.

I think we all respect where Cindy is coming from, especially considering what she has been through. But we have to be real. The further out on the whacko scale that a person goes, the less likely you are to get people to join you.

I agree with many of the changes to our government that people are talking about here. But short of a violent uprising (which I believe is becoming more of a real possibility) the way we change things is to give Democrats more significant control of the House and Senate, and to elect a Democratic president. SCHIP for example. Congress has approved it - Bush promises to veto it. But Congress doesn't have the Democratic votes to override. How do you fix that? Elect more Democrats! If you can get enough people coordinated to elect 3rd party candidates, go for it. But for the love of God please make sure you have enough votes to elect those 3rd party candidates, otherwise we'll get Republicans back.

Today Bush was quoted as saying that he has considered attempting to get around the constitution and be around past 2008. I hope that scares the crap out of enough people to vote for some change.

Happily, while everything else continues to go to Hades in the proverbial handbasket, we have an important and very positive finding from Ohio in the '06 elections: As badly corrupted as the electoral system was in that state by Republican zealots and their electronic voting gizmos, a general and widespread revulsion in the state's electorate was able to squash them rather well. The object lesson is that rigging elections is very expensive and hard to do, and is still only possible in selected locales. For practical reasons, even the most competent fraud artists can only tilt vote counts at the margins!
Imagine, then, the revulsion we'll all have after BushCo and/or the Israeli Defence Folk begin the War on Iran in earnest next year. The BushCo plan, in fact, may be to delay any attack until after the now-front-loaded primaries, to ensure enough committed delegate votes on the first ballot of the Democratic Convention to the esteemed Ms. Clinton that her relative hawkishness doesn't cause her problems in the nomination. See? They don't even need necessarily to cancel the election! All the Republican brain trust needs to do is ensure that there's no effective way to respond to events in delineating who's in the respective races.
There are some fascinating issues to think through about the "what-if's" here. However weasely the Democratic leaders in Congress, our practical problem is to recognize how all of this is likely to hit us, and to make sure that that there is a way to respond to them. Let's hope that someone -- like Ms. Sheehan -- is there to provide that vision.

Um, I guess you didn't see his press conference today:

Reporter: Mr. President, following up on Vladimir Putin for a moment, he said recently that next year, when he has to step down according to the constitution, as the president, he may become prime minister; in effect keeping power and dashing any hopes for a genuine democratic transition there ...

Bush: I've been planning that myself.
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2007/10/17/bush/index.html

Cindy,

Defeating Pelosi is a must. However this should not prevent you, at the same time, from inviting the people in all states and municipalities to form people's movements and rally around few, but very important demands,which in the process of the struggle will evolve into a more elaborate program. This will be the long run effort for a successful new political force of the people.

Please accept my most sincere thanks for your inspiring article. In solidarity

Vangelaras