Bush left out the mention of the Raging Grannies. There's a true terrorist group if ever there was one! rofl

To have this administration label anyone as a terrorist is so much the pot calling the kettle black... don't you think?

So, the worst and most loathed president in living memory, and the head of the most incompetent, corrupt and treacherous US government in history, comes out and opposes MoveOn.org and CODEPINK in a speech. Who did you guys pay to pull that off? It clearly shows how much the Republicans fear you, that your tactics are having an impact, and that a change is coming.

Gandhi words were never more true, and I think you have already entered the phase where you are winning as vast sections of the American public, of all classes and colors, have turned away from Bush's brand of elitist neocon conservatism. Even the Right Wing Media Machine is losing ratings while Air America and Keith Olbermann increase their audience. Only in Washington, where they seem to be perpetually behind the times, are the Republicans even taken seriously anymore.

As an example, in my local blue-collar vets bar, there is derisive laughter, booing and demands to change the channel whenever Bush or Cheney appear on the TV. Three years ago, most of these folks voted for them.

Congratulations on your victory, Medea.

Code Pink members are true national heros. They are patriots for an honest government where the constitution is respected and the needs and rights of all people in this world are respected. For Nancy Pelosi to say that "they" are not her constituents - shows how "ungreat" she is. A great leader would rise above and welcome the participation of people who care. Nancy Pelosi is just a child of privilege and wealth who doesn't like the real people camping out in her Pacific Heights neigborhood. She probably has more in common with GW Bush than with the average american. I guess she wouln't like the dead bodies of our troops or Iraq civilians piled up in front of her house either. The stench would overcome the perfume of denial and complicty she seems to be wearing so well.

The only one dangerously diverting lawmakers' attentions away from important national concerns is George Bush himself, the biggest danger to American Democracy in decades. We need more CodePinks, especially with an Administration dripping in red ink.

And the US wanted immunity from the ICC even before 9-11.

Don't give up the ship now Code Pink. when this lying thief of a President even mentions your name, it means he hears you. What could be more damaging to his Presidency than to attack, smear and imprison women. Perhaps it will take a World Court to tar and feather his behind and imprison both him and his cronies for all his illegal machinations. March On!

I've quit dancing around the subject of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The facts are clear. The wars are illegal by international standards. The people who waged the wars, the people who continue to fund the wars, and the citizens who support this madness are all WAR CRIMINALS... plain and simple. Lets start calling spades spades like the brave ladies at CodePink. In public places, and at social occasions where "political talk" is usually frowned upon. Speak up Americans!

I don't know how Bush supporters are able to bury the facts in their sick minds and never question this man's motives? How they are able to delude themselves that Bush is 'keeping them over there so they won't come over here' nonsense that is only a propaganda gimmick. I don't know how he figures war is 'keeping them over there' the thought is so ludicrous it defies logic. What does he think they are going to do rent the 'Queen Mary' and set sail for the US? Only the most ardent fringe lunatics honestly believe this stupidity. Bush had Bin Laden in his sights right after he invaded Afghanistan but was not that interested in capturing him. I don't think Bin Laden has ever been that high on Bush's list to capture. After all, he is one of the 'Rich Good Old Boy set' that Bush caters to regularly. He is an old family friend and business associate. He only drags him out of the closet when it's convenient. Using him to try and sell his inane message to the 'fringe lunatics'! All people like us can do is keep screaming about it and writing our representatives until the message gets through these warmongers heads. We are tired of Bush's daydreams of conquest. His delusions are costing us to many lives and trillions in tax dollars that could be used here at home. I honestly believe the man is mentally unbalanced. The reason I believe this? He has two wars going we are losing and all he can think about is start another one! That is truly the mark of a mentally disturbed man!

Bush et al are angry at Code Pink because the administration's propaganda is intended to lull America into approving the administration's illegal agenda, keeping the wool firmly pulled over our eyes. Thing is, the administration is the entity that's actually wool-eyed because they believe the propaganda will work.

But we aren't having it. Americans are not the German citizens of 80 years ago, though Bush has his supporters among the ignorant and ill of spirit. But no multitude fawns before GW Bush as German multitudes did before Hitler. Both Bush and Hitler were "ridiculous little men", but Bush is openly disapproved of by a majority of Americans.

Code Pink keeps pulling back the curtain so people see the ridiculous imposter behind it, and that infuriates the imposter. Only, this imposter is an evil group, not the bumbling amiable joker who's the Wizard of Oz. Furthermore, Code Pink might encourage MORE people to recognize the Bush administration as imposters, too, and I think that greatly disturbs the Bush cabal.

Notice how much Bush has been whining lately that everybody is making his job so much harder than he believes it should be?

Go! Pink patriots!

While we're on the subject of Great Americans, allow me to make one more nomination:

Eve Tetaz.

This may not be a name known to many of you, or to any of you (present company excepted), but it is a name worthy of consideration. My own personal introduction began last summer at the House of Pink, after The World's Worst Cindy Sheehan Impersonator had just tipped over a glass of water - Oops! - and Medea and Co. needed a plan to get me out of there before I brought the whole place down around them. They settled on the old "our friend needs a ride across town" ploy. It seemed an acceptable plea agreement. I was to complete my day of Protest Tourism by taking this older woman named "Evie/Rachel" back to her place in DC. In the car, she informed me that she was having legal problems of some kind, and I assumed she had somehow gotten ahead of her sense of commitment. Oh, the things I did not know!

Fast Forward to yesterday:

DC Municipal Court is not a place where you expect to encounter undaunted courage. It is a shrine to those whose lives have been made the poorer due to the power of "Oops!". "Oops! My driver's license expired", "Oops! I shouldn't have had that", "Oops! I shouldn't have done that". My kind of people. The young female judge and her staff try to sort out all this sadness and render something resembling justice. She offers various rewards and incentives to help these people get past their "Oops!" short of going to jail, and they are right to accept these mercys. Jail is no place you want to be.

So here is this frail old woman who will have none of this. By now, I have a name, a google, and the Prosecutor's statement. Eve's been a naughty girl. Multiple counts in multiple cases. Repeated violations of probation. Disregarding of at least one Stay-Away order. I'm getting dry mouth thinking about how this could come out for her. Her "Attorney Advisor", a fairly sharp guy who's doing the best he can for her, gets one count dismissed, and attempts to get her most serious charge dismissed due to some high-jinks from the Prosecutor's office concerning ballooning fines for this offense. Apparently the fines have gone up some ten-fold during the life of Eve's case, and - that word again! - "Oops! We forgot to tell Eve!" until the current court hearing. An acceptable occurence in the present circumstances, it seems. Eve and her lawyer demand that she be allowed to plead "nolo contendere", a latin word meaning she is not contesting the charges, but is refusing to plead guilty. After backing and forthing among the officers of the court, and processing mostly all of the other "Oops!" cases - does anybody drive sober in this town? - while pondering just what is this "nolo contendere" thing? - The judge accepts her plea, and pronounces judgement: Guilty on all three charges.

You thought this was over? No! We're getting to the best part:

The judge offers the following (please bear in mind this is in no way attempting to be a court transcript):

10 days in imprisonment, suspended.

9 months supervised probation.

10 days of community service.

App. total of $550 in fines, suspended but for $50 to the "Victims of Domestic Abuse" fund, a fine over which the judge has no authority.

And of course, an admonishment to observe a "Stay Away" order (one of several, allegedly).

Eve will have none of that. She unequivocally rejects the sentence and probation, and will not pay the fines, and she utterly rejects the community service.

"Your honor, what is the point of community service? My whole life has been devoted to community service!"

"Your honor, I have no intention of obeying your terms of probation. I belong in your street or in your prison!" - and she will accept no other punishment.

By now, Eve's lawyer is apologizing to the court for recommending jail time for his client. The judge, who is NOT the villain here, is almost in tears. She doesn't want to do this. She realizes, as do I, that this is not some confused old blue-haired lady pleading to an "Oops!". This is a Pink Marine (Gandhi Regiment) in action. She is determined to take the worst punishment the judge hands out, and she is determined to take it right in the baby-blues.

Final Sentence:

7 days in jail.

The minimum fines possible, suspended.

2 weeks unsupervised probation.

A total of $150 to the Victims fund, unavoidable, payable within two weeks either of sentencing or release(I'm not clear which).

By now, the lawyer-advisor must beg a ride from Eve's friends so he can get to his wife, who is in the hospital and not doing well. The judge cannot take Eve into custody because the workday has ended and the marshall has left for the day. Eve agrees to appear at 9:00AM Monday, Nov 5. Her lawyer can't be there (other commitments), but her friends can. I hope to be one of them.

P.S. Payment to the Victims' Fund is on the bulletin board at Barbie's Protest Playset, should you decide to accept. It doesn't exactly make me J. Pierpoint Tipton, but it may tide you over until the Soros check arrives, if ever.

Winnetou, first Bush "won" the election, then we fight him, then we laugh at him, and then we ignore him. I don't want the Republicans to claim, like they did with Reagan, that Bush was the best thing to ever happen to America. Let us not read his memoirs 20 years from now. Let's not have his name appear in the list of 100 Greatest Americans 20 years from now.

PS. I am never going to let you guys live down the fact that Ronnie Regan was voted the "Greatest American."

Wright and Benjamin came up during Question Period:

Ms. Alexa McDonough (Halifax, NDP): Mr. Speaker, this government has learned nothing from the Maher Arar fiasco.

Retired U.S. colonel, Ann Wright, and CodePink co-founder, Medea Benjamin, were blocked at Canada's border because they appeared on an FBI watch list. Their crime was peaceful protest, time-honoured civil disobedience, in opposition to the Iraqi war.

Why is the Prime Minister hiding behind the FBI to ban respected U.S. citizens from entering our country?

Hon. Stockwell Day (Minister of Public Safety, CPC): Mr. Speaker, in the exercise of our sovereign rights, we have very distinct guidelines in terms of who may come into the country and who may not. We exercise those vigorously for the protection and for the interests of Canada, and we will continue to do that.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=2&DocId=308293...

Wright also came up during the discussion of Bill C-426 (An Act to amend the Canada Evidence Act - protection of journalistic sources and search warrants):

Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP): … We have had concerns about how we deal with border security, as recently as yesterday when a retired colonel from the American military was not allowed into our country because of being on an FBI watch list.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=2&DocId=308657...

Greatest Canadian: Tommy Douglas
Greatest Brit: Winston Churchill
Greatest Belgian: Father Damien
Greatest Frenchman: Charles De Gaulle
Greatest South African: Nelson Mendela

Come to think of it, Ann Wright and Medea Benjamin, Congresspersons, has a nice ring to it.

Does Gandhi's quote also work in reverse ?

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

So, for the Bush administration not to win, we should stop fighting them, definitely not laugh at them (it's not a joke), but start ignoring them, especially when they make absurd statements about yet another war they want to fight.

Same applies to the Mainstream Media, Congressional Democrats who are still stuck in "post-9-11" mood and friends and colleagues who still live in fear of terrorism and vote Republican.

Medea was arrested for simply holding up the peace sign with her two fingers. Two big burly cops handcuffed the petite Medea and hauled her away. They should be ashamed of themselves. Why don't they handcuff George Bush when he flips the bird instead? I've seen pictures of him doing it.

I admire and respect Code Pink. They're courageous ladies. If the neocons are harassing them, they should be sued. The fascist government wants freedom of speech to end in this country.

Medea, your tactics are definitely working, especially Desiree and her bloody hands in Rice's face.

I greatly admire your courage and your tenacity.

A handful of beautiful mothers and grandmothers are accomplishing what thousands taking to the streets to march against the war were unable to do, get the attention of the killers.

Ladies in Pink, I love you all, the Daughters of a New American Revolution.

After nearly seven years it occurred to me last weekend the only thing Bush has done that I agree with is to extend daylight savings time. Three weeks earlier in spring; a week later in the fall. Now that's progress!

We need the CODEPINKS and MoveOns to keep the pressure on the Bush regime by continuously exposing its hypocrisy and crimes. But more can be done. I'm proud to say I helped pay for MoveOn's Betrayus ad in the Times. Anything I can do to discredit this deplorable administration and its lackeys I will do gladly. After all, when Congress won't represent the people and the Press won't report the truth it's ironic such an All-American marketing tool, PAID ADVERTISING, can shake their cage. Let's do some more!

Thank you CODEPINK! Thank you for making a noise when so many are silent.

However, I do agree with Thaddeus Stevens when he says: "we need to move beyond single issue movements to institute meaningful change." And we have to move beyond American politics as well and address world issues from a world perspective. That doesn't mean giving up on American politics. That means going at the problem on every level, most definitely including the global level.

Please join the ongoing Global Assembly Dialog at http://globalassembly.net.

So, George: I'm an average arthritic 50 year old woman working at a bank and I am a threat because I am a member of Code Pink? Let's see, I am a tax paying American Citizen who has kept my nose clean and slaved like a dog since I was 16 but congress shouldn't listen to me, but do as Osamma tells them? a) Don't the terrorists win if you do as they want? b)Is this not a country for the people by the people? c)Why would so many of us get off our backsides and speak out, maybe we are fed up and mad as hell? My 74 year old neighbor lady is a member of MoveOn.org and I joined that too! We aren't just pot smoking hippies skipping college classes to protest. Fat old broads everywhere are getting down right militant!

Since when is it only your country to do with as you plese?

Love the pink.

mazel tov! Codepink has gotten the attention of the mouthpiece's operators. Now, let's not get strident girls--just keep up the good work!

I knew we were getting some public attention when my teenager asked me " Mom, could you please take that bumper sticker off, like now!". My CODEPINK one.
See You at DC House Soon
Peace

Code Pink Rocks Official Washington!

This Is What Real Activism Looks Like:

http://en.sevenload.com/images/jIpECNh/Desiree-Fairooz-vs-Condoleezza-Rice

Dear Medea: you are an ABSOLUTE DARLIN' !!

It's when we begin to get attacked by the lunatics in power [aka: the dark forces] that we know we are having *a real and lasting impact* upon their despicable activities, so yes, please Honey, -keep on keepin' on!

And consider this: for all their asinine and empty talk of 'Jesus' etc, - were that being to suddenly pop out of the woodwork, he would, -incontrovertibly- be aligning himself with the courageous heroines of CODEPINK, and never, *ever* would he associate with the vile US leadership dross who aim to keep humanity in fear and subjugation.

Forget 'Osama bin Bush' -he is as dog mess upon the shoe of history! :)
The future belongs to YOU, and all we other progressives, dear sister!

lotsa love,

-from a pal of yours! xxx

CODEPINK is my s/hero. Keep doing the good work!

It is such a relief to see Code Pink present everywhere, doing what we all should be doing. I consider them all to be heroes and patriots, and find their tactics to be smart, creative, and effective. Thanks to all of you.

Oh, and water board your television next time...

Good idea - but only use (low conductive) distilled water - there are very high vlotages in there...

So, I guess what we will see next will be a Democrat-led resolution denouncing Code Pink, just as they did with MoveOn's NYT Petraus Ad - the one decent thing MoveOn has done in years by the way.

They have since returned to shilling for the Democrats...

The Smirk mentioned CODEPINK to give Tom Lantos the gladhand for ordering them out of the committee room, as well as to Capitulosi for continuing to whistle past the charnel house & keep her sheep in line. "What crimes & misdemeanors, we don't see any".

It is fascinating how this bragging, swaggering faux warrior of a preseident has gone from yelling "Bring-em-on" to being afraid of Code Pink!! The anti war movement must be succeeding after all.

George is talking about CODEPINK because he has heard them. And he knows that they are right. So he wants to discredit them. This is how he treats people who won't follow is idiotic ways. You can argue their tactics, but you can't deny their sincerity. These are America's best mothers. They are trying their best to reign in an out of control family. A family divided by fear and lies, and led by a husband who may be suffering from a mental condition. Mom wants to make the family well again so we should all stop what we're doing and listen to the moms out there who have a lot of wisdom and compassion to put this family back together.
Hoa binh

If you listen to his explanations and excuses, it is clear that George Bush is controlled by "the enemy," "the terrorists," and, occasionally, "Osama bin Laden." Time and again, Bush says that we must not have policies that conform to the will of the American people, as one might expect of a government bearing any resemblance to a democracy, because to do so would "send the wrong message" to the fill-in-the-blank-Middle-Eastern-Bad-Guys. So, you see, Bush's top priority is sending the right messages to al Qaeda, Osama, etc. And the right message, according to Bush, is the lawless, irrational, tough guy against the world message that makes for the most potent and trustworthy recruiting material anti-American militants, terrorists, and malcontents could ever ask for. So, when you boil it down, Bush's job is to stand and deliver for those who aim to bankrupt the will and economy of the U.S. in much the same way they broke the back of the U.S.S.R. when it foolishly engaged in Middle Eastern wars it could not win and us-against-the-world weapons and policies it could not afford.

Not coincidently, Bush is being bankrolled and supported in his quest to stand and deliver for Osama, al Qaeda, et al, by multinational corporations that are making money hand over fist on no-bid contracts, many of them paid for without actually having been fulfilled, by carrying out the dismantling of U.S. government capabilities while performing the actions that make Bush's "right message" so much more valuable to the mythical Middle Eastern menace he is compelled to serve. Listening to the bogeymen abroad, amplifying their means and message, and fleecing and looting the U.S. is, in a nutshell, Bush's whole reason for being in the White House.

And so it is that there is no irony or illogic to be found in the White House's admonitions that Congress should listen to "the terrorists" and not those who speak for what's on the minds and in the hearts of the majority of the American people. Actually, this is simply another step in Bush's grand scheme to make government more efficient by dismantling it and privatizing it. He simply cutting out the middle man: himself. "Look," he is saying, don't waste any more time listening Code Pink or MoveOn, and don't make me waste any more of my time relaying the 'right message' to you. Just get your marching orders straight from the source, like I do, and we will all be on the same page, ready to get the 'mission accomplished' once and for all."

That being said, it is time for Code Pink and the true opposition leaders (of which the Democratic echo chamber that is MoveOn cannot credibly claim to be a part) to expand the "Troops Home Now" message to "Bucks Home Now." That is, a call for widespread defunding of the financial and consumer multinationals that are bankrolling Bush's agenda by citizens and the pension funds representing them banking, borrowing, and spending at local credit unions, stores, and sellers of home grown goods and services to the greatest extent possible.

Oh, and water board your television next time you hear Bush's "right message" on behalf of "the enemy" coming gout of it. It's the "safe and legal" way to get it to quit telling lies and withholding the truth.

I applaud what Codepink is doing; their actions do speak for at least %35 to 50% of Americans-depending on who's poll you read.
However, the war protest movement is not addressing a fundamental question about American democracy: how have we moved inside the doorway and down the hall to a fascist style government?
Why have recent elections been little more than farcical exercises in publicity campaigns for the smoothest talker and the slickest smirker? In short, elections are not freely showing the will of the people but only pointing to where the biggest pile of money is. Big money talks with the same voice not matter whose hand it's in.
Where is our free press? Please don't, as a fellow blogger, tell me that animal is still alive in this country. Without a free press we lack an educated and involved citizenry.

Here is where the danger of protest politics outlines a major emerging phenomenon: many folks (98.5% at a guess,) are content to allow the unelected protesters speak for them on an ad hoc basis in an unannounced forum with an unplanned agenda. Reading the protesters web site will not suffice to educate the average person on what major reforms are needed to build a democracy.
Again, protest is a necessary condition to change and CODEPINK is great at what they do; we need to move beyond single issue movements to institute meaningful change.
So, let's pull out this little book (it should be called 10 Steps to Rebuild American Democracy)
10 Steps to Repair American Democracy (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/10-Steps-Repair-American-Democracy/dp/0976062151, start a new home for democracy, and then we can abandon the old house and let it fall down.

We should all be listening carefully to Dana Perino and repeating all over the press and internet every little fire-it-off-fast-with-a-perky-tone thing she says. Her attitude is an asset to liberals, progressives and Democrats everywhere. It's hard to imagine any women other than the generals' wives' club appreciating her knocking CODEPINK since she's too young to be an effective smart aleck with older people. Yet she keeps trying.

As for Bush bringing CODEPINK up in a speech, good deal. The more he speaks of them, the more effective they are.

"Dana Perino made the hilarious statement that 'Unfortunately, it seems that increasingly Congress is being run by CODEPINK.'"

I'm tellin' ya, people, when government stooges like Dana Perino make these totally ridiculous comments, DERISIVE LAUGHTER is the only remedy!!!! Ditto her remark about global warming being a good thing since there are so many cold-related diseases/problems that will be averted!

Can you imagine? Bush/Cheney/current press secretary makes some stupid, insane comment about Iraq/Iran/Osama bin Laden/WMD, etc. and the whole Washington Press Corps erupts in hysterical laughter! Can you imagine how mad they would get?!?! I'd love to see the steam coming out of their ears!

DERISIVE LAUGHTER, that's the ticket!

"...trying preemptively to smear General Petraeus."

Gee, and I always thought premptive attacks belonged to the powers that be in Washington. I applaud CODEPINK! Tighten the screws, keep the heat on - they're squirming!!

attn repubs:

you're discrediting code pink when you try to associate them with dems. lighten up.

Ms. Benjamin,

The same thought crossed my mind that it is odd for Bush to mention Code Pink in a speech. I can understand the MoveOn.org reference over the "Betray Us" article (right on MoveOn.org!!!!). Obviously what Code Pink is doing has penetrated talks at higher levels. Maybe Condi threw a little temper tantrum to Bush after Desiree approached her and was arrested (I totally agree that Condi should be the one wearing the "silver wrist and ankle bracelets" that are inter-linked). Did any of you see Bush's picture on the news? Obviously one would not expect a drug addict and drunk to look spritely, but Bush does not look healthy at all. I think COMarc had it right when he said "Bush looks tired and wants out of the White House." I might take that observation one step further and add that Bush needs to go to detox. It is obvious that no matter how much he exercises, the drugs and alcohol certainly are having an impact on his health. And as many have pointed out, including Dennis Kucinich, his psychological health is in limbo too (I know associating psychological health with Bush is an oxymoron).

Ms. Benjamin and CodePink: Keep moving forward. You definitely are having an impact. If your organization is being mentioned in speeches, Baby Caligula's Administration definitely is showing concern and fear.

In March of 2002, Honorable Bush said: "I just don't spend that much time on him [bin Laden] -- I truly am not that concerned about him."

That sentiment was echoed a month later by General Richard Myers when he stated that "the goal has never been to get bin Laden."

Citations drawn from Paul Thompson, "Was 9/11 Allowed to Happen? The Complete Timeline," www.wanttoknow.info: see entries for March 13, 2002, where the White House is quoted, and for April 6, 2002, where the Department of Defense is cited.

I am interestingly waiting the results of your Freedom of Information inquiry - we need to know just exactly what is going on at the borders.

The coordinating of laws between our two countries is getting scary.

Do you know that the US is trying to ram a law through Iraqi parliament which basically gives private companies ownership over Iraqi oil? We all know what this particular slaughter of innocents is about.

I think CODEPINK does a fantastic job and ive supported them from when they started (near our house !!). Clearly they must be doing something right coz they bring out the claws in a lot of people (twoturtles) or concern (bush). Just about every person you talk to here has an opinion about them !

When the rest of the country was basically enabling the bush admin during the afghan war and after ... the CODEPINK women (andrea buffa , medea) were out on Market Street in SF slathering on fake blood (i helped) and jarring the conscience of uptight financial district workers ! It takes balls to do this any way you look at it, especially considering there were apologists for the war even in the most liberal of cities.

CODEPINK is where the feminists should be turning to, rather than Hillary or Nancy.
End the war; bring all our troops home!