House Democrats Look To Fund War Through 2009
House Democratic leaders are putting together the largest Iraq war spending bill yet, a measure that is expected to fund the war through the end of the Bush presidency and for nearly six months into the next president’s term.
The bill, which could be unveiled as early as this week, signals that Democrats are resigned to the fact they can’t change course in Iraq in the final months of President Bush’s term. Instead, the party is pinning its hopes of ending the war on winning the White House in November.
Bay Area lawmakers, who represent perhaps the most anti-war part of the country, acknowledge the bill will anger many voters back home.
“It’s going to be a tough sell to convince people in my district that funding the war for six months into the new president’s term is the way to end the war,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, a leader of the Out of Iraq Caucus who plans to oppose the funding. “It sounds like we are paying for something we don’t want.”
The bill is expected to provide $108 billion that the White House has requested for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lawmakers who are drafting it say it also will include a so-called bridge fund of $70 billion to give the new president several months of breathing room before having to ask Congress for more money.
The debate is shaping up as a key test for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The San Francisco Democrat, who opposed the war from the start, faces fierce criticism from the anti-war left for refusing to cut off funding for the war. She’s trying to hold together a caucus split between anti-war lawmakers, who’d prefer a showdown with the White House, and conservative Democrats, who believe cutting off the war funding would make the party look weak on national security and put its majority at risk.
Guns-for-butter
Pelosi is plotting a “guns-for-butter” strategy to try to force Bush to accept some new domestic spending in exchange for the money he needs to fight the war. The speaker is floating a proposal to extend unemployment benefits for 13 weeks for those whose benefits have run out. The package also could include a new GI Bill benefit to help veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan pay for college.
Bush is already vowing to veto any spending that goes over his $108 billion request. House Republicans, eager for an election-year fight with Democrats over spending, are pledging to back up his veto threat.
“We’re going to insist that this is about funding the troops and nothing else,” House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said last week.
Pelosi has been trying to ease tensions within her caucus over the bill. Anti-war lawmakers - including Woolsey, Rep. Maxine Waters of Los Angeles and Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland - met with the speaker last week to urge her to keep the votes on war spending and domestic spending separate.
“We raised concerns,” Lee said. “It just wouldn’t make sense to force (members of Congress) to choose between providing food stamps for people who are hurting and need help during this terrible time and funding an occupation that people do not support.”
House leaders may be able to get around the issue by splitting the votes. Last May, Democrats used a similar tactic, staging votes on two amendments - one for $22 billion in domestic spending, and another for $98 billion for the two wars - to allow anti-war lawmakers to vote for the domestic spending, but against the money for the war.
The strategy would let many Democratic lawmakers register their opposition to the war, but it wouldn’t change the outcome. The Senate would eventually wrap all the spending into one package to send to the White House for Bush’s signature.
Democrats may use the bill to put Republicans on the defensive by offering an amendment to boost tax incentives for renewable energy as well as language that would block the administration from implementing new rules that would cut Medicaid payments and shift those costs to the states.
House leaders also may introduce an amendment that would require Bush to use any new war money only for redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq. Bush vetoed a bill with similar language last year and Democrats lacked the votes to override it. Still, Democrats say it would remind voters that it’s Bush and Republicans who are refusing to end the war.
But anti-war activists say Democrats are being disingenuous by claiming to oppose the war while also preparing to give the president even more war funding than he requested.
“They are the biggest hypocrites in the world,” said Medea Benjamin, the San Francisco-based founder of the anti-war group CodePink. “They want to paint the Republicans as warmongers and they want to keep funding the war, and they think we don’t see through this?”
Bay Area anti-war activists met at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater last week to discuss ways to protest the war spending bill. CodePink plans to renew its protests outside Pelosi’s home in San Francisco and at lawmakers’ offices, Benjamin said.
Pelosi on hot seat
Pelosi was pressed on the issue last week during a sit-down with CNN’s Larry King. “Your party became the majority in the House primarily pledging to end the war,” King said. “That didn’t happen.”
“No,” Pelosi acknowledged. “It didn’t happen because we had hoped that the president would listen to the will of the people and at least be willing to compromise on … how the war is conducted and some timetable for redeployment of our troops.”
Congress watchers said Democrats are still stung after losing repeated battles with the White House and Republicans over the war last year.
“Last year they tried a lot of confrontation and they went nowhere,” said Louis Fisher, a constitutional scholar at the Library of Congress and an expert on congressional war powers. He said Democrats still fear being portrayed as putting U.S. troops at risk if they try to shut off war funds.
“That argument seems to win almost every time,” Fisher said. “Look how long it took to cut off the funding in Vietnam. It wasn’t until the summer of 1973.”
Congressional scholar Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution said House leaders are making a wise choice to give a new president, whether Democrat or Republican, some time to chart a new course in Iraq. He noted that even the Democratic presidential candidates, Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, have said it would take a few months to begin withdrawing troops.
Democrats in Congress may risk frustrating their base by funding the war into next year, but Mann said it’s unlikely to hurt them in the November election. The public still generally sees the Iraq conflict as Bush’s war, he said.
“This only becomes a Democratic war if a Democratic president fails to deliver on his or her promise to end the war,” Mann said.
E-mail Zachary Coile at zcoile@sfchronicle.com.
© 2008 The San Francisco Chronicle
Quite simply, Pelosi is a lying piece of crap. She has consistently sold out her constituency.
willybill: Don’t forget John Conyers, who was all for impeachment investigations until he was thrust into a position in which he could actually conduct them.
Smoke and mirrors and the tax payers are still gutted while the wars drag on and on. No one is discussing the obvious endless occupation with our billion dollar embassy and new bases. It ain’t over till it’s over and it sure doesn’t look like that will be in this lifetime. I am surprized that the bill Nancy is pushing doesn’t contain a few billion for war in Iran. Maybe she just forgot…
Very clearly written, well-balanced report on the politics behind Pelosi’s scheme and the divisions among the more zealous and more political Democratic lawmakers.
Too bad the article is going to be a magnet for “I HATE DEMOCRATSES” declarations.
Democrats=Republicans=Corporate Puppets
corvo April 28th, 2008 11:59 am…Pelosi says “Jump”..Conyers says, “How high”. Conyers answers to Pelosi and Reed and Pelosi bow to Bush.
Did anyone really expect the Democratic party to end this war? It doesn’t mater which side wins the congress or the white house. They have all shown us that they will put their political and financial interest above the American people whenever they can. $70 billion “bridge fund” for the next president’s breathing room or $70 billion extra as a down payment on Iran. Regardless two years of Dems controlling congress and things just get worst. Only thing that changed is that before ‘06 they complained that they couldn’t do anything because they were bullied by a Republican majority and now they can’t do anything because they are bullied by a Republican minority. They are intentionally useless and secretly pushing this war behind closed doors. At least we know now that the Republicans and Democrats are on the same side, unfortunately the rest of the world and us are on the other side.
This is the best that can be expected from Democrats. The only difference between Republicans and Democrats on the war is that Republicans support it forthrightly, while some Democrats pretend to have anguish & mixed feelings about it.
The article itself is full of quite a lot of sh*t. For instance, speaking of Pelosi, it includes phrasing like “The San Francisco Democrat, who opposed the war from the start….” // That’s just the hometown newspaper trying to paint the hometown gal in an agreeable light. If a treacherous & two-faced creature like Pelosi “opposes” the war, words have no meaning. (It would be more accurate to write, “The San Francisco Democrat, who has had occasional misgivings about the war….“)
Or the article finds a pleasing quote: “Last year they tried a lot of confrontation and they went nowhere,” said Louis Fisher, a constitutional scholar …”
- This is pure BS, because the “confrontation” was never serious. It was always pure posturing — going through the motions of offering legislation they knew would never pass, or would be vetoed. After a few staged performances, which were never in the slightest danger of passing, they caved in — as they intended to do from the very start.
People should pay special attention to this unspeakably dirty trick of splitting the appropriation vote into 2 parts. The way this works speaks volumes about the Democrats. Pelosi does a head count to see how many Dem votes are needed to make sure the war funding passes. She knows almost 100% of Republicans will vote for it. Then she figures out that, say, of her 232 or so Dem House members, they need maybe 75 Dem votes to ensure passage. This gives her plenty of room to find the 75 votes from either conservative Democrats (where the incumbent Dem really favors war funding), or districts where the Dem isn’t up for re-election. Once she gets these votes, she can let the rest of her Dems posture as fake war “opponents” — with zero risk of actually blocking the funding.
That, ladies & gentleman, is how the Dems do business.
Folks, this is why we need to mobilize our support for Cindy Sheehan. Is it really any surprise that the Dems would roll over yet again with Nancy “impeachment is off the table” Pelosi leading the way?
The more I see the same old sh*t coming from the Democrats, the less I really care about Billary and Obomba (I did not much care for them in the beginning and now I will not vote for either one). Also, in case people like Coopera think I am a wolf in sheeps clothing, I will not vote for Johnny Bomb Bomb either.
Vote Pelosi out of office. Send a message!
Continue funding this century’s greatest war crime? Egad! Can we just hang them all and let an Honest God keep the ones he wants?
You know Americans have lost all representation by our government,when even the whores and prostitutes in the MSM acknowledge that the majority of Americans want our patriots in this illegal war home. WE THE PEOPLE is a canard.
The War is a symptom, and not the disease. Simply put, the corporate world controls and runs the US government lock, stock, and barrel. There is nothing about either of their 2 parties that will undermine this control, no matter what individual wins the presidency.
STOP voting for Dems, and yes that incl. Obama! Exception: Barbara Lee! (and a few others, but only those who say “NO” to this crap!) Vote for “third” parties!! (:
If our “representatives” do not represent the majority of the people and what the majority of people want, the U.S. can stop claiming it’s a democracy and admit it’s a fascist plutocracy. Of course the war profiteers, both Republicans AND Democrats, are not going to admit it.
Of course they are.
Note that Reid and Pelosi both promised in the days after the 2006 election that war funding would not be cut by this congress. The key bit to realize is that the Democrats have all along been working to protect and secure this funding.
Since the Dems know that 70% of the American people, and damn near everyone in their party wants this war to end, they’ve had to put on some charades and political theater along the way to pretend they want to stop the war. But if you look and watch closely, they’ve continually acted to protect this funding and make sure it passes.
The Dems support the war. They voted to authorize it. They voted to fund it when they were in the minority. They’ve worked hard as the leadership to make sure it passes.
This is what you get when you vote Democrat. If you want something different, please stop voting Democrat.
Not only should we not vote for Democrats, but also make sure to demand a refund of political-related dues from your union if they have a habit of giving money to Dems (as mine always does). And be sure to tell the union why you want the money back.
The Dem Party apologist Nader2000 writes (12:03 pm), “Very clearly written, well-balanced report on the politics behind Pelosi’s scheme …”
- Actually, the article stinks. Note that it conspicuously fails to mention the most important single fact about the Democrats’ ability to stop the war funding — namely, that 41 senators are enough to filibuster ANY provision in the Senate; and that a simple majority in the House is enough to block ANY House measure from passage.
In other words, the Dems have had enough Senate votes to stop the war at any given moment, ever since the war began. They have had enough House votes to stop it ever since January 2007. The reason they didn’t stop it is because they’re not against it.
This alone would be a sufficient reason to stop voting for these swine — but note further that they’re now running 2 candidates for President, neither one of whom is committed to ending the war. Both are instead committed to merely giving the impression that they’re “against the war,” using word-games about “timetables for withdrawing combat troops” — which does NOT at all mean ending the war, since “combat troops” is a flexible category. When you withdraw “combat troops” you can still leave behind troops for “counter-terrorism” and “training Iraq troops” and “protecting US interests” — which simply means that the war can continue indefinitely.
ALL Dem Party swine support the fake “War on Terror.” This alone is enough reason to stop voting for them.
Nothing will change Washington short of collapse. You know the routine, vote Green, live green, and treasure each day.
Cut the funding and let Bush and Congressmen who want the war to continue stand and be counted.
Does anyone really think the American people would stand for it if Bush did not bring the troops home when he runs out of money????
And let’s not forget the vast majority of Iraqis, should I say surviving Iraqis, want the US out of Iraq!!!
NO MORE NO MORE NO MORE NO MORE MONEY FOR THE WAR!
This news is not a surprise, given that the Democrats didn’t have the guts or the intention of stopping the war earlier in their term. Heck, why not fund Iraq until 2108 so McCain can have his Hundred Years’ War? That would really impress the voters with their patriotism.
“Your party became the majority in the House primarily pledging to end the war,” King said. “That didn’t happen.”
“No,” Pelosi acknowledged. “It didn’t happen because we had hoped that the president would listen to the will of the people and at least be willing to compromise on … how the war is conducted and some timetable for redeployment of our troops.”
And that is the excuse for everything Pelosi is afraid to do including no impeachment. She will expect Bush to listen to the will of the people after he turns over the pieces of the constitution he ripped up and apologizes for his war crimes too. When you look into her empty frightened eyes you see a dear on the highway staring in the headlights.
I can’t blame anyone who won’t vote for the Dems when they are led by such cowards…Cowards are congress people who won’t do their duty unless they think they can win or get reelected.
The only excuse I might accept is if they say they are afraid Bush would drop the big one and dismiss the other two branches…but that would only be because they voted to give him that power.
Who knows for sure what will happen? I will give Obama one chance to prove he will end the war and the mindset that got us in this mess.
In-fact If after the next Prez double crosses the people (very soon) that will be the best time to organize a new force for us, the people who will work for peace and justice. Not focusing just on demonstrations that usually tend to make us look angry and helpless but lobbying and focusing on getting brave honest people elected.
It will take a new coalition from all parties and independent and individual voters…. a new coalition for us…a Realistic Gathering and a force for all of us.
Well, we can dream can’t we?
Also if we look back realistically…the majority of the Dems never said they would “end the War”.
The Blue Dog Dems are the right wing Dems. The Democratic Party did not take a vote and make a promise to end the War, not even a majority of the Dems did… We just hoped they would.
At least now the Dem candidates for president (only a president can really end it) promise to end the Iraq war… Might be a start.
I know many will jump on me for given them one more chance, but you all do what you gotta do, that is fine and that is democracy…We’ll see.
House Democratic leaders are putting together the largest Iraq war spending bill yet, a measure that is expected to fund the war through the end of the Bush presidency and for nearly six months into the next president’s term.
So?
So what are you going to do about it?
Piss and moan.
Whine about the democrats? The republicans?
There was a time that we the people had the balls to stand up to a government that caused harm to the commmonwealth. Not anymore.
Americans are afraid of losing their jobs, or offending someone or wanting to give someone the benefit of the doubt.
At what point do Americans realize they have already lost everything that is needed to sustain balance in a collapsing system. How far down does it have to go exactly before we revolt?
Radical steps need to be taken. Not violent mind you but radical.
Stop buying anything on the last day of every month beginning April 30th. Start to hit them in the only place they recognize. Then add another day to the mix. Say the 15th.
Join me in starting to carry or wear a bandana. Identify yourself so we can see how many of us there are to oppose empire. Or are you afraid of that too?
What’s it going to take?
We have a perfect opportunity to use July 4th as a staging day for flying the flag upside down. EVERYWHERE.
What else can we do?
The nation is is distress folks. And Congress is aiding and abetting its downfall. And all I see are people chit chatting and texting on cellphones everywhere I look.
I don’t recognize this country anymore.
Democrats (and Rethuglicans) claim they don’t want to stop funding the occupation of Iraq because they don’t want to put troops in “harm’s way” by under-funding them.
What hogwash. The way to not put them in “harm’s way” is to withdraw all of them. Hasn’t enough harm been done to the country of Iraq?!
The leaders of the U.S. have neither wisdom nor mercy.
Time again for The Pelosi-Reid Plan to Abolish America (and the World):
…Pelosi and Reid readily returned to the rest of their plan for controlling Iraq – popularly known as the PR Plan.
They vowed, “We will work with the President in whatever way we can.” They meant the statement to be totally ambiguous, but unfortunately for them, upon uttering it, the official pair instantly collapsed to the ground, apparently for lack of some vital measure of blood and bone, as well as some bizarre overabundance of scales, claws, and oozing oil.
“Defunding the war immediately is totally impossible,” uttered Pelosi and Reid in unison while slithering across the ground, sliming their way back to their Gang of Democrats. The Republican Gang applauded silently from the side.
“It seems clear now,” one observer remarked, “that the Democrat and Republican parties are gone – if parties they ever were – and are replaced by gangs. Official suite gangs.” Oddly, no one was heard to contradict him.
Within hours, a person we can only identify as Deep Source delivered to us the following rather striking internal document. We have rarely seen a government document quite as internal as this, and we must confess, as good members of the press, we hope to see very few more like it. “The 10 Point PR Plan (For Internal Consumption Only)”:
1st: Pretend that you intend to end the War against Iraq.
2nd: Propose a full War budget with deceptive clauses so that it seems like you may soon end the occupation that you in no real way will, at all.
…
http://apragmaticpolicy.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/the-pelosi-reid-plan-to-abolish-america/
And Pelosi knows that another funding bill will come up before the election in November and she counts on Americans having very short memories.
I have been saying that one can’t be “against” the war and for funding it since before I became a candidate.
Please support my candidacy so we can get our message out. People who only read the Chronicle have a profound misconception about Pelosi and me.
Love
Cindy
www.CindyforCongress.org
“guns-for-butter”
Except the americans get both the guns and butter…the Iraqi civilians only get the business end of the bullets.
The democrats could have stopped this war anytime they wanted to….first off they could have VOTED AGAINST IT.
I guess the fearless “antiwar” democrats are also anti-confrontation.
Must be difficult for these dumb-o-crat multi-millionares to vote against their own financial interests.
Oooooh! I’m really looking forward to listening to all the Obamrama believers twist themselves into knots trying to explain why he has still in Iraq in 2010! It is to laugh!
If you want war, vote for republicans or democrats.
If you want peace, vote Green Party.
www.GP.org
This is absurd! Dems are going to lose voters in retaliation for having abandoned them, the soliders, and for trashing the US Constitution, and International Law.
This seems to be another move to support war-mongering-MacCain-Bush lover, HRC.
Go ahead Dems and fund the war and force HRC on voters, but forget winning the election in 2008.
Dems’ first obligation is to Impeach Bush-Cheney and hold them accountable NOW in a court of law for CRIMES AGAINST THE UNITED STATES, ITS CITIZENS, AND HUMANITY IN GENERAL. Dems do nothing and they doom democracy to a fascist dictatorship.
Common citizens aren’t as stupid as Repuglicans and many democrats count on.
.
I’ll say it again…
We needed Ralph Nader as President in 2000.
We needed Ralph Nader as President in 2004.
We NEED Ralph Nader as President in 2008.
Never before as we do now
http://www.votenader.org/index.html
.
The United States of America is at “war” with another nation?
Really? Which one, Nancy? Cause the last time I checked, The United States of America had not, in fact, declared war on any nation on planet Earth.
The above headline should read:
“House Democrats Look to Fund Illegal Occupation Through 2009.”
That’s the kind of headline Americans need to see more and more of, until the truth of the situation sinks in, which is:
The United States of America is not now in a declared war with any nation on planet Earth. Period.
The Democrats will not end this oil-war of the ‘corporatist Empire’ hiding behind the facade of a two-party ‘Vichy’ government precisely because the Democrats are not gutless —– they are worse —– they are fully complicit and engaged with this ‘corporatist Empire’.
End this ‘corporatist Empire’ —- restore our democracy —- Vote Nader —- the only way out of the Empire, which Repubs and Dems won’t even mention!
CINDEE,
I will provide your election advertising spots at N/C it is all I can do to help you!
“Guns for butter”. *Puke*.
Get fat while Iraqis die.
Then why does CD keep supporting the Democrats?
votenader.org
Help Ralph Nader make it to the ballot in all 50 states and help him rise about the duopoly !!
McKinney or Nader, fine with me
We progressives need to find some way of working together; I’ve tried - as a volunteer, but money matters more than people. My skills are never enough, and I have no money.
No Dems, No Repubs - we’ve got to work towards other solutions - PAMPHLETEERING is my #1 choice for taking it to the streets!
What twits! Give that money to me.
If Nader is so great,why isn’t he out there campaigning? No money you say? Well, give him some. Maybe all of us complainers could get more done if we called our senators and representatives every day!
God almighty, what is it going to take for the g-d Democrats to get off the dime and keep their word? They’re funding an illegal occupation and helping Bush rape the Constitution - come on, guys and dolls, show some cojones or get out of our way. We are beyond sick of your dithering and pandering, and you know better. Shame on you.
GKL says “Maybe all of us complainers could get more done if we called our senators and representatives every day!”
It is a logical thought with logical intent and would work if we had a Congress that did its job, but GKL, our representatives don’t give a rat’s derriere about any of us. That is the problem.
Which park or street corner in your town is the peoples meeting going to be held at? Isn’t it time to find out? Because, it surely must be evident at this point, that, those who meet in Washington are not doing the people’s business. Well, at least, not the majority of the people. But, then again, we have become more sheeple than sovereign human beings and sheeple have no rights or Constitution, so maybe we are getting what we deserve, at the very least what we are willingly putting up with.
What is it going to take to awaken the sleeping giant within US all? How much more will the American public put up with. Seems our so called Congress is sure, anything they dish up. If we start with Iran where will the extra troops come from ? And what of the troop replacements that are needed now ?
Here in Florida to get your State Driver’s license it states you will participate in Federal Selective service? How are the rest of you being signed up? Remember, according to some this is a privilege not a right….. according to others they had better things to do.
And besides our Embassey and lots of people killed and maimed what else has been conpleted in these years in Iraq? Oh yeah, some people have made tons of money………and what of the 8.8 Billion that just kind of disappeared after it was shipped over. Still lost, not even an inkling where it went?
BBBaaahhh, be good sheeple and just go along.
GKL,
Money is the problem, not the solution. The only thing Nader needs is a citizenry genuinely ready for change. It doesn’t cost anything to vote.
This article is complete nonsense. The Democrats can write a bill providing a penny for Bush, and whether he signs it or vetos it is immaterial — the war would effectively be over. The bottom line is that the Democrats, by their actions, support this war. And they support a unitary executive. They have no problem with the Executive trampling over the Legislative Branch, but god forbid they do their DUTY and assert Congressional power. There is no “war on terror” because this was never formally declared a war by Congress. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution
Let’s remember that not only the Republican congress, but a majority of the US public agreed with Bush in his terror attack on Iraq.
How in hell did it become the Democrats fault? The Demos. majority is slim to none. Exclude Joe in the Senate, an indenpendent (who sound more like Bush & McCain), then the Senate is 50/50.
Then Congress has a small majority who does not, and should not vote the same on all issues. So the question is, why is this criminal occupation and atrocities in Iraq is only the Demos. fault?
And by-the-way, the total cost of this debacle was estimated to be $50 million.
The difference is that today’s Republicans are generally blind reactionary ideologues who will fight tooth and nail for every jot and tittle of their extremist ideology, no matter what is actually good or bad for the country and the world. Today’s Democrats tend not to be ideological, but pragmatic leaders without any passion for a vision or philosophy. They seek only to hold onto their seats of privilege, and thus, are not willing to go to the mattresses against the Republicans. The Republicans have a fanatical commitment to terribly reactionary, immoral, and ultimately destructive beliefs, while the Democrats have no beliefs at all to be committed to.
The country is caught between the savage wolves, who will stop at nothing to feast on hot red blood of fresh spring lamb, and the docile sheep (the first invertibrate mammals I’ve ever seen), who think they can let the wolves gnaw off their limbs in hopes this will appease them enough to let them survive. It won’t.
The end result is that when the Democrats were in the minority, the Republicans ran roughshod over them and the Dems were terrified to use filibusters and other procedural weapons to resist the “tyranny of the majority.” Now that the Democrats are in the majority, they lack the strength and conviction to emulate the Republicans of the past 7 years, while the minority Republicans are running roughshod over the majority using every possible procedural tactic, both fair and foul.
The Republican party is too dangerous to trust with running our country, but the Democratic party is little more than a bunch of empty suits.
Time, methinks, to start working at the grassroots and netroots to build a new party that actually represents the wants and needs of the majority of Americans.
This November we should “DUMP” on all incumbents.
Vote in an ALL NEW Congress this November. Get rid of all who have allowed our U.S. Constitution to be disrespected and disgarded by the Bush Administration.
IMPEACH both BUSH ans CHENEY………NOW !!!!!!!!!
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Tsunami, the Democrats as a minority, and even more as a majority, have all the power they need to end the war and reign in Bush’s criminality. The Constitution gives the Congress two profoundly powerful weapons that are intended to stop a rogue administration in its tracks.
The first is the power of the purse. Even a minority of Democrats can filibuster spending bills to death and shut off the tap - they just need the courage to do it. The President can’t sign OR veto what never reaches his desk.
The second is the power of impeachment - the safety valve that the Founding Fathers put in the Constitution for precisely the crises we are now experiencing.
Unfortunately, when she took over the gavel, Pelosi promised that both funding cutoffs and impeachment were “off the table.”
So, while the Republicans at least believe the war was right and was worthwhile to fight, the Democrats are worse, knowing the war is wrong, but lacking the courage to stand up and stop it.
“Congress watchers said Democrats are still stung after losing repeated battles with the White House and Republicans over the war last year.” stuff and nonsense! they didn’t “lose the battles”; they fought for the other side.
“Democrats in Congress may risk frustrating their base by funding the war into next year, but Mann said it’s unlikely to hurt them in the November election. The public still generally sees the Iraq conflict as Bush’s war, he said.”
The Dems in my area who go lockstep with Pelosi, such as Lofgren, won’t even talk to their constituents in a ‘town hall’ type meeting. They just keep FUNDING the war, ignoring their constituency’s wishes.
Tsunami: No the Iraq war is not the Dems’ fault, but RichM and others are correct that they have been rather spineless in doing anything to stop it, especially since the 2006 election.
Senate Filibusters: Prior to 2005, the “will of the people” would likely not have backed up a filibuster by Senate Dems. However, by 2005 Dems could certainly have started to flex some muscle (rotation times, construction funding, SOMETHING). The Repubs did a preemptive strike and started talking about the “Nuclear Option” to prevent Dems from using the filibuster. Ostensibly, this was over Senate approvals of BushCo’s wack-a-doodle court nominees. Needless to say the Dems caved, even though the right to fillibuster (cloture votes, actually) was in the Senate rules, had been in place over 100 years, and was upheld by two Supreme Court cases: US vs Ballin in 1892, and McGrain vs Daugherty in 1927. The Repubs said “boo!” and Dem leadership piddled on the floor.
Since 2007, the size of the majority isn’t a good enough excuse. Pelosi & Reid (and all chairmanships - other than Lieberman) are Dems. Dems control what bills do or do not get introduced. Period. Furthermore, spending resolutions in the Senate only need simple majority - no cloture/fillibusters allowed. The Dems either could have forced through their own bills (that Bush could veto) or - lacking Dem unity via Blue Dogs - could have just let funding expire.
They lacked the courage - and still lack it - to go up against Mr. 27% and the likely bad press from the Corporate Media. For that, they have earned the scorn they are receiving.
I was distressed over the way my country was going in 2000
so I voted for NADER
I was disgusted that things got worse in 2004
so I voted for NADER
I will walk into my polling place and proudly vote for NADER in 08
Because now I know without a doubt that I was right in 00 and 04
reid and pelosi suck !!!! we need new leaders begiining in 2009…..THEY HAVE NO BACKBONE !
The news about this is becoming more surreal with each day.
Despite the many protests against the invasion in Iraq by Americans and throughout world before the invasion, Congress wants to once again approve funding of blood for oil, this time through 2009. Iraq banked much of the money we already sent them.
Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, is weak and spineless and those who continue to approve funds must be impeached or voted out of office in 2008.
The Iraqi people want us out of Iraq! We are the occupiers just as England was the occupier before the Revolutionary War. The insurgents in Iraq are protecting their country just as we protected ours.
No more war! No more blood for oil! This is against the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution — and again humankind.
Vote every incumbent out,because they don’t get it,they want to fight for there party,not for us.You want to change the government,we have to clean both house’s out of all the politician’s and replace them with (we the people)
The appallingly simple-minded excuse for the Dems groveling on this was that if they cut the funds for the Iraq occupation they would be “swift-boated”. Pelosi said as much right after the Nov 06 elections. This is transparently innaccurate and stupid like essentially all of what passes for debate in Wash, DC. It works like this: Congress approves money for the Pentagon, period. Not for “the troops”. Once the money is approved, it is up to the Generals to determine precisely how to spend it. if force protection is the goal or a goal, the it is up to the Generals to spend the available money in the best possible way to achieve the goal. If the money is not approved, force protection is still the job of the Generals, not Congress. Therefore, there is no possible way that a Congressional decision to cut funding can ever increase the risks for “the troops” and therefore no way anybody with a brain can reasonably assert that a Congressional funding cut will actually endanger “the troops”. “The troops” are the responsibility of the generals and by extension, the White House. Congress does not give the orders. Second point, Reid and Pelosi (and their crowd of bad-tempered excuse-mongers like Conyers and Obey) could still cast votes against the funding, even if they could not sustain a filibuster. Their votes would go on record, thereby effectively communicating the opinions of their constituents and showing the world that even if they are short of the necessary votes they are not short of the necessary courage and principles.
But, no. Reid and Pelosi are Reid and Pelosi. Dim, vacant, clueless, and utterly compromised, but gamely waving their gavels as if that means anything.
Maybe if very large numbers of people simply occupied all the major federal buildings around the country for days or weeks at a time…maybe if grieving families who lost kids in Iraq camped out at recruiting stations for weeks at a time…maybe if the Dems driveways, front doors, back doors, office doors (cat house doors), inboxes and mail slots were always overflowing with angry people and messages…maybe…Maybe Blackwater has to start shooting Americans down in the street in large numbers before we wake up…I don’t know.
But I do know that Pelosi and Reid are planning to sign death warrants on another 1000 Americans and probably at least another 10000 Iraqis. One hand on the pen and another aloft with a big middle finger pointed right at you and me and all those people they are condemning to death. At least Cheney had the balls to just go ahead and say, “go fuck yourself…”
Any CDers within range of San Francisco should try to show solidarity with these folks on May 1.
This is the event our fellow CDer peaceman has been talking about.
Think of it - a slap at Pelosi in her own back yard.
I wonder why CindyBabe has not mentioned it hmmmmm?
Clash ahead over longshore union war protest
George Raine, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Members of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union are proceeding with plans for a work stoppage at 29 West Coast ports on May 1 to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite the fact that union leadership has withdrawn its request to waterfront employers that they accommodate closure of the ports.
Planning for the protest began in February when the Longshore Caucus, the highest decision-making body for the 25,000 members of the longshore division within the ILWU, overwhelmingly approved a resolution in support of a day of protest.
…… for remainder see:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/26/BUC610C2HA.DTL&hw=longshore&sn=001&sc=1000
Why haven’t I mentioned it?
I have written a letter of solidarity to ILWU and I will be there to speak and march with my brothers and sisters.
Am I the CindyBabe you mention, Janelly?
Love
Cindy
I am a very optimistic person who believes that we are the ones that have to make the changes we want in this country. I am however more and more convinced there is only one political party in Washington D.C. It is the Money Influence Party and it seems to be driving force behind the war.
I am genuinely filled with disappointment that those we elected are not listening to the people who elected them. That is because the people only appear to play a very small part in influencing their decisions.
The idea of giving up on the War in Iraq and just doing what Bush says shows me that there is no courage in Congress. I consider everyone who votes in support of the funding to be murderous and having lost touch with their moral compass because they are financing more murder by our troops. This is against the will of the people and against what is right as beings capable of so much more than creating wars for control, power and greed.
This is totally unacceptable to me and I am sure to many others. I will not give a dime ever again to a Democrat running for office until I find he or she is someone who has courage, heart and a willingness to stand up for what is right. Ending the war is right, stopping the financing and profiteering of the war is right, providing checks and balances to the president is so long overdue.
I suggest everyone stop giving any money to this charade in D.C. of a two-party system. The other suggestion I have is that we need election reform so all money influence will be eliminated. We need that now.
Joseph
www.explorelifeblog.com
www.peace-together.com
Thank you Cindy — See you there!!!!!!
Soulless,self serving,liars…each and every one of them who were elected to end this atrocity yet continue to do NOTHING of substance to follow through on their promises.
It’ all a big show and we are the patrons betrayed.
I just got my state ballot to vote for a Presidential candidate representing the Green Party.
I haven’t been that involved in the Greens in several years. That lack of involvement was based on the concept and hope that working with and getting more Democrats elected as a way to battle Bush polices. That “a/the different/other party”…the one label by the media as the liberal of the big two…would bring about ALL the many changes that need to be made in ALL of Bush’s policies. The changes have been few and I have become less and less satisfied with the lack of ANY of the major changes that needed to have been made in Congress over the last year! I want to say this article plus the ballot in the mail has made up my mind about giving up …for my second and last time!!!…on trying to get or even expect the Democrat Party to live up to it’s now mythical liberal image! I will vote, donate and will work for any Green running in all elections I can vote in.
My statement of solidarity with ILWU…….
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the ILWU,
On behalf of myself and my congressional campaign, and in memory of my son Casey, I want to thank you for the principled and dignified action that you are taking on May 1st.
The exemplary resolution passed by your Longshore Caucus, and your decision to stop work on the West Coast docks on May 1, 2008 points the way for all of us who struggle to end the disastrous war and occupation of Iraq. This illegal and immoral war has been forced on us by the Republican administration, and has been funded enthusiastically by both the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress. The Democratic Party, under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, continues a policy of full cooperation with and financial support for the Bush administration’s war. While many Democrats will utter words that are critical of the highly unpopular war, their party simply will not use its political power to take any action to stop the carnage.
The ILWU has shown that it is an independent workers’ union, morally superior to the Democratic Party in every respect. Once again, the Longshoremen of the West Coast are demonstrating that it is possible to oppose the war-mongering corporate politicians, and prevent them from dividing and conquering the movements of the workers and peoples. You Longshoremen have kept this powerful and noble tradition alive on their waterfront since the 1930s.
I want you to know that there is a congressional candidate in the Bay Area who supports you and your heroism. I thank you for refusing to load scrap iron for the Japanese invasion of China in the 30s. I thank you for your refusal to load bombs for the fascist dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in 1978. I thank you for your support of the Charleston Five, the Liverpool Dockers, the Longshoremen of Australia, of Chile, and all the other workers of the world with whom you stand in solidarity.
I thank you for your heroic stop-work actions in defense of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Black labor journalist falsely accused of killing a police officer. I thank you for honoring the US Labor Against The War picket line against SSA on the Docks of Oakland in both 2003 and 2007.
I am offended by the arrogance, the chauvinism, and the sneering spitefulness that has been shown towards you by the Pacific Maritime Association and its member companies. If these employers had any sense of honor, they would be proud to cooperate with you on May 1st, and would eagerly join in your struggle to oppose this horrific war. My sympathy goes out to any workers who must negotiate the terms of their work against such cold and heartless war profiteers as the ones you bravely face in every contract negotiation. Their willful intransigence in the face of your principles should be enough to convince every honest elected official that your employers are bitter opponent of the people, and threats to the public good.
I will stand with you on May 1st in San Francisco and Oakland, and I encourage people everywhere to take up your call to resist the war. I will be with you on the picket line. I pledge to do whatever I can to aid and assist you in your noble effort, both on May 1st and in the days and weeks that follow.
An injury to one is an injury to all, and an injury to Longshoremen is an injury to me.
In Solidarity,
Cindy Sheehan
(cindy@cindyforcongress.org)
Is it not time for all those still loyal to the myth of the Democratic Party to reassess that loyalty? Is it not time for all progressives, all peace loving Americans, all those not completely bereft of their senses, to understand that our duty to this nation REQUIRES that we desert that once proud party?
As long as the anger expressed above does not include action it is we the people responsible for the unspeakable hypocracy of the Pelosi’s, Reid’s, Schumer’s and Emmanuel’s that rule this farcical political apology for complicity. I virtually guarantee that both Presidential candidates, Clinton and Obama will vote yes, unless Barack again votes “present” as he has in the past on controversial issues. Some leadership there Senator!
I agonized in 2000 over my vote for Ralph Nader, I was only slightly bothered by my voting again for Mr. Nader in 2004, and by then I was no longer a registered democrat. I will vote with pride and great feeling that it is the correct thing to do when I again cast my ballot for Mr. Nader in the fall.
RichM: Two well written posts, getting right to the core of the problem.
Paul Bramscher: Thanks for the “funding” information.
Gail Moore: I agree with you.
Everybody else: Great comments by all, but we need to move on to the next stage of action by not supporting this criminal regime. Gail Moore said it well. This Thursday, May 1st. please take off of work (unless you have a critical job-a nurse, doctor, firefighter, police, etc.) and show solidarity with the longies. Where ever you live in the US, take off and send the message that We The People, taxpaying citizens of the United States “Are mad as hell, and we aren’t gone take it anymore!” (from the movie ‘Network’) These lying, cheating, pieces of….(fill in your own expletives) are ransacking OUR COUNTRY and destroying everything that was ever worthwhile. Wherever in the fifty states you live, please do your part in building the momentum to stop the coward-in-chief and the other “smirker” (Hey you scholars-if James Joyce could make up words, so could this truck driver) from getting another dime from us in war crimes in Iraq. These people don’t care about anything but money and power.
Better to lose a days pay than to lose your soul, ladies and gentlemen. And for you people serving in the armed forces, you can walk off the job too! This crime-ridden government doesn’t recognize laws or contracts or oaths of office or pledges to constituants, if it differs with their agenda, so why do you want to risk your life or limbs or sanity for such?
Cindy Sheehan and Curmudgeon99, I’ll see you Thursday.
Peace, Harmony and Happiness to all you Common Dreamers, but get with the program. NOW!
Pelosi and the rest of gutless wonders need a wake up call: send the pond scum back to their mansions by electing the peoples choice: Cindy.
Peace! Peace! When are you people going to catch on? Peace doesn’t make money. Peace is for girls and old men!
In fact it’s time we had universal war. That’s it, folk, every nation should attack its neighbour, get the blood flowing in the street, buildings falling down, the stock market going gangbusters. Imagine the money that could be made…
Then America could step in a save us like they did in WW2. Yeah! Go, Emperor Bush!
P.S. The author of Dangerous Creation may soon be released if he keeps up these helpful comments!
Pelosi Is A Whore.
And Her Pimp Is Israel.
Google Nancy Pelosi AIPAC.
She Has A Soccer Field Named After Her In Haifa!!!!
“Every Saturday Growing Up I Went To A Bar Or Bat Mitzvah” N. Pelosi.
Don’t Want Whores Around???(she ain’t the only one) Quit Paying The Pimp!!!
Pelosi Is Just Another Politician For Whom Israel Comes First, Not Americans, ie More Iraq War Funding.
She’s a tool used against/to fragment the Dem party (see above thread); she is not the Dem party.
Signed, A Yellow Dog Democrat.
As I have said before, the Dems are doing what their (real) constituents want them to do. What you need to understand is who their constituents are; they are: the Israeli lobby. the military-industrial complex, and the big corporations.
AND YET THE AMERICAN SHEEPLE KEEP ON SUPPORTING BILLARUOBAMA…..
What is sorely needed is a law or rule for each house of Congress that requires each new law, appropreation, funding, etc. to move as a seperate issue. Playing politics by tacking on this and that or adding rediculous amendments needs to stop. If our people in Washington would put in a regular work week and a little overtime now and then to actually earn all that big money, something might be accomplished and also there would be a clear record of what was happening and who was for or against it. Using an excuse like “the devil made me do it” is just B.S.. If Congress is not going to clear up the way work gets done, then we should insist on the line item veto, to give the President the chance to put those in the Congress on the line when they try to get the votes to over-ride the Pork and Ear Mark items that he or she rejects.
The fascist state, that the US has become, exists not by the iron rule of a dictator, but because of a legislative body that, while pretending to represent it’s constituents, listens only to the corporate capitalists who are hell bent on furthering war profits. The race of the three stooges vying for the right King or Queen, along with the tedious media hoopla, is just a distraction, while the fascist state continues to suck your life blood and wreak havoc upon the innocent.
Whores–Whores–Whores, all of them . What are we discussing, the funding for the stupid occupation, or Spitzers love-mate? Apparently some people have never seen a dictionary and learned everything on the street. Get smart, people, the shock value is long gone and now is just the sick value.
Get off blaming the Dems for the war, Bushco started it and had it planned before being elected, so blame them. Someone brought out the fact that most of the country was sold on the ficticious idea that Bush was protecting us from the evil ones. Remember the support the troops stickers on every vehicle? Just try going against that sort of paranoia and see how far you get.
Gee, I guess we won’t see Kernel out there on May 1.
He’ll probably be helping steady the police cameras taking the pictures.
Kernel;
Have you noticed how few Support The War stickers are on SUV & Pick-Up Truck Bumpers these days?
And Have You Wondered:
Did these Rednecks have to ask their drug addict kids for a razor blade and scrape them off?
Or Did They Just Do Trade Ins?
I like to think of them in their garages at night-bent over the bumper, looking over their shoulder-then finishing the scraping, straighteneing their tie, then going back in to the little woman, the guns and the addict kids.
Oh Please! I am a former Democrat, and This is a joke!! The Dems will help to fund this war until hell itself freezes over. I am sitting this election out. If John McCain wins, so be it! Democrats can go to hell, along with the Republicans!
little irony about todays news. my hometown paper the madison capital times folded today. the paper was founded by an actual journalist for the purpose of supporting wisconsin’s greatest senator, Fighting Bob La Follette. this was in 1917 and La Follette was standing up like a man in the u.s. senate denouncing Wilson’s plan to enter WWI. Wilson had by this time whipped up so much war frenzy that Fighting Bob never had a chance. But he did not shut up. He did not lie down and roll over and play dead. He never said “why yes sure Mr. Wilson, even though you have told nothing but lies about this stupid war of course I will vote for whatever you want”. on the other hand though he was not a democrat. He started the aptly named Progressive party. Because he always was a really truly anti-war progressive.
Democrats = Scum
I read all the comments on this article and I am astonished that I think only one comment has mentioned OBAMA and CLINTON.
Are they not trying to become the leaders of the party,they are Democrats arn’t they?
As seeking to lead just what are they saying about this plan?
Time has long since past when they should be weighing in on these decision,or perhaps they are not really leaders,just another group of shills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I keep coming back to language as the real battleground here. From Rovian English, as we know, the truth can not be told. From the obfuscations of legislation, even voting records are ambiguous enough to evade perception. We will not be able to act correctly until we can speak correctly. And since clear speech is the enemy of special interests, it should be mandated in the public forum. Appropriations bills should be specific and should say exactly what they are for. Muddied legislation should be inadmissible. Until we value the truth, we’ll be at the mercy of lies. And we’ll pay their bills
genicon: yes
Everyone who works for the MIC should vote Demok in the elections to consummate your marriage.
BlueSun’s analysis of what has happened is right on. The republicans will do anything to get what they want, the democrats compromise with the devil.
The democrats and Nancy Pelosi think they have the progressive vote so why not appeal to the conservatives and keep electing conservative democrats. They have turned their back on those who sent them.
Most people have had enough. Pelosi has not followed through on her constitutional responsbility to bring articles of impeachment against Bush and Cheney. Like Jim Hightower says, it you can’t impeach Bush then who can you impeach? She refuses to meet with her constituents in a town hall meeting.
A message needs to be sent: The most powerful message would be the defeat of the Speaker of the US House representatives at the hands of Cindy Sheehan. A lesson needs to be taught and the voters of San Francisco with the help of progressives nationwide can do it. Cindy Sheehan can be elected in a truly revolutionary act by the citizenry. Believe me, it would be a shot heard round the world. The number One goal of year 2008: ELECT CINDY SHEEHAN!
When I lived in Texas, when we came upon a fire ant mound, we’d take a long-necked funnel, cram it in the middle of the nest and pour gas ’til the ground wouldn’t hold any more. Then, we’d look around and say “Anybody got a match?”
US Labor Against the War: mobilize for a “No Peace No Work Holiday” May 1, 2008 for 8 hours to demand an immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East
They should fund the oocupation by putting a one time tax on the profits of all the oil companies, military contractors and any company which has profited on this invasion/occupation, by taking several billion from each of these “war” corporations each time we need to fund the occupation, we will soon see an end to the occupation if they can’t profit from it anymore.
The USA is still in Iraq and Afganistan because both major parties, Democrats and Republicans, are parties of the privileged. They are controlled by big business, i.e. oil, Wall Street.
You idiots have not seen this for how many years? How many years have you voted against your personal interests? Now you are crying like this trouble just happened? Didn’t you see this coming since Ronald “The Shill” Reagan?
Get real, get over yourselves.
Reminds me of the 1968 election year. Vietnam was the issue of the day, yet it was hardly mentioned in the campaign. The choice was between two hawks, Nixon and Humphrey, and one super hawk racist, Wallace. We were in Vietnam for 4 more years.
Anyone coming to SF and needing a place should check Hotels.com for best rates or call union halls fo rtheir recs.
There are several hostels in area available - google ‘hostels san francisco’ for best values I can think of
In this case “Guns for Butter” uses the misfortunes of the unemployed as a disguise to justify funding for disastrous and criminal occupation of Iraq. How cynical! How typical.
Nancy Pelosi et al will continue to shovel mountains of $$$ to Blackwater, Halliburton, KBR to support the senseless killing of Iraqis and Americans. Then they put responsibility on the backs of those least able to control what is happening, the unemployed. Unemployment insurance has been extended in the past without being linked to support for international crimes against humanity.
Stop funding the illegal occupation. Period. That will free trillions of dollars for our needs for jobs, food, gas, clean energy and to play a good role in the world.
Yes RichM - there are several ways the Democrats could have stopped all this, including filibuster and not bringing things to the floor. Their excuses will go down in history as craven apologies for going along with completely insane and unjustified robbery and slaughter.
Send your stimulus check to Cindy.
If you think Dems have ‘no backbone’ and are ’spineless’ then you’re part of the problem. Dems have a lot spine. We’re still in Iraq because of Dems’ boldness to fund the war while pretending to be against it. Dems had the power to filibuster anything even before the gained majority, even before the war started.
Vote Nader. Vote Sheehan.
Vote Third Party.
The sooner the Democratic Party is wiped off, the sooner power will return to the people.
rebelnow, you say:
“The fascist state, that the US has become, exists not by the iron rule of a dictator, but because of a legislative body that, while pretending to represent it’s constituents, listens only to the corporate capitalists … ”
Yes, the “legislative body” listens only to the ‘corporatists’, but the US has not morphed into, strictly speaking, a “fascist state”, as you say, but rather a ‘corporatist Empire’.
The distinction is worth noting despite Mussolini’s erroneous comment that ‘fascism’ should really be called ‘corporatism’.
If the Bush regime had actually gone as far as the silly little bastard had a mind to (”it would be easier in a dictatorship”), then, yes, we would be a fascist state (empire) like Nazi Empire under Hitler, and fascist state power would have subsumed the corporatist power that financed and started things off. However, despite some justifiable concerns with their own vetting process, the ‘corporatist Empire’ that placed Bush in the figure-head presidency has avoided a ‘Hitler moment’ of an insane ideologue actually taking over from his corporatist handlers.
rebel, your point that the government (legislative body) “listens” or actually follows the dictates of the corporatists, and is thus not a real government is exactly correct.
Again this true, and seminal, point can be best understood by looking at the Nazi Empire. While the Nazi Empire formally took over the former German Republic, it utilized a more subtle (but early version) of political deceit in the other European Republic that it captured and occupied — France, by installing a ‘Vichy’ government facade to its rule.
In the modern US version of ‘corporatist Empire’ what we have is a new and unique mode of corporatist rule which has both thus far avoided the error of devolving into ‘fascist’ rule of a single ideologue ‘personality’, and has dramatically eclipsed the Nazi example in France by setting up a fully formed, and popularly acceptable, two-party ‘Vichy’ government right here within the headquarter nation-state of the global corporatist Empire.
While the distinctions and advantages of these differences may seem slight, the proof of the pudding is that the global ‘corporatist Empire’ occupying the US and leveraging that former nation-state’s superpower military and financial resources throughout the world has:
1. Not given up a well controlled, coordinated and rational ‘corporatist’ ruling-elite power structure to some loony ideology fascist dictator — that would certainly have burned-out spectacularly — but soon, as did the Nazi Empire under the insane personality clique of Hitler. [This, of course, assumes that the ‘corporatist Empire’ can get Bush out by whatever means, and maintain the facade of ersatz democracy in ‘09].
2. Not had to overtly break with the traditional image of the ‘homeland’ being an apparently functioning two-party Republic/Democracy in this accepted facade of homeland “Vichy” government — with the comforting anesthetic effect of continuing to run two-party national elections (albeit with assistance from the ‘Vichy’ media to authenticate their excitement and authenticity).
3. Not had to confront a clear majority of other major advanced economic countries — which would surely have taken action (as they did against the Nazi Empire) if the ruling ‘corporatist Empire’ had openly declared itself an Empire, and an American Empire intent on global rule.
The relationship between the two alleged parties calls to mind a Bizarro World version of Charlie Brown, Lucy and the football:
Pelosi, representing the Dems, plays Lucy and dutifully holds the ball for playground thug Charlie, the repub. Only when Charlie runs up, instead of kicking the ball, he kicks Lucy.
Then he picks up the ball, loudly proclaims he’s just scored six points, and spikes the ball on Lucy’s crumpled body.
Next day: “Hey, kid. Hold this ball so I can kick it.”
It’s occupations not wars. The United States of America is just like Big Brother Sam in cahoots with its little sister Israel expanding the empire. The only way to go! Frightened populations look on in horror while the screams and sufferings of children, men and women get lost in the inferno and the unbearable heat. Israel takes the biscuit while Gaza boils parched and the Arab lands are contaminated and destroyed together with the inhabitants.
I heard George the warrior decider say in an interview he actually felt that war was doing good for the American economy (not including South America) though Canada is rowing in, creating good jobs for American citizens (not South American)and that his ‘bring em on’ policies were all going hunky dory in spite of recent setbacks. Al-Q. were on the run and that it won’t be long now “as the monkey said when the train ran over its tail’, it won’t be long now. He fully supports the Iraq government and thinks the people of Palestine should have their own state which he fully expects to see come to fruition before the year ends. He claims to be the only and first President of the US of A. ever to make such a commitment. He has instructed his Secretary of State Condi to make this crowning achievement his enduring legacy. The one and only to bring peace to a troubled middle east. God willing and His will be done by December. “Oh little town of Bethlehem….!”
Most depressing of all is that neither of the main Parties have any intention whatsoever, of upsetting little sister who is well spoilt and protected in everything she desires regardless of the consequences for mankind. The outrageous sweetener of another 100b of promised weaponry to the region with 30b alone to Israel is his idea of stability and prospective peace. Jobs for the boys and girls. Those with less skills can always join the army and work in tandem for the good of all Americans everywhere and for freedom in Somalia, Haiti, Afghanistan, The Persian Gulf States, in Central Asia, Central Africa and the backyard advising and encouraging the Shieks, the dictators, the warlords and the drug traffickers and elites, or destabilising regional problem countries like Lebanon, Iran and Colubmia, and so on and so forth. What an amount of totally unnecessary suffering has to be endured and enormous resources squandered in horror while the poor are robbed blind by this corrupt criminal destructive locomotive? I feel sorry for so many good people in this world because there is going to be one hell of a blowback.
Please everyone do everything humanly possible to encourage others to pull the plug, reform, say enough of this criminally insanity and lets try and sacrifice to mend and repair as much as possible now. Not in six months time now.
Total and immediate withdrawal from all occupied lands and full reparations over an extended period of time. War crimes to be brought and criminal leadership held to account. No more bullshite! End foreign occupation in the middle east and Afghanistan immediately, International body set up to address the crimes of The Israeli State, and reform the United Nations so that it can be an effective enforcer and brought in to help. Complete disbandment of NATO must be implemented or it must be fully reformed, while multilateral nuclear disarmament should be top of any agenda with international inspections to ensure full disclosure to appropriately endorsed bodies.
Enough is enough while not enough is not going to do it! Fight with all we’ve got at our disposal to finish this shit once and for all before our children suffer the gravest of consequences. Do not support either party! If you are against occupations that is?
This only proves that Congressional Democrats have an absence of spinal strength. Why not cut the budget in half and tell Bush to bring half the troops home? Or eliminate the war funding entirely and tell Bush to bring them home NOW.
The more I see the hate surrounding Ms. Pelosi and how much negative stuff spuing out, I’m beginning to wonder how much of this is comeing from the GOP hoping to get rid of her.
I know she may be the leader in the HOUSE, but keep in mind who put her in that position.
I’m sorry but I’m starting to see a “swift boat” approach to getting rid of Nancy and I don’t see her as being ALL wrong.
Too many “computerfolks” I think there’s a name for them Arm Chair something or other, seem to think they have all the answers for taking care situations they can’t possilby know about ’cause You just ain’t there. It’s easy to sit back and be critical so if you think you’re so good why aren’t you running for office?
I’m sorry I just don’t know where all this Hate spewing is coming from toward Ms. Pelosi OR toward all our Democrats in office.
Domick J - we are very tired. 70% plus of the american people want out of Iraq. Over 4,000 of our troops have died there. Hundreds of thousands or maybe millions of Iraqis have died. This was all based on lies and deceipt of our leaders. yet, Nancy Pelosi continues to fund this war. Tell me, dominick j, why shouln’t we be very angry.
The answer is all too simple - never vote an incumbent back into office. No more life term politicians.
Keep the slate clean and the ideas fresh.
Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
Yes, the dems are utterly worthless. They can’t even do what its clear everyone wants them to do, so how can they possibly do anything bold???
It wouldn’t be the slightest bit bold to pull funding for iraq, it would simply be what the majority of the american people want.
Dominick J; The Democrats are more maligned on CD’s than Republicans or child-molesters.
It would be one thing if it were ‘ALL politicians are whores,’ an undeniable truth.
But the one-sided Hate and Endless Streaming Attacks on CD threads against Democrats are just that; One Sided.
Kinda Strange to me. Like mention Obama and hear him compared to Satan on Common Dreams. In Fact, That’s Bullshit to me.
Signed, A Yellow Dog Democrat
xyz, you sound a little angry with Dominick J’s comments.
Are you frustrated? Angry? Even a ‘bit’ bitter with these gutless and complicit Democrats?
Don’t just get justifiably angry, xyz, there is another unauthorized choice for president beside these three stooges:
The ‘other’ presidential candidate, who the friggin ‘Vichy’ lying media won’t even dare to mention in terms of his underground popularity and soaring poll numbers, ‘democracy advocate’, Ralph Nader, would never have accepted the lies and dissembling that these 3 bought and paid for ‘corporatist Empire’, supposedly ‘leading’, candidates cowered before.
The only presidential candidate who won’t drag his feet, delay, and ’slow walk’ the Iraq war is Nader.
The only presidential candidate who recognizes, confronts, and will fight the ‘corporatist Empire’ hiding behind this ‘Vichy’ two-party sham of a government is Nader.
The only presidential candidate who will stop the corporatist Empire’s looting of the FED and US citizens is Nader.
Stop the ‘Shock Doctrine(s)’ of the corporatist Empire in Iraq oil-wars and economic oppression and tyranny at home — vote Nader.
mikepeters, yes, we CDers might be extra hard on the Dems, but here’s an explanation that might help you understand why:
You see, mike, it’s sort of like a Clint Eastwood movie, like “High Plains Drifter” where the stranger comes into town and seems to offer some ‘hope’ to the towns people that he can help them save themselves from the really awful batch of killers — who are worse than the drifter.
Just like the movie, the Dems are almost as bad as the killers they are supposed to displace (raping a woman and demanding loot), but unlike even Eastwood, the Dems keep on pillaging and looting, and they don’t even lift a finger against the other gang (the Repugs).
Mike, everyone knows that the Repugs are unrepentant crooks, liars and overt fascists, but many Americans have become fooled that the Dems are slightly better —- and the realization that they are not only just as bad, but also in cahoots with the Repugs, is more than many can bear.
So, we’re a bit ‘bitter’, angry, frustrated, ‘hung out to dry’, furious, etc — but at least we have learned that the Dems are in it just for “A Few Dollars More”.
Brief review of USA vs. Iraq.
Gulf War initiated by G.H.W.Bush in 1991
Iraq defeated and illegal no-fly zones imposed by USA, UK, and France
Economic sanctions initiated before the start of the war were continued and escalated under Bill Clinton to the point where they became genocidal. Active bombing of Iraq continued by Clinton and escalated by G.W. Bush prior to his illegal invasion.
Not once has any leading Democrat called for an end to what has become the Iraqi Holocaust, with millions dead, millions damaged for life, and millions displaced within Iraq and throughout the region. Instead, both political parties press for the continuation of the Iraqi Holocaust. Thus there is ample reason for people to loathe the Democrat Party and its presumptive presidential candidates.
The United States Empire’s war/genocidal holocaust perpetrated against the people of Iraq has continued since 1991–17 YEARS. And it would appear through their behavior that leading aparatchicks from both parties want it to continue until the country is depopulated and their oil available for easy looting.
Given the overall death toll and massive displacement of peoples, the Nazis and Hitler have easilly been bested by the US Empire. It’s my opinion that only the defeat of the Empire from within can save the Iraqi people from liquidation akin to the Native Americans.
Wow. I thought the end of the empire was going to happen within the next 50 years. Instead, it seems as though it’s just 20 miles up the road.
Support Freedumb!
XYZ then start taking your frustation and anger out on the GOP end of Congress. Go after them and tell them to stop sucking up to Bush and rubberstamping him.
Get yourself into a GOP Blog and voice your opinions there.
When I look at the results of how our Democrat leaders Vote they do there very best, it’s the Friggin’ aswipe Rethugs that are standing in the way and NOT reaching across the aisle for compromise!
They are still in control! Go after the Conservative Dems too, replace them by getting progressives in there.
Boxer is a great representaive to her constiuients and so is Mike Thompson. Though Feinstein has her faults and sometimes votes COnservative, she is still a good Democrat, and there are many more.
Nancy Pelosi can not do it alone, the House isn’t ALL Democrat, there are some Rethugs there.
Maybe everyone here stabbing the Dems should switch to the Rehthuglican camp ‘Cause it sure as hell isn’t anybetter.
And Holden Not everyone wants the Dems to do what we want or haven’t you been to peace demonstartion where the BUSH people come out in droves to stand up for him. Those people are represented in a Congress that is controlled, Still controlled, by the GOP.
Bush has many sympathizers and sodoes Cheney!
All I’m saying is STOP blaming the Democrats for everything!
Just so you know how voting is going on about a lot of things that are important for us and that Democrats are working hard, which you should be giving them some credit for it.
The name calling is unfair! Maybe you want to check out whose not voting and those who voted against a bill to keep it from passing!
Dems are doing their jobs and for the most part I’m dam proud of them!
Recent Senate Votes
Cloture Motion; Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 - Vote Rejected (56-42, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate fell short of the sixty votes necessary to proceed to debate on H.R. 2831, a bill that effectively overturns a recent Supreme Court decision concerning pay discrimination litigation.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Barbara Boxer voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
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Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (96-1, 3 Not Voting)
The Senate passed this comprehensive veterans’ benefits bill, which includes a provision to provide a limited pension for Filipino World War II veterans.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Barbara Boxer voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
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Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (95-0, 5 Not Voting)
The Senate unanimously agreed to a measure that would prohibit employers and health insurance issuers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their genetic information.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Barbara Boxer voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
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Recent House Votes
Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Vote Passed (349-62, 20 Not Voting)
The House voted to place a year-long moratorium on the implementation of several new Medicaid rules.
Rep. Mike Thompson voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
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SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act - Vote Passed (368-43, 20 Not Voting)
The House voted to reauthorize through 2010 the Small Business and Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
Rep. Mike Thompson voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
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Coast Guard Authorization for 2008 - Vote Passed (395-7, 29 Not Voting)
The House approved this $8.4 billion bill authorizing Coast Guard programs and spending.
Rep. Mike Thompson voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
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Upcoming Votes
FAA Reauthorization Act - H.R.2881
The Senate is expected to work on this bill to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system.
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Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Act of 2008 - H.R.5522
The House is scheduled to vote on this bill that would require occupational safety and health standards regarding worker exposure to combustible dust.
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Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act - H.R.493
The House is also likely to vote on this bill, which just passed the Senate last week
Instead of borrowing another $178 billion to give Bush to piss away on the wars, make him raise taxes to pay for his wars just as every single US president has done since Abe Lincoln. If the undertaking is so damned honorable, the American people would rally behind him and happily pay higher taxes. Wouldn’t they? Maybe then, at least, there’d be more real debate on the stupidity of the path our drunken frat boy of a president has taken us down.
The Democrats SHOULD be blamed for everything because the history of the past 60+ years proves them to be the responsible party. Remember, the term Progressive was given to Republicans like LaFollette, and the Democratic Party Machine led by Al Smith fought FDR’s 1932 nomination because he had shown the Republican trait of Progressivism during his tenure as Governor of New York. That same machine kept Henry Wallace from repeating as the 1944 Vice Presidential nominee because he was seen as TOO progressive by those who knew FDR would likely die in office and wanted to enlarge upon the spoils of the Imperial Presidency he’d started. The rest as they say is History, but too many people don’t seem to know very much about their Empire’s history.
Progressive now has a different meaning. The word Liberal got to be very deaming and moderate didn’t get too much attention because that mostly pertained to a Conservative Rethug who wanted to appear in the middle, so the term Progressive came back in style because it means beeing able to Change, to adapt. We now have many religious groups being and acting Progressive and so the Democratic Party has taken on the term and the action.
Now being the responsible party, as you call them, how did Rethugs get into office as many times as they did. Remember Nixon, Regan, BUSH three times!? How did the Responsible Party get left behind when Clinton was in office, with an enormous vote But other folks decided to put in a Majority Retuglican Congress to keep him check?
No you can not blame all the ills of government of this country on Democrats.
I’m sorry but maybe you need to recheck Your Empires.
Maybe if the Republicans had not KILLED WELLSTONE,
Maybe if Pelosi* was Not “Israel First”
Maybe if “Lieberman” did not call himself a Dim, but support WAR,
Things would be different.
*Google Nancy Pelosi AIPAC. Because That is how she votes on War: Does that help explain how she got where she is?
Signed, A Yellow Dog Democrat.
Screw the god-damned Democrats!@ All they needed to do to stop the war was to stop funding it. All it takes is a simple majority. They don’t do it because the Democrats are the left wing of the party of big business, war and the powerful interests. The Republicans are the right wing of the same party. To Obama there indeed are no red or blue states, of course not. Hillary is enamored by McSame’s military record. The two parties are basically in agreement on most things. They differ on the details.
Now here’s a weird one: “That argument seems to win almost every time,” Fisher said. “Look how long it took to cut off the funding in Vietnam. It wasn’t until the summer of 1973.”
It works because they want it to work. What are the DimWits worried about? Being against an unpopular war most people are opposed to? You figure.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/apr2008/obam-a29.shtml
Democratic presidential front-runner Senator Barack Obama said on Sunday he would endorse Bush’s nominee to direct US military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout a region extending from North Africa to Central Asia. The pledge, made on the “Fox News Sunday” program, while predictable, serves nonetheless to thoroughly expose the antiwar pretenses of Obama and the Democratic Party as a whole.
Are there any supporters of the Democrats still reading way down here? If so, can you articulate a reason for your support? Hey, Tom Hayden - maybe you can write something inspirational about the Obama campaign right about now?
It’s cold and lonely at the bottom of this thread. All of that Hillary experience, all of that Obama hope - it all sounds to me like indifferent winds pushing tumbleweeds in a ghost town that seldoms sees a living creature.
I recall words like, “Voting third party just throws your vote away,” but in the dust of Democratic campaigns that are dead on arrival, such words fade from memory.
In a few months, hardcore Democrats will forget (again) their party’s complicity in supporting the wars. It’ll go down the memory hole. They are unable to think, just cheer. And the system of murder for profit will go on. Young men and women will be blown to bits or come back mutilated. War crimes will persist. The breaking point will be reached with cheering Democrats impoverished, and flesh-eating Republicans, like zombies, engineering the next election win with quisling Dems in tow. This is where we’re heading.
Is anybody listening?
Didn’t read my recap of the Iraqi Holocaust did ya? Nor do you seem to remember that “progressive” war waged by Clinton on Serbia, or destroying welfare, or providing more tax cuts for the wealthy, or making sure single payer wouldn’t pass, and so much more. How many prominent Democrats were a part of the Trilateral Commission? Which party refused to impeach Reagan? Which party initiated the National Security State?
The list is very long. The Republicans have tried mightily to keep pace with the Democrats’ ruthlessness. The only true “progressive” party in this country is the Green Party. But the key as Chomsky has pointed out and is proved by Dominick J. and other posters of his ilk is the wholesale success of the “doctrinal system,” its Minisrty of Truth, and other allies. It has served the dominant class/power structure so well it has reduced the great mass of citizens to bickering nobodies unable to form a viable opposition party because no solidarity can be created around a nexus of shared interest; all that need be done to destabilize any attempt is to drop the “Third Parties Aren’t Viable” bomb as the first move in the divide and conquer strategy.
Generally, us historians don’t like to predict the future, but now is an exception. I perdict the next US president will do nothing to promote the welfare of the grea