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TechnoratiFor Failures, It Takes One to Know One
Nancy Pelosi called the president a failure Thursday. Well you know what they say: "Takes one to know one."
For an ordinary gal, I spend quite a bit of time in Washington, D.C. I spent the Fourth of July with one of my heroes, Sen. Mike Gravel. He and his delightful wife, Whitney, had a dinner party. We watched the fireworks from their balcony overlooking the Potomac River. The Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial framed the explosive spectacle across the way.
I must confess: I don't like fireworks. They put carbon into the atmosphere and remind me of bombs. I wonder what sort of fear I would feel if they were bombs instead of entertainment. Then again, bombs have become entertainment to us. Who didn't watch the bombing of Baghdad on TV during the big "shock and awe" season of 2003?
According to New York Times Art Critic Michiko Kakutani, 25 percent fewer folks went to the movies during the bombing because, "people stayed home to watch the war, and snack food sales and restaurant deliveries thrived."
How repulsive we are! Bombing a city of 4.5 million people didn't wreck our appetites.
I wonder where Nancy Pelosi was during the fireworks -- those in D.C. this month or those that killed people in Baghdad in 2003. I don't know if we'd have had as much fun if the speaker had been at Sen. Gravel's house on the Fourth, but she could have learned from the senator about the special kind of courage it takes to vote against funding illegal wars.
Ironically, Speaker Pelosi is the head of the opposition party. She's supposed to lead her party in opposition to the actions of the president who is in the "ruling party." The terminology's all confused because the speaker's party is actually in power in Congress, which should make them the ruling party, and the president isn't supposed to be a "ruler."
In fact, according to Wikipedia, the president is "the head of the executive branch of the federal government whose role is to enforce national law as given to him in the Constitution and written by Congress."
But, over the last eight years, those knuckleheads in Congress gave the president of the United States their power -- and pretty much all of ours, too -- and now they don't know how to take it back. But the answer to reclaiming power is just like the definition of the president.
Congressional power is defined by the Constitution!
The way they could wrestle back control, according to Article 2 Section 4, would be impeachment of the president, and the vice president, secretary of state, secretary of defense and so forth. Any civil officer of the federal government can be brought before Congress and tried. Because the Constitution made Congress the ultimate boss!
Now remember, a trial doesn't mean a person's guilty, it means that a person looks guilty and society has a right to hear the evidence that could prove the point, one way or the other.
Our failure of a Congress can't say they don't know people want that trial, because wanting a trial is how they got elected.
The people of America wanted Congress to wrestle power back for the people; under the misguided notion that Congress represented them.
Want evidence? An October 2006 poll published in Newsweek magazine said that the majority of Americans wanted the president impeached. The next month the president's party lost control of Congress. When Speaker Pelosi took impeachment off the table it wasn't because Americans changed their minds -- a November 2007 poll by the American Research Group found that Americans still favored impeachment -- it was because she changed her mind.
We've got another election coming up. If you like what's happening in the country, vote for an incumbent.
Before Speaker Pelosi calls another person a failure, she should go visit Sen. Gravel and learn about courage. Or just stand aside. As a representative, she too is a failure.
Pat LaMarche of Yarmouth is the spokesperson for the Evergreen Mountain Resort & Casino referendum campaign. She's the author of "Left Out in America" and can be reached at PatLaMarche@hotmail.com.
© 2008 The Bangor Daily News
25 Comments so far
Show AllI agree with the ideas stated by this author, however I want political news without the on the side commentary from whoever is giving the news, (makes it more valid and worthwhile in my eyes).
Aside from that, I agree that for the past forty years the United States has had to deal with imperialistic presidents and that Congress has forgotten how to set the checks and balances in order once again.
and there is nothing we can do about it, we have no power and not enough people care!
If Nader is so great, why doesn't he get off his bum and campaign across our country to get his message out? Where is this man who is RICH? He has plenty of money and can afford to put out a TV commercial, so why doesn't he? Why isn't he putting out signs, campaign literature? WHY? Answer me that? IT is because he is only a spoiler and truly doesn't want the office.
Plus, it is just an "EGO" thing for him. He loves to see his name mentioned and doesn't take being President very seriously. He loves being interviewed but not doing much else. Don't forget he too is another Rich man who has reaped benefits from the Bush presidency as well. You can point fingers at Pelosi but the Rich rule. Just look at T. Boone Pickens and his dallying to get Bushie boy elected. They love the MONEY!
The Rich control so we better get used to it. No middle class Liberal politician is running. No progressive period. Obama is in the middle and leans to the Right. Progressives have become the minority with no real candidate for President. There is no real FDR just more of the same and the rift between classes grows and so does the anger!
the rubicon was crossed in 2000, but the republic has been long gone, the congress' actions just underline this fact. We've been in Empire mode since reconstruction and either candidate is more of the same- vote Ralph! the un-incorporated
Sindbad,
52% of the American people re-elected Bush?
Wrongo big time on that one, sweetie!:)
Only about 53% of eligible voters even bothered with that fiasco, and of that Bush was only able to squeeze, with criminal help, less than 51%. So in reality he only had a mandate of about 25.5% of eligible voters.
Does that cook your toast?
Matti,
I swear I have signed every on line petition for impeachment that has been presented here at CD and at Huff Po through reps at "The Nation," etc.
Since I was born, and live, and vote, in California, I get the dubious honor of receiving a reply from the likes of Pelosi, Boxer and my favorite gay Republican, David Drier. Without any deviation in return mail, usually e-mail, these people respond politely to your "opinion" to impeach or whatever, say like more cash incentives for solar power on your house, with the absolutely most corrupt reply,"...but, in my opinion, this is not a viable solution to the needs of the state nor the nation and that is what I was elected to do..."
So you see, even if 35 million Californians told Pelosi to impeach, she would respond in the exact same way.
As for D. Drier, my Congressional Rep, look up his financial benefactors. That asshole does nothing but send a 4-color postcard with Veteran's info or a photocopy of his personal, handwritten non-issue opinions for you, me, to upchuck on or laugh at uproariously. I'm serious. The last one from this "tool" addressed nothing more serious than better armor, five years after it was an issue, for our defenders of freedom, or whatever title he wants to "bless them boys" with. Otherwise...since this city has no newspaper, and all the cities around it do but don't say shit about this city, except the daily crime locations, let alone any other media, he and his local cohorts in environmental slash and rape just do as they very well please, thank you.
All of San Bernardino County, the largest in the U.S., has a single non-vision myopia to be the next Orange County. If you don't get the connection, Orange County here in California was the birthplace of the John Birch Society and the birthplace of that other famous criminal, Richard Milhouse Nixon (Yorba Linda). The entirety of Orange County has been paved over, as in "pave over paradise and put up a parking lot."
I hope this helps you understand politics in Amerika.
Being Italian-American I had high hopes when Pelosi was elevated to Speaker.[Pictures of her as a young woman reminded me of a beloved cousin.] Unfortunately instead of being a decent politician like Fiorello or Cuomo-she's taken a path like Alito and Scalia.She could have been an heroic figure for many generations to come.
opeluboy July 23rd, 2008 9:32 pm
Brain? Spine??
I think all that botox went to her brain. Certainly didn't puff up her spine.
If you did not read it properly read it again.
"Want evidence? An October 2006 poll published in Newsweek magazine said that the majority of Americans wanted the president impeached. The next month the president's party lost control of Congress. When Speaker Pelosi took impeachment off the table it wasn't because Americans changed their minds — a November 2007 poll by the American Research Group found that Americans still favored impeachment — it was because she changed her mind."
The truth is that 52% of Americans returned GWB to power in 2004 but 2 years later the same majority asked for his impeachment. To realize their wishes the people elected and sent Pelosi and his so called Democratic Cronies to the Congress. Pelosi & Co. balked at their mission.
Thankfully, GWB can not go back to the White House but let us be more selective in sending the likes of Pelosi next time.
This is democracy and these are the only tools we have.
Let us use it wisely.
Ms. LaMarche: The irony is … "we" are repulsive because bombing Baghdad didn't wreck our appetites … fireworks pollute and remind you of bombs, but you STILL enjoyed the dinner party with Gravel's "delightful wife" and watched fireworks.
I'm sure you expressed these thoughts loudly and without hesitation to your host, his "delightful wife," and the rest of the guests long before the fireworks' grand finale.
Or did you stay quiet until you could get to the computer and write this article?
Just curious.
Tremendous hypocrisy on this website.
There is nothing wrong with the Constitution. The problem is with the people like Bush/Pelosi that misuse it and the weakness of the rest that are supposed to check them.
Clearly impeachment as provided in the Constitution has foundered as the legislative check on the executive. The Constitution itself has foundered and the republic is in need of a new one.
Can we get there from here?
canuckchuck July 23rd, 2008 12:43 pm
Good God! I'm agreeing with Canuckchuck. Not only agreeing but applauding his sentiments.
The world is a wonderous place.
The Congress has the power to Impeach.
The People support Impeachment.
The People Elect the Congess.
Therefore Congress does not Impeach.
Spot the diconnect? Something weird is going on here and I think it may have something to do with,
A) Gerrymandered Districts.
B) The Electoral College.
C) The whole System being one big crock o' shit that was co-opted by private or corporate powers years ago.
-matti.
Wimperer Pelosi has acted a we would expect from a coward and a traitor. She is more than a disgrace. She is an enabler. She deserves not just to be stripped of her position as CheneyOilCo lackey, but to be run out of office entirely.
For an America in desperate need of real leadership, she provided nothing but posturing and self-aggrandizement. She epitomizes the concept of political failure. Her legacy is one of servant to war criminals.
Opposition party?
I guess you mean that the Democrats feed from the opposite side of the trough.
Senator Gravel's National Initiative for Democracy was not mentioned. Why?
Lean to the Left
Lean to the Right
Stand up - Sit down
Ah Nuts! If at first we don't Secede...
Rich Griffin,
Absolutely. Cindy still needs about 2800 signatures to get on the ballot. I send her money every month. If everyone else who posts here at CD can afford to send her money, or if they know people who live in Cindy's district and are willing to sign the petition, that would be terrific! From the rumblings I am hearing, Cindy's campaign is gaining traction. Pelosi has pissed off many of her constituents, and they seriously are contemplating voting for Cindy.
canuckchuck says
"Pelosi is an absolutely, craven waste of skin..."
I agree. But, she keeps the botox industry thriving.
I guess the best we could do this year is to see Cindy Sheehan get elected by pouring our energy into that one race... (; +
Thank you Pat for your clear and true writtings and work for the people. Maine-ah
Pelosi is an absolutely despicable, craven waste of skin, as is most of the political class of the USA.
Bush and his Robber Baron buddies are just doing what comes naturally to their CroMagnon minds...aquiring all the money and power they can possibly get a hold of.
Pelosi on the other hand is truly evil as someone sworn to uphold the rights of the poor and downtrodden, but spending her time lapping up the leftovers from her Master's feast instead.
In the year 2020, there will be a presidential debate between Ronald McDonald and the Burger King. Consumers will be allowed to submit their own questions for the debate, but any questions that show a clear slant towards either Coke or Pepsi will be considered too "partisan" for this open debate. Anybody who poses questions that stray from the National Debate about colas, in particular questions involving terms like "nutrition" or "health" will mysteriously disappear, as these questions are clearly not democratic.
If you think I'm being silly, you're not really paying attention, I don't think.
Why Rock the Vote when Big_Money's just gonna Jazz the Tally?
Have you ever seen Pelosi's digs in San Francisco? If you have, you know why she doesn't rock the boat. Republican economic policies have filled her coffers. She may despise George Wanker Bush as a man but secretly loves him as president. Impeachment is off the table and the cash is invested offshore.