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Most Valuable Progressives: Code Pink's Transition
During the course of the soon-to-be-former Bush-Cheney interregnum,
millions of Americans resisted the worst excesses of a lawless and
irresponsible administration that led this country into wars of whim,
sanctioned torture and extraordinary rendition, embarked upon a spying
regimen that made a mockery of the right to privacy and destroyed the
system of checks and balances that was supposed to protect the republic
from monarchical abuse.
Each year during a period of democratic decline that was so aptly anticipated by Jefferson with his 18th-century reference to "the reign of the witches," we honored Most Valuable Progressives -- groups and individuals that had boldly challenged the worst policies of an imperial White House and its pliant congresses, as well as an opposition party that frequently failed to oppose. There will, of course, still be MVPs in the new Obama-Biden era; in fact, they will be more needed than ever.
But as Bush and Cheney leave Washington, finally finished and thoroughly discredited (even if they have not been held to account for their high crimes and misdemeanors), it seems appropriate to propose one last Most Valuable Progressive designation.
As someone who covered the opposition to this worst of all presidencies, from the fight over the Florida recount, to the battle against Cheney's energy task force secrecy, to Chalmers Johnson's struggle to explain the concept of "blowback" in the post-9/11 moment, to Russ Feingold's lonely Senate vote against the Patriot Act and the brilliant campaign by the Bill of Rights Defense Committee that got communities across the country to call for the renewal of basic liberties, to the great anti-war demonstrations of 2002 and early 2003 (including one in Chicago where a state senator named Barack Obama voiced his objection), to the "After Downing Street" movement (including Congressman John Conyers' "basement hearing") that so ably exposed the administration lies that led to an unnecessary war, to the arrival at Crawford of the righteous Cindy Sheehan, to the development of a media reform movement and a new radical communications infrastructure that refused to accept the big lies of big media, to the brilliant battles of Tim Carpenter and Progressive Democrats of America to forge a genuine political pushback against Bush and the Republicans - and to the Democrats who compromised with the administration, to the essential work of Dan DeWalt, Ellen Tenney, Rocky Anderson, David Swanson, Diane Lawrence and all the defenders of the Constitution who dared to propose the impeachment of Bush and Cheney, to the fights by Marcy Kaptur and Bernie Sanders to block bailouts for contemporary robber barons, to the sit-down strike by Latino members of the United Electrical workers union in Chicago who refused to quietly accept the assault on working Americans that was the hallmark of the Bush-Cheney economic agenda, I was privileged to tell the stories of those who believed as did good Tom Paine that the proper response to tyranny was "a long and brave resistance."
At almost every stop on the contemporary underground railroad of righteous rebellion against wrongheaded governance, I found myself in the company of Media Benjamin, Jodie Evans, Gael Murphy and all the other remarkable women who make Code Pink the most valuable progressive organization of the Bush-Cheney years.
Taking its name from the Department of Homeland Security's color-coded alert system for scaring Americans into accepting unnecessary wars and giving up necessary freedoms, Code Pink: Women for Peace declared: "While Bush's color-coded alerts are based on fear and are used to justify violence, the CODEPINK alert is a feisty call for women and men to "wage peace.'"
Formed in 2002 by activists who had been protesting even before Bush and Cheney took office, Code Pink was initially (and in many senses still is) an anti-war group. But Benjamin, Evans, Murphy and the tens of thousands of others who answered the call to "(reclaim) a color many of us thought we'd never wear, as a women's statement for peace - and daring to resist an administration on the brink of war" showed a refreshing skill for adapting and evolving their protests. When Chellie Pingree, Donna Edwards, Bob McChesney and I were attempting in 2003 to block a move by the Federal Communications Commission to erase controls against media monopoly, Code Pink was an initial ally, recognizing immediately that irresponsible media made it easier for propagandists to promote irresponsible wars. It was the same with struggles against waterboarding, warrantless wiretapping, official secrecy and the penchant of Congress to tell administration insiders: "Go ahead, lie to us."
If someone shouted an objection at a congressional hearing - where members of the House or Senate should have been objecting - it was almost always a Code Pink member. If someone was chained to the gate of an official building, dragged out of an official meeting or otherwise upsetting the status quo, it was usually a Code Pinker. "Whether at (a) presidential inauguration, John Bolton's confirmation hearing, Condoleezza Rice's address at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club, Donald Rumsfeld's talk at the Beverly Hills Hilton, or Dick Cheney's fundraiser in Houston, we consistently infiltrated Bush administration gatherings to say: ‘Stop the Killing, Stop the Torture, No More Lies," recalls Code Pink's official history. And when Nancy Pelosi took impeachment off the table, the speaker suddenly found a Code Pink encampment outside her San Francisco home.
Code Pink did not just object, however. The group delivered humanitarian aid to those who were suffering in Fallujah and New Orleans, sent peacemaking delegations to Tehran and gave millions of people - at home and abroad - an reminder that even if our president had forsaken reason our citizens (at least those wearing pink) had not.
Code Pink was never merely a protest group. It was a community of hope, and the election of Barack Obama serves as least to some extent as a realization of that hope. Bush is gone, replaced by a president who, like the women of Code Pink, said the war in Iraq was a bad idea. But Code Pink activists have always leavened their hope with realism. They know that Obama will need prodding.
So the Most Valuable Progressives of the Bush era are already putting their mark on what will be the Obama era.
"I want to feel good about our government and how it operates in the world. I really do," Benjamin told me a few days ago, as she was rushing off to protest the failure of the United States to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. "But I don't suppose that will happen if we let up."
Code Pink is incapable of letting up.
The group is busy in Washington this week, distributing pink ribbons for inauguration goers to tie around their fingers, as part of an ambitious "Let's Remind Obama of His Promises for Peace" campaign that says:
As Barack Obama is sworn in as President of the United States of America, we are more mindful than ever of the Promises for Peace he made to the American people during his campaign, especially his promises to:1. End the war in Iraq
2. Shut Down Guantánamo
3. Reject the Military Commissions Act
4. Stop Torture
5. Work to eliminate nuclear weapons
6. Hold direct, unconditional talks with Iran.
7. Abide by Senate approved international treaties.
CODEPINK's promise to you is to find creative, productive ways to hold Obama to his Promises for Peace. We will be the string around his finger that reminds him to practice what he preaches and deliver the change our country so desperately needs.
Those of us who watched Code Pink evolve into the Most Valuable Progressive organization of the Bush years would expect no less of this amazing group in the Obama years.
- Posted in
43 Comments so far
Show AllSounds good to me. I like pink. It was also a "commie" slur as in "pinko". I support Code Pink. I hope they'll get more involved with domestic issues. I know there was a quick response when a woman was about to be evicted in NYC, Queens due to mortgage mishap a month or so ago. DemocracyNow covered it www.democracynow.org PS In anticipation of my commenting colleagues who don't like some of Code Pink's "theater", I refer you to an article in the Indypendent magazine about organizing, really good. I'll edit in the author. www.indypendent.org Edit add: "Organizing to Win" by David Solnit. About 4 articles down, center of home page.
Code Pink progressive!?? Good grief! Look beyond their staged events for the media and you will find little more. I actually like the media events; they call good attention to serious issues. But, they are skin deep only. The true progressives are folks like Iraq Veterans Against the War who also do staged events, but their civil disobedience is based on a foundation of substance--advocacy, congressional testimony, peer-to-peer support for vets and those still in service. True progressiveness is a movement, not a show.
And it's divisive comments like that, that are the ruin of the progressive movement.
We can and do have good groups doing good work. It's not either or, or who is better. There's more than enough work to do!
Actually, I disagree, bidelo. This is hardly divisive; it's honest. As well we should be. To not be willing to look at ourselves is the ruin of a progressive movement. As I said, I support the media events. They are sorely needed to call attention, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking that's going to create real change. And if we start defining "progressive" as something without substance, we are in real danger. Call it liberal, fine by me, but progressive? No way.
You have stated the truth. It won't be popular. These media events are only popular among the faithful. If you heard what the average American thinks of them, you'd realize that they just hurt the liberal movement and repulse the very people we need to be sucessful.
Things have changed, people have changed, if we don't realize it, adapt to it we will indeed be looking at ourselves in the ruin's of a liberal movement. Its not fine by me to call it liberal, its not.
Start speaking of these problems honestly or be marginalized as the anti-war left has done to themselves.
The show is to show people that NOT everyone agrees with what is going on. So the media can't say things like "Americans are largely supportive of the war." The media won't give us voice, but it is pretty hard for their cameras to miss the women in pink! And EVERYONE knows now that women in pink=anti-war. That's the brand. You drive by, and see women on the corner dressed in pink, with pink signs and boas, you don't wonder what the heck are they doing. You KNOW, from a mile away. And you aren't scared of them, after all, they are ladies in pink. And some of the things they do and say make you laugh a little. And they look like - gasp! - they are even having a little fun. So, does that mean it isn't totally scary to stand up to your government? You can actually speak out and not necessarily get tazed or beaten or maced? And it can be beautiful - with song, and art, and symbolism? And they are everywhere, all the time. Making liars out of any congress critter or journalist who tries to say that he is unaware of anyone who doesn't agree with the status quo.
Excellent point truthofthematter.
Truthofthematter is spot-on. Well said!
http://paladinthink.blogspot.com/
GARBAGE.
And you have accomplished exactly what?
Jewish Media Benjamin was out on the streets protesting Israel's barbaric actions and that is a hell of alot more than most would be willing to stand out in the cold for.
I love her. I think she has courage--especially despite all the naysayers and pompous jerks who disapprove of her in-your-face tactics. If only we had more than one of her.
Sioux Rose
TRUTH: Why do you see one method or group as competitive with another? Why not instead recognize that EACH contributes in its own manner to a cause that likely serves us all, as in "the greater good." The more the mightier! We're talking a political equivalent of a different kind of "rainbow coalition."
You fool -- Code Pink and Iraq Veterans Against the War are the equivalent of activist "best friends" -- ask anyone from IVAW and I bet they will tell you how much they have learned and benefited from Code Pink. You have no idea how active they are in the halls of congress, working with progressives inside and out, meeting with international leaders and activist groups, writing about and promoting sane policies. Don't forget, the founders of Code Pink are some of the biggest, most effective progressive activists there are, including Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange. Code Pink is THE "anti-war" brand of our generation. It is brilliantly conceived and executed. All the Code Pink activists I have had the privilege of meeting are deeply involved and knowledgeable about issues of global trade and monetary policies, human rights, domestic social issues, women's rights, health care, environmental and clean energy issues, and especially US foreign policy and the use of our military as tool of coercion in foreign relations (rather than for national defense). They are absolutely instrumental (and often behind the scenes) of many actions under many different banners.
I dare you -- check out their bios on the Code Pink webpage:
http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?id=51
Moreover, you are basing your assumptions on the way the media have defined them -- not who they really are.
"CODEPINK's promise to you is to find creative, productive ways to hold Obama to his Promises for Peace. We will be the string around his finger that reminds him to practice what he preaches and deliver the change our country so desperately needs."
I must say that Obama seems to have promised that he will deliver our promises that he shares with us, only if we help him, he can't deliver it without us.
"his Promises for Peace"
It is not his promise,
It is OURS!!! We share it, everyone.
"Our promise to you" Indeed?
At least the very few people in CODE PINK have to courage to hold up bloody hands to the murderers in charge of our government. Their example may teach more of us that we have to overcome fear, stand up, resist the totalitarian current of our times. Truly, barbarians rule us and commit atrocities in our name. Imagine a world without CODE PINK, where everyone went along, looked away, stayed "safe". We owe them a huge debt. In the footsteps and spirit of CODE PINK, a movement of informed resisters could arise, generating push-back that the power elite would have to take into account. Things may have to get much worse. We might ponder, though, that at some point resistance will be futile.
When there is tyranical abuse in government sometines the jolt of attention of groups like code pink can unlock the dismay and paralysis - sort of like the variety of progressive limbs of the body politic. the art of political theater should never be underestimated.
If Code Pink is for women's peace, then why didn't they help Sheehan win over that shitbag Nancy Pelosi and why did they support pro-war Obama over pro-peace anti-war Ralph Nader? Code Pink is nothing more than another dirt bag special interest fraud !
I do not know that either of your accusations are true and your final statement couldn't be more ignorant. They are not campaigners for candidates. They either support or denounce the positions of candidates, but they are not in the business of endorsing and campaigning on behalf of candidates.
No other group was up front and in the center of the the Progressive response to the last 8 years of misrule as Code Pink. They placed their bodies literally in the line of fire, unlike the host of arm-chair CD pundits above. They kicked and screamed and got arrested and got their point across, again, unlike the arm-chair pundits above.
I joined them on many occasions when they first formed the group in my neighborhood in the Bay Area and thanks to them we were able to voice our protest on the streets, without compromise. They facilitated the small minority of vociferous dissenters, when the rest of amerikka was on snooze mode.
We love you Code Pink. Never give up the fight baby.
I agree mediaho, only on CD do progressives tear down people on their side with such venom. The women I know from Code Pink are just as you described, some of them have literally given up their livelihoods for the cause. And many of their members DID work on the Sheehan campaign. And the reason they didn't officially endorse Nader/McKinney is probably because said candidates had ZERO chance of winning.
How about REPEALING THE "PATRIOT ACT" and NO WIRETAPPING WITHOUT FISA APPROVAL?
I question the real motives of Code Pink....otherwise why didn't they put FULL and UNEQUIVICAL SUPPORT behind Cindy Sheehan's campaign against the WAR MONGERING & BUSH LOVING Nancy Pelosi? And why did they not endorse a REAL anti-war Presidential candidate like either Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney (either one would have been an excellent HONEST person for the job)?
Code Pink is not operating honestly and above-board in my opinion. They have an agenda (must be money) which would explain their very confusing behavior. It is always about the money isn't it???
Sorry.....I am not buying it!!!
m
That explains why Code Pink is proving to be getting just as useless as the UN. Like the Sierra Club, AFL-CIO, etc... and in general the Democratic Party, until any of these pols, people, and groups actually take the progressive ideology seriously, they will continue to remain privatized to losers' status as has been the case for the last 40 years.
Code Pink activists, by their actions [namely, personally and often disruptively confronting corrupt congresspersons, among other things], have proved to me for the moment at least, that they have no nefarious hidden agenda and that they're genuine in their progressive beliefs and actions.
I could be wrong about who and what they really are, but in researching their masthead of NPO directors, they do seem legit.
In any case, I think there's a valid and useful slot, however limited, in the pathetic American political game, for what folks like Code Pink activists do and, I hope not stupidly, I've supported them for the past five years with modest donations in consequence.
But I've also sent the seeming Code Pink NPO directors letters, arguing that they've allowed themselves to become much too easily portrayed by the deeply-slick MSM as misfits and clowns; and that they need as a result to parallel their confrontational efforts by focusing on structural reforms, like newsmedia ownership reform legislation -- since it's the very MSM they hope to use to reach the average US newsconsumer by, that consistently turns Code Pink's seriously-intended political-theatre gestures against them, interpretively reducing it always to impoliteness as best and nutcase buffonery at worst.
I've proposed to the Code Pink folks that only when MSM ownership variety is sufficiently decentralized and democratized (by congressional statute) will there even be a chance of truth-telling issue messages, such as theirs, getting covered in the serious manner they (Code Pink) in fact intends.
Code Pinkers seem to not understand that the issues of Truth, Justice, Peace, and the Accountabiltiy of Demoratic Government can't finally, simply be between Code Pinkers and the corrupt officials they confront in the People's Name.
The issues are finally between the officials and the People-en-masse, directly.
If Code Pink wants to credibly represent this 'masse,' the first thing it needs to do is focus on helping to legally decentralizing mass media ownership, so its and other progressive interpretations about, issues at least gets fairly heard by the news consuming puublic.
Short of Code Pink's message being more widely heard, comprehended, and judged approvingly by the masses, it will remain just one among many other progressive groups which fight, variously and independently, for democracy without knowledge of how to, or effort toward, creating the draw-in of sufficient numbers of consciously-informed citizens necessary to actuate democracy-restoration in the lawmaking sphere.
It is a fool's errand for any citizens' group to try to simply shame (via personal confrontation) long-entrenched, comfortably and seemingly-legally empowered oligarchs into voluntarily restoring charter-intended democratic rule by the people. Oligarchs, by definition, can not be shamed in this manner.
While public shaming can sometimes assist the cause of restoring popular governance where The People still have potential legal leverage, it is only when and as The People, in adequate unison, legally compel restoration of those ground rules which enabled their sovereignty to begin with, that such sovereignty will be restored. Alone, Code Pink's shaming strategy will never cut the mustard.
A memorable action...
Remember the Century City "Pink Slip" at CodePINK LA issued to Bush/Cheney at one of their fundraisers? This is activism at its best. When the CodePINK crew lowered this message, there was a huge roar of approval from the other gathered activists on the parade route:
http://la.indymedia.org/news/2003/06/68003.php
***
Aside to "truthofthematter":
You say: "True progressiveness is a movement, not a show."
And a truly progressive activist from another generation said, "if I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution".
One of the great radical community organizers of the 20th Century was Saul Alinsky who wrote a short guide to being effective. Rules For Radicals #6: "A good tactic is one your people enjoy."
By that measure, CodePINK richly deserves the MVP award, they certainly have been the most consistently entertaining protesters of the Bush/Cheney Maladministration.
Laisse le bon temps rouler!
***
Help spread the word: The Rock Creek Free Press may well be the greatest expression of truly progressive/radical journalism in Washington, D.C. since I.F. Stone's Weekly awoke a previous generation.
Code Pink has thrilled and inspired me, but I'm afraid that with concepts coming from the new administration like "Smart Power" it is far too early to put down the hands covered in fake blood, too soon to make the handcuffs and pink shirts into historical relics.
Code Pink has already softened its approaches. And they have earned a right to take a rest. Unfortunately the military industrial imperialists are still in power. That they came up with slick and empty ad copy like "Smart Power" to describe a fierce militarism barely discernable from Bush and Cheney's and backed up by unapologetic nuclear holocaust only shows their lack of will to make the changes they came into the office promising into a real departure from their predecessors.
I predict that Gaza is just the beginning. And remember, when those in power make no distinctions between rock throwing and phosporus bombs, the masses of the innocent and the small numbers of the deperately guilty, then all of our homes and our children are not safe: we are all targets.
If you drop a frog in boiling water, it will jump out immediately whereas if you stick a frog in lukewarm water and slowly raise the temperature, the frog will suffer and die. But let's be clear. The military is only doing this because of the pols and business elites that control it. The troops are not the problem, the pols are.
Sioux Rose
BOB V: Poignant and prescient analysis. Thanks for relating it.
Paul Siemering
Code Pink is great. Those women have been out there doing it and i don't know anybody else who does it better. i also sure don't get what those 2 people are complaining about not going after pelosi. who else was there every morning bird dogging her? who was yelling "it's your war now Nancy"? Code Pink, that's who. they have done a great job for all of us so stop complaining. they were everywhere, and always so Pink, what an inspired idea that was- showed up so great in the pictures.
GO PINK!
I thanked some Code Pinkers yesterday after the big music event, and asked them to keep it up. If we don't all keep the pressure on in a visible way, the money and power forces will have even more chances to prevail over the common good.
Fine, but Code Pink had no real effect on anything. Back in the day, drama, theatre and other antics might have worked, no longer.
The people behind the walls in D.C. and on Wall Street don't care what you do or say. They simply say "so what?" shrug, and move on.
Sorry, I admire your tenacity and determination CP, you meant well, but you guys wasted your time.
You want to fix this s**t, you're gonna have to get mean. Real mean.
You sound almost as tough as you would like to be.
I am sorry... but when the woman in Code Pink approached Condoleeza Rice with those bloody hands, the whole dynamic changed. Code Pink has been brilliant and effective. No one should have cared if the Wall St and DC crowds shrugged them off on camera... its what happened off the record due to those actions that made a difference... and the stronger they denied the impact of Code Pink, the more everyone knew the conversation was being changed. This can only be compared to the nature of the change in the public conversation about AIDS after ACT UP showed their mettle: many many people complained about their methods and denied that they were effective, all the while the whole dynamic of how AIDS was being dealt with was permanently altered. I hope Code Pink has the tenacity and ability to go on, or perhaps that others will come out with similarly creative and effective actions against the wars to come and this insane notion of "Smart Power"
"you're gonna have to get mean. Real mean."
You mean like sitting on your ass and commenting on CD ?
Let everyone resist the elites' class war aggression in their own way. Code Pink is doing a great job, but it's going to take everyone's participation to take back our public institutions, accomplished by individually switching all of our exchange/association away from the elites and toward our local communities. Return to local production. We have to starve the elites and their enterprises until they are small enough to be drowned in a bathtub. Let's hear about everyone's progress on this front. How many gave up General Mills today? How many gave up General Motors, General Electric today? LOCALISM is the foundation of self-rule.
I'm going to have to defend code pink against the overly cynical here. I wrote an email through the code pink website expressing some doubt about one of their campaigns. Jodie Evans personally wrote back to me. How often does that happen with any organization? I was very impressed.
Why should Code Pink endorse any candidate? That isn't their job. In fact, they are a nonprofit organization, so I believe they are not allowed to endorse a candidate or they would lose their tax exempt status. Besides, I am sure their membership is composed of 3rd party supporters and (probably mostly) Obama supporters. Why create unnecessary division over candidates who weren't going to win? I know a few people like to throw their third party support around to feel holier-than-thou, but really it's not very productive and it's getting old.
Yes, their protests are twisted by the media. The difference between CodePink and all other progressive groups is that most of the work done by other groups is merely ignored and not turned into a joke. The media twisted the Iraqi shoe thrower into a comedy routine as well, so it is difficult to escape this fate. What's that Ghandi quote: first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win? Congrats to CodePink for at least moving to phase 2.
"Why should Code Pink endorse any candidate? That isn't their job."
Exactly. Thanks for pointing that out. How pathetic can the Progressive community get in this country when the claws come out to tear down one of the few (if not the only) organization with the temerity to openly challenge a corrupt and criminal govt ... even if they were termed 'clownish' (wtf!!).
I have lived down the street from the former headquarters (recently moved) of Code Pink for over ten years, and I know Medea Benjamin. Those who mocked their histrionics don't understand resistance or history. Those who underestimate Medea, do so at their own peril. Many long-lived progressive movements began as over-the-top screams for the people to wake up. Those who find it funny to mock this group, ought to get their heads screwed on right. Look for Medea to be courted by the administration. I can feel the change.
Their message is great but their image is weak. I never understood the idea of splitting groups based on race or gender. Why not just be Code Pink: Americans for Peace?
Also, their protesting during the speech of Robert Byrd was somewhat rediculous, seeing as he's against the war as they are.
John Nichol's list of Obama's pre-election promises is missing Obama's promise to actively work for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Considering that Israel has committed many war crimes during its current genocidal rampage in Gaza, that is a glaring anti-progressive omission. It makes Mr. Nichols whole essay a fluff piece.
Obama's call for bombing Pakistan and upping the bombing of weddings in Afghanistan and other cowardly crimes is not pursing peace and justice. It is a continuation of military-industrial genocide.
With a Zionist extremist as his Chief of Staff and the rest of his administration made up of Clinton re-runs, it will take lots of over-the-edge Medea Benjamin, Cindy Sheehan and Kathy Kelly types to make any progress in improving the U.S.'s international human rights behavior.
Meanwhile Global Warming and the poisoning of the atmosphere and waters with man made chemicals accelerates. Maltheus was right: there are limits to human exploitation of Earth. The current warnings of Jim Hansen, James Lovelock, Al Gore, Peter Ward, Steven Pearce, Spencer Weart, Paul Erlich and others working for a livable Earth need to be acted upon with speed. The recognition by Jewish fundamentalists and American Capitalists and Generals that non-Jews and non-Americans around the world are human and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will be empty without stopping the addition of CO2 to the atmosphere and the addition of life destroying chemicals to the atmosphere and waters of Earth.
There is just too much anger and vindictiveness in Code Pink in my opinion.
It stagnates their purpose.....peace and love.
If you dont feel the anger or vindictiveness and hate you are not tuned in. Peace and love has nothing to do with it. Get a grip.
ONE MILLION DEAD IRAQIS.....4 MILLION Homeless Iraqis.....65,000 DEAD AMERICAN SOLDIERS (Including Viet Nam) .....3.8 MILLION DEAD VIETNAMESE
10.4 TRILLION DOLLAR NATIONAL DEBT with a budget for 2009 of an additional 2 TRILLION DOLLARS to the National Debt.....a 12.4 TRILLION DOLLAR NATIONAL DEBT by 2010.
The United States is funding a 400 million dollar destabilization of Iran. They have used Jundullah, "Soldiers of God" to execute that destabilization beginning July 2008.....Jundullah is a Sunni sub-group of Al Qaeda and was headed by Khalid Sheikh Mohmmad, the guy that was brainwashed for years to admit that he planned 9/11. General Mizra Aslam Baig, former Pakistan Army chief said, Jundullah is the main recipient of U.S. Financial and Military Aid." ("The U.S FundsTerror Groups To Sow Chaos In Iran" by William Lowther and Colin Freeman of the London Telegraph) Yes, the Saudis are also funding the operation as they did in Afghanistan.
So the same plan that was used in Afghanistan is now being used in Iran.......Ask Zbigniew Brzezinski about Afghanistan.
"My enemy is my friend. My friend is my enemy"
Don't be angry.....be real! From the election of 2000, the people of the United States have been lied to, sacrificed over 7,000 lives for a Capitaist War, robbed of TRILLIONS of dollars and watched the "Corporate Elite" laugh their a_ _ _s off at our ignorance. Get real ! Get Angry !
Republicans, neocons, Christian right, conservatives -- descriptors of the Republican Party.
Democrats, liberals, progressives, moderates -- the Democratic Party.
30-40 years ago the Republicans devised a plan to unite all of their wings through fear of the dastardly Liberal Democrat, a relatively small subset at that time, but look at the success they gained with that label! Even truly liberal Democrats shunned the liberal label for decades.
Anti-war? 70% of us are now. Why did it take eight years to get to that point? Division.
Pro-Life? More than half the people disagree with the Anti-abortion fanatics.
Stem-cell research? How many people would have benefited from eight years of honest and open research in that field?
Global climate change? How could we allow our scientists to be silenced on such an important issue?
Health care (not coverage) for all? Is it even on the table?
Corporate welfare? Will the government's attitude toward that issue change?
We have been divided and conquered.
The hope of change Obama inspired during the too-long, two-year campaign to get him in the White House united the Democratic subsets with the sheer vagueness of his promises of change. We all saw the change we wanted to see.
The Democratic Party platform is not Progressive. It is not even Liberal.
It is well past the time when Democrats must unite. We watched the shock and awe of a Constitutional crisis with the 2000 election. Who had the power to stop that fiasco? The United Republican Party won, by hook and by crook, to hand the election to Bush, while the various subsets of the Democratic Party spun the story to fit their particular agenda. Where were Terry McAuliffe, Donna Brazile and Al Gore while our country began its current decline? Where was the "out for blood" fighters we needed at that time? There certainly was no shortage of Republican operatives working the system.
We can thank the FCC for allowing the mega-mergers of our media, which in turn gave the majority of us the news they thought we ought to know. They fed on their own in order to bring us their news fit to print. They ate alive a journalist (Dan Rather) who tried to tell the truth.
Where was the support Mr. Rather should have been given by the DNC? Too many divisions in a political party in disarray, poorly led by two incompetent men over eight years blinded by their own light.
Lyndon Johnson was no wuss. Harry Truman took responsibility for the errors he made. FDR, the one who once said we must make me do it, did it. Our intrepid Congressional Democrats sat on their hands while Clinton was unmercifully "investigated" into inactivity.
Instead of deciding which activist group is more successful in its goals, why don't we all just tell the world that we will work together and share the credit equally. After all, it is the first time in 40 years we've actually accomplished our goal of getting a real (maybe) Democrat in the White House and a majority in Congress.
We need to replace Harry Reid immediately. We need to convince Nancy Pelosi that she isn't Liberal enough. We need to make Obama live up to the changes he led us to believe would occur.
To do these things we must unite under one tent -- Democratic -- no modifiers.