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Give us a wink, Congressman Lantos! Our SMCDFA Visit
Linked to groups: San Mateo County Democracy for America
On Friday six peace-loving, dedicated San Mateo County (CA) Democracy for America members visited Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA 12), Chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee, to ask him to continue to support the efforts to get out of Iraq.Check out the excellent diary created by one of the group on Daily Kos and find out why we're watching for Lantos' wink: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/31/172930/691
Give us a wink Congressman Lantos! Our SMCDFA Visit by Heather in SFBay Fri Aug 31, 2007 at 08:05:50 PM PDTAccording to Tom Lantos, he told us he's going to have one of the busiest Congressional schedules he's had in his career this next week.
The question is, busy or not, will it be as productive as we hope?
Oh that, and will I really be able to tell if the Congressman winks?
- Heather in SFBay's diary :: ::
Though the website has yet to post it's schedule, his House Committee on Foreign Affairs is scheduled to have 3 hearings within the next week. On tap are hearings on the recent GAO report that seems to say things aren't going so well in Iraq along with a discussion about what to do next, and the coup de grâce, the upcoming testimony of the White House General Petraeus & Ambassador Crocker...all sound like wonderful entertainment/sources of frustration for C-Span junkies...and those with TiVo!
I'm one of those Deanics of years past (and present!) and a proud member of the dynamic Democratic club San Mateo County Democracy for America (SMCDFA) here in the San Francisco Bay Area and was honored to be part of the small but mighty delegation that just had a little lunch time chat with the Congressman. We were there to speak as members of the coalition called the Resolution Peace Network and presented a letter asking for him to continue to support the efforts to get out of Iraq. (Letter at the bottom of the diary.)
The Resolution Peace Network supports legislation to:
- Promptly withdraw from Iraq,
- Not attack Iran without congressional approval,
- Take good care of the troops, veterans and their families.
We asked Congressman Lantos to fight like hell to get us out of Iraq. Well, in so many words...I think I'm the only one that said "hell".
I may not agree with everything Lantos has done as a hawk about Israel and other related middle east issues...but he's the one we've got right now with the bully pulpit of committee chairmanship...and we want him to use it.
We heard a lot about how both House and Senate do not have veto proof majorities and therefore it's difficult to make significant progress...blah blah blah...but that with Warner deciding to retire therefore having nothing to lose, there's an opportunity to get him further on board and possibly bring a few more Republicans with him. As Greg Sargent said, sure is a nice sentiment...but will it happen?
I do believe that Lantos is with us in the support for getting out of Iraq. He said so today, he's said so before, and I've got to believe (sometimes I feel like I should be saying "I believe, I believe...it's silly, but I believe.") he'll keep saying it and pushing for it. We'll have to watch him like a hawk (pun intended) regarding Iran, but for now, he does want us to get out of Iraq...and that's important in and of itself.
Regarding the elections, he seems to be relatively confident that we will gain seats in the House & Senate and will take the White House...another thing I'll hope he's right on. But one of the important thing he emphasizes I'd like to reiterate is that what we we're all doing - not only just what we were doing there today specifically but - together with the sounds of ALL of our voices out there continuing to speak up and speak out and keeping the pressure on is abundantly helpful and important to continue.
And following up on that, I took my opportunity to speak up about speaking out. I wanted to emphasize that although we're in the early frenzy of election next year, we are indeed in a constitutional crisis right NOW. The American people spoke (with what votes we were allowed) in 2006 that we want change. We are continuing to speak in an every increasing volume asking, imploring, demanding...dare I say begging...Congress to fight like hell to make it happen.
He pissed me off a bit when he said that folks were a bit naive to think that this bare majority would be able to make anything significant happen. But dammit...doesn't mean you can't TRY for jeebus sake!! Anyway...I was respectful of my colleagues and the congressman and didn't flip out...but being there in person, I was confident that he knew exactly what I meant.
Overall, I think it was a good meeting. He says he wants to continue to hear from us...and I think he should hear from ALL of us...so don't disappoint him! I may be one who votes for him (or not), but we're ALL his constituents!
Oh...and the wink? He told our dear Ashleigh that he'll give us a wink from the chair, just to let us know he's remembering what we had to say...so help us watch for it!! 
L-R: John St. Peter, Greg World, Heather Stewart, Congressman Tom Lantos, Ashleigh Evans, Anne Carey, John Hatfield.
August 31, 2007
The Honorable Tom Lantos
U.S. House of Representatives - District Office
400 S. El Camino Real, #410
San Mateo, CA 94402Representative Lantos:
We appreciate the opportunity to meet with you today. The members of our delegation are all 12th Congressional District constituents and members of San Mateo Democracy for America, a grassroots political club chartered by the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee:
Ashleigh Evans, San Mateo
John St. Peter, San Mateo
Greg World, San Mateo
Anne Carey, San Mateo
John Hatfield, Burlingame
Heather Stewart, San MateoToday we represent not only our own club, but also a great many other progressive organizations in Northern California: thirty Democratic clubs and central committees (including the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee), and the California Democratic Council (CDC). These activists, numbering in the thousands, are united in a coalition called the Resolution Peace Network. All the Network's member organizations have endorsed the following statement:
We support legislation to:
- Promptly withdraw from Iraq,
- Not attack Iran without congressional approval,
- Take good care of the troops, veterans and their families
Our message to you is simple: We want to thank you for your leadership in the battle to extricate our country from the quagmire in Iraq, encourage you to fight still harder when you return to the Congress next week, and ask how we can help you to attain the goals we share.You and other Congressional Democratic leaders are in for the fight of your lives come September. You will be standing up for the will of a citizenry who made it clear in last November's election that they want out of Iraq. You will be facing an intractable president, who, with the help of the military, will be doing everything in his power to "stay the course" in this hapless cause, and perhaps lead us into an even worse situation in Iran. Indeed, you are the hope of the nation.
We appreciate the leadership you have demonstrated by your support for legislation against the "surge", for timely troop withdrawal, limiting funds for permanent bases and US control of Iraq oil, as well as minimum rest between troop deployments, supporting the ban on cruel treatment of detainees, and all your votes for legislation that supports our veterans.
We hope that when you return to Washington next week, you will continue to fight for these issues, never flagging until we've extricated ourselves from Iraq. It seems to us that passage of HR 2574, the Iraq Study Group Implementation Act, which has broad bipartisan support, would be a good starting point. We ask that you vote for proposed legislation deauthorizing the Iraq War.
In addition, we hope that when you have the chance again to vote for requiring congressional approval before an attack on Iran, you will vote yes. This is related to the Iraq deauthoriziation legislation: Congress needs to assert itself, and reclaim its right as the branch of government mandated by the Constitution to declare war. Congress is not legally permitted by the Constitution to give away that power. A couple of days ago, we ran across a proposal for a House Concurrent Resolution, based on Section 5c of the War Powers Resolution, which would provide a veto-proof way to remove troops from Iraq. Please take a look at the documents, which follow, and please consider sponsoring this resolution.
For our part, San Mateo County Democracy for America will continue to promote the end of this war from our grassroots position: attending peace vigils, lobbying Congress, and educating the public. Our club is cosponsoring, with Declaration of Peace-San Mateo, a peace march on September 21, which is the International Day of Peace and the kickoff of the Iraq Moratorium, a nationwide project in which citizens will set aside time for antiwar activities and events the third Friday of every month, until the United States is out of Iraq.
Again, we appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to share our strong feelings about these grave issues, which threaten the very life of our beloved country. We look forward to working with you to reach our common goals. Please let us know whenever there is anything we can do to help you.
Sincerely,
Ashleigh Evans
Chair, Out of Iraq Task Force, San Mateo County Democracy for America
Member, San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee
Member, Executive Board of the California Democratic Party+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
House Concurrent Resolution: Directing the President to Remove Forces From Iraq
Congressional leaders complain that there are not enough votes to pass out-of-Iraq bills because of the veto power. Here is a veto-proof method.See the accompanying draft of a concurrent resolution "Directing the President to Remove Forces From Iraq." It was based on a combination of two elements:
- The idea—expressed by Senator Byrd—that authorization for war does not exist.
- The War Powers Resolution, 5c, which says that troops shall be withdrawn from unauthorized combat abroad if Congress so directs by concurrent resolution.
As you know, a concurrent resolution is not presented to the president for approval; it needs just a simple majority for adoption.
On May 9, Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) said to the Secretary of Defense, at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee:
"Secretary Gates, the 2002 authorization to use force in Iraq authorized the president to use force for two purposes. The first was to defend the national security of the United States 'against the continuing threat posed by Iraq.' ... The second was, to quote, 'enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions against Iraq.'Since the government of Iraq that is referred to in the resolution no longer exists, having been replaced by a democratically elected one, do you agree ... that this authorization no longer applies to the ongoing conflict in Iraq?" [Gates said he did not know.]
If there is no authorization for present U.S. actions in Iraq, then Section 5c of the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148, from 1973) can be used. The first clause of the accompanying draft quotes it. In addition to Byrd’s argument, the draft offers several other reasons that the Iraq operation is unauthorized.
As a concurrent resolution, it could not be vetoed. Yet, unlike most concurrent resolutions, it would be binding, carrying out an express provision of an existing law. Furthermore, it conforms with Congress’s constitutional supremacy in matters of war and peace. (See http://warandlaw.org: "The Founding Fathers on the Constitution’s War Power" and "Court Rulings Affirming the War Power of Congress.")
The War and Law League, of San Francisco, drafted the resolution. WALL’s legal adviser, Peter Weiss, of New York, wrote that "your idea of basing an out-of-Iraq resolution on Sec. 5c of WPR is a good one and you should suggest it to one or more members of Congress."
Representative Lantos, do you agree that it is a good idea, and will you introduce such a resolution?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
House Concurrent Resolution: Directing the President to Remove Forces From IraqWhereas Section 5C of the War Powers Resolution says that "any time that United States Armed Forces are engaged in hostilities outside the territory of the United States, its possessions and territories without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such forces shall be removed by the President if the Congress so directs by concurrent resolution"; and
Whereas congressional authorization for the U.S. armed services’ forcible occupation of Iraq and involvement in the current civil war does not exist; and
Whereas war on Iraq was not declared by Congress; and
Whereas the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 said the president was authorized to use armed forces as he determined to be "necessary and appropriate" only to (1) defend the U.S. against "the threat posed by Iraq" and (2) enforce relevant UN resolutions regarding Iraq; andWhereas the regime the resolution referred to no longer exists, inasmuch as its sole ruler was deposed and killed; and
Whereas the president of the United States declared the "mission accomplished" and major combat operations ended on May 1, 2003, over four years ago; and
Whereas the appropriation of money for the action in Iraq does not constitute authorization for said action, in view of Section 8A of the War Powers Resolution, which says that authority to introduce armed forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities shall not be inferred from any provision of law, including any provision contained in any appropriations act, unless such provision specifically authorizes the introduction of armed forces into hostilities; and
Whereas in any case the authorization-for-force resolution was fatally defective, because:
• Iraq was no threat at all; the resolution was based on the president’s insistence that Iraq had to be disarmed of weapons of mass destruction; it was his prewar reason for the necessity of a war, but after it began he admitted that Iraq had no such weapons;
• No United Nations resolution on Iraq called for enforcement by means of war;
• The Charter of the United Nations, a binding treaty of the United States, bars the "threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state";
• The Pact of Paris (Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact), a binding treaty of the United States, prohibits war as an instrument of national policy;
• Congress cannot lawfully delegate away its exclusive constitutional authority to decide whether or not it is "necessary and appropriate" for the United States to go to war:Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring); that
- No authorization for U.S. action in Iraq exists.
- Any prior measure purporting to provide such authorization is null and void.
- The president is directed to remove all U.S. armed forces from Iraq promptly
______________________________________________________________
WALL, P.O. Box 42-7237, San Francisco, CA 94142; warandlaw@yahoo.com; tel. 415-564-2083 or 415-738-8298
Repubs falling all over each other in their support for Bush's failed war.
Democrats (other than Kucinich and Gravel) falling all over each other to find ways to prolong the war.
The Holt Bill - HR 811
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was set to phase out. The Holt Bill continues it. The EAC is a federal political commission that controls the states' voting. It is controlled by the President (think Bush), and has Department of Justice Alberto Gonzales-type board members.
Although the EAC was supposed to certify voting machines it never did that through 2006. But it has threatened to close out the option of hand counted paper ballots, even though many states use them. All the software voting machines are JUNK. All break down, all have software glitches and all are easily corruptible (to the tune of millions of votes), without being caught. Eventually all the people of this country will realize all the software voting machines are junk, but the EAC is threatening our option to return to a secure hand counted paper ballots voting system.
We have spent billions for the voting machines and because of Holt are in danger of having to spend billions more, this time by just the states, without federal funding.
The bill has changed, contrary to Holt's plan, to appease MicroSoft and the software voting machine vendors.
Please Call the House leadership and the Rules Committee to oppose the Holt bill and to ban DREs instead, TODAY.
House Leadership:
NANCY PELOSI (D-CA)
Phone: (202) 225-4965
Fax: (202) 225-4188
STENY HOYER (D-MD)
Phone: (202) 225-4131
Fax: (202) 225-4300
U.S. House Committee on Rules:
Main Number: 202-225-9091
Democrats:
LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER (NY) - CHAIRWOMAN
http://www.louise.house.gov/index.php?op...
Phone: (202) 225-3615
Fax: (202) 225-7822
JAMES P. McGOVERN (MA)
http://mcgovern.house.gov/?sectionid=2&s...
Phone: (202) 225-6101
Fax: (202) 225-5759
ALCEE L. HASTINGS (FL)
http://www.alceehastings.house.gov/index...
Tel: (202) 225-1313
Fax: (202) 225-1171
DORIS O. MATSUI (CA)
Phone: (202) 225-7163
Fax: (202) 225-0566
DENNIS CARDOZA, (CA)
http://www.house.gov/cardoza/biography.s...
Phone: (202) 225-6131
Fax: 202-225-0819
800-356-6424
PETER WELCH, (VT)
http://www.welch.house.gov/index.php?opt...
Phone:(202) 225-4115
KATHY CASTOR (FL)
Phone: (202)225-3376
Fax: (202)225-5652
MICHAEL ARCURI (NY)
Phone: 202-225-3665
Fax: 202-225-1891
BETTY SUTTON (OH)
Phone: (202) 225-3401
Fax: (202) 225-2266
Republicans:
DAVID DREIER (CA) - Ranking Minority Member
Office (202) 225-2305
Fax (202) 225-7018
LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (FL)
Phone: (202) 225-4211
DOC HASTINGS (WA)
Phone: (202) 225-5816
Fax: (202) 225-3251
PETE SESSIONS (TX)
(202) 225-2231
(202) 225-5878 fax
Another Dishonorable Chicken-hawk
by Cindy Sheehan
I know just a little bit about Mr. William Kristol:
He is the son of one of the founders of the "neo-conservative" movement, Irving Kristol.
He is a commentator on Fox News.
He was Chief of Staff for one of the political "geniuses" of our time: VP Dan Quayle.
He is editor of another Rupert Murdoch war-propaganda rag, "The Weekly Standard."
He is a member, and signer, of the Project for the New American Century, which is a game plan for US global hegemony based on military strength and one of its goals and objectives was the over-throw of the Hussein Regime in Iraq with a next stop in Iran and Syria (because the PNAC plan is going so well, so far).
By all accounts, Mr. Kristol is a brilliant man, who like his father before him, uses his brilliance for destruction. He is a shameless supporter of a failed, murderous, and miserable strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan and one of the "mushroom cloud" crowd.
One thing Mr. William Kristol is not, is a combat vet.
Although he was born in 1952, he never served during Vietnam. I am sure while at Harvard he was a staunch supporter of the American effort to enrich the war profiteers while ostensibly stopping that war's "enemy" communism from spreading across Asia. Secure in his studies during that quagmire, Kristol joins a long line of neo-con chicken-hawks who are drenched in other people's blood and love to send other people's children to die for their lies.
I don't know anything, or care to know anything about Mr. Kristol's private life. I don't care if he is another closeted gay Republican or is a happily married hetero with children. I do suspect, however, that if Mr. Kristol is married, his children are not serving in Iraq, being misused by the very same incompetent and cowardly Commander in Chief (who also did not serve in Vietnam) that Mr. Kristol shamelessly supports while the entire administration and Republican hypocrites are crumbling from corruption and scandal.
I do know one thing for sure about Mr. Kristol, he does not like to be bothered with those pesky little things called facts. On February 20, 2003, Mr. Kristol incredibly gushed: "If we free the people of Iraq, we will be respected in the Arab world." This statement shows an amazing lack of knowledge of the Arab world or any kind of foreign policy sophistication (but does show a great use of Rovian-Foxian expolitation of emotion). No one in the Arab world (except maybe, Israel, which is geographically located in the "Arab world") was calling for the US to "free" Iraqis. No one from Iraq except "Curveball" or the slimy and profit-motivated, Ahmad Chalabi, both Iraqis who weren't even living in the country at the time of the invasion were calling on the USA to liberate them. In fact, after many years of murderous sanctions against Iraq, a fierce nationalism arose in opposition to the US-UN led sanctions. According to National Intelligence Estimates, since the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq, Islamic Jihadism has increased. Mr. Kristol is also incredibly ignorant of human nature and human history. No peoples like to be occupied. No child, brother or sister, or mother or father, who sees a loved one blown away by American or insurgent's bombs will love the oppressor. In fact, violence only creates more violence and more life-long enemies.
Now Mr. Kristol is safe behind his desk and computer calling for another attack against Iran. I think he hears the non-existent cries of the Iranian people to be liberated from their regime. The Iranian people are directly next-door to Iraq and they see what US "liberation" brings. It comes with the awful price of high civilian casualties; hospitals bombed, Doctors killed; no electricity or clean water; and eternal occupation.
In a recent op-ed for The Weekly Standard, Mr. Kristol makes many more tactical and fundamental errors. The ANSWER coalition is calling for mass mobilizations begining the week (Sept. 15) that the White House authored Petraeus report on the surge is due. Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), who are leading the September 15th march, are calling for a "die-in" to end the march and begin the rally. The vets, unlike the chicken-hawk neocons, have actually served in war, particularly the one that Mr. Kristol imagines is such a success. IVAW is asking activists to represent a killed service-member and at an appropriate time lie down. Taps will be played and also a simulated 21-gun salute. It sounds respectful to me, being the mom of one of the soldiers, and I will proudly, yet sorrowfully, be lying down for my son that day. Many of the march/rally participants will be "dying" to represent the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have been killed for Mr. Kristol's deceptions.
Mr. Kristol calls on the "honorable" members of the anti-war movement to denounce the die-in and lumps MoveOn.org with other organizers of the die-in. MoveOn is not associated with the die-in as they do not support non-violent, direct civil disobedience. What I find so amusing is that Mr. PNAC-Fox News-Chicken-hawk has made himself the judge of what is honorable.
Mr. Kristol has a problem with the anti-war movement using the names of the fallen without the permission of the families. No one got my permission when my sons portrait was used in the pro-war memorial at Arlington Cemetery. Casey's name and likeness has been used by pro-war people all over the nation without my permission. Why is that okay, Mr. Kristol? I know for a fact such memorials as Arlington West, Eyes Wide Open and our memorial at Camp Casey would remove names of soldiers at the next of kin's request. If any family member so requests, I am sure IVAW will do the same thing---but a word of caution:
Even though the members of IVAW (all my adopted sons and daughters) have a big problem with the occupation of Iraq and with the Bush crime family, they served their country honorably (unlike Mr. Kristol) and they all fought side-by-side with the fallen. They love their brothers and sisters and they would themselves have died to take the place of any one of them. Do not, never, ever, claim that we families, or the Iraq Vets are dishonoring our sons and daughters killed by the lies of The Weekly Standard, Fox News, BushCo., et al. That is the biggest lie of all, or maybe it's this one that Mr. Kristol told on March 1, 2003:
"Very few wars in American history were prepared better or more thoroughly than this one by this president."
I would laugh if I weren't crying so hard.
If Mr. Kristol gets his PNAC way, by this time next year, we will need a lot more people at a die-in.
http://www.cindyforcongress.org/
good morning! dropping in with a bit of humor - I'm sure many have read it but I think it's worth a repeat. there it is... in a nustshell!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
President George W. Bush was scheduled to visit a famous church outside Washington as part of his campaign to restore his poll standings.
Bush's campaign manager made a visit to the Bishop, and said to him, "We've been getting a lot of bad publicity because of the president's position on stem cell research, the Iraq war, Katrina, wiretapping and the like. We'd gladly make a contribution to the church of $100,000 if during your sermon you'd say the president is a saint."
The Bishop thought it over for a few moments and finally said, "The Church is in desperate need of funds and I will agree to do it."
Bush showed up for the sermon and the Bishop began: "I'd like to speak to you all this morning about our president.
George W. Bush is a liar, a cheat, and a low-intelligence weasel.
He took the tragedy of September 11 and used it to frighten and manipulate the American people. He lied about weapons of mass destruction and invaded Iraq for oil and money, causing the deaths of tens of thousands and making the United States the most hated country on earth.
He appointed cronies to positions of power and influence, leading to widespread death and destruction during Hurricane Katrina.
He awarded contracts and tax cuts to his rich friends so that we now have more poverty in this country, and a greater gap between rich and poor, than we've had since the Depression.
He instituted illegal wiretaps when getting a warrant from a secret court would have been a mere administrative detail, had his henchmen lie to Congress about it, then claimed he is above the law.
He has headed the most corrupt, bribe-inducing political party since Teapot Dome . The national surplus has turned into a staggering national debt of 7.6 trillion, gas prices are up 85%, and vital research into global warming and stem cells is stopped cold because he's afraid to lose votes from some religious kooks.
He is the worst example of a true Christian I've ever known. But compared to Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, George W. Bush is a saint.
36.
former
Thu, 09/06/07
9:23 am
Reply to this
32.
Monica Smith
Thu, 09/06/07
8:50 am
...The country does not need someone who tells them "I am a leader who can help you confront the future."
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...ROFLMAO, Monica it's tough, imo, to ridicule the most valuable aspect of one of the most advanced "democracy" in modern history more effectively!
Even more, you are INDUCING (love that word which I unsuccessfully tried to find yesterday) others to agree with you...lol.
Syria fires at Iraeli jets. Bush lies. Impeach. Wage peace.
Rest in peace Luciano.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5...
Looks like I have to stop watching BBC, until they add back in the show they agreed to.
Global warming: Too hot to handle for the BBC
Green groups protest after corporation calls off day of programming dedicated to climate change
By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor
The transformation of climate change from a scientific to a political issue became clear last night when the BBC dropped plans for a day-long TV special on global warming.
The scrapping of Planet Relief, an awareness-raising broadcast similar in concept to programmes such as the poverty-focused Comic Relief and Live8, and planned for early next year, marked a watershed moment: it showed that opining about climate change is now as significant in Britain as scientific fact.
Environmentalists and politicians fiercely criticised the BBC for abandoning the programme, for which Ricky Gervais and Jonathan Ross had been provisionally lined up as presenters.
The corporation said that it had decided it was not the BBC's job to lead opinion on the global warming issue. However, critics complained that the effect of the decision was to imply that there was no scientific consensus on the reality of climate change and its human causes, and accused the corporation of being swayed by increasingly vocal climate-change sceptics.
http://environment.independent.co.uk/cli...
007
Obama and Oprah in 2007:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3565754&page=1
Can the Oprah Effect Make Obama President? Oprah Winfrey Has Endorsed Barack Obama and Will Hold a Major Fundraiser This WeekendSept. 6, 2007
...
Winfrey told Larry King earlier this year that she was "going to become a political activist." She has never before played the kingmaker, but Saturday she will start by hosting a fundraiser for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.
...
The endorsement is a turning point for the megawatt talk show host.
"This is a pretty unique moment in Oprah's history, given how incredibly cautious she is, how protective she is of the Oprah brand," Huffington said.
...
11.
* rdorgan
Thu, 09/06/07
10:26 am
...
Can the Oprah Effect Make Obama President?
-------
...lol, of course.
Apparently that's the ONLY way Obama can become President..., through some "Effect".
Can the Oprah Effect Make Obama President?
___________________________________________________________________________
Well, only in America.............if they can elect the likes of Reagan, Eastwood, Sony Bono,Arnold and have Fred Thompson get em all giddy anything is possible.........................
On topic.
It is a fact that Tom Lantos' daughter, Katrina Sweatt, is angling to become the Democratic Senator from New Hampshire. She's got a big war chest and fairly good credentials though she's not held elected office before. Dick Sweatt was a Democratic Congressman from New Hampshire in the early nineties and Clinton sent him as Ambassador to Denmark. The Sweatts also have an incredible number of blond children (seven, I think).
Anyway, we are going to replace Sununu, so one of the three announced candidates should get in (unless Jean Shaheen jumps in). Although Katrina was not very impressive when she met with our group and I am inclined towards the Mayor of Portsmouth and Katrina has support for Lieberman to live down, it seems to me that Tom Lantos could advance his daughter's candidacy considerably, if he did something really bold in the next couple of weeks. Hey, I'd be willing to trade support for Katrina for an end to the occupation of Iraq.
Can the Oprah Effect Make Obama President?
Didn't Oprah also tout a book a few years ago that turned out to be faked?
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/whit...
White House mum on comedy group’s security breach
By Klaus Marre
September 06, 2007
The White House was not amused Thursday by the antics of an Australian comedy group that breached President Bush’s security in Sydney.
Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino had few details on the incident, but Australian press reported that 11 members of the troupe “The Chaser’s War on Everything” had been charged with entering a restricted area.
............
The group staged a faux motorcade, pretending to be the delegation of Canada with one of the comedians dressed as Osama bin Laden, and made it past two police checkpoints before being stopped.
.............
“It’s unfortunate that security climates were as such, but, as soon as we get out of town, then Sydney will return to normal, hopefully,” Perino said.
Let the BBC hear from you on their caving for special interests and breaking their committment and plans for for a day long special on Global Warming.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/...
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c...
US Democratic hopeful Kucinich meets Assad, blasts Bush
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIRUT, Lebanon
US Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich, on a Mideast visit that included a stop in Syria, said the country lambasted by the Bush administration deserves credit for taking in more than a million Iraqi refugees.
Kucinich, a strong anti-war opponent who trails far in the US presidential polls, also said he won't visit Iraq on his trip to the region because he considers the US military deployment there illegal.
"I feel the United States is engaging in an illegal occupation ... I don't want to bless that occupation with my presence," he said in an interview in Lebanon, after visiting Syria. "I will not do it."
Kucinich, who accused the Bush administration of policies that have destabilized the Mideast, met with Syrian President Bashar Assad during his visit to Damascus. He said Assad was receptive to his ideas of "strength through peace."
He also praised Syria for taking in Iraqi refugees.
"What most people are not aware of is that Syria has taken in more than 1.5 million Iraqi refugees," Kucinich said. "The Syrian government has actually shown a lot of compassion in keeping its doors open, and being a host for so many refugees."
Kucinich said he would ask UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to follow up on the "dire conditions" in southern Lebanon, especially Israeli cluster bombs leftover from the war that have killed more than 30 and injured at least 200 since the fighting's end.
"There has to be a commitment to cleaning up these cluster bombs," Kucinich said.
Panel Sees More Than a Year Before Iraq Can Handle Security
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 — A report by an independent commission created by Congress says that it will be at least 12 to 18 months before Iraq’s army and police can take charge of the country’s security....
The report by the commission was most harshly critical of the Iraqi police, calling them “incapable” of protecting Iraqi neighborhoods. In a finding that was initially reported last week, the panel called for disbanding the Shiite-dominated 26,000-member national police, which the report said was crippled by public distrust and sectarianism....
The commission, which spent three weeks in Iraq and conducted more than 150 interviews, consists of former or retired military officers, Defense Department officials and law enforcement officers. Senator Robert C. Byrd, a Democrat from West Virginia, and Senator John Warner, a Republican from Virginia, came up with the idea for an outside examination of the readiness of the Iraqi security forces....
The commission’s call for remaking the national police in some respects raises questions about a major pillar of the troop increase strategy put in place earlier this year by the White House. National police units were designated under that strategy to secure neighborhoods after American and Iraqi Army units cleared the areas of insurgents....
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/06/washington/06policy.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
TrueMajority was just chosen by the Ploughshares Fund as one of the top 12 groups in America working for peace. And just one of those groups will receive $100,000 from the fund, to make peace a top issue in the 2008 election.
Here's how it works: every dollar you give today counts as one vote for TrueMajority -- if we collect enough votes, the foundation will kick in the full hundred grand. It's the mother of all "matching donations." We can't win the $100,000 without your help. Can you give $35 today?
http://www.truemajority.org/peaceprimary...
TrueMajority members are already doing the hard work of pushing Congress to follow the will of the people and get out of Iraq. Many of you turned out last Tuesday for 50 town hall meetings and hundreds of vigils in key Congressional districts, and the reports you're sending back are beautiful to read:
Bernie, Louisville KY: "Our voices were heard"...Kathryn, Bradenton FL: "Over 200 people on a Tues. night!"... Linda, York PA: "We really did 'Take a Stand' -- it was standing room only"... Lynda, Reno NV "We had more people at both events than we've ever had before."
But Betsy from Louisville, KY had one of the most important things to say of all:
"More citizens must get involved if we are going to change things."
We know that's true, and we've got plans for much more this fall, but we're operating on a shoestring ?- our budget for online organizing in support of those Tuesday events was just a few thousand bucks. We could be doing so much more.
So if you agree with Betsy from Louisville, and want a whole lot more chances for TrueMajority members to make peace the issue of the election, please give what you can today. Every vote counts. It could be the biggest contribution to peace you ever make.
Sincerely,
Matt Holland
TrueMajority.org Online Director
===============================
Help us win the $100,000 by forwarding this to your friends and family.
New Hampshire Draft Al Gore has recently added 1000 signatures of New Hampshire Voters to the draft Al Gore Petition.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Draft Gore group boasts 1,000 NH signatures
A New Hampshire based "Draft Gore" group claims to have 1,000 signatures from New Hampshire voters who want Al Gore to enter the presidential race.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/politic...
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 — A report by an independent commission created by Congress says that it will be at least 12 to 18 months before Iraq’s army and police can take charge of the country’s security....
Exactly what was being said 18 months ago - and 18 more months before that. They just tie a dollar on a string and keep yanking it away from those foolish enough to chase it.
FRED from OR
Thu, 09/06/07
11:45 am
derF, the New York Times is in full warhawk mode again. Their guy Micheal Gordon is going around actively supporting everything 'Bushy', while trying to sell books.
His propoganda reads exactly like the boyking's address to the Vets last week.
You have a problem with your sources all being warmongers.
Just thought i'd let you know.
Joe Galloway has both parties nailed.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/galloway/stor...
[snip]
The Democrats will whine and moan and bloviate and then, like lapdogs, they'll roll over and approve the money, proving that they're even bigger cowards than Bush or Cheney are.
In the end, there’s no difference between Republicans and Democrats, or only subtle superficial differences in their hypocrisies. When it comes to getting their snouts in the trough of public and private and corporate money, they all spring from the same porcine roots.
Principles, courage moral and otherwise, a passion for both the Constitution and the citizenry, all seem to have skipped this bunch, both on the Hill and those who seek to replace Mr. Bush in the big white house.
Unless there is a miracle, and I see no sign that God is sufficiently amused by this spectacle to produce one, the current struggle for the presidential nominations of the two major parties is going to produce only the two tallest midgets.
25.
dog soldier
Thu, 09/06/07
12:18 pm
The Democrats...proving that they're even bigger cowards than Bush or Cheney are.
------
!!!
Very true: "even bigger"...!
And we still have more then a year for the vast majority of Americans to be able see it.
It's time for the Dem congress to roll over again.
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/61506/...
[snip]
There's no reason to believe the administration won't get it -- consider how many times congressional Democrats have uttered some variant of "It's time we stopped giving Bush a blank check for Iraq" as they signed a series of blank checks for Iraq. Bush has proved that he can continue moving the goalposts again and again without being called on it by the media, and Congress has shown that it will let him, even eight months after the Democratic take-over of Capitol Hill.
...
...
...
As Dick Durbin, the senate majority whip, told the Chicago Tribune, "When it comes to the budget, I face a dilemma that some of my colleagues do." He opposes the war, but "felt that I should always provide the resources for the troops in the field."
That mean throwing good money (and lives) after bad. Here's the reality of the "surge":
Iraqi civilian and U.S. and Iraqi military and police deaths are up
The Iraqi government is tottering, and there is credible talk of an impending coup
The Iraqi people, still without regular electricity and water and fearing for their lives whenever they go out to buy groceries, want the United States out
40 percent of the middle class has fled the country
Apreview on what Petraeus will say
http://www.alternet.org/story/61626/
Where your hip boots will listening to Petraeus spin things.
Here is another article on how the surge was effectively spun by the media to make it seem like it is working.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesm...
Deaniac in GA
Thu, 09/06/07
12:15 pm
=============
quit name-calling, dufus in hillbilly heaven - NY Times has nothing to gain by reporting the news. The editorial board has freedom of speech that doesn't always mean you and I have to agree...
They've produced some very good individuals like Paul Krugman, Bob Herbert, Maureen Down, Chris Hedges, to name a few - John Burns risks his life every day on the ground in Iraq and has even been captured and released by insurgents - sorry you just choose to see the negative.
Thanks again linda b, for locking up the blog!
What's soooo hard about curbing your enthuasiasm just a bit, to keep the rest of us from just having to throw in the towel for long periods of time?
Hello!!
The NSA warrantless surveillance controversy concerns surveillance of persons within the United States incident to the collection of foreign intelligence by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) as part of the war on terror.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales confirmed the existence of the program, first reported in a December 2005 article[4][5] in The New York Times, on December 19, 2005.
==========
How do you like those apples, dufus?
It was reported first in the NY Times against the wishes of the White House, afterwhich Gonzoles admitted it. In case you didn't get it right
Deaniac in GA
Thu, 09/06/07
1:02 pm
================
Whatever happened to the "Southern Gentleman?" Are you intoxicated?
Sir, please step away from the computer, keep your hands off the keyboard, can I see you license and registration?
quit name-calling, dufus in hillbilly heaven
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
priceless
I knew I could get a laugh if I came to the blog, thanks Fred
Poor derF (that's backwards Fred, who is btw) always wrong, always sooooo offended.
Sorry nobody cares.
Keep track of what military hardware DoD and other countries are buying.
Read about the 787 problems, India buying an air force, anti-missle defense and more...
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin...
National Call In Day today Sept.6th! Call Congress, End the War! - http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/22102...
deaniac if ga, sorry for the problems. my computer does not lock up so I guess I wasn't being courteous to you by not thinking of you.
jeez, I was just trying to have a few laughs. for god sakes we need a good laugh.
yikes.
I will leave you all to you unhappy computer problems and just go away.
Poor derF (that's backwards Fred, who is btw) always wrong, always sooooo offended.
If you've never been called a name by FRED, you've never been right.
I will leave you all to you unhappy computer problems and just go away.
The better thing to do would be to not post youtubes now that you know. A link works fine.
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By Huron John on Sep 6, 2007 9:08 AM EDTDeans, truthtellers, and progressives are first.
Out Now