Replies: 61 Comments
Comment #1: sanitysojourner said on 1/24/06 @ 8:30pm ET...
Representative Conyers, why doesn't someone from Congress yell this from the mountain tops?
I'm doing everything I can, but no one can any longer convince me that my calls and letters make one iota of difference to politicians, let alone the media. I keep those cards and letters coming anyway, but recognize that I'm performing the definition of insanity.
I don't get a microphone stuck in my face from time to time. Members of Congress do. Certainly the dems have been given short shrift, but they still appear on news shows and have other kinds of media opportunities.
And if the news doesn't come to hear the important stuff from the dems, then they need to either go to the media OR create a news event of any sort so they can cover critical information, such as this imaginary poll "bounce."
Comment #2: Rusty said on 1/24/06 @ 9:16pm ET...
Congressman Conyers,
I hereby nominate Hank's immortal words on June 9, 2005 as the best example of someone touting a "Bush bounce" last year:
"The bottom line is G W Bush has done more for America than all Democrats combined. Your hate America, hate the military, hate Republicans, hate Christians is getting you zero results in Washington."
Comment #3: Nolip said on 1/24/06 @ 10:14pm ET...
More bounce to the ounce...dishonor amongst crooks...
"Over the weekend, Time magazine and the Washingtonian both reported on five photos of President Bush with Jack Abramoff, but neither publication revealed its source.
Yesterday, ThinkProgress laid out the case for why the source for the photos was likely Abramoff himself. Last night, our hunch was confirmed.
Appearing on MSNBC, Newsweek correspondent Michael Isikoff reported that it was indeed Abramoff who floated the photographs to Washingtonian. Watch the video:
ISIKOFF: As a general rule, if you’re the president … you don’t like pictures out there of you with convicted felons. It sounds like … there’s at least one picture of him with at least one convicted felon and another indicted, so it’s probably not a picture the White House is eager to have out there. The other interesting aspect of this is, while the White House hasn’t put these out, Jack Abramoff has clearly shown them to people. I don’t know anything about Time sources, but I do know that he showed them to Washingtonian magazine, which suggests he may be playing a little bit of a game here. He has, of course, pled guilty already to the Justice Department. But it does raise a question in my mind at least as to whether Abramoff is maybe sort of sending some sort of signal out here: “Hey, I’ve got this stuff.” Maybe he wants something from somebody at the White House, or he wants someone at the White House not to do something, and just sort of subtly playing with people here.
”
UPDATE: Isikoff Confirms Abramoff Shopped Bush Photos
Comment #4: Nolip said on 1/24/06 @ 10:19pm ET...
"CBS News' Stephanie Lambidakis reports more than a dozen students staged a silent protest by turning their backs to Gonzales during the speech. Five students wearing black hoods unfurled a banner with a quote from Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither."
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=5625
Comment #5: Nolip said on 1/24/06 @ 10:24pm ET...
Congressman Conyers isn’t the only one who has been stiff armed by the arrogance on Pennsylvania Avenue from the nation’s self appointed monarch King George…supported by a cast of brown shirts called Rethuglicans…
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Joseph Lieberman (news, bio, voting record), the top Democrat on the Senate panel investigating the government's botched response to Hurricane Katrina, on Tuesday accused administration officials of failing to cooperate and trying to run out the clock on the congressional probe.
"The problems begin at the White House, where there has been a near total lack of cooperation that has made it impossible, in my opinion, for us to do the thorough investigation we have a responsibility to do," Lieberman said in a hearing held by the Senate Homeland Security Committee.”
W. House accused of foot-dragging in Katrina probe
Comment #6: Nolip said on 1/24/06 @ 10:29pm ET...
It happened ever so subtly in Hitler’s Germany and it’s happening in this country as we speak under Mein Fuehrer Bush…
" "What happened here was the gradual habituation of the people, little
by little, to being governed by surprise; to receiving decisions
deliberated in secret; to believing that the situation was so
complicated that the government had to act on information which the
people could not understand, or so dangerous that, even if the people
could not understand it, it could not be released because of national
security. And their sense of identification with Hitler, their trust
in him, made it easier to widen this gap and reassured those who would
otherwise have worried about it.
"This separation of government from people, this widening of the gap,
took place so gradually and so insensibly, each step disguised
(perhaps not even intentionally) as a temporary emergency measure or
associated with true patriotic allegiance or with real social
purposes. And all the crises and reforms (real reforms, too) so
occupied the people that they did not see the slow motion underneath,
of the whole process of government growing remoter and remoter.”
They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45
Comment #7: tahoebasha1 said on 1/24/06 @ 10:30pm ET...
F.Y.I.
Leaving work this evening, a pamphlet was handed to me -- STEP DOWN! STEP DOWN! BUSH MUST GO!
I read the pamphlet -- back and front -- and it was "dead" on. A State of the Union protest is being organized across the country for January 31, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. The name of the organization (I had not heard of it until now) is called "The World Can't Wait" -- I WILL BE THERE in Mrs. O'Leary's Cow's town.
Here's the website and you can find out where a State of the Union protest is going on in your area.
BUSH STEP DOWN and take your program with you!
Comment #8: tahoebasha1 said on 1/24/06 @ 10:35pm ET...
"White House Got Early Warning on Katrina
By Joby Warrick
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 24, 2006; Page A02
In the 48 hours before Hurricane Katrina hit, the White House received detailed warnings about the storm's likely impact, including eerily prescient predictions of breached levees, massive flooding, and major losses of life and property, documents show. . . . "
White House Got Early Warning on Katrina
Comment #9: Nolip said on 1/24/06 @ 10:43pm ET...
“I went to college in the 1960s and studied government. One of the things I remember discussing was a quote by Lord Acton:
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely.”
It’s been many years since I graduated college, but I finally understand what Lord Acton meant.
Republicans today control the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House. They have absolute power, and it has corrupted their Party and led to the culture of corruption that we see now in Washington.
We have the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, admonished three times for ethics violations and under indictment now for money laundering.
We have the White House, where an employee has been indicted for the first time in 135 years.
There’s Karl Rove, who is under investigation… and David Safavian, the man appointed by President Bush to be charge in charge of hundreds of billions of dollars in government contracts who was led away in handcuffs because of his dealings with Jack Abramoff and others.
And then, we have the Republican “K-Street Project, which has invited lobbyists inside our nation’s Capitol….as long as they are willing to pay the right price.
The Republican abuse of power comes at great cost to our country, and we can see it in the present state of our union. Special interests and the well-connected have grown stronger, while our national security… our economy… our health care… and our government have grown weaker.”
Reid fires back at Bush: 'The president has been giving us doublespeak for years'
Comment #10: tahoebasha1 said on 1/24/06 @ 10:47pm ET...
#9 - Nolip
I read Reid's speech and much of it is good, but asking Bush "come clean" with Americans is tantamount to looking for oil in a cesspool.
Comment #11: Nolip said on 1/24/06 @ 10:50pm ET...
“OLYMPIA — More than 3,100 Wal-Mart employees in Washington were benefiting from state-subsidized health coverage throughout 2004 — nearly double the total for any other company, according to two confidential state reports.”
More than 3,100 Wal-Mart workers got state health aid
Comment #12: Nolip said on 1/24/06 @ 10:54pm ET...
More great news about the perfectly poor planning that BushCo put into the war effort before Bush lied to Americans to pull them into a war…
“BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi oil production fell by 8 percent last year, with a sharp decline near year's end that left average daily production at half the 3 million barrels envisioned by U.S. officials at the outset of the war in 2003.
Prospects for improvement this year are slim, according to many experts, calling into question Iraq's ability to support itself and fund reconstruction efforts as U.S. assistance is scaled back. Reasons for the shortfall include the poor state of the nation's oil fields, a creaky infrastructure, poor management and ongoing insurgent attacks, particularly to pipelines in the north-central region meant to export oil through Turkey.”
Dip in Iraqi Oil Production Holds Ominous Harbinger
Comment #13: Rusty said on 1/25/06 @ 12:11am ET...
Sanity #1,
A lot of people share your frustration. You might want to read this: 100 Calls, 100 senators, My oh My . . .
Comment #14: Rusty said on 1/25/06 @ 12:53am ET...
(From Daily Kos)
Unfathomed Dangers in PATRIOT Act Reauthorization
by Paul Craig Roberts
"A provision in the "PATRIOT Act" creates a new federal police force with the power to violate the Bill of Rights.
According to House Report 109-333 USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005, Sec. 605: "There is hereby created and established a permanent police force, to be known as the 'United States Secret Service Uniformed Division."
This new federal police force is "subject to the supervision of the Secretary of Homeland Security."
The new police are assigned a variety of jurisdictions, including "an event designated under section 3056(e) of title 18 as a special event of national significance" (SENS).
"A special event of national significance" is neither defined nor does it require the presence of a "protected person" such as the president in order to trigger it. Thus, the administration, and perhaps the police themselves, can place the SENS designation on any event. Once a SENS designation is placed on an event, the new federal police are empowered to keep out and arrest people at their discretion."
Arrest the Quakers!
Ummhh . . . we kind of need to impeach this dictator. Can we get started on that? Thank you.
Comment #15: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 1:12am ET...
Rusty, here's how we can do it.
How we can impeach
Comment #16: The Forest said on 1/25/06 @ 1:40am ET...
I think you may have hope for sanity, after all, sanity sojourner #1...
Apparently Pat Leahy was on the Ed Schultz radio show this evening, along with Barbara Boxer, and maybe others, and if I'm reading him right, we may have finally won the day on this one.
Leahy said a filibuster is still on the table and the final decision is in Harry Reid's hands. [One way of reading that is that the timing of the filibuster announcement is in Harry Reid's hands.] That publicly puts one heck of a responsibility squarely, and solely, on Harry Reid's shoulders -- and I don't think Leahy would do that lightly. What's more, Leahy stated that he doesn't care about the threatened "Nuclear Option" because the Republicans don't follow the rules anyway... Said with disgust. [Good Point. And demonstrating a thought or two was focused on the future sequence of events.] Coming from Pat Leahy, that's saying a mouthful.
Also, a steady stream of callers to Ed's show were pushing a filibuster, in the face of SC Senator Lindsey Graham's threat, made to the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee Tuesday, to "clean your clock" should they stand up to defend the Constitution. So I have hope.
The Republicans, of course, have their "man" - or perhaps I should say their "male" - Sam Alito. See -- he's a "nice guy," "smart," "educated," "experienced," "well-liked." We can, and you should, "trust him," they admonish the country. Enough said, they say. Laws? Who needs 'em?! We're gonna "stand by our man" G.W. Bush and that trumps how he executes our laws, the apologist Republican Senators declare. They've got their guy, and that's good enough for them.
Except it isn't. NOT under the Constitution of the United States, it isn't. It might fly in Soviet Russia, it might fly in Saddam's Iraq, it might fly in the German National Socialist government, and it might fly in the "Christian Royalists Opposed to Communists" club in France. But it doesn't fly in this country because here our manmade LAW TRUMPS men and their personal ambitions and petty tyrant aspirations.
That "guy thing" is why President George W. Bush thinks the Constitution is nothing but a piece of paper. Because when you don't live it, that's what it is: words on paper. George Bush does not perform nor execute the role laid down for his OFFICE by the Constitution, and allows those under his authority in the Executive Branch, including the head of the American Justice Department, likewise to ignore their oaths of office.
When you IGNORE words on paper which you swore to "faithfully" bend your will and your actions to, the words of course cease to mean a thing. Doesn't matter how high that stack of Bibles was upon which you took your oath.
Such flagrant abuse of office is why Judge Alito endangers our country and the future life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness of its inhabitants. He's happy to accommodate such glossed-over Presidential contempt for the document that forged our nation. Or at least he made no effort to say he isn't or wouldn't be, when given multiple opportunities to do so.
We have no dearth of candidates for a seat on the Supreme Court. It isn't as though our options are limited. The bench is deep, and somewhere out there there's even a female candidate, who is not only likeable, and smart, and experienced, etc., BUT WORTHY OF THE HONOR, and DEDICATED to that piece of paper; not because it's a piece of paper, but because of the actions the words of our Constitution summon the people of this nation, and especially those honored to hold federal office, to perform in its name.
Comment #17: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 2:05am ET...
The Forest, I agree with you, and you put it so well. Do you have any idea of a timeline on Reid possibly making a decision?
I saw Leahy on The News Hour with Jim Lehrer last night, and he sounded determined to set the facts straight regarding the domestic surveillance situation, regardless of the Orwellian language Gonzales and others keep speaking. That was an excellent photo on DailyKos, wasn't it?
Comment #18: Truth_in_action said on 1/25/06 @ 2:13am ET...
#17 - Time is of the essence. I have heard it said that it could go to a vote as early as Wednesday.
Write to Senator Reid on his webform at
www.reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm
Senator Reid's DC phone number is (202) 224-3542.
Write and call ASAP tommorrow morning!
Time is of the essence, and SPREAD THE WORD!
Comment #19: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 2:41am ET...
Thank you, Truth in action, I just submitted my (second) email to Reid.
I wonder if the Senators are taking any kind of account of the number of emails and calls they've received.
Comment #20: Frosted Flake said on 1/25/06 @ 3:07am ET...
This is The United States Of America.
This is why the Administration talks in front of canned audiences.
I mentioned at Cristmastime that we now have the moral high ground. It may be that I was less than competely obvious in what I meant. 'Moral' is an ambiguous word. I meant that we are no longer on offense. We are on defence. The people in this photo are free people. They intend to remain so. And they are defending themselves. They weren't 'doing' that a short time ago. Now they are. This photo shows the results of last summers campaign.
Perhaps that's overstated.
But it does bring up the point that offense and defense are very differant tacticly, and also symbolicly. It is difficult to quibble that a man struggles with you, when he is acting defensively. The more so if pointedly acting defensively. I note that the task presented by the Alito Nomination is defensive in character. I think that angle should be played up, for the more effective use of the moral high ground which is now underfoot. I think that much should be made of the fact that Justice O'Connor will retain her seat until the Senate confirms her replacement, and that therefore there is absolutly no reason to hurry, anything, at all. There will be no empty seat on the High Court and it would be no problem in any case if there were.
To boil that down to a sound bite : "There ain't no hurry, and we can do better."
Second sound bite : "Nukes cause Fallout."
The second sound bite refers to the largely semantic differance between surrendering the filibuster and having it taken away. Largely semantic, there is also the small matter of who is left holding the bag.
On the content and theme of a filibuster. The theme should be "Should we confirm a Justice nominated by a President who is doing this, and this, and this, and this, and this.../...it would seem very strange to Impeach the only man who would ever consider nominating Judge Alito, and yet have his legacy tied round our necks" The content becomes a thorough airing of all the illicit goings on. Which ought to generate momentum toward Impeachment and away from renewal of the patriot act. Which would be a rare case of three birds with one stone.
To add a little to that last point. It would be helpful in the broad sense to bring the many threads togeather into a unified whole. To make the point that these threads do not exist in isolation from one another, but rather, between them, as threads make a fabric, the assorted misdeeds, now very numerous, make a pattern and a practice the like of which has never before been seen in a President of the United States, and God willing, will never be seen again. The Alito filibuster is the perfect venue to perform that very public act.
The relevancy of these topics to the Alito filibuster is drawn straightforwardly from the fact that Alito asserts the theory of the unitary executive, who can do no wrong, because he gets to say what the law is. Which should, I would not want any to overlook, should be enough all by itself to disqualify Judge Alito from any bench, because the Constitution says the exact opposite.
It is time to write another round of notes to legislators. Short notes.
Once more into the breach, dear friends.
Frosted Flake
Comment #21: The Forest said on 1/25/06 @ 3:31am ET...
Absolutely, Frosted Flake.
Thank you, feline! I think Truth_in_action is right: things could happen fast on Wednesday, or not. Hard to tell at this point, but there are rumors that Bill Frist is plotting to try to shorten debate and call the vote, and thereby catch people off-guard. So if Reid is in fact "on board" he's got some serious navigating to do in the next day or so, I imagine.
By the way, DailyKos writers seemed to let it pass by without much or any comment, but I understand that the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee really hit it out of the ballpark Tuesday morning. They were apparently prepared and firing on all cylinders in their statements, and that's exactly what they need to do to prepare the ground for a filibuster.
Comment #22: Frosted Flake said on 1/25/06 @ 5:01am ET...
Takeing a little time to address the actual topic, I recall thinking at the time that a bounce was an easy prediction to make. Not only did it have a appealing sound (if it's to your taste) there is also that facet of crowd dynamics that says "Some people take off running, just because others do, and later think to themselves, "That was silly".". It seemed no great streach to think that some ran just to avoid being caught standing still, and would, as soon as they could, find any opportunaty to reverse themselves.
It would seem, if I was right, opportunaty has not been found.
I appreciate this forum.
Frosted Flake
Comment #23: rainbowsally said on 1/25/06 @ 6:08am ET...
Wacko Peaceniks -- Listen Up!
A lot of the younger folks haven't been through this before. They missed some of the hands-on experience of the vietnam war days.
So HEADS UP!
It looks like a re-run. (Let's skip the bags of
dog doo this time though. That's no way to repay
loyalty, even if it is misguided.)
Rapid development of what new programs? There
may still be a concentration camp at Vandenburg
AFB in California. It was built to "detain"
anti-war protesters.
It's a good question, especially in light of
recent developments. What "new programs"?
America may not have forever to figure it
out.
---- excerpt
The contract, which is effective immediately,
provides for establishing temporary detention and
processing capabilities to expand existing ICE
Detention and Removal Operations Program
facilities in the event of an emergency influx of
immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid
development of new programs, KBR said.
---- end
Here's the whole article.
-------
KBR awarded Homeland Security contract worth up
to $385M (HAL) By Katherine Hunt
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- KBR, the engineering and construction subsidiary of
Halliburton Co. (HAL), said Tuesday it has been
awarded a contingency contract from the
Department of Homeland Security to supports its
Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in
the event of an emergency. The maximum total
value of the contract is $385 million and
consists of a 1-year base period with four 1-year
options. KBR held the previous ICE contract from
2000 through 2005. The contract, which is
effective immediately, provides for establishing
temporary detention and processing capabilities
to expand existing ICE Detention and Removal
Operations Program facilities in the event of an
emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or
to support the rapid development of new programs,
KBR said. The contract may also provide migrant
detention support to other government
organizations in the event of an immigration
emergency, as well as the development of a
plan to react to a national emergency, such as a
natural disaster, the company said.
---------------
I found it here:
http://www.marketwatch.com/
news/newsfinder/pulseone.asp?
dateid=38741.5136277662-858254656
------
If it were necessary to have an "opinion" I might
have one.
http://usconstitution.net.const.html
If that is not the legally binding Constitution,
to what do our Presidents, firemen and librarians
take their oath of office?
Comment #24: rainbowsally said on 1/25/06 @ 6:15am ET...
Hey sojourner!
You wrote:
----
I keep those cards and letters coming anyway, but recognize that I'm performing the definition of insanity.
----
Keep your own conscience clear.
Your proof of your innicence is in the actions you have taken.
Nobody can erase reality.
Keep it up, and thanks!
Most of us don't even knowing we are laying a trail of beans in the labyrinth. But we are. Your's will be brighter. Don't be discouranged.
So keep laying those "bright beans" down for us all and especially for yourself.
History was, future will be, but time is.
Comment #25: Nolip said on 1/25/06 @ 7:57am ET...
The other "I" word...IMPRISONMENT!
While its safe to say that there's enough lawyers on Capitol Hill to represent half the gross national product with their collective incomes, and while its also safe to say that represents enough knowledge regarding constitutional, corporate, criminal and whatever legal discipline they're teaching at law school these days, it isn't safe to say that collectively any of them have a clue on how to stop this runaway train nation that Bush is driving into the concrete buttresses at the end of the line. Everyone here is screaming "Throw The Switch" but the noise of the train and its momentum are drowning out our cries. Somewhere on this train there must be that one mouse who can chew through the brake lines and bring this screaming monster to a halt before it takes out the train and everyone on it. You understand the metaphor. Any thoughts on where the mouse is? Is the mouse a walkout on the SOTU address (really the title should be changed to "Look What A Mess I Made In Only 5 Short Years")? Is the mouse all of the Democrats not showing up for the SOTU address and holding their own (we already have the embodiment of a Constitutional schism in BushCo, may as well carry that to it's eventual stage)? Or will the mouse show itself in other ways (I'm thinking November '06 but then you've got Diebold blowing smoke all the way back to the caboose and nobody in Congress can see it, or chooses to ignore it, why else don't we have a consistent method of electing a president yet?)? Personally, I think the chief of police of D.C., if he hasn't already been paid off by Boss Bush needs to knock on the door of the White House and present a warrant for George Bush's arrest for high crimes and misdemeanors and everything else he's done to this nation (including failure to perform the duties that he swore to perform during his inaugurals after stealing those two elections). Or, do we just stand around and watch Bush run rough shod over this "home of the brave and land of the free"? Thoughts?
Comment #26: Ohiodem1 said on 1/25/06 @ 8:05am ET...
Remember when George W. Bush began his frontal attack on Social Security, the infamous 60 cities in 60 days media circus?
Each and every day the media reported on his canned speeches to selected or captive audiences, selected for their blind loyalty to George W. Bush, the support for his plan to wreck Social Security declined. George W. Bush couldn't even keep his script straight, like when he asked a lady how old she was (that's REALLY bad manners), and before she answered, he said, 'That's how old my Mom is'.
Each time Alberto Gonzales or George W. Bush or General H. makes a nonsensical speech defending their illegal activity of spying on Americans, now spun to a "Terrorist Surviellance Program" the ratings of George W. Bush go down, just like support for destroying Social Security went down with every event, 60 times in 60 days.
The president, who now slouches on the lectern, in an attempt to be "just one of the guys" and he hangs on for dear life, loses a point in the polls each and every time he makes a speech defending the indefensible. His AG, Mr. Gonzales, has handed the House Judical Committee, and by the extension the American people, one more smoking gun in the convoluted and illogical LEGAL defense of the indefensible, the spying on American Citizens.
Prediction, after the SOTU, the American people will have heard enough. A large and growing majority will demand that the President of the United States of America, and the Vice President of the United States of America be impeached for High Crimes and Misdemeanors. Only those willfully politically blind will refuse to see this.
Comment #27: Nolip said on 1/25/06 @ 8:33am ET...
For Palestinians, vote is all about corruption
Elections are a call for Fatah to put an end to graft, now or never
found at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11005133/
Rewritten here:
For Americans, vote is all about corruption
Elections are a call for Congress to put an end to graft and influence peddling, now or never
Comment #28: sanitysojourner said on 1/25/06 @ 9:32am ET...
#13 Rusty. Thanks for the link. My experiences have been similar. It doesn't stop me, but it is disheartening.
#19 feline: I asked this of my representative. The answer was "yes," which is why I keep 'em coming.
My overall point is that public figures are more likely to have and/or make media events. I can circulate the poll results to my hundred or so contacts, they can do the same in turn, but it still doesn't hit mainstream America.
Public officials have media opportunities. I suggest they use them.
Comment #29: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 10:07am ET...
#28 sanitysojournerer, do you know if those numbers of contacts are posted on the internet anywhere? I'm curious to see them so that we can counter the media spin on how so many Americans supposedly support Bush, Alito, and protection over privacy.
It's evident to me, though I didn't really need the evidence, that Americans choose Law over Fear. But, the television media isn't getting out the message, the truth. Sometimes I wonder if the best approach is to organize marches on the major television network headquarters in addition to the marches on D.C.
Comment #30: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 10:13am ET...
I meant to mention in my last post the possibility of coordination with international support groups (like Amnesty International), nations with major media outlets (like BBC?), who would broadcast the public outcry here, and be sure to show the rest of the world the shame of the Bush Administration if they did decide to start making mass arrests and filling prisons. This needs to be looked into. I know the privatization and expansion of prisons and detention centers has been taking place - another way for the private contractors to siphon our money that should be spent on education, healthcare, job development.
Comment #31: LeslieB said on 1/25/06 @ 10:22am ET...
The corporate media are predominately shills for the Bush administration. Of course they're not going to cover the Bush fall from the bounce. According to the media, Bush has a mandate!
Unrelated Bush's falling bounce, what is this new domestic spying standard Gonzales and Hayden have referred to? They both have said that the Fourth Amendment standard for search and seizure is known as the "reasonable basis"? Since when? What is the Bush administration's definition of "reasonable basis"? They think they can rewrite the Constitution to fit their policies in order to enable their breaking the law? It's just mind-boggling.
Comment #32: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 11:01am ET...
Harry Reid's Blog
If anyone would like to support Senator Reid in a filibuster there.
Comment #33: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 11:18am ET...
Alito votes expected on CSPAN
Go to the C-SPAN homepage, I believe the Senate Session on Alito is taking place now on C-SPAN-2, Leahy has been strongly addressing issue of domestic surveillance.
Comment #34: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 11:36am ET...
Time and again Bush has managed to minimize any public dissent, and the media refuses to cover protests, minimizes the numbers, and shows film with the more "colorful" of the protesters in the forefront.
Unless the Democratic leadership starts supporting and attending these protests, unified, vocally, and publicly, these protests will continue to be ignored by the media.
Reid's speech, like his invocation of Rule 21, gave the appearance of strong opposition. But, like the Rule 21 charade, if his posturing does not pay dividends, than they are little more than photo ops. In his speech Reid cites "illegal" actions by this president, yet Reid has publicly refused to endorse impeachment. Are the American people just supposed to "tolerate" a president that conducts himself criminally? Reid talks strongly about the corruption on the right. Yet, just days ago he APOLOGISED to the Republicans for his language on this issue. And Reid has refused to endorse a filibuster. "No" votes on Alito are NOT a victory. But they are going to try to tell us it is.
As every week goes by the Neocons are getting STRONGER, not weaker. And it is in no small part because of the Democratic party's failure to launch a cohesive organized opposition, and I do not see improvements. Until the rest of the party becomes as pro-active and as courageous in their efforts as Conyers is, the Neocons will maintain their grasp on power. And we are rapidly nearing, if we have not already arrived there, where the neocons control will be irreversable.
Reid is a straw man. He WILL NOT lead this party to victory. His PAC monies come from the same interests that fuel the neocons, namely entities such as AIPAC. Is it a coincidence that he is in the top ten list of AIPAC supported Washington politicians? Is it a coincidence that the top echelon of the neocon ranks and the PNAC are in the same pockets he is????
Instead of addressing the questions I pose, or the issues I raise above, I will be called a "swiftboater" a right wing troll, etc, yadyadayadayada....
And, our democracy will continue to dissappear because of the COMPLICITY of turncoats like Lieberman, Nelson, Feinstein, Biden, and...yes, Harry Reid.
January Monday 23rd 2006
Bush Administration Seeks to Squelch State of the Union Protest at Capitol on January 31
Bush Administration Seeks to Squelch State of the Union Protest at Capitol on January 31 January 22, 2006
World Can’t Wait Capitol Hill Office: 511 ‘C’ St. NE Washington DC 20002, Stanton Square DC PRESS CONTACT: Don Spark, 202-536-4310, donspark@worldcantwait.org
Press Conference: Monday, January 23, 9:30 a.m. National Press Club, Edward R. Murrow Room 529 14th Street, NW Washington DC
The Bush administration has expanded the special security zone around the Capitol, effectively denying a meaningful public space for a protest called by World Can’t Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime during the State of the Union address on January 31, 2006. This action, one of many held simultaneously that night at 8pm EST in cities and towns across the country, calls for symbolically “drowning out Bush’s lies” and demands “BUSH STEP DOWN.”
At a meeting on January 10 with the National Park Service Police, Capitol Police, and National Parks Department, the World Can’t Wait was offered the area surrounding the Capitol Reflecting Pool for the January 31st gathering. This was accepted by World Can’t Wait. However, on January 19, the organization received word that this area had been reclassified as part of a “secure perimeter” for that day.
In addition, the grass areas of the National Mall have been closed for “turf renovation” up to 7th Street. Thus, the proposed demonstration area is restricted to the “gravel and concrete walkways of the national Mall between 3rd and 4th Streets.”
Travis Morales of World Can’t Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime responded: “This so-called permit would have the effect of dispersing and disrupting this First Amendment protest by preventing a large, cohesive gathering anywhere near the Capitol. We’d have to go a mile away to 7th Street to even have a stage. We’re mobilizing people to challenge this outrageous prohibition, and we’re pursuing legal action.”
World Can’t Wait has already received a permit for a national demonstration at the Ellipse on Saturday, February 4.
Both the January 31 and February 4 actions were announced in a full-page ad in the New York Times published January 20, signed by Edward Asner, Harry Belafonte, Michael Eric Dyson, Niles Eldredge, Eve Ensler, Jane Fonda, Martin Garbus, Paul Haggis, Jonathan Kozol, Jessica Lange, Lewis Lapham, Tom Morello, U.S. Rep. Major Owens, Sean Penn, Harold Pinter, Susan Sarandon, John Sayles, Richard Serra, Rev. Al Sharpton, Cindy Sheehan, Serj Tankian, Studs Terkel, Kurt Vonnegut, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, Cornel West, and Howard Zinn.
World Can’t Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime
http://worldcantwait.org
Comment #35: rainbowsally said on 1/25/06 @ 11:51am ET...
STRATEGY QUIZZ
True or false.
Killer whales drive seals into shallower and shallower water.
DSM.
Comment #36: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 11:56am ET...
#34 POA, thank you for the information on this; I know about the scheduled demonstrations, but I didn't know about the Bush sabotage (my word) of the event.
Do you know what legal actions Travis Morales is taking? I'll go to the website and see if I can find anymore info there. Keep up the good investigations! Please don't assume negative conclusions will be made about your earnest efforts to inform and bring about positive change.
Comment #37: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 12:16pm ET...
Here's the link to the article about possible problem with securing an assembling area
World Can't Wait
I know Tahoe and others have posted info about this, also; thanks to all for keeping this topic alive.
POA, I haven't read and heard all that Reid has said, I haven't been able to make an assessment of the possibility that he'll endorse a filibuster. I've written him twice urging him to do so, because right now--today--it's the most that I can do. I agree that our mainstream media has been negligent in accurately portaying public protest to the actions of the Bush Administration. Have you checked out any of the links I've posted? Let me know what you think of some of the opinions I've expressed.
Comment #38: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 12:45pm ET...
"Please don't assume negative conclusions will be made about your earnest efforts to inform and bring about positive change."
ASSUME?????? Thanks for the chuckle. It has happened consistantly here. I "assume" nothing.
The amazing thing to me is that so many advocate courses of action that have failed to produce results, and are the same courses of action that got us into the position we are now in.
The Neocons LOVE the fact that we are attempting to counter criminals and constitutional traitors with civility and letter writing campaigns. As long as the majority of us believe such "campaigns" stand a chance of success, it forestalls any ability civilian leaders and organizers such as Travis Morales and Cindy Sheehan will have of gathering us in the streets.
Yesterday morning, when Ben Nelson was on C-Span, he was asked about the phone calls, letters, and emails he has recieved INRE to the Alito issue. His comment, (not verbatim, but to the effect), was that "There will always be "special interest groups" that "flood" the phone lines. It is just something you learn to live with".... I wish I could remember the exact words, but it was to that effect. He completely marginalized the efforts of citizens writing or calling, and portrayed it as an inconvenience rather than a way to gauge the sentiments of his constituency. I fear he is not the only Washington leech that feels that way.
Conyers' efforts are a breath of fresh air, but he cannot do all this without the support of the publicly recognized Democratic leadership. And he quite simply IS NOT getting it. What nationally recognized Democratic "leader" have you seen recognize and support Conyers' efforts publicly??
It is IMPOSSIBLE that the Democratic leadership can not make political hay out of the failures, crimes, scandals,corruption and policies of this Executive Administration UNLESS there are some within the party that do nort wish to stem or reverse the direction this country is headed. Good God, the ATTORNEY GENERAL committed IRREFUTABLE PERJURY during his confirmmation hearings about his role in getting Bush recused from jury duty. Have you seen ONE SINGLE Democrat point out that our Attorney General was confirmed despite the fact he is a felony perjurer??? Or how about a gay whore and pornographer doing sleepovers in the White House, being privy to classifed material, and recieving a press pass to the White House press room?? They couldn't make hay out of THAT to a nation that has been literally OBSSESSED with ONE SINGLE BLOWJOB for over a 6 years?
I see a bunch of scattered self-serving opportunists, pursuing individual agendas at the cost of our Nation's tenets, security, and freedoms, while the opposition works in a unified, and organized manner to construct a stranglehold on power. And they are succeeding.
Comment #39: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 12:46pm ET...
I've been listening to the Senate Session on Alito on C-SPAN. I'm exhausted of hearing what this nominee deserves.
Under "ordinary circumstances", in a just and democratic society, yes - judicial nominees deserve an "up or down vote". But, Democrats AND Republican members of Congress must be aware - as the majority of Americans are - that our country, the People, and the Constitution are enduring the strain of the "extraordinary circumstances" that President Bush has created by disrespecting congressional authority, the Laws upheld by the FISA judiciary, and the citizen's rights. They must greatly underestimate our intelligence and industry; we know that domestic surveillance without the security of a warrant is illegal, no matter how much Bush twists the labels and the facts. I will not be manipulated by the use of Fear - by "terrorists" OR by this Administration. I know that the Constitution, and the Rules of Law, govern us - NOT FEAR.
Comment #40: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 12:52pm ET...
BTW, Feline. The ONLY post I have ever seen removed from Harry Reid's website was one I put up that lsted the dollar amounts that Harry Reid has recieved from AIPAC. Don't just take my word for it. "JEP" over there, as well as "Bill", saw it as well.
Comment #41: feline said on 1/25/06 @ 1:19pm ET...
POA, I'm not disputing any information you've posted here or elsewhere as being factual; the situation is what it is, and I have only so many options in voicing my opinions to any that provide me the opportunity, including Senator Reid. I will continue to exercise my rights, which are becoming more limited by the day. The public's scrutiny of the servants that are paid by our taxes is vital; but, if I don't do my duty of civic participation by writing letters and (hopefully) demonstrating, then I would be vulnerable to the scrutiny of my peers who are engaging in civic actions.
Comment #42: tahoebasha1 said on 1/25/06 @ 1:32pm ET...
ACTION NEEDED
Calling All PDA members and supporters:
The effort to get the Senate to reject Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court is one of the most important campaigns in the modern history of this country. With the Bush Administration pushing totally to maintain their claimed right to act without any restraint or review by the judicial branch, and in direct defiance of expressly worded acts of Congress, we are at our “Julius Caesar” moment -- or perhaps our “Adolph Hitler” moment -- the point at which the legislative branch either pushes back and reasserts the Constitutional balance of the branches of government, or surrenders its power to restrain a dictatorial-minded executive, perhaps forever losing the ability in the future to regain that power. In this battle, the Supreme Court could well be the deciding factor in determining whether the claimed powers of the Executive are ruled to be constitutional or unconstitutional. And in such a vote, Alito could be the deciding fifth vote for an unfettered executive.
Judge Alito's entire record is one of deferring to the authority of the executive branch as against Congress, and to the authority of government as against citizens. If anything can be forecast about how Mr. Alito would vote as a Supreme Court justice, it is that he would continue his life-long pattern, repeated over and over again on the Appellate Court, and if it came down to it, cast his vote for de facto dictatorial powers for any executive who merely claimed to be acting in the interests of national security.
Please, we urge everyone reading this email to immediately visit the PDA webpage detailing the case against Alito, at http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/news/alito.php. (Then go to PDA's action page and e-mail your Senators -- could not post because of my information.)
Then, please also make a point of calling the office of each of your state’s senators. The website http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm lists every Senator’s office phone number. Phone calls are even more effective than emails. It would be ideal to flood the Senate switchboard and keep every Senator’s phone ringing off the hook on this issue all day every day this week.
Finally, please forward this message to every one you can think of, and to every listserve, blog or other online forum you have access to, and contact people who might not read emails, to at least call their Senators. We must not leave anything undone that we could have done.
"As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there's a twilight where everything remains seemingly unchanged, and it is in such twilight that we must be aware of change in the air, however slight, lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness." -- William O. Douglas, longest serving Justice (36 years) U. S. Supreme Court.
Comment #43: tahoebasha1 said on 1/25/06 @ 1:35pm ET...
Just would like to add a quick note about World Can't Wait -- while they may be having some problems with locations, I have noted that just since last night, sites all over the United States have increased as places of actions for Januar 31, 2006, and February 4, 2006. Please note, for those of you who have no action sites close to you, you could consider getting one going in your city or village. The World Cant Wait can show you how. Just peruse their website and you will find it.
Comment #44: tahoebasha1 said on 1/25/06 @ 1:41pm ET...
MORE ACTION NEEDED
From: TRUE MAJORITY
The National Patriot Act Call-in Day is Today
Dear
Along with tens of thousands of other Americans, TrueMajorityACTION's "Rapid Response" team is mobilizing and making calls to Congress asking them to protect our rights. The current Patriot Act is set to expire in early February, and right now the details are being quietly hammered out for a new version. Now is the time to tell Congress to preserve Americans' civil liberties.
You can reach your officials - Representative Jesse Jackson, Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Barack Obama - by calling the capitol switchboard:
(202) 224-3121
The central message of the call-in day is that Congress needs to work for a Patriot Act that protects Americans' privacy rights and allows for greater judicial review and congressional oversight of the executive branch. This includes asking your member of Congress to include the following language in the Patriot Act:
1) In order to obtain personal records from libraries and bookstores, a suspect must be factually linked to a terrorism investigation.
2) When libraries and businesses are given a FISA Court order or a National Security Letter demanding customer records, they must be allowed to challenge it in court like any other search warrant.
After you've made the call, help us track the success of the campaign by clicking the button below:
If you want more background on the Patriot Act, check out resources from the ACLU and the American Libraries Association.
Thanks for all that you do,
Matt Holland
TrueMajorityACTION Coordinator
Comment #45: Nolip said on 1/25/06 @ 2:22pm ET...
Democratic aides break silence on Alito vote: Filibuster still 'long shot;' Senators who will vote against Alito may not back filibuster: Developing...
at Raw Story
Comment #46: Citizen J said on 1/25/06 @ 3:02pm ET...
Re 45- So, in other words, all that noise the Dems made about Alito is just that- NOISE.
Hard to argue with POA on this folks. Gutless, spineless cowards that go along to get along. *dispair*
Comment #47: The Forest said on 1/25/06 @ 3:58pm ET...
“...The reality is this isn’t something that American people are calling in droves about. We’re getting more calls in on NSA spying than we are on Alito...”
That quote is also from Raw Story. As is this one:
“...'The myopia among too many Senate Democrats is stunning,' the aide said..."
UN BE LIEV ABLE.
The overworked, information-blockaded AMERICAN PEOPLE are the ones who are supposed to be reviewing in detail Judge Alito's record and deciding what is best for their country, are they? And then they'll call up their Senator and tell them which way to vote, huh?
WHAT AN OUTRAGEOUS COP-OUT BY A UNITED STATES SENATOR. Can't "lead" -- the tuned-out constituents MIGHT NOT EVEN NOTICE. HORRORS.
But someone WILL NOTICE IF YOU DON'T, Democrats: THOSE OF US WILLING AND ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION. And NO ONE who knows what is going on, and with an ounce of self-preservation, is going to EVER back your party again on "faith."
Got it? "Trust us" walks out the door NOW -- you can save your 2006 campaign ad money. This filibuster, or not, SAYS IT ALL about your values and your principles, or your corrupt consciences and your sold-out characters.
WHAT do you think that NSA spying issue IS ALL ABOUT? PRIVACY. LIBERTY. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. IN. OUR. OWN. COUNTRY.
And if YOU can't make that simple, OBVIOUS connection to the views and beliefs of Judge Samuel Alito, Jr. - YOU ARE A DISGRACEFUL, DESPICABLE EXCUSE FOR AN AMERICAN PATRIOT AND PUBLIC SERVANT.
Do you really mean to tell me that United States Senators IGNORE their oaths of office as casually as George W. Bush ignores his? You'd better start counting every one of those NSA calls from constituents as OPPOSITION to Judge Alito. BECAUSE THEY ARE. AS SOON as you blast your way through the blockade of the corporate media on Alito WITH A FILIBUSTER and the FACTS.
Harry Reid -- Keep Fighting. Throw everything including the kitchen sink at these cowards in your own Party. And if you fail, tell us you tried. Because I believe you are trying. But it's starting to appear that you've got some tenured public-trough feeders who want the perks but shun the responsibilities of being an American Senator, afraid to try to educate their constituents on the absolute necessity of defending the WAY OF LIFE protected by our U.S. Constitution. Because make no mistake, in large ways and small, our AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE is on the line with Judge Alito. And any Senator of any Party who will not stand up to preserve MY Constitutional rights against this threat is my enemy.
Do You Hear Me?
Comment #48: sanitysojourner said on 1/25/06 @ 4:24pm ET...
#29 feline: To answer your question about letter/contact information that might be aggregated for public view, I called my rep's office. They are checking.
If I receive more complete answer, I will post it here.
The person I spoke with indicated that they do keep track of how the mail/letters/faxes/calls/surveys come in for their own internal use, but wasn't sure about external access, and also knew nothing about other congressional offices.
Perhaps Rep. Conyers could let us know how his office handles contacts.
I'm wagering that there is no way that legislators would want their constituents' leanings made public. Otherwise, they couldn't come up with the kaka that Forest mentions in #47. We all know darn well they've been getting a lot of contacts about the SCOTUS disgustus.
Comment #49: Genghis Khan said on 1/25/06 @ 4:54pm ET...
If there's some politically strategic reasoning behind not filibustering Alito, I sure wish the DNC would share it with us.
Got anything you can spare, Congressman?
POA's arguments are starting to look better and better.
Comment #50: tahoebasha1 said on 1/25/06 @ 5:34pm ET...
More from PDA
(Also, watch your e-mails, I've been finding stuff that I normally get from activist orgs. that just today has been winding up in SPAM.)
FILIBUSTER ALITO NOW
Senate Democrats refuse to signal whether or not they will filibuster
Alito. They appear to have 41 votes, since Ben Nelson (D-NE) is the only
one of 44 Democrats who supports Alito. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) should
oppose Alito, and 5 Republicans - Lamar Alexander (TN), Lincoln Chafee (RI)
Susan Collins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), and Ted Stevens (AK) - are
undecided.
We've called and called, but we need to call our Senators again and
DEMAND A FILIBUSTER: TOLL FREE - 888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641
For extra credit, use the same numbers to call all the 2008
Presidential candidates who are sitting Senators - Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Hillary
Clinton, Russ Feingold, and John Kerry - and tell them to either LEAD
THE FILIBUSTER or FORGET ABOUT YOUR SUPPORT. You can also send that
message to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (202-224-2447) and
the Democratic National Committee (202-863-8000).
Comment #51: Frosted Flake said on 1/25/06 @ 5:43pm ET...
Genghis Kahn #49 makes the point well and with brevity.
I appreciate this forum.
Frosted Flake
Comment #52: koryannder said on 1/25/06 @ 6:44pm ET...
Well! Peculiar to see so many demands for FILIBUSTER on a Congressman's blog, where the possibility is nil - or maybe some Senator's staffers READ this blog? I sincerely hope so.
Now -for #13 - Daily KOS found out that Lieberman is a Democrat in name only? I've known that since 2000, when he did his level best to sabotage Gore's campaign; as a candidate for veep he looked like Dopey. Also, as you know, the miscalled Democratic Leadership Council, (DLC) which he misleads, is "Republican Lite," at best. Had Gore had another VP candidate, he might have even won in spite of the Diebold machines and the hanging and dimpled chads.
For #20 - there is no constitutional requirement for any given number of justices on the Supreme(?) Court. O'Connor can stay forever if she likes, or just leave - Alito, or anyone else - is UNNECESSARY! (And if he gets too nasty and we get a Democratic Congress, he can be impeached!) And finally, for PoA - first of all, let me congratulate you on making a lot of sense without nuking the critics of your intemperance - and I thank you for finally learning how to spell "PUBLICLY!"
Comment #53: Frosted Flake said on 1/25/06 @ 6:59pm ET...
Koryander #52 It may be that the Congressman knows one or two Senators, might mention to them what he thinks, what he hears, etcetera.
Also, let us not overlook the value (if any) of the cooperation between these contributing commentators in communicating these opinions directly to Various Senators.
I've found these links helpful.
All the Senators addresses
The Score
Not intended as personal comment, though I could see it viewed that way.
I appreciate this Forum.
Frosted Flake
Comment #54: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 9:35pm ET...
"Let's see who can come up with the best example of someone touting a "Bush bounce" last year.".....John Conyers, Jan 24, 2006
"I am also pleased that President Bush is beginning to hear the calls of the American people and members of Congress from both political parties who want to know in more specific terms the remaining objectives in Iraq and his strategy to successfully complete the mission.".....Harry Reid, Dec 23, 2005
Note; I wanted to quote Reid's pleasure at Bush's "newfound candor" about "how" we went to war, but apparently they have REMOVED that comment from his blog.
Comment #55: Frosted Flake said on 1/25/06 @ 10:05pm ET...
Off topic.
Accessible Voting Without Computers
Point : HAVA doesn't require computers, it requires accessible voting for the disabled. Here is one way.
This, thanks to Doug Eldritch.
Frosted Flake
Comment #56: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 10:15pm ET...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/the-dry-powder-democrats_b_14446.html
From the Huffington blog...
The comments are worth reading...
Written by Cenk Uygur...
Dry Powder Democrats
Democrats make it nearly impossible to support them. I have never seen a party so miserably weak. They told us Alito would be the BIG fight. They had kept all their powder dry for this huge confrontation. We were told that they didn’t fight on Gonzales, they didn’t fight on Roberts, they made deals on the filibuster – all so they could fight when a hard core conservative was nominated to replace the more moderate O’Connor.
Apparently, they lied. As things stand now, the Democrats for the one thousandth time in a row will not fight. I don’t know where to turn. There is a quiet rage building among our listeners. Will no one stand up for us?
Here are two paragraphs from the New York Times today:
“Speaking to reporters after the committee vote, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, said that even if Judge Alito was confirmed, the strong Democratic opposition should send a message.
"I would hope it sends a message to the president that he should be more careful," Mr. Reid said. "I think it sends a message to the American people that this guy is not King George, he's President George."”
What is he talking about?! It sends the exact opposite message – don’t worry about the cowardly Democrats, they’ll huff and puff but you’ll get your guys confirmed anyway.
A close vote? Who cares?!!!! That doesn’t mean a damn thing. Blocking the nomination is what will send a message and get the job done. Anything else is just bullshit politics.
And very poor politics at that. This will be yet another club the Republicans can bludgeon the Democrats with. They voted against Alito but didn’t even have the nerve to fight against him. They allowed the confirmation without a real effort and then pretended to be against it.
If the Democrats can’t stand up for themselves, how do they expect the country to believe they can stand up for us?
Alito has already indicated he will run roughshod over the separation of powers in the Constitution. He believes the President has the “unitary executive” power to ignore the laws of Congress. He will not even agree that Roe is settled law. 56% of the country says they would oppose his nomination if they thought he would overturn Roe.
Right now, the country is completely unaware of Alito’s radical views. If the Democrats don’t make the case for it, they never will. Bring the conversation to the American people. Engage them, ask them if they want a justice like this making laws for all of us. You won’t know unless you force a conversation like this with the use of a filibuster.
All the polls show that the American people are on the Democrats side on these issues. They don’t want someone who is going overturn Roe or give the President unchecked powers. If with a majority of the people behind them and the President at his lowest approval ratings, the Democrats still can’t muster up the courage for a fight, then the Republicans are right about the Democrats being too weak to protect us.
Comment #57: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 10:27pm ET...
"I'm doing everything I can, but no one can any longer convince me that my calls and letters make one iota of difference to politicians, let alone the media. I keep those cards and letters coming anyway, but recognize that I'm performing the definition of insanity."
Twice in the last week I have read that due to the Anthrax attacks, actual "letters" to senators are sent to a central hub for "vetting", and rarely, if ever, reach their destination.
Tenaciously, a time back, I called BOTH of Reid's offices, until I was able to talk to actual staff members at BOTH offices. I was told that his blog was not managed by Reid's staff, but rather by the "Friends of Harry Reid". Both staff members were completely UNAWARE that the comment section was blocked from recieving comments, and had been for some time. The following day it was open for comment again. Coincidence? Perhaps.
But my point being, I doubt Reid even reads his blog, that is NOT administered in house. These people have become primadonnas, and care little for the sentiments of their constituency. This elitism has grown and festered to the opoint that we will eventually wind up in the streets, en masse, before we reverse the direction this country is headed. We have lost our voice and our vote, and the Fourth Estate is just another whore.
Comment #58: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 10:38pm ET...
The current Buzzflash "Headline"...
"Report: Are Just 8 Dems Holding Up a Filibuster of Alito? Surrender After Surrender, The Dems in the Senate Promised Us They Were Holding Their Fire Until Someone Like Alito Was Nominated -- And Then They Would Hold the Line. Did They Lie to Us? Why Won't Harry Reid Put Pressure on Them to Filibuster? Because Harry R. Ain't No Harry Truman."
Do something about it here......
http://www.democrats.com/alito-8
Comment #59: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 10:40pm ET...
Another Buzzflash caption....
John Kerry Said in June of 2003, "I am prepared to filibuster, if necessary, any Supreme Court nominee who would turn back the clock on a woman's right to choose or the constitutional right to privacy, on civil rights and individual liberties and on the laws protecting workers and the environment," Kerry said in remarks via satellite at a meeting of Democratic party officials in St. Paul, Minn. "The test is basic -- any person who thinks it's his or her job to push an extreme political agenda rather than to interpret the law should not be a Supreme Court justice." You Just Described Sam Alito, John. Are You Going to Keep Your Word? We Doubt It. Kerry's D.C. Phone and Fax: 202-224-2742 and 202-224-8525 1/26
(Gee, you think Rusty will accuse Buzzflash of "swiftboating"???)
Comment #60: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 10:44pm ET...
Yet another Buzzflash caption.....
The Democrats Keep Racking Up Losses and Saying They are Waiting Until the Right Moment to Win. We Love Harry Reid's Comments About Getting a High Vote Count, But Still Losing and Not Filibustering. "I think it sends a message to the American people that this guy is not King George, he's President George," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said. No, Harry, It Sends No Messages to King George, Because You've Just Helped Make Him King George. He's Won a Vote for Dictatorial Power and You Think That's Sending Him a Message? Maybe the Message, the Dems are Complete Patsies Who Can't Win When They are Up Against the Most Corrupt, Inept, Unethical Power-Hungry, Profiteering Presidency of All Time. That's Some Message You're Sending Harry. Call It the Message of Surrender. 1/26
(Gee, how do you accuse the premier progressive news site of being a "swiftboater" and a right wing troll???)
Comment #61: Pissed Off American said on 1/25/06 @ 10:52pm ET...
More Buzzflash captions......
"One of the BuzzFlash Editorials That Foresaw the Dems in the Senate Would Cave on Alito. Their Only Consistency is Their Predictabilty at Losing and Failing to Become Outraged on Behalf of the Constitution and Democracy: "A Washington Post headline on January 9th blared, "Democrats Ready to Go After Alito". But, it's probably too late, as usual. And this time, the Democrats are signing their own death warrant -- and that of Congress -- if Alito gets seated."
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Alito Has Enough Support for Confirmation. The Democrats Will Retreat, Yet Again, And Tell Us Getting 40-some "No" Votes is a Victory. It's Not. Standing up for the Constitution and Sanity with a Filibuster is a Victory. Otherwise, It's a Loss For America. 1/25
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Molly Ivins, Step Right Up, You Are This Week's BuzzFlash "Wings of Justice" Award Winner: "Enough. Enough triangulation, calculation and equivocation.... Do not sit there cowering and pretending the only way to win is as Republican-lite. If the Washington-based party can't get up and fight, we'll find someone who can."
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On Alito, Democrats in the Senate Once Again Spout the Cowardly Idea That It Pays to Lose. You Wouldn't Want These Craven Politicians on Your Little League Team. Message to Dems: Its Pays to WIN! 1/25
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Sam Alito and the End of Constitutional Checks and Balances: The Senate Dems are About to Hang Themselves -- A BuzzFlash Editorial
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Thank God our current Senate Democrats weren't at Lexington and Concord! They would have run the other way instead of waiting to see the "whites of their eyes" as the lobster coats approached.
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Mainstream Media Already Has Alito on the Court. If the Dems Don't Grow a Spine and Filibuster, The White House Media Corps Will be Right. And It Doesn't Look Like the Jellyfish are Growing Any Backbone. The Dems in the Senate Still Don't Understand the Stakes.
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Alito Senate Judiciary Hearing Transcript: Leahy, "This is a nomination that I fear threatens the fundamental rights and liberties of all Americans now and in generations to come. The president is in the midst of a radical realignment of the powers of the government and its intrusiveness into the private lives of Americans.This president has made some of the most expansive claims of power since American patriots fought the War of Independence to rid themselves of the oppressive rule of King George III." Okay, Pat, Now Filibuster. Words are Cheap. If You Mean What You Said, You are Obligated to Help Save the Constitution by Filibustering.
