"Let's face it, plutocrats in hock to or agreeing with corporate/military-industrial mentalities are in control of most of the leadership of both parties. Granted, the Republican leaders are much more authoritarian and greedy and vicious, but the Democratic leaders, lacking a unifying moral and political theory of governance, aren't all that much better. Almost all of them owe their souls to the company store, as it were."
THERE IS RAGING ANGER OUT THERE
"What I find somewhat optimistic," I countered, "is that the liberal/progressive citizen base of the party is filled with seething anger at the sell-out of their leaders on the war-funding bill; Cindy Sheehan, for one, has had enough and says she's exiting the Democratic Party. These activists will direct their rage right where it needs to go -- to Pelosi and Reid and Emanuel and the whole DLC crew. This Democratic boat will be turned from its present direction. Come September--"
"September is too damn late!" interrupted Shallow Throat. "The Dems have just given the war a long-term lease, at the very least until Bush and Cheney depart the White House in January of 2009. The Dems will just be nibbling around the edges of the policy they've authorized by their cowardly vote approving the war funding."
"So what options are available?" I asked. "Just demonstrating and shouting our anger at these creeps doesn't seem to get us anywhere. Where should we be going?"
"USE THE POWER YOU HAVE"
"Look," said Shallow Throat, "your side still has some leverage. You control the Congress and thus can use the investigative function, subpoena powers, putting witnesses under oath, etc.
"But, damm it, you have these one-day hearings, a lot of fulminating when the Administration witnesses skirt and evade the questions, and then you let them go. If you really want to learn what really happened, you'll have to invite or subpoena them back again and again until you get full, honest answers, threaten them and maybe even cite them for contempt of Congress.
"If necessary, take them to court to get them to supply the documents and copies of e-mails you subpoenaed; establish an impeachment panel and start the early work on Gonzales, Cheney, Bush; inquire how Bush, with last week's secret 'National Security Presidential Directive,' totally cut the Congress out of any say in how the government would be organized in case of an 'emergency' -- he appointed himself sole decider of all matters civil and legislative, including when to declare martial law, and nobody is permitted to override his dictatorial decisions."
"Not sure any investigations along those lines will necessarily lead anywhere, practically speaking," I said. "The Republicans have ways of gumming up the works."
CHANGING THE DYNAMIC
"So what?" Shallow Throat yelled. "At least give the public some truths to hang onto, and some hope that the Democrats are trying to do something rather than just rolling on their backs in total submission to the snarling tactics of Karl Rove, Dick Cheney and their friends. Besides, you need to keep those guys on the defensive every day of every week. Don't let them get traction, momentum. Force them to play defense, scatter their energies, let them sweat for a change.
"And I suggest you get right on it, since the HardRight extremists running this Administration and the GOP in Congress have all sorts of bad news up their sleeves, including another major escalation of the Iraq War, aiding in an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and military installations, and clamping down even more on Americans' constitutional rights, including the possible declaration of martial law."
"Now you're really scaring me," I said.
THE FRIGHTENING POSSIBILITIES
"Good! You'd better be frightened," said Shallow Throat. "If the Republicans hold the White House in the 2008 election, we could have a kind of civil war inside the military right here in this country.
Bernard Weiner, Ph.D. in government & international relations, has taught at universities in California and Washington, worked for two decades as a writer-editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, and currently serves as co-editor of The Crisis Papers (www.crisispapers.org).
Those who are looking to end the war should consider the Gravel United States Armed Forces Withdrawal from Iraq Act. If they like the idea they should contact their members of Congress and ask them why they are not supporting it.
Democratic Presidential candidate Mike Gravel has a plan that will end the war in Iraq in three months with all US troops home in six.This plan recognizes that under the United States Constitution the power of the Congress is superior to the power of the Presidency.
Mike’s plan is to pass a law in the Congress making the war in Iraq illegal.Failure to comply with the law would be punishable by five years in jail without possibility of parole.The President of the United States is required to follow the law like any other American citizen.
Of course, once the law is passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is likely that President Bush will veto it. Mike Gravel’s plan would call for the Senate and House Democratic leadership, Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to bring the bill to a vote day after day, 7 days a week, 30 minutes per day, forcing the media spotlight to shine on those Senators and Congressman who are prolonging the war until pressure from their constituents produces a two-thirds majority sufficient to override the Presidential veto.(If the law is filibustered in the Senate initially, the same procedure would apply.)
Mike Gravel is a legislative strategist who served two terms in the US Senate fighting for "unpopular" causes and winning against the odds.He released the Pentagon Papers and successfully ended the US military draft by conducting a five month filibuster in the US Senate.Most other options for ending the war fall into the "do the right thing" category or involve timelines that extend far off into the future.Rather than wait, let’s force our elected representatives to listen to the will of the American people by introducing Mike Gravel’s draft legislation, the United States Armed Forces Withdrawal from Iraq Act, and end this destructive and unnecessary war now.
by
SMcNeil (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments)
on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 10:49:39 AM
1 comments
How would you rate this?
You must be logged in (if signed up) to do ratings.
It's free to signup! And easy. And takes just a minute or two....
Must Read (
Well Said (
News (
Touching (
Funny (
Supported (
Interesting (
Inspiring (
Valuable (
