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Add to My Group
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August 18, 2008 at 17:42:02
by Jeeni Criscenzo Page 1 of 2 page(s) 
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Even on a local level, I see the same issues I worked against when I was campaigning three years ago, still being fought – the Sunrise Powerlink, the LEAPS project, the Robertson’s Concrete Plant, the granite quarry in Temecula. I’m sure you have similar issues wherever you live, and have run up against the same brick wall. Even when you think you’ve won, they come back and defeat you, like Blackwater has done in San Diego, and Robertson has done here in my hometown of Oceanside.
It’s hard not to feel burnt out. It’s almost impossible not to just throw my hands up in the air and give up. But what’s at stake, if we do give up, is so horrendous that we can’t stop now. This goes beyond the environmental issues in my hometown (I can always move) or the survival of the United States (we can just keep our heads low and adjust to living under fascism), or even the demise of civilization. What is happening threatens the survival of the human species – maybe even of all life! Against this unthinkable outcome, we must all work to our last breath.
I’m NOT talking about working for the Obama campaign! As terrifying as a McCain presidency is, we can’t waste precious time on the charade our Presidential election has become. If we don’t do something NOW, there might not be an election in ten weeks. Sadly, even if we have an election, no matter how hard we work for Obama, the outcome can easily be manipulated, as it was for the past two presidential elections. And even if Obama wins, and by some miracle he IS the courageous leader we all want him to be, it’s unlikely he will be able to undo the damage that will be done by Bush between now and his inauguration.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that George W. Bush is a lame duck. He is going full speed ahead with his agenda, unhampered by anything so trivial as worrying about reelection. Carol Wolman, Congressional candidate for CA Dist 1 (Green Party), recently sent me the following list of what Bush has done in the past couple of weeks!
o Gutted environmental protection by taking EPA scientists out of the loop.
o Pushed for offshore oil drilling
o Made it easier for the FBI to investigate without a warrant.
o Proposed making oral contraceptives harder to obtain. (& classifying them as abortion!)
o Gotten obviously drunk at the China Olympics, embarrassing the US and insulting the Chinese.
o Started a proxy war with Russia via the US client state of Georgia.
o Signed an agreement to place missile defense in Poland, evoking a Russian threat against Poland.
o Cancelled joint military exercises with Russia, essentially restarting the Cold War.
o Sent a huge armada to blockade Iran, which could start WW III.
I was dismayed to read in an email from someone going to Denver for the Democratic Convention, how she was anticipating all of the parties she will be attending there. I pray that while going from one festive event to the next that she notices the demonstrations planned outside – particularly the ones calling for impeachment. This is no time to be fiddling while Rome burns!
While most Americans are paying attention to the Olympics, the election or whatever new distraction this crowd has in store for us, the final nails are being hammered into our collective coffin. The Bushies do not plan to go softly into this dark night. They are orchestrating the end of life as we know it, with the hubris to think they will end up ruling the world. They are Nero on steroids! There seems to be only one way to halt the catastrophic actions this administration has planned for the coming weeks. We must force this cuckold Congress to begin impeachment hearings!
Conyers has called back the members of the Judiciary Committee to investigate Ron Suskind’s revelations that the Bush administration forged “evidence” of the WMDs in Iraq. But the Judiciary committee cannot enforce subpoenas as long as Bush can reassure witnesses that he will pardon them. Introduce the possibility that the President can be impeached and his promises of pardons suddenly become worthless. As long as Nancy Pelosi continues to block impeachment, John Conyers and his committee are impotent.
I don’t know why this woman, this mother and grandmother, is single-handedly sealing the fate of humanity, by blocking our only hope to stop the disasters this administration has in store for us. I don’t care if she’s afraid for her life, or her family, of if she’s afraid her complicity in allowing torture will be revealed. The excuse that there is not enough time to impeach is meaningless – the point is to START impeachment. Whatever Pelosi’s reasons, she MUST be convinced that the consequences of not impeaching far outweigh any rationale for blocking it. She must be convinced to start impeachment hearings now.
Is it too late to impeach? It’s not too late to START impeachment hearings. Even if we can’t complete the impeachment process, by starting the hearings we will put the brakes on the agenda of the administration, dissolve the power of their promises of pardon and maybe even force Bush and Cheney to resign. Consider today’s headlines: Pakistan's Musharraf steps down - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is resigning after nine years in power, amid impeachment charges based on claims he violated the constitution. If it can happen in Pakistan, it can happen here!
It is our responsibility, as protectors of the human race, to convince Pelosi and Congress to begin impeachment hearings now. How do we do it?
Sign the Kucinich Petition. On August 1st, Congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered a petition with over 100,000 Americans calling for the President to be held accountable. On Sept. 10th, Kucinich wants to deliver 1 million signatures to Speaker Pelosi and Congress. Like most of you, I’ve grown weary of signing petitions that don’t change anything. I don’t know if a million signatures will have any more impact on Pelosi than 100,000. But I do know that starting impeachment hearings is our best hope for changing the horrible future this administration has in store for us. If you haven’t already signed Kucinich’s petition, it only takes a minute to do it now (http://www.kucinich.us ) and pass this on to everyone you know. (If you signed the original petition, there is no need to sign it again).
Watch the play. If you have a half-hour to spare, go to http://www.impeachplay.com/ to watch a play produced during Shirley Golub’s primary challenge against Nency Pelosi.
Support Impeachment with your attire. I stopped wearing my “Impeach Bush & Cheney” t-shirts because I didn’t want to alienate myself from my Republican neighbors. But saving our nation is a non-partisan issue. I am not going to hold back anymore. Today, I’m wearing a shirt that shows Bush and Cheney behind bars with the words, “I have a Dream”. I’m promising to wear the Impeach message every day until hearings begin. And I urge everyone who realizes the urgency of this situation to join me. Click here to buy Impeachment T-Shirts or send an email to Barbara at sdwalker33@sbcglobal.net
Support Impeachment with your presence. If you can afford it, consider traveling to these events, or help to organize an event closer to home – especially if Nancy Pelosi or anyone from this administration will be in town.
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Got your gun handy?
Impeachment will not occur unless Conyers and Pelosi are held at gunpoint. I'd volunteer but I have never even seen a gun, much less shot one. by daveys (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 272 comments [20 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 6:15:37 PM  (0+)
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Reply: Not helpful!
I want to make it perfectly clear that I would have no part of anything that involves violence or the threat of violence. THAT is definitely NOT on my table. by Jeeni Criscenzo (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 7:26:36 PM (0+)
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Never more urgent than now...
I wonder how Pelosi would respond to the tens of thousands of New Yorkers and New Jersey residents... men, women and children who were not warned by their government that the air was dangerous to breath on 9/11 and that the dust was toxic, that she is blocking efforts to bring Bush and Co. to justice? While we live in Colorado, my husband is a New Yorker and he flew to NY in order to assist as soon as the airports started flying again. They didn't let him in to volunteer but did send him a poster to thank him for his efforts which he proudly framed and hung. I believe he spent about four days there and did donate some blood and visit friends. The most decent man I know, without hesitation, he would give you the shirt off his back. He recently went through all the tests in order to donate his kidney to a friend's father. At the age of 50 he is strong and vigorous, has never smoked, doesn't drink, is very active... works out and hikes all the time and seldom gets sick. From all the blood work, colonoscopy, cardio stress test... he was looking like a rock star -well let's say a rock star that doesn't do drugs or smoke or drink. We were getting the heads up from the transplant team. On the final day, they informed us that he could not be considered as a donor. The final couple tests revealed a 6cm tumor on his adrenal gland and several nodules in his left lung. One of these nodules was a pleural. For the uninitiated, pleural nodules are only associated with mesothelioma... asbestos cancer... deadly and no one has yet survived it. We wait now for results of a MRI done back home in Colorado to determine if they are cancerous. I pray they turn out to be non cancerous. I will also appreciate any prayers that may be out there that could be spared our way. But no matter how this turns out for us, it is still happening daily in the lives of too many decent and innocent people. It seems that these days, unless you are rich, you are expendable. Impeachment must happen. by bucketslogg (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 259 comments [99 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 8:10:00 PM (0+)
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Reply: Laetrile and cilantro
Get you husband eating about 10 apricot kernels daily spread them out over 8 hrs (Try to get as much as possible on an empty stomach) apricot kernels (found inside the pit) are very high in vitamin B-17 ( Laetrile) These kernels all contain trace amounts of cyanide but have been proven to fight cancer cells. I've seen recommendations for 1 kernel for every 10 pds bodyweight remember they are slightly toxic and alot might make him sick as his system is not accustomed to the cyanide. I know it sounds funny but American indians and middle eastern peoples grew apricots or picked them wild and ate everything edible and never had a problem with cancer. Research vitamin B-17 and laetrile by Keith Crawford (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 6 comments) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 9:23:30 AM (0+)
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Reply: Thank you... I intend to be very pro-active on this -
I'm hoping I'll be able to get apricots or the pits where I live... in the mountains, but I will do it, believe me. I did look into Laetrile but thought we would have to leave the country and spend thousands of dollars on an on-going basis. You bear hopeful news. I have looked into, and have ordered, Graviola tree extract, Dandelion Root tincture and Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide (Guardian of Eden reputed to be the purest source of this). Unfortunately, there are no long-term studies on these because the current for-profit systems in place want to suppress the notion there are cures available that won't ruin you financially and are actually better than what they're putting out. I'm going on instinct and what little I am able to glean from a compilation of sources. Will use the traditional medicine/surgery route as well, just in case. Thank you again and bless. by bucketslogg (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 259 comments [99 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 4:06:54 PM (0+)
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Its the Money Power
Unfortunately Pelosi and Congress are totally beholden to the powerful lobbyists in Washington that have unlimited access and shape all decisions being made in DC. They are not bothered about the citizens of the country. Did you see Swing Vote - pretty decent portrayal of what's going on with the poor in this country. Anyway, we need to be donating to our Congressional campaigns - not corporations or foreign countries like Israel or Georgia - that try to shape our Wars and foreign policy. by wendynyc (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 56 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 8:34:05 PM (0+)
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Standing Ovation for You Jeenie
Impeachment is on the table. WE set the table, and we never took it off. You've written a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned and I nominate you for President. Everyone reading-- please do exactly what Jeenie suggests in her article. Call Conyers. Donate for our Washington Post ad. Come to DC to lobby Congress for impeachment Sept. 8-25. Celebrate the birth of the Constitution on September 17 by giving it the best birthday present in the world-- impeachment! We're celebrating in DC at the House of Representatives. You can celebrate in your own community by choosing an appropriate place (Federal Building, City Hall) to read the Contitution, the articles of impeachment, or the riot act to your Congress person who isn't supporting impeachment (yet). Go to democrats.com to organize an event in your community or to find one. Let's have a nationwide celebration of our constitution right to impeach. We hold the power of impeachment in OUR HANDS. As Pelosi says "Know Your Power." We're coming Nancy. We'll see you in September right outside your office door. Cynthia Papermaster, National Impeachment Network cynthia_papermaster@yahoo.com by Cynthia Papermaster (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 9:02:23 PM (0+)
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I second that....
Comment from Ratings: Impeachment is definitely a MUST BE DONE! Anyone willing to trust that Bush won't invade another country, declare martial law and suspend/cancel the November election I would have to call an extreme optimist and a total dreamer. We can forestall such a mess but ONLY if we push IMPEACHMENT NOW!!!! Thank you, Jeeni, you said it well. by Ann Catherine Keirns (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 9:10:48 PM (0+)
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'Once more into the breech, dear friends, once more!'
by Barbara (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 10:17:05 PM (0+)
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I think the best thing we can do
is stay in the face of our congressperson. Don’t let them off the hook. Jam their fax lines. Call them at least twice a day and ask them if they’ve had a change of heart yet on impeachment. Ask them why they are (still) opposed to impeachment. My own rep, Bill Delahunt, D-MA is supposedly liberal but still opposed to impeachment for the same unConstitutional reasons Pelosi has given. Delahunt has never picked up the phone to talk to me but I know something is up when his college intern answering the phone says that he is “unaware of the Congressman’s position on impeachment,” almost like he was embarrassed to talk about it, AS WELL HE SHOULD BE! Anyway, that’s a change and probably a good sign. They should all be embarrassed about it. They have failed us by not defending the Constitution as promised and by not properly representing us. If you can’t get thru, tell this to the intern who picks up the phone and tell him again, three hours later every day. Ask him why your congressperson is still opposed and what would it take, how much more serious a crime, for him to change his mind. Impeachment is a must. We are running out of time. by Nick van Nes (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 596 comments [150 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 10:42:07 PM (0+)
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I think the best thing we can do
is stay in the face of our congressperson. Don’t let them off the hook. Jam their fax lines. Call them at least twice a day and ask them if they’ve had a change of heart yet on impeachment. Ask them why they are (still) opposed to impeachment. My own rep, Bill Delahunt, D-MA is supposedly liberal but still opposed to impeachment for the same unConstitutional reasons Pelosi has given. Delahunt has never picked up the phone to talk to me but I know something is up when his college intern answering the phone says that he is “unaware of the Congressman’s position on impeachment,” almost like he was embarrassed to talk about it, AS WELL HE SHOULD BE! Anyway, that’s a change and probably a good sign. They should all be embarrassed about it. They have failed us by not defending the Constitution as promised and by not properly representing us. If you can’t get thru, tell this to the intern who picks up the phone and tell him again, three hours later every day. Ask him why your congressperson is still opposed and what would it take, how much more serious a crime, for him to change his mind. Impeachment is a must. We are running out of time. by Nick van Nes (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 596 comments [150 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 10:43:40 PM (0+)
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She has no right to remove recourse and obstruct justice
Jeeni, you write that we have to "convince Pelosi". I am certain that that is no longer the case. You would need to check in with someone who is up on Constitutional Law to get the exact info or methodology, - people such as John Dean or Bruce Fein. John Dean has already said (in a raido interview with Rob Kall) that what needs to happen is for an Impeachment Committee to be set up - one that specifically addresses the impeachment questions. Alternatively, the House Judiciary Committee might be able to redefine itself as an Impeachment Committee, but somehow John Conyers is not being overly responsive in those matters. (If I understand it correctly, he did not recall the HJC to consider the Suskind allegations, but only the HJC Staff - those persons who are paid to help with that anyway. Not 100% certain about that though.) The point about not going through Pelosi, to impeachment, is that she herself is implicated, which means that she cannot be seen to make impartial decisions. She is implicated by having been informed of matters such as the use of torture, and unwarranted spying, during her time as ranking member of the House and Senate Intelligence Committee. As well, it seems very likely that her decision to remove impeachment hearings as an option, transgressed the constitution or the wider law. Impeachment was written in there so that people have some recourse when those in the Admin are believed to be acting criminally. No one can take that right of recourse away from the people. Yet she has tried to do so - and has surely overreached her given authority as Speaker. (Again, you'd need to check with some constitutional law person to verify and clarify that.) by Aurora (0 articles, 95 quicklinks, 52 diaries, 648 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Aug 18, 2008 at 11:11:37 PM (0+)
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Avoid burnout..
"It’s hard not to feel burnt out. It’s almost impossible not to just throw my hands up in the air and give up. But what’s at stake, if we do give up, is so horrendous that we can’t stop now." Nevertheless, if signs of burn out are beginning to show, do whatever you can to integrate restorative measures into the rest of your life (advice to anyone who is getting caught up in what is happening). Allow for adequate sleep, sufficient nutrition, a balance with other essential aspects of your life. The landlord or the bank is not likely to say, "Ah, okay, don't worry about it - I understand .." If physical illness symptoms are showing, deal with them. Having a persistent cough, for example, gives reason for security personel to double check you at the airport. Take time out when it becomes possible, - time for family, time for your own peace of mind. All those may seem so simple and basic that it seems pointless to list them, yet within the context of signs of burnout, they can be essential. If you do burnout, you're no help to anyone for some time ahead. So much better if you keep your health, and life generally, together, in a sustainable or enduring way. (Burnout overtook someone in my family - Five years later he's still trying to put the pieces back together. NOT worth it!) by Aurora (0 articles, 95 quicklinks, 52 diaries, 648 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 3:07:53 AM (0+)
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Jeeni, you have done it again...
Comment from Ratings: What a great story! Every progressive should read it! Thanks so much for your insight! by Anita Stewart (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 66 comments [7 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 9:48:55 AM (0+)
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Jeenie
Comment from Ratings: Thanks for a great article. I hassle Pelosi regularly ;-) by LickBush (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 1:27:06 PM (0+)
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"I think the best thing we can do is
re: "I think the best thing we can do is stay in the face of our congressperson." We impeachers are apparently looking for an easy way to have impeachment. 43 yr Democratic voter, Obama delegate to the Denver Co. Democratic Convention, organizer of the by John H Kennedy (12 articles, 7 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 281 comments [19 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 3:03:27 PM (0+)
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Things we can do!
The impeachment investigations are most definitely urgent. Since I have the Republican brand of representatives I am challenging them to get the investigations(not calling it impeachment) underway as a way of one-upping the Democrats and embarrasing them. The "push" I am using is that We, the People, have a right and serious need to know the truth about Bush/Cheney as well as the Democratic "leadership" that has been blocking impeachment. I continually point out that Bush and his administration are as much of a threat to the Republican party as they are to America and the world. To add to the "pressure" I am also letting them know that I, and everyone I know, will be voting against them and other incumbents if the investigations have not been done by the time voting comes around this fall. In order for We, the People, to regain the respect and control of our representatives/senators in Congress I plan on voting against almost all incumbents this fall and onward into the future until such time they remember who and what they are supposed to be loyal to. The vote is still our biggest weapon and we must use it as judiciously as possible. We must encouage as many people as possible to do likewise and continue to do so until we once again have a government, of the people, by the people, and for the people. by Hayesml47 (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 540 comments [10 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 5:01:26 PM (0+)
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URGENCY!!!
Jeenni... thank you for taking the time to write about this important and serious matter. You are 200% correct, along with so many others! BUSH is out of control and it saddens me that Bush's appointed U.S. Attorney General is not working on behalf of the PUBLIC'S INTERESTS, free of self-serving agendas that he continues to protect on behalf of his boss, President Bush. Wouldn't it be great to be so lucky to have the same type of performance expectations in our professional careers? The Judiciary Committee must be commended for working on behalf of justice, integrity and the public's right to be fully informed. Thank you to all for keeping up this cause!!!! Just imagine how many impressionable young adults are observing the behavior of the President and Attorney General of the United States of America. How can we expect our children and grandchildren to lead our country in the future when the role models they are watching continue to exhibit arrogance and above of the law attitudes? What happen to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights? Do they still exist in the United States of America????? WITHOUT JUSTICE, THERE WILL NEVER BE PEACE. WITHOUT PEACE, FAITH AND OUR COUNTRY'S LAWS ARE EMPTY. by Debby Bodkin (47 articles, 0 quicklinks, 18 diaries, 47 comments) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 6:01:52 PM (0+)
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Great article, Jeeni!
Now if you or John Kennedy or anyone else would like to know why our representatives don't represent us and why we cannot persuade them to represent us no matter what we do, including why our votes don't matter to them, you can read the discussion here: It is precisely because our votes don't count that the officials in power do not need to even pretend to represent their constituents any more. But if we had honest elections and our votes counted, it still doesn't mean that they would represent us, as we have no Constitutional way of holding them accountable. With honest elections we could vote them out of office once their terms expired, but while they were in office they could do whatever they wished and nothing we do or say could make them do any differently. Our Constitution was set up that way because our founders did not trust us with self-government, so they did not give us a democracy, and Benjamin Franklin told a little white lie because they didn't give us a republic either. They gave us the appearance of a republic, but not a republic. In other words, we can vote (but not for President, Vice-President, or the highest law in the land which isn't even an elected body), but we cannot select the candidates and there is no Constitutional need for our votes to be counted. In fact, the Supreme Court even said that the Constitution doesn't give us the right to vote. And even if our votes were counted, we do not have the power to exercise our will through our representatives because we have no Constitutional way of holding them accountable while they are in office. by Mark E. Smith (21 articles, 30 quicklinks, 100 diaries, 1325 comments) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 10:34:44 PM (0+)
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Protective Custody
If the people figure out what has gone down in the many sad years of the Bush criminal autocracy, there will be no need to impeach him. He will need the military to provide him, Pelosi and Representative 'Conjob' with protective custody from the people who have been seriously wronged. The nuclear arsenal was not built for show; it was built for go. by Patrick (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 519 comments [22 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 11:13:05 PM (0+)
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Down with Pelosi
Comment from Ratings: It took everything we had to defeat Rove's Dirty Tricks Team, but we did it -- we installed a Democratic majority in both the House and Senate, and exposed Lieberman for the closet right-wing tool of AIPAC that he is. So what does Pelosi do, after all our hard work to put her in power? Spit in our faces! I hope President Obama has the guts to do what Clinton failed to do, and have every last bushdick arrested and tried for treason, then turned over the World Court for trial on their crimes against humanity. If Clinton had done his job, we would have had eight more years of peace and prosperity, instead of eight years of escalating disaster. If Obama lets the bushies off again, I shudder to think what the neocons will come up with next. by The Die Hard (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 10 comments) on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 at 6:03:12 AM (0+)
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New way to email congressmen
Magnificent article! For online impeachment warriors frusrated that they can only email their own congressman with info about impeachment (the form on official websites accepts only from constituents) another way I discovered is to email the contact on their campaign websites, which ayone can do. Juat say "please foward to Rep. Jones etc." Here is a list of emails/contact forms anyone can use for the members of the House Judiciary Committee, where impeachment is bottled up. by Ralph Lopez (66 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 13 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 at 2:14:25 PM (0+)
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Thank you for your continuing efforts!
I agree with what everyone who has commented on your excellent article is saying, but that is only the icing on the cake. We need to fix the sytemic problems. When we are each busy trying to cut out the malignancies we personally have an issue with, the source of all of the problems remains untouched. This administration is merely the latest manifestation of the root cause of our governmental debacle. Yet the solution to this problem is not as difficult to acheive as everyone who is concerned seems to think. The people need to come together as a force that is powered and united by the rights granted us by our Constitution and Declaration of Independence. In actuality we do not have to appeal to Nancy Pelosi or anyone else in congress for the change we so desperately need. When the fact that our Constitutionally guaranteed rights have been taken away from us by our elected representatives is made clear to the masses of seemingly uninterested, uneducated citizens, they will respond properly. It is time for us to start reaching out to those fellow citizens who the powers that be have us working against, and vice versa. We must present our concerns to them in ways that will prove our commonality to be more fundamental than our differences. They will listen and they will respond. Remember, regardless of political, religious, or ethnic differences, we were all one people concerned with each others well being, right after the false flag event of 9/11. As I sat giving blood, I saw every type of person you could imagine lined up around the block to give their blood. No one was asking who would get it, no one was giving any stipulation. The people will respond because the messages they'll see and hear will be presented in a language they are atuned to, that is coming from those they are led by - preachers, union bosses, athletes, wounded veterans, etc... if we present our message to those leaders in the voice of commonality. This can be done by way of a concerted effort that is simply focusing on what are the most fundamental issues that will both appeal to all citizens, and effect the changes that are desperately needed today, to fix the entire system of government. I have outlined these issues in the document presented below, there are six of them. When we all get together behind the document, all we need to do to insure its implementation is to vote only for those candidates who have signed sworn, legally binding oaths to implement what is outlined herein. This will work when we each come together for the sake of our fundamental rights that are quickly being erased from the books. Please read and understand all that is written below. I welcome and encourage all comments: THE DECLARATION OF NON-DEPENDENCE As witnesses to and rightful custodians of, the Declaration of Independence by which the sovereignty of this nation has been established and which clearly states that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed; and that it is the right of the people to alter such government whenever any form of it becomes destructive to the ends of the people’s Rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; and within which the imposition of taxes upon the people without their consent is clearly mentioned as an example of an objectionable act of government, We, the people of The United States of America, with whom ALL actual power resides according to our written Constitution which is the Supreme Law of this land, and which has been written by the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, DEMAND that, should at least fifty million citizens who are of the legal age to vote, express their agreement with the concepts outlined in this document, by way of email sent to their state and or federal legislators transmitted from the website www.simplyamericanpride.org, and or any other legible, electronically transmitted document generated by any computer through which legally binding contracts may be executed, and or by fax, and or by way of written petition, 1-Lobbyists must pay the people for the ability to seek political favor. 2-Full, legally binding disclosure of political activities by ALL elected officials 3-Decisions regarding the compensation of public servants are made by the people. 4-The system of taxation is decided upon by the people. 5-ALL public officials are fully accountable under ALL circumstances to the people. 6-The public shall be provided means by which to monitor and act upon all of the above, and to cause to be enacted through their own direct, unimpeded effort, legal legislation of the concepts that they deem worthy of being law. 1-Lobbyists must pay the people for the ability to seek political favor: The amount of money that ANY party, be it a company and or group, and or organization, and or person, that profits by way of ANY product or service, spends on ANY government lobbying MUST be matched and donated by that party, with the same frequency that its most regularly paid employees and or officers are paid, to a fund whose sole purpose it is, to provide one time loans up to the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars that are no more than five years in length and interest free, to ANY adult citizen seeking to establish a new business or improve an existing one, or get the training and or education to earn a living in a new field of employment, who, for the three consecutive years previous to their submission of an application for said loan, has been employed full time in the workforce and has earned less than One Hundred Thousand Dollars per year and has had less than Twenty Thousand Dollars saved and or invested over that same period of time; And who can present proof of their willingness and ability to succeed in such endeavor, that is required to be no more stringent than that of the current system of defining one’s willingness and ability to succeed in such endeavor that is used by ANY legal lender of money in the United States of America who has remained a viable enterprise for no less than ten years prior to the writing of this document without requiring the holding of ANY goods as collateral, and or experiencing a default rate on said loans that is no greater than the average default rate of ALL other legal lenders of money in the United States of America combined within that same ten year period, and who has within said ten years, consistently lent money to no less than Five hundred people per year, in amounts that average per loan, no less than One Thousand Dollars. Furthermore, Any and ALL executives and investors of such lobbying parties that are affected by this law must FULLY bear the financial burden imposed by this Law; they must refrain from raising their current and or future prices for Any goods or service so as to pass this cost back to the public, or they shall be legally required to pay fines that amount to double the cost of their assessed donation, with interest; and the entire board of directors will each be held accountable for the non pardonable crime, resulting in a minimum of five years spent in the general population of the nations most dangerous prison, of defrauding the people of the United States of America. Furthermore, each of said lobbying parties MUST acknowledge in written statements, signed by their entire board of directors, and added as a legally binding supplement to ANY and ALL articles of their incorporation and or formation, as a statement of Fact that is presented to the public in clear language, in no less than eighteen point font, in multiple newspapers whose combined, paid circulation exceeds Ten Million people daily in the United States, and on the internet, to be viewable in perpetuity, on numerous publicly accessible websites that shall be mentioned in said newspaper presentation, That they are using time and energy that is lawfully that of THE PUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA when lobbying, being as the lawmakers they engage are public servants who are employed and fully compensated BY THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE. 2- Full, legally binding disclosure of political activities by all elected officials: Each representative of the people must devote no less than the amount of time and public funds that they and their subordinates spend in ANY way relating to Any and ALL above mentioned lobbying parties, henceforth also referred to as a “meeting”, than that of the amount of time and money spent relating directly, both in person and on the phone, to the private citizens who are their constituents. An official log book shall be kept by each representative, and signed daily by said representative as legal affirmation of the accuracy of each days account of their activities while engaged in any official capacity; they shall NOT be required to enter into said log book details of their interactions throughout the day, other than the times, locations, and durations of said interactions and the names of those with whom they interacted in said official capacity. Said log book shall be considered, under ALL circumstances to be the property of the citizens of the United States of America, and shall thus be available, within seventy two hours of the request received by certified mail at the office provided them by the people, to be fully scrutinized and or copied and or photographed, in full or in part, at said office and or in a Court of Law, by Any of their constituents and or members of the Court; Furthermore, ANY legislation brought forth by ANY representative of the people, that in ANY way relates to ANY lobby, as the general term “governmental lobby” is at the time of the writing of this document used for legal purposes and or public broadcast by holders of licenses for television and or radio frequency use in this country, Must be accompanied by a FULL explanation written by the representative in their own words as to how such legislation will benefit the American people; this is FULLY intended to include, but not be limited to, ANY and ALL earmarks and riders. Such written explanations must be published in newspapers as outlined in section one of this document, and on the internet for public review 3-Decisions regarding the compensation of public servants are made by the people: The salary, health care benefits, retirement compensation, and ALL other compensation that will be derived from ANY public funds, and transferred to the elected representatives of the people of the United States of America, the President notwithstanding, shall henceforth be regulated and set by the voting public; The voting public shall decide upon said compensation on a yearly basis. The people, by way of written ballot, of which they shall each receive a tangible copy that will be considered for ALL purposes to be valid, legal proof of the actual vote they cast, should the event ever come to pass that the results of said vote are considered by a majority of the voting public to be incorrect, shall each give their opinion as to the amounts of compensation to be transferred to said elected representatives regarding their salary, health care benefits, retirement compensation, and ALL other compensation that will be derived from ANY public funds, for the following year. Once they have been quickly and accurately calculated, the averaged “High”, “Middle”, and “Low” amounts as totaled in each state, as they pertain to compensation of elected state and or local officials by the public of each state, and as totaled nationwide, as they pertain to the compensation of elected federal officials by the public of the entire nation, shall each be presented to the voting public in newspapers, as outlined in section one of this document, and on the internet within twenty four hours, and within Thirty days of that presentation, said totaled amounts shall be voted on by the voting public; each amount that receives the greatest number of votes as it pertains to each particular position will be enacted as law for the next full year. It will be considered a non-pardonable crime punishable by a minimum of five years spent in the general population of the nations most dangerous prison, for ANYONE other than a “Friend”, as defined in section six of this document, to use ANY public funds to influence the opinion of the voting public as to how they should cast their vote. Any representative who shall wish to relinquish the remaining time of their elected term of public service after they learn of the levels of compensation to be voted upon in said upcoming “High”, “Middle”, and “Low” vote, should the preliminary vote have produced results that they find unacceptable, will be legally required to publicly state, to members of the press, and on the internet, their unwillingness to continue to act as a public servant; said announcement MUST, by law, occur within twenty four hours of the announcement of the levels of compensation to be voted upon, so that the affected public shall benefit from having as much time as is reasonably possible, to decide upon whom they shall each vote for as said former representative’s replacement; a fine of Ten Thousand Dollars for each day that said legally required announcement is delayed shall be legally imposed and enforced; said fine shall be paid solely to the loan fund described in section one of this document. Furthermore, ANY and ALL funding for the influence of the public’s opinion regarding their vote that is not derived from public funds, MUST be accompanied by the FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE of the names of ALL contributors, at said contributors cost, in newspapers, as outlined in section one of this document, and on the internet; failure to properly disclose said information is a non-pardonable crime resulting in a minimum of Five Years spent in the general population of the nations most dangerous prison. 4-The system of taxation is decided upon by the people: The voting public of the United States of America shall henceforth determine ANY and ALL systems of taxation by which THEIR MONEY is to be collected for the adequate funding of the operation of government. The voting public shall for One Year be presented with expert, sworn testimony regarding ALL matters pertinent to the determination of an appropriate system of taxation, of which inaccuracy is a non-pardonable crime resulting in a minimum of ten years spent in the general population of the nations most dangerous prison; and of which the dissemination of inaccurate commentary to the public in regards to said testimony shall also be a crime resulting in the same penalty. At the end of the term of such testimony, the voting public shall decide by simple majority vote, which system of taxation shall be lawfully implemented. The length of time for which said system of taxation shall remain valid is Ten Years, at which time the process described above shall be re-enacted; 5-All public officials are fully accountable under ALL circumstances to the people: No public official, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, shall remain exempt from presenting legally enforceable, sworn public testimony regarding any act taken by way of their being a government official during their term of service, should a Two Thirds Majority of the voting public they represent deem such act worthy of investigation. Furthermore, it shall be by way of a simple majority of said voting public that the questions to be asked, by whom they are asked, and to what extent a proper, satisfactory explanation has been given, shall be ultimately decided. The length of time through which the voting public may initiate the action of this right has NO EXPIRATION or LIMITATION, regardless of whether or not said public official is still holding any governmental position, or living within the boundaries of the United States of America. Furthermore, ANY inaccurate testimony given shall be considered a non-pardonable crime resulting in ten years spent in the general population of the nations most dangerous prison. 6-The public shall be provided means by which to monitor and act upon all of the above, and to cause to be enacted through their own direct, unimpeded effort, legal legislation of the concepts that they deem worthy of being law: The means by which the voting public shall be able to conveniently and effectively express all of their opinions regarding their governance, and be regularly notified by way of the internet of the activities of their elected officials, by said elected officials as required in ANY section of this document, and to learn of and act upon anything else mentioned in ANY of the sections of this document, within the guidelines stated below, will be by way of a joint governmental and publicly supplied and maintained website whereupon both parties are, under ALL circumstances, EQUALLY REPRESENTED IN ALL MANNER. Furthermore, the people’s usage of said website to express their opinions regarding desired legislation shall NOT be limited to that which has been or shall be mentioned in this document, unless such limitations are specifically mentioned in this document; said website shall be available AT ALL TIMES to be used by the voting public as a tool, though not the only tool, through which they can easily and in clear language gain the FULL LEGAL DISCLOSURE of ALL that is required by law, of their elected officials; and through which they, the voting public, can effectively and efficiently propagate concepts that they wish to have enacted as state and or federal law; When at least One Million of the Voting Public within a given state of the union vote on said website in favor of a particular action to be taken regarding an issue of their state, and or at least One Million of the voting public of at least Thirty Four states of the union vote on said website in favor of a particular nationwide action to be taken, said action shall be included on the ballot in the next state and or federal election, and the decision of a Two Thirds majority of the voters in a particular state, as it regards legislation for that particular state, and or a Two Thirds majority of the voters of Two Thirds of the states of the union, as it regards legislation of a particular nationwide action to be taken, shall legally decide the legislative course of action to be lawfully enacted by their representatives in such regard, no more than Thirty days from the date of said election; Though this shall NOT, in ANY way, supercede or alter ANY less stringent method of the people’s existing right to enact, and or cause to have enacted, desired legislation as it may already exist at the time of the writing of this document; The method by which each member of the voting public shall be able to legally share their ideas with one another, and by which they shall have the legal right and ability to attempt to propagate the concepts that they believe to be fit for legally enforceable legislation in their state of residence and or nationally, by way of said website, shall be as follows: Each member of the voting public shall be entitled to designate up to, but not more than, TWENTY other members of the voting public as their “Friend”; each member of the voting public shall be able to communicate on said website with ONLY those members of the voting public that they have designated as a “Friend”, except in the case of their communicating with an elected official; And elected officials shall be legally held to the same rules of usage on said website, except in the case of answering a communication they received from a constituent; said answer MUST NOT, in ANY WAY be used as an opportunity to attempt to propagate ANY concept that is not specifically related to the communication they received, or they will be considered to be tampering with said website. Each member shall be able to present to their “Friends”, ANY concept that they wish to have enacted into law, UNLESS SUCH CONCEPT IS COMMERCIALLY MOTIVATED OR THEOLOGICALLY, AND OR RACIALLY, EXCLUSIONARY; ANY dissemination of commercially motivated or theologically and or racially, exclusionary concepts on said website shall be considered an act of tampering with said website; In the event that any “Friend” agrees that such concept should be enacted into law, said “Friend” shall vote for it in the simple manner readily supplied with their receipt of the transmission of said concept, and they shall then present the concept to their other “Friends” so that they too can vote on it. In the event that ANY concept should receive HALF of the number of votes required to enable it to be put on the ballot to be legally enacted as law, there shall be within Twenty Four hours of it reaching said number of votes, an announcement made in a particular section of said website that is ALWAYS easily accessible to ANY member of the voting public that is using said website, and which is devoted solely to the act of clearly and efficiently announcing such an event, so that the entire voting public can be aware of it as quickly as possible to consider it and decide on whether or not they wish to take any action in regards to it. In the event that ANY concept shall receive the FULL number of votes required to enable it to be put on the ballot to be legally enacted as law, it shall automatically be directly presented on said website, within Twenty Four hours of it reaching said number of votes, to each member of the voting public that will see it on their ballot to be voted upon in the nearest upcoming election, so that they can have as much time as possible to properly consider it before voting on it. Furthermore, the ability of ANY and ALL members of the voting public to alter their list of “Friends” shall be limited to one change per calendar year, except in the case of the loss of life to anyone registered as one’s “Friend”; said one change per calendar year may include the exchange of any number of existing “Friends” for that of new “Friends”, so long as said change occurs within a single act of transmitting one’s updated list of “Friends” to the mechanisms that actually update said website. Furthermore, ANY act of disseminating ANY personal information gathered by said website, for ANY reason, by ANY party who has not been specifically given signed, written consent to use such information for the EXACT purpose that they are disseminating it, by those people about whom said information is in reference to, shall be considered an act of tampering with said website by those parties who have disseminated said personal information without being given said signed, written consent; Furthermore, other than that of their agreement to use said website lawfully, and or to contractually gain access to the internet through a paid internet service provider, provided that said contract in NO WAY makes ANY stipulation as to ANY ability to freely access and fully utilize said website, no member of the voting public shall EVER be lawfully required to give their signed written consent to ANYONE for ANY REASON, as a requirement of their being able to freely access and fully utilize said website. Furthermore, ANY CITIZEN of the Unites States of America who is found guilty of tampering with said website and or said website’s ability to be Transmitted, Viewed, and Fully Functional, shall be guilty of the non-pardonable crime of Treason which will result in a minimum sentence of Twenty Years spent in the general population of the nations most dangerous prison, unless such sentence is overturned by a two thirds majority of the voting public. ANYONE who is not a citizen of the United States of America who is found to be guilty of Tampering with said website and or said website’s ability to be Transmitted, Viewed, and Fully Functional, shall be considered a Sovereign Enemy of the State, who is attempting to overthrow the government of the United States of America, and will be subject to the sentencing that shall be decided by a simple majority of the voting public of the United States of America. Furthermore, said website shall be fully operational and available for use as described above, within Six months of that which is contained within this document becoming amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. In Conclusion: In consideration of the single matter of TRUTH and FREEDOM - for as it regards the governance and interaction of mankind there shall not be one without the other, and of the FACT proven by history and current events, that competence and justice invite discourse, while incompetence and corruption prefer misleading rhetoric and prohibition, Raphael Sidelman by Raphael Sidelman (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 40 comments [16 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 at 3:40:42 PM (0+)
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For the Author
Greetings. Excellent article & I agree with you whole-heartedly, although I think there is an aspect you may be neglecting. Namely the psychological deviancy of those in power and those that surround them. There was an excellent article written aways back called The Trick of the Psychopath's Trade: Make Us Believe Evil Comes from Others (click here) and I think it strikes the core of this issue. Also crucial is an understanding that the United States is not a republic, nor a democracy. It is an oligarchy controlled by a few. They act solely for their own benefit, completely disregarding the needs of others, and will use any and all means to garner only more power for themselves. The only thing that can stop them is global unmasking of their true nature, thus the importance of the information in the above article. Thank you for your words and I hope we can all share the truth before it is too late. by Cyre Gray (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments) on Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 at 9:59:49 PM (0+)
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Hear hear!
You are right on the money. Without impeachment proceedings, Bush and gang will be free to do wreak havoc between now and the innauguration. Yet, even with impeachment, will we have learned so as to avoid the same situation in the future? Just look at the history of the presidency since the JFK administration. We have been in steady decline, and I see no real indications that things are going to get better. Despite a pretty large body of evidence that has accumulated over the latter half of the 20th century and built upon in the 21st, nearly everyone who heads to the polls in November will be woefully unaware of an established fact: psychopaths make up as much as 6% of the population and have managed to infiltrate the top levels of government and industry. The term psychopath is NOT synonymous with "serial killer," or obvious creep that stares at you intently from across the room, though that is how we have been trained to think about them. Psychopaths are charming. They are charming because they can say exactly what you want to hear, even if it is a complete lie, without even a hint of guilt about having lied. They can lie without guilt because the defining characteristic of the psychopath is lack of conscience. I ran across a very interesting book by a man named Andrew Lobaczewski. Apparently, Lobaczewski was a psychologist who lived in Poland during the Nazi occupation. In order to keep his sanity, he did an indepth analysis of exactly how a country is turned to what can only be called evil. That study became a book called Political Ponerology, ponerology being the study of evil. The term comes from theology, but the book has nothing to do with that. It is hard-boiled, straight to the point psychology. Reading that book, what becomes painfully clear is that even after the experience of the Third Reich, LBJ, Nixon, the Bushes and others, we in this country still have absolutely no understanding of how this all happens. We still harbor the illusion that if only we can get rid of the current psychopath in power, everything will start to get better. Well, we got rid of Nixon. LBJ didn't run for another term. We stopped the Nazis. Where are we now? There is a site dedicated to the book that is well worth a look. http://www.ponerology.com by eyesopen (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 13 comments) on Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 at 10:12:12 PM (0+)
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