To stop the war now we need to get tough with the House Democrats who are covering up for their having allowed Bush to con them over the WMD lies.
The Iraq War will go on for years, regardless of which presidential candidate wins the November election, unless we get tough with the House Democrats Now.
The only way our Democratic Congressmen will be able to absolve themselves of the stain of having allowed Bush to get away with the rush to war in Iraq is to call for immediate impeachment hearings.
The only way we can stop the war is to force the Democrats to call for immediate Impeachment Hearings. The Democratic Congressmen will do that if we threaten the extent of their majority in the House.
Until the election we need to campaign against every Democratic Congressman who is in a tight race, regardless of whether running for the House or Senate.
Accuse them of being a traitor to their oath, of hating the Constitution. Create doubt in the minds of the public. Get nasty. Get tough.
Here in Colorado, three of our four Democratic Congressman have no opposition in November. Begging the Republican Congressmen or these three Democrats to impeach will have no effect.
Campaigning against the fourth Democrat will. He is Congressman Udall, who is running for the Senate in a close race. Coloradopols.com has reported that he and his opponent are 2.6 percent apart.
We only have to move the polls by 1.31 percent to get his attention, and especially the attention of the fellow "safe seat" Democratic Congressmen who do not want to lose their majority status committee assignments.
There is a very good chance that "safe seat" Democrats will rise to supporting impeachment hearings to save their House or Senate majority, if we threaten the Democrats in tight races, all across the Country.
Oh, you say, don't we want the Democrats to win an even bigger majority and fix everything. Don't be further conned by the Democrats. We gave them a majority and they threw it away by refusing to stand up to Bush and expose his WMD lies. A Democrat who refuses to stand in opposition to the tyrant is a closet Republican. A Democrat who won't stand up for the Constitution isn't worth having in office.
If we voters allow the Democrats to get away with the "then the Republicans will have control" threat, we are fools. It is time to call their bluff.
I was in communication earlier this week with an anti-war and impeachment group leader who said their group was lobbying their Congressman on impeachment but getting nowhere. The Congressman had won the last election by 90 percent of the vote in their District.
You won't be able to sway a politician with that "safe" a seat. Instead, find the "weak seat" Democrat or the one in a tight race. Using public verbiage that is blunt, accusing and uncompromising, attack that weak Democratic candidate all the way to the November election, and the "safe seat" Congressmen might relent on impeachment hearings.
Some anti-war and peace and justice group members say we would lose our influence with the Democratic Congress. Surely you jest. We don't have any influence or we would have already stopped the war and caused impeachment hearings. Pelosi wants to blunt or neuter our ability to influence Congress. Seeing us fail would please her.
United for Peace and Justice organized over 1,000 anti-war events across the Country to mark the anniversary of the Iraq War. If, instead of trying to be buddies with the Democratic Congressmen, UFPJ would have organized the same effort solely for Impeachment and relentlessly pressured the "weak" Democratic Candidates, we would already have Impeachment Hearings.
John H Kennedy is a A 43 year Denver, Colorado Democratic voter and Obama delegate to the Denver County Convention. He is fed up with the do nothing Democratic Congress' failure to protect the Constitution and the separation of powers by impeachment. He is the organizer for the
Impeach Colorado Coalition http://ImpeachCO.com He believes that to accomplish Impeachment prior to the election we must ruthlessly pressure all Democrats who are in tight races nationwide and force them to call for impeachment hearings now. He expects that the Democrats will increase their majorities regardless of what we activists do and one or two marginally Democratic Congressmen losing their re-election bids is a cheap price to pay for the opportunity to repudiate all that the Bush Administration stands for and for the opportunity to tell all future Presidents that their imperial ambitions will not be tolerated.
Mr. Kennedy and the Impeach Colorado Coalition stand firmly for law abiding and non-violent protest. Mr. Kennedy states that activists that make threats of any kind against any public official and do so within his hearing, or as a response to anything written by Mr. Kennedy on-line or otherwise, should expect to have that real or perceived threat immediately transmitted to the FBI or Secret Service.
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For a long time I have been responding to requests for donations from Democratic politicians with a printed page that says:
My party will not receive another dime from me until these things happen:
The war is ended; we have a not for profit health care plan like the one proposed by Dennis Kucinich; the criminals in the White House are impeached and NAFTA and the WTO are abolished.
We, the people, have to keep reminding the members of Congress that we are their employers. We tell them what to do and if they don't do it, we vote their sorry asses out of office! We must start with Ms Pelosi, the biggest liar and traitor in Congress, then Conyers, the second biggest liar and traitor.
Then when we impeach the Bush family, we send the right message to future generations of candidates and voters. We also tell the rest of the world that we will not put up with corruption in our government or media.
The media has to learn how to tell the truth again instead of dumbing down the entire population with gossip and trivia. We have the right to the truth and we must demand it by turning off the TV and not buying the newspapers. Fortunately, we have the wonderful sites such as this one, OpEdNews, my favorite, who are spreading the truth to us who care.
Thank you OpEdNews.
by
Caronome (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 200 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 8:57:06 AM
It has become increasingly obvious that the entrenched establishment Dems could give a rat's ass about what the people think. Never forget the betrayal of the class of 2006 for that was when the forces that control the Democratic party sold us all out for chump change.
I don't think making phone calls and writing letters is enough, we have done that before and we have gotten nowhere. The wars are still raging (with another one ready to be rolled out), we are being illegally spied on, habeas corpus is still null and void, we continue to torture, the Wall Street looters are being bailed out and the glimmer twins Paulson and Bernake are scrambing to get their new scheme for further deregulation through the consolidation of everything financial through the Fed passed in order to allow the oligarchs to lock in their gains.
I would strongly suggest boycotting 2008 altogether and then concentrate on building an organized and well financed movement to flush the toilet in 2010. The Democrats are nothing but the same Vichy scoundrels who continually rolled over for emperor Bush while our civil liberties have been stripped away and we have become nothing in their eyes but ignorant cattle who can reliably be counted on by the savvy manipulaton of identity group based sideshow issues to keep their elitist arses in control of a system gone to seed.
Boycott 2008! It is the only way to get their attention.
Just my two cents
EE
by
Ed Encho (6 articles, 11 quicklinks, 54 diaries, 382 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 9:37:39 AM
I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the current crop (crop failure?) of Democrats.
I would hope tho, that instead of boycotting the election entirely, you research some of the excellent third party and Independent candidates out there who hold and express the values you seem to stand for.
I am a McKinney partisan-she talks the talk and walks the walk, and will have my vote in Nov, if she is the Green Party candidate. But she is my choice. There are others running who may also change the landscape.
And for those who say a third party or Independent cannot sway a partisan legislature, that is untrue. Here in Maine we have had two Independent governors in the last thirty years and they accomplished much, as the D's and R's did not want to hit the skids as do nothings.
In addition, recently, our state Senate was split, equal numbers of D's and R's and one independent. It was the progressive Indie who became Senate President and had great power in the decision making process. It can work.
So please do not boycott. That is what they want. They want us to throw in the towel and leave the driving to them. We can't do that. And they would not likely notice the number of us boycotting as we would be swallowed up in the much greater numbers of those already not voting. But a vote for an Independent, or a third party candidate, will make a serious point and the numbers may well get their attention. Heck, we may even see some more candidates running in 2010 who do subscribe to liberal and progressive ideas and ideals. Then we would begin to really build something.
Until we face the reality of ridding ourselves of the corporo-Dems and corporate-owned Republicans, we will have no better than same-o same-o.
Keep fighting the good fight.
by
Jack Harrington (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 273 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 12:02:39 PM
Forget Impeachment -- Prosecute Busheviks in Court of Law!
When -- ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh WHEN -- are progressives going to WAKE UP and FACE REALITY about impeachment?
IT'S TOO FREAKIN' LATE!!!
The Busheviks have only nine months left in office. There's an election campaign going on. WHO THE (BLEEP) EVER HEARD OF IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS TAKING PLACE DURING AN ELECTION YEAR???
Will you please GET FREAKIN' REAL and face the fact that impeachment WILL NOT HAPPEN???
Besides, with all the evidence of outright CRIMINAL ACTIVITY by the Bush-Cheney regime mounting by the day, DON'T YOU THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO SICC A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR ON THESE CROOKS AND HAVE A GRAND JURY HAND UP INDICTMENTS???
I'd rather see these bastards put on trial in a COURT OF LAW, for unlike Impeachment, they can BE SENTENCED TO SERVE TIME IN PRISON -- a power that the Senate lacks.
Lest we forget, any evidence that turns up in an impeachment proceeding CANNOT BE USED IN COURT under the Fifth Amendment's ban on "double jeopardy."
Obviously, criminal proceedings against the Bushnoids will have to wait until after January 20 next year, when their executive immunity from prosecution expires.
But I'd much rather see them sweat it out in a courtroom than in the Senate chamber.
JAIL TO THE CHIEF!
by
Skeeter Sanders (32 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 78 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:40:00 AM
Correct: a boycot is what the Rep want DO VOTE! Yes put pressure on those who have betrayed us and America.
"Organizing and getting money for 20010" sounds good but it seems hard cause WE are a divided, and unorganized minority; as for the$ : OPED can't even get enough donations...
Sanders is right: a court of law is needed. I did not know evidence in Impeachment hearings could not be used later in acourt. What prevents them to take the 5th and remain quiet in a trial?
In the Senate I think they can't take the 5th!
An international war crime tribunal could be started and extradition requested - say by Germany- ; could we refuse extradition of war criminals? Yugoslavia sent some criminals to La Hague. It's true that Nato forces occupied the country and were anxious to get them and Karadich (spelling?) is still "hiding"
Constituttional lawyers are at work for sure and those whohave spoken on9/11 are also preparing their strategy - I hope -.
Will Congress cooperate? Will the future justice Dept ? Will the prsident? Clinton sure won't.
HOPE, HOPE HOPE!
by
crispy (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 20 comments)
on Monday, April 14, 2008 at 5:04:56 AM
What possible good will it do to elect a Republican senator over Cong. Udall? Your argument is entirely self-centered and illogical. However justified, most of the country is not crying out for impeachment, and many would view it as a needlessly divisive, election-year political stunt, and a pointless one at that, with Bush leaving office in a few months anyway. Udall has made the obvious calculation that if he appeases the 1.3% you propose to move, taking your position will cost him more than that in the center. It's the same calculation Gore made in 2000, and we now curse the administration of President Bush.
How anyone can look at the events of the past seven years, and then look at how Gore has used the last seven years, and then still say, "It doesn't matter," is mind-boggling to me. Yet there seem to be more of that mindset than ever. I, too, am disappointed and frustrated by the Democrats' failure to end the war. But if they're good at nothing else, professional politicians tend to be pretty good at reading the public mood in its entirety, not just the vocalizations of a particularly agitated group. Your challenge is to convince more than 1.3% that your course of action is the right one. Then you won't need to convince Udall.
by
Gregg Gordon (26 articles, 47 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 199 comments)
on Monday, April 14, 2008 at 7:15:13 AM
It will bring Impeachment-Accountabiliity to Cheney B4 11/04
Surely
You are enough of a patriot and have enough respect and love for our US Constitution
to understand that when We are called on to defend it
and the Separation Of Powers (as is Udall, BY OATH),
that IT as you call it,
will do a tremendous amount of good,
for the future security of our childrens freedom, for our Country's International Reputation, to Restore the Power Of Congress To Be The Branch To Make Laws ( and expect them to be carried out and respected by Presidents), and to repudiate all that the Cheney and Bush Administration stand for, and do it before the election.
MOST Of The Voters DO Believe Cheny & Bush have Abused Their powers and Want Impeachment Hearings Held Now, Before The Election.
If Udall will not honor his Oath to Defend The Constitution, Then His Word And His Honor Mean Little and He Is Unfit To Be A US Congressman,
Let Alone a Senator from Colorado.
Our Democratic Members Of Congress are attempting to get away with Ignoring the mood and will of the Voters and are aided in this by the Corrupt Corporate Media.
If the Media, especially Newspapers, continue refusing to print the truth and continue to ignore the need for Impeachment Hearings, we will have to stand in front of their offices with signs saying
"If You don't like This Publisher's Politics,
Cancel Your Subscription TODAY". (a lot of Power there)
All we Impeachment Advocates need to do is to so threaten Pelosi's job as Speaker and so threaten the Committee assignments and perks of prominent Democrats By threatening the extent of the Democrats House Majority, simply By putting ruthless, relentless pressure ("IS Udall a Traitor To His Oath") on every Democratic Congressman in a tight re-election race or Senatorial bid.
That the Dems will not keep some kind of majority is not the issue, making the candidates Worry if they will be the one to lose and Threatening the "safe seat" Democrats perks and assignments IS THE ISSUE.
As to Bush & Cheney leaving office in a Year...
If your daughter or wife were raped (as is our Constitution) and greviously tortured (as is our Constitution),
Would You be such a wimpish cad as to, For Small And Cynical Politican Gain ask the Prosecuter (Congress) to Wait Until the Rapists (of the Constitution) Left Town Before Beginning Any Investigation?
AS UDALL IS Currently DOING
Surely We all ( including UDALL) are better Men Then That.
Join the Battle for Impeachment, We CAN GET IT DONE!
John H Kennedy, Denver,CO
by
John H Kennedy (6 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 95 comments)
on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 12:26:28 PM
It's going to take more than two cents. I'm challenging my congressman, a Democrat, and I'll have to raise a bundle just to get his attention. If somebody's running against your Democrat, throw in a few bucks and volunteer, and if nobody's running in your district, consider helping a candidate like me. www.fournierforcongress.org
by
Steve Fournier (31 articles, 17 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 41 comments)
on Monday, April 14, 2008 at 7:21:02 AM
Why ignore the elephant at the root for impeachment? Who blew up the world trade center on 9/11/2001 and then anthraxed congress & the press? That makes the charges Murder & Treason just to start.
by
foxii (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 10 comments)
on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 2:16:27 PM
