Yesterday’s important article by David Swanson on Representative John Conyers' hesitance to bring charges of impeachment before the House highlights a critical problem for progressives. Republicans spent the better part of 3 decades building a power structure that spanned local and state legislatures, TV, radio, newspapers, K Street lobbying firms, think tanks, corporations, and even the companies that manufacture our voting machines.
Progressives think they should be able to beat that in a few months of disorganized protest.
John Conyers, when confronted by impeachment supporters, explained that he could not proceed because he would be destroyed by Fox News if he brought impeachment charges before the House. Unfortunately, this shows just how successful the right wing power grab has been over the last several decades.
Fox News isn’t a news organization, it is the propaganda spear point for the Republican/corporate party. But it is only a tip of the iceberg, beneath which is hidden a vast and inexorable spin machine that attempts to control the political agenda of the United States of America. Perusal of any front page of the NY Times, or a quick tune in to CNN in recent years will demonstrate that Fox News has shifted the political debate far to the right. The internet is providing a grass-roots method for fighting back, but at the moment, progressive blogging is akin to chipping at the top of the ice berg with an ice pick.
Nonetheless, all major political movements in the United States, from the women’s vote to the civil rights movement, were grass-roots movements. But their histories show that grass-roots movements meet many obstacles, and have rocky, uneven courses.
Here are suggestions to help ensure that Fox News does not control the political agenda in the United States of America anymore.
3) Contact John Conyers office, and politely urge them to reconsider moving HR 333 forward.
One word of advice. Be very civil when you contact Congress, even if you are really mad. Yelling and screaming will not help nearly as much as a continuously growing groundswell of respectful, unbending discontent. Also keep in mind that John Conyers is moving forward with contempt charges against Harriet Miers, Josh Bolton and possibly Alberto Gonzales. So he is probably a bit nervous and overworked at the moment.
Progressives are more than disappointed in John Conyers, they are furious, as you can read about here, here and here.
But the pressure is building, and Congress can’t ignore it forever. Keep it up, and don’t get discouraged.
Take action -- click here to contact your local newspaper or congress people: Support HR 333
Dr. John Moffett is an active research neuroscientist in the Washington, DC area, who has published articles on the nervous and immune systems. Dr. Moffett is also the author and webmaster of the political opinion website www.Factinista.org, and is a Managing Editor at OpEdNews.com.
Thank you for your great analysis. Informed opinions such as yours give courage and ammunition to the people who want to do something. My congressman, Bob Inglis used the impeachment supporters in Conyers office as an example of the left wing fringe causing unreasonable pressure on a left-leaning congressman, in his Town Hall Meeting July 16th. Inglis wants to "work together with the other side to solve the problems facing us," and eliminate influence from the right and the left fringes. Unfortunately democrats in this state actually in their guts, agree. I think Conyers and some other democrats do not agree in their guts but understandably LACK the guts to face down Fox. I think it is definitely up to us to do an end run around Fox etal and put the fear of the masses into congress. I say, let us gather our folders of facts and form our committees and go en-masse to all our congressmen and women and politely press our case that impeachment is not only warranted because of the high crimes that have been committed, but necessary to save our constitution. We CAN do something and even if it does not appear to work when we do it, we simply must do it. I have no idea that Inglis will ever co-sponsor HRes333, but he is going to know that a growing number of his constituents are heart and soul in favor of it. I have some pledges already from people who are eager to go with me if I can get an appointment.
A Raging Grandmother
by
Sheila Jackson (16 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 137 comments)
on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 9:32:43 PM
I used to live in South Carolina in the congressional district next to the one Inglis represents. (My congressman was Gresham Barrett -- ick -- but now I'm in Southern California, thank God.) I know what a Neanderthal Inglis is, so I'll light a candle for you in solidarity.
by
teeem (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 41 comments)
on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 10:14:00 PM
What a coincidence. I am originally from Virginia also. Born in Covington, lived in Franklin (in the Tidewater) from age 11 to 18, when I joined the Air Force.
Thanks for the good thoughts. Bob is a Neanderthal, kind of friendly, slightly naive, earnest, wrong-headed neanderthal.
by
Sheila Jackson (16 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 137 comments)
on Sunday, July 29, 2007 at 12:02:09 AM
As an X pat who ocasionally gets a bit of U.S. television, fox news is literally beyond belief. If the yanks are buying this, than, O deary me for when that "comes around" moment happens. The few relativies I have left back in the "old country", have decided to keep their heads burried and say, "It's my career" I say good luck to you all because it won't end until the vast majority of folks are ratteling the chian link fences around the gated communities protected by the blackwater boys. It's become a gapping maw that eats all in it's path.
by
davy (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 241 comments)
on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 2:42:20 AM
Emailed Home Depot, called Conyer's office today with message, "We don't watch Fox News so go ahead and impeach Cheney but you might want to impeach Gonzales first."
by
Sheila Jackson (16 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 137 comments)
on Monday, July 30, 2007 at 1:29:46 PM
