WE'RE ASKING ALL OUR PARTICIPANTS TO TELL CONGRESS: DON'T SURRENDER TO BUSH ON IRAQ
Please call NOW toll free at 800-828-0498, 800-459-1887 or 800-614-2803 and ask for your own House member and Senators. And ALSO leave separate messages for both Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi at their leadership offices. They represent you too!
Drafting this alert has been an enormous challenge . . . to find a way to express our anger in a way that is still civil. Please, Lord, help us to express this in a way that will have a positive result.
We are hearing reports that the Democrats are preparing to unilaterally surrender to Bush on the Iraq supplemental, despite a solid majority of the American people in favor of at least some kind of restraints on a war president run amok. If this is a trial balloon, or in part even a Republican trick to try to demoralize us, it didn't work. We're not demoralized, we're just angry.
The inside the beltway genius pundits, the ones who thought the Iraq invasion and occupation was such a bully-bully party for the first couple disastrous years, pontificate that if the Democrats don't completely cave in on yet another mammoth emergency funding demand it would be political "suicide". Like we really need them to self-appoint themselves as our campaign managers. Meanwhile, the death and destruction in Iraq continues unabated.
And for what? The latest rumblings in Iraq are that the stinky, smelly oil production sharing agreement that was the end game of this entire monstrosity is generating increasing resistance in even the puppet Iraq government, the harder we try to force it down their throats. This is the only benchmark Bush has ever been interested in. And is there any doubt that even if they are able to force it through by our military presence, that it be nothing but a casus belli for all eternity?
Is there any doubt that the Iraqi people, if not the entire Muslim world, will resent for generations, with the most blind and unanimous hatred, the way their natural resources were looted from them by an invading imperial army? Is there any doubt that insurgent attacks will continue to increase exponentially, the Al Qaeda dream come true? Is there any doubt that any member of the Iraqi parliament who signs on to this does so at peril to his own life from his own people?
Is there any doubt that our only net spoils from this war will be magnified threats of terrorist attacks against our own homeland in revenge?
In 1919, the Chicago White Sox UNEXPECTEDLY lost the World Series. Their biggest star, Shoeless Joe Jackson, the number three lifetime batting average champion of all time, had admitted under oath to being part of a conspiracy to throw the series, but he was only convicted of not reporting the scandal. On leaving the courtroom, it is reported that a young fan plaintively begged him, "Say it ain't so, Joe!" Joe Jackson was banned from major league baseball and never played there again.
Democrats have majorities in both houses of Congress. They have done little but surrender, capitulate, and surrender some more since the day we gave them those majorities. One of the things we have heard is that they will attach the forgotten minimum wage increase now to a new total surrender version of the Iraq Supplemental. Somebody please explain to us why with a majority in both houses of Congress they could not have put the minimum wage provision on the president's desk months ago.
Some say they will "seek other opportunities later this year to challenge Bush's handling of the unpopular conflict." There will be other opportunities for gratuitous grandstanding. But there will be few other opportunities for ending this insane occupation, short of impeachment (itself a necessity), UNLESS the Democrats stick to their guns just one time.
Wake up, America. We respectfully submit that if you are not angry by now, you are not paying attention. And we pray for you, that if you are motivated to express that anger to Congress, please do it in a way that cannot be construed as anything but a verbal expression of your policy position.
internet activist with the mission of generating as many policy messages to Congress as possible
It is not a trial ballon, nor a trick, Republican or otherwise. It's the democrats voting for the war because the democrats want the war because those who give money, and the industries in their states, oil companies, military industry, other corporations, are making a fortune on the war. The Democrats want the war -- all the noise about terrorism and such aside -- for the same reason the Republicans do.
The Democrats want to LOOK like they are anti-war so they can beat the Republicans next election, but it's still all about money and power, which both parties want. That's what drives them.
by
Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 997 comments)
on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 4:46:18 AM
and with me also the www.antiwar.com who call the Dems the ' Warparty'. We cannot ignore the voice of conservatives, folks; they surely know their flock much better and have better connections.
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Mark Sashine (54 articles, 19 quicklinks, 252 diaries, 3605 comments)
on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 6:26:53 AM
Anyone surprised by this is just not paying attention.
As noted above, the only real difference between the 2 big-business parties is that the Democrats try to deceive their own voters about where they really stand on the war. The Republicans, though they lie every time they move their lips, are still less dishonest than the Democrats, when it comes to making their stance on the war clear.
by
Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1232 comments)
on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 9:04:59 AM
So you think we have representatives representing us? HA!
A majority of Americans want out of Iraq. Our government increases the war.
The people want universal health care. The government says no even though they get it, but if we did it would be "socialism".
The representatives give themselves raises every year, but raising the minimum-wage would be a bad thing for us.
Most Americans want the minimum MPG raised to over 50MPG. We get $4 gasoline.
A recent MSNBC poll had 88% for impeachment. We get "it's off the table".
Our schools, roads, bridges and infrastructure are falling apart as over 50% of our money goes to a government that gives nothing in return. Our streets are not safe, our boarders are unprotected, our jobs are out-sourced as our own pay is decreased even if you are lucky enough to find a job.
Neither the Democrats, nor anyone else is going to save you or stop this war. We as a nation are through. Corrupt to the core. Our elections are rigged and once the so-called representatives of the people get in they do anything but represent us.
If you're looking for change, change yourself.
by
Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 20 diaries, 1781 comments)
on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 4:55:14 PM
I couldn't agree with you more. The signs of the death of a culture and its replacement with something radically different, base and dangerous are everywhere that you look. I personally believe that we are way past the possibility of recovering America Mark I, and that efforts to oppose the ongoing metamorphosis of America into something far inferior than what it had been will be fruitless.
I could be wrong, but the lack of any kind of a meaningful reaction by the American people or its press to date to six+ years of its government's reckless negligence, incompetence and corruption is an ominous sign - like not mounting a white cell response to a growing infection after six years.
It's a recapitulation of the collapse of the twin towers, but this time, of the twin towers of human culture and achievement, morality and intellect. Somehow, the government is maximally corrupted and the people minimally enlightened. It might as well be the Middle Ages here.
You're right. Everyone's on his own. I choose to leave because of the ever increasing dangers of citizenship (FEMA incompetence, FDA corruption, pollution standards relaxed, abused military and Guard, increasing threat of terrorism (nuke, poison, virus), an unstable economy, creeping fascism, etc.) with the simultaneous erosion of the value of citizenship (growing national debt, inflation, loss of freedoms and privacy, impending draft, loss of world stature, loss of national unity [f@ck the Republicans!], loss of economic opportunity, falling standard of living, failing middle class, replacement of science with ideology and superstition, evaporating social safety net).
America stopped caring about me, and not surprisingly, the feeling has become mutual. The flag is now a Republican symbol to me, as is that angry eagle. They're as tainted as that Dixie stars and bars abomination because of their association with this government and the simpletons who have been deceived and exploited by it for so long. What's left to respect or worth fighting for here? Ideals? I'll take them elsewhere. My country died..
by
Yaybob (12 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 174 comments)
on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 10:46:01 PM
Dem party and the MSM are running a 'three card Monte' on us
Yes, you raise serious questions about the 'claim' that the Democratic party is honestly committed to any form of limitation on this expanding imperialist oil-war in Iraq and the whole Middle East.
Of course the Democratic Party, which is only one of all the shill players in this game of "Three Card Monte" by the global corporate Empire being run against the 'marks' of the American public, is not going to really do ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to place constraints on "Vichy America" --- because they ARE Vichy America.
Let's step back a bit an look at this absolutely critical situation of withdrawing from the Iraq war in comparison to another, but less bloody situation --- namely, the Congression pledge to remove Gozales if he can't explain his grievous lies.
Senator 'pontificating pompous arse' Specter had said 2 weeks ago --- on friggin national TV --- that when Gonzales appeared before his Senate investigating committee, that if Gonzales could not explain his apparent lies that this would be "his last chance to save his job" and that Specter (and others) would then take action.
Gonzales appeared before the Senate.Everyone, including Specter, said Gonzales presented no believable case or facts to explain his actions, and yet absolutely nothing was done.
And yet, when Gozales appeared on the Sunday morning talk shows again this weekend --- well after Gonzales failed to explain anything to the Senate, AND after Asst. AG Comey dropped another unexpected bomb, showing that Gonzales and Card rushed to fool a 'near death' Ashcroft into allowing unlimited spying on Americans, Specter is again selling his pompous, BS that "we need to gather facts", and Senator 'Monte" Specter is still not doing **it, and still not willing to say he would vote against Gonzales.
Well, my point is not simply that Senator 'pompous BS' Specter is stone-walling the public, but the FAR BIGGER POINT is that the MSM, including the NYT in its follow-up story on Specter's position, didn't raise a single friggin question about the fact that Senator 'waffle' Specter had pledged on friggin national TV only a few weeks ago that he would make up his friggin mind if Gonzales couldn't explain things at Specter's own friggin Senate hearing.
Now, you have to ask yourself:
How hard would it be to nail Senator 'Pontification' with his own pledge, and for any reporter actually trying to investigate and speak for the American public to ask, "Well, Senator, you pledged on national TV two weeks ago that you would reach a conclusion based on his testimony before your committee ---- and that has happened --- how about ending the stalling, and being straight with the American people?"
This lack of consistent follow-up (by the press as well as Congress) certainly makes it hard for any well informed citizen not to think that changing postures and roles in this apparent 'Three Card Monte' are being cooperatively 'played' by all participants in this obvious con --- including, Bush's administration, Congress AND the MSM --- and stacked against the public 'marks'.
Now if the friggin MSM can't investigate and advance the interests and concerns of the American public in something so obvious and easy to prove definitively, by simply watching the TV tapes of Specter, regarding the second tier issue of his lying, waffling, and foot-dragging on Specter's bold face lie and delay, then what the hell does that say about the supposed"defense of an independent press" with regard to the much, much more important issue of the Iraq war??
It is very, very clear to anyone who has their head screwed on that we Americans are being played as 'marks' in an obvious con-game of 'Three Card Monte' by the president, both houses of Congress, both phony corporate-controlled parties, AND the lying MSM media whores!!!
Are we as dumb as Charlie Brown to believe the repeated lies of Lucy every year about 'holding the football'??
How stupid does the MSM, including the NYT believe that we are ---- when they lied about the intelligence lies to get the US into this war --- and now they lie about the supposed Congressional 'negotiations' to put limits and 'negotiate' withdrawal???
And yet the friggin lying NYT keeps playing its 'Three Card Monte' shill role of the 'objective observer' and has the unmitigated gall to never say a friggin word in its story about Specter's national TV pledge to make a friggin decision on Gonzales --- and its 'stories' on the supposedly serious Congressional 'negotiations' to limit funding and actions in the much more bloody and urgent Iraq oil-war slaughter.
In the Times' story just yesterday, "G.O.P. Senator Says Gonzales Might Quit", the Times reporter mentions absolutely nothing about Specter's very public TV appearance less than two weeks ago in which he pledged that he would make up his mind after Gonzales' testimony in front of the Senate.
In another 'Three Card Monte' lying shill story last week the NYT said, "progress on bipartisan efforts with respect to immigration suggest that bipartisan progress on the Iraq funding limits may also be forthcoming" ---- what a CON GAME!!!
This whole friggin thing is nothing but a perfect example of a classic 'Three Card Monte' scam being run on the American 'marks' ---- and the MSM is playing the 'role' of an observer in the Monte ---- a role which classically is defined in any Monte as "lulling the mark into confidence and believing that his betting would be a good idea" even though the reality of the situation isALWAYS that the supposed observer is PART OF THE SCAM AND FIX AGAINST the 'mark'"".
We are all 'marked' men being conned by a sophisticated 'Three Card Monte' of theft, death, and environmental destruction being run by the global corporate Empire which has even disguised the dealer as the "Vichy American" faux government AND PRESS!!!
Goebbels would be in 'shock and awe' of how great this propaganda scam is, and perhaps say, "Mine Fuhrer, this is better than anything I ever did with 'Vichy France.Why they don't even sense that they are already in the belly of the Empire.Mine Fuhrer, ---- this is exactly what I should have done to build a Fourth Reich for you".
by
Alan MacDonald (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 71 comments)
on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 7:53:11 PM
So what is your bottom line point, really? Just give up? We can get that kind of counsel from the very MSM you rail against. Indeed, the the only way they can maintain their power is by getting enough of us to give up. And you play right into their hands. Thanks for helping them run their game. That would make YOU the conspiring "observer".
But for those who are interested in productive ACTION, we will continue to pressure individual House members to vote NO on the bill, and back it up by starting to threaten primary challenges. Elections are right around the corner.
by
thepen (109 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 11 comments)
on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 11:05:49 PM
Sorry for confusion, pen, recognizing Empire is the 1st step
Pen, in a brief reply to your fine article, I have space and tiome only to address the 1st step of fighting Empire - recognizing it --- and avoiding the guileful disguises and dissembling that obscures Empire as the seminal problem of our political economic loss of democratic self-governing and self-awareness.
Recognize Empire
Analyze Empire
Understand the elite class nature of empire, as weel as the "Economics of Empire", and the 'predatory' nature of Empire
Lastly, confront Empire --- hopefully by hanging it with its own economic rope.
You are certainly right, pen, that resignation or acceptance of Empire is not the proper end to our existential threat, but neither is repeating to battle Empire using its own stacked deck.
by
Alan MacDonald (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 71 comments)
on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 9:07:13 PM
It doesn't matter we now know Nancy is a liar and so is Harry. I think the Party is lost. There is only one way to stop the insane Republicans. The only way is resistence, don't buy their crap, don't pay your taxes, don't buy their gas, sell your lousy houses, never give them a notice, always remember they are liars, and how they misuse their power. Always remember them as Nazi dictators, military power dogs, with their only committment to kill. Always know they are the haters, the vile, the scum, that holds our world in chains. Always vote against them, even though our vote doesn't really matter. Don't attend their churches, buy their cars, or read their newspapers. All they want is you to work for them. They don't believe in freedom...they only believe in their will and their sick psychotic idea that they are winning something. Tell them they won...they won death, suicides, anger, and resentment that will flourish forever while they trespass, and shit on humanity. Don't hate them, don't love them, they are nothing. They are zero, they are never going to gain our life.
Have relief that others feel the same, and that perhaps God will console us and will take them away to their prison yards. God will hear our discourse.
by
Dom Jermano (20 articles, 0 quicklinks, 40 diaries, 930 comments)
on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 7:16:21 AM
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