OpEdNews » Congress Shows It's "Backbone" Again! Progressives Need to Stand-Up!

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Tag(s): ASHCROFT; Automobiles; Baseball; Congress; Congress 110th; Congress Contempt Of; Congress Democrats; Congress Failed Oversight Democracy; Congress House Legislation; Congressional Ethics; (more...) Elections; Future; Iraq; Legislation; Liberalism; Media; Progressive Media; Progressive Problems; Progressive Values - Issues; Progressive Web; Progressivism; Wars (less...)
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December 15, 2007 at 10:43:30

Promoted to column top on 12/15/07:
Congress Shows It's "Backbone" Again! Progressives Need to Stand-Up!

by Timothy V. Gatto Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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The media is full of stories about baseball players using steroids and the weather (the fact that it snows in December), but they are not covering the stories that all Americans should really be seeing. The legislation that recently passed the Senate that would require automobiles to get higher gas mileage was applauded by both sides, but this was at the expense of the two other parts of the original bill that that would have required utility companies get a percentage of their power from renewable sources and made Big Oil pay their taxes. But the oil industry and their billions of dollars stopped that.

Another news story that got just a brief mention was that Attorney General Michael Mukasey asked the House Intelligence Committee on Friday to postpone its investigation into the destruction of videotapes by the Central Intelligence Agency in 2005, saying the Congressional inquiry presented “significant risks” to its own preliminary investigation into the matter. The AG didn’t think that the matter needed a “special prosecutor” to investigate the matter, and should leave it to the Justice Department. We need to see where he takes this, and Congress should continue to run its own investigation. No one in America would begrudge Congress for not trusting the Justice Department, after Ashcroft and Gonzales, the question of “trust” is a hard thing to ask of those that had been lied to repeatedly.

The very worst news from Congress is that the Democrats are willing to shell out another 70 Billion to the administration to fund the two wars America is involved in. Speaker Pelosi has said that there wouldn’t be another dime for the wars unless there was a timeline to leave Iraq. Apparently she was just “joshing” us. She really didn’t mean it. In the end she will prove once again that the Democratic-led Congress in impotent. The oft-quoted “power of the purse” is lost on these 21st century Democrats that believe it is their solemn duty to give an administration hell-bent on bankrupting this nation, anything they need, less they are perceived as “anti-patriotic” by the caustic right. Pelosi can’t understand that no budget is better than a budget that would enable Bush to mire the United States in this war until he leaves the White House.

Meanwhile, the Progressives in the Democratic Party are supposed to sit on their hands until hell freezes over. While the Mainstream Media casts us as the “fringe” element of the party, we know better. Progressives are the mainstay of the Democratic Party, we are not going away. The longer we are shut out of politics and the longer that the Democratic Congress with Republican duplicity, keeps stripping away the parts of bills that will actually achieve something, the higher our numbers will rise. The American People are looking to people with vision toward the future. They are looking towards people that will take corporate money out of Congress and bring our soldiers home from a never-ending war in Iraq.

The people of this country are beginning to wake up. The Democrats in Congress save the Progressives that are there, are fast asleep. They have no idea of how sick the American People are of their constant “waffling” and their constant caving-in to the right. They can’t seem to understand, much less use, the way the pendulum is swinging back towards liberalism and transparency in government. When the elections roll around next year, those who have consistently appeased the right will be taken to task and find themselves out of a job. The road that Senator Joe Lieberman had to travel in 2006 will be repeated in 2008 to a much greater degree for those “Democrats” that have repeatedly voted for the policies of the Bush Administration. Every Liberal/Progressive needs to get out the vote this year. If you are not registered, get registered. If you are registered, get everyone around you registered. This election is crucial, either we take this nation back now, or we will forfeit whatever is left of this nation.

That’s the way I see it.

http://liberalpro.blogspot.com

Tim was banned from the site for posting private email from the publisher to him on his blog, and then attacking the publisher and the site in emails and articles. OEN has no responsibility to publish articles from people who attack the site. Tim's accusations that he was banned for his political positions are untrue. Check his articles. He repetitively wrote about and had published exactly the things he claimed he was banned for doing.

Former Chairman of the Liberal Party of America, Tim is a retired Army Sergeant. He currently lives in South Carolina. A regular contributor to OpEdNews, he is the author of Kimchee Kronicles and is currently at work on a new novel.

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12 comments

Midwesterner, veteran of VietNam era naval service, I still feel an obligation to defend the Constitution against "all enemies, foreign and domestic."
John Sanchez Jr.Midwesterner, veteran of VietNam era naval service, I still feel an obligation to defend the Constitution against "all enemies, foreign and domestic."

I agree...

...and I see the 2008 election as possibly the last opportunity to reverse the fascist trend.

by John Sanchez Jr. (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 1059 comments) on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 11:16:33 AM

I swallowed the red pill!
HanI swallowed the red pill!

Ehm...

They stole the elections twice now, what makes you think they won't do it this time?

by Han (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 195 comments) on Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 7:42:36 AM

Confidence rating

I would say that there is a very low order of probability that there will be fair elections, particularly with what the fascists have at stake. However, there are many more of us aware of their techniques, and a combination of common sense countermeasures coupled with an overwhelming voter turnout must be our response. Activity and communication in this regard is essential.

In 2006, Karl Rove had "the" numbers ahead of the election and the customary dirty tricks, no, make that election fraud techniques (let's call it the crime that it is) were employed. But the surge in voter turnout was not anticipated and that is what defeated their election fraud, however much you wish to quibble about the lap dog majority we picked for ourselves.

The scoundrels are not nearly as stupid as they are criminal, so look for an intensified reprise of the same old crap in the 2008 election. Voter caging, hacked machines, illegitimate propaganda voting instructions and long waits to cast a ballot in what they perceive as enemy territory will all be used. So will "lost" ballots, "found" ballots, an intense campaign to force voters to use provisional ballots and miscounting absentee ballots. If, on election night, you want to see the symptom of fraud, listen for them to stridently disagree with exit poll results. I predict a difference of about 3% in their favor is what they will claim.

We need to counter this fraud with vigilance and numbers. Do your part.

by John Sanchez Jr. (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 1059 comments) on Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 8:07:57 AM

Richard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.
Richard MynickRichard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.

I agree with most of this, though not with the part about

"This election is crucial" and "taking this country back."

Unfortunately, the hard cold truth is that there's no prospect whatever of anything positive coming out of next year's election. All the "electable" candidates (meaning, those with significant corporate backing) will do absolutely nothing to put a stop to the decline of US society, & to the corrupt character of our government (nicely illustrated in your article). The government represents the interests of only the richest layers of American society. That's where the trouble comes from, and that's not going to change. Not only won't it change -- it won't even be discussed, & most people will remain largely unaware of it.

After the election, regardless of who wins, some sort of simplistic "analysis" will be slapped on it by the MSM, and all the crimes will continue. None will be faced squarely, or even acknowledged. If Hillary or Obama wins, the MSM will proclaim that the public "voted for historic change" (ie, a woman or black) -- and nothing will change. If Rudy (or any of the Republican beer-hall brawlers) wins, the MSM will say the public voted for "a strong hand on the tiller, in turbulent times." Then the crimes will continue.

The part about "taking this country back" -- I understand the feeling behind this, of course. But the more seriously you study the history of this country, the clearer it becomes that "we" never had this country to begin with. It merely felt like that, in some respects. It was largely an illusion, however. We shouldn't kid ourselves about that. Much of the illusion came from the fact that our media never let us understand the full scope of the crimes our government was committing in our name.

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1121 comments) on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 2:59:01 PM

Tim was banned from the site for posting private email from the publisher to him on his blog, and then attacking the publisher and the site in emails and articles. OEN has no responsibility to publish articles from people who attack the site.

Tim's accusations that he was banned for his political positions are untrue. Check his articles. He repetitively wrote about and had published exactly the things he claimed he was banned for doing.

Former Chairman of the Liberal ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Timothy V. GattoTim was banned from the site for posting private email from the publisher to him on his blog, and then attacking the publisher and the site in emails and articles. OEN has no responsibility to publish articles from people who attack the site.

Tim's accusations that he was banned for his political positions are untrue. Check his articles. He repetitively wrote about and had published exactly the things he claimed he was banned for doing.

Former Chairman of the Liberal ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

I agree and disagree

It felt like this in '68 too. We would get any control back and that the government was amok. Eventually the people behind it paid except for those who are or were in this current administration. You didn't mention Edwards. I have a feeling when all is said and done, he will be the one to bring us back out of all of this. I could be wrong. Clinton or Obama would be a travestry. We could all just through up our hands and ride this out, but I'd probably get shot anyway. Might as well get shot earlier than later if the cause is useless.

by Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 575 comments) on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 4:55:16 PM

Union Construction Electrician for the past 21 years. Former United States Marine 1982 - 1986 who participated in the Multinational Peacekeeping Force sent to Beirut, Lebanon back in 1983.
SleeperUnion Construction Electrician for the past 21 years. Former United States Marine 1982 - 1986 who participated in the Multinational Peacekeeping Force sent to Beirut, Lebanon back in 1983.

Compromise? Maybe.

Edwards probably wouldn't be too bad. It would be nice if the parties would support Kucinich or Paul. I struggle with how to promote their radical ideas like returning ethics to government. It is a never ending struggle that may not be possible.

Edwards is a lawyer yet he needs to to come across stronger on his adds. The People are outraged at these corrupt bastards. The Congress is gearing up to declare war on Homegrown Terrorists. Guess where this War is going to happen.

One thing that I was taught years ago is that if it ain't broke don't fix it. If they are planning to take on homegrown terror then they believe there is malcontent. Look around whose unhappy with the status quo. That is scary. They have already proved beyond any reasonable doubt that they don't care about rules or LAWS. Their actions demonstrate an assult on "The United States Constituion". All of a sudden lyrics of Jim Morrison's 5 to 1 start surfacing in my head.

It is going to be interresting, very interresting.

by Sleeper (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 273 comments) on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 10:45:51 PM

Brett Paatsch is an Australian born secular humanist with degrees in management and science and an interest in politics. He is a former pro-American that wishes to be pro-American again and thinks the impeachment and repudiation of President George W Bush for the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 is necessary to reestablish trust in American signatures on international treaties and confidence in the global rule of law.
Brett PaatschBrett Paatsch is an Australian born secular humanist with degrees in management and science and an interest in politics. He is a former pro-American that wishes to be pro-American again and thinks the impeachment and repudiation of President George W Bush for the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 is necessary to reestablish trust in American signatures on international treaties and confidence in the global rule of law.

You should develop this into an article Rich

"the more seriously you study the history of this country, the clearer it becomes that "we" never had this country to begin with. It merely felt like that, in some respects. It was largely an illusion, however. We shouldn't kid ourselves about that."

Either you are right or wrong.

Obviously you are right in a trivial sense. The 'we' (the you) that make up contemporary America are less than 120 years old. You can't have been born owning America but you may have had a birthright in the US Constitution - in the rights that previous generations (with their warts and all) bequeathed you - and you may be in danger of frittering it away too easily now if you dismiss it.

Also, I wonder why you'd think "we shouldn't kid ourselves about that"? Are you arguing AGAINST hope or FOR more upheaval?

by Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 21 diaries, 961 comments) on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 10:41:05 PM

Brett - the real relationship between hope and upheaval, as

I see it, is that hope is justified only if we start seriously contemplating a great deal more "upheaval." In other words, I see no prospect of addressing today's crisis within the established framework, because the framework itself (corporate capitalism) is the cause of the crisis, & the framework itself will not permit any real discussion of its own terrible inadequacies.

Take the issue of global warming, for example. Efforts to seriously address this problem cannot get off the ground because the oil companies have too much power. They control too much media opinion, & in effect pull the strings of the marionettes in the US govt. And now as we head into a US presidential election, you can be sure that this basic truth will remain entirely in the shadows. There will be questions in debates about abortion & which candidate has "deeper faith in God" -- but no questions about how to rein in the power of the energy lobby. The election will come and go -- and the power of the energy lobby in controlling national policy will remain not merely undiminished, but completely unchallenged.

With every other burning issue, the process is exactly similar. Regardless of who wins the elections, the real criminals will remain in the shadows, their interests completely protected. The 2 parties will both nominate candidates who will continue the Iraq occupation, & who won't even speak of cutting the "defense" budget. The "War on Terror" won't be "on the table" for discussion -- it will simply be taken for granted that the only possible course is to continue it, & to try to "win" it.

Nothing can be solved in a system that works like this. Our public discourse won't even allow the real problems to be identified by name, let alone solve them.

The part about "we never really had this country to begin with" -- Yes, the Constitution has some very inspiring language in it. But having the nice words on paper is one thing; translating them to real life is something else. It is unfortunately very easy to make people think they live in a "great democracy," simply by paying constant lip service to the abstract concept of democracy, & by making a huge extravaganza of "elections" every few years. This suffices to hoodwink most of the population. Once they're hoodwinked, you can make them go along with almost anything, no matter how undemocratic or adverse to their interests it is.

There's a very insightful quote that refers to this process: a Chicago priest named Father Edward Dowling wrote, in 1941, "The two greatest obstacles to democracy in the United States are, first, the widespread delusion among the poor that we have a democracy, and second, the chronic terror among the rich, lest we get it."

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1121 comments) on Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 2:11:00 PM

My name it means nothing, my age it means less. My deeds of activism are mine to enjoy and share as I feel necesary, not as some clown in a small forum's administration thinks I must..This place gets worse each and every visit.
Member banned on June 3, 2008 for repeated abuse of editors.
ardee D.My name it means nothing, my age it means less. My deeds of activism are mine to enjoy and share as I feel necesary, not as some clown in a small forum's administration thinks I must..This place gets worse each and every visit.
Member banned on June 3, 2008 for repeated abuse of editors.

Mainstays?

To call the Progressive the mainstay of the Democratic Party is to live in the past, in my opinion. It has been a long time since either the progressive wing of the party or the black caucus has had any say whatever in the actions and direction of that party.

If you are serious about sending a message in the coming election then refuse to vote for any democrat or republican. Use your vote more constructively to help third parties get matching funds.

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2388 comments) on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 5:47:00 PM

JUST A CONCERN CITIZEN AND LOVE MY COUNTRY GREW UP IN A SMALL FISHING TOWN IN NJ,BUT THE DAY I GOT MY DRIVERS LICENSE,SPENT MOST OF MY TIME EXPANSING MY MINE. LEARNED A LOT THE HARD WAY,BUT MOSTLY STREET SMART. AT 65 HAVE PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHO THE SNAKES ARE.
RICHARD SHADEJUST A CONCERN CITIZEN AND LOVE MY COUNTRY GREW UP IN A SMALL FISHING TOWN IN NJ,BUT THE DAY I GOT MY DRIVERS LICENSE,SPENT MOST OF MY TIME EXPANSING MY MINE. LEARNED A LOT THE HARD WAY,BUT MOSTLY STREET SMART. AT 65 HAVE PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHO THE SNAKES ARE.

BACKBONE ,WHAT, WHO, WHERE, WHEN

RICH M I AGREE 100% HERE'S THE NEXT STEP

HE THAT HATH NO SWORD, LET HIM SELL HIS GARMENT, AND BUY ONE.

( LUKE 22;36 KJV )

IT TOOK THE BETTER PART OF 100 YEARS FOR CFR TC GLOBALIST TO GET CONTOL OF OUR GOVERNMENT, AND THEIR GUEST FOR ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT, AND IF ANYONE THINKS THAT WE THE PEOPLE CAN CHANGE THIS IN ONE ELECTION THINK AGAIN.

by RICHARD SHADE (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 460 comments) on Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 4:59:11 AM

CFR

Thats why I could consider Edwards. I believe he has an affiliation with the CFR, he is bringing the Corporate money issue into his campain. I think Ron Paul is the only candidate that is not affiliated with the CFR. I haven't heard anything solid, but I think the money bomb on for today is bringing in more then was expected. The weather is probably not so good for the TEA PARTY and you know the media will down play Paul's successes.

by Sleeper (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 273 comments) on Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 9:28:56 AM

EDWARDS

YES OLD JOHN BOY IS A MEMBER OF CFR JUST GLOOGLE JOHN EDWARDS AND CFR AND YOU WILL GET THE TRUTH.

by RICHARD SHADE (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 460 comments) on Monday, December 17, 2007 at 1:51:13 AM

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