michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on May 19, 2007 15:06:09 GMT 4
On Iraq, Kucinich wants the truth out John Warner, Warner For the Monitor May 12. 2007 8:21AM As recently reported by June Caldwell in the American Chronicle, presidential candidate and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich revealed that the Democrats in Congress made secret concessions to the Republicans in the just vetoed Iraq war funding bill, as well as in a version currently being negotiated. These include:• Privatization of Iraq's Oil This was in the original bill, but not shared with the public was the existence of a rule that said this clause could not be removed during debate on House floor. Privatization was posed as a benchmark that must be met or the United States would withdraw troops and refuse to offer peacekeeping troops to help rebuild the country. Privatization means international oil companies get 80 percent of the profits from exploitation of Iraq oil. • Bush could invade Iran without approval A clause that would have required him to first get approval from Congress first was removed. • Any timetables for troop withdrawal were to be removed in the post-veto version. It is clear that beyond the lies about WMDs , the high-sounding rhetoric about terrorism and democracy in the Middle East is still a smokescreen to hide the real reason for the Iraq War: oil profits. It is also clear that the Democrats are now complicit in the lies of this administration and its attempts to hide the facts from us. When Kucinich requested on the floor that the oil profits clause be removed from the bill, he was assured it would be. Finding that it was not, and after again demanding that it be removed, he was accused of "not being a loyal Democrat."Thank you, Congressman Kucinich, for being willing to give the truth to the American people!
JOHN WARNER Source: tinyurl.com/2hw89o
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on May 26, 2007 16:10:03 GMT 4
Kucinich: Congress Endorses Blackmail of Iraq Washington, May 24 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) hosted a news conference this afternoon with Antonia Juhasz, visiting scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, and Denice Lombard, U.S. Labor Against the War, to discuss implications of Congress insisting on benchmarks in the Iraq supplemental that include passage of the Iraqi “hydrocarbon act.” The hydrocarbon act forces the Iraqis to privatize their oil. Below are the remarks from his speech: “The Democrats will have an opportunity today to vote in support of, or against, the blackmail of Iraq. A vote for the benchmarks is a vote to demand the privatization of Iraqi oil. “The House of Representatives will consider yet another version of the Iraq war funding legislation. Not only will Congress give the President another blank check, despite the new Democratic majority, Congress will also endorse the blackmail of Iraq. “The benchmarks in today’s war supplemental force the Iraqis to privatize their oil industry by demanding passage of the Iraqi “Hydrocarbon Act.” The war supplemental blocks over a billion dollars in reconstruction funds if the Iraqis refuse to comply. “This administration has misled Congress into thinking that pending Iraqi legislation before their Parliament is about fair distribution of oil revenues. In fact, except for three scant lines, the entire 33-page hydrocarbon law creates a structure to facilitate the privatization of Iraq’s oil. “The truth is that the “Hydrocarbon Act” will open Iraq’s oil reserves to foreign investors, giving them, and not the Iraqi people, the ability to develop the majority of Iraq’s 80 known oil fields. The Iraq National Oil Company would maintain control of only approximately 17 of these oil fields. “If this happens, Iraq will be the only country in the Middle East that does not maintain government control of its own oil industry. “The wealth of Iraq, their rich oil resources, should remain in the hands of Iraq for the benefit of the Iraqi people. “Passage of any legislation that includes insisting that the Iraq Government push the passage of a hydrocarbon act puts this Congress on record to promote privatizing Iraq's oil. “Congress must stop all attempts by the Administration to allow multinational oil companies to take over Iraq’s oil resources. “This is equivalent to blackmail and sends a strong message that the United States is not in Iraq to help the Iraqi people or defend democracy, but that this war is solely about oil. “I would like to believe that this war has not been about oil. I would like to believe that there was some kind of a righteous cause connected to what we did; but I know better, and the proof is in this Hydrocarbon Act. “I am here to say that there is another path that can be taken, and that path is part of H.R. 1234, a bill that I have written that would enable the war to end by Congress determining that no more money will go for this war, telling the administration that it must open up diplomatic relations with Syria and Iran, and moving in a direction where we put together an international peacekeeping and security force that would move in as our troops leave. “And then we set the stage for real reconciliation that cannot come with the U.S. serving as an occupying army. “We have a moral responsibility to the Iraqi people whose country we have ravaged with war to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars of damage. “Congress must put a stop to the exploitation of Iraq and ensure reconstruction of a nation now in shambles.” Source:kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=65965------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In this article, the American Petroleum Institute, offers their spin on Dennis' statement and attempt to discredit him....MichelleKucinich claims war masks the real objective: Iraqi oil Thursday, May 24, 2007Stephen Koff Plain Dealer Bureau Chief Washington- It's all about Iraq's oil - rich, abundant, and coveted by multinational companies waiting to line their deep pockets. Or so said Rep. Dennis Kucinich Wednesday in an unusual hourlong address on the House floor. He laid out his contention that the White House and Democratic-led Congress are helping oil companies grab a stake in Iraq's vast oil fields while claiming to be interested merely in winding down the Iraq war. The claim has brought Kucinich derision within his own Democratic Party. Leaders reject the suggestion that they would help "privatize" Iraqi oil. And Republicans dismiss him altogether, with Republican Party spokesman Dan Ronayne saying, "It sounds like congressman Kucinich is trying to get noticed with a nutty conspiracy theory." But elements of Kucinich's claim appear to be based on theories about geopolitics and oil as much as on any conspiracy. At the heart of the issue is a measure that, if ratified by the Iraqi parliament, would set the stage for rebuilding the war-torn country's oil industry. Oil in Iraq, with the world's third-biggest reserves, could pay for massive reconstruction and modernization. But Iraq's pipelines and terminals have been neglected or sabotaged. The industry needs to be rebuilt - yet there is promise, since only 15 of Iraq's 74 discovered oil fields have been developed, according to a study by Amy Myers Jaffe, a fellow in energy studies at Rice University in Houston. Who should develop that? What role should Baghdad play and what role should provincial governments have? If private industry helps, how should it be rewarded? The framework for answering these questions is in the bill before the Iraqi parliament - a bill that's been gaining detractors in Iraq. Some members of Congress - but not Kucinich - say it or some other so-called hydrocarbon act could serve as a benchmark for Congress and the administration to measure Iraq's progress. It could be a measure on which to base eventual withdrawal of American troops. But the measure itself is mired in disagreement in Iraq, with Sunnis and Kurds differing on the central question of provincial versus central control. Some in Iraq also see the measure as a way for Western corporations to gain control through revenue- sharing provisions. "Everyone knows that the oil law does not serve the Iraqi people, and that it serves Bush, his supporters and the foreign companies at the expense of the Iraqi people who have been wronged and deprived of their right to their oil despite enduring all difficulties," Hasan Jum'a Awwad, head of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, said in a May 12 letter to Democrats in the U.S. Congress. There's another view. Iraq's oil industry is in shambles. It needs help, but outside experts keep getting killed. Multinational oil companies, whose shareholders expect a return on investment, could help. Iraq could go it alone, but getting higher oil output could require hard decisions, including "possible under-investment in other areas of the country's economy," Jaffe's analysis said. Iraq needs up to $10 billion to restore production to pre-war levels, she said, and more than $20 billion - "a major investment program" - to raise output to about 5 million barrels a day, the high end of its historical production levels. "If it is decided that higher levels of production are desired," Jaffe wrote, "it is inevitable that the potential role of outside in vestors and lenders will loom large." While that does not mean companies would give their resources and expertise out of charity, Karen Matusic, a spokeswoman for the American Petroleum Institute, says it does not mean privatization, either. She asks why Kucinich would not want to help Iraq, which lacks the tools. "They don't have the kinds of funds or even technology needed to develop those fields," she said. Sen. George Voinovich, an Ohio Republican, shares that view. "That oil is capital," and all sides in Iraq need it, said Voinovich spokesman Chris Paulitz. Kucinich agrees with the sentiment. But he worries it won't work out that way. "It's clear," he said, "that the people of Iraq are under enormous pressure to give up their oil." To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
skoff@plaind.com, 216-999-4212 Source:www.cleveland.com/open/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/ispol/1180004176231570.xml&coll=2------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The sad, sad truth for those of us trying to vote for change, when in reality, our 2 party political structure is the good cop bad cop game which never offers us any choice but that which has been laid out by the powers that be....MichelleDemocratic Party completes its capitulation on IraqBy Barry Grey 24 May 2007 The Democratic congressional leadership on Tuesday formally accepted a supplemental war-funding bill that abandons any timelines for withdrawing US troops from Iraq. The bill further gives President Bush the power to waive economic penalties should the Iraqi government fail to meet a series of “benchmarks” for stabilizing the country and opening up its oil resources to exploitation by American oil conglomerates. The agreement is a full and abject capitulation by the Democratic Party to the Bush administration. It is the inevitable and predictable outcome of months of antiwar posturing by Democratic leaders.The terms of the deal were dictated by the White House, working in tandem with Republican Senator John W. Warner of Virginia, who put forward the proposal last week in an amendment co-sponsored by Democrats Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Robert Byrd of West Virginia. The bill would grant Bush’s request for more than $100 billion in additional funds to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan until the end of the current fiscal year on September 1. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, announced the agreement Tuesday, following talks between Democratic and Republican congressional leaders and White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten. The negotiations were launched last Friday, after the Senate vote 94-to-1 for a measure pledging “support for the troops,” i.e., full funding for the war without any restrictions on the administration’s escalation of military violence. That set the stage for the final Democratic cave-in. The New York Times reported Wednesday: “Senior Democratic officials said the final bill would probably be stripped of other features that Mr. Bush had previously resisted, including readiness standards that would have prevented troops from being returned to Iraq within one year or without adequate training and equipment unless Mr. Bush signed a waiver determining it was necessary.” Even as he admitted that the benchmark language was “extremely weak,” Reid attempted to give the deal a positive gloss, saying, “No one can say with any degree of veracity that we haven’t made great progress.” The hypocrisy of the Democrats was aptly—if unwittingly—summed up by the New York Times, which sought to present the agreement as something other than a surrender. Quoting the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the newspaper wrote: “’I would never vote for such a thing,’ Ms. Pelosi said, as she entered the office of Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, to put the final touches on the $120 billion proposal.” Later, Pelosi called the bill, which she said she could not support, “another stage in the sequencing of ending this war.” Other Democrats, who sought to give themselves political cover by including in the war-funding bill some provisions for “accountability” and target dates for partially withdrawing US combat troops, were more blunt. Massachusetts Democrat James McGovern said, “There are no timetables, there’s no accountability. The president doesn’t have to pay attention to any of this stuff.” Lynn Woolsey, Democrat of California and member of the Out of Iraq Caucus in the House, said, “The president prevailed.” White House spokesman Tony Snow made it clear that the agreement gives Bush everything he had demanded, saying, “What will be seen as a victory is providing... the funding and flexibility the forces need. That’s what we wanted all along.” A vote on the bill is expected Thursday, and leaders of both parties say it will be passed and sent to Bush to sign prior to the weeklong Memorial Day recess. The inclusion of 18 unenforceable benchmarks in the spending bill, far from signaling a move toward ending the war, has the reactionary aim of placing the onus for the death and destruction inflicted by the US on Iraq on the Iraqis themselves. Warner lectured the Iraqi government—a puppet regime entirely dependent on the US military and despised by the mass of Iraqis—on the meaning of the benchmarks, saying “We’re there to help you so long as you, as a sovereign nation, pull your own weight and do your responsible job.” It is no doubt puzzling to many that, despite the massive popular opposition to Bush and the Iraq war, the Democrats are powerless against the Bush administration. In the past—in the run-up to the 2003 invasion and in the 2004 presidential election—the Democrats justified their prostration and complicity by the supposedly overwhelming popular support for the president. The fundamental reason for the Democrats’ impotence is the character of the Democratic Party. It is, no less than the Republicans, a party of US imperialism. The Democrats have from the onset supported the basic imperialist aims underlying the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and the broader striving of the American financial elite to utilize its military power to dominate the world’s resources and markets. The war was never simply “Bush’s war.” The Democrats repeated the lies used by the administration to drag the American people into the war and supplied the necessary votes in Congress to give Bush the authority to launch an unprovoked war of aggression. Their criticisms have been directed not against the war itself, but rather against the administration’s incompetence in conducting it and the military and political disaster it has produced. The Democrats have done, and will do, nothing to actually halt the war or impede its expansion, because the overwhelming consensus within the US ruling elite is that any outcome perceived as a defeat for the United States would have catastrophic consequences for the global position of American capitalism. The Republican Party, no matter how unpopular and discredited among the people, prevails because it represents most directly the interests of the most determined and ruthless sections of the ruling elite. The Democrats, on the other hand, serve a very specific function within the political establishment. They defend the basic interests of the ruling class, while promoting the fiction that their party is something it is not now and never was—a party of average working people. This is what imparts to the Democratic Party its inveterate duplicity, half-heartedness and cowardice. Bob Kerrey’s defense of warThe imperialist and militarist perspective that actually drives the Democratic Party was spelled out in a column published in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal by one of the party’s leading spokesmen, Bob Kerrey, former senator and current president of The New School, a university in New York.Kerrey is among the more forthright spokesmen for US imperialism within the Democratic Party. In 2001, shortly after he left his post as senator from Nebraska to assume the presidency of the New School, it was revealed that he had commanded a Navy Seal unit in Vietnam in 1969 that carried out a massacre against a defenseless village, in which he and six soldiers under his command killed 21 women, children and elderly men. His record as a war criminal did not prevent him from being appointed to the 9/11 Commission and continuing to hold his post at the New School. In his Wall Street Journal column, entitled “The Left’s Iraq Muddle,” Kerrey gives an unabashed defense of the war in Iraq and argues for an extension of US military violence far beyond Iraq.In language that could have been lifted from a speech by Bush, Kerrey portrays the holocaust inflicted by the US on Iraq as a campaign for democracy. “The key question for Congress,” he writes, “is whether or not Iraq has become the primary battleground against the same radical Islamists who declared war on the US in the 1990s and who have carried out a series of terrorist operations including 9/11. The answer is emphatically, ‘yes.’” He makes the absurd claim that “Those who argue that radical Islamic terrorism has arrived in Iraq because of the US-led invasion are right. But they are right because radical Islam opposes democracy in Iraq. If our purpose had been to substitute a dictator who was more cooperative and supportive of the West, these groups wouldn’t have lasted a week.” But, of course, the US supports authoritarian regimes in a whole series of countries where Islamic terrorists flourish—Pakistan, Afghanistan and Egypt, to name a few. In any event, Kerrey is not seeking to convince the general public by means of a coherent argument. Rather, he is out to convince his fellow Democrats that they can prove their right to rule to the constituency that really counts—the ruling elite—only by ignoring the sentiments of the people, abandoning their antiwar posturing and fully embracing all-out war in Iraq. He chides “American lawmakers who are watching public opinion tell them to move away from Iraq as quickly as possible,” denounces any suggestion that the war is “all about oil,” and says if Democrats shy away from war “then no wonder today we Democrats are not trusted with the reins of power.” He concludes by declaring, “We must not allow terrorist sanctuaries to develop any place on earth. Whether these fighters are finding refuge in Syria, Iran, Pakistan or elsewhere, we cannot afford diplomatic of political excuses to prevent us from using military force to eliminate them.” November to May: Six months of duplicity and liesIt is instructive to review the process by which the Democratic leadership has come to its final capitulation to Bush. When the Democrats took control of both houses of Congress last January, propelled into power by the massive antiwar vote in the November 2006 congressional elections, they began by relegating the entire question of the war to the background. Pelosi’s “100 hours” legislative agenda at the start of the 110th Congress entirely ignored the issue of the war. The resulting anger and indignation among Democratic voters, intensified by Bush’s January 10 announcement of a “surge” of tens of thousands of additional troops into Iraq, compelled the party leadership to shift tactics. What followed was an elaborate and carefully calculated effort to dupe the population into believing that the Democrats were seeking to end the war, while they swore off any actions that would actually impede its prosecution. This included the non-binding resolutions against the “surge” in February. Beginning in March the Democrats passed measures in the House and Senate that gave Bush his requested funds to continue the war, with various timetables attached for partially withdrawing US combat troops. All of the Democratic proposals allowed for an indefinite continued presence of tens of thousands of troops after the supposed deadlines for withdrawal. When Bush, on May 1, vetoed the Democratic bill that resulted from negotiations between the House and Senate, the end game was already clear. Democratic leaders in both houses gave repeated assurances that they would under no circumstances cut off funding “for the troops,” even as the toll of American soldiers killed and wounded soared, and Iraq sank ever further into a state of hellish chaos, death and destruction. They announced that they would come up with a bill acceptable to Bush prior to the May 28 Memorial Day holiday, producing the inevitable and final capitulation that has now occurred. At every step of the way, the Democratic leadership was aided and abetted by supposedly antiwar Democrats such as the Out of Iraq caucus, who provided the necessary votes to pass war-funding measures, and left-liberal forces such as the Nation magazine and the leaders of protest groups such as United for Peace and Justice, who presented the Democratic Party as a genuine vehicle for opposing and ending the war. These events have fully confirmed the analysis and perspective of the Socialist Equality Party and the World Socialist Web Site. On November 8, one day after the midterm elections, the WSWS published an editorial board statement that said: “The Democratic Party is the beneficiary of overwhelming antiwar sentiment that it did nothing to encourage and which stands in stark opposition to its own pro-war policy. There is a vast chasm between the massive antiwar sentiment within the electorate and the commitment of Democratic Party leaders to ‘victory in Iraq’ and continued prosecution of the ‘war on terror.’... “Those who voted for the Democratic Party in order to express their opposition to the Bush administration and the war will rapidly discover that a Democratic electoral victory will produce no significant change in US policy, either abroad or at home. Millions of working people and youth will sooner rather than later come into direct conflict with the Democrats.”Eight days later, the WSWS published a statement of the Socialist Equality Party that declared: “However sharp the differences within the political establishment over the Bush administration’s conduct of the war in Iraq—and more generally its reckless and ignorant approach to complex problems of foreign policy—no substantial section of the ruling elite is prepared to countenance a withdrawal of US forces under conditions where such action would be seen as a military defeat and represent a devastating setback to the regional and global interests of American imperialism. “The internal debates within the policy-making establishment—Democratic and Republican—are aimed at forging a new strategic consensus on the future conduct of American policy in the Middle East. While the depth of antiwar sentiment expressed in last week’s elections came as something of a shock to both parties, their leaders are not in the least inclined to allow the attitude of the broad mass of the American people determine the foreign policy objectives of the United States.” The experience of the past six months since the November election has underscored the incompatibility of the interests of working people with the entire two-party system, and the need to break with the Democrats and build a mass, independent and socialist movement to end the war in Iraq and prevent new imperialist wars.Source:www.wsws.org/articles/2007/may2007/dems-m24.shtml
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Jun 7, 2007 8:52:13 GMT 4
BREAKING: Five US Reps Support Cheney ImpeachmentBy Matthew Cardinale, News Editor, Atlanta Progressive News (June 06, 2007) (APN) ATLANTA – US Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) has become the fifth total co-sponsor of US Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s (D-OH) bill to impeach Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney, Atlanta Progressive News has learned. In addition to Kucinich, the additional three Members of Congress who have signed on to H. Res 333 are US Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), and Albert Wynn (D-MD)."This Administration has continued to erode the trust of the American people and enough is simply enough," stated US Rep. Clarke in a press release issued first to Atlanta Progressive News. "H.Res. 333 was introduced to the House of Representatives by Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio on April 24, 2007, and asserts that the vice president manipulated intelligence to make the case for going to war with Iraq, falsified a connection between Iraq and al-Qaeda, and has threatened aggression against Iran," US Rep. Clarke says. "When the American people voted on November 7th, they asked for a change in direction by electing the Democratic party in the House and Senate. I have heard the loud cries of my constituents, and they want accountability. My support of HRes 333 reflects the voices of the residents of central Brooklyn."Congresswoman Clarke replaced US Rep. Major Owens (D-NY), who retired at the end of the 109th Session. US Rep. Owens had been one of the early supporters of Conyers's bill, H Res 635, which would have created a Select Committee to look into the possible grounds for impeaching President Bush. Congresswoman Clarke is her own woman and "does not follow the crowd," her spokesperson said, adding that constituents had regularly lobbied her to co-sponsor this bill. "Vice President Dick Cheney is the architect of the Administration's deception about the war. Cheney persistently and deliberately deceived the Congress and the American people about the existence of Weapons of Mass Destruction and the alleged link between Saddam Hussein and the attack on September 11th. There should be a serious dialogue about the conduct of this Administration. Cheney should be held accountable for purposely misleading the American people. Despite the obvious lack of success on the ground, Vice President Cheney continued a barrage of propaganda claiming that we were winning the war and successfully rebuilding Iraq which is patently false. His statements and representations about the situation in Iraq amount to malfeasance for which he should be taken to task," said Wynn in a press release prepared for Atlanta Progressive News. Impeachment activist Tracie Stern of Atlanta World Can't Wait said the new co-sponsorships are exciting, but at the same time, the case for impeachment is so clear that these Members of Congress are actually just doing their duty.
Those Members who do not co-sponsor H Res 333 are enabling the Bush Adminstration, Stern said, adding "People need to step on to the stage of history.""At the urging of my constituents in Missouri's 1st Congressional District, and from Americans across the country, I cosponsored Congressman Kucinich's resolution regarding the impeachment of the Vice President because I believe that Mr. Cheney deliberately manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the Congress of the United States and the American people. That deception has resulted in a tragic, unnecessary war that has already cost the lives of over 3,300 brave Americans and has cost the taxpayers over $400 billion. The arrogant abuse of power and the complete disregard for the truth needs to stop," US Rep. Clay said in a statement prepared for Atlanta Progressive News. US Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL) recently told The Daily Northwestern college newspaper that Cheney misled the public by "intentionally manipulating intelligence in order to launch an elective war against Iraq. I believe it is crucial that the U.S. House of Representatives investigate the vice president's actions to determine if he should be impeached for lying to the American people to justify the war in Iraq." Missing in action was US Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) who had told WAOK radio in December 2005 he would sign a bill of impeachment of President Bush should it come across his desk [crimes committed by Bush would equally apply to Cheney in this case]. Of course, Lewis did not cosponsor US Rep. Cynthia McKinney’s (D-GA) bill filed at the end of the last Session which would have impeached Bush either.
Other MIAs include US Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) who recently made comments that she thought impeaching Cheney was a good idea, as reported by AfterDowningStreet.org [Waters’s Office has not returned a call seeking comment]; and US Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who supported impeachment in the Minnesota legislature and campaigned for US Congress on the issue. This list could go on.The new cosponsorships on Kucinich’s bill are significant for a number of reasons. First, it shows there is more than one Member of Congress willing to entertain real accountability for the Bush Administration, despite the insistence of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) that impeachment is off the table. Also, this bill is calling for actual Articles of Impeachment for Cheney, unlike the last bill which not only was related to Mr. Bush, but created an investigative committee to look into possible impeachment rather than providing for actual possible impeachment. Therefore, cosponsorships on H Res 333 have even more weight than those which were listed on H Res 635 last Session. Also, since the time of H Res 635, Democrats have taken control of both the US House and Senate. Thus, impeachment is even more a real possibility on account of having the potential Democratic support for the bill, even though most Democrats currently aren’t rushing to impeach Bush. Because Democrats are now the Majority in Congress, we also now know that Bush refuses to be accountable to Congress, particularly on the US Invasion of Iraq. Bush has now vetoed historic legislation to attach funding for the Occupation with a deadline for withdrawal. Thus, it is now even more clear that traditional oversight mechanisms will not be effective. The House Judiciary Committee told APN there are no plans to have hearings on impeachment of Cheney or anyone else at this time. "It’s not at this time on the Committee’s immediate agenda," Conyers’s spokesperson said. "Once its referred it has to be on the Committee’s agenda for the Committee to take it up," they said. "In order to move a bill you have to have hearings scheduled on it," they said. When asked by APN if Conyers taking impeachment "off the table" meant based on present information or whether it was complete abdication of a constitutional mechanism no matter what information comes forward, "All we can speak to is the present time," the spokesperson said, adding it would be unwise to speculate about the future. "I don’t think it’s prejudging," they said. The 39 total co-sponsors of H Res. 635 were US Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA), Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Rep. Jackson, Jr., (D-IL), Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), Rep. John Olver (D-MA), Rep. Major Owens (D-NY), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN), Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA), Rep. Fortney Pete Stark (D-CA), Rep. John Tierney (D-MA), Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Dianne Watson (D-CA), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Rep. David Wu (D-OR). It was largely viewed that US Rep. Conyers, the original sponsor of H Res 635, did not re-file his bill out of respect to Pelosi and his desire to be appointed Chair of the Judiciary Committee. Moreover, several Members of Congress have stated that they have followed in Conyers’s steps in choosing not to introduce similar bills of their own. About the author:
Matthew Cardinale is the News Editor of Atlanta Progressive News and may be reached at matthew@atlantaprogressivenews.com.Source: www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0169.html
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Jul 5, 2007 7:00:12 GMT 4
July 4th Message from Dennis Kucinich 7/4/07 9:31:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time
July 4th Message from Dennis KucinichDear Friend,Happy Birthday, America, from Dennis and Elizabeth. Today is Independence Day, the 4th of July. What would our forefathers think if they could see where this nation is today? What happened to their America, this land of the free, home of the brave? Would our founders be ashamed? I can tell you I sense a change in the wind. There is a hunger in this nation for a grand vision to bring us all together, to heal us and lift our spirits. There is a hunger for clarity, for a sense of purpose. Where as a nation are we going? Who among us doesn't yearn for a better way, a better day for themselves and their families? There is a hunger for the truth. What is wrong in standing for principles that unite, not divide? Where is the integrity in the public life of our nation? We must have the courage to believe in unity. We must understand the imperative of human unity. No American should be left behind. Each person everywhere has fundamental human rights. "We hold these truths to be self evident" speaks our Declaration, "that all men -- and women -- are created equal." This document speaks to the highest truths which unite us as a nation and which also unite us with the world community celebrating life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We understand that peace connects us to security and to prosperity and a celebration of the human condition as war leads to fear and poverty and destruction of the human condition. What do we say to the people when there is no peace? What do we say to the people when there are no resources for education, or for health care; when there is no real security; where there is no real government of the people, by the people, and for the people? A new America awaits those of us who still believe. Together, you and I have the power. We have the power to create peace for the people, health care for the people, education for the people, jobs for the people; to create a government of integrity for the people, of trust for the people, and healing for the people. It is time to let the nation hear, and it is time to let the people speak; to let the world hear you. We are a great nation who want to build, not bomb; who want to create, not destroy, who want to love, not hate, who believe in the dignity of all people, who want to embrace the world and lend it a healing hand. I will protect your Constitution. I will protect your Bill of Rights. I will keep America strong with defense built on honesty, integrity, peace, and goodwill towards our fellow world citizens. Because our forefathers put their lives on the line to create a country which had the ability to adapt to an undreamed of future, America needs each of us to respond to that impulse for recreating our higher destiny. It is our turn, to declare once again, our independence from the shackles of repressive politics. You, and we, have the power to turn this upside-down world right side up. Join me in this grandest of visions; the hope that is the beacon for you and for all the world; that America the beautiful, that America we love. I'm Dennis Kucinich, and I'm running for the people, and I'm ready to be your President of our United States. Thank you. DennisClick here to view Dennis's video message:tinyurl.com/2q7jc8
|
|
|
Post by evelyn on Jul 14, 2007 23:27:42 GMT 4
Hello, Michelle, et al - I would be interested in comments on Kurt Nimmo's article, Is Dennis Kucinich Incurably Clueless? at kurtnimmo.com/?p=926
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Jul 15, 2007 13:26:50 GMT 4
Hello, Michelle, et al - I would be interested in comments on Kurt Nimmo's article, Is Dennis Kucinich Incurably Clueless? at kurtnimmo.com/?p=926 Ah, Evelyn, you pull me from a much needed weekend rest for body and mind, but that's OK; I always appreciate your interest and comments here.
Now, concerning the article you've highlighted, I would ask the author, "What's your point? What do you propose to do about the very real truths you've brought up?" The truths I refer to would be the directed/fixed elections by the global elite, the bankers, the transnational corporations, the aristocracy, and the ruling elite families we supposedly participate in and the killing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, etc. In other words, as the author states, the varying degrees of tyranny, often carefully window dressed as “democracy,” that we live under.
The author also points out the very real state of the intellectual capacity of many Americans which has been carefully programed over many, many years. All this is true. The author points this all out and then, more or less, asks us to throw-up our hands, to basically give up, because that's just the way it is. He may not say this in writing, but he does so by not offering anything except his jaded opinion.
It is good to see this type of information, these truths put out there, but for me and others like me, it is nothing new. We have been saying the same for years and in the past and have been treated as very strange, sometimes very badly. Early, when this type of understanding began to come to me, it scared the bejeebies out of me; it was tough holding all this understanding and having no one to believe you; I was obsessed by it. As I wrote letters to the editor, sent statements of protest to my reps and to the White House, my hands would be shaking out of fear. If any care to read what I write here, you know that I haven't kept my mouth shut on every issue under the sun. [well, almost] I'm not afraid anymore. I am pushed on by hands I never see in this reality and beyond.
Evelyn, and ALL, I have come to the point of understanding that things and people change slowly, at least when the changes are positive. Ideas and thoughts of a higher order descend upon mankind in a certain slow and methodical fashion. They are first picked up by our writers of literature, our artists, our philosophers, and such. Yea, and sometimes they are filtered into the minds of a few public servants and community leaders. These ideas, these thoughts then begin to filter into the mind of the public masses, starting with just a few. And as these few continue to develop in their understanding, they help others behind them, when they are ready for these truths through their own personal struggles. Without darkness there would be no Light. It is this very darkness that the author speaks of that is, in truth, pushing us on and upward. It is this darkness which shrouds our world, which has become the very thing that is bringing people to their senses and saying, "This is all very wrong!" It is the nature of things, of Universal Law, this darkness before Light, which causes mankind to change. For just as we see corruption in every corner of our public life, there has been the same, to lesser degrees, in each and every individual.
As a species, we have begun to grow up; to be concerned for others outside our personal circles of self, family, and friends....onto community and nation; then to our brothers and sisters around the global, including concern for the other kingdoms of life, and for the home to each and everyone one of us, our Earth. We are now ready for change, ready to reject this darkness and choose Light, to support and choose leaders who embody this thinking, this Light. For years we have been so self absorbed that we barely noticed what was going on, and if we did, we accepted it, as long as it didn't affect us personally. We can't deny these truths anymore, for they now affect the whole....the whole body of humanity.
So, after a very long statement, what I'm saying is don't buy into this author's type of view anymore. His line of argument stops and stays within the darkness; it does not seek the Light of freedom; it asks you to stay where we're at because that's the way it is....Baloney. Our discomfort and pain has become so great that our ideas, our thoughts, have changed, and it is these thoughts, with the emotional charge of intent behind them, of the collective consciousness that is bringing leaders such as Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul to the forefront. It is time we put our attention, time, and money behind them and stop fretting over the messages/thoughts of the dark that good people such as Kucinich and Paul can't win...they've managed to stay within our corrupt and broken government for years; their constituents have always supported them and voted them in, over and over. It's time the rest of us do the same.
In Love and Light, Michelle
P.S. I will be creating a new thread for Ron Paul here, after I finish up some home and family obligations. Please watch for it.
|
|
|
Post by evelyn on Jul 16, 2007 0:08:07 GMT 4
Michelle, Thank you! (Sorry about having added to your overload.) Your response reminds me of a far distant - spatially - acquaintance/former colleague whose personal question always was "What do I/we do now?" She never gave up, even in the bleakest times. Her leadership, wisdom, dedication, and commitment to justice never flagged. She was right. And the points you make are valid.
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Jul 27, 2007 17:26:19 GMT 4
Put Your Name in the Congressional Record in Support of ImpeachmentRep. Dennis Kucinich wants to put the name of everyone who supports Dick Cheney's impeachment in the Congressional Record! [see info below] The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session and is fully searchable. Every day that Congress is in session, Rep. Kucinich will submit 5 single-spaced pages of names with states, which is the daily limit under House rules. To be included, all you need to do is submit this petition.www.democrats.com/impeach-cheney-congressional-recordThis proposal came about on Thursday when representatives of Democrats.com and ImpeachforPeace.org spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with Congress Members and their staffers. ImpeachforPeace.org has collected hand-written memorials in support of impeachment, following a precedent detailed in the Jefferson Manual. The individuals who have submitted these memorials will also have their names entered into the Congressional Record. Our lobbying efforts found Congress edging closer and closer to impeachment. Congressional offices expressed growing awareness of citizen demand for impeachment - and citizen dissatisfaction with steps short of impeachment, such as issuing more disregarded subpoenas or passing meaningless censure resolutions. Let Congress know you want nothing short of Impeachment. Be a part of history: www.democrats.com/impeach-cheney-congressional-recordCongressional Record: Main PageThe Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. GPO Access contains Congressional Record volumes from 140 (1994) to the present. At the back of each daily issue is the "Daily Digest," which summarizes the day's floor and committee activities. The current year’s Congressional Record database is usually updated daily by 11 a.m., except when a late adjournment delays production of the issue. Documents are available as ASCII text and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. From:www.gpoaccess.gov/crecord/index.html_______________ Friday July 27:[glow=red,2,300]Declare It Now - Wear Orange![/glow] We launched our "Orange Revolution" on Monday with the march from Arlington Cemetary to the office of Rep. John Conyers led by Cindy Sheehan. Friday July 27 is the start of "Orange Fridays" when we urge impeachment supporters to wear orange and gather in public places, including Honk to Impeach events: communitywalk.com/impeach Impeachment supporters are wearing bright orange shirts, bandanas, ribbons and buttons, wrapping trees and cars in orange tape, and holding bright orange signs. Kickoff events on July 27 are being held across the country in Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City, Charlotte, Atlanta, Detroit, Kalamazoo, Chicago, Houston, Reno, Walla Walla, Seattle, Bakersfield, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Details here: tinyurl.com/36r7o3Speakers at Friday’s rally in New York City include Cindy Sheehan, Colonel Ann Wright, Jonathan Tasini, Victor Toro, Rev. Billy, and Elaine Brower. More Information: www.worldcantwait.net_______________ July 31: Cities for Peace DayJuly 31, 2007, is Cities for Peace Day in Washington DC. Cities for Peace is a campaign that has helped people all over the country persuade 255 city and state governments to pass resolutions calling for an end to the occupation of Iraq. Democrats.com asks you to help us speed up the end of the Iraq occupation by participating on July 31 in DC. We will march to the White House and deliver resolutions, petitions, and referenda. And we will accompany locally-elected officials to Capitol Hill where they will give testimony on the Local Costs of the Iraq War. www.citiesforpeace.orgAlso on July 31 in DC: People's peace delegation to Iran returns!One day after their return, a five-member delegation of U.S. citizens will present a report on their 12-day, 1,750-kilometer journey through the Islamic Republic of Iran. WHERE: BUSBOYS AND POETS — 2021 14th Street NW, Washington, DC, The Langston Room WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Please arrive between 9:30 & 9:50 a.m. WHO: Delegation members consist of anti-war activists, war veterans and environmentalists; they are from Richmond VA, Norfolk VA, Washington DC, and Milwaukee WI and represent various local, regional and national social justice and anti-war organizations. The trip was funded by the members of the delegation personally, the sponsoring organizations and through public fundraising events. afterdowningstreet.org/node/25138Finally on July 31 in DC: Concert for ImpeachmentThe day's events will be followed by a concert for impeachment at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. with Immortal Technique. Click to play PSA: See: www.hiphopcaucus.org _____________ August: Congress Members Come Home to Hear from YOUFrom August 4 to September 4, Congress will abandon Washington to the evil intentions of the Bush-Cheney administration and come home to hear what you think of the job it's doing. Now is the time to plan to let your Congress Member hear your opinions loud and clear. August 9, 2007, will be the anniversary of the day President Nixon resigned. We encourage you to start now planning creative actions for that day drawing the comparison between Nixon's crimes and those of the new Dick in town. Wearing Nixon masks might make a nice touch. We will soon announce a video contest with two categories: the best comparison of Nixon and Cheney, and the best documentation of an action taken on 8/9/2007. Resources to help you plan a variety of types of events are here: afterdowningstreet.org/eventresourcesHonk to ImpeachOne of the most effective actions you can take is called Honk to Impeach. It works! Rep. Robert Brady (D., Pa.) just signed onto H Res 333 (that makes 15 Congress Members in support of that bill and 17 in support of impeachment). Brady's district office is just on the other side of Philadelphia City Hall from where a group of citizen activists held a "honk to impeach" event during rush hour on Tuesday, the same day Brady signed the bill. A participant reports: "The honking never ceased - it was one steady stream of noise - the people want it! An idea for others who plan rush hour impeach 'honk fests,' I had on hand pre-printed impeach postcards for people to sign and send to their reps. Most drivers were very eager to take them." Also carry signs that read: Text IMPEACH to 30644 Pass ResolutionsThe list of cities and towns and political parties passing resolutions for impeachment continues to grow. Here's a video of Takoma Park Mayor Kathy Porter discussing her town's action on MSNBC: afterdowningstreet.org/node/25109Here's how you can make this happen where you live:afterdowningstreet.org/resolutionsProtest Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine, on August 25thPlease join INDIGO GIRLS, Melida and Carlos Arredondo, Geroge Paz Martin, war resister Augustin Aguayo, retired Colonel Ann Wright, Ashley Smith, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Eugene Puryear, Bruce Gagnon, Charlie Clements, Doug Rawlings, and others, along with Iraq Veterans at a rally and march to the Bush Family Compound: www.kportprotest.orgCarpools and accomodations: www.kportprotest.org/travel.html
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Aug 9, 2007 8:40:05 GMT 4
8/7/07 9:57:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time Kucinich for President 2008Click here: www.dennis4president.comThe AFL-CIO Presidential Forum is over, and Dennis Kucinich was on fire! He came out fighting for ordinary Americans and has a record to match! Consider these few quotes: "In my first week in office, I will notify Mexico and Canada that the United States is withdrawing from NAFTA. I will notify the WTO, that the United States is withdrawing from the WTO." "We need to get out of Iraq, and get out of Iraq now. I'm the only one on stage who has had the vision and the foresight to have voted against authorizing the war and voted against funding the war."
"Isn't it time to cover every American with not-for-profit health care?" Congressman Kucinich brought the crowd to its feet shouting, "How about it America? Do you want out of NAFTA? Do you want out of the WTO? Listen to the workers of America, let them hear from you!" and American working men and women in the audience went wild. Immediately after the debate, Chuck Todd, from Hotline said: "Easily his best debate." Praise for Dennis' performance tonight is coming in across the political spectrum from pundits such as San Francisco's former Mayor, Willie Brown and former Presidential Candidate Pat Buchanan. All agree that our candidate had a great debate tonight. Friends, this is our moment. This is the time we move this campaign forward as Dennis hits the road to states with key elections next year. We have the message, we have the momentum, and we have the best candidate for President of the United States. We need your help, and we need it now. Please consider contributing $20, $40, $50 - anything you can afford. We must have the resources to carry Dennis' message to every corner of this country. ========== Contribute Here: services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/contribution.aspx?X=aDlDFFT9TMFayEoSSJ5VdRMlsnzmbz%2bc========== The hardest part of this campaign is asking your friends for financial help. But it is crunch time and we need your assistance today! Show America this campaign is moving ahead with great hopes for our future and secure in the strong leadership of Dennis Kucinich. Dennis Kucinich wants you to know that he believes in you as much as you believe in him. We all know he is the only candidate that can deliver our message of Strength Through Peace through this campaign. Help us spread this message to every American by contributing right now. Sincerely, Mike Klein, Campaign Manager Kucinich for President
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Aug 22, 2007 14:39:14 GMT 4
Kucinich campaign is awaiting ABC News explanations for its actionsEarlier, ABC News had asked Americans to vote on-line: "Who do you think won the Democratic debate?" Has the press been snubbing Dennis Kucinich? You bet they have, now and always before....ask yourself, "Why would they do this so completely?" I said it before and I'll say it again, Dennis is a man of the Light. At the end of this post, is a method you can use to support Dennis and to spread his message of Strength through Peace....MichelleKucinich campaign is awaiting ABC News explanations for its actions 8/22/07 12:33:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time The Kucinich campaign is still awaiting an official response from ABC News about the unexplained – some have charged "inexplicable" - way in which the network has handled its post-debate online coverage of Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich over the past few days. Among the "outrages" that have energized tens of thousands of Kucinich supporters - and even non-supporters - thousands of whom have flooded the ABC News website and other online news sites with comments of protest: * Congressman Kucinich was apparently deliberately cropped out of a "Politics Page" photo of the candidates. * Sometime Monday afternoon, after Congressman Kucinich took a commanding lead in ABC's own on-line "Who won the Democratic debate" survey, the survey was dropped from prominence on the website. * ABC News has not officially reported the results of its online survey. * After the results of that survey showed Congressman Kucinich winning handily, ABC News, sometime Monday afternoon, replaced the original survey with a second survey asking "Who is winning the Democratic debate?" * During the early voting Monday afternoon and evening, U.S. Senator Barack Obama was in the lead. By sometime late Monday or early Tuesday morning, Congressman Kucinich regained the lead by a wide margin in this second survey. * Sometime Tuesday morning, ABC News apparently dropped the second survey from prominence or killed it entirely. * AND, as every viewer of the nationally televised Sunday Presidential forum is aware, Congressman Kucinich was not given an opportunity to answer a question from moderator George Stephanopoulos until 28 minutes into the program. The campaign submitted objections and inquiries to ABC News representatives on Monday and Tuesday. ABC News representatives have failed to respond - or even acknowledge - those objections and inquiries. Stayed tuned for further details. Strength Through Peace, Kucinich for President 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dial for Dennis Dear Friend,
"I really like Dennis, but I wish more people knew about him."How many times have you heard that? Well now is the time to change that, and Dennis needs your help to spread his message of Strength through Peace by making phone calls on Dennis’ behalf. We now have an exciting opportunity for you to "Dial for Dennis." All you need is a telephone with free long distance or a cell phone with enough minutes to spare and of course the passion to help Dennis spread the message of Strength through Peace. Dial For Dennis worksgreen.com/dialfordennis.htmlor call toll free 1-877-413-3664 (877-4-1-DENNIS) There are two ways you can Dial for Dennis: You can either make these phone calls on your own time or you can organize a "Dial-for-Dennis Party" with you and a group of your friends. Dial for Dennis on Your Own Time: This first option is good if you are not involved with a local group, live in an isolated area, or are unable to volunteer with others in your community. This is a great way for you to contribute to the campaign without breaking your wallet or your schedule. Dial for Dennis Party: For those of you that have already formed groups or want to form a group with friends, family and community members, this is a great activity to get you started. You can choose someone's house, a local church or community center at which to get together and make these calls. Make it into a party. Here’s the math:If just 500 people sign up to Dial for Dennis, and each of you call 50 people a week, we will have reached out to 100,000,000 people in the first month alone. And it only increases from there. Think about that! If you want to help us get Dennis' message out to more and more people across the country, then join us in Dialing for Dennis! worksgreen.com/dialfordennis.htmlor call toll free 1-877-413-3664 (877-4-1-DENNIS) Strength Through Peace Kucinich for President 2008
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Aug 29, 2007 13:37:58 GMT 4
Kucinich is right on healthcareBy Derrick Z. Jackson August 29, 2007 DENNIS KUCINICH rarely gets much airtime in Democratic presidential debates. That was underscored recently when ABC's George Stephanopoulos called on him in an Iowa forum to talk about God. Kucinich said, "George, I've been standing here for the last 45 minutes praying to God you were going to call on me." [please refer to previous post for more on ABC's debate....M]With poll numbers at 1 or 2 percent, the Ohio congressman is the nudge kicking at the knees of the Democratic Party to offer more than incremental change. He deserves more attention than he gets. On healthcare, he says what Americans believe, even as his rivals rake in contributions from the industry. In a CNN poll this spring, 64 percent of respondents said the government should "provide a national insurance program for all Americans, even if this would require higher taxes," and 73 percent approve of higher taxes to insure children under 18. Those results track New York Times and Gallup polls last year, in which about two-thirds of respondents said it is the federal government's responsibility to guarantee health coverage to all Americans. Such polls allow Kucinich to joke that, far from being in the loony left, "I'm in the center. Everyone else is to the right of me." More seriously, in a recent visit to the Globe, he accused the other Democratic candidates of faking it on healthcare reform."One of the greatest hoaxes of this campaign -- everyone's for universal healthcare," Kucinich said. "It's like a mantra. But when you get into the details, you find out that all the other candidates are talking about maintaining the existing for-profit system."Kucinich quoted the 2003 study published by the New England Journal of Medicine that found that 31 percent of healthcare expenditures pay not for actual care but for administrative costs. That compares with only 16.7 percent in Canada. Administrative and clerical employees make up 27 percent of the healthcare workforce in the United States, compared with 19 percent in Canada. "With 46 million Americans without any health insurance at all and another 50 million underinsured," Kucinich said, "isn't it really time to look at the other models that exist that are workable for all the other industrialized nations in the world? When you think about it, the only thing that's stopping us is the hold that the private insurers have on our political system . . . corporate profits, stock options, executive salaries, advertising, marketing, the cost of paperwork. . ."The hold of the healthcare industry on the top candidates is already apparent. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the top recipient of campaign contributions so far from the pharmaceutical and health products industry is Republican Mitt Romney ($228,260). But the next two are Democrats Barack Obama ($161,124) and Hillary Clinton ($146,000). The top recipient of contributions from health professionals is Clinton ($990,611). Romney is second at $806,837, and Obama third at $748,637.
The top recipient of cash from the insurance industry, which includes health insurers, is another Democrat, Connecticut's Christopher Dodd, at $605,950. Romney and Republican Rudolph Giuliani are second and third, with Clinton and Obama fourth and fifth. Even though Obama is in fifth place, he still has collected $269,750 from insurance companies.
In a category that is relatively small in money thus far, but huge in terms of healthcare morality, Democratic presidential candidates occupy four of the top six spots in receiving money from death-dealing tobacco companies. After Giuliani's $69,500 from tobacco companies, Dodd has received $45,400, Clinton $32,300, Romney $31,400, Obama $7,885, and Democrat Joe Biden, $4,000.
When the top Democratic candidates take tobacco contributions, it is hard to see them truly believing, as Kucinich says, that healthcare "is the single-most important domestic issue. . . a defining issue in the presidential race."
The top recipient from lobbyists by far is Clinton at $406,300. She is still so badly smoldering from the torching of her healthcare efforts as first lady that she recently asserted to the National Association of Black Journalists, "I have never advocated socialized medicine. That has been a right-wing attack on me for 15 years." The irony, as Kucinich critically points out, is that Americans are so burned from for-profit healthcare, that they want the government to guarantee coverage. "If people clearly understood that by going to vote on Election Day they would create conditions where they would have health coverage," Kucinich said, "if you could communicate that message, you wouldn't have to talk about anything else." Derrick Z. Jackson's e-mail address is jackson@globe.com.
© Copyright 2007 The New York Times CompanySource:www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/08/29/kucinich_is_right_on_healthcare/
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Sept 6, 2007 14:41:45 GMT 4
A report from the Middle East 9/6/07 12:19:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
While the other leading candidates for the Presidency were spending the Labor Day weekend campaigning at picnics, barbeques, state and county fairs, and parading in front of the cameras, YOUR candidate, Dennis Kucinich, without fanfare, was quietly traveling throughout the troubled Middle East in search of real-world solutions to monumental, global challenges.
The votes we cast next year will have an impact here in the United States and around the world, and the candidate we elect must be equipped to make sound foreign policy decisions, based on first hand experience and in-person communications with other world leaders.
So, while other candidates partied and picnicked and posed, Dennis and Elizabeth traveled to a troubled, dangerous region of the world to meet with heads of state and other political leaders to find ways to solve the problems, mitigate the dangers, and find common ground for diplomatic cooperation - and PEACE.
"Strength through Peace" - the Kucinich philosophy - means direct engagement, diplomacy, adherence to international law and upholding treaties. It was in that spirit that Dennis and Elizabeth decided to visit the Middle East; to see whether political and religious leaders as well as the citizens of the region were open to the kind of positive dialogue recommended in the Baker Hamilton report. The kind of dialogue ignored and dismissed by the White House.
The six day trip started in Syria. In the Golan region, they visited the site of the "Shouting Valley" where Syrians whose families were separated by the occupation have to literally shout to each other across a distance of several hundred yards in order to maintain family and personal contact.
Syria has accepted and settled more than one and a half million refugees from Iraq. Dennis and Elizabeth visited an area on the Syrian-Iraqi border, as well as one neighborhood in Damascus where some of the Iraqis had settled. The Syrian government is providing free education and healthcare. "People are desperate," said Dennis. "They have lost loved ones in the war. They have nothing but the clothes on their back. This is a profound humanitarian gesture on the part of this country because it significantly increases the population of Syria. Now, someone must provide for these refugees."
On the second day, there was an extended meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. They discussed a wide range of other matters including building relations between Syria and the United States, the role of the European community in negotiations between Syria and Israel, hopes for a national unity government in Lebanon, matters affecting Pakistan, and Assad's stated desire for a peace agreement with Israel.
Elizabeth met with the President's British-born wife, with whom she shares an interest in community economic development, education and the welfare of refugees.
One of the most moving parts of their trip was a visit to the holy site of Notre Dame de Saydanaya, a revered Christian mecca where legend says the Virgin Mary appeared 1,500 years ago, fully veiled Muslim women worship together with Christians."In this time of religious strife, it is important to bear witness to places that show the way of peace," Elizabeth observed.
Peace and harmony in the Axis of Evil?? Would that message be seen on American TV? No.
Next, Dennis and Elizabeth visited Lebanon. There, Dennis met with President Emil Lahoud and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora where further discussions centered on resolving the conflict with Israel and issues surrounding stability in Lebanon.
President Lahoud was specific about the challenge of Shiites having resigned from the government: "Lebanon is governed by a consensus on every issue. To have this we must have the three main religious groups represented equally (Shiites, Sunnis and Maronites). When one group leaves, you cannot have a legal government."
And, in what may be a surprise to many here at home, there is a surprisingly large American population in Lebanon. How large? About 50,000, many of them active in "Democrats Abroad Lebanon", a branch of the Democratic Party's official overseas arm. Those U.S. citizens were thrilled to have a chance to meet Dennis and Elizabeth at a special evening meeting, and they used the event to kick-off their plans for getting Americans in the country to vote in Democrats Abroad's delegate selection process to choose delegates to attend the Democratic National Convention next year in Denver.
Lebanon's leading Christian cleric, Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Church met with Dennis and Elizabeth. Cardinal Sfier is no stranger to U.S. politics. He has met with George Bush, Dick Cheney and Condaleeza Rice in Washington. As the leader of a large segment of an ethnically and religious diverse nation, he told the Kuciniches, "We have to appreciate living together with persons who are not of our faith and working with them to achieve a common good."
Dennis and Elizabeth also made plans to return to Qana, the site of heavy fighting during last year's war and to participate in a televised 'Town Hall forum' in downtown Beirut with residents of the city.
Dennis, who will be returning to the U.S. in the next few days, summed up the trip this way: "I believe that through direct communication, there is hope for peace. The world is ready to embrace America again. It is important that America reaches out to show our true values, our compassion and our willingness to work for peace."
When he and Elizabeth return, he will provide a more detailed description of their travels and a more comprehensive assessment of his political and diplomatic findings.
Strength through Peace, Kucinich for President 2008
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Sept 12, 2007 10:10:47 GMT 4
Wed. 09/12/07 2:10AM EST Remembering 9/11and Dennis on Ed Schultz for three hours WednesdayRemembering 9/11Let us on this day mourn for those who tragically lost their lives on 9/11. And let us commit that their lives not be lost in vain, but become the basis for a new America of peace and justice. America must regain the moral high ground in our efforts to recover from 9/11. Let us not forget the world was with America in our sorrow on September 11, 2001. The world was prepared to unite with America in a cooperative effort to challenge terrorists who attempt to disrupt civil society. Instead, the Administration used 9/11 as an excuse to attack a nation that did not attack us. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, or with Al Qaeda's role in 9/11. Iraq did not have the intention or the capability of attacking the United States. Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction. Yet the Administration deliberately and falsely conflated 9/11 with Iraq, with the cooperation of an unquestioning media. As a result, nearly 4,000 of our brave soldiers have lost their lives, and tens of thousands have been permanently injured in combat in Iraq. The subsequent occupation has fueled the insurgency and will continue to result in more troop losses until the United States leaves. Also, nearly one million innocent Iraqis have lost their lives as a result of this war. This violence against an innocent people is a tragedy of immense proportions. It is also a violation of international law, and those who authored this war must be held accountable for their actions. Americans will spend close to $2 trillion in Iraq by the time the costs of this war are totaled, but the longer term costs have included the undermining America's moral authority in the world, the separation of America from the nations and the peoples of the world, and the destruction of a domestic agenda which is being deferred while we borrow money from China to fight the war in Baghdad. We need to call those who used 9/11 to take us into war against Iraq to an accounting under the U.S. Constitution, U.S. law, and international law. We must soon begin a period of truth and reconciliation in our own nation. We must have forums of open dialogue throughout the country where we can come together to remember who we were before 9/11, to share our personal narratives of the times when we felt most secure, most in love with our nation, most trustful of our democratic institutions. We must recover our capacity for civic action. We must reclaim our nation. The only way we can do that is to tell the truth. Dennis Kucinich------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dennis on Ed Schultz for three hours WednesdayDennis Kucinich will take to the airwaves for an unprecedented three hours today (Wednesday) when he becomes the first Presidential hopeful to accept the invitation of one of the nation's premiere radio broadcasters, Ed Schultz, for a no-holds-barred discussion of the issues, the candidates, and the priorities in the 2008 campaign.Kucinich will be in Schultz's Fargo (North Dakota) studio beginning at noon (ET) to field questions from "America's #1 Progressive Talker" and from an audience that includes millions of listeners on local affiliates, including subscribers to Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio. Check here for local listings: echo4.bluehornet.com/ct/ct.php?t=1948364&c=1838382407&m=m&type=4&h=FA4519C92D3E6B176FA3FF1C66705B94The program is also streamed live over the Internet. In national polls, Kucinich has been steadily creeping up on the perceived Democratic front-runners – Clinton, Obama, and Edwards – and, in some recent on-line surveys, he has significantly out-polled those top three. Almost simultaneous with the first Presidential discussion on the Ed Schultz program, Kucinich will be participating in the Huffington Post "Democratic Presidential Mashup" www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/candidate-mashup/ where he will address wide-ranging questions from citizens all across the country that will posted and broadcast later this week. After the Schultz program, Kucinich will leave for Hawaii, where he will be the first Presidential candidate to reach out to voters there since the campaign began early this year. # # # For more information contact: Andy Juniewicz, (216) 409-8992, ajuniewicz@aol.com Sharon Manitta, (202) 506-6683, Sharon.manitta@kucinich.us
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Sept 24, 2007 16:57:54 GMT 4
Kucinich Calls For Congressional Investigation Into Hunt Oil Company-Kurdistan Oil DealSeptember 19, 2007 at 17:35:53 by Press Release from Dennis Kucinich Washington, Sep 19 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who is calling for a Congressional investigation into the Hunt Oil Company-Kurdistan oil deal, gave the following speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today: “The recent oil deal between the U.S.-based Hunt Oil Company and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) raises questions. Hunt Oil, a privately held oil company based in Texas and its founder, Ray Hunt, have close ties to Vice President Cheney and are large donors to President Bush.
“The deal also appears to undercut the goal of oil revenue sharing but is predictably consistent with the Administration’s attempt to privatize Iraqi oil assets. Both Hunt Oil Company and Kurdistan are strong allies with the Bush Administration.
“As I have said for five years, this war is about oil. The Bush Administration desires private control of Iraqi oil, but we have no right to force Iraq to give up control of their oil. We have no right to set preconditions to Iraq which lead Iraq to giving up control of their oil. The Constitution of Iraq designates that the oil of Iraq is the property for all Iraqi people.
“I am calling for a Congressional investigation to determine the role the Administration may have played in the Hunt-Kurdistan deal, the effect the deal will have on the oil revenue sharing plan and the attempt by the Administration to privatize Iraqi oil.
“The Administration misled Congress and the media into thinking that oil legislation was about ‘fair distribution.’”Source: www.opednews.com/articles/genera_press_re_070919_kucinich_calls_for_c.htm------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dennis will make a special guest appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday, September 24th.
Dennis will talk about his Presidential campaign and about his soon-to-be released autobiography, "Courage to Survive."
The Tonight Show airs on NBC stations at 11:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time.Also: If you care about the future of our planet and we, the inhabitants, clearly, Dennis Kucinich is the only presidential candidate to consider...See at today's post, an interview with Dennis Kucinich about his presidential platform on energy and the environment. Go To: Re: Sustainable Development « Reply #25 on 09/24/07 at 4:17pm » Kucinich on the Record[/b] airdance.proboards50.com/index.cgi?board=oenr&action=display&thread=1143204275&page=2
|
|
michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
|
Post by michelle on Oct 8, 2007 13:23:52 GMT 4
Dennis: from A to Z on PBSIt's not all that often that your candidate, Dennis Kucinich, is given the opportunity to discuss the major domestic and international issues that are critically important to the vast majority of Americans: war, health care, the mortgage crisis, the impact of unfair trade agreements on American workers… Tonight, he did. Tonight, he had a chance to say what he believes. What you believe. Watch his entire interview with Judy Woodruff of PBS here and then, please come back to this page. www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1AhaH1ozbgDennis speaks for us. Honestly, clearly, and emphatically. He says the things we want this nation, the White House, the Congress, and the world to hear. He is our voice, not bought or bossed by the multi-million dollar special interests that influence and control the other Democratic candidates. If you believe in Dennis, if you believe in you own power to change this nation and change this world, share this video with everyone you know. Let them see and hear and learn for themselves how to make this nation great again. And proud. And prosperous. And, to the best of your ability, help keep his voice - your voice - loud and strong by making a contribution to the kind of future you want for yourselves, your children, and your grandchildren. With your help, the nation and the world will continue to hear the truth. Your support and your involvement will make a difference. Support the kind of America that you believe in. And support the only candidate who believes in you. Strength through Peace, Kucinich for President Support Dennis!echo4.bluehornet.com/ct/2047974:1959002118:m:4:137886614:CF981A7F22E54CB227D0C750A8395A08I am posting the following at Ron Paul's thread also. Dennis Kucinich is my candidate of choice, but I respect Ron Paul.....I may have more to say on that but not now.....I need to think on it. Support who you want, folks, both men I have put up threads for here offer an alternative direction [and damn good ones] from the staus quo.....MichelleFROM FASCISM TO FREEDOM Stirring the Winds of Political Climate Change October 4, 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Steve Bhaerman There is a poignant passage in Kurt Vonnegut's book Slaughterhouse Five where he imagines a devastating bombing scene as a movie being run backward on a projector. The fires on the ground disappear as the bombs are sucked up into the bombers, which fly backward and land on a military base. There, the bombs are removed from the planes and taken to a factory, where they are dismantled. Perhaps this wishful fantasy was inspired by Vonnegut's own experience watching the fire bombing of Dresden. If and when our bombs begin falling on Iran, given our current limitations in navigating space and time, we will not be able to run the movie backward. The dead will still be dead, the destroyed will still be destroyed, and among the casualties will be our own open society. The damage will be irreversible, and in fact will have reversed 230 years of forward progress towards a just society, and a sane world. But there is something we can and must "run backward" at this time. We must stand together to face the dark forces that have taken us from freedom to fascism, and reverse the momentum back to sanity and freedom. There are two common impulses at a crisis time like this. The first is, "Don't just stand there. Do something!" The other is, "Don't do something. Just stand there." So instead of futilely flailing about or hopelessly resigning, it makes sense to take a deep breath and fully assess the situation. The first piece of good news is, there are at least 50 million of us in accord that the reins of power have gotten out of our hands, and this illegitimate power must be reined in. Three situations that have been in the news in recent weeks -- the tasering of the student by police in Florida and the "tasering" of MoveOn by the U.S. Senate; the momentum toward attacking Iran that the Democratic misleadership seems to have fallen in line with; the further exposure of Blackwater as "contractors" in the Mafia sense of "contract" -- have focused a sense of urgency. That's a good thing. Perhaps finally those hundred thousand organizations Paul Hawken talks about as working for a healthier world can stop what they are doing and address the huge elephant in the living room -- the American empire that promotes torture and assassination abroad and fascism at home. We must face the obstacle right in front of us that stands in the way of all of the good things that are possible in this world. In other words, there will be no action on climate change until there is political climate change, and to have political climate change requires focus. As the Swami says, "If we want the political winds to change, we must all blow in the same direction at the same time." Whoa Cowboy -- A Two-Step Plan to Rein in Illegitimate Power We don't want to be wasting precious energy blowing against the wind or rowing against the flow, so it makes sense to look for the open channels that can flow us toward a concerted and effective movement. So first of all, let's establish two short-term intentions. If we accomplish these, we will be able to demonstrate to our "leaders," to ourselves and to the world that we are on our way to restoring legitimate rule to America. These are: 1. Preempt and prevent an attack on Iran. 2. Reverse the trend of fascism at home. There are specific implications of these, including coming up with a workable Middle East strategy for peace, restoring habeas corpus and repealing the so-called Patriot Act, disempowering private fascist armies such as Blackwater, and launching a people's impeachment and truth and reconciliation movement. (I'd personally like to call the organization Citizens for Impeaching the Administration, CIA for short, but that's a conversation for later. We will earn that next level by mastering this one first.) So let's look at our leverage points right now and see how we can begin applying that leverage. What do we have going for us? 1. The Ongoing Up-Wising. There is a growing awareness on the part of progressive left and libertarian right -- not to mention millions of other Americans -- that neither the neoconservatives nor the neoliberals have the interests of we the people at heart. As Ron Paul continues to gather support on the Republican side from disenfranchised conservative voters, more and more people on all sides are waking up to the sad truth that politics as usual means the usual lies. There is a great deal of emotional energy that is being aroused here, and so our task is to find a highly-effective way to focus it. 2. "Generally" Speaking, There is Unprecedented Opposition to War Policies. Those who are bearing the more immediate cost of empire, members of our military, are waking up as well. A recent article indicates that twenty recently-retired generals are speaking out against the Iraq War and the proposed attack on Iran. This includes the former U.S. Commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez. The implications of this are huge. According to the aforementioned article ten days ago in the San Diego Union-Tribune (in the heart of military country), "What might be called The Revolt of the Generals has rarely happened in the nation's history. In op-ed pieces, interviews and TV ads, more than 20 retired U.S. generals have broken ranks with the culture of salute and keep it in the family. Instead, they are criticizing the commander in chief and other top civilian leaders who led the nation into what the generals believe is a misbegotten and tragic war." Along those same lines comes the speculation that the recent transport of nuclear weapons from Minot Air Force Base -- and the leaking of that information -- could have been an attempt on the part of a faction in the military to thwart a nuclear attack on Iran. Pay No Attention to the (Wo)Man IN FRONT of the Curtain. In spite of the fact that both the progressive left and the non-neocon right are waking up to this lowjacking of America, there has been virtually no transpartisan concerted action. From a contextual standpoint, our mission now is to remove our focus from the political puppet show of candidates telling the usual lies. (Swami's new slogan is "Pay no attention to the (wo)man IN FRONT OF the curtain".) Instead, we need to focus our attention and financial resources on the three truth-telling candidates: Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel and Ron Paul. What's important is that these three represent the functional wings of both left and right that need to come front and center for us to win. Show them you support truth and send them money. Send the "front-running" candidates empty envelopes with photo copies of your checks to the other three candidates to indicate you are no longer willing to fund lies. Seriously. This is an important discipline right now, particularly for those who identify as Democrats. Think of the Democrats as the flawed lover who tells us they are going to leave their "spouse" (i.e., the powers of the American empire) but never do. When they need something from us, they tell us how much they love us -- but they always go home to the Empire. So ... now we have to be strong. We have to tell them we are no longer willing to get into bed with them without a commitment. It's either the empire or us! In other words, will they respect us the day after Election Day? The best way to make sure is to make them respect us now. Speaking of Dempublicrats, the reason why they've painted themselves into such a pathetic corner is because they have failed to contextualize the war in Iraq for what it is -- a war for empire. What Chalmers Johnson said in his recent book, Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic is something wise patriots on both the left and the right have understood: Empire abroad is incompatible with freedom at home. Just as surely as the American Revolutionaries were up against the British Empire 230 years ago, American Evolutionaries today must understand today's challenge is the American Empire, a leviathan bigger than either King George. So ... coming from that context, and recognizing the American people have to recapture the political conversation before we recapture our government, what do we do? The answer is ... I don't have the answer. But working together on the twofold intention of preventing the next war (and in the process, ending the current one) and restoring freedom in this country, I have complete confidence that we WILL prevail. What we have been lacking until now has been a unifying, drop-everything-else mission that proactively takes us forward. If fifty million of us blow in the same direction at once, there is no doubt we can bring down the wall of lies just as surely as the Berlin Wall came down. Where There's a Willingness, There's a Way The way has not showed up as yet because there hasn't been the collective, focused will. First the will, then the way. The will requires a willingness to stand and keep standing, understanding that standing is easier when we are standing together. Next comes the intention, the prize we have our eyes on. What does it look like and feel like to no longer have to be afraid of your own government, and know the world is in less danger because of it? What will we see in the world that will tell us we have momentum towards peace? That we've won back precious freedoms at home? That we are on our way to working together instead of being manipulated into fighting one another? Once we have that focused intention -- and know it is shared by tens of millions of Americans, with more awakening every day -- and are strengthened in our willingness, the ways will be obvious and many. The nature of leadership in this context is that it will come from everywhere, and above all the shared intention and the willingness to persevere. As for what kinds of structures and campaigns will be needed, here are some ideas: 1. A High Profile Front and Center Movement. It's inevitable, and will hopefully happen sooner and not later. We need a high-profile, celebrity-laden, transpartisan council of well-known, well-respected, influential individuals and organizations to finally draw the line and JUST SAY NO to fascism at home and preemptive, undeclared warfare abroad. That means repeal of the Patriot Act, restoration of habeas corpus, repudiation of police state tactics and the end of the dictatorship by unitary executive. Tactically, we are seeking to recapture the media, and at the same time -- just to make sure --put the media in its place. This means we need to launch a massive non-media campaign. We need to communicate outside the mainstream media, and preempt the media by speaking to people in the community directly -- by the each or by the bunch. Each of us holding this holistic context is an educator. We use car banners, truck banners and if we can afford it, billboards. We wear arm bands. In so doing, we constantly remind ourselves of how many of us there are out there. Above all, we must go way beyond the obsolete distinctions of "Democrat" and "Republican." Clear-thinking and goodhearted people on both sides have been hoodwinked into gravitating to the neoliberal and neoconservative camps -- two-sides of the same worthless coin. The greatest political awakening of this new century will be this: Supporters of Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich have more in common with each other than with the leaders of their respective political parties. The heart and soul of these campaigns are in the same place, even if the details and approaches (more government vs. less government) are different. As we allow ourselves to be politically educated -- i.e., as the patriot left and the patriot right compare notes -- those with their hearts in the right place will work together to develop creative policies that are impossible under the thumb of empire. 2. Massive Snail Mail Campaigns to March for Us, Even When We Stay Home. Meanwhile, we strategically use snail mail in great numbers focused on specific entities, to make it clear to politicians, media moguls, and newspeople that we're hip to the scam, and we're not buying it anymore. There's a lot of power in handwritten snail mail. First of all, the powers that be in power respect the numbers. Each piece of mail they receive represents thousands of e-mails, they figure. Secondly, it's an opportunity to "get personal," not in an insulting way but in a poignant way. What could happen if those in power were repeatedly exposed to heartfelt messages from clear and courageous Americans, not angry but firm? With photos. That would mean a website where people could post their letters before sending, so even if Senators and media moguls didn't read them, everyone else would. It's easy to imagine people getting together with their twenty best friends and having an evening gathering to write letters together -- using art to appropriately focus emotion. It might even become habit-forming. Meanwhile, the letters to news media can be focused and staggered -- one week for Fox, one for CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC and MSNBC. Some should specifically cultivate and support allies like Keith Olbermann and Bill Moyers, offering story ideas. The letters should focus on the media failing America and how to make up for it by balancing the coverage and putting those dissenting generals on the news shows. If not, then not putting them on becomes the issue, and the pressure intensifies. Various members of our board of notables begin making phone calls to the CEOs of these companies, and if nothing else, that gets in the papers. 3. A General Strike, or Something Even Better. There is even the suggestion in Harpers Magazine of using election day this year to declare a General Strike. This is an intriguing idea, but the Swami says, "Let's throw them a curve, and have a general ball instead!" In other words, instead of acting like we are a protesting minority, understand that we are in the majority, and use the day to celebrate awakened citizens from across the political spectrum coming together to proclaim government of, by and for the people where the government does our bidding, not the bidding of the highest bidder. We need to gather at every city hall and local public meeting place on this day and declare together that we the people are no longer willing to be divided and conquered by our misleaders Is this possible? Can we do it? We humans are usually pretty good responding to an emergency once we realize there is one. We've been shamelessly and shamefully manipulated into responding to the wrong emergency, and now we must "emerge 'n see" the truth that united we stand, and divided we fall. This means Americans with different opinions coming together to declare their support for rule by law, peace when possible, and freedom at home. These are the core values 75% to 90% of us stand for, and if we can't stand together and hold our own government to that -- well, maybe we humans deserve to flunk third dimension. To reiterate what I think is the most important point, intention strengthens will, and will finds a way. If we can stop "politics as usual" long enough to gather "under one big intent" the organizations and structures needed will make themselves known. Believe me, this is in the works. Meanwhile, begin to hold the dual intentions of freedom at home and peace abroad, and add your energy and momentum to anything that moves that agenda along. For example, there is now a petition circulating -- inspired by a similar letter by retired air force Captain Robert Bowman. Afterdowningstreet.org now has a letter signed by various luminaries from Thom Hartmann to Willie Nelson "instructing" our troops not to participate in an attack against Iran. At the very, very least we can get behind this move and make sure it hits the major news outlets. So ... your feedback and ideas are welcome. If there is a way you would like to participate, if there is an organization you have that would get behind this, please let me know. This is not a time to hang back and hope that a political savior will save us next November. We have met the savior, and it is us. The best way to insure retaking the country is to do it before the 2008 election. Right now, the powers that be in power have control over the two lame choices we get. It's up to us to let them know we're not buying those choices, and we have a different agenda, one that represents the true and awakening heart and soul of America. From: wakeuplaughing.com
|
|