Thursday, July 31, 2008

Obama Busted Once Again

Back to my bias toward truth, once again, I'm posting an article from Larry Johnson's blog, NoQuarterUSA, because everyone needs to see this piece written by Nancy A, who tells us a tale that ought to raise goosebumps on every part of Obamabots' bodies as well as any Democrat who still believes that the party as it was formerly known, exists. If that's your belief, you're simply either uninformed, LOBAMAtized, an opened pod from the Body Snatchers or stupid.

Harry Reid must be ousted. Nancy Pelosi ought to have been impeached herself the moment she took impeachment "off the table." I call that Obstruction of Justice. The primary system needs to go out in the garbage. Each and every Democratic senator or rep. who has colluded with the bush administration must be voted out of office. Period. Conyers would be my first personal favorite due to the manner in which he betrayed us regarding impeachment. But don't worry - I have a long list of others who need to be escorted out the doors of OUR House as well. A very dear friend of mine whose political instincts are among the best I've ever seen, referred to the current slate of Democrats in office as "co-conspirators" and by god, she's absolutely right.

This country, mine and yours, has never been in more serious trouble as it is today. I trust that by now, even those of you more concerned with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are getting that message if not simply by what you're shelling out of pocket to fill your vehicle to get your stressed, worried bodies to your jobs you're likely underpaid to perform. And trust me, it's all about to be much worse. If you think for one moment that Messiah Obama is the answer to your prayers, by the time he reaches the end of his administration, you might find yourselves among the atheists or scary liberals when you finally find out just what it is he's all about.

PUMA PARTY - google them. Research their work and even if you can't admit your own disillusionment publicly, please have the self-integrity to recognize that what they're doing is desperately trying to put out the message that the system, as it stands right now, is totally flucked up. The reasons for it are vast yet; the information's all been there, right in front of our faces for the last 8 years. Many factors have influenced why the majority of Americans have been asleep though it's no excuse. Regardless, there STILL is time, STILL are actions that can be taken that might just possibly save us from the same fate as the Roman Empire, cuz folks, we're right there on the cusp.

Remember how happy we were when we regained congressional majority status? Ask yourself...has that made us better? Or worse? Yes, you DO know the answer...your stretched and busy lives might make knowing what the answer is but you do know it.

So, from only a simplistic point of you, does it make sense to continue to return to office those people who have played right into the arms of the president they'd vowed to fight? Did they? Even if your life allows only an occasional glance at the evening news of the big 3 MSM stations, you have SOME idea of the issues at stake. Those same issues are simply the underpinnings of the far more SERIOUS issues that any one of them has the potential to bring this country to its knees. We banked on the thought that a Democratic Congress might be the answer...Can any of you tell me where that has been so?

And look what they've produced under the profoundly poor leadership of Howard Dean. He's practically single-handedly destroyed what was already a poor, corrupt primary system in ways we'd never imagined could be implemented. He needs to step down. Or fired...or whatever it is they do to incompetent leaders of political entities. And he needs to take his bud Donna Brazilnut right along with him. Do you see it yet? We need a COMPLETE overhaul of the system here and we've needed it for a very long time. Don't any of you who ARE feeling the doom and gloom approaching us remember the Boston Tea Party? Where has that fighting spirit gone? What about the courage of convictions? How about simple integrity and values? Do you REALLY understand how Obama got to be where he is and more importantly, WHY his is so dangerous to our republic? Because if you don't, as a citizen of the United States, it is your duty to become informed and to vote accordingly.

I will say it again and again and again for as many times I have to until it seeps into your consciousness.

Obama is NOT a Democrat. He's a fraud, a strawman, a liar, charlatan, ill-prepared to lead this country from the most complex situation we've ever been in. He's a racist (and so is his wife if you don't already know that but you will when the infamouse "whitey" tape is released closer to election.

We're in a secret recession with depression not far behind. The rest of the world has lost all respect for us, not surprisngly given we the people have been negligent in our duties in watchdogging this present band of thieves and allowing them literally to get away with murder. Children in our own country are going to bed hungry night after night and have been so far left behind that I wonder if they will ever really have a chance to catch up. Healthcare? As a nurse, I run the risk of blowing a gasket to even think of it. But while they try to figure out their next move, I'd invite them to start with the fraud that goes on as their springboard. The war...many would still even at this point say, "what war?" Why is it so hard to grasp that among ALL the things that are killing this country, that it all trickles down from the fact that we were lied to as a nation from day 1 and without getting into the morality of it, this war is exactly what is creating the trillions of dollars deficit we certainly won't see corrected in our lifetimes. How can we as a nation put our heads on our pillows at night knowing that all this has been conducted in our names and that 4000+ families will never lay eyes on their beloveds ever again? And neither will we because flag draped coffins borne out of military aircraft have been deliberately hidden from us...that's how much this administration thinks of what lies inside those heartbreaking coffins. Yes, I'm rambling now but that's what's happened to me as I continue to suffer from bush Fatigue...I fear it's terminal except for the one cure out there that will never be implemented, thanks to Nancy Pelosi who took impeachment off the table and ought to be in jaul too.

I hadn't intended to rant before offering you this piece but some days ,it's all just too much to keep in...anyway, below is the piece I wanted you to see and once again, Barack Obama makes me physically ill as well as all his supporters.




Major DNC Donor to Party Treasurer: Obama is a Bad Investment

By NancyA@gmail.com

About: See Authors Posts (6) on July 29, 2008 at 9:50 PM in Barack Obama, Current Affairs, Democratic National Convention, IOwnMyVote.com

From IOwnMyVote.com newsletter comes a verrrrry interesting letter from a long-time DNC donor who has become dissatisfied with this cycle’s candidate.

The following is a letter sent to Democratic National Committee Treasurer Andy Tobias telling him why, from a rational investor’s point of view, Obama has not earned the author’s vote. The letter was sent by one of the DNC’s biggest donors, a donor who has historically maxed out to the DNC and who was a maxed out donor in both the Kerry and Clinton campaigns, in response to comments by Tobias that she could not see the forest through the trees.

You decide.

Read the rest ->

andy tobias Andy Tobias

Dear Andy,

So you want to know what is taking me so long to “get on board”? Let me try to answer with some discussion of what my 25 years on Wall Street and the Hedge Fund community have taught me, and what insights I can share in order to explain my stance.

As you know, anyone in our profession meets with countless management teams on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. The “plots” change from time to time and the cast of characters play musical chairs. After awhile, they become all too familiar. You have seen the movie before. When you spot the corrupt CFO enter the scene, it immediately casts a doubt on the rest of the management team. One or two conclusions can be drawn - either they are inept or they wanted a dishonest player. Neither answer provides any comfort, but always insight. I have been lied to by the best of them over the decades; I am sure you have had similar experiences.

After years of stepping in land mines, I learned to read people and situations. I had no choice - my listening skills were honed, my gut fine-tuned. I picked up on what was and was not said, and I always paid close attention to the cast of characters. The actions of a management team always told me more than anything they ever said. If they were bailing out, so was I. If the head of sales left unexpectedly, alarm bells went of.

In the thirteen years that I have had audited results, I lost money in only one year, and then only in single digits. I am proud that I was able repay my investors’ faith and confidence in me by compounding their funds assets, net of fees, at 18% over those 13 years. I took my responsibilities seriously and when I knew I could not give it 110% of my energies, I turned it over to someone who would. My investors deserved someone who would work tirelessly on their behalf, looking under every rock in support of their interests.

The fact that I became successful is not what made me proud. It was how I did it. My soul is intact. It was the self-imposed rules and standards that I adhered to. I believed in a win, win, and still do. My investors always came first. I never screwed anyone over. I made plenty of mistakes, but I always owned them, never blaming others. I treated everyone fairly and with respect, believing everyone has
something to offer. I always tried to do the right thing.

So what does this have to do with me not falling in line and
supporting Obama? Well everything as you can see.

Andy, if I worked and served the people in the 13th District in Chicago, I would have known all of the players. And to win that district, would I have gamed the system to run unopposed? Tony Rezko would not have had a seat at my table. Either Obama is a fool and is blind to what should have been obvious, or someone like Tony is fine by Obama’s standards. The guy is a dirtball. And a dirtball would not be part of my circle, certainly not my inner circle. I would rather not be elected than associate with someone like Rezko.

I would not choose Rev. Wright, Rev. Meeks, or Father Plager as my spiritual mentors, not for political reasons or any other reason. Again, he is either blind or an opportunist. Would I be hanging out with Mr. Ayers? Would you? Would you refuse to be photographed with Gavin Newsom? There is a pattern with this guy - he manipulates; and for him the ends justify the means. He lacks character.

Getting not one bill passed in the first 6 years of his career in not inspiring. Having Emil Jones hand him the ball 26 times on the one-yard line in order to make Obama a United States Senator does not cut it either. What deals he made, he did to benefit no one but himself. He never worked long enough in either Senate to help the people who elected him. Andy, I could never imagine you taking credit for legislation someone else slaved over. Starting in his community organizing days he claimed sole responsibility for other people’s accomplishments all for the purpose to boosting his career.

In terms of the campaign itself, I had the opportunity to witness his methods up close. During the primaries I was in 6 states, 2 of which had caucuses; it was not clean. El Paso was a joke with the Obama campaign stealing the caucus packets, locking supporters out - Intimidation 101, 102 and 103. Fair elections do not seem to be a priority in my birth state. No other machine exists from the days of Boss Tweed, but Chicago’s. How many elected officials are in jail?They are the joke of the nation. It is called the Chicago machine for good reason.

It was clear that what I saw and experienced was not a fluke or isolated incidents, but coordinated, deliberate and arrogant. I got to see him and his organization for who he is and what it is - not inspiring, to say the least. Not something I would have, in business, endorsed in any way. In fact, I would most likely have reported them to the appropriate regulators.

Andy, I have consistently found you to be a compassionate person, but more importantly you have always put your money where your mouth is. Does it not bother you that a guy like Obama can serve a poor district and give away a paltry $1000 to charity? He only stepped up his giving when he decided to run for President and he knew his charitable giving would be made public. How could anyone see that much misery and not try to personally do something about it?

Please, show me something this guy ever did that was not done in a calculated fashion to create and advance his own personal narrative? Something selfless, perhaps, just because it was the right thing to do.

Every person I have talked to who worked at the Law Review at Harvard with him, or in the latter part of his career, said the same thing: he was arrogant and self-centered. One person laughed, saying Obama wanted to be King of the World, that he was always running for something, never staying in one place long enough to amass accomplishments or be held accountable.

Do you not you find it troublesome that he has hundreds of paid bloggers, posting vicious attacks not only about the Clintons but her supporters as well? The whole purpose was to cast him as the second coming, while trashing her and quashing other points of view.

At first I thought is was just some hyped up kids, and then a pattern emerged. He paid others to do his dirty work. The most egregious sexist cracks were rampant, both on the Internet and the MSM. Yet, what did Howard and Obama say? Nothing. Obama promoted it, paid his bloggers to write it. Never once did he try to stop it. Howard, after the damage was done finally commented on it, but barely. Wink,wink.

Andy, I heard remarks that still make my jaw drop.

You know I consider myself a centrist. The right wing of the Republican Party scares me, but so does the left. Ideologues of either side should not have control simultaneously of the executive, legislative, and judicial arms of the government. Absolute power corrupts, be it on the left or the right. Ha, but you will say…. the courts. If you have the legislative branch, all will be fine. McCain voted Ginsberg in, he is not a stupid man and certainly not an Ideologue, and he took heat in the primaries for refusing to have a litmus test for judges. And need I remind you that Obama thought Roberts was an acceptable appointment until some more experienced hands in the Senate told him that would not do?

Painting him as Bush 3 is a little annoying, and what’s up with the MoveOn Baby Alex commercial? Give credit where credit is due. McCain went against his own party twice on immigration reform, on ethanol subsidies, and campaign finance reform. He started talking about Global warming 8 years ago. I don’t agree with McCain on a number of topics, but I do believe he has principals and a backbone. He is not willing to just say anything to get elected.

I can’t say the same for Obama who is turning out to be more like Bush than McCain; Obama is at least as arrogant as W, just more polished. Are you not ashamed, in these past weeks, of his reckless abandon of any pretense to a moral center on issues such as FISA, separation of church and state, gun control? And what he did to one of my heroes, Wes Clark? Insulting my intelligence and my standards will not win me over.

But, in this conversation, you will say, McCain wants to be in Iraq for 100 years. No, he said that as in Japan, or Korea, we could have a presence. We have been in both of those countries for 60 years and not leaving any time soon, and the world is safer for it.

Next will be, McCain is not knowledgeable about the economy. While with Carly Fiorina, who I remember from her Lucent days, at a town meeting he turned the microphone over to Carly when asked about the mortgage mess, painting her as the expert. Wow - he gave a woman a compliment, praising her knowledge, referring to her as the expert. How often have you praised Charles, or me, and everyone for that matter? Why? Because you are gracious and you know it reflects well on you.

All this might not bother me so much if the stakes where not so high, but they are. I am an issues person, not a cult of personality devotee. Substance matters. Barack is a politician, an inexperienced one at that, pretending he is different. I just see him as arrogant and power hungry. Our country deserves better, someone I would be proud to do business with.

Andy, my country comes first, not the Democrat party. Having said that, I believe that the Democratic Party has just kicked away the best candidate and our best chance to redeem our country, Hillary Clinton, a proven centrist. Given his resume, or should I say the lack of one, he is either ineffective or hiding something, neither answer gives me the warm fuzzies. If she is chosen in Denver, you can count on my full and enthusiastic support. Until then,

I own my vote.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Breaking: Karl Rove Held in Contempt!

Funny though - I haven't seen Fox News report this yet - wouldn't you think his new employer would like to showcase their employee?

Here: Take your pick from Google News:


Canada.com
US House panel finds Rove in contempt
Canada.com, Canada - 52 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - A US congressional panel voted Wednesday to find former presidential adviser Karl Rove in contempt for defying a subpoena to testify in its ...
Karl Rove in contempt: Is it justice or a witch hunt? Los Angeles Times
Democrats Call for Contempt Charges Against Rove New York Times
House panel votes to cite Rove for contempt The Associated Press
Bloomberg - Reuters
all 652 news articles »


That perp walk is starting to get a little crowded, huh?

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Impeachment Deadline

'Nuff said.

Well, actually, just a coupla things...Hope everyone is ok out in CA to Vegas - and, looks like Republican Senator Ted Stevens found a "bridge to" SOMEWHERE and all I can say, sir, is enjoy your perp walk.



Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 9:48 AM

URGENT: need your help -
Impeachment Petition Deadline Midnight Wednesday

Dear Friends,

Because of your vigilance and support for democracy, last Friday was a
day of singular importance in Washington. The House Judiciary
Committee met to discuss the Bush Administration's abuse of executive
power and for the first time the case for Impeachment was discussed in
front of a Congressional committee, in depth, at length and with
authority.

Twenty members of the Judiciary Committee attended the six hour
hearing, during which twelve witnesses, including myself and four
members of Congress testified. In this hearing I called for the
Impeachment of the President for misrepresenting a case for war.

This week I will present members of Congress with Impeachment
petitions submitted by those of you who have signed the on-line
impeachment form.

I need your help. In the next few days we must redouble our efforts to
get more signatures on the online petition at kucinich.us. I'm asking
each of you to please contact at least ten of your friends to go to
www.Kucinich.us now and sign the Impeachment petition that will be
delivered by me. Wednesday night is the deadline.

Please send out an email to all your friends and family, post this
link, http://kucinich.us to your blogs and make this effort count as
this is the only petition that I will deliver.

Thank you so very much.



Dennis

Monday, July 28, 2008

Uh Uh Uh Uh Obama...

If I seem to be a bit more biased in posting information from Larry Johnson's blog, NoQuarterUsa, that's because I am.

It's hard to find the truth these days but these folks are right on the money. And DO checkout the commenters as well. I guess it's no surprise that "intelligence" (sorry, Larry, HAD to pun it) seems to congregate in forums of truth.

Obama is despicable. Period. Each time I think he's outdone himself, he ups the ante. Wake up, America...WAKE THE F UP!!!! God, I thought I'd never have to write those words again once we had a real Democrat running but, we don't. If you THINK you're a Dem and voting for him, you're not. But you sure must love the concept of New World Order which is exactly what his road show should have been called. "The One." Please. Give me a break. My stomach is turning ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

Once again, Larry et. al., thank you for THIS little goody.

Obama Using the Troops (UPDATED)

Boy the fur is flying over Obama’s first trip to Europe and his refusal to visit wounded warriors because he could not get a political payoff. John McCain, who has had his own troubles in the past of using U.S. troops as political props, wasted no time bashing Obama for refusing to visit hospitalized soldiers in Germany. According to the Associated Press:

Mr. Obama was flying from London to Chicago on Saturday when the McCain campaign issued a statement from Joe Repya, a retired Army colonel who said Mr. Obama had broken a commitment to visit the wounded Americans, “instead flitting from one European capital to the next.”

“Several explanations were offered, none was convincing and each was at odds with the statements of American military leaders in Germany and Washington,” Mr. Repya said. “For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.”

In turn, Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain both believed that troops should be honored and noted that the Illinois senator had visited troops in Iraq and Afghanistan last week and had made numerous trips to Washington’s Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Mr. Obama still didn’t want injured soldiers “pulled into the back-and-forth of a political campaign,” Mr. Vietor said in a statement.

Oh sure. Barack wasn’t using the troops as a political prop when he was shooting hoops. Right?

Which brings us to the letter from a young Captain apparently attached to the Utah National Guard. Jeffrey Porter, who authored the following letter, is in trouble. Officers are not supposed to take a political position. I believe he is telling the truth but his chain of command has stepped in and are denying his version. I believe Captain Porter was telling what he saw without intending it to become part of the political debate. I held off until now posting the letter because I wanted to be sure it was authentic. I have confirmation from friends in theater that it is legit. Here is Captain Porter giving his take on Barack’s visit:

Hello everyone,
As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to ‘The War Zone’. I wanted to share with you what happened.

He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram.

As the Soldiers were lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn’t say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service

So really he was just here to make a showing for the American’s back home that he is their candidate for President. I think that if you are going to make an effort to come all the way over here you would thank those that are providing the freedom that they are providing for you.

I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States . I just don’t understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and- Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country.

If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.

In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier

This soldier will pay a price for telling the truth. America will pay a price if it does not wake up and realize that Barack is the consummate opportunist and is a typical politician when it comes to using troops as part of his campaign.

His decision to blow off the troops recovering from their wounds will dog him the rest of this campaign. Well it should.

UPDATED: After the Obama campaign’s screaming snit with DOD officials, we are now informed that Captain Porter “RECANTED” his letter. JESUS CHRIST!!! We are acting like old style Stalinists or Maoists. Don’t remember? Back during the Cold War it was commonplace for “counter revolutionaries” to be paraded in public and recant/denounce things they had previously written or said. Here is poor Captain Porter, who by virtue of his place in the military, has no option but to follow orders (unless he wants to go to the stockade). Read the so-called “recant” very carefully:

But the Military Times newspaper reported on Friday that Porter is now asking those who received a copy of the e-mail to delete it and is asking bloggers who posted his letter to take it down from their sites.
“Some of the information that was put out in my e-mail was wrong,” Porter wrote, according to the Times, which is published by Gannett. “This e-mail was meant only for my family.”
The Obama campaign reacted quickly to the e-mail, posting on its Web site photos, videos and media accounts of Obama meeting with U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

As I noted above, Captain Porter had no idea that his letter would go viral. However, the only “error” in his letter is that it got wide circulation. Captain Porter is a solid young man who had the “audacity” to offer his view of what was really going on behind the carefully staged scenes to portray Obama as a guy loved by the troops. Leave it to the lefties in the Obama tent to press for a soldier to “recant.”


Friday, July 25, 2008

HOW DARE YOU SNUB THE TROOPS, OBAMA!!!!

Well, you've totally outdone yourself now and as anathema as you already are to me, you have managed to outdo yourself.

YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE. NONE. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE PENTAGON (that you're probably lying about anyway) TOLD YOU REGARDING IT BEING SEEN AS POLITICAL.

YOUR WHOLE DAMN TRIP WAS POLITICAL. HOW DARE YOU SEE SOME AND NOT THE OTHERS????

WHAT A COMMANDER IN CHIEF YOU'LL BE...AND HOW WELL YOU'VE LEARNED FROM bUSH.

I am TOTALLY OUTRAGED. YOUR ARROGANCE MAKES ME PHYSICALLY ILL.

MCCAIN MAY BE A NUTBALL BUT YOU ARE AN UTTER DISGRACE AS A HUMAN BEING. YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE OUR WOUNDED AND YOU PASSED THEM BY??? HOW??? HOW DID YOU DO THAT???

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF YOU WERE MY PATIENT AND I PASSED YOU BY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TOO POLITICAL FOR ME TO TREAT YOU???

I can't say another word.

You disgust me.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Impeachment: Be There!


NATIONAL IMPEACHMENT NETWORK

UPDATE FROM DC

July 25 Judiciary Committee Hearing News

Good news direct from a Judiciary committee staffer:
  • They're getting lots of requests from the media for hearing room seats. Our media campaign* is working!
  • There will be TWO overflow rooms. This hearing is going to be HUGE.
*Pls. reply if you've received a confirmation from CSPAN that they will cover the hearing.

All Judiciary Committee members we've spoken with are planning to attend the hearing, a concern because it's being held on a Friday when Congress usually does nothing.

There will be a press conference following the hearing with the NIN, Veterans for Peace, afterdowningstreet.org, CODEPINK, Cindy Sheehan, and others.

There will be 12 witnesses. The names will be announced tomorrow; we'll try to send them right away.

We were not able to get reserved seats for the hearing from Conyers' office, so we'll have to get in line very early.

Not such good news that apparently the Committee will consider several options for dealing with the Administration's crimes: 1. pursue impeachment 2. refer to Justice Dept. wherein the AG will decide to a) work within Justice, or b) appoint a special prosecutor 3. censure 4. establish independent congressional advisor body to pursue legislative statutory fixes for abuses on signing statements, executive privilege, etc.
Of course, only options 1 and 2 are acceptable, and option 2 appears impractical given the AG's refusal to uphold the law and the amount of time it could take for a special prosecutor to gather evidence, etc.

To make sure he knows what we're asking, we're giving John Conyers a letter tomorrow thanking him in advance for moving impeachment forward and stating some specific outcomes we want from Friday's hearing. We've gotten expert advice from Phil Burk http://www.impeachbush.tv on what to ask for to make sure that everything is procedurally correct. Phil wrote a succinct and gorgeous letter for our use (also attached). We so appreciate this Phil.

Dear Chairman Conyers,

Congress has the power to impeach. But impeachment is not for the benefit of Congress. It is for the benefit of the American people.

We the people want to believe that our government is based on the rule of law. Only impeachment can restore that belief.

We need to know that our government is telling us the truth about important issues such as war. Only impeachment will demonstrate to future presidents that we will not tolerate being misled.

We want to believe our government is there to serve us and not the interests of political parties. Only impeachment for the politicization of the Department of Justice will restore our faith.

Please give us something so that we know Democracy is not dead. Please move forward with at least ONE of the following actions:

1) Ask the staff to draft an article of impeachment related to the refusal of the Bush administration to comply with Congressional subpoenas thus interfering with Congresses oversight role.

2) If you need a stronger charge than #1 then schedule an impeachment hearing with subpoenaed witnesses. If Bush and Cheney instruct witnesses not to testify then they can be impeached for interfering with Congress's sole power of impeachment. An advantage of this approach is that there is no need to prove that Bush did not comply. So the trial in the Senate can be brief.

3) Instruct the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (chaired by Jerrold Nadler) to mark up H. Res. 1258 and to prepare it for presentation in some form to the House as articles of impeachment.

4) If Bush is perceived as too strong politically (he does have a higher approval rating than Congress) then just impeach Cheney first.

We realize that time is short. But Andrew Johnson was impeached in ten days. So there is still time. The most important thing is knowing that Congress still cares enough about the Constitution to start the impeachment process even if we run out the clock in January. Please give us a sign that the President's power over us is not absolute.

With sincere gratitude for your courage and patriotism,





NIN Lobbying

Weds, July 23:

Kenneth Ashe, Kim Carlyle, Susan Serpa, Cynthia Papermaster had meetings with aides for Robert Wexler, Tammy Baldwin, Dennis Kucinich, James Sensenbrenner, Nancy Pelosi, Melvin Watt, William Delahunt and Judiciary Committee staff. Sincere thanks to Ken and Kim, who are Veterans for Peace from North Carolina. Ken made beautiful, poignant speeches in support of impeachment. Kim is an superb lobbyist and negotiator.


Thursday, July 24: "Impeachment Lobbying Day"

NIN, Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, CODEPINK, others will roam the halls of Congress and meet with as many Representatives as possible to tell them the country wants impeachment. We'll ask Judiciary Committee members to attend the July 25 hearing, to set a date to conduct impeachment hearings, and to refer articles of impeachment to the House for a vote.


Impeachment Slogan Contest Winners Announced Tomorrow

The judges will announce the winners of the slogan contest tomorrow. Last-minute entries will be accepted up until 3 pm Pacific/ 6 pm Eastern time 7/24. Again, the challenge is to come up with a slogan that describes or frames the impeachment movement as positively irresistible for those who find the word "impeachment" scary or harsh. Good suggestions we've received are "Choose Democracy" and "Everyone Wins". Send your slogans to cynthia_papermaster@yahoo.com. Prizes: all 3 runners up, second and first place winners get a copy of Vincent Bugliosi's book The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder. In addition, first place wins a homemade fresh MMMM-peach pie shipped overnight anywhere, and everyone wins impeachment of Dick Cheney and George W. Bush


PDA Re-Joins The Impeachment Fight !!! Hallelujah!

Next up: moving MoveOn over to support impeachment


If you haven't seen this blast from PDA read it and rejoice. There is even a button to "forward to a friend." Thank you PDA. It's good to be working with you. Note that our own William Crain is on the PDA Impeachment Team listed at the bottom of the blast. You go William! Also note the "p.s." invitation to join the PDA Impeachment Google Group.


From: PDA's Impeachment Team <info@pdamerica.org>

To: cynthia_papermaster@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 8:10:03 PM
Subject: Impeachment: Turn Up The Heat

Forward this newsletter to a friend


Join Us Online and in D.C. Taking Action for Accountability!

Dear Cynthia,

Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently reversed herself, saying, "This is a Judiciary Committee matter, and I believe we will see some attention being paid to it by the Judiciary Committee. Not necessarily taking up the articles of impeachment because that would have to be approved on the floor, but to have some hearings on the subject. My expectation is that there will be some review of that in the committee."

This Week, the Judiciary Committee is Holding "some review."

The Judiciary Committee will meet this Friday July 25 for panels and with hope and your help, they will approve impeachment hearings.

Join PDA calling upon the Judiciary Committee to conduct hearings on Rep. Dennis Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment (H Res 1258) and then refer the Articles to the House for a vote.

Join PDA on Capitol Hill, Friday, July 25th:

PDA is participating in a "Choose the Constitution" Press Conference and Rally at the Rayburn House Office Building, Independence Avenue at 9 AM. Closest Metro Stop: Capitol South on the Blue/Orange lines. Then we'll attend the Hearing on the Imperial Presidency of George W. Bush, House Judiciary Committee Hearing Room (2141 Rayburn) capacity permitting.

We can house thirty PDAers at our activist house in Mt. Rainier. Bring sleeping bags, pillows, air mattresses, and grab a floor. Contact: tom@pdamerica.org. For other accommodations contact:cynthia_papermaster@yahoo.com.

Take Action to Support Accountability:

FAX all members of the House Judiciary Committee

If your House member is on the Judiciary Committee, contact him or her. Mention you're a constituent, and his or her leadership or failure to act on this issue will determine your action at the polls on November 4th.

Then focus on the non-sponsors. Explain that you expect them to uphold their oath to protect and defend the Constitution by cosponsoring and voting for public hearings on H Res 1258 in the Judiciary Committee--and referral to the full House.

Representatives Wexler and Baldwin remain the only members of the Judiciary Committee who have co-sponsored H Res 1258. Thank them for their leadership, and urge them to support public hearings, and action in the full House.

If you don't have access to a FAX machine, call the Judiciary Committee members through the Capitol Hill switchboard: (202) 224-2131. Ask them to defend the Constitution by demanding public hearings on impeachment followed by action in the House.

FAX numbers for Democratic Judiciary Committee Members who are not yet H Res 1258 Cosponsors. (Area code is always 202):

John Conyers 225-0072
Chairman
Howard Berman 225-3196 Maxine Waters 225-7854
Rick Boucher 225-0442 Jerrold Nadler 225-6923
Bobby Scott 225-8354 Melvin Watt 225-1512
Sheila Jackson Lee 225-9817 Zoe Lofgren 225-3336
William Delahunt 225-5658 Linda Sanchez 226-1012
Hank Johnson 226-0691 Luis Gutierrez 225-7810
Brad Sherman 225-5879 Anthony Weiner 226-7253
Adam Schiff 225-5828 Artur Davis 226-9567
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz 226-2052 Keith Ellison 225-4886
Betty Sutton 225-2266 Steve Cohen 225-5663

FAX numbers for Republican Judiciary Committee Members--none are cosponsors. (Area code is always 202):

Lamar Smith 225-8628
Ranking Member
James Sensenbrenner 225-3190 Jim Jordan 226-0577
Howard Coble 225-8611 Elton Gallegly 225-1100
Bob Goodlatte 225-9681 Steve Chabot 225-3012
Dan Lungren 226-1298 Chris Cannon 225-5629
Ric Keller 225-0999 Darrell Issa 225-3303
Mike Pence 225-3382 Randy Forbes 226-1170
Steve King 225-3193 Tom Feeney 226-6299
Trent Franks 225-6328 Louis Gohmert 225-5866
Here are our heroes, the Members of Congress currently cosponsoring impeachment--all are Democrats: Sponsor Dennis Kucinich 225-5745, Robert Wexler* 225-5974, Lynn Woolsey 225-5163, Barbara Lee 225-9817, Maurice Hinchey 226-0774, Tammy Baldwin* 225-6942, and Sam Farr 225-6791 (*member of Judiciary Committee). If your Representative isn't on this list, call (202) 224-2131 and ask him or her to cosponsor H Res 1258.

Read the articles of impeachment here: http://afterdowningstreet.org/bush.


Yours for Peace and Accountability,

Mike Hersh and Tim Carpenter; Joanne O'Neill and William Crain
PDA National Staff; PDA Impeachment Team

P.S. Join PDA's Impeachment Google Group and Shop PDAstore for Impeachment Items.

Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots PAC that works both inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice. Our goal: Elect a permanent, progressive majority in 2008. PDA's advisory board includes seven members of Congress and activist leaders such as Tom Hayden, Medea Benjamin, Thom Hartmann, Jim Hightower and Rev. Lennox Yearwood.

More info: pdamerica.org.| Find Local Chapters and Events.

NOTE: To unsubscribe use the link below.


Wednesday, July 23, 2008

It's Probably bush's Fault Anyway!

I've had a little something on my mind lately, oh, no biggie, like which liar is going to take over the White House or which amendment is being "canceled" today - I save that for rational thinking IF there's any such thing any more.

I didn't notice it for a while but once I did, it seemed to be everywhere..."everywhere" defined as the only television channels I can bear to watch on the idiot box any more. Those include CSPAN (only the hearings they WANT you to see), the History Channel, Comedy Central for real news, (and also because I have an odd crush on Lewis Black), The Science Channel, National Geographic, the Murder Channel showcasing true crime featuring some gorked out psychiatrist who's developed an "Evil" scale that the pysch nurse in me likes to put on simply for laughs - I wish he'd read M. Scott Peck's book, "People of the Lie" for if he had, I wouldn't have to look at him, and, last but not least, the cable news channels when I need an emetic and colonic cleansing running concurrently.

By now, I hope you know that the garbage shown to you via this medium is owned and operated by a handful of the best corporatists you'd ever want to meet, so it's no surprise that your news comes from the views of whatever some zany zillionaire wants YOU to buy into as well...that's a whole other story but if you don't know that story by now, then please, this is not a blog for you. I trust my readers come to me somewhat well-informed (or, because you can't resist the opinions and commentaries presented to you in what in my opinion at least, is simply a snippy, snotty little voice)....and good on you! At least you have a good sense of humor!

But let me cut to the chase. Those channels, minus the cable magpies, seem to have changed, and rather subtly it seems, their programming to include such things as:

MEGA DISASTER
EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT HITLER (from "our" view of course)
HISTORY REWRITTEN FROM THE RIGHT WING POINT OF VIEW
SHOCKWAVE (hey guys, don't you know by now that NOTHING shocks us now whether on a wave or a breaking news item?
THE UNCLE SAM CLUB AKA MILITARY CHANNEL
ROGUE WAVES THAT MAY BE COMING SOON TO YOUR SHORE
TSUNAMI, TSUNAMI, TSUNAMI - COME ON IN, THE SURF'S FINE
CREEPY CROWN CORALS THAT MAY CRAWL OUT OF THE OCEAN AND SUCK YOU DEAD
THE BIBLE CODE - PROPHESIES THAT KEEP YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT WAITING FOR 12/21/2012
BLACK HOLES THAT WILL STRETCH US ALL INTO DISAPPEARING GUMBYS
THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT 9/11 HIGHLIGHTING THE BEST LIES GOING (hey NORAD, STAND DOWN..please?)
PLAGUES YOU NEVER DREAMED EXISTED AND THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY and you DON'T want them.
THE EARTH AFTER MAN CROAKS COSMICLY AND COLLECTIVELY...as if you'd care.
LOCKED UP ABROAD...a guide for coping when you're LOCKED UP HOME
LOCKDOWN!!!! - How to survive in prison avoiding lasers, tazers and the "hole"
THE. TERRORISTS. Our GREATEST fear of all...except for those collapsing icebergs of course.
PRISON POETS, PROPHETS AND PRIESTS...nut such a bad place at all, huh?

And you know what makes me craziest of all? Wouldn't you think that a channel called The Discovery Channel might offer you actual things you might "discover" or learn? Well, think no more. If you want to know how to keep from falling overboard as you reach for that juicy crab claw dangling at you from the depths of the deep, dark sea at midnight, then THIS channel is for you. Because Goddess as my witness...no matter what time of day I happen to stroll through the channels, "The Deadliest Catch" is running what HAS to be 24/7!!! because the coincidence of finding it as often as I do can only be with the intention to teach us that we all really do have another employment opportunity when your job goes overseas. Or, it's a message from god of some kind. He talks to everyone else, why not me? But in the end, at least you'll be safe on the boat if you decide to go WITH your company. Maybe.

There really is so much more than I'm mentioning here but regardless, doesn't it make you wonder? As if it's not bad enough that the cable news is 24/7 propaganda but REALLY! What's up with this? And, get this...you may THINK that any of these shows are only on the particular channel you choose to view but if you pay attention, you'll find that they're rerun on the SAME channels I noted in my opening. I can't even get STARTED on the commercials shown on these "educational" channels because I haven't taken my meds today but trust me, they're every bit as bizarre as the programming itself.

I know lots of you may be thinking that a small boat flailing around in the dark on the rolling seas might sound appealing to you at this point but I feel obligated to inform you that you do have another option. If you like to drive, and you don't like the heat as much as I don't, then there's a job out there for you too. You think driving an 18 wheeler might be a gas, pardon the pun, just for a quick rush down I-95? Well, get yourself to L.L. Bean, pick up a few beaver hats, roadkill insulated jumpsuits and jackets and you, too, can be roaring along the ice roads over the Arctic Ocean as an Ice Road Trucker! Unfortunately, the sound of cracking ice as they rumble down these man-made roads may be a bit disconcerting but hell, isn't that the thrill of it all? And don't worry...it's nothing like a documentary or anything...it's pure soap opera all the way...except on ice. More power to these brave men, and fishermen alike, because without them, we wouldn't be able to dine on mercury laden fresh fish all buttered and lemoned up or get those oil rigs up and running in ANWR and get rid of these pesky polar bears once and for all but for god sakes, is there ANYTHING educational out there anymore? I don't know...maybe I'd be better off tuning into Nickelodeon - at least Father Knew Best and Lucy was Loved and Lassie ALWAYS came home.

Does anyone know if Alex is ok? He's the Catholic Ice Trucker...but I heard he ran into some trouble out there and damn, I missed it!

Official end of rant


Note to commenters...as you know, I do moderate comments here - only to keep the spam out - and right wing lunatics too but I've been informed of a glitch whereby no comments are getting through to me. I allow both positive and negative comments unless you're utterly vile (which is rarely the case) but I'm in the process of trying to resolve it with the owners. It's got to do with a "tag" glitch so no, Miss Montana, I do not censor my blog as much as you'd like to think I do. Hopefully, it will be resolved soon but Blogger.com deals with thousands of issues a day so it may take a bit. Just be patient and hang with me...we'll get it fixed and if you really have a burning need to reach me, you can do so at Rkymtnmary@aol.com and I'll go in and post your comment. As to the NSA? YOU already know where to find me and to that I say, fruck YOU!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

OBAMA NO "Ich bin ein Berliner"!!!

Damn, was I prescient or what yesterday, briefly mentioning the Obama World Tour in my title yesterday! Sociopaths are pretty easy to read in my profession though, so no, I am no prophet!

Anyway, although NoQuarterUSA is linked to my place here on the right, I wanted to be sure to highlight this one for you....The Audacity of Arrogance never fails to amaze me...and THIS is the SOB you see HOPE in??? Hope for WHAT???? HOPE that you'll wind up with numbers on your wrists?

Thanks, Susan...as usual, you're right on the money...

Obama Bars Press Scrutiny and Forces the Pentagon to Do the Media’s Jobs [Updated]

If you read today’s New York Times press release article, “For Obama, a First Step Is Not a Misstep,” you’d assume the two reporters were witnesses to Obama’s meetings in Iraq. However, if you check out the gripes from reporters in Politico’s 24/7 Playbook, you’d find out that reporters didn’t accompany Obama and that the PENTAGON is taking and dispersing the photos:

Appearing on MSNBC’s “Hardball” from Baghdad, NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell objects to the “message management” that resulted in three days of images of Senator Obama that were almost entirely – except for a lone Iraq interview with Terry Moran – produced and released by the Pentagon.

Andrea Mitchell, re Obama: “He didn’t have reporters with him. He didn’t have a press pool. He didn’t do a press conference while he was on the ground in either Afghanistan or Iraq. … You’re seeing selected pictures taken by the military … So, there’s a real press issue here. Politically, it’s smart as can be.

But we have not seen a presidential candidate do this, in my recollection, ever before.

“I have great respect for the military, of what they do best, which is to fight war, keep the peace, do all sorts of economic and civil reconstruction here in Iraq. I don’t think journalism is the prime thing that we recruit them and pay them for.”

As I reported yesterday, the press plane didn’t depart from Chicago until July 20th:

[N]one of the press was allowed to go with Obama to Iraq or Afghanistan:

Obama doesn’t have press traveling on his government-arranged Iraq/Afghanistan trip. He’ll be joined in the Middle East by a plane of staff and press that took off LAST NIGHT [July 20, 2008] from Chicago.

As the Politico report above the fold indicates, Obama gave only one interview, to Terry Moran of ABC News. Watch the video (transcript included) as Obama gets testy with Moran.

::::::::

UPDATES:

Memeorandum.com has much more, including Townhall’s “No Outtakes for Obama?“:

Andrea Mitchell has made it clear that the glowing photo-ops coming from Barack’s trip aren’t the products of journalistic investigation, but rather simply selected hand-outs from either the military or the Obama campaign.

Since when did the MSM complacently and quietly (except for Mitchell, it seems) serve as nothing more than a propaganda arm for a presidential campaign — much less the military? But has any other member of the media objected to the fact that it’s quiescently beaming home simply the information that the Obama campaign wants to offer it?

Then there’s Newsbuster’s “Andrea on Obama Trip: ‘What Some Would Call Fake Interviews’“:

Andrea Mitchell might be a doyenne of the liberal media, but she has her reporter’s pride and principles, both of which have been trampled by the way the Obama campaign has managed the media during the candidate’s current trip to Afghanistan and Iraq. Mitchell let loose on this evening’s Hardball, speaking of “fake interviews” and indicating we don’t know the truth of the trip because we don’t know what was edited out of the video that’s been released.

Before Mitchell made her displeasure known, Roger Simon of Politico, Chris Matthews’s other guest during the segment, depicted the images coming out of the war zone as all Obama could have dreamed of. …

see the video at link.....it won't copy......
now about that "Hopey /Change" stuff...........

Bild: Barack Obama Bans Protest Signs in Berlin

You can read the full story at The Real Barack Obama.

It seems George Bush Barack Obama is up to his old control tricks even in countries he visits. So much for Foreign Relations and setting the example for Democracy. But the important thing is CNN and MSNBC won’t have to stage their video shots when they show America how much The Plastic Jesus is totally worshipped in Europe during his Tour de Farce.

Barack Obama Verbietet Protest-Plakate In Berlin

Obamas Organisatoren wollen nichts dem Zufall überlassen. Auf Handzetteln, die seit Montag für die Rede im Berliner Bezirk Tiergarten ausgeteilt werden, heißt es: „Plakate oder Transparente sind nicht gestattet.”

Aus Sicherheitsgründen sollen die Besucher auch keine Taschen und Rucksäcke mitnehmen dürfen.

Translation:

Barack Obama Bans Protest Signs in Berlin.

Obama’s organization is leaving nothing to chance. As of Monday, flyers are being passed out near Berlin’s Zoo that read “Posters & banners not allowed.” For security reasons visitors should not take purses or backpacks.


Monday, July 21, 2008

Obama - You are NO JFK so FORGET about Berlin!

The weather is so hot and humid here on the east coast that I think I'll indulge the conspiracy theorist brain cells in what's left of my brain that bush stole...after all, isn't that what those of you bush/McCain and Obama sycophants* consider the rest of us who seek truth? My brain is subject to extreme heat though, that I shall admit, so rather than engage in some critical thinking today (horrors!), here's a little something for your addled brains to ponder. Where or where, please tell me, is Camelot? Oh, ok, I'll say it...it was a myth.

Anyway, I needed a dose of a REAL Democrat (sorry, DU - you can pass on this) so keep your Obama...THIS was a real "prophet."

*I know you think you're Dems but you're not so that's why you got linked with bush** and Company.


**N.B. The capitalization-free spelling of bush is NOT a typo. I never have, and I never will. IF he WERE the real President of the United States, I'd afford him that respect - bush/Gore 2000, thank you very much.


Enjoy:

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Obama Brownshirts Now?

Hey, Bots...this might be your chance to fulfill your dreams of serving your Messiah...more info coming in but look what you have to look forward to....um, and I believe we have such a thing called a "National Guard" already...ohhhhh, that's right...they're in Iraq.


All credits to copyright:

knoxnews.com blogs

What is Obama's "civilian national security force?"

Obama: "We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

TN's Blue Collar Muse wants to know what that means, and says the MSM has not fleshed out the details from Obama.

BCM: The questions are legion and the implications of such an organization are staggering! What would it do? According to the title, it's a civilian force so how would it go about discharging "national security" issues? What are the Constitutional implications for such a group? How is this to be paid for? Is this accounted for in some of Obama's currently proposed tax increases or will we need more taxes to fund this enterprise? The statement was made in the context of youth service. Is this an organization for just the youth or are adults going to participate? How does one get away from the specter of other such "youth" organizations from Nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union when talking about it?

Joe Farah has, so far, been unsuccessful in getting any information out of the Obama camp on this. No MSM outlet is asking about it and the blogosphere is just ramping up. I'd like to see the rest of us get involved and get some clarity on exactly what Barack is proposing. At the least, it would seem a major expense that would have to be paid for. The 'at worst' options are pretty terrifying to contemplate. I've put in a request to the Obama campaign for some amplification and clarification. We'll see what they have to say. More on this later ...

Friday, July 18, 2008

For the Still Starry-eyed Obamabots...

I realize it's a useless activity to try to offer other points of views to those who have abrogated critical thinking parts of their brains to god knows what, but, for what it's worth, here's another opportunity to see if you can regain some of your brain cells. All I can say is it shoulda been Hillary...at least you knew what you had. At the very least, we can speculate that memory cells may have played a role in the demise of judgment since none of your hateful vitriol en masse was present during the prosperity of the Clinton years. After all, a balanced budget and a prosperous economy must have been a bad thing then, eh?

This dude is far from done exposing his unelectability but hell, you're the ones who wanted "hope" and "change" so desperately, understandably I'll give you, but fasten your seatbelts. The descent into hell is going to be much faster than you could have imagined.

And, yep, Senator, "words" do "matter."

Copyrighted material with full acknowledgment to author and publication:

Nat Hentoff: Disillusioned about Barack Obama - sacbee.com

sacbee.com - The online division of The Sacramento Bee

This story is taken from Sacbee / Opinion.
Nat Hentoff: Disillusioned about Barack Obama
By Nat Hentoff -
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, July 17, 2008

During my more than 60 years of covering national politics, I have never seen a candidate's principles and character so effectively tarnished — after so extraordinarily inspiring a start — as Barack Obama's. He has come to resemble another mellifluous orator I came to know in Boston during my first time reporting on a campaign — James Michael Curley, the skilful prestidigitator whom Spencer Tracy masterfully played in the movie "The Last Hurrah." Obama's deflation has not been due to ruthless opposition research by John McCain's team but by the "change" candidate himself. Like millions of Americans, I, for a time, was buoyed by not only the real-time prospect of our first black president but much more by the likelihood that Obama would pierce the dense hypocrisy and insatiable power-grabbing of current American politics.

Also, as a former teacher of constitutional law, Obama gave me "hope I could believe in" that he would rescue the Constitution's separation of powers, resuscitate the Bill of Rights and begin to restore our reputation around the world as a truly law-abiding nation.

Savoring the high expectations he had secured among so many Americans, Obama has decided he can also come closer to securing the Oval Office by softening his starlight enough to change some of his principles toward the calming center of our stormy political waters.

In a defense by Dan Gerstein, a New York political consultant — echoing what you'll be hearing more of from Obama's campaign operatives — the gossamer script goes: "He is trying to broaden his appeal to a larger electorate and to be true to this postpartisan, unifying message that he's been campaigning on." But instead of the ennobling clarion trombones of CHANGE we have been promised, this "adjusting" of one's principles has long been the common juggling of our common politicians.

Accordingly, as his presidential campaign gathered such momentum, Obama, with justifiable pride, pointed to the resounding fact that most of the bountiful funds he was raising came from small donors, "the people," not the sort of supporters who move above us in private jet planes.

But after abandoning his pledge to abide by public financing, this apostle of cleansing the political culture is now going after the high rollers. As the July 3 New York Times reported, "Last week, the Obama campaign collected about $5 million at an event featuring celebrities in Los Angeles. The evening began with a dinner at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for more than 200 people who had contributed $28,500 per couple, or raised $50,000." Then there is the current furor among a rising number of Obama contributors with wallets far below the $50,000-a-pop crowd about his change on the "compromise" FISA Amendments Act of 2008 that passed the House and Senate, and has been signed by the grateful president.

The flimflam candidate had assured his faithful enthusiasts that he would filibuster this bill (which will immunize the telecommunications companies that enabled the president to break the law in his once-secret warrantless wiretapping) that turned our privacy rights upside down and out.

Now, by dismissing the scores of lawsuits against these companies from Americans wanting to know whether they've been ensnared in this giant government-spun Web, the president and such supporters as Obama will have made it close to impossible to conduct meaningful investigations of the intricate nexus of the ways these telecommunications giants can collect leads to Americans with no connections to terrorism — and could continue to so long as they're assured by a future lawless administration that national security demands breaking another law.

But what could be wrong with a new Obama approach, to assert his religious faith by, if elected, expanding the government funding of faith-based social services through churches and other religious institutions? The former constitutional law professor does avoid one separation-of-church-and-state problem by pledging that the recipients of these taxpayer funds could not engage in hiring discrimination on the basis of an employee's religion, thereby not limiting those hired to that particular faith.

However, I expect professor Obama knows of the importance in constitutional case law of the need to avoid excessive entanglements of the state with religious institutions. To prevent churches and other religious groups that get government funds from both discrimination in their employment practices, and from proselytizing with taxpayers' money, will require careful and extensive monitoring by the state.

Says the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, a Baptist minister and president of the Interfaith Alliance, in the July 4 Jewish Week: "You can say none of this money should be used for proselytizing or that there shouldn't be discrimination, but what does that mean for the little storefront agency, where there can be a subtle or even more blatant form of discrimination, and where proselytizing does occur?" And not just storefront recipients.

But Obama insists this program will be the "moral center" of his administration. Just where is his own center of credibility? I remember the surge of hope for a national change as a child, during the Great Depression, when, while my mother would walk blocks to save a few cents on food, there came Franklin Delano Roosevelt! I haven't seen such a surge since Obama's first chorus, but I can no longer believe in this messenger of such tidings.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Impeach, Impeach, Impeach!

Even if it happens 4 hours before these war criminals leave the White House, it MUST happen if we are EVER to regain our moral standing in the eyes of the world. Here ya go...see what you can do about it.

ACTION ALERT: THEY'RE BREAKING RANKS!
July 16, 2008


9 Republicans Vote for Impeachment Hearings, 10 Abstain
by Ralph Lopez
Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 01:10:01 PM PDT

On Daily Kos, Ralph Lopez reports: In a stunning development which fell with the silence of a feather yesterday, 9 Republicans broke with their iron-fisted party to put country first, and voted to send Rep. Dennis Kucinich's article of impeachment HR 1345 to the Judiciary, where Chairman John Conyers will hold a hearings on abuses of power by the Bush administration, according to the Congressional Quaterly's CQToday. (Ten Republicans abstained in this critical moment.)

Those 9 Republicans are:

Congressman Kevin Brady (TX)
Phone: (202)225-4901
Fax: (202)225-5524
Email: rep.brady@mail.house.gov

Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (MD)
Phone 202-225-5311
Fax 202-225-0254

Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC)
Phone: 252-931-1003
Fax: 252-931-1002

Congressman Don Manzullo (IL)
Phone - (202) 225-5676
Fax - (202)225-5284

Congressman Tim Murphy(PA)
Phone: (202) 225-2301
Fax: (202) 225-1844 322

Congressman Ron Paul (TX)
Phone: (202) 225-2831

Congressman Dave Reichert (WA)
Phone: (202) 225-7761
Fax: (202) 225-4282

Congressman Christopher Shays (CT)
Phone: 202/225-5541
Fax: 202/225-9629

Congressman Mike Turner (OH)
Phone: (202) 225-6465
Fax: (202) 225-6754

One of the Republicans, Walter Jones, represents Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, one of the largest Marine bases in the country, and one which has borne heavily the sacrifice of the Iraq War.

CQ said of Conyers' hearings:
The anticipated hearing would review more than a year of committee inquiry into such matters as the firing of U.S. attorneys, the leak of the identity of former CIA operative Valerie Plame and the information provided to Congress in the run-up to the Iraq War.
Kucinich has promised a surprise foreign official as a witness in the hearing. His article focuses on administration claims that Saddam possessed WMD in the run-up to the Iraq war, and that there was a connection between Hussein and 9/11.

Hit the media outlets: (PLEASE REPORT ON THE KUCINICH ARTICLE AND ON THE 9 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS!)
letters@jackson.gannett.com,
theforum@usatoday.com,
oped@nytimes.com,
op-ed@latimes.com,
oped@phillynews.com,
ctc-COMMENT@tribune.com,
opinion@startribune.com,
letters@RockyMountainNews.com,
viewpoints@chron.com,
oped@newsday.com,
viewpoints@dallasnews.com,
shuntley@suntimes.com,
forum@sfchronicle.com,
my.turns@pni.com,
m_Pritchard@globe.com,
HeraldEd@herald.com,
oped@herald.com,
oped@starledger.com,
forum@plaind.com,
oped@news.oregonian.com,
editpg@freepress.com,
gailey@sptimes.com,
openforum@denverpost.com,
netaudr@abc.com,
nightline@abcnews.com,
2020@abc.com,
nightly@msnbc.com,
today@nbc.com,
dateline@nbc.com,
evening@cbsnews.com,
earlyshow@cbs.com,
hardball@msnbc.com,
msnbcreports@msnbc.com,
newshour@pbs.org,
ombudsman@npr.or

Keep hitting Congress (below) -- DO NOT LET UP -- RIGHT NOW IS CRUCIAL!

If you know any Republicans, ask them to call the 9 (above) in support!

CALL NOW:

House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr.:
(202) 225-5126 (PLEASE SCHEDULE IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS RIGHT AWAY)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: (202) 225-4965 (THANK YOU FOR LETTING IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS BEGIN)

Call Toll Free 800-828-0498 & ask for your Rep.

(I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS, AND AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PRESIDENT WILL NOT BE MADE TO ANSWER FOR HIS ACTIONS, WHICH WERE LAID OUT IN DETAIL IN DENNIS KUCINICH'S ARTICLE ON TUESDAY, THE 15TH)

Or see http://www.house.gov/house

If we fail to motivate our Congressmen to call for Impeachment Hearings before the Election, we will lose all of our power to change America for four years.

LET'S MAKE IMPEACHMENT HAPPEN!!

And make sure they're frogmarched!!!