Having watched over the last two weeks how effective it can be when bloggers and leading Democrats come together to deconstruct right wing propaganda (viz the ABC 9/11 fraudumentary), its remarkable that it doesn’t happen more often. So it’s great that DPC Chairman Byron Dorgan is getting together with Robert Greenwald for a press conference in Washington DC at the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room SD-124 at 11:00 AM this Monday to talk about the need for oversight of war profiteering. Several former Halliburton and KBR employees who appear in Robert’s film, Iraq For Sale, will also be there.
Then at 2pm, the DPC will be holding an oversight hearing to "seek accountability for contracting abuses in Iraq." In attendance will be Dorgan, Harry Reid, Patrick Leahy, Jeff Bingaman and Mark Dayton. Witnesses include many who appear in the film, Iraq for Sale:
Julie McBride a former Halliburton employee at Camp Fallujah in Iraq; Edward Sanchez and Sean Larvenz, former Halliburton truck drivers in Iraq; Scott Allen, an attorney who represents survivors of the April 2004 convoy attack; Alan Grayson, an attorney who represents Ms. McBride in a False Claims Act suit that seeks to recover mis-spent funds from Halliburton on behalf of the U.S. Government.
It will be in Room 538 of the Dirksen Building. Both events are open to the public, and all I can tell you is that if I was in Washington, DC my butt would be so there. That Democrats are stepping up and trying to define this issue of accountability as a signature issue is really, really important, and deserves the highest praise. Oversight of this matter is long overdue and it goes to the very heart of the corrupt GOP kleptocracy that absolutely must be brought to a halt. That they are taking steps along side an important progressive voice like Robert Greenwald needs to be both applauded and supported. If anyone is in the area and wants to attend the press conference and the hearings, we’d sure love to hear you report back on it.
We’ll also be having a special edition of the FDL Book Salon this week, only it will be the FDL Movie Salon and Robert will be joining us. More details as they become available, but all I can say is I’m really, really excited that Robert will be joining us to talk about his important work. In the mean time enjoy the YouTube above which includes special scenes not included in the film. And if you’re looking for an upcoming house party where you can see Iraq for Sale, you can find them here.
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FDL ROCKS….FITZ!!!
Jane,
A heartfelt thanks goes out to you. I never thought I would be at home with such an eclectic bunch of miscreants.
I love you all, but TRex has my heart!
what is the DPC ? Democratic Policy Caucus?
oddball @
2
I confess I love TRex as well. But there’s lots of room in my heart right now for this eclectic bunch of miscreants.
Have I ever been so happy? I don’t think so.
Democratic Policy Committee.
And may I just say that Byron Dorgan has been tireless …
http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/
ROOTZ!
The wheels are coming off the GOP ‘galopy’. This autumn the Democrats will begin the long voyage after righting the ship of state. Next port of call: the White House.
This is exciting! Thank you Jane!
It may be the bifocals, but is there a date for this?
I’m going OT here for a sec. I watched Washington Journal this morning and Victoria
Toensing, the serial liar was on. Last year when she was everywhere saying she framed that covert agents act (as she did today) I did a ton of research on it, which I held on to. She’s a lying bitch and I think I can prove it.
I tried emailing the info to Marcy at Next Hurrah and the email came back. Does anyone have a clue to how I might get ahold of her.
TIA and sorry for interupting.
Hail to the Victors Valiant, Hail to the conquering heroes, Hail Hail to Michigan, the leaders and best!
Hey Domers, how did that taste? Republicans, you’re next!
(apologies to John Casper)
is this on Monday, September 18th?
Just signed up to host a screening at my house on Friday the 13th. Hopefully it will be a very unlucky day for the Bushies.
Now to get the social justice committee to host one at the church. That should be easy.
Anything we can do to ramp up our own wurlitzer will be a service to the country!
War profiteering must be combined with the abysmal lack of support for our troops to get an actionable political issue.
War profits plus body armor scandal = egregious.
War profits plus CUTS in veterans health = …
well you get the picture.
Not to mention, the Allen bill on vet brain injury, which he stole from Durbin, changing one word and reducing $ available to our troops, actually makes CUTS in resources for returning wounded vets.
More money for Republican contractors, less money for our troops who are paying with their lives, their limbs, their eyesight, and their minds. What’s the priority here?
[can we please have the plus sign restored? thx]
Monday the 18th on cpan3
02:00 PM EDT
2:00 (est.) LIVE
Meeting
Iraq Contracting
Senate Democratic Policy Committee
Patrick J. Leahy , D-VT
Harry Reid , D-NV
The beginning and end of this live program may be earlier or later than the scheduled times.
http://inside.c-spanarchives.o…..2025329385
betcha cspan 2 will carry the presser cause they have loads of unscheduled time.
I wish our Matt O. could be there for this exciting DeeCee event, but I know he’s working hard for the Say-No-to-Pombo folks here in California. Bay Area FDLakers, if you missed today’s fun in Pombo’s district, please check out the upcoming opportunities to do some good for Jerry McNerney:
http://saynotopombo.blogspot.com/
========
Had Enough?
========
And this doesn’t even count the billions announced by the Pentagon as simply “lost” on September 10, 2001. snl = sorry no linky
Kewalo — repost your commment in Marcy’s latest post at The Next Hurrah, leave your contact info. She’s very good about contacting people, although I would keep in mind she’s got both a regular job and the book in the works, she may be slower than usual getting back to you.
What day?
Teddy — today at the big downtown Fiesta, our Indiana State Democratic Party was selling T-shirts with Had Enough? — naturally I bought one …
Twisted Martini @ 11
A (Seemingly) annual Rose Bowl fight song sing-along at our house included that wonderful ditty for Michigan; however my favorite was when mom would sing her version of the “fight song” for USC:
(apologies to Jane)
“…Time Out!
…For old ‘SC!
….It’s time to Pay,
…The Referee!”
(repeat as many times as the Trojan band)
Thanks for the memories, and congrats to Michigan.
Yes it’s Monday folks, thanks for pointing it out, I updated the post.
OT – Jimmy Carter w/ Larry King is being replayed on CNN on the west coast now…
angie 15 — thanks for that, good to know. I will certainly want to be watching it.
Delurking to thank you all for the best politically engaged relationship I’ve ever had with a group of people, even though I don’t post. Never underestimate the power you’ve got in readership out here, contributing to ActBlue, sending folks to the site, providing hope once again that our democracy will survive. I’ve learned so much since I found you four months ago. Carry on all FDLers, and thanks again.
Rayne @ 18
Thanks very much! You have no idea how much I want to out that bitch! Toensing that is.
Hear is a new (to me) fear fear FEAR! tactic. I copied this comment off of a local blog. What do we call it? Push Postal
It’s probably A Karl Rove / Asa Hutchison R candidate for AR Gov. special.
Hey, did ya’all get an autocall today?
I got one arond 3 – it started out telling to watch for the mail piece with the girl in a red dress a the pretty blue eyes?
Then, for 45 seconds it told me that this “girl” piece was coming early, because if it came in the mail the week before the election that it would just get lost – and implied that the message was really important and that I needed to take the time to read it (paraphasing here).
I’ll report back when the “Red Dress” show up.
OldCoastie @ 23
East Coast too and on CNN International …
amazona–
Now you’re not a lurker, you’re one of us! Welcome, and let us hear from you often.
TeddySF, thanks for the link to Pombo info.
I’m literally writhing in absolute agony that I can’t be in Washington, DC for this whole series of events. It’s such important work and what a line-up of people. Please, please someone out there report back to us.
And a thank you to Matt who so tirelessly researches this stuff for us. You are a star.
Shorter Mehlman: “Look! Scary Italian grandma’s gonna hurt the Preznit’s war on terra!”
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/arti…..L6VNL1.DTL
Best quote:
You just know that Kenny doesn’t want to to lose his key tools.
egregious @ 17
this will get you started:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dov_S._Zakheim
angie @
15
Ah! Angie!
Jane, I am so pleased to see you taking on the problem of war profiteering.
We often think about war profiteering as somewhat serendipitous to the war effort. In the case of the Iraq war, it is not serendipitous, but central to the planning and execution of the war. Without the illegitimate profits from reconstruction and arms sales, there would not have been any powerful incentive for the neocons to start this war (if anyone wants to believe that Saddam was the cause for this war, I have some swampland for sale on which one could build a new home). Stopping the war profiteering takes away the singular incentive for this war to proceed.
amazona @ 25
welcome, amazona, don’t be a stranger!
on Jimmy Carter – so nice to see an “old guy” who has a brain that is still clicking on all cylinders…
Ken Mehlman still thinks there’s something to win.
Kewalo @ 26
I can’t stand her. She always couches everything she says with crap like I’ve been doing this a long time so I know what I’m talking about garbage. I guess that plays well with her trust me, sheeple, authoritarian worshiping kool-aid drinkers
There was an interview on Fresh Air with a LA Times reporter who has a book out caled Blood Money which covers similar territory
http://www.npr.org/templates/s…..Id=6061438
also, corpwatch does great work in this area which I imagine is used in the documentary.
http://corpwatch.org
OldCoastie @ 36
…as well as a heart that still works (in both possible meanings). All Dick Cheney has is money and power…big deal.
Evil – if you are watching… the always diplomatic Jimmy didn’t hold back on his words for Cheney… at all…
Titanyum @ 34
Jane and her blog have been dealing with war profiteering for months now with the wonderful MattO taking the lead on the issue and exposing all sorts of slime on a regular basis.
Kudos for MattO and the rest of this community. Not too very much gets by our hostesses. That’s why we all keep coming back day after day, week after week, month after month.
Jimmy Carter. One of the best presidents I’ve seen in my lifetime. Now, that might get me some static. But I’ll stand behind my statement.
Seeing Janis Karpinski in the snippet two threads ago on “Iraq for Sale”, it dawned on me that Bush has admitted in a circuitous fashion that the authorization for torture goes all the way to the top.
The Bybee Memo that one of you fellow FirePups mentioned is written as it is, from the perspective of those with “royalist vision”, because Bush is the authorizer.
Karpinski was pushed onto her sword because the White House and OVP built in so much plausible deniability to obscure the direct chain of command.
Bush personally demands and expects the Specter bill for torture for this reason. He literally had a temper tantrum at David Gregory’s expense because he wasn’t getting the authority he wanted. Were he to be pushed just a little harder, a la Col. Nathan Jessep, I think he’d crack and spill the truth, that he’s the authorizer of torture.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 43
no static from me :)
Oklahoma kiddo @ 43
Not a great president, IMHO. But one of the best human beings ever to hold the office.
It really pisses me off that so much of the critical infrastructure our war fighters rely upon is put out to bid (or no bid) to the private sector. A KBR scab taking a load of ammo to where it’s needed can say fuck this, too dangerous. Every soldier and Marine has a least a weapon and training, the scabs, not so much.
There may well be some things that can be outsourced to contractors, like some clerical work, but even a lot of that is best kept close to the unit because much of it is vital to the moral of the GIs–payroll, R&R, training, promotion, etc.
The entire Federal Government has become nothing more than a patronage machine, graft runs rampant, ideology trumps competence, fealty to Party over duty to country.
When I was in the army we still had cooks, at least in the rear areas. Once a pair of them got on the wrong side of some REMF officer and were sent to the boonies with us. They brought their rifles along with their pots.
Who wants a good laugh? Not talking about Notre Dame highlights, check out Al Franken feeding Lanny Davis his testicles.
Lanny: Mmmph, mmmph
Pleased to meet you, Amazona. Isn’t this a wonderful place?
on Jimmy Carter… I miss most – decency and sanity… and intelligence…
I like Jimmy Carter.
This is typical of your genius Jane. The Shrub wants to talk about his
War in ErrorWar on Terra, by all means, lets. After a few weeks of answering questions about war-profiteering, I am confident Rover and his snowblower will want to change the subject.Somebody get Amazona a drink. Welcome!
TeddySanFran @ 31
You just know that Kenny doesn’t want to to lose his key tools.
Oh, and Teddy, did you see?
I guess that’s code for sourdough bread?
OldCoastie @ 41
I have read a transcript of his comments, yes. Carter showed more class than I could muster to deal with that twisted old ferret, but he made his point very clearly.
Eli @ 46
Compared to the fink squatting in the White House today, Carter seems like the best president ever. At least you knew he wasn’t willfully working to screw you over.
Compared to the fink squatting in the White House today, Carter seems like the best president ever. At least you knew he wasn’t willfully working to screw you over.
By that measure, *Nixon* seems like the best president ever.
Twisted Martini @ 53
Here’s a Dark and Stormy — anyone else? Help yourself.
EDP -
he didn’t even have to resort to a barrage of f-bombs and such… me? I end up choking on frustration and foaming at the mouth…it isn’t a pretty picture.
I’m so happy we have someone who can still articulate these issues…
Titanyum- Jane has been onto this for quite a while. First I could find was a post back in April. http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..nd-profit/
And, just click on “war profiteering” in the topics section and you will find Matt O’s series of weekly posts on this issue.
OldCoastie @ 59
he didn’t even have to resort to a barrage of f-bombs and such… me? I end up choking on frustration and foaming at the mouth…it isn’t a pretty picture.
I’m so happy we have someone who can still articulate these issues…
*yawps affirmatively*
I’m also listening to Jimmy Carter now, and after the Bushcrap we’ve been reading about tonight and the rage that it induces, he has a remarkably calming effect.
The contracting strategy is a fourfer:
1. Shrink government down to tub size.
2. Corporatize governance (= f*scism).
3. Dole out spoils (perks to cronies).
4. Dodge democratic accountability.
Eeeie though it is, the outrageous conduct and sums are almost a side show. The Repugs are running a yard sale, and what’s on sale are bits and pieces of the commonwealth.
What are we buying into by supposing there’s such a thing as “nonabusive” contracting in the sensitive policy areas in which it’s taken hold?
Eli @ 46
Respectfully, I disagree. There is no issue as important as world peace. Yitzhak Rabin, Anwar al-Sadat AND Jimmy Carter are giants when it comes to struggling for world peace. For without peace, nothing matters. There are other reasons why Jimmy Carter was a great leader. History will show this. Just as in the case of President Truman.
All good men/women do not make good presidents. And those who are not good will not make good leaders. Carter was a good man and a good president. A very good president.
Ed*ard Teller @ 32
And here’s the paradox. Based on new self knowledge, supported by folk here at fdl, unnamed but you know who you are, I am passing along the responsibility of this to either other people, or me tomorrow. Soul-killing stress comes from seeing horror and feeling that I, alone, RIGHT NOW, and only now, can take action to make things better. Maybe that’s right sometimes. But for me it is destructive. Have to allocate my energy “care”-fully. Thanks to fdl people who are on team egregious. I need you. The lives of children in Uzbekistan depend on your support. See what I’m talking about? Undeniable pressure.
Watching President Carter for the second time this week on Larry King. What a breath of fresh air. Carter sizzles.
Twisted Martini @
11
Yeah Twisted…Amaizin’ Blue
Are you from Michigan or did you just go there?
Ned’s new ad kicks ass. Very smart.
Eli @
57
I wish I could argue with you about Nixon, but I can’t. ;)
Jimmy Carter for Secretary of Peace
just an alum. Beating the Domers is especially sweet. Getting the Rethugs in November will be sweeter.
Without saying so directly, while discussing U.S./North Korea relations, Carter just compared Bush to a pouting child. Right on target.
hello everyone, it’s almost noon in sydney.
saw the discussion about jimmy carter. he’s also supposed to have the highest iq of any president (although some contend that jefferson may have scored higher), for what it’s worth.
i think carter is especially one of those cases where he will be better judged by history, what with all of the modern day derision he gets from some corners.
the only solace i take in 8 years of bush is the absolute damage he’s doing to the republican party.
on topic, i’ve seen these spots before. this looks like a very interesting documentary. fox news, walmart, and now halliburton and kbr… thank you, robert greenwald!
neurophius @ 72
a pouting child sitting in a closet…
neurophius @ 72
Only a Democrat could say that like it’s a bad thing, because Democrats all hate children and babies.
Twisted,
If you go to any games, let me know. I will get you prime parking in a liberal leaning party lot!
Go Blue!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 64
If we’d implemented Jimmy’s energy plans, we’d be completely independent of the sheiks by now. Completely.
btw, I’ve ordered my copy of Iraq for Sale. I’m not able to attend the local sceening of the film, but my friends will see my copy. Guaranteed.
egregious @ 65
A lot of big people are under pressure too. The pope freaked out the other day and made a major provocative statement – quoted an Eastern Orthodox idealogue – that flew right in the face of existing Catholic doctrine. Cheney looks more and more nuts all the time. Bush looks more and more like Capt. Queeg all the time.
Families of the Alaska Stryker Brigade soldiers are beginning to post parts of Rumsfeld’s meeting with them two weeks ago on Youtube. Here’s the first fragment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..&eurl=
He can’t level with these people!
Great to hear, Jane, but what would a nonabusive contract look like in the sensitive areas that are being privatized at every turn? Contracting out government functions is a fourfer in the Rove-Norquist grand design.
1. Shrinks government to tub size.
2. Gives perks to cronies, a new spoils system.
3. Corporatizes governance & policy (= f*scism).
4. Evades democratic accountability.
The outrages in conduct and waste are almost a distraction. Our commonwealth is being sold under our scandalized noses, but the real scandal is missed. The highest bidder isn’t even distinguished in dollar terms. Much of the sale is no-bid. It’s all political and it’s implemnting one party rule over a corporate state. It’s hardly being challenged.
egregious @ 65
Easy on, Eg. The world’s in sorry shape for sure, but I think we got at least 48 hours before she blows. Now, what is the most important thing I can do for you right now? I don’t quite get your drift here, but I’m willing to help and I’ve got a couple of hours I can do some digging, if that’s what’s wanted. Unhm, what am I looking for?
jeffreyw at 47 Every soldier and Marine has a least a weapon and training, the scabs, not so much
I am seeing a HUGE overlap here between our fdl military threads and our fdl labor threads. Contractor/private army versus regular military. Who works for us, the American people? Who works for those who use OUR TAX DOLLARS to hire mercenaries?
The Billions acknowledged lost on 9/10/01 and the Billions lost in Iraq go a long way to providing a permanent mercenary army for those who would do us harm. Or at minimum, those who do not care whether their actions do us harm. Ahem $$$$.
What if people whose only goal was power have already used our tax dollars and our military to set up their own kingdom? *cough*MOONIES*cough*. Should we continue to support this with the lives of our soldiers? Tin or titanium, your choice. Sometimes it seems the only possible explanation sounds like 1984 type fiction. But what if that is what’s really happening?
Not asking you to believe, just asking you to think about what it would look like, if this was true.
oddball @ 76
Could have used it last weekend, we got rained on with 107,000 of my closest friends! Are you a Wolverine as well?
Creeping Truth, the Web site connection on your comment (your underlined name) does not seem to be working. I am interested in your ideas. Do you have a Web site?
Aloha all…
This looks like another fantastic and informative documentary from Robert. He’s done so many and made so many aware. If you’re out there Robert, Thank you!
For those who haven’t seen it yet, the British show “Dispatches” did a fantastic documentary called, “Irag’s Missing Billions” that chronicles the rampant corruption of the contractors engaged by the corrupt Coalition Provisional Authority. Click on it if you’d like to watch it. There is also some additional information showing that one of the Iraqi journalists making the film’s house was broken into by US Troops, he and his family were held at gun point and the troops confiscated many of his videos and never gave them back.
It is very powerful and very disturbing.
With Powell, McCain, Warner, Graham, and Snowe “rebelling” against the Preznit on detainees’ torture, and three competing bills on wiretapping, would it be too much to ask for a “GOP in Disarray” article from poolboi in tomorrow’s WaPo?
Surely they’ve been waiting for this opportunity? Slip Rover’s leash and tell the truth!
Jimmy just dissed Bush, again without using the “B” word, for the axis of evil statement.
ET: Wow, those women were angry and Rumsfeld seemed completely flummoxed. More please when ya got it!
Hotflash, thank you. This is my life, so far I have been able to keep things going. I do worry. So I am doing all required stuff to keep me going: meds, shrink, reaching out to family and friends, speaking the truth even when it is painful.
When I’m on I’m superwoman. But it comes at a cost. Bipolar is very high energy for a while but then it crashes. At the high energy level I can do amazing things, ask the people at children’s hospital in st. petersburg russia. But when it crashes OMG. I have spent a lot of energy shielding my children from the crashes so it wouldn’t ruin their lives. Pretty much worked but they are so sensitive they see thru the curtain sometimes.
What can you do, pick up the reins if you see them, take action. If you mean for me in particular, …long pause… if providing feedback here please be gentle not harsh and dismissive, that’s one. On a higher level talk about …teary pause… that other people are also involved in saving the family/world, that not everything is the responsibility of one person.
My father was only not an alcoholic due to his determination not to go that route. Otherwise, all the sudden rage/bipolar stuff is there in spades. I will probably spend tens of thousands of dollars in therapy to understand that it is not my responsibility to keep our family of 9 intact but it may take the rest of my hopefully long life.
I am wired to try to help save people/nations. Ref: Russia. If I pull back now, when our country is in trouble, is that a good thing? Would help to hear that there are sufficient people in the fray, that I can rest a spell.
Thank you and sorry for the immense OT rant.
angie @
45
AGREED. I Heart Jimmy Carter. Ducks, best team in along while. Sooners 33-Oregun Ducks 34. Love them Pac 10 refs.!
Egr-a twisted hug coming your way. Bipolar is a nightmare. My brother and Dad suffer from it. My brother takes medication and has been able to overcome it; my Dad doesn’t, refuses diagnosis and is a problem. That you do what you do despite it is a testament to your quality of character.
Don’t forget that.
Eric Boehlert is on CSpan2 now talking about “Lapdogs”
egregious, we are all here together. We want most for you to take the best care of yourself in whatever way you define you need. We come here to connect and share the burden of doing what we can to take our country back. No one person can do much against the onslaught. So you have a lot of people who are joining the fight here every day. We will continue.
egregious — There is a scene in the Seven Samurai, which I watched for the first time in decades?? in which the leader directs all his warriors to rest, to tend to their families, to take care of themselves, because he knows the major battle is coming and all will be needed soon.
We honor what you do for others, and for the struggles you face with courage every day. Take care of yourself for now.
Millions? With an ‘M’?
*wink
Egregious-Wondering if you contacted David at oaks@mindfreedom.com? Here hoping. Wilbo
egregious- hang in there my dear. Unless you take care of yourself as a first priority, you won’t be able to do what you do to help others. And, re: the children- and this might be a completely wrong and egregious thing to say, but at a certain point, you have to let them take responsibility for their own lives- if they are sensitive and see thru the curtain, isn’t that a good thing after all? Just a thought. xxooo
TeddySanFran @ 88
Diane Benson, who is running against Don Young for the Alaska House seat, was there. She was invited to sit next to Rumsfeld at the VIP table. She couldn’t do it.
OT Nate Aloha. Just sent you an email.
egregious, to echo what meta said, you have to take care of yourself first. It’s easy to throw yourself into the fray for a time, but if other parts of your life are taking a toll, it’s ok to step back. Pace yourself, and do what you can. No more than that.
All of us contribute to this cause, getting our country back on track, in what ever way we can no matter how small or large.
{{{{{{big hugs}}}}}}
The repugs aren’t going away, and neither are we!!! :)
ot
think progress has an incredible story with no clip
man, I would love to see this, if somoent gets a clip pleaswe post
we be smakin the president’s ego around lately, we need more of this
egregious,
I cannot give you professional help, which I am glad you are pursuing, and I can’t wave a magic wand and make Bushco disappear. But I can tell you that lots of people are taking action to make things better.
I believe Jane and Christy and Pach are doing that with this blog and the Roots Project.
Howie Klein is doing it with his Blue America program and helping some very good candidates who are working hard to get elected to Congress to restore some sanity to our government, and people at FDL and other blogs are sending contributions to their campaigns.
I am not doing as much as I wish I could, but my wife and I ran and got elected as Democratic precinct committeewoman and precinct committeeman in the hope of putting some positive energy into our local Democratic Party in the campaigns this fall.
Links to a program called Do More Than Vote have been published here to help other people get in touch with local grassroots campaigning opportunities.
Last week, hundreds of thousands of people contacted ABC TV and Disney to protest the airing of a Republican propaganda piece, and won some concessions although we didn’t stop it completely.
I just want to make the point that a lot of people are working hard to make things better. I hope that makes you feel a little better and less alone.
Sincerely, neurophius
me to me– let the eagles soar!
take care egregious {{{hug}}}
egregious #89 – I hope you can let us know when you feel you need to let go of the reins for a while, so that, as you say, you can rest a spell, and be reminded “that not everything is the responsibility of one person.”
If there’s a better place for such reminders, I don’t know of it.
Holding you in my heart – and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
egregious-
Here is a poem written by a 13 year old bipolar kid following a “rage.” Pretty smart kid.
My Life
Life.
Breathing.
Twisting, turning, rising and diving. Starting and stopping.
Lived through and through, again and again.
Friends always there.
Family always there
For me
My life is as unpredictable as an experiment with a billion variables
Loved
Learn it
Use it and you will see
That everything has reason,
Life,
And
Love.
Valley Girl @ 60 and Rev Deb @ 42:
My comment ws not meant to imply that Jane just had started paying attention to war profiteering. It was meant to show war profiteering as the primary cause of war.
Thanks all for your love and encouragement. Am a big believer in the ministry of encouragement. For missionaries abroad the ratio of people overseas versus people providing support at home is 1 to 100. I would argue for a vastly larger number. Have been on both sides of this equation.
Am trying to save lives in the former Soviet Union. Originally it was to to save lives and to make peace between our country and theirs. For a while it worked great. Then our country started acting like no one else in the universe mattered. All my work squandered not bitter no. After 9/11 there was a vote in the inner council of Russia. To help the United States or not: da, 2. nyet, 18. But 2 plus the president was yes. I was personally thanked by the chairman of their senate foreign relations committee for helping the children of Russia. He was one of the 2. Bush has taken our work and the work of many others on behalf of peace among nations and totally squandered it. MY WORK DOWN THE DRAIN politically. The lives we have saved, still count for something. But I was trying to enhance reconciliation between our country and the former Soviet Union. Bush has totally destroyed this. Years of my life and millions of donated dollars for what. Must push back. People who are trying to speak for peaceful relations between nations must be heard despite our hateful governments. That’s all. Now to sleep. Should be the end of my post but I’m too sleepy. G’ night.
Story at my blog, ref underline at egr. Am I still in grief at the loss of a baby 56 years ago? And why not. People in Iraq and beyond will be grieving losses inflicted by our government for the next 50 plus years. We will pay one way or another for what our “government” is doing in Iraq.
Oldest of 7 surviving children. My brother died at age 3 hours. I work to save the lives of newborns and build a bridge of peace with our former enemy, Russia. I am mentally ill, with bipolar II manic depression and ADD. This makes me the perfect person for my work, which no one in their right mind would do.
This makes me the perfect person for my work, which no one in their right mind would do.
You are a gem. Sleep tight.
egregious -
While you sleep what I hope is a healing sleep, there will be thoughts and prayers of gratitude for you that literally circle the globe. You did not ask for the biology and neurochemistry you received, yet, when you can, you do magnificent somethings with what you have.
None of us has asked for the disease of greed, hypocrisy, and deceit that has been inflicted on the body politic and the body of the nation. I am often stunned into silence and discouragement. Yet, by your personal example, you have shown us the way to do what we can, when we can.
We are never good judges of the ultimate outcomes….a student comes back after 25 years and thanks a teacher for the words that changed the student’s life. The teacher is in wonder…that insignificant utterance had that effect?!? One of those babes that you have saved may be a great woman of peace, a man of needed wisdom.
Thank you for your part in the chain of healing and hope.
Have these stealing fuckers no shame? With Rethugs it’s all me,me. Screw everyone else. How many more billions will it take to atone to the Iraqi people for the incompetence of the Cheny administration? I’m so sick of their lies.
Hey #ilbo @ 90. The Pac 10 refs are blind! We were robbed! Boomer Sooner
Valley Girl @
99
Hi ValleyGirl. I just replied. ;). Great hearing from you.
Ed*ard Teller @ 79
Christ Almighty I hope you aren’t comparing me with the Pope/Muslim foolishness, Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld. Otherwise just pass the knife. Our family has had to hide all knives more than once. I am bipolar manic/depressive but trying to work for good in an evil world. It is exhausting. I work in the former Soviet Union where there is plenty of Evil capital E to go around. Strangely enough this is good experience for working for a better U.S. government.
Lack of accountability.
Excellent talking point, we have six years of examples.
Sign on Bush’s desk, “The buck stops over there”.
Twisted Martini @
11
Let’s Go Blue (on the gridiron as well as off)!!
Oh, oh, sorry, that just slipped out—
Not!
But all that’s in the most halcyon past. Thanks for the extra clip, Robert and Jane. It addresses issues I had been wondering about job displacement among the military, and whether there might be some effect on the cohesiveness of units once so many of the day-to-day tasks are farmed out. From what the soldier in the film says, I don’t think the effects are necessarily good. In fact I’d guess that, as with so much else this administration has pressed forward, they might be quite predictably bad.
egregious- Bush is mentally ill. He has ruined the hopes and dreams of many. Not to mention those he has killed by proxy, in one way or another. As to your question, “am I still in grief..”.
Okay, I have sometimes done this, and call it “whying”. On the whole, it only leads one deeper into despair, based on my own experience.
What I am going to quote below, my dear egregious, is something that I wrote (part of that unfinished ms. on depression that I sent you). I don’t really have time to edit it so that it becomes a specific response to you, and as such some of it def. does not apply. But, I offer it up, in case there is still something helpful in it for you, or others. xxoo
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One of the attitudes that you have to fight during depression, one of the voices, is the one that says it’s your fault. You can waste a lot of time, and drive yourself further into despair by trying to “figure it out.” By “figure it out” I mean all sorts of things, including trying to figure out why the people in your life that have disappointed and mistreated you have done so, or trying to figure out why depression has settled particularly on you. Insight is a good thing in moderation, but figuring it out can become an addiction and trap that can block action. Understanding has a good ring to it doesn’t it? Yes except you can ruminate until the cows come home and end the day not having done much that helps you move out of your rut or your downhill spiral. I’m not saying that an “A ha” experience that triggers real insight about our own feelings or behavior isn’t a good thing, I’m saying that when the “A ha” is translated into action healing can occur. Particularly if you have grown up in a situation where solutions were blocked, where you were covertly or overtly taught that you were helpless, or things were safest if you were helpless or didn’t make to many waves or have too many of your own ideas, then this pattern will have taken hold. Learned helplessness. The good ideas don’t get acted on, good ideas substitute for good actions, or and the good ideas stop calling upon you. If you’re not used to thinking that there is something you can do about a problem, but rather accept it, then it might be that the good ideas will stop coming. To change gears, there’s an import caveat here. Some of the “what can I do about it questions” have to do with practical problems. “My house is always a mess. Why am such a slob? What can I do to keep things more orderly?” Ask the first question and you will tire yourself with a question that has no answer. Ask the second question, with the certain assumption that there are some answers out there waiting for you, then act on those answers and you will find things changing. Some other “what can I do about it questions” are trickier. “I always feel so depressed after I talk to my mother”. The whys on this one may or may not be obvious. And perhaps or probably insight will help gain some clarity and acceptance. But “what can I do about it?” is the question still waiting. The important thing to remember when dealing with this one is that the question is, “what can I do about it”, not “how can I make her change, be happy, depress me less, so that this isn’t a problem for me.” The question isn’t what can I get the other person to do to change, but what is realistically within my power.
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#110 hufnpuf. History has proven over and over the human to human misery created through war. They’re trying to push it all back into cave mentality. Fear, react, etc.. Hey, come to think of it a cave doesn’t sound to bad about now. Sports is just another sign of this declining culture. I’m still a ‘basketball jonesey’ though I don’t celebrate as rabidly and enjoy a fair well played game. Must change the game plan. Jimmy Carter for Secretary of Peace is a good start Oldcoastie.
Eli @ 75
I have sacrificed much to save the lives of babies and I am a Democrat. Cost to my biological children that I hope to God are ok despite my time away from them in Russia.
DEAR GOD WAS IT WORTH IT
*ilbo @
116
Amen brother,or sister. Pac 10 refs suck! Have a good one. Nite
egregious @
82
egregious, I don’t disbelieve you. I know the **cough**moonies**cough**. In fact, I thought pt911 smelled a lot like them, but this is not something I can prove or we can do anything about unless and until we get the thugs out of the picture.
Meantime, be kind to yourself. I, for one, value your insight.
So, in this thread (I see there’s a new one up above) are we converging on the notion that it won’t really be over until we’ve reversed the whole trend toward utter civic irresponsibility? Until we restore the notion of critical public goods and public needs that cannot be left to the dictates of patronage and private advantage-seeking? That electing [better] Democratic candidates to office will be at best just a beginning? Because I think that’s the truth of the matter.
prostratedragon @ 120
I agree with that. No WAY can we undo the damage that’s been done to our country and the world in this generation. We need to get the next generation at least started, though. Worthwhile work, I say.
Who could rationally convict any military member for refusing to risk his/her life in this obscene war? The decision to report to the war zone must be incredibly difficult for those who recognize the truth that they are fulfilling their part of a contract while their leaders are not.
Re mental health. I remember a statement by someone in that field to the effect that people go “insane” to maintain their sanity. Sounds logical to me.
Thanks for this Jane,
I called the Democratic Policy Committee offices to thank them – Staffs mentioned that they would have no problem with us helping to make sure C Span broadcasts this live.
Y’all know what to do – Here is C Spans main telephone number:
(202) 737-3220
C-Span ran the Senate hearings on how Halliburton/KBR has been ripping off the US taxpayers with fraudulent claims of inflated expenses and such. We all knew that was going on.
BUT — a big part of this testimony as well, was from former Iraq Halliburton/KBR employees (and their legal counsel), who delivered fuel etc. And how, in April 2004, they were sent down a road that was known to be in the middle of combat operations, a ‘blacked out’ route, which means no civilians allowed to travel – period.
Halliburton/KBR knowingly sent a large convoy of their fuel trucks into the middle of this raging conflict, which resulted in many civilian injuries and a few deaths (as well as the death of two US soldiers).
Halliburton/KBR has completely stonewalled and delayed any inquiry or investigation into this matter, and has never even contacted the former employees since. The lawyers for these plaintiffs can’t even get the documents they need to progess with these cases. Speaking of which:
It was also revealed, that Halliburton/KBR devised a plan to have injured employees sign away any and all rights to any claim — under the guise of a medical release form to be sent to the Pentagon. Employees did this to be awarded a ‘Civilian Award of Courage’, or something like that, which was created just after 9/11.
How utterly f’king despicable can they be?
We’ll probably never find out. And I don’t think the MSM covered this whatsoever.
The video is still the first link on the C-Span site here -
http://www.c-span.org/
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