YouTube of Sara Taylor being schooled on her oath to the Constitution by Sen. Pat Leahy via TPM Muckraker.
This summary of the Sara Taylor testimony from Kung Fu Monkey is spot on:
The bit I like is the little “mm-hmm” you hear her give near the end. The “I’m already not listening to you” sound one has heard a million times from a pissy co-worker. This woman’s just been caught out admitting she doesn’t understand her oath of office to the people of the United States and that she’s misplaced her priorities in a cult of politicized hero-worship …and she’s treating it like Myra from HR is harassing her about the damn TPS forms again.
So here’s a question. Is this Daddy love “politics above all” process specifically linked to the Bush Administration, or has it gotten into the center of the Republican Party Establishment?
The Sara Taylor flippant dismissal of her Constitutional obligations as being not worth her time to contemplate, and her disrespectful attitude toward Sen. Leahy throughout the entire hearing, really ices it for me — and makes me all the more disgusted with the way things have been going in terms of Democratic response to this craptastic behavior. As Digby says:
Right now, for example, we have the Republicans filibustering everything in sight and calling the Democrats a do-nothing congress. We have the president spending twelve billion dollars a month on a war the country hates and saying the Democrats are overspending. And oversight is being met with incoherence that better resembles a three stooges routine than cooperation. They are not behaving as normal politicians behave, they are behaving like reckless, emotionally deranged teen-agers daring someone to stop them. And like the nice, nurturing parents they are, the Democrats try to be reasonable and “talk” while the miscreant kids steal the money out of their wallet and take the family car — screaming “suckers” as they peel out of the driveway.
They aren’t playing by any rules and neither the press nor the public seems to quite understand that. The Dems are trying to position themselves for the next election, which is what the system anticipates, but their hapless act in the face of this anarchistic GOP response is not going to get them there.
The Democrats are going to have to come up with something beyond just adding a few more piece of flair to their work clothes, and no one is handing anyone back their stapler without a fight.
So, I thought it might be worth a little Friday time to brainstorm a bit on what we can do to shift the ground a bit — mainly because I simply cannot stand sitting by and watching without trying to find a way to help. If you have an idea that you’ve been dying to share on some campaign we can all work on together, let me know. I’ve been trying to come up with something along the lines of our prior “Crashing the Gates“ and “Rubber Stamp Republicans” work, and haven’t hit on the right maneuver just yet. So many of our great action plans come from our readers — please share your ideas in the comments below and maybe we can come up with something constructive and useful — but also maybe a little fun — that can help move the national discussion forward. Can’t wait to read your ideas!
It’s Friday, and I’ve got a treat for you: this Nick Anderson animation is fantastic. Please, go and watch it — you’ll be awfully glad you did. (H/T to Bob Geiger for the link.)
(If you haven’t seen Office Space, you really should…)
Related posts:
Spotlight
Christy!
How about the Democrats living up to THEIR Constitutional obligations? Like impeaching Gonzales, Cheney and Bush??? Evidence of the illegal behaviors of this unholy trio is building up like a snow drift. We don’t need more evidence. What we need is some civic action!
Bob in WI
More subpoenas!!
“…and makes me all the more disgusted with the way things have been going in terms of Democratic response to this craptastic behavior.”
“The Democrats are going to have to come up with something beyond just adding a few more piece of flare to their work clothes, and no one is handing anyone back their stapler without a fight.”
;0)
Good morning Christy,
Loved Office Space. But need a little more time to think up ideas. Can you repeat this ask in a couple of days please? We are on the way to PA for what I hope is the last of the house deciding this afternoon, so will be off the threads. Drat. This sounds like too much fun to miss.
Deb at 5 — Will do. Just thought this was a good Friday think time for the weekend and into next week kinda thing. I’ve been itching to start another project — just haven’t come up with the right one yet.
Thanks, Christy!
I have an idea, riffed from Jane and rhfactor last evening:
Create a website built on the premise and operations of Fark.com for progressives to go at the Repubs, the executive branch, partisan operations in governmental agencies. Make it comedic and outrageous. The submitters will do the work of finding the egregious acts, and as visitors interact with the site, the message will be timely, will be amplified, and there will be buy-in.
Instead of tramping all over the net for progressive visuals, “Farce.com” will bring the trekkers to one campfire over which the Repubs can be slow roasted, consumed and digested.
Use the power of the net and outraged citizens to be synergistic and develop the message for the Dems and progressives.
Can’t improve on Digby’s analogy.
Doesn’t the subpoena battle look like it is shaping up to have DOJ refuse to enforce?
At that point, shouldn’t Congress’ next move be to remove Gonzo with impeachment–which it does have the power to act on without court intervention.
That way, either there are a lot of Senate Republicans at the time of the vote who are on record as putting party ahead of country, which should pretty well break the Republican brand for good, or the replacement of the AG comes with the price of permitting subpoena enforcement go forward.
this week Kerry used a new variant on “obstructionist Republicants” that I rather like: “Roadblock Republican(t)s”
I will think on the matter…
how about if harry starts out with up-or-down votes on the war?
no vote-no recess.
troops get extended tours, so should the Congress.
for the Fitz-enistas, the jury has reached a verdict and peoples are supposedly filing in Black jurors reach verdict. Odd title isn’t it??
Maybe something on the “Grow a Spine” theme.
We are living in a period of the Barbie girl in the barbie world wrapped in plastic wannabes. Sara Taylor, Monica Goodling, Paris Hilton, Britney, Nicole Ritchie….. Here’s their theme song:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zEz…..mp;search=
peterboy @ 10
I love this. It worked in NY State. For, like, 20 years running the corrupt NYS legislature passed the budget ridiculously late. The one time they passed it on time was when there was a pay raise in it for those very legislators.
Uh……….Christy, don’t wanna nitpick but shouldn’t it be “Flair”?
You know… we support and coalesce around many individual candidates for the House and the Senate. I cannot see doing the same for the candidate for the office of the president (officially declared or not) as anything different. It is time for bold moves.
It may just be time for (gasp!) civil disobedience … marches, riots, tear gas. Of course, this will take organization. Michael Moore keeps saying that the health care system in this country will not change unless the people demand it. Sadly, I believe the same goes for getting rid of these criminals who are illegally occupying national office.
Cooley at 15 — Dang it — you are correct! That’s what i get for typing while I’m on the phone…will fix it. Thanks much for the heads up!
I may be moving to Vermont in the near future, and Senator Leahy is on my list of reasons why that possibility appeals to me.
“Flair,” not “flare.”
Digby is right. The Republican Congress and the WH are in no rules apply mode and have been for monts (Bush/cheney for years.) Pass the word, because everyone needs to be on the same page. We have to fight back.
Focus on those things that do not require Bush signature: A resolution adopted by majority in congress deauthorizing anything about the war we don’t accept.
Threaten to undo the 60 vote rule, to be reinstated only when the Republican start to act like a loyal opposition, rather than a coup in progress.
Refuse to fund anything that is untoward; do not pay salaries of officials who are undermining/perverting the intent of statutes; just leave them out of the budget. Any office that is refusing to cooperate with congress gets its political apppointees zeroed out.
Begin impeachment investigations immediately for every officer that is defying the Constitution and/or Congress.
Be Michael Moore on CNN, and tell the American people that Republicans have become nothing but obstacles and we can’t work with them anymore. Ditto the WH. We will try to hold the country and the government together until this regime is removed from office, but we need the country’s support. But we won’t be bullied any more. “Damn mad and we’re not going to take it any more.” Netroots need to work that slogan.
Steve-AR @ 12
“Vertebrates have more fun”
“For Good Sex..Grow a Spine”
“Scare a Republican..Grow a Spine”
How about a “Letters to the Editor” contest? Everyone submit a letter documenting the atrocities, we vote on the best ones, and then everyone shamelessly steal the best parts and pledge to send them to our local papers?
I don’t know about your papers, but mine (the loathsome Albuqerque Journal) runs a whole page of them every Tuesday. They can get really interesing, and it’s the kind of local debate that we need.
From the previous thread, here is a link to the Initial Iraq Benchmark Report.
Besides the matters I mentioned in a previous comment, here is some of the discussion of Iran and Syria:
As we know, a huge number of Iraqis have fled to Syria, and I wonder how many of them are the purported returning suicide bombers.
Hey Christy!
When is “trusted journalist” Stephen F. Hayes going to be on the Bookclub with this new Cheney Biography?
You know it will be AWESOME in it’s revelations. ;-)
I’m not sure exactly what should be done… but I have a suggestion on how to implement the strategy….
Yearly Kos starts in less than three weeks. There should be LOTS of Democratic officeholders and political operatives, and each and every one of them has to get the same message — STAND UP TO BUSH AND THE GOP OBSTRUCTIONISTS.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 7
What about looseheadprop’s suggestion about priming the pump? FDL hasn’t really followed up on that.
Bob in
HIWII fully agree with the thrust of this article. My meager idea:
Start sending Democratic Congress members a small child’s lollipop. Attach a short question:
“Are you a Fightin Dem, or are you a sucker?”
Ghostman
I think if they put Taylor in contempt and try to put her in prison til she talks, Bush will somehow say she doesn’t have to go to jail. The only thing to do is put Bush in contempt.
Unless, of course, we could get some impeachment served up.
Bearpaw– You will be most welcome up here in the Vermont Lake. It does freeze over in the winter, tho.
Steve-AR at 12 —
I love the “grow a spine” idea… Can anyone mass-produce a simple pot of soil with a backbone growing out of it? And deliver a truck load of them to Congress?
Interesting. I thought the Conrad Black jury reported yesterday that they were deadlocked?
via atrios – from paul krugman this morning:
anyone know which democratic senators krugman is referring to?
Did the Dems forget the ‘P’ word?
As in perjury?
Actions have consequences. So do words.
Or maybe they used to.
The Democratic leadership needs to be much more forceful in exposing the intransigence, not just of the Bush WH, but the entire GOP apparatus.
Harry Reid needs to make them PUBLICLY, FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES, filibuster every bill they want to block. I want Mitch McConnell reading a goddam phonebook at 4AM in the empty Senate chamber.
Leahy/Conyers/Waxman et al need to get contempt citations going for every refusal to comply with congressional subpeonas. If the DC USA won’t pursue they need to declare INHERENT CONTEMPT and force a few butts into the House basement holding cell, if necessary.
Contempt citations for the RNC for refusing to turn over Rove’s emails need to happen NOW.
Democratic leadership needs to cut off war funding and when Bush vetos, keep sending the same bill back, over and over again.
Congressional unpopularity is based on Dems not doing enough to stop this train wreck presidency, not that it is doing too much.
Digby is absolutely right. These are not rational men and women. These are immature teenagers who need to give the car keys back, by force, if necessary.
The Dems have to adopt a very successful strategy used by the Repugs … condition the media by repeating over and over talking points, such as .. “The Republican Party is not allowing our Soldiers to spend time with their families. This is a nation based on family values. The Republican Party is eroding family values!”
… I’m just getting started but I have to go tend to my guests … great post Christy, can we have brainstorming over the weekend … perhaps here or on Facebook …
bobschacht @ 2
Bingo. Time for the knives to come out. Enough of rhetoric. I want Pat Leahy to make some people bleed.
I also wonder how many “reporters” actually read the report. We have to remember that we have to read the stuff they put out like EmptyWheel reads trial transcripts: what are they trying to hide?
In this case, with a proper definition of “satisfactory progress” the early reports of no progress on any benchmark would be accurate. This document is a full-fledged political document with a special Cheney twist of in your face.
This war and all this other shit is messin’ with my psychology, heh heh heh, smirk, wink.
Impeach.It’s the ONLY thing.
Left a message on Pelosi’s line this morning to that effect (recommended Cheney). WRT the issue of impeachment interfering with other Congressional issues, I informed her that without a D supermajority, and with the president’s veto, nothing else will get done unless you impeach and get these guys out of the way.
peterboy @ 10
Peterboy, this is an EXCELLENT idea! They just voted a raise for themselves too, so its a timely idea as well. Besides the “work” of carrying out the consequences for Harriet Miers failing to appear on the subpoena will require longer days, won’t it?
Well since you asked…
This old lawyer remembers the summer of 1973, when the Senate toook the American people to school on the excesses of Nixon’s WH and, though probably not ‘flarey’ enough for today’s media, suggests that a variation on that is what’s needed. However it will require a few things that will put some Congresscritters’ noses out of joint:
1. There needs to be ONE committee to investigate (and no, not for purposes of impeachment…yet) the excesses of the Administration.
2. Owing just to the differences in member numbers and speaking time, that committee should be a Senate committee (Sorry Conyers, but you’ve really had your chance and, no, it ain’t working), probably Judiciary or a special subcommittee thereof (with membership 6 and 5).
3. The hearings should take place this August, when nothing else is going on.
4. The hearings should be conducted at least 4 (preferably 5) days a week. Counsel should be appointed and allowed to question witnesses with no time limits and Senators should have no less than 20 minute limits, with second rounds if necessary. The hearings should start out with small fry and build to those the WH will try to protect, so that the public will be able to see just why the WH won’t let these people testify (and also to build media suspense)
4. Subpoenas should be issued and PROMPT votes on contempt for non-compliance should occur.
5. These hearings should last about 2 months, with a Labor day recess of a week or two.
6. At the end of the hearings, THEN you can see if, as I believe, there will be a groundswell of public support for further action. I’m not using the ‘I’ word only because I still worry about Conyers as a manager of that effort. Say what you will, he’s no Peter Rodino.
So there you have it. Take your shots.
We are making a list of “needs to” and “shoulds” and “oughts” for the Dem reps. But I think we can focus on what we can accomplish as a progressive community to influence the elected reps. That’s where I see the disconnect: the will of the people isn’t being carried out by the electorate. How do we close that gap?
Am I missing the boat?
I sense a tidal wave of disappointment with both parties. We are looking for leadership, Democrats. It is a critical time for my party.
A little Louis Armstrong for everyone…sometimes, you just need a little something good for your day.
IMPEACH THEM ALL!!!
I don’t like “grow a spine” because it says that Democrats are lacking one — that they currently lack the means to act effectively.
They don’t lack the means, they lack the will. So either “show some spine” or “stand tall” or some other construction that tells the Democrats to stop acting like they are spineless is more appropriate
I don’t know how possible this is, but Congress should pound them with sand — several small, progressive votes which individually would be ‘outrageous’ to republicans, but as a whole can’t be filibustered or vetoed by their sheer number. Things like separate votes for increased budget for body armor, several ‘compensation parity acts’ equalizing troop compensation with contractor compensation in several specifically-identified areas, several ‘responsible accountability acts’ equalizing the reporting requirements for outside contractors with government organizations, comparing payments for equal services, etc.
CONRAD BLACK,
GUILTY of FRAUD!
Another win for Fitz
Oklahoma kiddo @ 44
Wes Clark.
Black guilty on four of thirteen charges: here….
How about sending lots of diapers to the Dems in Congress. They do soil themselves so very badly whenever the GOP or Bush says “Boo!”. The little babies might be able to concentrate on the serious shit we are all in if they can quit worrying about their own shit running down their legs.
How about writing articles of impeachment that lay out in brutal detail the crimes of this administration? One each for Abu, Cheney and Georgie, then deliver them in the most public manner possible.
Time to bring back the special prosecutor!
scarecrow @ 21
that would be lovely.
but it does seem that the democrats in congress don’t really want to do that… i’m coming to the conclusion that it’s not a matter of strengthening their spine – it’s changing what motivates them.
AS Arthur Sibler urged the other day, it’s time to mobilize and march. As the 97-0 vote the other day in the Senate showed and the frontrunners for the Presidency argue, they expect troops to be in Iraq forever and they (the Dems) WANT war with Iran. Both parties are tirelessly working at destroying this country and there just isn’t time to mount a political campaign of independents to run for office. Heck, most of the net-root Dems recently elected have already turned their backs on their supporters in favor of the Washington status quo – war is good. So, it’s time to mobilize – we need millions of people to relocate for a very long period of time to Washington DC. We need to start pelting the President’s and VPs limos with rotten tomatos and anything else non lethal we can get our hands on. We need to storm the White House, the Halls of Congress and the Supreme Court and personally confront these people, show them the angry faces. Let them know that the people will take back this government, by force if necessary, unless they do the people’s will. Enough is enough and was enough a long time ago.
I would love to see them both impeached, but the votes just aren’t there, and are never going to be.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t shift the debate by calling on Bush and Cheney to resign. Just catalog all their disastrous failures and approval numbers that are like Nixon’s when he resigned. The public has stopped listening to Bush and we can’t waste the next 18 months waiting for a leader we can respect. Their resignation would immediately unify the country. And, if they want to avoid making Pelosi president, Cheney could resign first, like Agnew did, and Bush could appoint another Republican.
I know they won’t do it, but it would certainly reframe the debate and might even get support from a lot of Repubs who don’t want to go into the next election with these jokers around their necks. I would love to have the next 18 months spent debating whether the time has come for Bush and Cheney to resign for the good of the country.
I like Dratty @ 42,
along with no vote no recess
I think that we should start calling the Bush admin what it really is: The Bush Junta.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 44
I refer to the Ds are Darwin-Award-deserving.
p.lukasiak @ 47
I agree — it puts the focus on Dems shortcomings and not the Reps shortcomings. IMHO the Dems are still acting demoralized and not fully aware of their true power. Perhaps more ‘we’ve got your back’ than ‘grow a spine’ — the majority of Americans agree with the Dems on most issues after the big Republican lurch to the right (i.e. playing to the base)
Ok to some people this is gonna sound really stupid, others will see it’s genius, and still others will say wtf and give it a try, but there are enough people reading this to make it work.
Let everyone here, each day, between now and September 15 do two acts of kindness in Dick Cheney’s name. We can pull a Ghandi on these dudes, and they’ll never know what hit them.
Compassion as a focused weapon has never been tried on a scale this large. My preliminary experiments with Gizmo seem to indicate that such focused intent can be very powerful.
Something to consider in addition to other actions.
Here are some of my thoughts:
1. Cancel all recesses.
2. Hold a daily press briefing entitled “Here’s what the Republicans blocked today”. Tell people to call their representatives to tell them to stop blocking the will of the people.
3. Make them filibuster in the Senate (as Digby says).
4. Use inherent contempt powers against Miers.
5. Begin impeachment proceedings against Gonzales, Cheney and Bush.
6. Stop being so f*cking nice – they are not “your good friend from the other side of the aisle” and they are not working with you. When they call Valerie Plame a liar at an open hearing, call for them to be censured. Make some noise, embarrass them, make them pay a price for their lies.
Woodhall Hollow @ 59
I’ve been calling them that and the Bushista Regime since January, 2001. I find it painful to write the term “President” Bush, and do so only if the writing I’m doing demands such usage.
I wonder if we could come up with a variation on the Dem Bones song! They are ALL connected to the BACKBONE!.
Your toe bone connected to your foot bone,
Your foot bone connected to your ankle bone,
Your ankle bone connected to your leg bone,
Your leg bone connected to your knee bone,
Your knee bone connected to your thigh bone,
Your thigh bone connected to your hip bone,
Your hip bone connected to your back bone,
Your back bone connected to your shoulder bone,
Your shoulder bone connected to your neck bone,
Your neck bone connected to your head bone,
I hear the word of the Lord!
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun’
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun’
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun’
I hear the word of the Lord!
In terms of specific achievable objectives, I would suggest that jane and christy take it upon themselves to organize a progressive blogosphere campaign to force reconsideration of the Webb Amendment — and force the GOP to actually DO a filibuster for as long as it takes—including refusing to allow the Senate to go into recess (which forces the House to stay in session as well.)
Make the GOP stand up an argue for hours on end that our troops shouldn’t be given a chance to recovery from one Iraq deployment before being sent on another…. I guarantee that they will fold as soon as Reid tells thems “game on”
peterboy @ 10
That would be great–no vote no recess. But how do we get him to do that?
Woodhall Hollow @ 59
That’s exactly how they view it. Family oligarchy, currently nominally headed by His Most Serene Excellency Jorge W. Boosh.
This struck me as well while listening to her, Sara Taylor that is. I hear that ‘mmhmm’ murmured many times thruout, enough to irritate the f*ck out me because it indicates she’s not really listening, but is forming in her head a response to something said to her. It also indicates, I think, a total lack of interest in what’s being said.
Anyone who has been in the military, been in public office, been in government knows the oath of office taken is to defend and uphold the constitution. I remember when I took the oath when enlisting in the militar because I was STRUCK by that line, “I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;”
Okay – sure, ‘foreign & domestic enemies’ meant Spiro & Dick of course….. but I was still struck by it. Awed even.
Gromit @ 30
That’s very kind of you, though the possibility involves the Brattleboro area. (The weather’s not so different from where I grew up, so it don’t scare me none. Or not much, anyway.)
Grumpy mood this week.
I realized yesterday that I’ve started thinking of the government (including Congress) as ‘those @#$%^ #$%^&s in DC’.
This morning I realized that I’m also thinking of ‘how do we fix the Constitution?’ including, maybe, an Article with definitions and other miscellaneous stuff.
I think I went over a mental hump.
I don’t see a way to fix things, without doing a rebuild of the systems. (Is this how they felt in 1775?)
Sen Reid should force the Senate to stay in session with only one agenda item: Iraq. Make Toothless Mitch, Trent the Reb and all the other obstructionists stay in Washington and vote multiple times a day, on TV for keeping the troops in danger. Force them in to a trad filibuster and make Mitch stay on his feet overnight every noght. Show who the obstructionists really are.
No more comity. No more “respecting Senate Privilege”, no more nothing until the issues are laid out front and center. Give them no cover and concealment.
My initial $.02 (with more to come as I mull the possibilities).
The point I keep trying to hammer on in my posts is that the Bush Republicans have no moral compass, that when it comes to right and wrong, they just don’t get it — and if the American people ever consciously recognize that, the GOP is in trouble, since their brand is predicated on an assumption of moral superiority.
So I’d recommend a campaign to drive that “they just don’t get it,” no-moral-compass message home… in conjunction with, perhaps, delivering a bunch of compasses to the White House and the GOPers in Congress.
scarecrow @ 21
Our own nuclear option? Might be a good idea, but real hard to keep from being spun the wrong way in the media. Then there is Cheney sitting as president of the Senate.
p.lukasiak @ 66
Right on! Why is this so difficult for the Dem leadership to visualize?
I just heard McCain on the radio (he is in NH
trying to campaign).
He blamed the war on Rumsfield… not one word
on our esteemed Prezo…
He says he learned a lesson from Viet Nam.
If he did, he would upstacking from Iraq…
We DO not have a functioning democracy…
Sad but undeniable
Helpless Dancer @ 54
This project has been started, following looseheadprop’s Priming the Pump diary.
Bob in
HIWITurning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
–Yeats, speaking prophetically of today
And just the other day the Dems ALL fell down and voted FOR Lieberman’s ode to war with Iran. The Dems ALL voted, in that “nonbinding” sense of the senate pile of crap, to take ownership of the absolutely coming attack on Iran. The Dems cannot howl about it when Bush does it (after that 3rd carrier gets there) before the elections, probably in the Spring. They HAVE fallen for the “Iran IS attacking US forces” tripe as gospel exactly the way they did the WMD and ‘mushroom clouds’ crap before Iraq.
NOTHING is changing. NOTHING. It is getting worse!
“O, judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason”
–Shakespeare, addressing our modern times in Julius Caesar
scarecrow @ 21
Would it take 60 votes to make the change?
By the way, Cummins has already called bullshit on Taylor’s firing story:
It’s up to us, people. If we don’t make our presence felt in Washington by being in Washington and daily protesting, getting in front of Congressmen’s cars, blocking their path to the Hill, making not just a lot of noise but very real, threatening noise, we will watch as the diapers and the rubber stamps and whatever cutesy and completely ineffective “I don’t have to get my hands dirty” approach are buried in the dustbin of history, along with the concept of a free and open democracy.
OT: (Though is trashing Bush ever OT?)
ThinkProgress has this Murtha Interview up in which he calls Bush delusional.
What I found most hopeful about it is that at the end he says:
So why would I believe that there’s going to be chaos just because they say it?
This is the point that the Dems should have been saying repeatedly and in unison for the last six months. (six years?). This is what will turn the tide. They’ve been wrong wrong wrong. Why would you trust anything they say. Easy to understand and effective.
I’m with dratty @ 42
EllenG @ 63
I especially like numbers 1. and 2. I have written the Dems so many times urging them to hold pressers daily. The ‘What have the Republicans blocked today’ is a wonderful idea! Someone clever could come up with good graphics or logos.
The answer is painfully obvious:
If the Republicans want to filibuster a good piece of legislation AND we want the media to show the masses that the Republicans are being obstructionists, THEN force the Republicans to *actually* filibuster!! The media will be forced to cover the fact that NOTHING is moving forward in the Senate because the idiot Republican on stage is engaged in an endless speech!! This is PAINFULLY OBVIOUS.
How about delivering a slice of toast to every Republican in Congress, each week from here to the elections?
P J Evans @ 71
I had my mental breakdown weeks ago…
A Corona, a card game and watching the Sox
and my fantasy baseball team keeps me together.
Another advantage of no-vote/no-recess is that if there is no recess there can be no recess appointments.
musicsleuth @ 61
i’m starting to wonder if it’s not that the dems are unaware of their power – it’s almost like they reject it… that they don’t want to be responsible for taking difficult decisions that may have bad outcomes (even if in order to avoid worse outcomes). the lemming-like response of the 97-0 vote on iran (or the earlier house vote) is not consistent with who we expect the democrats to be.
i submit that we should at least consider (not saying conclude) that the dems in congress are not primarily on our side….
Maybe a very visible mass delivery of OUR Constitution to the too many spineless and sniveling members of Congress.
(accompanied by a picture of the royal Dubya in a ermine trimmed cape with a crown made of golden shrubbery upon his sorry pate. Alternatively, a picture of him wearing his “TANG” uniform (avec codpiece) to fully represent his particular form of dictatorship could work.)
oh, and IMPEACH already.
Perhaps we should discuss a new Revolution– you’d think we learned our lesson the hard way back in 1775……. we could include a copy of the Declaration of Independence
http://www.ushistory.org/decla…../index.htm
A sports analogy:
Dems used to be like Red Auerbach. He was tougher than he was smart. And he was very smart.
Dems need to go back to that type of attitude when dealing with these Rethugs.
Mass mailing of post cards to all members of Congress of a simple white post card with large black letters:
title 18 USC 2441
(Or what ever the proper legal format is.)
I think we need paper cutouts of Bush, Cheney, et al that can be placed at prime photo-op locations — complete with their own ’secret service’, ‘free-speech zones’, banners and multiple fake cameras to show the Potemkin President in action.
Attaturk @ 25
Have you read this Truthout report? Dick Cheney’s Psychology – Part 1: Almost Pleasantly Adrift
Helpless Dancer @ 53
Wow. This is the stuff of very enjoyable fantasy: A large orderly “mob” delivering impeachment articles from the people.
I think, too, that until you and I are ready to hold sit-down strikes or marches in DC and in front of our Dems offices locally, nothing will be done. It is torch and pitchfork time.
parsleysage @ 95
This could be good.
jim oconnor @ 91
Yeah… they did to draft quality Reps/Senators, instill the winning attitiude
with all team members, have Cousy, Russell,
Heinsohn, McHale, Robert 00… and then
they can light a big stoogie…
In the meantime, tear open a beer and relax
Ed*ard Teller @ 76
maybe they can, and don’t like the picture in their mind?
i really don’t know… i’m grasping at straws here…
but it does seem that our premises are not able to explain the behaviour we see.
need better premises.
I’m with Digby on this one (as usual). Reid needs to start making the Rethugs actually show up and debate. He needs to hold up all business in the Senate while the debate is going on and most importantly keep the debate going until there is an up or down vote even if if means staying through the August recess.
musicsleuth @ 79
NO. It would NOT, as the GOP NEVER had 60 votes yet they wielded this threat again and again against the Dems during THEIR run in the majority.
The 60 vote thing is simply perpetrated and perpetuated by Reid. He VERY mistakenly thinks, I dare say, that it is good politics for winning votes in 2008 to let the GOP run circles around them on EVERYTHING (while being dead silent to the fact to boot).
It IS a do-nothing Congress, by their own assent (the Dems).
Wordsmith @ 69
Do you know what really gets me about these women? Is the way in which they constantly interrupt…Lurita Doan was particularly noteworthy in this respect. It reminds me of dealing with spoiled, entitled girls. I think it is time for the chairs of these committees to begin to use their gavels when witnesses interrupt a Senator or congressperson.
Send pens to each member of the House and Senate, engraved with “Give me a reason to vote Democrat in ‘08!”
surfk9 @ 99
Plus it shows that the Dems showed up for work during vacation, while the Iraq Parliament goes home. (Not sure when they leave, actually, but I think they still plan to do so?)
Lawyer Smith @ 56
Worth repeating. The time for talk has ended.
“Right now, for example, we have the Republicans filibustering everything in sight…”
Actually filibustering or just threatening to filibuster?
Big difference…just not to the spineless Congressional Dems.
this is from Campaign for America’s Future where you can sign a petition asking Reid to force a trad filibuster. It’s a start. (Found it starting with a link in Digby’s post yesterday).
parsleysage @ 95
Didn’t someone already do this for W? Liz Holtzman?
EllenG @ 63
That would all be great if we could get the Dems to do one Goddamned thing we want, ask, or demand them to do
I would like to see some heavy pressure to pass the Webb amendment.
Support the troops? Yes or no.
dakine01 @ 72
That’s what Harry should do, but he won’t. Harry, like the other beltway corporatists, intends to do a little fussing, a little grandstanding a lot of whining and then coast into the 08 election season. The dems plan to win by default and they will win. They feel that is good enough.
In the same way, Military Industrial Hillary takes progressive voters for granted. We shall hold our noses and vote for her (or Beltway Obama) if she (or he) gets the nod.
CNN, MSNBC and Fox News ensure that non-netroots Americans are drastically uninformed.
Dark Horse candidate Kucinich is the only one proscribing single-payer health care. All the others have caved to the insurance companies.
I was thinking about sending all Dem senators spines, or brass balls (too edgy) how about boxing gloves? The spines you could get from a medical supply house, or a chiropractor’s convention!
Is this what’s called a ‘mixed message’?
AP – Consumers put away their wallets in June, sending retail sales crashing by the sharpest amount in nearly two years.
AP – Wall Street extended its gains Friday as the Standard & Poor’s 500 index and the Dow Jones industrials pushed further into record territory a day after a big rally. The Dow surpassed the 13,900 mark for the first time as component General Electric Co. jumped following its quarterly profit report.
OT but definitely of note:
Friday the Thirteenth, not so lucky for Lord Black.
The Verdict’s in in Chicago……….
Conrad Black guilty on three counts of mail fraud and the biggie OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE!!!
Unaminous………..
OT but definitely of note:
The jury decided he did the crime,
Now the question is “Can Conrad of CrossHarbour” do the time?
Or is the First Fool warming up his pardon pen….
I hate to gloat about someone else’s downfall, but it couldn’t happen to a greedier pig and hey Conrad, betchya wished you hadn’t given up your Canadian Citizenship…..I say what’s left of his life in an overcrowded Cook County Jail….
Bob Tallman of Crestwood, KY sent the following in to Altercation the other day — I think it’s an idea worth working toward:
“The House should investigate, build a record for impeachment, and if sufficient (if?), lay this record before the voting public prior to November 2008. Incumbent Republican candidates should have to, in light of this official record, defend their continued support of President and VP over the Constitution (which they are sworn to uphold). In this way the “politics” of impeachment is handed over to voters and not Democratic legislators, Republican incumbents are forced during the campaign to defend the indefensible, and trial in the Senate can take place during the period Jan 3, 2009, through Jan. 19, 2009, with the newly-elected, enhanced Democratic majority having received the public’s approval to remove Bush and Cheney from office.”
Any bets on when Cheney will appear on Meet the
Press to declare victory?
from Stephen Parrish’sTruthout quote in #94:
The name Dick Cheney conjures images of Svengali or Rasputin. Even Republican White House staffers have called him “Edgar,” referring to the vaudeville ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy, whom they see as Bush.….
Fucking priceless!
sunny @ 109
I think they should go a step further, and refuse to pass any spending legislation until Bush withdraws his promise of a veto and the rethugs allow votes to move forward. I am really pissed off about what happened with the Webb amendment, for example.
So we aren’t preaching to the choir, what do the masses respond to? Let’s focus there. What will get their attention? (Besides 9/11.) Hummm!!!??
Start an ad campaign (complete with bumper stickers!) along the lines of:
“Party over country? It’s the WRONG thing to do!”
It will hit many of the Repubs where it hurts the most!
And you know, even after being lectured by Leahy about her oath to the Constitution, not the president(and, being George’s little brownshirt, maybe because of it) Taylor still got in the last word, saying essentially that she interpreted the oath as swearing fealty to Bush.
Angie @ 90
Watertiger’s picture of Georgia regina. It was on a ‘Face the Snark’, ISTR, earlier this year. (I saved it on my machine at home. It was too good to lose.)
When it comes time to vote the budgetcan the Democrats in the house who seem to have a working majority defund the department of Alberto G, most particularly if he has not served Congressional comtempt citations? The seperate department of Cheney, too?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 113
Just more evidence of the two economies.
Twisted Martini @ 112
I have been thinking more in the line of marbles rather than brass balls. Marbles, they are small but even small, at least they would all receive a pair. It is WAY more than they have right now.
Mimikatz over at The Next Hurrah spells it out:
Bad Boy, No Recess.
theExile @ 114
Can the Prez commute the sentence of a non-citizen… I bet he can, with a nice Memo from the DOJ?
That chick (Sara Taylor) is creepy. I thought she was creepy when I saw the still shot of her before the hearing, and I thought she was even creepier when I saw her on the video feed yesterday, all growed-up & wearing her vixen look.
(I call her a chick because she reminds of this chick I woke up next to one morning after an all-night bender. She left shortly there after, with her half empty bottle of Scotch and her Sara Taylor hairdo.)
Want peace? Work for justice.
There’s an approach to this that is well known in geekdom, but will require that the Dems get loose and hairy, kind of the way Michael Moore did to Wolf/Sanjay/CNN (I stood up an applauded as I watched it).
I call this approach “the open source society”: you take the debate out of the institutions and put it straight into the community. Ever notice how in geekdom, security flaws are almost always discovered by professionals in a community setting, before the bad guys can exploit them? It’s a decentralized process: there’s no institution telling these security geeks when and how to find vulnerabilities in operating systems and browsers; they just find them and let the world know, pell-mell. What if DHS worked this way, rather than relying on Mike Chertoff’s “gut feelings”?
Here’s the point: decentralization. If you go on relying on a few leaders, no matter how good or lucid they are (and Leahy’s among the best), you’re going down the same path to apathy and silence as we’ve traveled with the post-9/11 Bushies. The debate can’t be confined to Congress or the 2008 candidates, and god knows certainly not to the MSM. What’s required is more noise, more mayhem, less command and control–this translates to greater creativity. Look at what they do in Europe when a government starts getting secret and insular: the people take to the streets and raise hell. Bill-O can call it revolt and Broder can quake in his pundit’s throne and declare anarchy: let them have their fear, it’s what has fed them all along.
For the rest of us, the time for fear is over, because the worst that can happen has already begun. The human race is looking down a toxic tunnel at the end of which extinction is already clearly visible: where does the fear in Mike Chertoff’s slack gut stand next to that?
This is no time for marched order; this is a “starfish” moment (explained here), at which centralization fades before urgency and forced order withers before creativity. Returning to the geek metaphor, this is a time where the wiki is written by millions, right in the streets of Washington.
Praedor Atrebates @ 101
this makes sense to me.
we’re being told that if we want the dems in congress to act, we have to work to give them a 60 seat majority in the senate in 2008.
thing is – i don’t believe them…. ‘cuz we were told in 2006 that the dems couldn’t do anything in the minority – we needed to work to give them a majority.
the goal posts keep getting moved on us.
which is nuts. ‘cuz if they’d fight now… i’d be much more motivated to spend a lot of time helping dems in 2008.
eCAHNomics @ 108
I beleive that it was DeLaVega(sp?)
to Bay State Librul…..
What can the Preznit NOT do, other than enunciate a complete sentence that includes some truth?
Gunga Djinn @ 128
I call her a Republikitten and find it extremely creepy that so many children are being being placed in lofty positions and being exploited by this administration to the extreme detriment of this nation.
We’ve been living in the US since 2001 and it didn’t take us long to want to grab the Democrats and give them a good shaking up!
The problem is that they think everyone is well educated and has time to read blogs,discuss issues, and not accept everything the MSM puts out. This is not true for most voters: people are busy and may not be clued on to everything thats happening
Instead of putting forth “reasonable” arguments and assuming that everyone is as tuned in as they are, the Democrats need to develop talking points and stick to them. Watching the morning guest appearances on C-Span is instructive: one sees all Republicans talk with confidence and stick to their points (even if they are completely wrong)while the Democrats get trapped into long-winded justifications, or worse appear to be on the defensive.
Yes the average voter may be conservative on many issues but it does not mean that they will accept what the Republican Party is doing in DC, if things are explained to them in a manner they can understand and they can see that Democrats are going to fight to set things right
What’s missing is the engagement of the populace. What is effective is a means for everyone to participate in the process. When people participate, they tend to invest more emotion, and they tend to be motivated to own the ideas with which they identify. That’s how I came to the notion of creating a website build like Fark.com. It motivates people to find and to post the misadventures of the Repubs/Bushco/govt. agency partisanship under the guise of comedy.
It stimulates discussion in real time, and it is open to everyone. Even Repubs who can’t stand what their party is doing would be able to expose the misdeeds and play in the sandbox.
And that’s key to bringing a critical mass to bear on the electorate.
Consider that on Fark, there are many people from all points on the political spectrum all playing in the same sandbox.
We are smart enough to exploit that desire to join, to belong and to play on the “cool kids” team.
Build it and they will come! *g*
That video reminds me of an older teenager, who used to win all the time by talking back to her parents, but has figured out that a more effective way of shutting them out completely is to simulate agreement…all the while about to just say…
What…ev…er.
Sara Taylor is truly juvenile, and she should never have been hired into a position that requires an adult. The arrogance of the adolescent behavior was clearly demonstrated when she exhibited her “ire” (oooh, grownup word)by insulting Cummins on a personal level by calling him lazy. She needs to have all of her privileges taken away. She was indeed fortunate to be dealing with rational adults during some of her rude exchanges.
What is up with hiring all of these “daughter” types?
Dratty@42
It all makes sense to me.
The one committee idea keeps the focus. having outside counsel is important, imho. And longer question periods.
how do we make it happen?
Great post, Christy, listening to Taylor and the rude mmm-hummms the other day, and her overall attitude toward the Senators made me sick.
Take a page from the flying monkey right’s playbook. An immediate response war room to every move the Bush admin/as well as the dems that go along) do.
And the fillibustering? I’m sorry but these jerks just gave themselves a $4000/year raise. Excuse me? If they filibuster then I want to see cots in the halls and a real talk a thon. The lazy bastards are too lazy to do what they are paid to proffessionally do? Talk their asses off. give it to them. I want to see the whiney GOP drop from exhaustion.
I think the people and the constitution are worth a few months of lost sleep- don’t you?
The Dems need to fight to appear daily on the MSM and present a coherent front. David Schuster would do nicely, why not hire him???
What about giving a copy of Elizabeth De la Vega’s book, The United States vs. George W. Bush et al, to all Democrats in Congress for inspiration?
Oh…and by the way have you used the words “Al Qaeda” today? Everyone else is just about every 10 seconds on the MSM.
Lets coopt the Above the Influence anti-drug campaign. Everybody has seen the comercials, and they all end with an arrow in a circle pointing up. Why not use it for above the law. We could put a picture of the prez. VP., AGAG, and all the others in one and then have the appear everywhere.
PJ Evans @ 123– it was one of Watertiger’s finest indeed! LOL
Here’s another good one…
http://www.dependablerenegade……_recr.html
selise @ 131
It is clearly a lie that the Dems use as a defense (whining, “But but…we don’t have the votes to pass ANYTHING! WAAAAAAAA!”). The lie is put to this bullshit by the FACT that the GOP doesn’t have the votes, are in the minority, in fact, and STILL they derail EVERYTHING the Dems offer up. EVERYTHING. Begs the question…where were the Dems with these tactics when the GOP was in charge?
Goddamn whiny-assed titty-baby LIARS they are! At this point they have to ACTIVELY earn my vote (and money) because they aren’t getting either until they do. Period. Written in stone.
Brian Donohue @ 130
Brian, excellent essay and analysis…
Bay State Librul @ 127
I believe Cheney’s source for the 9/11/Iraq link originated in Conrad Black’s Chicago Sun Times. Not sure though. Commutation coming up.
So many of the strategies here are for a discrete group to provide something to the electorate as a symbol of their ineffectiveness without any reason or motivation for them to change their behavior. Cute nagging.
Instead, the energy of the populace should be brought to bear in ways that will influence the electorate to act according to the will of the people.
fax them pictures of balls (any kind, not just testicles) with the logo “grow a pair: impeach!”
or something like that. something like what we did to the rubber stamp republicans.
I’ve fucking had it with these spineless idiots.
In addition to being able to vote themselves pay raises, they and their families have complete health coverage for a freakin $35.00 per month. For life. When 45 million Americans are without health insurance, and thousands more losing their homes or in bankruptcy because of medical bills, THAT.IS.OBSCENE. And yes, I was shouting.
She is coolly disheveled but: When Leahy says “No” she snaps her eyes back to him, then after a couple of moments you can see the defiant micro-smirk (wonder where she got it) then she moves her bangs out of her eyes, not to refocus on his correction, but daring him to bring it on. She is learning nothing, Ms. Taylor is ready for a contempt charge and Congress better make good.
I see the Black verdict was not unnoticed up above. NY Times points out that Black managed to skate on some charges including wire fraud & racketeering:
Black Found Guilty on Some Charges
Praedor Atrebates @ 145
Gang of Fourteen: we won’t filibuster!
Boy oh boy was THAT a genius move, eh?
We are paying you good money Democrats. You are our lobbyists. We want results.
is taylor another alumna of the falwell/robertson schools of legal-ease?
Woodhall Hollow @ 102
Time to start the refrain: I’m reclaiming my time – shut the fuck up for now.
Or if we must, set the ground rules: ‘no interrupting the grownups until the children have heard the entire question or comment.’
legal-sleaze
Kevster @ 35
Steve-AR @ 22
The times are too grave for cutsie, funzie stuff.
sucking up to their corpoRat masters…
Taking it from the top: “that can help move the national discussion forward. Can’t wait to read your ideas!”
We’ve expressed our frustrations, looked to the past for direction, made a few suggestions but what of all this can be put into action? What is the kernel here that we can use to “move the national discussion forward?” Translate from an idea to an action?
Have you watched this hilarious Sara Taylor compilation? Funny.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYzuTB7ZeZI
Kevster at 35 – you are right. Give the GOP bastards a metaphorical slap that will make their heads spin.
Let the Show begin, Iran asks Japan to pay for oil with Yen.
Re: your post topic, CHS- somehow that Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy simile somewhere above has resonance for me…also No Recess During Wartime, if emphasized properly.
OK..no traction for a “War Crimes” postcard..How about a post card with “Uncle Sam” putting “Article II Section 4″ onto a table top.
scarecrow @ 21
I like these ideas but they seem more like parlimentary maneuvers than the kind of big-screen action that the media and the public can get behind.
Everyone feared a constitutional crisis in 2000 which was bull. Everyone seems to fear it now. Yes, let’s do everything Scarecrow suggests but lets get the inherent contempt procedure working. You want drama? You want something the media will get behind? There would nothing like the sight of the sargent at arms and the Capitol police marching into someone’s office — how about the White House — to arrest them to get the public blood flowing.
wgg: tokin lib’rul @ 155
Finance major at Drake in Iowa per yesterday’s WaPo0 story
LS @ 161
hahaha! Did you notice how antsy and nervous her attorney was? He was rocking in his chair like he wanted to jump up and run out of that hearing. She was obviously, blatantly committing perjury, repeatedly. But did so without any fear, because of course she is counting on the inevitable fact of a last minute presidential pardon, should she find herself in any hot water. KKKarl coached her well. The attny was there, just for show. And he knew it.
How bout agitprop major at Fake in Iowa. I’d double check, if I was WaPo. Never can tell, with this bunch. Remember the hack who censored Hansen at Goddard.
It’s Friday night and lets rock. For the Mexicans in my family coming Norte tonight from SoTex tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
Force the damned “Constitutional Crisis.” That’s what the Constitution was set up to provide for. The Congress is a co-equal branch of the government, not some damned poor relative getting hand-me-downs and table scraps at the largesse of the rich kin.
There were the spine postcards from the Backbone Campaign … not that I think it will work.
The Republicans are spineless as individuals, but as a group they hold together extremely well.
The Democrats in Congress have spines as individuals, but as a group, they have a hard time getting through a wet paper bag.
Just to set the tone, we should bring back TRex’s motto (paraphrased) “Never explain, never apologize, never back down, ATTAACK, ATTACK, ATTAAACK.”
Ian @ 166
Marie Roget @ 152
Yes, we need a good analysis of what happened to the racketeering charges.
But even so, and even though I gather from press reports that a lot of the credit is due a young prosecutor named Julie Ruder, who gave a fine closing address, this is another victory for the guy who runs that office, and a lot of Canadians are grateful. Canadians for Fitz!
We need some votes in the Senate for anything substantial to happen.
Start with targeting 3 more Republicans to get the Webb Amendment passed.
Demonstrate that we can come together on a single issue like supporting the troops.
Start using some of the Republican craziness against themselves.
In the case of Libby’s commutation, hasn’t pretty much every repub candidate-hopeful said they agree with W’s commutation?
This should torpedo the eventual repub nominee absolutely if framed correctly. They can no longer claim to be tough on crime. Don’t even mention Libby by name, keep it simple “You agreed that a convicted felon should not have to do any time. You sir, are soft on crime.” As long as Bushie doesn’t pardon until after the election cycle, you can keep calling him a convicted felon. If he pardons (and there is no reason to believe he will before the cycle, correct?), then you can make the candidate squirm about that. It’s win-win.
Keep throwing ads with that point out there “Soft on crime! Soft on crime!”. Guaranteed to lose a lot of support. Repubs have been the master of finding the evidence (whether truthful or not) that turns a strength into a weakness – a la Swiftboat, and they just handed the Dems a lovely example.
We should send the Dems… BALLS… Big ones.
Betty @ 158.. “The times are too grave for cutsie, funzie stuff.”
I agree, we are going or have already gone over the cliff. For a more serious idea see @ 92.
But if it takes “cutsie or funzie” stuff to swing 10% of “low information” voters to our side, I am all for it.
PaulSF @ 151
Pardon Me?
You fuukin betcha!
drive by, sorry if OT or already posted, but it’s REALLY REALLY important for two reasons:
Internet Radio Saved By Congressional SubComittee In Response To Major Netroots Action!
The bottom line is, the guys trying to shut down internet radio expected to be dealing with the judiciary comittee, which is apparently bought and paid for in re copyright abuse by the major players in entertainment. Instead Rep. Bob Markey hauled their ceo before the small business committee, and threatend him with a congressional solution to the problem.
Rather than face that, the head of the shill company agreed to not enforce the destructive royalties and try to work something out with the internet radio community. If he backslide, Markey will nail his ass.
Why do we care? Because there is considerable evidence that the netroots actions like “The Day Internet Radio Died” were extremely effective in convincing Rep. Markey that this was something that needed attention.
So while we continue to pound our netroots hands on the Chimpy Crime Cartel with little to show for it, our voices and our power to mobilize are begin shown very effective elsewhere.
Fear the Netroots! They are a sleeping giant and if they awaken, there will be no stopping them!
Ian @ 166
scarecrow @ 21
Accounts from people who survived the Bolshevik uprising describe a party (the Bolsheviks) who would not scruple over lying, cheating, murdering, or blackmailing to achieve their aims. Their opponents, trying to oppose by ‘legal’ means were simple out-maneuvered, because where the one party was acting in ‘co-operation with the system’, the other party was in essence, a foreign body, ‘at war with the system’.
Sara’s looking a little baggy eyed. Perhaps she’s missed some sleep. GOOD.
The GOP has not played by the rules. You cannot fight them using the rules and playing fair.
I survived domestic violence,only,and I mean ONLY because I stopped being pacifistic because I thought it made me just like him to fight back. When faced with death,and I mean in your face,you have limited options. One of those options is to fight back to the point of saving your own life. Had I continued being “nice”and being a “nice girl”,I’d be dead.
The situation this country faces right now isn’t a hell of a lot different. There’s a huge difference between starting the fight and fighting back.
Marcy has written an incredibly damning indictment of Dow Jones and the AP.
skdadl @ 176
I’m in total agreement, skdadl.
I think a lot of us are missing the point. IF we want to move our Reps and Senators, then we need to get more of the electorate spun up. The rubber stamp was a cool thing, but it did not move our voters. We need to focus on ways that get the point to the average voter.
We have a great issue in the subpena’s. While a lot of people won’t get the detials, they will get that the Adminstration is not playing by the rules. Unfairness is one of those things that really resonate with Americans. All we have to do is find a way to push the idea that the Adminstration thinks the law is for everybody else. It is easy to understand and it is manifestly true.
Up at 143 I suggested an above the law campgain. I think that hits the nail on the head, and it is flexible enough to cover everything from Miers to Warrantless Wiretapping.
dakine01 @ 171
i firmly believe the Dims are terrified of a Constitutional Crisis, because they know they’ll probably lose, in SCROODUS, finally, if not before.
I’m just struck that these types of dull, inarticulate, blindly-following people (see Kyle Sampson, Monica Goodling) work closely with the leaders of the free world. Are these the best people anyone can find to be close to the president? Or are they just chosen because they follow directions and are too dumb to know about their general oath to uphold the constitution?
Kevster @ 35
This has my vote. And it seem like Harry Reid is being swamped by phone calls – good.
I’d like to see something that captured the sheer shamelessness of the administration. There is an Orwellian quality to their insistence that everything they do is legal and/or effective, even the egregiously illegal an ineffective. It’s very Animal Farm.
Shamelessness in the way that they shift blame as needed and demonize the bearers of bad tidings regardless of who they are and what contributions they may have made to Republican or conservative causes in the past.
Shamelessness in how they continue to enrich the rich and blame the working poor when they are uninsured or engulfed by credit card or mortgage debt (but hey those lenders — they’re fine … nothing suspect about their underwriting practices).
Shamelessness in denying the evidence that is before our very eyes (pick one or all or come up with your own — “the surge is working” or “not all the evidence is in on global warming” or “abstinence education works” or “the intelligence was wrong and everybody thought Saddam had WMDs” or “Valerie Plame was not covert” or “heckuva job Brownie” or …).
Shamelessness in simply blowing off a jury’s verdict and a judge’s sentence. And “moving on”.
Shameless in their never-ending effort to equate deliberate lies with truth simply through mindless repetition. And a shameless reliance on Americans to be mindless recipients of those lies.
What we need is a liberal news show on each of the major cable news networks. There are countless conservative shows and a few that pretend to show no bias. But there are 0 openly progressive news shows.
But, I don’t have a clue as to how to accomplish that. I wrote countless letters etc. on the Imus replacement. And, who did we get? Scarborough…… groan.
Hello pups, Been lurking big time, but just back to say marches and demonstrations are not necessary. Mass tourism that clogs the capitol could help keep your criminal record clean. Plus we could get to meet other pups along the way. Jes my $0.02
During the 92 election an “actor/s” dressed up as a large chicken pointing out the first Bush’s unwillingness to debate. Perhaps this type of street theater that mocks the Republicans and points out Republican hypocrisy to the general public. Example, could certainly make hay with Vitter’s diaper fetish, Guiliani’s penchant for cross dressing, Mark Foley’s predeliction for children and Allen in Florida wanting to pay for male oral sex. These are just an example of what could be used. The point is something that demonstrates Republican’s weak points in a humorous yet truthful fashion.
Betty @ 189
I’m entirely in agreement with everything you said here. No more being “nice” or “civil”.
BTW, how does one contact Tommy Franks to ask his opinion of Bush now blaming the Iraq quagmire on him?
I read this somewhere recently — but when the Bush admin starts prattling on about how they’ve offered to let officials talk to Congress ( behind closed doors, no oath, no transcript), rather than talk about oversight and separation of powers etc. the Dems should say “President Bush, exactly what is your problem with ’so help me God’”.
Whatever we decide it should be a two-prong approach. 1) We need to wake the general public up to the fact we are edging ever closer to the dangerous waters of fascism or dictatorship (whatever you want to call it– it’s not good). 2) Somehow we need to be on the same page as our Dem leaders in Congress. Sometimes it seems like we’re hoping and guessing that our leadership even understands what we expect them to do. Is there a way to regularly conference w/ Dem leadership? i.e., phone conferences? Town hall meetings?
Steve-AR @ 179
Also, it helps to remember that for over half the life of the republic, women couldn’t vote, up until the late 1960s, the majority of Afican-Americans were disallowed from voting – and are STILL being supressed mightily; that up through the 1820s, Jews couldn’t vote in almost all states, that institutional anti-Semitism and anti-minority paradigms exist even now throughout our society. We’ve never seen a constitutional crisis quite like this one, but we’ve seen many. And we’ll see more.
Humor, even during dark times, is a coping mechanism, and is sometimes a very good sign that victory may be at hand.
No one seems to say that since the Dems took back the majority they reintroduced conventional procedural practices in both House and Senate. Of course it now takes longer to get anything done – the rules are designed to spark debate and impose reflection before (potentially disastrous) changes are effected. The Repubs never had a 60 vote Senate majority either, but by trashing the place they pretty much always managed to get what the president wanted. The Dems are failing utterly to explain to the public that respecting the rules of the Senate automatically slows stuff down.
If the question is what should we do, then there are some things. The basic problem is that Republicans are not paying a public penalty for their extreme frat-boy in-your-face partisan responses. And we know Republicans who are beginning to understand the damage that this is doing to both the future of the Republican Party and, more importantly to us, the country.
So back away from being so Congress-centric and look at your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers–you know the folks that you couldn’t talk to at all in 2004. Which of them are beginning to grouse about Bush? Make sure they contact Republicans in Congress and point out that they are Republicans (the staff can and probably do check registration). Make sure that they make the point to these Republican Congresscritters that either there will be accountability of the President or they will be held accountable come re-election time. And that the media will not be able to help them bull their way through it this time because the people are catching on to the propagandizing of the media.
If you can convince a registered Republican to say that, we might have a chance.
Otherwise unfortunately passports are no longer an option.
bluejeansntshirt @ 192
You do realize that once you’ve de-lurked, there’s no going back! ;})
Welcome to the Lake…
peterboy @ 10
DANDY idea!
And don’t forget Impeachment! No! I’m serious! Throw the whole brickyard at them. Tear down their wall with their own bricks.
Attack Attack Attack, some wise person once intoned amidst these very threads. NOW!
The repug is the party of dereliction of duty, of wrenches in the gears, of pouting, whining, back-stabbing. A calm, patient, reasoning approach will not work with lying, scheming thugs. Anyone watching liarman or kaybaylee hutchison pontificate without even bothering to set down the daggers they wield, surely knows the time has come to smack ‘em with OUR version of reality.
Aside from that, our house continues to pepper Congresscritters of all stripes & types with fact-based brickbats or kudos, on a regular basis, fwiw. If nothing else, they KNOW we’re watching their every move. I still think that can’t hurt… yes *sigh*, we’re keeping it “respectful”, but I do think they know how we feel.
We also are reaching out to others in new ways, just person-to-person, trying to educate, explain, get people fired up. We are pleasantly surprised at the anger out there – especially against the administration, its lying & cheating, its dreadful war. If someone could find a way to tap into that anger…..
Many of the angry folks we meet have been quietly but deeply frustrated for quite awhile now, very possibly because rover’s machine has done an effective job of convincing them that each of them is alone.
Those we’ve talked to seem elated that there are others, like us, who hate what is happening, and who will not stand by quietly.
However, they seem to feel overwhelmed, helpless, not knowing what they personally can do.
I think anything that can be done to help people feel empowered, and to assure them there are many others who share their anger and frustration … that would be a good thing indeed.
I’m aware I’m preachin’ to the choir here.
I’ll just suggest that FDLers not be afraid to reach out pro-actively to others, one on one. The positive results might astound you.
Now I’ll hush and lurk. ;->
IMPEACH,
CONVICT,
REMOVE,
INDICT,
CONVICT,
INCARCERATE.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Ed*ard Teller @ 119
Commander Guy would actually be Mortimer Snerd. Candace Bergen should get royalties anyway.
OT, but I’ve got CSPAN2 on with Biden addressing a pro-labor audience and he’s on fire.
Tross @ 197
the ‘average’ Murkin will accept fascism, if it is wrapped in the Flag, accompanied by a hymn, and promises to keep’em “safe.”
keep’em terrified enough–a la skeletor’s recent pronouncement (which was followed the same day by an incident on a flight requiring reroutin it, ot fo fear)–and they’ll reward the folks who “keep ‘em safe” with eternal loyalty…
.
dakine01 @ 201
Thank you zed master. I’m not worthy.
Bluetoe @ 193
This reminds me of some effective street theater during the Reagan Central American Wars/genocide. People got dressed up as waitstaff, and walked into resturants carrying a tray with a map of Central America, with a plastic helicopter gunship glued above it, and walked around to all the tables asking “did you order this?”
We’ve got to do something about the media. Fighting the echo chamber that is the MSM is really frustrating. We have to get some galvanizing spokespersons out there.
maybe someone of the more graphics-savvy readers could put up some vis-a-vis portrait pictures of Dubya and Mahmoud Ahmedinejad with a fat red subtext of just “god told me” ? let the viewers see the similarities for themselves…
A permanent impeachment vigil, a la Cindy Sheehan, in front of the White House and/or Congress. I’m not sure of how you’d keep a permanent presence legal and whether it would have to be a moveable feast.
wgg: tokin lib’rul @ 187
I think that fear is real. If multiple court cases are pushed re:abuse of power, obstruction of justice and there are multiple 5-4 SCOTUS decisions affirming the “Unitary President” then it’s game over for the Country. Is the best strategy to force the issue into the courts now or to try to limit the damage for the next 18 months and take them out with the election. Huge risks either way, I don’t know. I was for pushing hard now; the reversal of Brown v Board has made me re-think it.
fionnbarr @ 163
say thankyou to the 97 senators who voted for lieberman’s amendment.
an escalating cycle of belligerency. i don’t like where this can take us
We need to take a page from the Repubs playbook – and come up with 4 or 5 Talking Points and get all the Dems in both the House and the Senate and all the Dem Talking Heads to repeat, repeat, repeat them.
If we say them enough times – people believe they are true. After we have pounded the Talking Points into the consciousness of every American – we need some polls taken which will reflect the reality of our Talking Points.
The Talking points must be simple, clear and true, for example:
1. The war in Iraq is creating more terrorists. Continuing this war makes Americans less safe.
2. We will never win the Global War on Terror until we stop occupying a Muslim country, which breeds more hatred towards America. (I know, I know, GWOT is their term – but it does work as a sound bite.)
3. Our troops in Iraq have become sitting ducks in the middle of a civil war. To protect our troops, we must move them out of harm’s way and bring them home.
4. We cannot make any significant progress on important domestic issues like health care, education, or immigration while we are bogged down in this unnecessary civil war.
5. President Bush is incapable of admitting he made a mistake - everyone knows that – therefore, it’s up to the American People and Congress to RIGHT THIS WRONG. President Bush clearly intends to drag this out and leave the mess for the next President – how many more soldiers will die or be injured between now and then? Because he is incapable of admitting he made a mistake? What do you say to the parents of the soldiers who will lose their lives while he puts off dealing with this mess he has created?
ok, i’m very depressed about all of this … and all i have learned is that there are a thousand things that could be done and NONE of them are being done by anyone … or that’s how it feels … and we can’t make any of those constitution things happen.
what if we established an organizing committee for the CORONATION of KING GW Bush?
or formed some kind of ongoing rolling boycott of something that would be good for us (and the environment) and bad for the energy lobby?
lights out for halliburton?
bikes for bush?
i really dunno: maybe i have stimulated someone else’s better idea.
peace, please.
1.Work to install a new crop of Dem congress people. Dump the incumbent Democrats in congress; those who authorized the war while doing nothing to correct matters, and those who got in afterward, then did nothing substantial to stop the war or bring troops home promptly as was promised. Ditto for The Repugs.
2.)Work to help Boxer, or anyone with passion, to unseat Pelosi since she has gone soft- funny bark with no bite.
3.)Ask Jonathan Turley and John Dean to work with this congress during HJC and SJC hearings. Also, ask for their input for upcoming impeachment articles.
4.)Continue to let Bush and the world know what a loser he is due his apparent need to ignore the constitution, bend the law, declare a double standard of the law for his friends, lie to the American people into a war, and allow the killing of over 100 soldiers a month in order to keep political face with 26% of the country and the man he holds hand with.
5.) Let the world know that when Bush speaks he does not speak for 74% of Americans.
6.)Build a VA hospital next to the Bush ranch in Texas.
7.)Ask the majority of voters in CT to show why LIEberman is a Dem. Then ask them if that is the story they want to stick with.
Nemo @ 208
Media de-consolidation is the only solution.
A Constitutional Amendment is needed to revoke already permitted consilidations, and prevent future ones…
of course, that’s nagahapun.
every candidate remembers what happened to howard dean when he broached the subject, in ‘04…(SCREAM!!@!@!)
BobbyG @ 205
;->
bluejeansntshirt @ 207
NOT a zed-master, just somewhat crafty and a little faster than others is all…
create initiatives for universal health care, as you will get 80% yes votes to it in the states. this will cause snowball in hell effect scaring the living crap out of state and federal representatives that will suddenly find it in their best interests to begin doing what the people are saying.
to imagine that anything else is going to move these parasitic bastards into action for us instead of against us is fanciful, for we have seen nothing from these folks, nothing.
bypass them. create the vote in your state and 34 make a super majority that neither congress, the executive nor the supreme court can ignore. put them the hell OUT OF BUSINESS
has anyone heard any explanation from a democrat about the lie-berman vote the other day?
i haven’t, and am wondering why…….not a word……strange.
Someone said we need to rouse the population, I agree. We focus on the Senate and the House and make some headway but we need to rise the rabble to really get something accomplished.
Nadar said in order for Americans to get single payer “not for profit” health care there needs to be 1000 people in every congressional district raising a local ruckus.
My cousin and I are just beginning but we intend to do just that. Find 1000 like minded people here in Minnesota’s 4th district and start raising a ruckus locally, getting people to talk to each other, no matter what they think about health care initially. We can deal with what they have been indoctrinated with if we can just get them to care.
OT, but what the fuck is wrong with these people?
“McCain campaign official denies soliciting for prostitution”
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITI…..index.html
An important consideration is to not only attack the Republican’s and their bogus conservative ideology but the MSM needs to be challenged at every turn. There are exceptions in the MSM, Olberman, Schuster, Moyers but the vast majority are completely worthless in exercising the responsibilities of the 4th Estate. Their hypocrisy, comliance and complicity needs to be on the front burner. Does that mean mass protests outside the corporate offices of Fox, NBC, CBS, CNN?
I work w/ a lot of people who are not politically savvy and they kinda depend on me to let them know what’s going on. To a person, they are disgusted when I send them links and posts (usually from FDL). If I didn’t send them info, they wouldn’t know what’s going on b/c they still rely on tv news. We have got to have a direct line to the average Joe. They do understand once they’re aware, but they need simple, clear info that counters the MSM spin.
Here’s a point I have not heard a Democrat make…..Bush keeps saying the decisions will be made by the Generals on the ground, not by the politicians in Washington. But our military reports to our civilian government, and these elected officials should decide whether we are in war or not, whether we stay in war or not. The civilian government TELLS the generals what we want them to do. And also, the Generals (involved in the war) tell the President what he wants to hear, because they are soldiers and do what they are told. Another thing, I hear Republican Congressmen saying the soldiers in Iraq want to continue the fight and stay there. Lets take a poll….who wants to stay….who wants to come home? Pleeeease! The soldiers are mostly young folks who do not realize how sinister and wrong this whole thing is by our president (but are coming around). Most are patriotic and think we are doing the right thing (ie “Born on the 4th of July”)I know this as I was young and in the military for many years, knowing I could be put in harm’s way, but trusted my government to not put me there unless it was absolutely crucial.
For one thing, I think we need to flood the papers with lte EVERY time they report Karl Rove’s headline for him-and it happens often.
Hire a group of articulate people who will operate as quick responders to the republican propaganda and go on all networks.
Find a newly elected dem who understands the value of standing up to ‘the man’ especially when the man is wrong. Someone who would do that could change the face of the race for presidency. Or maybe one of the 2nd or 3rd tier dem candidates for president wants to move to front-funner.
Run a one page ad in all the major newspaper for a Super Nanny to discipline George and his friends. A play on popular culture will get the most milage.
Bluetoe @ 223
Speaking of Moyers, the topic of tonight’s pbs journal is the fact that more than 50% of Americans support the impeachment of Cheney and Bush.
Go Bill! You are a national treasure.
Raw Story: O’Reilly takes on Tony Snow, ‘You can’t win’ in Iraq’
fionnbarr @ 163
Good thing we have three carriers in the Gulf to keep things like this in check.
Last country to try something so shameless was Irak. Keep your eye on Dick.
Helpless Dancer @ 205
Biden was all over Lieberman’s “Lets Attack Iran” bill like Vitter on a hooker. I don’t give a f*ck what he has to say.
It might really be interesting to put together a video consisting of the testimony of the very young, very arrogant, very overemployed Bushies. Let’s ask the question, “Would you entrust your government to this administration?” Or, “What’s wrong with this picture?”
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 229
I guess that even the despicable Bill’O (unlike Shrub) follows the polls, and (gasp) reads his mail.
and christie-rhfactor did have an idea…….
if you get a minute, look at rhfactor’s posts last few days……and if possible the one rh posted a week or two ago, which was the first presentation of rh’s idea…….offering to put up the first $200 toward a video web project………don’t know how feasible it is, but rh is very passionate about it and quite a few pups went to watch rh’s examples of what he/she was talking about, and liked the idea……….
or email rhfactor about it, and let them explain it to you, might be easier than tracking down posts…….rhfactor wanted feedback from you guys on it, so in my mind wouldn’t mind being emailed about it.
personally, i think you are already doing plenty, but if i think of any other ideas, will let you know…….
Along with all the rest, do this:
Take a sheet of paper, fold it in half lengthwise, and write “IMPEACH” on it. Then tape it up in the rear window of your car. Encourage others to do the same.
It takes two minutes or less, and it’s obviously easy enough that all those people who want impeachment but don’t know where to get a bumper sticker will realize that they could just make one themselves. There are over a hundred million people out there who think Bush, and/or Cheney, and/or Gonzo should be impeached. Most of them think (from watching the news) they are all alone, and don’t have any way to express their outrage.
Show them how easy it is.
–MarkusQ
Nemo @ 208
There are a number of excellent spokespeople on the left. Amy Goodman, Jane, Marcy and Christy of course, Tom Hartman, Katrina Vandenheuvel (sic), Bill Moyers, Sam Seder to name just a few. Contact the MSM and demand them to put on alternatve voices. Jane and Marcy are beginning to get some traction.
I was going to suggest sending tablecloths to Pelosi and our individual representatives, but I like mine too much. Then I thought NAPKINS!! Write: Impeach BUSH
Impeach CHENEY
Impeach GONZALES
on each one and flood the offices on Capitol Hill. It’d be just like the book brigade.
Audj SC
A couple of ideas probably impractical:
How Republicans make decisions:
A coin with “No” on both sides
A moral compass that either spins constantly or has the directions north, east, west, and wrong with the needle stuck on wrong.
A windup doll that says, “Four years of failure is not so bad,” “I’m smarter than the President,” “Five years of failure is not so bad,” “I do nothing just like the Republicans,” “Six years of failure is not so bad,” etc.
A few weeks ago I raad an article where Pelosi said impeachment wasn’t worth it and they had to look forward to the 2008 elections. One thing that struck me: The repubs are obviously putting party above country, but by refusing to move forward with a much-warranted impeachment process, Pelosi appears to want the dems to do the same thing…..it seemed to be more about getting more dems in office (a very good thing!) than doing their constitutional duty now. And IMHO by doing this–refusing to put impeachment on the table– they hurt the dems chances in 2008.
well, i don’t have any brilliant ideas of what we at fdl should do together… but i’m in for just about anything that acts to hold the dems in congress accountable to us (so that they will hold the Rs accountable).
i’m sick and tired of giving them a pass just because the Rs are worse.
Emma @ 239
This statement shows how corrupt she is. There is ALWAYS another election coming…in JUST TWO YEARS! OMG! Gotta look towards the next election! Don’t DO anything because that would upset someone somewhere and then that would be a lost vote!
Disgusting cowardice. Disgusting self-serving, corrupt…
Via @ 134
Republikitten…yes, sort of like Ann-Margret, but without the looks, talent or class.
~shiver~
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 229
Disgusting; Blame the victim. Why not. Makes me sick but at this point anything that gets us out is probably good.
Make a hard copy of these comments and send to each Dem in congress.
selise at 89 says- in part-”i’m starting to wonder if it’s not that the dems are unaware of their power – it’s almost like they reject it… that they don’t want to be responsible for taking difficult decisions that may have bad outcomes (even if in order to avoid worse outcomes)”
EXCELLENT point selise……..
Imagine if Taylor had tried her b/s with the late great Barbara Jordan?
Emma @ 239
if you DON’T put Party above country, what’s the point of having Parties?
and no, electing more ‘democrats’ just because they call themselves ‘democrats’ is not a very good thing…vide: HoJo Lie-berman…
Their needs to be a grand alliance of progressive elements to develop a coordinated comprehensive strategy to eviscerate the Republican party and their bogus conservative philosophy. Educate the American public how Republicans do not represent their best interests. Teachers unions, UAW, AFL-CIO, civil rights groups, gay rights, environmental groups, the Democratic Party, consumer affair advocates, pacifist/peace groups, progressive church/temple/mosques, seniors, veterans. Rather than individual fingers when brought together it becomes a powerful fist.
Sara seemed to have gotten her testifying tips from Lurita Doan.
FYI Conrad Black/Hollinger International:
Other members of the Hollinger International Board of Directors include/included…
Richard Perle (Prominent Neo-Convict)
Henry Kissinger (International War Criminal)
Jim Thompson (911 Commissioner/Shill)
jim oconnor @ 246
or shirley chisolm…
selise @ 213
As I seem to be the designated downplayer of our Iran fears, here’s something that puts Iran’s “Oil Bourse” in perspective. I actually don’t understand how selling crude for yen relates to Iran and the euro as a reserve currency.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/M…..0Ak01.html
These developments are new or unanticipated, and therefore aren’t necessarily triggers for an attack. As for the 97-0 vote, we’ve discussed that at length.
By the way, Iraq did this in 2000, and it wasn’t until 2003 that we attacked them, and that after 9-11 swept away the political hurdles.
I’m giving my Rep (R), and my Senators (R & D) each a red, white and blue wristband with the message, “Protect our Constitution – Impeach!”
Imagine taking one of those to each Congressperson and Senator at the US Capitol?
I’ll be delivering mine to their local offices.
Oh how I miss Barbara Jordan….I will never forget rushing home at lunch to watch the Watergate hearings and marveling at Jordan’s brilliance, eloquence, and not-putting-up-with-any-bullsh*t approach.
Sara Taylor has eyes that are as flat and dead as a catfish’s eyes.
Gonna be EPU’d here any sec, but Jane/Christy you really need to see this.
http://jeffrey-feldman.typepad…..a-p-1.html
eCAHNomics @ 40
I sent her an email with the same message this morning. And the subject line of my email was “set the table” (for impeachment, of course). This leads me to an idea about some sort of action on that theme. Kinda like Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party … set a table with all the impeachable offenses of Gonzales, Cheney, and Bush.
Woodhall Hollow @ 102
And then Doan would act profusely apologetic when called on her boorish, interruptive, basically flipping-the-bird behavior. I believe this falls under “passive-aggressive.”
Same with Taylor.
selise @ 213
While certainly intended as a slap, in business terms this is a defensible move. Iran is diversifying its holdings and spreading its risk.
It kind of goes unnoticed but the Bush Administration’s economic and fiscal policies have led to a very weak dollar against currencies like the euro, the yen, and the pound. By keeping all oil transactions in dollars, we are leaving oil producing countries holding the bag. The question for them is why should they.
/delurk
The spine idea… this is perhaps more snarky than constructive, but I have thought a few times of carefully detaching the spine of a copy of the Constitution (or mocking up one instead) and sending _THAT_ to certain congress people who seem to be showing a need for some spine.
Seemed like a fairly direct piece of symbolism.
selise @ 240
I agree.
Why don’t they challenge crap like this that’s being disseminated?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..9ucEjMWM0F
I can’t take a f*cking Coke onto an airplane but these guys are sneaking in?
Gimme a break!
dmac @ 245
Ifthe Ds are unaware of their power, they surely deserve to be thrown on the trash heap of history.
Maybe someone could get copies of Barbara Jordan at the Watergate hearings and get the dems to use them as instructional videos for how to question witnesses and behave at hearings.
Audj @ 237
make sure they’re peach colored
The dems need to take the gloves off. It’s impeachment time. As they lay out the case others will come along.
You don’t need the votes first.
The list of abuses would go non for pages and pages and NO ONE HAS BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
They refuse to appear before congress
They won’t do it under oath.
When they are forced into the system, Bushg commutes their punishment.
They condone torture.
They trample on FISA
They LIE LIE LIE.
PLAY HARDBALL.
OT, but the jury just came back in the Lord Black case according to WGN-TV. Verdict guilty on four counts out of 13; guilty on three counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction. Just thought y’all would like to know.
TRex @ 255
Too much kool-aid’ll do it every time. BTW… hows kittehs hips?
brendan @ 252 –
not triggers. but an (apparently) escalating cycle of belligerant words and symbolic actions.
like two drunk guys who were hurling insults and have now moved on to little pushes on eachother’s shoulders.
As I see it the first most important move must be from
Harry Reid. REMOVE LIBERMAN FROM HIS CHAIRMANSHIP.
Cut the him loose. Second Pelosi must put impeachment back on
the table. If these two actions don’t occur then the Democrats
should be declared brain-dead and emotionally crippled.
How do you deal with teen-agers out of control as the metaphor
goes in referring to the Republicans and the President;—cut off
their funds, give them time outs, perks and travel restricted,
rectification of their foul language (wash mouth out with soap)
and firm and strick rules about breaking the rules. No more playing
nice. It is like putting a dpg training collar on them and jerking it
when necessary.
Third would be to get Patrick Fitzgerald to head the drafting of the
articles of Impeachment for the House.
Forth would be to bring tg a stand still all Legaslative business
in Congress for a week and conduct like they did in Vietnam days a
time of National Teach In’s to restore Constitutional Democracy to
this nation .
Elliott @ 264
Why?
Urban Pirate @ 256
That photo is PRICELESS!! Anyone know where’s there’s a copy of that image in higher resolution?
I never have any bright ideas, but would like to vent here just slightly. Iam disturbed by a seeming lack of faith, or confidence, in the constitution. Not by the current crop of Republicans, but by Democrats, who should know better.
For example, Pelosi’s “preemptive attack” on the impeachment option is simply wrong, and shows a speaker who has rashly turned away from a reasonable and customary constitutional option available to the Congress. I’m sure apologists for Pelosi have grown sick to death of responding to this point, but the fact that it keeps coming up, day after day after day, is clear evidence that the explanations given for her poor decision have not gained traction–are unsatisfactory even to those who otherwise support her and believe she has been a pretty good speaker.
As another example, here is a quote from Thers’ post on this website just yesterday:
I am not going to go after this quote in detail, but will say that I believe is is poorly conceived and frankly the last thing I’d expect to read at FDL, a site and team of authors and researchers that I admire greatly.
So, to make my point, I believe what is needed by democratic bloggers and politicians alike is a fervent belief in the Constitution.
“What can we do to shift the ground a little bit?”
I. We must shift the ground on the abortion debate.
I.A. We should have a few million rippons or pins printed that say, “Someone I love had an abortion.” (Having an abortion is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is a private matter. This motto takes abortion out of the closet, but protects women’s privacy)
I.B. Presidential candidates must pledge: No supreme court appointments unless nominee promises to preserve a woman’s right to abortion. Any nominee who says, I won’t “rule in advance” or “no litmus test” needs to be told that we have been burned by that sweet talking bullshit already, and have a nice life.
I.C. Face it. This is a women’s issue. More so than breaking the glass ceiling (i.e. Hillary) It’s a tough issue. It’s the only women’s issue for the next election.
Audj @ 270
im-peach
bluejeansntshirt @ 267
Much better. He’s been very active lately, going outside for walks and to doze on the front porch, stalking around the kitchen while I’m trying to cook. Thanks for the recommendation! It’s like he’s five years younger.
H’mmm. Just had an intersting thought on O’Reilly. Waddaya think of the possibility that, closer to 11/08, like next spring, the wingnuts steal the get-out-Iraq policy right out from under the wimpish Ds?
MarkusQ @ 235
that IS a good idea: a movement for everyone, it takes seconds, it’s viral, AND it shows everyone how many of us there are out there.
thanks.
During the HJC hearings on Wed. Dem Rep Watt eviscerated the Bush Ad. at which point Rep Cannon, Utah strongly protested claiming it was not parlimentary language. He made a big issue of it wanting the record stricken. Had Sanchez, Conyers or any other Dem had any institutional memory they might have thrown it back in Cannon’s face how Dan Burton, Republican called Pres. Clinton a “scumbag.” The Dems have to stop their ever so polite posturing to the party of bullies and hypocrites.
One way to wake up the Democrats would be to start a campaign to boycott the PRIMARIES. Threaten to stay home on primary day, withhold contributions–and then really don’t vote in the primaries if we continue to be ignored by the inside-the-beltway types who think we are the Democratic equivalent of the wingnuts.
Sara is not an unattractive female. But what she looks like has nothing to do with it. Her loyalties are clearly to Bush and not US who are paying her salary.
She works for the PEOPLE as far as I can tell if she is getting a gov paycheck.
That rubbush about an oath to the president… and then her oath meant that she must support the president is outrageous!
Obviously the Bushies and most repubs have the same allegiance to their leader mindset. This is undemoncratic.
Amererica is severely broken.
Elliott @ 274
Great!!
Hugh @ 260
i agree. if i were iranian, this is just what i would expect from my leaders. a rational and reasonable action.
that doesn’t mean it won’t be perceived as an unacceptable action by our congress…
eCAHNomics @ 276
at the same time, blaming the Dems for ‘losing’ Iraq…
yep, that’s just about it…
Something new? OK, I haven’t read all of the comments here (244 and counting), and I’d be surprised if this hadn’t already been brought up: We need to have this country see the repubs in action. We need an actual fillibuster.
Resubmmit Sen. Webb’s legislation that places a minimum amound of time home for the troops between their stints in Iraq—and then let the Republicans actually fillibuster. I can just see the video of hustlers like Mitch McConnell woofing away in opposition to this idea.
Let the GOP become the face of the “do nothing congress” as they talk away for hours to block an excellent, humane plan that’s sure to be embraced by our contry’s long-suffering military families.
Then ask the question “Why can’t the republicans stop being the cause of congressional inaction—and why do they hate the troops?”
Oh, and send some marshalls out to haul Harriet Meir’s greymeat ass back up to Capitol Hill and hit her with a contempt of congress charge. Then start impeachment against Fredo.
selise @ 268
The argument for me also isn’t that convincing, because at least in terms of Iraq, we at least had a realistic prospect of installing a permanent puppet government that would use dollars (I realize the current puppet government is, but it’s not permanent: unless we stay forever, of course). With Iran, while “regime change” is again a goal, we’re only going to be bombing them. If petrodollars are a major factor, this would be an inefficient and counterproductive way to teach a lesson to the rest of the world. I think Israeli security wishes are almost exclusively behind the desire to bomb Iran, as opposed to Iraq, where a muliplicity of aims and lobbies were in play. This is one thing that makes me believe the attack is unlikely: as I said the other day, the Israel lobby’s omnipresence in the media doesn’t mean it’s omnipotent in the corridors of real power.
eCAHNomics @ 276
Exactly. They will say the “do nothing Democrats” couldn’t get it done, but the Repubs can, and in a sense they are right. It’s a Catch-22. The only way is to stop further damage to the government and head off a couplete coup, by Impeachment, and also make sure to nail the RNC itself to the wall via the investigations. Tear down the very institution they rely on. Repugs will never, ever go along with deauthorizing the military action or defunding the war.
SanderO @ 280
yep…the ‘unitary executive’ marches on…
.
wgg: tokin lib’rul @ 283
No, the Dems “lost” Vietnam. If ONLY we’d stuck with it longer… O’Reilly is already setting up who gets the blame this time since the Dems are NOT getting us out and the population is CLEARLY against the whole thing: the Iraqi’s “lost” us Iraq(!).
Everyone here knows what the message is. What is lacking is a way to co-ordinate getting the message out. This is where the republicans kick our asses.
Sparkles the Iguana @ 258
Not to mention the juvenile eye-rolling, smirks, and tossing of hands up into the air, the peeks back at the
attorneysKKKarl entourage.TRex @ 255
So does Harriett Miers…..creepy.
I am so tempted to write a letter to Ms. Taylor and send it via her attorney’s office.
She sets an incredibly bad example for younger people in this country with her blatant disrespect for the elected representatives of the people and the aggregated power of the people that they represent. How am I supposed to explain that this is NOT acceptable to my kids?
If my children ever, EVER used that contemptuous Mmm-Hmm with me, they’d wish they never had.
Further, I wish I could point out to Ms. Taylor that she is now stamped into history as a very spoiled, corrupted brat. How very proud her parents must be.
Not.
Via @ 291
Every take a gander at Henry Waxman or Helen Thomas? Geez, what is all this crap about personal appearance as an emanation of political affiliation? It’s as doctrinaire as it is shallow.
Late to the thread but firepup nolo posted a fantastic video piece of Leahy/Taylor on his blog last night..
Not only is the U.S. at war in the Middle East but it is at war with itself. Progressives have been fighting a rearguard retreat against reactionary forces for the last 30 years. I think it would help to develop a long term vision. Wars are won or lost one battle at a time. Right now their is an opportunity to score a victory in just one of these battles that can have profound consequences for moving forward. Pressure should be put on David Vitter (Diaper Boy) to resign! If he resigns the Democratic governor of Louisiana has an opportunity to appoint a Democrat to his seat thereby making Joe Lieberman irrelavent.
BigMitch @ 289
Here is the message: We are under a dictatorship. Not almost a dictatorship. Dictatorship should be repeated everytime a Dem gets airtime citing Miers being ordered by the president to disregard the Congressional subpoena and fail to appear.
Solution: Inherent Contempt and Impeachment. The DC Madam thing might help too.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 45
Thanks for the link Christy !!
The is the song I danced with my daughter at her wedding reception.. very touching..
But a true observation. I’m just feeling bitchy.
One thing we could do that would be fun AND dramatic: Truck in millions of balls! Big ole beach balls with “Grow a pair: IMPEACH THE CRIMINALS! written on them in permanent marker. Dump the whole load onto the steps of the Capitol building.
Harriet Meirs is a quiet assassin, i’m certain,
cold, dead eyes…seen it ALL…
Sandra Day O’Connor should have been forced to remain on the Bench to endure her handiwork…
.
LS @ 295
“IMPEACHMENT” is the message, and it can be delivered many, many ways. I pinned the word to my lapel last week and it created a frisson. You have to make the word seen and heard as many ways as possible, whether by calling Congress, writing a letter or carrying a sign.
Eureka Springs @ 294
Isn’t that bizarre, I always assumed nolo was a woman.
“Set the Table…for Impeachment“
Send a PEACH paper plate with the Presidential Seal in the middle, plastic knife/fork/spoon and a Starlight MINT to each and every Rep and Senator…
Rayne @ 292
At least Taylor showed up. Miers’ insult was much greater. And the brats that got my attention were the Republican committee members. They were clearly trying to disrupt the proceedings and rattle the chair, and they succeeded somewhat.
As always, as always, the question is–what are the democrats prepared to do about it? Are they ready to bring a gun to a gunfight? Or will they timidly run the clock out.
sunny @ 300
Excellent!
I don’t believe that they can be stopped, unless we designate one certain day to protest nationwide. Have several locations in each state, and everyone goes there to protest peacefully for the removal from office of Bush, Cheney, and Gonzo. Unless there can be a campaign to somehow embarrass them, I really don’t have a clue, but will go and read what others have suggested.
Thanks, Christy for trying to find some answers to this horror show.
brendan @ 301
Neat idea. Good way to initiat the conversation. Or a punch in the nose, here in Inhofeville.
Bluetoe @ 305
That would be great!
Millions of balls on the Capitol steps would get media coverage too.
Harriett @ 306
general strike…
this has long been the remedy fo popular disenfranchisement at the hands of corrupt power in the executive and complicity in the legislature.
HUELGA!
Harriett @ 306
I think impeachment is one of the few issues where street demonstrations would actually have some effect: the word “impeachment” is so taboo in the political culture that televising it would have a startling effect. We had anti-war demonstrations, why not impeachment?
scarecrow @ 21
Your comments are beautiful. The last section I think is most important. We need to get the country informed and squarely against the illegal activities of this Administration. In order to effectively do that we need some loud, agressive, forceful Democrats on TV every night on the networks, CNN, MSMBC calling the GOP obstructionist, law breakers, Constitution violators. We need loud articulate voices to call Bush, Cheney, et al, what they are, Lying Criminals. Say it over and over and over and over again. Stay on message. It works for the crooks. It will work for us too. The country is ripe for the truth.
wgg: tokin lib’rul @ 310
Where are the Wooblies when we need them?
LS @ 309
How would you get them there? Seems to me there’s no way to get a tractor-trailer truck within duming distance of the Capitol building.
wgg: tokin lib’rul @ 310
Large labor organization might go along with that making the issue the loss of manufacturing and labor overseas.
You point out exactly what is happening in DC. The Dems are acting on the “old rules” and the Repubs have disregarded the “old rules”. How do the Dems bring the Repubs back in public discourse?
How does a family deal with an addict? Yes an addict because what we have now is our country being ran by an “alcoholic” father that uses all of the tricks an addict can muster to continue the destructive behavior. The Dems need to call in the best specialists on this behavior and be shown how to stop it.
I’m not claiming that Bush or that the members of the GOP are actual “drug addicts” but if you observe the tactics they have been using it is the classic behavior of an addict.
Have you readers google “dry drunk behavior” and they will see how we have all been under the thumb of this destructive behavior. We have to see this behavior for what it is and firmly face it and stop it. It is possible.We have to be aware of what it is, how it operates and how to stop it.
Our nation and the rest of the world have suffered under the destructive behavior of a man that is himself deeply wounded and lashing out. We no longer have to suffer at the hands of this individual, and his gang, if we recognize this sickness for what it is.
Once you can disarm the addict of his tactics he is forced to face himself and the “family” can begin to heal itself.
eCAHNomics @ 313
True. The citation for littering would be huge too…
wgg: tokin lib’rul @ 310
A consumer strike would probably be more effective than a worker strike or a political demonstration. And its easier too, as you don’t have to risk your job or show up somewhere. It would also risk derailing W’s economy.
Millions of postcards with balls on them with IMPEACH written on the balls sent to Congress.
Put together a series of “talking points” that would be downloadable for anyone that wants them to be their own spokesperson at the water cooler, dinner table etc. on a series of issues the war, healthcare, the environment, globalization, immigration, Republican hypocrisy, economic justice etc.
Who is running the show?
WE took the House and Senate away from the Republicans and gave it to the Democrats.
WE did so because we wanted a number of things, most prominently (according to the polls): and end to corruption and to the war.
WE have repeatedly demanded precisely those two things from Congress, and gotten bupkus. Nada. Spinelessness as usual.
Therefore:
WE do not call the shots.
Mailings, petitions, protests, rotten eggs, YouTube videos, loud rants, and faxes aren’t going to cut it.
My suggestion? For the first week of the month, every month, from now until the war in Iraq is over and the rule of law restored in the US… no one buy anything. Anything.
Do your grocery shopping the week before. Use public transportation, or car pool, or just fill your tank on Sunday. Avoid that after lunch candy bar from the drug store (you don’t really need it anyway). Wait just a few days to get that shirt you think you want.
Buy NOTHING for one full week, every month, and see how quickly policy changes.
How about millions of pocket-sized versions of the Constitution with an IMPEACH sticker on each one, mailed to Congress all on the same day.
brendan @ 293
Creepy is creepy, but Republican creepy is something else all together.
Now stop being difficult, or we’ll schedule you for drinks with Ann Coulter.
brendan @ 285
i never thought a “permanent puppet government” in iraq was very likely.
i don’t think the issue of petro dollars is seen as a major factor – it is the issue of the perceived insult. acting uppity. not knowing one’s place.
we disagree on the issue of israel – i think the driver is much more a desire, on the part of our political elite, for hegemony (and less an israeli security issue).
and sometimes stupid things are done that are in no one’s best interest. people are human. they get tired and angry and do stupid things. see WWI.
LS @ 322
The impeach sticker should be used as a bookmark so they will open to the page describing their obligation to impeach, highlighted in bright yellow.
I find that we are most effective (or at least it makes us feel better) when we act in concert. How about one action a day for as long as it takes. If it’s a phone your representative campaign then we need a central reporting place to share our experience. Another day could be a faxing of something we all download and print out — like the postcards last week. We could all Fax a print-out of Digby’s article referenced above. We can all contribute to another book delivery action or send the Dems a hand-delivered napkin or fork or tablecloth or rubber chicken. Some street theater in DC would probably attract some of the pups. One day we could send the message that there should be no recess until they vote to give the troops a recess. Like Rinse, Repeat, Rinse, Repeat we can take a variety of tactics but it must be a daily campaign.
My car has been in the driveway for a week now. I do all my shopping in one trip. Make a list of the shortest route to shorten your shopping trips. Conserve as much as possible. Hit em in the pocketbook. That’s what hurts em most.
Via @ 324
You are right. That’s a better idea.
Via @ 324
I got several of the pocket size version through Buzz Flash.
brendan @ 311
The problem with this is that the msm invariably ignores all this. It’s very frustrating. If they report on it at all, it’s very fleeting.
Worldwide protests against the war, coordinated through the internet, have taken place already, several of them. I attended one of them. Does anybody ever hear about this phenomenon, however?
wgg: tokin lib’rul @ 251
Shirley Chisolm, yes! The best candidate this country ever had for President.
The Democrats continue to play by rules that the Republicans have thrown out the window. It is time take off the gloves and put on the brass knuckles. Force the filibuster, defund government operations, force the shut down of the government, if necessary. Contempt citations for Sara and Harriet and then Karl Rove and Scooter. Take a page from Michael Moore and confront the Blitzers, Matthews and Russerts of the media. Make sure every candidate for office knows that extremism in defense of the Constitution is a virtue.
Rita @ 331
Sounds good to me.
casual observer @ 304
But my kids have SEEN Taylor’s behavior; it becomes normative as it is spread across the internet in video clips. What they don’t see isn’t real to them.
I will be sitting them down and talking about the Harriet Miers’ obstruction with them, but I can’t point to it, only to a gaping hole.
The kids have already seen Taylor; we JUST had the conversation that her behavior was disgusting and atrocious. The part the nine-year-old had the most problems with was the oath; what’s an oath, why are there different oaths, how did she get it wrong, etc.
In this respect I will be having the same discussion all over again about Miers’ behavior, how failing to show up to even claim executive privilege was a failure to uphold her oath.
A consumer strike is powerful. It doesn’t take everyone to be effective. 2% of the users can devastate the product. Nothing is more powerful than how we spend our dollar.
bluetoe at 193 says-”During the 92 election an “actor/s” dressed up as a large chicken pointing out the first Bush’s unwillingness to debate. Perhaps this type of street theater that mocks the Republicans and points out Republican hypocrisy to the general public. Example, could certainly make hay with Vitter’s diaper fetish, Guiliani’s penchant for cross dressing, Mark Foley’s predeliction for children and Allen in Florida wanting to pay for male oral sex. These are just an example of what could be used. The point is something that demonstrates Republican’s weak points in a humorous yet truthful fashion.”
bluetoe–how about a chicken in a diaper? hangin’ outside the “hill”?
Not better, just additional. You know what they say, two heads…..:)
bluejeansntshirt @ 327
Yup. I really think that’s the only way. the pols won’t do it themselves, the MSM is rigged against anything other than business-as-usual, and protests are universally ignored. But stop spending?
I think Leahey and Waxman are setting the traps. Once they snaps shut, that will make major news. Let’s hope it is dramatic.
I also support forcing the filibuster, I just don’t think it’ll happen as it depends on the Dems to stop cowering in the face of the deafening squeaks of increasingly marginalized rethug meeces.
Same thing happened with Vietnam. If 100,000 protested in a city the media reported it as 5,000. Always trivializing the numbers. It’s hard to get the truth out when you are at the mercy of the opposition controlling the media.
But the almight $! Now there is something that can work. I, the consumer, is in control.
What part of “It’s the war, stupid” do the Ds not understand?
Gates talking point – Al Qaeda is becoming a “franchise” operation.
Our talking point – Prove it!
Last week, when Gates was put on the spot about direct evidence that AQ bombed the golden mosque in 2006, he admitted they have no evidence.
jfaustus @ 337
Save your dollars and our country! Stay home and play with the toys you already have. You’d be surprised how much you will enjoy it. No new toys till you use up the ones you already have.
LS @ 342
Oh, they have the evidence, but it’s classified. We have to trust them. /snark
All this Al Qaeda talk is nothing more than Rove, Rove, Rove.
We need to put them on the spot. Based on what concrete evidence?????
LS @ 343
It’s like Bill Moyers says – you need to pin them down every time and demand, loudly and clearly, incontrovertible evidence.
Lies, lies, lies.
Prove it!! All they’ve got is Chertoff’s gas pains.
Isn’t it so sad we are racking our brains on how to get through to Congress when we’ve already written and called and e-mailed these people over and over again, contributed to progressive candidates and causes, attended public demonstrations, done everything we can to get their attention short of blowing ourselves up on the steps of the Capitol, and yet we still feel like the tree falling in the forest.
It’s very funny to think back to Bush’s press conf. yesterday when he was talking about “the enemy” which thrives on hopelessness which is how they get kids to blow themselves up (to paraphrase).
The irony is that I think he’d consider it a feather in his cap if he could drive all of us who oppose him to such desperation that we would immolate ourselves.
And Congress, well, they might blink a few times and then heave a huge sigh of relief. “Whew, now we can get back to lunching with lobbyists!”
It shouldn’t be too hard to buy a bunch of New Testaments with the words What is it about the words “so help me God” that you’re afraid of?” (H/t to somebody I was reading about the other day.) You could hand deliver them to all of the Executive branch offices, but invite the tv cameras when you drop into, say, Justice, or the West Wing.
Or, better yet, hand out New Testaments to all the Repos in the House and Senate, with the words “In case of oversight, administer oaths to knowledgeable WH staff” on the cover.
EPU’d from thread or so below -
brendan @ 38
And the answer is, well, sometimes, sort of. It’s worth remembering that the Vietnam War came to an end partly because leaders in Congress took action to end it; they essentially defunded it.
Let’s see … the Justice Department is corrupt, so’s the White House. Most of the rest of the executive branch is, too, but I digress. Why can’t the Dems in Congress just hit their funding? Probably against traditions of comity, etc., but it seems to me we’re way past the point where that should matter. And cutting funding is clearly the only way Congress will end the Iraq War before 2009.
Until the Democratic House gets truly serious about using its power of the purse, we’re just spinning our wheels. The current regime doesn’t respect the rule of law, but they need our money to operate. And Congress, so far, has continued to appropriate it.
How about bombarding MSNBC and CNN with the postcards?
LS @ 352
You know, postcards would work for each of the ideas: balls; constitution; bible. Photo or drawing on front with the text superimposed over. Cheap, plentiful and easy to obtain and print.
Boyohboyohboy. Some general (Mixon? Nixon?) sez if all goes well in Iraq, we could start drawing down troops in one Friedman. I’m so glad to hear this new news.
We could rename “impeachment” to “recall”
as in Mr Gonzo have you recalled anything lately?
Via @ 347
And, what, I ask the Dems, is so friggin hard about that?! DROP THE CIVILITY, DEMS! EACH AND EVERY TIME, DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS BS ANY LONGER! I mean, why should you? Okay, so you don’t have enough votes. Well, the guys on the other aisle enjoy obstructing you and they’re gonna do it ANYWAY, so CALL THEM ON IT!
Call them on voting against the Webb Amendment fer cryin’ out loud. Ask them: WHY DO REPUBLICANS HATE THE TROOPS??
QuakerGirl @ 335
Apparently, from what I heard this morning, consumer spending is down already and lower than it has been in 2 years!
harriet meirs’ conscience @ 356
I’m with Rita @332:
Rita @ 332
And when they have wormed and wriggled and weaseled around to finally admitting they have no evidence, you say, distinctly, “So, you have no evidence to back up your assertion. Please tell me WHY you just attempted to deceive me and the American people.” Don’t give a damn inch until you have an answer, either.
Sorry, I messed up at 358.
Let’s find a pro-impeachment, Nuremburg style investigation candidate to oppose Pelosi in her district – San Francisco – about the most liberal district in the whole country.
Do to her what Lamont did to Lieberminimum and she if she also becomes an “independant.”
LS @ 352
That is a terrible idea, as is flooding the Hill with [fill in the blank - rubber balls, bibles, copies of the constitution]. Congresscritters KNOW that the people want accountability and an end to war. They read the same polls we do. Clearly, some things are more important to them than the opinion of the electorate.
I tend to think that most of those things have to do with large donors, hence my suggestion of a consumer strike. Maybe I’m wrong about what those things are, or about how to use them to influence Congress.
But I would love to see the discussion focus on the things (whatever they may be) that are influencing Congress other than our opinion, since I think that by now every single member of Congress knows what the public wants.
Go to http://powerofnarrative.blogsp…..39_26.html
and look especially at the first boxed quote. Then do it. And drop a few Euros in for Arthur.
And then read the first two parts of the series.
harriet meirs’ conscience @ 356
I can spend less. Just ask Mrs. bluejeans. She thinks I’m so cheap that I squeak. A few pairs a year, with some old surf t-shirts, desert boots and my peace symbol button. Priceless.
jfaustus @ 362
I agree that this is a discussion we should have. But I am also continually dismayed at the naivete of the people I encounter on the phone whenever I call my reps. Sometimes I think we underestimate the pervasiveness of the bubble as well as the republican/corporate media echo chamber. There is value in the Repeat, repeat, repeat prescription, the Squeaky Wheel, etc.
Via @ 353
How about large postcards which are printed to look like a place mat, a plate and silverware -for Congress to set the table for impeachment!
We could all send them to Congress – and could arrange to have thousands hand-delivered – alerting the press about it.
Late to the party (as usual) but here’s my idea:
The Boston Tea Party is often referred to as the critical catalyst that triggered the Revolutionary War. It really pissed off the British Parliament and gave rise to the Intolerable Acts. You know the history . . .
Why not send in tea bags to the congress critters, with a note that reminds them of our history and what happens when they’ve gone too far.
cricket @ 366
Could we also print out a bunch of copies of legislation with different colored covers and arrange them on the Mall in the shape of the US to show that we are a nation of laws and not men?
Or put up a makeshift hill with someone on top of it dressed like a bill, swatting down everyone who tries to scramble to the top — ’cause no one is above the law.
Or, speaking of scrambled, let’s serve Congress eggs to show ‘em we’ll eat them for breakfast if they don’t do their job.
If we alerted the media, any of those ideas might get 15 seconds between the ordeal of Katie Couric and the latest from the stenographers pool at the White House — creating a splash akin in magnitude to a gnat crashing at top speed into the middle of Lake Michigan and changing absolutely nothing.
As far as I know, the word “impeachment” hasn’t been broached in the MSM. Stage a march from the Capitol to the White House large enough to get it on tv. The effect of the word itself on the public will be startling, and, hopefully, catalyzing.
You know, if I were a journalist, I’d be grilling some White House staff members to find out if anybody in the WH was actually required to take a loyalty oath to George W. Bush. Because I suspect that Sara Taylor didn’t misspeak in her testimony.
And I think that the majority of the American public would be very unhappy to find that out if it were true.
So, I know this will get EPU’d but this thread is the right place for it… first, MarcusQ’s idea is great – simple, effective, cheap. Good one.
I was reminded of the campaign to save the TV show Jericho – here is one article on it. Basically, they found a cheap online wholesaler of peanuts, got a bulk rate and allowed people to buy into their purchase, and managed to have 40,000 pounds of peanuts sent to CBS (riffing on a line in the last episode.) CBS gave in and renewed the show for another season. (Do a Google search on peanuts and Jericho for some good pics !)
It would be nice if we could do something like that to Pelosi… Here is the company that they used for the NUTS campaign… and YES!!, they do sell peaches…. picture 40,000 pounds of peaches… :-)
QuakerGirl @ 341
After the 200,000-person February 2003 rally was notoriously estimated as 10,000 or “tens of thousands” by the NYT and Washington Post (the NYT coverage was written by a reporter — Clementine something — the day BEFORE the rally), and ensuing deluge of calls and letters, the major newspapers and news are a little chary of such boldfaced lies.
I am a first time poster, long time reader. My anger over the Democrats inability to act and their CYA attitude has me wanting to say forget it and start fresh with a new party. My suggestion is that whenever you get those phone calls, that I get, asking for more donations to help the DNC tell them NO, not until we see real action by the democratics who are supposedly in control of the congress. No money honey might get them going.
bluejeansntshirt @ 207
Hey bluejeantshirt, I de-lurked today as well. Something in the weather, perhaps?
Melinda @ 373
Welcome Melinda, never to lurk again!
Congressional Dems who fail to support the only potentially effective remedy, impeachment, for obstruction of justice and contempt of Congress are tacitly approving illegal behavior by federal officials and employees. Members of Congress who support allowing the President and VP to openly and with impunity ignore laws and the Constitution are in violation of their own oaths of office, regardless of party affiliation. Democrats who do not support beginning an impeachment inquiry now are enablers for the administration, just as are the Republicans in Congress.
ALL of the House and Senate Committee chairman should mail a bound copy of the Constitution to each person that is scheduled to appear before any committee. The first question asked of the person appearing before the committee ought to be a Constitutional question about the oath they took at the time of their employment or upon appearing before the committee directly, relating to that oath and its intent.
Good cop, bad cop. It’s as easy as that. The key to defeating the Repubicans is to get them on defense.
Objective: destroy their entire platform.
1) There needs to be a major article written, or a countinuous blog conversation arguing whether the GOP can call themselves the law and order party anymore. Clearly, with their own lawbreaking and unwillingness to conduct oversight– they can’t be trusted to uphold the law. EVERYTIME they refuse to adhere to a supoena or belittle the Plame case– bloggers, democrats EVERYONE needs to say– “It’s obvious Republicans have lost respect for the rule of law. Law and order is clearly no longer a priority for them. They are more loyal to theri party than to the laws of this land.
2) National Security. EVERYONE needs to repeat that Bush failed to get Bin Laden in Tora Bora, failed to get his second in command in Pakistan– Republicans don’t have the balls to win the war on terror, they would rather waste our blood and treasure in a fruitless civil conflict.
3) Fiscal Responsibility. Republicans have stolen money from the American people in no bid contracts with unreliable companies. I simply do not understand why Democrats can’t talk about the money lost in Iraq and in Katrina AND the fact that Republicans are stonewalling efforts to find out what happened to the TAX PAYER money and punish the theives and the incompetence. A credo of the Democrats should be– we will not let your hard earned money go to waste. Average citizens care about their tax dollars– The fact that their money has been abused shoud be driven home EVERYDAY. A common question from Democrats should be– Why don’t you want to investigate these infractions, don’t you care about how the people’s money is being spent or are you willing to let these CROOKS get away with incompetent spending? “With the billion dollars unaccounted for in Iraq we could be—– fill in the blank, rebuilding roads, giving x number of children healthcare, securing our ports, etc… Clinton was great at this. Giving wonderful, real world examples of what tax dollars well-spent could do.
4) Family Values. Is the entire GOP corrupt? Is the entire GOP perverse? Are they all hypocrites? They’re sure beginning to look like it? Why haven’t they sought to prosecute Mark Foley? Is prostitution something the GOP wants to legalize or are they going to start putting these Johns in jail? We just need to ask these questions. NEVER let them put on their clean jeans again. NEVER let them talk about the sanctity of marriage without asking those questions.
We need to pressure the GOP to stop filibustering by ASKING why they are more concerned with party than the concerns of the American people, why are they more concerned about party than open and honest governance? Are they protecting criminality? AND it needs to be stated as FACT and constantly that they risked America’s securtity by outing a covert operative and they don’t want to see anyone one punished for it. It needs to be said: Democrats won’t stand by and accept possibly treasonous behaviour just because the Republicans don’t want us to look.
We get nothing for all our outrage because we go soft. We don’t repeatedly hold up their crimes and failings and force them to defend them. “We’re looking at possible treason here and we know the American people would not want us to rest until we got to the bottom of it.” “If there is no wrongdoing lets have an open accounting of what happened and why.” Why are you so afraid of the truth?”
Instead of going soft on any of these issues we should get harder. Repeat them, never let them go away. (Think of the mileage they’ve gotten off Bill Clinton) It’s only then that the American people believe that there are SERIOUS problems being discussed and that Democrats have the ADULT position. We give up too easily and too soon. We allow people to think the argument is over when it’s just begun. We have just BEGUN to find out the miriad ways this administration lied us into war. We have just BEGUN to discover how many ways George Bush and the Republican’s have misspent taxpayer money. We have just BEGUN to discover how tawdry and corrupt the GOP has become…
We need to crush their confidence. We need to make it harder and more embarassing for the loyalists to stand firm, play along.
We have no need to wait for another shoe to drop. We have all the shoes we need. We just need to start flinging them.
wgg: tokin lib’rul @ 310
I think we need to gauge the feelings of the army and national guard units that would be called out. You can be sure that with all the national guard units federalized Bushie boy would be sure to send guardsmen from red states, deep red states, to northern areas.
Is there an organized effort underway to educate the soldiers in their place in the class struggle?
Also, don’t be surprised if professional mercs are sent into the streets against workers who strike.
I’m not saying I’m against this idea…I have organized strikes and helped carry off a very successful 8 state strike against UPS in the seventies. But there are fewer people who are unionized now and many, many more who are against unions and workers in general.
I think what we need to do is select specific days when we organize no spending drives…no food shopping, no online purchases, no clothes shopping, no buying whatsoever and let people know that on this day there was an organized drive to ask people to refrain from shopping and let’s see if we could impact the bottom line because that’s what it’s all about.
I think it all comes back to the oaths.
The oath Sara Taylor took is to the Constitution, not the president. And I see stars every time GWB says he “took an oath to protect this nation.” He did no such thing. He took an oath to protect the Constitution.
How about a postcard with various oaths of office on it? As well as the oath one takes before testifying?
I also like the phrase “Prove it!” This should come out of the mouth of every Democrat who is on TV or the radio with a Republican. Every time. Forever.
what about “logjam republicans” for the obstruction tactics.
How about truth brigades in the 08 campaigns?
The blogosphere is an aggregator of information that is then distributed to like minded individuals.
Why not use sites like FDL and Daily Kos to track politicians’ campaign appearances, and then ambush them with a bunch of fact laden, pissed off bloggers. Call em out on their lies, get spokespeople in front of the local media with the facts on candidates voting records and positions.
How many YouTube moments could bloggers create?
Fear the Web!
Nowhere have I seen better writing than here on FDL. Christie, Jane, Marci, looseheadprops, & TRex are all just truly amazing. Thanks for all you do; I’m submitting a donation in appreciation.
How about positive reinforcement for reps and senators that show courage? Maybe a Patriot of the Week Award and instead of sending roses, send donations to their political campaigns.
I think that Leahy, Pelosi, etc. are hopeful that their efforts will result in bipartisanship. That would be ideal but I don’t think the other party wants to play.
Again, any presence in Washington must be sustained. It cannot be a one and done deal. We need a constant and disruptive protest. We need to shut down the government. We need to force no recess by not letting these people out of the building. We need to practice some good old fashion civil disobedience and bring home to these people how close they are to untying the fabric of this country. We need to let them know that we will take back the government by force if necessary. Another form of protest would be to get our volunteer military to stop volunteering for duty. Make the military fall short of recruiting goals by the entire amount. Well, of course you should encourage every Republican you know to go put his life on the line for what he or she believes and direct them to the nearest recruiting station if they are so passionate about staying in Iraq.
Evan @ 376
I agree, but would like to extend the point:
erm, the recent unanimous vote in the Senate calling for another ciminal, immoral war against Iran was hardly tacit support for the neo-conservative foreign policy, it was explcit.
This invalidates all of their poll-driven rhetoric against the current failed war as mere political posturing, which they never intend to follow through on.
And it strips away the pragmatic cover stories about why they are too spineless to pursue impeachment, it’s not because they don’t have the votes, or don’t want to be partisan, or whetever, it’s they don’t want to impeach, because they support the same neo-con policies.
which is why there is all the third, or rather, second party talk – the (D) party has failed as a vehicle for even minor, cosmetic change in the midst of dire national crisis, and now they are just another obstacle to be overcome.
Milan River @ 216
Speaking of which, an excellent post by John Dean up today at FindLaw, regarding Harriet Miers’ no-show.
Dean says that Bush is almost certainly trying to get the Congress to call him out, in the belief that the courts are now so stacked in his favor that he’d get a favorable ruling, thereby further weakening constitutional constraints on the arbitrary excercise of presidential power.
Dean then discusses the tools historically available to Congress to enforce its constitutional prerogatives without relying on either the executive or judicial branches to do so on its