With all of the outrages perpetuated by this administration, with the abject failure of the House under your leadership to do anything that they were elected to do, I guess we’ll have to say that this is your crowning achievement — forcing Pete Stark to his knees and making him grovel before this completely lawless, warmongering and inhumane administration.
For the record, I’m offended.
You might be interested in knowing that 5 Democrats voted with the Republicans on condemning Rep Stark and another 8– all reactionaries– voted “Present,” refusing to come to Stark’s defense. You can probably guess the names of the disgraceful 13 Democrats. But just in case… the 5 who voted– as they so often do– with the GOP:
Jason Altmire (PA), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)
Chris Carney (PA), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)
Joe Donnelly (IN), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)
Brad Ellsworth (IN), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)
Heath Shuler (NC), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)
Howie has another interesting statistic — according to Progressive Punch, of the 20 House Democrats who vote with the Bush Administration most frequently in tough roll call votes, 10 are freshmen recruited by Rahm Emanuel. Altmire, Carney, Donnelly, Ellsworth and Shuler are all on that list.
I’ll just leave you with that thought and let it sink in.
Update: From reader Cynthia R.:
I called Stark’s office in DC to complain about his apology. The person answering the phone told me that Stark had no choice; Stark was told before the vote was taken that should he not apologize, the vote to censure would pass. According to his office, that is the only reason he apologized.
I guess we better stop saying the House leadership can’t get anything done.
Related posts:
- Charles Rangel on Blue Dogs Holding Health Care Hostage
- Pelosi Says “F*&k You” to Trumka and the AFL-CIO
- Dear Congress: You Can Take a Vacation When You Get the Job Done
- Teabaggers to Burn Perriello and Pelosi Effigy, While Diane Watson Caves on Public Option
- Will Pelosi Crack Heads for “Robust” Public Option as She Did for ACES and the Supplemental?
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Jane!
{{{{JANE}}}}
Closeout sale on Pelosi ‘07 bumper stickers.
I don’t like the Armani any more.
Balrog @ 3
I’m taking mine off the car this afternoon.
Nancy is a failure.
wow. that sunk in all right – with a thud!
Sheep cleanup in aisle 1.
Will SOMEONE please find some OTHER job to occupy the errant ram.
pretty clear we’ve been infiltrated
remember when we first took the majority I warned everyone that democrats will become as corrupt as republicans once they have power
power corrupts, absolute power absolutely.
our elected officials are being bought just as the repukelicans were bought
we are infiltrated, the only thing that will save us from the fate of the republicans is our vigilance, there is no longer a printed or broadcast fourth estate, those are now corporate tools
we, the blogs are now the fourth estate and it now falls on us to protect our country
This is really awful. Pelosi making Stark look bad. Harry Reid smacking down Dodd’s hold. But I refuse to be discouraged. I can’t wait for November 2008 to cast my vote.
Any one else starting to feel like a red headed step child?
I went through his web site and sent Rep Stark a note of support. And added the statement that my uncle kept on his wall of his office: “Illigetimi Non Carborundum” (Don’t let the bastards grind you down)
i’m not just offended. i’m pissed. royally pissed.
Biodun @ 8
The relevant votes had better not be in November.
perris @ 7
Not so far OT…The big corporations are celebrating today. Their earnings surpassed expectations.
Lockheed Martin
Apple
American Express
DuPont
Merck
Hasbro
McDonalds
Caterpillar
And, most of all…..yep, AT&T
Long live the corporation! [puke]
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21433452/
Bustednuckles @ 9
There must be something in the water, Busted, because I hadn’t thought of that expression in years and it suddenly popped into my head this morning
To answer your question, yes.
Do you think the Speaker, or for that matter a certain Democratic candidate cares a twit about what you think? And just where does Speaker Pelosi get her marching orders from?
Sigh — I am beginning to think that we should vote out most if not all of the incumbents, Democrat and Republican alike.
Can Blue America put up a 50 state-wide slate?
Vote’em all out and let their ghods deal with them…
Stark is right.
Pelosi is wrong.
How do we get a better speaker in the House and a better majority leader in the Senate?
Can we take the DCCC (and the Senate equivalent) and the DLC out of campaigns, or at least out of selecting and endorsing candidates, on the grounds that their judgment is hopelessly compromised when it isn’t simply bad?
Is that why I just went to a new hair color? Really. It’s a strawberry dark blonde.
But, I really wanted to chime in with a not so OT:
I just spoke to Loo Hoo.
She Still doesn’t know if her house is okay. The fire was three blocks from the home yesterday afternoon.
She can’t verify with anyone what the status is.
Roads are closed. Phones are overloaded.
We all know our Loo Hoo to be a pretty smart cookie and she’s sitting down there at a friend’s house without answers.
(Told her I call again tomorrow.)
Maybe Nancy Pelosi has something to say to her.
Not!
If an or suggestion idea doesn’t originate in the Speaker’s office, it is of no concern to the Speaker. Just who does the Speaker speak for?
The Democratic leadership is playing defense, trying to give the Bush attackers the fewest possible points of attach (oops, except the Turkey, how’d that happen?). Thing is, Bush will make shit up to attack anyway, so it makes no difference.
They are total invertebrates.
A Republican had the best comment on the situation: “They say they were ineffective when they were in the minority, because they were the minority, and now that they are the majority, they say they are ineffective because the Republicans are in the minority.”
How about, they are just ineffective?
Wasn’t Shuler one of us? Am I confused? Am I wrong?
This is “expression” day, I guess.
I keep thinking of an oldie-but-goodie teabag tag (h/t Mr. Salada, circa 1975 or so, at least till someone smarter tells me the real origin of the thing):
“If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?”
Keep going folks. We just have ta keep ’splainin’ and ’splainin’ till they git it, sigh.
j.cro @ 22
Shit, evangelical former Tennessee quarterback. Yea, he was one of us.
David @ 18: you forgot to include the snark tag: “/s”…. right?
.
right?
demi @ 19
thanks for the update on Loo Hoo, that’s just dreadful not knowing if your house is still there!
In terms of crossing a Rubicon, these redhanded hacks are fools if they think they can carry on business as usual in this political climate.
They may not know it yet, but the American people are beyond tolerating this bs. It’s gone too far.
To all you voters in the Speaker’s area: defeat Pelosi. Replace this person with a better Demo.
We need to take the image of LIEberman merrily opening bushs’ fly (the one that got the lizard brains in such a snit), and photoshop in pelosi.
It’s obvious she’s nothing but a worthless fascist whore.
Jane Hamsher @ 14
http://www.boomantribune.com/s…../05343/441
I just wish Pelosi would go away. She is an abject failure.
But Rahm and Steney are the source of these probelems, as well as the reason Howard dean has been bound and gagged and hidden in the DNC’s attic.
Howard, really, you gotta assert yourself at the DNC, there has to be some counterweight somewhere and Nancy and Harry ain’t got the walnuts.
Once more into the fray Gov. Dean, The Dems need some real leadership
Biodun @ 8
Who ‘ya gonna vote for, Biodun? Seems all we have to show for all our efforts are a bunch of sheep!
Am I wrong or are two (Heath Shuler and Chris Carney) of the five on the list former Blue America candidates? That’s called, wolves in sheep clothing. Just goes to show ‘ya, no matter how carefully you try to screen ‘em…
Does the president find what’s going on in Iraq “amusing?” It’s a good question — ask a Republican to show evidence otherwise.
selise @ 11
Ditto.
public.takeover @ 27
Keep on believing that. There will be another terrist attack and they’ll flock to these pigs for cover in a second.
Actually, like Baldrick, the Democrats have a very cunning plan. They shoot themselves in the foot and then if the Republicans don’t do what they’re told the Democrats threaten to shoot themselves in the other foot.
P J Evans @ 17
Not as long as they raise more money than we do. it’s about the greenbacks, baby.
raven @ 24
Thanks Raven!! I don’t know why I thought that… I must have him confused with someone else? My brain is oatmeal today.
Pelosi doesn’t want to hear anything more from progressives, bloggers, liberals, etc. She obviously has everything under control and this is all playing out exactly as she was hoping.
Ms. Pelosi, as far as I am concerned, you are fired. And take Raul with you, please. Traitors.
With Pete Stark as the focus, there is no talk about S-chip, right?
How come the Dems always have to apologize, but the Repubs never do?
I’m so royally pissed off, I wrote about it – then wrote their offices AND called them!
now, having watched the video… i take back saying i was pissed.
i am furious. i want to yell and scream. i want to participate in a sit-in in pelosi’s office. i want to disrupt the house floor with protest everytime she gets up to speak.
that’s it. it was looking bad after the iran votes, after the august fisa kabuki, after her comments about the protesters outside her house (especially her comments about the homeless), after blocking holt’s decent fisa bill, ….. i’ve been pissed, but i keep coming back to trying to have an open mind.
no more.
one does not use power to humiliate those with less power – especially those who you claim are your allies.
that is just so wrong. it is a despicable act.
oh.. and from jane’s link:
i’ve been turned off pelosi – but not politics… because this is unacceptable and i want a change.
Hugh @ 37
snort!!!
Actually, the only thing that worries me right now is my daughter. My only child. She lives and works in the San Diego area. I cannot seem to get hold of her.
j.cro @ 39
Proly the same reason people fall all over themselves about Webb. He looked good at the time.
Yes – Shuler was one of the 5 who voted with the ReThugs.
Altmire
Carney
Donnelly
Ellsworth
Shuler
Get active, if you mistakenly gave to the DCCC, file a restraining order on Rahm Emmanuel and sue him for false advertising and breach of contract…
I’m certain the FCC wouldn’t pursue something against a Democrat, they’re too busy keeping the Telecomms from merging stations or helping spy on citizens(/rolls eyes).
Hugh @ 36
Hugh has revealed the Plan!!!!
You clever one *g*
These – these jackassess voted ‘PRESENT’
Boren
Cleaver
Davis, Lincoln
Hill
Loebsack
Mahoney (FL)
Melancon
Moore (KS)
David Robinson @ 34
Mmmm. Lessee… This is toozday. Lemme check the quote-a-the-day calendar.
perris @ 7
remember when we first took the majority I warned everyone that democrats will become as corrupt as republicans once they have power
The infiltration started much earlier than that. Who brought us Emanuel, Carville, the DLC? When did the Democratic leadership make the leap to the right?
raven @ 47
Desperation will make a person to desperate things, yeah?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 45
{{{{{{{{OKK and Lahoma}}}}}}}}
Hang in. Sending good thoughts.
OKK,
I hope she’s okay. She probably is. Everything including the phones are totally messed up right now.
See my #19 on this thread.
Really good thoughts for The Princess.
and hi to lahoma.
Oh My God. Kiddo! Please let us know the minute you hear from her. In the menatime
{{{{{{{Kiddo}}}}}}}
Oklahoma kiddo @ 45
The ole’ – the end justify the means regardless.
I have to go outside!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 45
{{{OK}}}
Heath Shuler of N.C. is an idiot…about half of the bio on his website consists of his high school football record.
Who elected these people to be nanny’s in the first place?
we don’t need nanny’s, we need leaders.
We need someone who is listening to the people of this country who want change and will get off their ass and quit wagging their fingers in our face and DO SOMETHING to turn this country around!
Lessons in ettiquete at this point are a step backwards.
Look at what the opposition has been doing for christs sake and see what you can use to turn it against them.
I take it back, we don’t need leaders, we need tactitioners.
You know, it’s not even that Pelosi (coughHOYERcough) made Stark apologize as a condition for the vote (that’s so obvious it’s understood by everyone, right?), it’s that we *STILL* have thirteen “Democrats” who won’t take a vote in support of the party-line position, and *FIVE* who will outright tell their leadership to go fuck themselves.
If you’re going to sell out, is it too much to ask that you get something decent in return, like a fucking commitment to party fucking loyalty?
You’ll notice, for example, that every single fucking Republican *THERE* voted for this shit.
But not Democrats, because Democrats think that partisan loyalty is a bad word.
Here’s another one; I’d say, more (words) (as in, more of the following words fall into this category), but obviously at least one of them has lost its power:
You cheap, stupid, gutless motherfuckers.
Slothrop @ 60
And he wasn’t all that goddamn good anyway!
goatsage @ 39
You couldn’t have said it more succinctly.
I’m offended too, Jane. Where did this nasty self-righteous demanding a person apologize get started? In recent times “apology” has come to mean “eat your words in public humiliation so I can have the pleasure of kicking you around”. Demanding an apology comes from the mean-spirited side of a person.
Never apologize. Apology is something the individual assess for him/herself and no one can “demand” an apology. I call that self-righteous fascism.
In teaching my children well, I never asked, suggested, demanded that they apologize publicly. I put this in the same category as slapping a person’s face publicly.
I have no idea what kind of person feels glee over degrading Pete Stark publicly. Their behavior is repulsive to me, not Pete Stalk. And, to further kick him while he’s down don’t forget to condemn him for making the apology. He loses either way.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 46
Oklahoma, I was hoping that by now you had heard something. Spoke to kirk murphy on last thread, my thoughts to you and yours. Please let us know when you hear.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 43
Here is one place to check:
https://disastersafe.redcross.org/
I don’t know what percentage of people are using it though.
Okay, now this is a little much even for me.
jayt said on October 20th, 2007 at 1:18 pm:
I propose that Stark “revise” his remarks – “Instead of saying that Bush sends American kids off to die for his *amusement*, I should have said that he send them off to die in order to spare himself personal embarrassment and an acknowledgment of his total failure in Iraq.”
“Let the record reflect that minor change, please. Other than that, however, I stand by every word.”
_________
It is a failure on the part of the Dems, the way this was handled. They should keep bashing Bush’s record
and every Rep who aligns with any of his policies or they will again lose in ‘08 and spend 4 years wondering why !
punaise @ 25
it’s o.k. someone prolly found the address under the collar & helped it find its way home.
It’s the INVISIBLE HAND of Free Market Capitalism at work:
warmongering = fundraising.
W f A u R n M d O r N a G i E s R i I n N g G
I’m so angry about this that I nearly threw up when I heard the news. I called Pelosi’s office to complain and sent Stark an email telling him how angry I was at his apology…the whole blogosphere had his back and even the CNN poll ran 93% in saying he owed NO APOLOGY!
So how did this happen? I can’t believe his constituency pressured him into this, so it must have been the Dem leadership…
The Dems are still playing by the right-wing rules and showing how utterly gutless and stuped they are!
AAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!!!!
EXACTLY!!!!!!@DF,?DF,F, ‘WER,Af”;SE R,D’:
for the President’s amusement.
As disappointed as I am in Speaker Pelosi, there is one thought that makes me bite my bleeding tongue –
Speaker Hoyer.
Whennever I see, hear Rahm Emanuel, whennever I hear of something he has his hands in, I think of vampire. He talks nice, dresses nice, but really, he is soulless and conniving. And of course, he sucks the life out of the democratic party.
Wait – WAIT….
What about Steve King? Is HE going to made to apologize for the bullshit he put on the floor of the House last week about Hillary Clinton?
Hugh-I understand your worries about your daughter, but your multiple postings here serve no purpose and just make you look pathetic….
I’m sorry, is this the move on/betrayus thread?
Pelosi silences the truth that would otherwise force her to face what she has a hand in.
dov12348 @ 76
yes.
wagonjak @ 77
In th e first place, I have not seen Hugh mention a daughter.
In the second place. piss off.
I would be worried about my kid too.
raven @ 23
Maybe you are confusing him with Schumer (D-NY)…the Senator. But Schumer is also running hot-and-cold recently.
Bustednuckles @ 82
I also see one post by Hugh?
1,635 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
Sister Hamsher, your voice draws a crowd, thanks for the shout out. Now how can we out here in the great neglected majority focus pressure on the Democratic Party leadership and make the issue of ineffective leadership part of the debate in the presidential debates?
I been callin’ for activists and progressives ta forget about pressure on Republicans and concentrate on organizin’ local direct actions aimed at the districts and states of the Bushdog leadership. If MoveOn and a couple other existing organizations with national visibility and local infrastructure could coordinate such actions, maybe a mass movement could develop that could threaten the Democratic Party aparachiks and scare the shit outta the ‘08 Democratic Convention organizers.
It seems that there is base in both the House and the Senate that could challenge the existin’ leadership…maybe it’s time ta put the heat on some a those progressives like Kennedy, Durbin, Harkin, Feingold et al who have been takin’ our money and usin’ our muscle at the grassroots. How ken we do that?
I ask you because it seems that alternative organizations already exist and networks like blogs are already connected but the coordination of strategy and coalition building must take place at the individual leadership level like you and Sister Hardin Smith.
KEEP THE FAITH, PASS THE AMMUNITION AND LOCATE THE TARGETS FOR US!!!
*demi*, please tell Loo Hoo that she is infinitely more precious than her home.
Loo Hoo is irreplaceable whereas the house can be rebuilt !
raven @ 23
Shuler won a race over a very corrupt and hated Rep. Stories of Charles Taylor are all over these mountains. So its good he’s gone but Shuler is s disgrace
wagonjak @ 78
Let’s leave that up to the moderators to decide what should stay and what should go.
Mind your manners.
“How come the Dems always have to apologize, but the Repubs never do?” -Mary H. @ 40
That’s a very good question, and it has a surprisingly simple answer:
Democrats always have to apologize because Republicans *always* make them.
Republicans never have to apologize because Democrats *NEVER* make them.
(side note: even when Democrats say things that could be confused with *attempts* to “make” Republicans apologize, Democrats fuck *that* up, which you can tell, because such efforts are inevitably followed by (1) Republican accusations that Democrats are “playing politics”, (2) a complete and utter lack of any kind of sustained effort at follow-up by the Democrats, and (3) Republicans siding with their accused fellow Republican. On really annoying issues, you’ll actually see *Democrats* *JOIN* the Republicans in steps 1, 2, and 3, though granted, that’s often just Joe Lieberman pretending to be a liberal so he can, to paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld’s line about the guy who converted to Judaism, just pretend he’s one of us so he can insult us even more)
Bustednuckles @ 79
Thanks Busted, you beat me too it. Listen Hugh is family here, He is an intergral part of this community.
j.cro @ 88
Or some is liable to. . .ooops, none of that!
cinnamonape @ 83
Thanks, but that’s not it. My brain is oatmeal today but it hasn’t completely fallen out of my head. It doesn’t matter, the guy has to go and that’s that.
you know what I would like to see happen?
all the real democrats need to get up and one by one repeat what stark said
and one by one they all need to say stark doesn’t need to opologize
and one by one they all need to say it’s the president that needs to first opologize and then resign his office
And the Pelosi/Hoyer
big lieadvertising blitz is coming soon…http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/23/74939/287
j.cro @ 92
In Charlotte? Good luck.
albert fall @ 20
Well, that is my question: Why are they playing defense when they should be playing offense! Nancy doesn’t even seem to be a good cheerleader, much less a good player. She thinks an “offense” move like the one Pete Stark handed to her is out of bounds, even when it’s not. She’s been cheering for the wrong team for too long. Time to retire.
Slothrop @ 60
just last night, from TRex:
I don’t have access to the video. Is there a quote or transcript?
dov12348 @ 90
what i want to know is where is the money coming from to pay for a big PR campaign to tell us that our congress is such great things?
raven @ 91
heh.
I wonder if Pelosi, Reid, Hoyer et al ever read these blogs and see how folks REALLY feel about them? Or care how PISSED OFF we are?
Or are they just really dumb as dirt??
wagonjak @ 76
I have a daughter? Where?
selise @ 96
From you and me, I assume. More specifically, they’ll find a way to designate or re-designate it from somewhere. That’s what they’re good at.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 43
OKK – be aware that the fires have burned out a lot of power transmission lines and electric and phone are down all over SoCal… also, cell phones are being used by emergency personnel and everyone is asked to stay off the line…
hope all is well… San Diego got ahead of the curve and evacuated earlier rather than later.
Hugh @ 102
I think wagonjack got Hugh mixed up with OK Kiddo. Lord help him or her if the Kiddo gets on his or her ass!
cahuenga @ 50
The infiltration started much earlier than that. Who brought us Emanuel, Carville, the DLC? When did the Democratic leadership make the leap to the right?
Someone most Democrats still seem to love like a father.
Jan @ 98
Option #3
Another case of simple answers to simple questions…
looseheadprop @ 87
That wasn’t even Hugh’s post. It was OKK’s @ 43.
dov12348 @ 99
that’s why i asked the question…. damn.
Ann in AZ @ 31
Carney was…and has been broadly lambasted as using Blue America money and then repeatedly taking positions opposite to those that he enunciated in his campaign. Howie has made a public call that Carney should return the Blue America contributions. Shuler, I believe, wasn’t a Blue America candidate. He was supported by “Act Blue”.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 43
OKK – Thanks for sharing this. It’s a credit to you that you continue to contribute to FDL comments while your thoughts and heart have that parent worry feeling. Bet every parent on this post knows it well. Please let us know when you hear from her. When she can, she will call.
I have been out of the country….what did Rep. Stark say that has Pelosi wetting her knickers?
Oklahoma kiddo & Lahoma:
These links might help a little with CA fires info.
(both lead directly or indirectly to the same site; i included both in case one didn’t copy correctly).
We hope your daughter is o.k.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms…..8&om=1
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..nt-1051791
raven @ 102
I hope OK Kiddo gets him or her. That was rude!
Hugh @ 99
707!
cinnamonape @ 110
AAAAAAh HAH!! Act Blue!! That’s why I thought he was one of “us” Thank you cinnamonape!!!
selise @ 43
It will be interesting to see how quick Pelosi caves on the supplemental Bush wants for Iraq. Kids: 0 Iraq war: $46 billion Pelosi will no doubt spin this as some kind of achievement as well.
If Nancy is not speaker, would Hoyer move up to that position by default? Wouldn’t they consider him next in line and just vote for him like a bunch of sheep? If not, who? Anybody got any idea who would be good (be sure to consider that they have some actual experience. Not freshman congress critters.)
Do you guys really think Cindy Sheehan would actually win Nancy’s seat?
nomolos @ 109
I don’t have the quote handy, but it was too true, clear and direct for her delicate ears.
FUCK THE DEMS, FUCK THE RETARDICANS. The American way of life is coming to an end.
Stark was taken to task and now forced to apologize for having the temerity to suggest that aspects of the ‘war’ appeal to the ‘amusement’ of the ‘decider’.
It is very difficult to understand the ‘amusement’ of sadists. Ample evidence indicates that is what we are confronting.
The genuine needs and realities of human beings must be shunted aside to accommodate the infantile prerogatives of a petty and petulant despot and his minions. For such sadistic fascists, all other people are merely toys in their ‘games’ and props for their delusions.
What excuse have the Democratic ‘leadership’?
With whom do they wish to stand? What are they willing to stand for, besides more of the same? Pathetic, almost beneath contempt, these
‘leaders’ serve only their own little interests,
parochial and puny. These are not the people of vision and courage that our times so desperately require.
Ann in AZ @ 115
It would not be automatic for Hoyer to move up as there would be an election within the D caucus, but he would have the inside track for the position.
The Pelosi leadership is a bust; there can be no doubt. Emmanuel, Hoyer and most probably Schumer, all give every indication of allegiances to something other than truly progressive political considerations. In short, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
But we KNEW all this, and if we didn’t know after November of 2006, we’ve certainly had it drilled in, time and again, in the time since.
So, depressing as it is, there is still one thing that struck me in watching Representative Stark; what a class act! Here is a man who I think is perfectly aware of the political arena and, given that he honestly wishes to fight other battles, has the guts to say, “I’m sorry for offending.” This might stick in our collective craw as an unnecessary “grovel” before an undeserving audience, but don’t lose track of the fact that here is a real man, with a conscience, who is showing what it means to give sincere apology and accept culpability for his actions. I don’t think he needed too; and, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t necessarily think he needed to, but he’s intelligent enough and earnest enough to want to take himself out of the mix and get back to the real issues at hand.
Now, the fact that he had to do this because he was given absolutely no political cover by the kow-towing shitheads of the Pelosi hegemony really sucks. It really sucks, but I still applaud the man.
Sorry, it’s all I have and it was quicker!
punaise @ 94
Do you think Shuler wants you to know how bad he stunk it up as a Redskins QB? Half of DC probably doesn’t remember he used to be there before this January. Talk about embarassing yourself all over again.
There has to be a way to get voters on both sides of the aisle to tune out big-money politicians from either party. We need to find a way of organizing we the people to trust each other and act in our mutual best interest by throwing out all the paid off politicians.
Let’s see, chain letters? door-to-door local organizing networks? Public access tv? Blogs? Amway?
There was a booklet in 1859 that brought the House of Representatives to a standstill. The Representatives on one side refused to vote for anyone who endorsed The Impending Crisis of the South: How to Meet It, by Hinton Rowan Helper.
The Republicans refused to vote for any candidate for speaker who did NOT endorse the book.
There was a total impasse. The rest is history.
It has to be clear to the American people that wealthy special interests are controlling our government and our media.
There must be a way to push the differences to a crisis, a clear dispute on one naked issue: democracy or oligarchy. Get the people riled up for change through crisis.
Ann in AZ @ 116
Nope. OTOH me thinks a challenge by TeddySF would/could shake Nancy & her cartel to the core.
1,635 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Firepup Freedom Fighters:
We are experiencin’ exactly what the German people experienced in 1932-34. The moment the fascists were able ta divide the masses into thirds and steal a national election the opposition to the Nazis was doomed. The Christians and the Commies were pitted against each other and the “liberal” opposition sought to appease Hitler by “compromise” and stifling rank and file opposition to the regime.
The is precisely what has happened since the election of 2000 and, I would argue that the ground was set in 1994 allowin’ the fascists to control Congress and reinforce the myth that had grown since 1980 that “the country is evenly divided and the old liberalism is dead”.
We know that compromising with fascists only leads to the grave…it’s time to call the compromisers out. Let’s put the heat on the Democratic Party leadership with direct action from the ground up. Threaten to turn the primaries into civil war in the party and put the heat on the presidential candidates that they ignore the 65% majority base of the party at their peril.
KEEP THE FAITH, THIS IS NOT A DRILL, THESE FOLKS WILL KILL US ALL IF WE GIVE ‘EM THE CHANCE!!
Thank you, Jane.
IMHO, Nancy “Eleven Percent” Pelosi should resign for this outrage, ’cause Pete was 100% correct. This war was started for a few reasons, but it continues for one and only one reasons: Bush enjoys being a war president. For him, it’s a wet dream come true. Per CNN, multiple White House officials have said that Bush was itching for war before 9/11:
In fact, he was dreaming such dreams two years before 9/11:
When Pete Stark outraged the Very Serious People of the Beltway by mentioning that we’re sending kids “to Iraq to get their heads blown off, for the President’s amusement,” he was simply belaboring well-documented fact. This war is being conducted for GWB’s amusement and vanity. He likes being a war president and doesn’t want to admit defeat.
The VSPs outrage embarrassed Nancy “eleven percent” Pelosi and jeopardized her husband’s standing at the country club. So, she had the termerity to blatantly and flagrantly reprimand her fellow Bay-area Democrat of long standing. Pelosi’s behavior is a true outrage.
IMHO, it is time for her to apologize and resign. She has been worse than ineffective. She has presided over the worst capitulation in the political history of the United States. She is surrendering our freedoms and is presiding over the financing of a crime against humanity. And she has the temerity to reprimand fellow a fellow democrat for fighting back against this horrible administration. Shame on her.
raven @ 92
For what it’s worth Shuler is in the Western North Carolina district. He replaced the odious and visibly corrupt Chas. Taylor. Asheville is the city, in a sea of red.
I don’t care for much of Shuler’s record, but he got my fundamentalist parent’s vote, and is a lot better than Taylor. Heck, he’s almost a traditional republican.
Biodun @ 112
shouldn’t someone offer wagonack a [/s] or sumthin?
this is gittin just painful to watch.
nomolos @ 109
Pissed Off @ 117
We share your anger but in the future let’s try to find a better insult for the Rethugs. After all, there is certainly no shortage of terms to use.
dakine01 @ 104
Inside the Beltway Centrism (w/extra large bipartisanship) is so far rightist and so far removed from reality, that Pelosi, et al – by nature of their immersion in it - have become true believers in a falacious and disproven belief system.
In other words, they fell in a bucket of shite and they now stinketh.
I don’t suppose there is any chance that he reconsidered his remarks himself and decided they were over the top? Seems that deciding that he was forced to say what he did sort of dis-empowers him. (I am now ducking)
RBG @ 130
Yep. The English language is quite robust in terms…
It isn’t that the Republican sensibilities were outraged, their sensibilities were outraged by Pete Stark telling the truth. Truth is the forbidden and unpardonable sin.
My letter to the Speaker – thanks FDL as usual for a room to vent in…
——————–
Nice job recruiting Bush bots there Mr. Rahm (check FDL for the info).
And now for something completely different… Oh wait.
The Democrat Party (does that bug you?) forces ANOTHER member of their caucus to “repent” and bow before the MIGHTY and Righteous Rethuglicans. Excellent party discipline there, like all other instances of making sure members fall in line. Oh wait.
THE MAJORITY IN THIS COUNTRY WANT YOU TO ACTUALLY STAND UP AND FIGHT THESE CRETINS. WE HAVE HAD IT WITH SANCTIMONIOUS TROGLODYTES WHO ARE HYPOCRITES, LIARS, AND FASCISTS.
Sorry to yell… but hey, Stark was right. Do you have a better explanation for this war and the deaths than this besides the obvious fact it’s being done for profit which works its way into Rethuglican coffers. Does any of that money go the Dems way? Oh wait. Paging Senator Rockefeller, the New York Times is on the line…
Why is this so freaking tactically difficult to understand? Fight, fight, fight. AND WIN.
RBG @ 130
try “repubbles”. Works for me, and I’m willing to share. ;->
nomolos @ 109
Here’s a link.
Look, do we actually know if Pelosi was behind the Stark apology? Or is this just surmise?
off topic..
I’ve been listening to the House Judiciary hearings on Selective Prosecutions. It’s chilling. I hope this gets some airing in the mainstream media.
BTW, gang:
I think I’ll take the rest of the day off. But NOT from here…
You can’t really make all this stuff up. I mean, Hugh’s daughter?
Wordsmith @ 121
Thanks for the loink.
Hmmm. Still don’t see anything he should apologize for. However I see one hell of a lot that the b**ch Pelosi should come forth with mea culpas for. Good god what has gone wrong with this bloody country. (No answers please or the mods will go nuts!)
This corporate congress is deserving of the 11%.
MR. Bill @ 127
Thanks, I stand corrected.
(Is this ever OT …) (Still worked up about the Wilsons.) Let me know when there’s the first sign of handwringing from the White House about their having destroyed their best conduit of information about WMD programs in (apologies to Scotia, I think it was) ‘countries that begin with I’. I want to hear someone there say, Oh gee, we wish that had never happened, ’cause look how badly we need real information now.
I’m waiting … (Something inside me is growling. That doesn’t usually happen.)
QuakerGirl @ 134
spell check: do you mean “sinsibilities”?
dakine01 @ 119
Seems to me, he’s just as bad or worse! Who else? Recommendations?
i voted for democracy and all i got was this banana republic.
fascism? your soaking in it.
Ann in AZ @ 144
Maurice Hinchey — he’s been fighting Bush and Cheney ever since day one.
BTW Nancy,
Stop sending the President legislation and HOPE that he likes (”I sure Dad signs it and doesn’t get mad”).
Send Bush the legislation and tell him what is expected of him. Demand he do what The People want him to do. Don’t ask, demand.
Act, don’t react.
Bustednuckles @ 79
Seconded.
Biodun @ 139
Let this be a warning. Elephants are not easily submerged.
RBG @ 130
I didn’t mean to insult people who are mentally challenged. Most of them are smarter then anyone in the GOP. They can all still fucking burn though…..
Ann in AZ @ 116 (”Do you guys really think Cindy Sheehan would actually win Nancy’s seat?”), it’s not about whether *we* think Cindy Sheehan would “actually win Nancy’s seat” — it’s about sending a message to Nancy Pelosi that she’s doing a bad job of listening to her constituents.
Same message we sent to Joe Lieberman last year, in fact, though it didn’t seem to bother him (because he’s a conservative asshole, but that’s beside the point).
The thing is, politicians respond to pressure. Pelosi, like every other Democratic leader for the last thirty-some-odd years, has felt more pressure from the right than the left, and so while she’s new to the office, she’s *not* new to the mindset: “If Republicans yell at you, cave in.”
A primary challenge doesn’t require the challenger to *know* that they *HAVE* the ability to win the seat (this is the same exact logic as that used in arguments like, “We can’t bring impeachment charges if we don’t know that we’ll win!”). In fact, some challengers *have* chances to win despite *not* knowing that they will, or even *knowing* that they *won’t* (see last year’s surprise House victories for Democrats).
A primary challenge is, primarily, about leverage. It’s a bid that may be a bluff (”Move in our direction or else”), but it’s no surprise that a Democrat would misunderstand it (as “You hate me, you really hate me! Why do you hate me?”) on either tactical grounds (talk the challenger out of it) or on actual delusional grounds (”You really hate me! That’s so mean! I can’t believe you’d say that, and I really can’t believe you’d believe it, and I really, really can’t believe you’d say it if you didn’t believe it, because it’s so mean!”).
But the thing is, it’s about sending a message, because until now, Nancy Pelosi has been very, VERY, *VERY* reluctant to hear any of the messages that we *HAVE* been sending.
Ann in AZ @ 116
If Cindy’s campaign gains steam, maybe we’ll watch Nancy slowly shift right and right to cater to that vote pool, much like how Lieberman slid to the right to win over the Republican vote in 2006.
Adie @ 143
Right on.
raven @ 132
of course we can’t know for sure… but what interpretation is most consistent with the evidence at hand?
Ann in AZ @ 144
Well that’s the thing. Due to seniority, fundraising abilities, or whatever, the usual is to go through the leadership steps. Not sure who the majority whip is after Hoyer but after that I think is Rahm in the current leadership. You’ll find a Murtha occasionally challenge an “incumbent” like Hoyer but it usually doesn’t get far unless there’s a wide spread insurrection.
public.takeover @ 123
Public Campaign Financing…until they find the loopholes. *sigh*
Wigwam @ 126,
Do you remember the PNAC letter to Clinton back in 1997(I believe). Bill “William the Bloody” Kristol have been jonesing for war since then. No one seems to want to bring that up. They wanted the Iraq war 10 years ago!!
Toby Wollin @ 146
I like his bio!
Elliott @ 25
Loo Hoo is in San Diego or Orange County?
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 159
And all they got was this lousy occupation.
NorskeFlamethrower @ 125
I agree 100 percent with this post. We have to sit down and think through what exactly Pelosi and Reid are afraid of. I’m not one to throw in the towel on them until I know what kind of knife is sticking in their back and who’s holding it. It just makes no sense. They read the polls as well as we do — probably better. They know the pukes are on the ropes and that no amount of corporate money will save them in 2008. So the Dems can do without, and not give more hostages to fortune.
I just don’t understand it. Maybe it is, as some have posted, the battered wife syndrome. After what the Pukes did to Cleland and Kerry, they got scared. Bullying seems to have worked. That’s why Norske is dead right on this. I’ve been re-reading Hannah Arendt, who explains how they did it. We have to fight them from the ground up.
Hit Stark’s e-mail page and said that he was correct in what he said and that Pelosi was a disgrace to her office. Then said the same thing in her Speaker’s e-mail.
(It does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy when the speaker of the house forces a member of the same party to apologize for speaking the truth about the president, and several members of that same party, however marginally members they are, vote for censure. Especially when the other party has said the same, or worse, without consequences of any kind.)
wagonjak @ 75
Ya know….sometimes I get tired of shit I see here that I think is a bit over the top, but this SHIT you wrote here – it’s not warranted. Just back off.
oh… and while i’m pissed and ranting…
wtf is pelosi endorsing and fund raising for al wynn for?
why is she against donna edwards?
Yep. The English language is quite robust in terms…
robust … an apt word for the language. I like it.
Nancy shouldnt even be third in line to run my local Brittney Spears fan club.
dakine01 @ 155
I think Clyburn is the Majority Whip, and Rahmbo is the next in line right after him.
Wordsmith @ 163
I think this punk is long gone.
We need the ghost of Tip O’neil to visit Nancy.
My wish [click the pics for videos - hang with the last one for the punchline]
NorskeFlamethrower @ 125
Worth repeating. Man, this is precisely what I’ve been saying since about 1994, when it was clear that Clinton and the other “Dem leaders,” many of whom are still “leading” today, were only concerned about Conglomerate interests.
Rather than being disillusioned, as many here have said they are, I find this all extremely exciting. People are being forced to reveal their true colors, and the idea of going after people who call themselves Democrats, but constantly undermine Liberal efforts, actually has support now from much of the Liberal base.
After many years of being chastised by fellow Democrats for saying these things, I must say this is very refreshing and encouraging.
However, we’re just getting ramped up and really need to grow our numbers, and that’s why FDL and Blue America are so important.
ATTACKKKKKKKK!!!
Here’s a suggestion on how we can get our message across.
Jump into Cafe Press and work up some bumper stickers that say “IMPEACH PELOSI” and “IMPEACH REID” and send them by the hundreds to both Pelosi and Reid and to the other democratic asshats that are holding us under Bush’s yoke.
And wagonjak -
Wildfires have now forced 321,000 people from their homes, California officials say
From CNN just now
raven @ 168
Came to a g*n fight with a slingshot :)
selise @ 154
Ok but forced how?
Somebody ought to censure Pelosi for pretending to be a Democrat. She is truly betraying her own party. I’m disgusted.
raven @ 167
Bummer….I’m itching for a fight….. :)
1,635 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Wake the fuck up, Firepups, this next election isn’t even gunnaa take place if we don’t stop bein’ “good Germans” and respectin’ a rule of law and democratic procedure that hasn’t existed for a very long time.
We have a corporate fascist government operating through unaccountable corporate entities with taxpayer funded mercenary armies already active inside the country and bein’ allowed to terrorize our own troops!!
I,for one, am not ready ta go quietly to the camps but I’m am beginnin’ ta understand what it musta been like for Germans in 1933…has anyone seen the new Ang Lee film Caution, Lust…if you haven’t ya better.
KEEP THE FAITH, THERE IS NO COMPROMISE WITH EVIL!!
NorskeFlamethrower @ 128
Norske, this comment and your comment at 6:54
last night should be plastered on walls all over this nation, and seen on op-ed pages in every newspaper. You have put profound truth into language every person in America can understand. You have true power to reach the hearts of people everywhere. Both you and Hugh need much broader exposure.
miguel @ 145
I second this sentiment. and I agree with most on this thread today. The anger is strong in me right now. Therefore I will not comment much, but will continue to enjoy all your comments and outrage. I feel it too.
ADM @ 166
okayyyy adam. we git yer point, as it were.
here. have a bite a this here apple.
albert fall @ 20
Recently, Ray Duray offered quite a different opinion about Pelosi and Glenn Greenwald offered a similar opinion about Diane Feinstein. That opinion being roughly that they are protecting the incomes and country-club standings of their wealthy husbands.
Ann in AZ @ 158
He is NOT my guy – my guy is Mike Arcuri – but Maurice is just an incredible guy – looks you right in the eye when you talk to him, always has good cogent arguments and hates Bush and Cheney. He also is working very hard to bring back the Fairness Doctrine and I certainly support his efforts in that area.
http://www.house.gov/hinchey/issues/mora.shtml
Cancer Cures @ 152
Doesn’t that make matters worse instead of better? It’s self-defeating. OTOH, I doubt that Nancy will pay much more attention to Cindy Sheehan than Prez Bushie did. She’d just be another fly to swat at, IMO.
Wordsmith @ 174
It’s givin’ Glenn Beck a chubbie.
Wordsmith @ 178
oh shoot!
Cancer Cures @ 152
I don’t think that will happen in Pelosi’s district. San Francisco is prolly the most progressive city in the country. Or very close. But, of course, there is a ton of money there. I am starting to confuse myself.
BobbyG @ 186
BobbyG!!!! You just made me throw up in my mouth a little. :(
Wordsmith @ 177
Come back tonight…*g*
public.takeover @ 123
Thank you so much. I never even heard the title. The thesis does not surprise me and it accurately predicted the disaster that “reconstruction” was for the former slaves.
I completely agree about public financing for elections. Sara over at tnh has an idea about donations for national elections being restricted to two dollars from each registered voter. That’s an approximation on my part.
OT, wasn’t quite sure what you meant by “oligarchy.” IMVHO, we’re already there in an economic sense and again imvho, there’s no going back in a global economy.
NorskeFlamethrower @ 178
Git sum butter…you’re on a roll!
For anyone who thinks the above comments are extreme or crazy:
What is false out of those comments?
Yo wagonjack pimple. Want to bounce?
“Stark was told before the vote was taken that should he not apologize, the vote to censure would pass. According to his office, that is the only reason he apologized.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2007 Congressional Democrats!
Powerless to stop the Bush-Cheney Administration, but utterly ruthless and effective when it comes time to attack a Democrat for saying anything that might hurt Republican feelings.
Hold your applause, they’ll be here all
weekyear!raven @ 175
a threat to his constituents?
… we will fuck with your cd, you will never get an earmark again, we will do everything we can think of to cause harm to your constituents. and then we will primary your ass.
?
Chris @ 151
One problem here…Cindy isn’t running against Pelosi in the Primary. She’s going to oppose her in the General Election. Now she may be hoping that a weak Republican comes in to oppose Pelosi but draw some votes away from her…and that would leave a three-way race in which she would prevail with about 35% of the vote.
I’m wondering if Pelosi’s constituents are also getting increasingly flustered and disappointed with her failure to move the Democratic agenda forward. I’m not sure that Sheehan is necessarily the best progressive to run against Pelosi, but if this continues she may just actually win a split race. Makes one wonder if the Republicans will actually run a vigorous race, and try to pick up her seat as well. They might find someone from the Business community sort of like a Campbell, or a Pete Wilson, that might actually get the plurality needed. Or will they prefer the status quo and essentially run a nobody?
Chris @ 194
So, did it pass?
selise @ 195
Sounds about right selise.
I think all this humor is a safety mechanism. Catharsis. We’re laughing instead of crying. But some of us are saying: Now what? What’s next?
Howie has another interesting statistic — according to Progressive Punch, of the 20 House Democrats who vote with the Bush Administration most frequently in tough roll call votes, 10 are freshmen recruited by Rahm Emanuel. Altmire, Carney, Donnelly, Ellsworth and Shuler are all on that list.
Another reason to recruit Diane Benson in Alaska for Blue America. Both of her competitors for the Democratic Party slot to run against Don Young in November, Jake Metcalfe and Ethan Berkowitz, openly and fully support the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to big oil for drilling. Benson does not. Additionally, Berkowitz, the DCCC favorite in this race, fails to even mention the Iraq War on his campaign page, and when confronted on progressive talk radio in Anchorage last week about war with Iran, refused to take a position on that issue.
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 157
In fact, in 1996 many of that same bunch had written up a similar plan for Netanyahu. It was called “A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A….._the_Realm
And thanks folks for your thoughts on my daughter. Still haven’t heard from her. I’m about ready to jump on a plane for San Diego.
As I told my son when he was little (3 or 4): It takes a big man to say I’m sorry.
Now that Rep. Stark has apologized, I expect a few more:
1. Cheney for using obscene language while visiting the Senate.
2. The Bush officials who outed Valerie Plame to Valerie Plame, her husband and children.
3. The Bush administration for lying about the WMD’s to the entire nation and our servicemen/women in particular.
4. McConnell and others to the family of the boy who made the ad supporting SCHIP for smearing them and causing them more stress.
When will we hear these apologies?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 192
Methinks he’s gone! See raven above.
kdh22 @ 198
Ok, I’m done. Jus tryin to keep it real, compared to what!
Re: Ann in AZ @186:
If Sheehans campaign were to pick up steam (in a way that Lamonts did), what do you think Speaker Pelosi would do? Sheehan’s base will be entirely anti-war – What would Pelosi do to counter this in a campaign?
Re: marymccurnin @189:
If it is so progressive, how can Pelosi expect to continually get backing when her actions as speaker demonstrate an absense of progressive achievements?
Adie @ 182
Maybe you were trying to be funny. I don’t know. My point was I liked the word robust for the english language. I really didn’t think it was worth commenting on. I just tossed it out. If I offended you in some way, well, I don’t think I need apologize. But I will say I’m sorry you took it in some way that offended you. If you were just trying to be funny in some way that went way over my head, never mind.
Wordsmith @ 173
Much of this is in San Diego. The major problems are down in Poway, along Witch creek, although there are multiple fires. Orange County seems to have about 5K or so evacuated, in the south east quadrant of hte Santiago fire (I am thankfully just northwest of it: close but the wind is on my side).
Google map of Orange County fire
Google Map of San Diego fires
These may help figure out where things are. Kiddo, I’m thinking about your daughter. I’m probably too far north to try and help call in or whatever, but I’m thinking of you guys and Loo Hoo and the rest of us near fires…
A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.
–Michael Kinsley
Never more true.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 193
uh oh! heee’s baaaack…. ;->
Hi OKK. Did you see the links I put at #110?
Every logo on the map has a link attached. I suppose it might help locate evac. centers and the like. We hope everything turns out safely for your daughter. You guys are in our thoughts.
I am sickened. I am totally sick of Democrats and their cowardice. Enough.
My humble take on the Democratic Party’s gamble, led by Pelosi–they don’t need to keep folks who post at FDL, or atrios or kos happy. We won’t vote for their opponents. They’re playing to the mythical swing voter, those they believe tilt elections. They don’t even need our money.
It’s a risky gamble because alot of us do the gruntwork during campaign and we do donate money as well as our time.
I’m so fed up I’m not giving any money, but much more significantly, for the first time in my life, I’m not likely to vote. I’m not going to bless this process choosing the lesser of two evils.
So they may gain a swing voter but they’re losing folks like me. That’s the dangerous poker game Pelosi plays.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 201
Could you contact the local PD, give them her name/description so they can trace her ?
raven @ 204 –
keeping it real is good. if i’m off on the wrong track, appreciate being challenged on it.
Biodun @ 198
I think you can make that all of us! For this crowd, anyway.
Cancer Cures @ 152
Actually Lieberman didn’t have to slide very far to the right. He was pretty much a Neo-Con from the get-go.
On fact, Robert Kagen of the PNAC was a little surprised that Lieberman was selected by Gore to be his running mate. In this 2000 article Kagen points out a whole slew of distinctions that Lieberman had with Clinton-Gore in foreign policy….and I don’t even think he mentions Joe Lie’s extreme positions on Israel!
http://www.newamericancentury……ec_026.htm
I also am beginning to wonder about Lieberman’s so-called liberal domestic and civil rights positions historically as well. I think that Joe’s “liberal” days are more of a historical fiction wrought deep in the past…and he really hasn’t done much in that regard for almost two decades.
peanutbutter @ 206
Here is another map and some satellite photos.
ADM @ 207
ok. ere ya’go. /s
no offense intended, none perceived. honest.
let’s all just back off and down. ‘kay? ;->
(((peace)))
Oklahoma kiddo @ 192
Yo wagonjack pimple. Want to bounce?
OKK – Please know that my thoughts are with you and that I hope that your daughter is just fine.
There’s not a whole lotta things worse than having to worry about your child and being unable to do anything about it.
Hang in there.
selise @ 214
Heck, I don’t really know. It just seemed to me what the dude said was heartfelt, both times.
BobbyG @ 186
It just proves what an idiot Beck is, because parts of SD and surrounding areas going up in smoke are usually reliably Republican.
noblejoanie @213,
Yeah, the democratic party did this in 2000 and those who got turned off from the democrats because of their rightwing-appeasing, ended up voting Green or not voting at all. If the democrats cannot achieve mandatory goals of ending the war and putting some fucking oversight into governance, I’m not going to vote for those rightwing-appeasers again. Plain and simple.
This is from an email from a friend in San Diego. I kinda don’t think the authorities can do much with missing persons reports right now
Oklahoma kiddo — Hoping your daughter’s ok.
The Dems devoured one of their own for speaking his mind on S-CHIP? Quelle surprise….
raven @ 205
hehe :)
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 220
Hmmm, how many Rep. have called on Beck and Rush to apologize ?
Reid/Pelosi/Rahm are chickens in a Cockfight !
1,365 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen oklahomakiddo:
Hold on, Brother kiddo, our thoughts and prayers are with you and lahoma and of course yer daughter…keep us posted, keep talkin to us and remember that there are so many of us out here that we might ta be able ta pick ya up and pass ya on out there without even touchin the ground.
KEEP THE FAITH BROTHER
raven @ 217
i thought today he sounded humliated, not contrite. but maybe i’m just projecting.
Cancer Cures @ 205
Pelosi’s constituents are not who everyone thinks they are, meet them …
… Here
Edit: I mean the people she panders to
Bustednuckles @ 169
Or someone with the temperment of LBJ–a take no prisoners Dem.
Adie @ 209
Sure did Adie. ;0)
Chris @ 193
And this is how Nancy teaches her object lessons: Stick your head up and say something that she has not vetted already and it WILL get cut off.
So, what have other Democratic representatives in the House learned? The only leader who is allowed is Nancy.
Thus endeth the lesson.
Shell @ 210
This morning I listened to Valerie Plame discuss with Larry Johnson discuss how the CIA and the government left her family unprotected, now Pete Stark having to apologize for accurate comments. I’m sickened by the notion that our government and policy makers haven’t heard the term I GOT YOUR BACK. Yes I’m screaming.
Ann in AZ @ 115
No.
But with enough support from the blogs, she might throw the seat GOP. And that would be good enough for me.
If we can’t make an example out of Pelosi, then it’s obvious that all blogs will ever do is generate angry calls to the receptionist. And the corporate democrats can continue to ignore us – pretty soon they will just outsource the answering angry calls to india.
Bonkers @171,
Your comment mirrors exactly what Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela’s law partner, said in 1948 when the Nationals came to power in South Africa and instituted Apartheid. All of his colleagues in the ANC were horrified at the prospect at the election result, but Sisulu actually almost welcomed it pointing out that with this new situation, we will know who are our true friends and true enemies. You can read about this in Mandela’s autobiography, “Long Road To Freedom”. Recommended.
Ann in AZ @ 230
yea, my former commander in chief was a real piece of work. “I won’t send ‘merican boys to do what South Veetnamesee boys should be doing for themselves”.
john in sacramento @ 229
Pelosi/Reid/Rahm should remember how BushCo treated Daschle and know that they will meet the same fate !
Cancer Cures @ 205
She can’t. I don’t think she will win again if we find someone to run against her in the primary. And I think Feinstein is in trouble, also. TeddySF would know more. I lived in SF for years but have been gone awhile. I don’t think that Sheehan has a prayer in the general election against anyone. IMHO, I feel she is a good person but not qualified to be congresswoman. We need someone most astute and solid.
Our Madam Speaker is either very afraid to lead, has been “gotten to” by this corrupt administration, or both.
Either way, it spells disaster for what is left of our civil liberties, our Constitution and our proud military under the dark cloud that is this Presidency.
Nancy, if you can’t/won’t lead…Step down.
Harry. Same goes for you.
marymccurnin @ 238
I totally agree. In fact, I think she’s jumped the shark.
Me-also-thinks the Founding Fathers are probably turning in their graves. God rest their souls.
Petrocelli @ 212
Did that. But they are overwhelmed over there. ;0)
Alice @ 71
A perfect response.
I’ll say this for Sheehan: Her ads will almost write themselves. I’d have a friggin’ field day if I was her ad agency.
selise @ 228
Yep. I thought so too. My two cents…
Oklahoma Kiddo, I read on a San Diego site that cell phone text messages are going through but not calls. It sounds odd but have you tried to text her?
JPL @ 246
That was the case during Katrina as well.
Come on, Californians, dump Pelosi.
These people can’t wait to get complete control of the congress and the white house so they can become REPUBLICANS!! They cash big checks from Haliburton, At$t and Verizon too.
Remember the democrats who kept us in Vietnam for YEARS.
Dear Nancy,
Go fuck yourself.
Very truly yours…
new thready goodness upstairs….mmmm
Surely, and infuriatingly, worth noting, is the simple bottom line that the random voters who responded to the CNN Quick-Poll are better human beings than most of the pieces of shit we spent so much time electing in the mid-terms.
MADAM Speaker; as far as I’m concerned not only are you officially part of the problem we’re having salvaging something from this bloody little $400 billion dollar three-penny-opera; you are now complicit in it.
JPL @ 246
Yes. So far nothing.
Gee… all you guys are swell. ;0)
R U Effing kidding me? This Congress cannot successfully pull off a censure vote against Alberto Gonzales for lying through his teeth to congress. Yet they will censure a Democratic congressman for telling the truth? WTF? Do we live in bizarro world? Pelosi blows big time.
Oklahoma kiddo —
How old is your daughter? I know my kids (at about the time they left home, and several years after!) had no idea of how worried I would be if they didn’t call! I have sometimes called my kids (if I was in a dangerous situation) to tell them I was OK, and they said, “Huh?”
Hopefully, your daughter is fine and just didn’t think to call!
(((( Kiddo ))))
Anything going on with the Southwick nomination? Almost afraid to ask.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 242
Keep checking all means of communications you have with her – emails, FB, etc. Or any friends in the area.
You’ve probably already done this, I just wish I could help more.
We have been calling our Politicians’ offices to make them aware of the need to send help from Canada … STAT !
Any Canadians on FDL, please call your MPs, MPPs and PMO !
dave @ 249
Nancy responds…
Dear ______:
Thank you for your concerns. Rest assured that I continue to work hard for you and the country and I appreciate your feedback.
Enclosed please find a signed, glossy photo of me at work in front of a wall of law books.
Sincerely,
Rep. Nancy Pelosi
I’m tired of this Bullshit !
I live close to San Fran and I want her dumb ass out of congress. How can we start a primary campaign against her IMMEDIATELY.
Weakness against this disgusting administration is not to be tolerated ANY MORE !
Toby Wollin @ 183
I would agree to that he talks the talk,but…. He’s been totally stonewalling his constituents on impeachment, a topic upon which he does a verbatim recitation of the party line. And like many of the better Dems he conveys this idea that he’s been fighting the good fight alone and unsupported, absolutely refusing to acknowledge the
extremely well informed and committed activists in his district who are begging for his leadership.
I know Nancy represents San Francisco — is it a wealthy part of SF? (As if there are any OTHER types!)
Someone there should get on the ball!
Sadly, I live close (Sacramento), but not close enough.
Preserving comity in the house = cocksucking whining repubs.
((((OK Kiddo, daughter, and Lahoma))))
Good luck, OK.
And Hugh, thanks for your contributions here.
IrishJim @253,
Well said.
kirk murphy @ 262
Kirk, I read your description of the fires in Cal. last night … your words painted a more graphic picture that the MSM. I hope they can get everyone out of harm’s way … once again first responders are displaying the best qualities of humanity.
Bustednuckles @ 9
what does this reference mean please?
Hi y’all. Been “working hard” all morning; this was the first I had heard of the leadership-forced apology. I’m appalled enough that I just came back from Rep. Stark’s website, where I wrote a message of support, and I hope, encouragement.
This is so sad, not to mention infuriating.
What would I do w/o FDL? Not only would I not know what’s going on, I would just be frustrated with not knowing what I could do about it. When I’m off tomorrow, I plan to do more emailing and some telephoning.
Back to work in a minute – thanks Jane, you do such great work. When Cassie becomes president, (if not before), you’re in line for a (real) Medal of Freedom.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 201
OKK – Where precisely in San Diego does she live. Most of the fires are on the outskirts, still well outside the city limits. These are spots generally referred to as East County (Jamul, Hemet, Ramona) or North County. It hasn’t even yet reached the area that was devastated in the 2003 fires (El Cajon, Crest, Lakeside). maybe she’s involved in some volunteer work at a shelter or something.
geez, it should have never gone to a vote! period.
I’m disappointed in Speaker Pelosi.
why? can anyone answer that? why? have they drank the kool aid too? godammit
cinnamonape @ 195: Hm. I’d forgotten (didn’t realize? didn’t know?) that Sheehan was challenging Pelosi outside the party (I probably should’ve remembered/known; it was why she’s been kicked off DailyKos — in fact, I wonder if that’s why there’s been little on the front page of DK (diaries aside) about the Stark dust-up). That does change the dynamics some; I think Sheehan would be on stronger footing running from within the party. I wonder what the rest of the story on her decision to do *that* was.
raven @ 196: No, the vote to censure was cut off by the success of the motion to table (which is to say, it wasn’t voted on, so it didn’t pass). That’s an answer to the simple question you asked; I get the sense there may be something between the lines I’m missing (why yes, I *do* get that a lot, why do you ask?).
Toby Wollin @ 232: I’d have an easier time accepting Democratic “leadership” if it came with effective defense of Democratic priorities or messages (and I can read your analysis a couple different ways — either approving or disapproving — so my comment won’t be responsive to either of the underlying messages you may be trying to impart).
Had to go outside for awhile. I called Stark’s D.C. office to voice support and asked why about the apology. She said that Boehner also threatened to bring the censure vote up every day until Stark apologized. I asked about the board that Rep. Steve King drug out onto the floor of the House, which was directly slapping a sitting member of the Senate. Were we going to demand an apology from him?
She said, ‘well, we’re not as catty as the Republicans.’ Ya know – I’m just not sure how to reply to that. In fact, I laughed.
I don’t care one bit that Pelosi is the first woman Speaker of the House! She has to go. I wrote her last week encouraging her to step down as Speaker. She has provided no leadership, allowed the radical Republican administration to continue the war and the shredding of the Constitution and is now demeaning fellow Democrats who have the courage to speak truth to power. What may have been seen at the time as a “victory” for women has proven to be a disaster for the nation. Pelosi has to go!
Bustednuckles @ 169
Better yet: Phil Burton – her alleged mentor – but I think her true mentor is Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain
RBG @ 130
What, the quarter jar is full or something from last night? *G*
[RBG Note; I personally made some contributions yesterday and will undoubtedly make more in the very near future. But I see no reason to besmirch good people by associating them with evil ones.]
I shall refer to myself as a Stark Democrat from now on……..
MN USA @ 202
Yes, called Pat Leahy a m******f*ck** as I recall. Not one Republican stoodd up to denounce this…an obvious violation of the Senate Rules that prevent members from defaming one another.
And Bush, for promising to fire the ones responsible. And what about that waste of organic matter, Darrell Issa, that used the shelter of his Congressional position to defame Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson. He can’t get sued for things stated on the House floor, even if it’s slanderous lies.
OKK:
If you are around yet, have you looked at calitics.com? They seem to have quite detailed, up to date info there.
kittykitty @ 265
red headed step child definitions from Urban Dictionary
I’ll bet Stark’s helpless groveling had Dubya very, very amused.
at least the censure did not pass
perris @ 90
ahhh, a clear thinker, how refreshing! so… how do we get them to do that? anybody read the article on a national strike on election day in the last Harper’s? not a bad idea. really. not a bad idea.
This is so depressing. I didn’t have the heart to call more than one senator (Inouye) re: Dream Act. I don’t know. I’m going to India for a month or so and I am going to read the Hindu Times to get an objective view of what’s going on in this country. I give up for now. I don’t think anything can stop this juggernaut because 90 % of our politicians are owned by the corporations. They are all on the same side….and it’s not our side. Shit! I’m really discouraged.
Good Lord!
When we have to run CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS to win elections to win the HOUSE; what do we expect? These are CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS. Take your pick; run liberal Democrats and lose the HOUSE or run conservative Democrats and keep the HOUSE. Please choose.
Pelosi has it all figured out. She doesn’t have to do anything. Ignore the progressive base of the Democratic Party and hold the hands of radical Republicans in the spirit of bipartinship. Just another example of why a parlimentary form of government is superior.
cinnamonape @ 274: “[Cheney] called Pat Leahy a m******f*ck** as I recall. Not one Republican stoodd up to denounce this…an obvious violation of the Senate Rules that prevent members from defaming one another.”
Actually, the consensus seemed to be that Cheney’s words to Leahy were, “Go fuck yourself.” I suppose FourthBranch would’ve said he *was* a member of the *Senate*/legislative branch for purposes of *that* legal question, then, had Leahy slugged him, would’ve claimed executive privilege/immunity…
And, of course, Cheney said afterwards it “felt good” to say that.
I’m impressed Leahy managed to escape having to avoid apologizing for being told to go fuck himself, given political double standards these days…
I’m officially disgusted. The Democrats in Congress are so unconnected to the rest of the country that they might as well not bother showing up at those townhall meetings. Nothing said there appears to make any impression.
Sorry to go off topic, but you gotta love this.
:o)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/…..7520071022
All the shit is steadily being tied together, anyway. Which is fine with me, since I firmly believe it will make it easier to hang it all around the repubs necks in 2008.
Bluetoe….
What does it entail to get someone to Primary against Pelosi. The website http://www.primarypelosi.com is completely available. I am interested in starting it up if someone like Cindy Sheehan or anyone else is interested in running a Primary against Pelosi.
Does anyone have any information on this ?
Tanbark @ 286
I say we give it to ‘em!!!
Knut Wicksell @ 161
I think you’re on the right track. It’s not completely their financers, although that has to be part of it. No, they are being “blackmailed” or something, either consciously or unconsiously. I think they are up to their necks in the kind of fear that BushCo sprays around, only they know who has their hands on the spiggut [and their fingers on the trigger?]
Look at Iraq and Afghanistan, the World Trade Center, global warming, our economy, New Orleans.
That landscape is an image of the soul of whoever is holding the Democrats hostage. The destruction, the expense, the fear … look at Blackwater.
The Democrats are scared shitless of the Bush Administration and the Cheney Pentagon and surveillance networks. They’ve got something on everybody, and if they don’t, they’re willing to run roughshod over our rights, our laws, our society and do whatever they want to get their way (and keep their public credibility).
That’s what the Stark apology was about. That’s why Pelosi is the speaker. The puppetmasters are pulling the strings.
Look, it’s time to beat the assholes at their own game by using a completely unexpected strategy: Register Republican (yes, you heard me right) so that you can vote for Ron Paul in the primary (you can switch back or re-register as an independent the day after).
Why would you do this? If we can get enough people to vote for Paul, we’d be ambushing the Thugs with *one of their own*, the one guy they think doesn’t stand a chance, the one who is avidly ANTIWAR, the one who wants to restore constitutional rights, the one who feels that the Executive brance is subserviant to the Legislative branch!
Not only would a Paul candidacy fracture the GOP (how many of these pro-war nutcases could bring themselves to vote for him) and likely make it a “non-party” for a long time to come, it would also force the Dems out of their “I’m more pro-war than you are” macho posturing! They’d also be forced to run against no warrant wiretapping and torture and the rest of the horseshit that has become all too common during the reign of the idiot boy-king.
Besides that, crowds of their base leaving the Democratic party in disgust might actually send a message to the Pelosiites, as in “we won’t stand for your chiding of the Starks of the party any more!!!”.
public.takeover
You are overreacting. I have things in my closet that I don’t want in the public, but I would announce them in a heartbeat if it meant that Bush and Co would be prosecuted for their crimes.
This is a case of we the people electing spineless cowards. Now is the time for us to prune away these withered , dead limbs so that new fresh buds can start growing.
Jimi @ 286
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_cand.htm
More specifically
http://www.sos.ca.gov/election…..e_2008.pdf
It has to be clear to the American people that wealthy special interests are controlling our government and our media.
There must be a way to push the differences to a crisis, a clear dispute on one naked issue: democracy or oligarchy. Get the people riled up for change through crisis.
yeah, impeachment hearings. so what if they don’t have the votes now to impeach? after the hearings and their implicit expose of the administrations wrongdoings, they WILL have the votes, and if they don’t, well at least they wont be the spineless worms (redundancy i know) they are at the moment. IMPEACHMENT hearings NOW> don’t vote for ANYONE who doesn’t support that notion.
NATIONAL STRIKE ON ELECTION DAY
Chris @ 283
You only have to apologize to Darth if he shoots you in the face. TGFSFs.
If Rep. Stark allowed the vote of censure to take place, what would have been the practical fallout for him?
If nothing more than a black mark next to his name, I’d have allowed the vote to go forward and wear that black mark proudly–like a decorated soldier receiving a medal for putting himself in harms way to save others.
Brisingamen @ 16
Yes it could if enough people got behind the effort. The internet is that powerful, but I doubt if we can muster the will to attempt it. First of all the left is split by issues. We probably could not agree on one candidate but would have greens, libertarians (though they are not of the left) earth firsters and whatever picking their own people.
I fear we are stuck with whoever the Dems pick. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t explore getting something going for 2012.
So Pelosi is strong enough to castrate a fellow member of the California delegation when he stands up for children’s health insurance? But not strong enough to get the S-CHIP veto overriden. She is incompetent — surely she could have done REAL armtwisting to make it happen — threaten to start cutting federal jobs in the districts of the Republicans who wouldn’t switch votes. You know, the kind of thing LBJ would have done.
As for the war, as others have said here, why should she let war funding onto the floor? Only because she wants the other side to give her permission to go to the bathroom first. She needs to be fired.
No images allowed?
It’s time to start asking all Dems in Congress a very public question: Have you or your family been threatened by this administration?
A New Axis of Evil now exists:
Lieberman/Hatch – Pelosi/Reed
(AKA Arnie)
here’s the link for that Harper’s article on a national strike. check it out folks. it’s a doable thing that would wake folks up. This IS like Germany in the thirties. Impeachment hearings and a strike! Let’s not take our begging bowls to this morally bankrupt party anymore.
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/10/0081720
I’m so damned sorry about this. If the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States doesn’t have your back, you are well and truly screwed. And there has never been a question about how Nancy would come down on this.
It has been apparent for a good long while (what, 9 months) that Nancy has her own back in mind. Misguided as it is to think that way, she has built these shocking defeats on her own. She doesn’t need Hoyer or Emanuel chirping in her ear to be spineless.
I argued last week that Stark would be made to grovel and weep, the whole time hoping against hope that Nancy would wake to an epiphany on Saturday or Sunday and shape up.
There is no less a crisis of leadership now than there was under a Republican-controlled house, and there is an argument to be made that under this Democratically controlled House, things are worse. I’m not making that argument, but I can see the case beginning to unfold, this morning, in the well of the House of Representative of the United States.
Damnit to hell.
So sorry to hear this.
ok, folks. pardon the p.s. But take a minute to go to
http://www.libertynewstv.com
and watch Pax Americana 2031 for its brief 10 minute or so run time. Send the link to anyone you know who’s creeped out by all this. Inspirational.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 43
I know how you must feel. In the last major earthquake in the LA area, my daughter was there and I couldn’t find her. I called the Red Cross and eventually she returned my call.
Pelosi has to be the Trojan Mare.
Pink’s “Dear Mr. President”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9eDJ3cuXKV4
Madame Speaker is nothing more than Denny Hastert wearing a skirt and red lipstick.
Dirty MFs. Rove couldn’t have organized a better Congress to suit his purposes, one being to discourage the progressive wing of the Democratic party.
What is the dem leadership afraid of…what does the GOP leadership have on them….and in fact on their own side….
No wonder Congress has a whopping 11% approval rating. IMHO that’s about 10% too high. Reid and Phewlosi have to go. Sooner rather than later. They have been utter failures in their feeble attempts at “leadership.”
Hiflyer @ 310
The GOP campfire cookout menu of Dem weenies on a stick and a favorite Pelosi dessert of O’so-sorry s’mores. Pelosi is still working towards the Brownies Miss Manner’s and Model Citizen Badges. Good news, she finished her petit point kneeler.
This is just insane.
The censure was introduced by John “small sacrifice” Boehner himself.
ANY apology, and I don’t think there should be one here, should have at least been tied to Boehner apologizing for his remarks.
The dems have ADD.
Dear Nancy,
You owe us an apology.
kittykitty @ 301
The article spoke of a “general strike”. Don’t think there’s much chance of that. A while ago I suggested a “Buyer’s Strike” where no one buys anything for one day. I thought it a risk free protest, but no one was interested. Don’t know if times have changed enough.
Supposedly Stark apologized because he believed he would be censured. What goes with being censured. Suppose he told them to take their censure and shove it. Would he be worse off?
The thing about Pelosi’s actions that is the most disgusting to me is that she equates US to the insane Religious Right. Just like the Beltway media, she thinks: “Well, THEY have their fringe group, and we have ours. They equal each other out.”
RE PETE STARK’S REMARK IN CONGRESSB ABOUT BUSH ‘AMUSEMENT’ AT IRAQ WAR
STARK WAS REFFERRING QUITE CORRECTLY TO THIS:
VIDEO : PRESIDENT BUSH laughing ABOUT IRAQ WAR
… about 1 minute long
Bush jokes about WMD’s at white House dinner in 2004
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjXPOxnu2N8
PPG
Just pulled into Bend from the VA in Portland and read this.
Fuck and double fuck and a hoisting of the middle mast to you georgie boy
P Glass says:
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Amen
Mod?
Thank you moderator my words are a pale palimpsest
when held up to the ugliness this administration oozes out or every pore.
Biodun @ 8
For more of the same vote Clinton.
For Progressive leadership vote Edwards.
selise @ 11
I wish it had been someone who could’ve given a great speech in defiance. Stark apparently has the right idea, but just couldn’t stand up to Pelosi.
Did she really have the votes to censure or did she bluff him?
I never cease to be underwhelmed by the democratic “leadership”.
selise @ 11
i’m not just offended. i’m pissed. royally pissed.
You are too kind, there are no words adequate for our anger
selise @ 164
She seems to have become a Stepford Speaker, completely in the hands of her male masters.
Biodun @ 198
Same plan we’ve had for a few years:
Fix the election system.
Take Congress.
Take the White House.
Fix America.
There are activists working on the election system (from state to state) and Rush Holt can do something in the House if he wants. The Senate is tougher.
Getting rid of AG Gonzales and exposing the politicization of the DoJ and their attempts to continue to rig elections was useful. Slowing them is always good, but whether we really stopped ‘em dead in their tracks isn’t yet clear.
On the Net we’re still working on real Progressive control of Congress.
It’s a long tough fight which requires patience and lots of money.
Just shameful. We just “took congress”, now we have to freakin’ take it AGAIN?!?!?!?!?
I left her a voicemail the other day.
After FISA I, I was over it. But this, this is a clear disconnect with voters….not good for the Dems at all. This is how we snatch defeat from the jaws of victory 101. Way to go nancy. Way to represent for women too. Oh thanks so much. You and hillary set us back with your pandering rich bitch ways.
Still there is an opportunity for someone to emerge and become the leader we so deperatly need. WHO is she the leader of??? We are “WE THE DAMN PEOPLE” doing OUR duty. Take that gavel away from her. She’s NO leader. :-|
P Hello Nancy only 11% of the American people have any faith in you folks.
For you to blast Rep. Stark for speaking the truth, only continues to demonstrate how you just are not getting it.
It’s too bad “censoring one of your own” isn’t “off the table”
I am soooo pissed at the Dems., even though I am one, I put together the following youtube video.
Satire: Nancy Pelosi And Harry Reid Trip Over Each Other To Kiss The President’s Ass!!!!! Youtube Video.
http://www.hillbillyreport.com…..cy-pe.html
How despicable, how utterly despicable of one soul-sick Nancy Pelosi of California.
I just watched the C-SPAN replay of both Rep. Stark’s original comments last Thursday and his apology today. Thankfully, I do not believe that Rep. Stark apologized to the American people in today’s brief statement – instead he apologized to his “colleagues,” “the president and his family,” and “the troops” in case he gave offense.
Rep. Stark – We, the American people, and I’m sure our volunteer military, took no offense whatsoever from your honest, truthful, moral comments of last Thursday. You couldn’t have been more authentically supportive of our troops, or our future as a nation, in those heartfelt comments. You pointed out clearly the utter hypocrisy of those pretending to care for “the children” while ignoring their fates a mere five or ten years later when they are (literally) getting “their heads blown off” because of an “illegal war” started and blindly maintained by the policies enacted by this Congress and this president.
I agree with pdaly’s comment above:
pdaly @ 295
However, what Rep. Pete Stark did today by apologizing in order to keep the peace [so important during a time of violent “war”] in his political party, is to demonstrate how much more of a mensch he is than are the “leaders” of his party or his vaunted “colleagues” who forced him to apologize for telling the truth on the floor of our House of Representatives. He decided that some amorphous Democratic “agenda” [presumably the endless and meaningless PR campaign re ‘Congressional success’ of Pelosi, Hoyer and Emanuel in hidden service to the Hillary Clinton camp, which can brook no dissent] should be protected from his truth-telling, and therefore deferred to party political pressure so as to remove himself, and thus the “insignificant” will of the American people and the truth about our Congress, from the center of attention and discussion in Washington.
So it’s back to see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, for the Democratic caucus and the muzzled Howard Dean. Nancy Pelosi figures the victims (unless they’re Cindy Sheehan) can do the heavy lifting of unearthing and exposing the crimes being perpetrated on us by our government, and that accountability and justice for those crimes can be permanently deferred, at her convenience. Nancy Pelosi’s got corporate CEOs to cater to and grandchildren to enjoy, and thus the rest of the American people, the Iraqi people, and our Armed Forces in harm’s way can all take a long walk off a short pier, led by Pete Stark, so that Pelosi’s “beautiful mind” can remain unperturbed.
After all, “the children,” “motherhood,” and “apple pie” are slogans that sell without requiring Nancy Pelosi to lift a single finger to help change our nation or the world for the better.
cahuenga @ 50
The infiltration started much earlier than that. Who brought us Emanuel, Carville, the DLC? When did the Democratic leadership make the leap to the right?
I think it goes back to Lieberman being used as the cat’s paw against Lowell Weicker in 1988, if not farther.
Jim Pence!!!! LOLOLOL
I have lost all respect for Stark. It is better to be censured by fools and idiots than to behave like a coward.
Fuck Rahm Emmanuel.