Absolutely infuriating

One thing that confuses me: It’s obvious Bush is going to have a pardon-fest between November and January, so why the priority on this? Just add them to the pardon list and get it out of the news.

Boxturtle (I’m clearly missing something)

Here we go again. Dirty rotten bastards.

Can’t risk disclosure of his own and Cheney’s et al criminality, irrespective of whether it could ever be prosecutable.

Well, Jane, I guess they’re tenacious little buggers.

And, no doubt, they’ve something to sweeten the deal, even for those we’ve ‘convinced’ …

SO?

Here we go … again … and again …

Or, in a word, ‘PATHETIC’!

no goddamned way

Maybe the ‘law’ is NOT a joke, but is it okay if I say that CONGRE$$ is a JOKE?

WTF? Time to man the phones again…!

Can’t risk disclosure of his own and Cheney’s et al criminality, irrespective of whether it could ever be prosecutable.

If he pardons, the cases are dismissed. No discovery, no depositions.

Boxturtle (Don’t think that’s it)

Maybe the ‘law’ is NOT a joke, but is it okay if I say that CONGRE$$ is a JOKE?

Congress is the opposite of progress. Credit where credit is due, the GOP has shown remarkable tenacity on this issue. I can’t recall the last time they worked this hard on anything.

Boxturtle (No man’s life, liberty or property is safe when congress is in session - Twain)

How do we remind Steny-the-fink and Jello Jay of which side they’re supposed to be on?
If I have to contribute for their excellent salaries and benefits, I’d like to get something for my money, and so far, that hasn’t happened.

Digg and Spotlight time.

The more persistent and sneaky the attempts, the more it proves we need to know exactly what the telecoms did and when. As well as what exactly were they promised, and by exactly who in the BushCo Administration. We need to know all the facts.

When did We the People become We the Corporations?

I’m guessing that Spitzer isn’t the only one they’ve got on tape.

These people are really starting to piss me off! I was seriously annoyed prior to this, but goddamn it, just who in the Fuck do they think they are? Special little Princes? Flash!!! from the front, assholes. Something about We the People…

But, but corporations are ‘people’ too … or ‘persons’ …

They just never have to suffer any consequence, they are virtual immortals.

So, maybe the ‘law’ is not a joke, but sometimes it behaves a perfect ass …

And MONEY is ‘free speech’… and it do talk …

Apologies for the o/t, Jane, but Christy s/b happy to see this glimmer of sunlight from over at Josh’s place:

DOJ - Alice Fisher OUT effective 23 May. (linky didn’t work)

I think the Republicans are basically in search of a precedent. They want to say to people like you and me: “See, Congress approved this. We-The-People signed off on corporate malfeasance and invasions of rights. Who says America didn’t agree with this?”

Corporations do not breathe air. They do not die. They do not observe human or Constitutional rights for air breathers. The have drones and operate like the Borg.

I’m guessing that Spitzer isn’t the only one they’ve got on tape.

That’s my operating theory.

Boxturtle (An interesting question would be what recordings were retained and by whom)

But the pittance we provide our ‘representatives’, with all the perks ain’t diddley in terms of what they are after …

Probably the undying gratitude of Bu$h CO is as good as money in the bank (unnumbered account, Swiss, please …)

Oh my goodness!

I forgot!!!

They are all being blackmailed …

It’s time to storm the Bastille.

Is it possible the Democrats want this same kind of power to go after the right wingers?

Hey Steny! Two names for your memory banks:

Al Wynn
Donna Edwards

Get the Picture?

Is it possible the Democrats want this same kind of power to go after the right wingers?

First, they get the left wing. Then the right wing. Then they come for us.

Boxturtle (Paraphrased. I forget the original quote)

I just e-mailed my congress critter, Mazie Hirono, and I sent her this link on FISA…!

Aaargh! Say it ain’t so. Is there anyone left on our side?

How about a kangaroo impeachment trial since we won’t get a real one? Convene “we the people” and lay out the case, one bit at a time. I nominate Hugh as prosecutor. He already has a list of charges.

if only!!!

Hey that’s great news, thanks Waccamaw!

MN Star Tribune on Alice Fisher

So?

If it’s blackmail then it ain’t gonna make any difference how many times we call or cajole or even beg …

If it’s mercenary then we’re not gonna be able to buy their loyalty …

And if they think we’re just stupid and don’t ‘get it’, because they don’t really owe us anything, then it’s all ego and greed and there is no way that they will ever agree with us …

jane-

i’ve been posting this for almost a week, crickets, and when i made calls, noone knew what i was talking about….about the gop plan to attach fisa, short blurb article…..

http://thehill.com/leading-the.....04-24.html

and this, too, dems want to attach unemployment aid…..is that still the case?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....eheadlines

but then i heard that fisa was NOT going to be attached. was going to be stand-alone bill…….

i’ll put the word out…….

We don’t have to get them to agree with us outright. We just have to get them scared enough to stall — just like we’ve been getting them to do for close to 2 years now. Bush gets out of office without the immunity in place, and he no longer has the pardon power? THAT has value.

1-800-450-8293

capitol switchboard

call and

’make new friends’ but keep the old one is silver and the other’s gold, um or pewter…..depends which side of the issue/aisle you’re callin’ and what you’re callin’ about……ha/.

If this happens, Steny’s got to go!

That’ll be the last straw for Pelosi, Reid and Rockefeller, too.

to the phones!

Had something to do with Gypsies, Poles, homosexuals, Jews, etc.

Maybe Rockefeller and Hoyer want immunity for themselves, based on what they knew, when they knew it, and what they failed to do about it.

Great. Jerry Lewis of CA, that crook who got saved from indictment by a BUSH housecleaning at the US ATTY office in LA, talking about FISA being a bonanza for trial lawyers.
the folks suing on this are from non-profits, not trial attorneys.

Scared of us?

I thought they were scared of the DARK SIDE.

Incidently, Christy, right after you set me straight this morning (;~D)

everything, toobzwise, here in Pittsbugh crashed.

You got serious connections, and I’ll think twice next time?

But seriously, what might we dop to give them pause (paws)?

Threatening their ‘next’ election is of dubious value, since they actually believe they are more intelligent and better-connected than we are.

Yep. That’s a famous saying. It appears on the Holocaust Memorial in Boston as well as other places. The one in Boston goes like this (many translations & versions of this):

They came first for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

jay rockefeller’s ’honey’ money-

Jay Rockefeller: Campaign Finance/Money - Contributions - Senate 2008

http://opensecrets.org/politic.....cycle=2008

The cable pundits continue to babble about Obama re: Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers the Weatherman guy.

Why aren’t they talking about the Keating Five and about McCain’s current violation of campaign finance laws?

Let me rephrase that:

What might we do that will ’stick’ or must we just engage in weekly or daily pep-talks?

By the way, what gives with Jay?

You beat me to it. I smell something very fishy when the crooked Jerry Lewis is so hot to get retroactive immunity passed.

Do the telecos have corporate hq’s in his district?

Otherwise, there may be a rock that needs turning.

“I wasn’t a Gypsy, so I did nothing.”
“I wasn’t a Pole, so I did nothing.”
”
”
Soon it was me, and there was no-one left to help.

It’s a sad to continue to learn our government is more criminal than the most vicious criminal on death row right now. Law breaking murderous criminals….

Assumes that at least some of the horses will not be outa the barn by pardon time.

ewww nuero at 37—”Maybe Rockefeller and Hoyer want immunity for themselves, based on what they knew, when they knew it, and what they failed to do about it.”

eww i’m just not sneaky-minded enough, i ALWAYS miss that part of it….always miss ’that part in the middle’….hmmm.

remember that the so cal R cabal has ties to Cheney.

Sorry for the OT - but Russ Feingold’s “Secret Law” hearing is being replayed on CSpan 3 right now. FYI.

rethuglican theme song, by Cher: “Gyp, seize, trample and thieve”

thank you christy!

i have put some effort into trying to figure out what our congress (especially the house leadership) has been doing to fuck us over on fisa. and i don’t think i’ve cut them much slack - i don’t think any of them are our allies (and i’m very much including pelosi and conyers in this).

but the whole purpose to figuring out (as best we can) what is going on is NOT so that we will rationalize giving up. it’s because knowledge and understanding are our greatest weapons. with them we can work to prevent (as much as possible) the lies from working on us - because pols like pelosi and conyers (even more than hoyers and jello jay) depend on being able to deceive us into thinking that they are on our side while they sell us out. and that is the only way they have to get our support (votes and activism) while also getting the institutional support they need (and i don’t just mean telcos here).

i wish to reject BOTH defeatism and the comfortable lies pelosi and conyers tell us.

peterboy at 38–pull him up on opensecrets.org

like my link at 41-i had that one already, from someone else when he first started backing immunity-i can’t pull up jerry lewis right now, but you can, tubes slow and sometimes it crashes my browser, too many windows to risk right now…..

would appreciate it if someone did……pretty please, and steny hoyer…….

bingo!

1,828 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:

First of all, thanx for the information…God do you do good work there sister!! What do you hear about any organized effort inside the House Dem Caucus to beat this back? Beyond makin’ sure that Mrs. McClinton doesn’t get the keys ta the car…how do we see to it that we get new leadership in both the House and Senate next January?

Thanx again for your work Citizen Hamsher…ya surely do present a commandin’ and reassurin’ presence on TV too!

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TAGETHER!!

thanks for the heads up, janet
if you haven’t all ready, you should read Christy’s livebloggin’ from earlier today.
Feingold’s Secret Government Law Hearing

Can’t risk disclosure of his own and Cheney’s et al criminality, irrespective of whether it could ever be prosecutable.

If he pardons, the cases are dismissed. No discovery, no depositions.

The only solution I can in this is post-tenure impeachment. Congress impeached, and tried, Grant’s Secretary of War Wm. Belknap, even after he resigned his office. The charges were heard and evidence of his corruption presented publicly as a consequence.

Belknap was not convicted (by one vote), but two-thirds of those that heard the trial believed he was guilty of the charges. And a large majority also believed the Senate held jurisdiction even after an individual leaves office since impeachment affects not only removal from THAT post, but in perpetuity, as well as denying the individual any position of “trust, honor or profit”. The latter Constitutional stipulation denies such things as contracts or federal assistance even as a private citizen.

I should point out that, even though the vast majority voted that they had jurisdiction those that voted against impeachment did so because they disagreed. So less than a third illegally vetoed the standard established by the majority, even though many agreed Belknap was guilty.

ditto

any organized effort inside the House Dem Caucus

see rush holt and the progressive caucus. i will hope from something from them because they are the only ones i’ve seen challenge the house leadership and win.

From Dan Froomkin’s blog:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....01315.html

(Question to Dan from) Ashland, Mo.: Has the Bush admininstration simply demonstrated the power of the executive to do what it wants when there is no public pressure to take a different course? Although the public is negative toward the administration, there are no large-scale demonstrations, protests, etc., demanding a different approach. Why? Doesn’t affect it on a personal level?

Dan Froomkin: Excellent question. I might add the relative lack of public reaction to my top-five list of things historians should focus on.

Certainly the fact that the only concrete, immediate cost of the war is being paid by volunteers (and their families) who are largely out of the public’s view is a big part of why there haven’t been widespread anti-war protests. But I’ve never quite understood the relative lack of organized oppposition — either grassroots or in Congress.

You’re very welcome.

Here’s the video link to watch it… I’m watching it right now! ;-)

1,828 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen Raven:

Yo Brother Raven, thanx for the post on the greatest outfit in the recent history of the US Army, the 1st Air Cavalry now known as the 1st Cav Airmobile. Oh man…ya surely do know how ta bring back the bittersweet memories, bro…my heart skips when I see pictures a those grunts. Do ya think anyone in the future will ever be able ta understand the cosmic importance of the “in-country” experience if they weren’t there?

Sigh…I think not too>

KEEP THE FAITH AND PAAS THE AMMUNITION, SOME A THESE YOUNGSTERS STILL NEED A KICK IN THE ASS AND A TOKE A THE GOOD STUFF!!

Although the public is negative toward the administration, there are no large-scale demonstrations, protests, etc., demanding a different approach. Why?

i think there is something else… we (and i definitely include myself in this) got side tracked by our completely reasonable desire to see bush repudiated in 2004. that those of us who called ourselves anti-war could support at pro-war, pro-military candidate to do so was our moral and intellectual failure.

we lost our way.

selise at 52–the way i see it, they can have our eyes and ears workin’ with em’ or against them…..

their choice……i offer information and relay my concerns, i listen back, then, depending on what i heard from them, i make a move. next issue, next time, same thing. over half the time they have not even heard of things i am telling them, so, i give links, i give references, etc……information is free, and noone can know it all……i prefer to keep thinking that way for now.

we are each others’ eyes and ears, and that is becoming a force to be reckoned with..one letter, one phone call, one person at a time…….how do you spell ’reckoned’?

i don’t want to get into it here, but a lot is starting to happen here, started tangibly growing this week…..more media, more people making calls, all by one person picking up the phone and reaching out…..the ball is rolling. and it’s only wednesday. it’s almost to the point that i won’t have to call in anymore to get it going, people are doing it, with the things that concern them…..that’s what it’s about…

it’s a beautiful thang…….

so, i do believe the calls and letters help it along. yep. i do.

We have a lunatic government that has put fear in our nation and most Americans are afraid to protest for fear the lunatics will retaliate. Sad.

Just have to say - who dresses this guy Rivkin? Lord, that’s the worst jacket and tie ever.

OT
Whitehouse up

Not a chance! I recall when Platoon came out I was active in a local Nam Vets group, LZ Friendly. We had a big Memorial Day campout with the Moving Wall and all these lifers were runnin around talking about what bullshit the bunker scene was because “we didn’t tolerate that in our unit”. My dyin ass.

Ah yes, Copeland Lowry, a lobbying firm with close ties to Jerry Lewis, lobbied for AT&T.

http://www.capitaleye.org/inside.asp?ID=220

Off-topic but can we please get up a letter-writing campaign to get that ASSHOLE CHris Matthews to SHUT THE FUCK UP about Jeremiah Wright?

I damn near threw my laptop through the TV screen just now.

yellowsnapdragon at 70—thanks, please see my 53 and 41

All I can say is that I would quite literally die without you guys. I love you all (even Raven).

garsh

sorry - i don’t buy that.

for the first anniversary of 911, i organized (with 2 others and of course lots of help - but the three of us were the lead organizers) the anti-war events for the day in our city. in addition to the events, i placed an anti-war ad in the second largest paper in MA (after the boston globe). it was my first fund raising effort and i raised almost $3000 in a very short period of time. people were coming up to me and asking to donate so that they could have their names added to the list.

january of 2003 was the first time i was lead organizer for bus transport from my city to one of the national ant-war protests. if i’d had know what the response was going to be i probably could have gotten 3x the number of people to DC. there were people calling from all over eastern MA looking for a way to get there. and i don’t need to tell you how many people turned out for the protests the following month?

there was such a hunger in this country for a different vision. it was palatable.

and we failed that vision.

Any other suggestions? I an 2 idiot Senators and a McBush Rep?

The cable pundits continue to babble about Obama re: Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers the Weatherman guy.

Why aren’t they talking about the Keating Five and about McCain’s current violation of campaign finance laws?

The media is making sure a corporate whore will be elected… :-(

“Keep the coffins out of sight.”

It’s a metaphor for everything the Neocons do - because they know How people are…

Isn’t that right, Back Room Steny?

When did you Forget that WE are in those coffins?

Who are you Serving in those dark and smoky corridors that you call Master?

Let’s keep Floodlights on that Weasel!

then to the foodlights!

Take dmac’s advice on call-ins and letter writing. She’s developing a record of influence

And Hannity: it is his only topic, til he throws in Ayres.

Citizen Raven, I need ta get connected with the brothers again…I been hidin’ behind work and family for these last few years. Time ta come outta the hooch and lend a hand…gunna get ta the VA Hospital here at Fort Snelling next week.

Give me a heads up if there’s anythin’ goin’ on, reunions and such…ya do great work there bro..

I know the feeling. Shut up already.(Chris Matthews) But they are not going to do that. They want to bring Obama down. All I can hope is that people are smarter than that. Say your prayers.

I damn near threw my laptop through the TV screen just now.

can’t watch (no cable and no stomach for it) - but still i expect that from mathews. what really infuriates me is what digby wrote..

nothing gets me so down as smart people writing such nonsense.

yellowsnapdragon–bill lowery, friend of jerry lewis, former member of appropriations committee with him, partner in copeland lowery, political contributions, so far, haven’t checked all of the states listed…..

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by.....first=bill

P.S. Raven

Had a Kiddo sightin’ outside the perimeter lately?

Peterr has a spanking new post up about Digging a Hole Big Enough For Two!

selise, I dropped off something you might find useful at the end of the Secret Law post.

My Green Beenie buddy in Champaign likes this one

http://www.hcvvo.org/

Negative contact. It’s one reason I like the other stuff like facebook so’s I can stay in touch with cats like Jonathon and James. Not many vets seem to be able to hang here for an extended period although Jonathon does lurk.

I’ve been on a bus to Washington DC myself and have protested here in Maine too. The point I was trying to make is OTHERS (not you and I and those who are here) are afraid to protest. As a whole, our nation is scared and there are some who don’t care and who are not effected and don’t give a flying rats ass. We care and we’re doing something about it. Has it been effective? Yes. Could it be better? Yes.

future leaders pac, hmm. story there?

Wish I could research more but must sooth cranky child.

And some people think protesting is a waste of time.

As a former employee of 3 of the top offending Telecoms; AT&T, MCI, and Verizon, I say no Telecom immunity deal without Impeachment. No If’s and’s or But’s. Period. End of Subject!

OT:
A primary challenger in IA-03 Ed Fallon, needs our help. He called me personally and asked for help. He is a true Progressive and is challenging a Bush Dog, Leonard Boswell. I just gave what I could til it hurt. Thank god for 1st quarter bonus.

Any help you could give will help the progressive cause. Peace Out.

thanks elliot, i just think people don’t realize how much they already know and that is enough to start it rolling. simple empowerment….i wrote a letter to jane, christy and siun stating that and what has happened here because of it…..and a thank you for what they do, don’t know if they got it or not. musta thought it was junk mail.

ignorance is bliss is the thing that is used to keep things the way they are, people are hungry for REAL information that they can use, at least that is what i am finding…..in all aspects of their lives……from gardening to how to get something changed that affects them that the government is doing.

remember the days when you could go to the library and get ONE BOOK on a subject and it would include, generally, just about anything you needed to know about the subject? and then you could dig deeper from there?

or a how-to book that you could actually make something from the instructions?

i think that kind of approach is the key. at least that fits with my style of doing things, it’s not a one-size fits all.

i don’t think people understand that when you call, they don’t ask you questions or challenge you, they are there to take down what YOU SAY……and request a written response……voinavich’s office doesn’t do email, they said because they have so many elderly constituents that don’t have the internet….un huh. maybe cuz email is so immediate, doesn’t fit with the plan, they write after it’s too late to change their decision…..

i’m not a guppy, i’m gettin’ it, a little more each day.

I agree with digby. I do think there’s a rivalry.
YMMV.

of course there are people who are scared. my point (which i concede was not made very well) is that 1) there where a lot of people wanting to protest or do something and 2) we didn’t do a good job of organizing to give people ways to act on that and 3) when people who are scared no longer see people out on the street - we aren’t showing them that it’s ok.

and that is a self-reinforcing cycle i don’t know how to break.

And some people think protesting is a waste of time.

and that is why we have to make it (and anything else we do) have other benefits - of community, of moral support and the feeling of being part of history.

how can we make it so that no one wants to stay home?

IT’s about time the congressional Progressives grow a set and stand up for the Rule of Law, the Constitution and the American electorate. Bush and Cheney are trying to coast….as they say: Let’s go Cheney ‘em!

yellow at 91–that’s ok, swing that child around in the air, nuthin’ stops crying like a laugh….or a hug…

i’ll be digging into it, next week, going out of town tomorrow for a while……i’ll let you know what i find.

i dug into lowery before, but can’t find where i put it……i remember, cuz it’s the same name as my surgeon….so, i already have stuff on him somewhere….

I dunno, I gave up in about 1974. Turned to local shit and tried to make an impact there.

First, they get the left wing. Then the right wing. Then they come for us.

Boxturtle (Paraphrased. I forget the original quote)

Rev. Martin Niemoller

We need more leadership with insight, wisdom, and experience like you have, Raven. I enjoy the Military perspective you can provide. IMHO.

irish jim at 93–did you let howie klein know about him?

his blog is down with tyranny

i have no reason to think there is not. although i think digby gets it completely wrong.

but from there, how does one end up condemning wright?

i have my opinion on this one, but it’s such a serious charge, i’m not going to go there without the time to choose my words very carefully. and please don’t don’t make any assumption on this.

There is great leadership all over this blog.

No, but I will. Thank You.