Open Thread on a Rainy Friday

Arrianna nails it point by point all the way.

Ending the War: Time for the Dems to Play Hardball

Taking a page from America's retailers, President Bush is getting a jump on the coming battle over Iraq war funding. On Monday, he added an additional $45.9 billion in supplemental war funding to the $150.5 billion he'd already requested, and then turned up the heat on Congress to sign off on the $196.4 billion before heading home for the holidays. Only 60 more browbeating days until Christmas!
And you have to give Bush credit. Despite record-low approval ratings, he's unabashedly playing -- and winning -- the PR game on the war. By incrementally adding to his funding request, he made his ongoing plundering of our treasury to pursue his disastrous Iraq policy seem relatively modest. The headlines all focused on the $46 billion he's just added to the tab -- not the $196 billion he's really after.

And while his language about "supporting the troops," and "providing our troops with the help and support they need to get the job done" is well past its sell-by date, the Democrats have yet to reframe the funding debate. So Bush replays his patriotic greatest hits while the blood of our soldiers continues to flow -- in the process making our country not more, but less, safe.

The president was feeling so cocky he even pulled out the "s" word -- "succeed" -- that had been in cold storage for a while. "Our men and women on the front lines should not be caught in the middle of partisan disagreements in Washington, D.C.," he said. "[Congress] ought to make sure our troops have what it takes to succeed." Whatever that means in Iraq these days.

The Democrats meanwhile remain divided and confounded on how to stand up to the president on Iraq. House invertebrates like Steny Hoyer, who foolishly think ducking for cover is a winning '08 strategy, are urging a cautious approach, suggesting that any hardball stop-the-war efforts will leave red state Dems vulnerable to attacks for undermining the troops.

Senate leaders, including Carl Levin, are also treading lightly. Levin's latest gambit: put Bush on the installment plan, giving him only part of the money and forcing him to come asking for more in June, after the next Congressionally mandated report from Gen. Petraeus (September redux?). Levin's plan would also aim for a complete withdrawal from Iraq within nine months -- but this would only be a goal, not a date certain requirement.

Hey, why accomplish today what you can put off until tomorrow -- or June?

And some Democrats just seem resigned to the notion that their options are limited. As Henry Waxman told Politico: "If you don't have the votes, you don't have the votes." It's what David Sirota calls the "Innocent Bystander Fable" -- the idea that since Democrats don't have the 60 votes needed to end Senate debate or the 66 votes needed to override a Bush veto, the war in Iraq is out of their hands.

But the truth is, Democrats have all the votes they need to stop the war -- if they are willing to use the power given them by the Constitution to block the supplemental funding bill unless it includes a deadline for bringing the troops home. As Norm Ornstein told me: "Whatever the White House sends to the House is constitutionally merely a suggestion." The prerogative to bring a funding bill to the floor rests entirely with the majority -- which, in case Democrats have forgotten, is theirs. As for the Senate, Democrats there would only have to find 41 votes to block the supplemental funding bill.

I'm sorry for this refresher in Congressional Power 101, but Democratic leaders seem to need it. The White House cannot force Congress to spend money. Period. The end. The imperial presidency has not gone that far. At least not yet. So Democrats, who have the public behind them, need to be unequivocal that they are simply not going to continue to fund the war unless and until the president agrees to change course and set a date certain for ending it.

They need to make it clear that they are not pulling the plug on the troops -- indeed, they will be authorizing bridge funding for armored vehicles and veterans' health benefits, among other essential expenses, when they take up the annual defense appropriations bill in December. And they can make it clear that they will give the president and the Pentagon all the money they need to safely and responsibly bring the troops home.

It's a battle of wills. A test of leadership. And a contest to frame the debate in the public's mind.

The president took a preemptive shot across the bow on Monday, playing the funding-equals-troop-support card, and placing the ball squarely in Congress' court. Democrats can't afford to sit back on their heels and wait until next year to take on the president (or worse yet, have a replay of the 2007 supplemental funding fight and cave to the president's phony "before the holidays" demands).

They need to begin reframing the funding fight now -- hammering home the message that it's the president's obstinacy that is jeopardizing the well-being of our troops and the safety of our country.

This is not the time for caution and playing it safe. This is the time to force the president's hand.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/ending-the-war-time-for-_b_69923.html

One Down: Obscenely Decadent War Profiteer Hauled Off in Handcuffs

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/66182/?page=entire

Good luck to our northerm friends. Safe travels...

Regarding the discussion on impeachment on the last thread.

Lots of reasons to impeach and I'm deeply ashamed of any party who would not impeach:

1. Starting a war on lies and selling wars like cotton candy. (DSM and SSM)
2. Treason
3. War Profiteering and Torture.
4. Spying illegally without warrants.
5. Losing billions of dollars in Iraq.
6. Hatch violations and illegal vote purges. Setting up the DOJ against Americans who aren't Republicans.
7. Violating the Geneva Conventions and signing off on treaties with other countries.
8. Illegally utilizing a "no-fly list" to persecute dissenters.
9. Illegally using our tax dollars to buy media publicity.
10. Illegally using our tax dollars to persecute political dissenters like Jesselyn Radack and others ...
11. Criminal neglegence in NOLA.
12. Criminal care of Veterans.

Those are right off the top of my head.

Make that criminal neglegence of our Veterans.

"Given this reputation, it's no big surprise that Cheney has already asked for a backroom analysis of how a war with Iran might begin.

In the scenario concocted by Cheney's strategists, Washington's first step would be to convince Israel to fire missiles at Iran's uranium enrichment plant in Natanz. Tehran would retaliate with its own strike, providing the US with an excuse to attack military targets and nuclear facilities in Iran.

This information was leaked by an official close to the vice president.

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/66157/

By way of deception, thou shalt do war.

Surprise Surprise! Just in time to cover up lies about going to war with Iran.

WASHINGTON: National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell has reversed the recent practice of declassifying and releasing summaries of national intelligence estimates, a top U.S. intelligence official said Friday.

Knowing their words may be scrutinized outside the U.S. government chills analysts' willingness to provide unvarnished opinions and information, said David Shedd, a deputy to McConnell.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/26/america/NA-GEN-US-Intelligence-Reports.php

Bill Moyers discussing impeachment again tonight.

Indianapolis story about Lori Perdue's arrest:

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7269897

Watch video too.

"I had no intent to be arrested on Wednesday at all. That wasn't my purpose for my presence," said Perdue.

She said she will continue to wear her arrest bracelet until the remaining members of her group are out of jail.

Perdue has been charged with disorderly conduct.

She's scheduled to appear in court in the nations capital on November 15th.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

MAKE A MEDIA EVENT OF THE D.C. COURT APPEARANCES...

BRING CAMERAS, VIDEO TAPE, AUDIO TAPE, ETC..

blog the courtroom stuff too...

I would like to know, how badly the arrested folks are treated...

Perhaps the ACLU can get involved etc...

Will be participating in Seattle tomorrow and Kayakbiker in Mpls, with cameras, of course.

Rumsfeld charged w/torture, while in France
http://www.docudharma.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=659EF72255EB9572DC31F11C9964451E?diaryId=1748

Same thing happened, more or less, to Kissinger - symbolic but special.

More on Rumsfeld
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/26/102932/57

You know that Turkey + Iran = abadday problem?

It is probably more like Turkey + Iran + Syria = OMFG!

Check out Juan Cole shredding georgies policies and the picture he is painting. Hint. It is not very comforting.

The collapse of Bush's foreign policy

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/10/24/kurds/index.html

Oh, by the way... Russia has now made clear Iran= Russia and any strike against Iran will be against Russia.

This crap is getting very scary.

Look at this
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/26/23057/850
My husband is leaving me, is the title
World's shortest diary

Ft. Lewis, near here, & I here Naval stories like this too
up north where I work - about counsellors & pastors
working overtime

Updated: 7:29 p.m. ET Oct. 26, 2007
WASHINGTON - The State Department said Friday it will require some diplomats to serve in Iraq because of a lack of volunteers willing to work at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Beginning Monday, 200 to 300 diplomats will be notified that they have been identified as "prime candidates" to fill 40 to 50 vacancies that will open next year at the embassy, said Harry Thomas, director general of the Foreign Service.

Those notified that they have been selected for a one-year posting will have 10 days to respond. Only those with compelling reasons, such as a medical condition, will be excused from duty, Thomas said.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21495386/

Just fyi...

Karen's blog post about the polar bears et al protesting at the Capitol got picked up for a Reuters blogburst feature.

Check it out.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071027/ap_on_go_co/us_netherlands_guantanamo
Dutch lawmakers offended by Rep. Lantos

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071027/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_embassy
US to order diplomats to serve in Iraq
WASHINGTON - In the largest call-up of U.S. diplomats since the Vietnam War, the State Department is planning to order some of its personnel to serve at the American Embassy in Iraq because of a lack of volunteers.

{{{There's even a Kos diary about this story. As one poster noted, 'reality has eclipsed satire.' Just can't make this stuff up....}}}

Great about the complaint filed against RumDum. Too bad he hasn't actually been served with the papers yet.

http://www.americanprogress.org/cartoons/2007/10/102607_blackwater.html
American Progress Cartoon

Our blogpost about zombies got picked up by a French blog.
They called it "Zombie Activisme" and compared it to "flash mobs."
http://www.abracadanews.blogspot.com

Dwahzon/Karen:

Great news about the Reuters pick up of the polar bear piece!

This makes it clear that what we do is important and necessary. And what those kids in costume were doing is important as well.

They, and Karen's live blogging, are now a part of national (international?) news, picked up by who kknows how many readers across the planet.

Great work, folks!!!

Paul Wellstone tribute
http://www.docudharma.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=ED5E198DC50B60B1AD09CD52F1186DB9?diaryId=1730

Congrats Karen - shows many types of action are effective - there is no "one way" - no real "shoulds" or "prescriptions" for how to do it or whether it will be effective

That changes all the time. Hoping many are getting out there today against the current and hopefully not upcoming war(s).

Interesting, predictable - William F. Buckley argues AGAINST impeachment, disses Ramsey Clark as a nutcase, and basically tells us to live with it (or "get over it"). They're not "his" conservatives but at least they're not liberals.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/10/impeach_bush.html

http://www.democracycellproject.com/dcpopen/archives/2007/10/open_thread_on_a_rainy_friday.html#comment-120927

Thanks, Dwahzon, for posting the info about Karen and the protest polar bears! :-)

Way to go, Karen! :-)

Al Gore in Paris
http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,2199594,00.html

Heading out to the Los Angeles march shortly. (I live an hour east in hardcore Reagan Country, so there is some driving to be done.)

I am going to be with the CodePink contingent, and I am wearing my infamous pink mini to mark the occasion.

Tried to give ABQ John a call, but he didn't answer. Will try later.

I'm fed up as hell (just like the Dixie Chicks) and will make it known today.

Will share some photos if I can.

Thanks for the great news about Reuters picking us up, Karen and dw.

At least SOME Brits still have sanity left over in their heads, it seems... though I am still too fed up to get out my Elton John CDs.

Just got off the phone with ABQ John. Glad to report that he and Linda are in good spirits.

Updated him on the four Canadians... he is appalled at what the DC Police have been doing lately.

I need to run now, otherwise I'll be late to the march.

Thanks everyone--we work together here, right?

As for ABQ, glad to hear that he and Linda are doing OK, but we also know he may need our support soon. Anyone who wants to help, email me.

The Canadian kids called us at 8 am this morning--they were back on Canadian soil and downright GIDDY about it! Last night I was at the Code Pink house and Col. Ann was letting the MPs in the Canadian Parliament know what was going on. There is still a battle to be fought and hopefully, some Canadian officials will wake up and get some justice going up north as well.

Ally - enjoy your rally - send any good photos my way as Kayakbiker and I are trying to get them from different parts of the country - that goes for anyone else. jpegs or code, doesn't matter

Ally - saw on FaceBook that you were fed up. I am on MySpace now and just had a penpal from Bangladesh email to ask about the wildfires. It's amazing that such things are possible on this earth!

All - if you ever go to Docudharma blog, one of my top favorites (friends from ArtKos), tomorrow night there will be an on-line visit with a conscientious objector that I am following closely and trying to help.

On the Ontario Four:

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/261916

and more:

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/271059

Karen
Good to hear about the Ontario Four - we were wondering.

Al Gore launched a Virtual Town Hall at Current:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/27/43749/356

Any sign ideas for today?
Who is going?

from Tom Hayden:
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/hayden.php?articleid=11794
Neocons Surge Against Antiwar Movement
My paraphrase:
-reminds us protests are organized in 11 cities
-rightwing backlash is largest since 2002
-Cheney & hawks prepare military strike against Iran
-"surge" campaign was mounted and strong
-MoveOn was coordinatedly attacked even by 75 Senators
-Ari Fleischer heads organization to promote war as patriotic
-Pro-Israel & Christan Right groups raise $200 million for Iran war
-Giuliani has neocon Podhoretz as security advisor
-David Horowitze spent millions promoting "Islamofascism" scare
-The goal is to isolate the antiwar movement
-In 2002, fear was used to prevent development of antiwar feeling.
-In 2007, fear is used to try to break it down
-Rightists say the "real" war is at home, with leftists and liberals.
-Code Pink was hassled at the Canadian border
-The last thing the right wants is mainstream people waking up
-If we go into Iran, the right thinks they will win the 2008 election

So .. anticipated at many busloads of black congregations in Chicago, thousands of Katrina victims in New Orleans, convergence on depleted uranium facility in Tennessee, and more .. and what is the message to the public? What should be done if the attack occurs?
What to do if 2008 election is between Republican extremist & moderate Democratic Hawk? Are we at a Crossroads?

(from press conference, Bay Area IndyMedia, Cindy Sheehan leading)

Just like Ann Coulter: satirical video

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Video_Singer_wants_to_be_perfected_1026.html

Awesome articles Karen.

Richard--you're such a hero!!! (I'm so proud of you!)

Check it out!!!!!!
By Jai Daemion
Peace Of Mind: Life Under Australian Universal Health Care
Raising a family under the protection of the Australian Universal Health Care System gives Aussies a peace of mind that Americans can only dream of.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_jai_daem_071026_peace_of_mind___rais.htm

10/27/07 - parked behind a bus painted with "Pastors for Peace" - they go to Cuba, Mexico, Central America etc.

Isn't this amazing how diplomats have to be drafted now?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Draft_comes_to_US_diplomacy_in_Iraq/articleshow/2495927.cms

The Evangelical Crackup

Christianity Today, the evangelical journal, has even posed the question of whether evangelicals should “repent” for their swift support of invading Iraq.
“Even in evangelical circles, we are tired of the war, tired of the body bags,” the Rev. David Welsh, who took over late last year as senior pastor of Wichita’s large Central Christian Church, told me. “I think it is to the point where they are saying: ‘O.K., we have done as much good as we can. Now let’s just get out of there.’ ”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/magazine/28Evangelicals-t.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

I typed AntiWar into MySpace and ended up seeing messages from scared young things with loved ones in Iraq who misunderstand why people protest war and work for peace. They were expressing that they hoped the protesters impaled themselves on the sticks of their protest signs. Many truly have been brainwashed into believing all the honorable sounding lies and I suppose that would be necessary for sanity, for some. I cannot imagine. It's so unfair though. Glad to see alot of young people out today, learning, thinking, participating, making choices on their own.

A big Hmmmmmm
Army to Review Iraq Contracts for Fraud
Richard Lardner of The Associated Press reports:
"A team of specially trained investigators will hunker down in an Army office north of Detroit on Monday to begin poring over hundreds of Iraq war contracts in search for rigged awards."
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102707F.shtml

Are the numbers out there nmp.

I can't think of a good reason to justify fighting in Iraq. Alot of the family members were thinking that their loved one was fighting terrorists who might come to the shores of the United States and attack. In truth, alot of what's being done over there (judging from reports like those of Anne Garrels of NPR, who has covering war zones for literally decades) is to stop poor people from fighting each other. Then Americans are resented, caught in the crossfire, etc.

There is Al Quaida in Iraq. Even the news sources say those are "homegrown" - and aren't they a reactionary group who benefit from the publicity around the original group? Outside infiltration, including from Iraq. Of course there is some! The borders are more permeable than before we invaded and occupied. Iran and Iraq were at war for years and some Shiites from both countries now can ally.

Obviously no one wants their family member in harm's way. Right now, people are pitted against each other because of competing belief systems, just as they were during the Vietnam War, and there is plenty of poitical infighting. That serves the military industrial complex just fine, because nothing ever blocks them.

nmp,

After the screening of MEETING RESISTANCE last week, the filmmakers led a great discussion in which they held that there is really much less in-fighting in Iraq than we are being led to believe. The resistance fighters we saw in the film are from different "factions" but are, in fact, uniting against the US soldiers.

I highly highly recommend the film. Anyone who thinks we can do any good there needs to see it.

Just came back from the Los Angeles rally.

CodePinkers showed up late due to a car accident and traffic jam, but I was more than happy to march with them nevertheless.

I met with a former staffer of CodePink LA, Karen, who was marching today for TransEquality, the only gay marriage advocacy organization in California with a transgender focus (her partner is trans). I so wanted to march with them too... though my CodePink commitments had to take priority. Karen did call CodePink LA to confirm their late arrival.

I marched with a CodePink banner that said "Stop Buying Bush's War." There were about 15-20 CodePinkers, I estimate, including local coordinators Sarah and Ally. Jodie Evans was a no-show today since she was marching in New York instead.

After enduring tons of socialist and other assorted speeches (and getting tired due to lack of sleep and food), I helped Ally and her boyfriend clean up the CodePink display, particularly the shoe memorial.

I made sure to mention, to Sarah and Ally, both my links to CodePink's own Gayle Brandeis, and of course, all the work our own Karen Bradley does at the DC CodePink house (and by extension, the presence of DCP and my membership here).

Some pro-war counterdemonstrators, about a dozen or two at most, met us at the end of the march. We had a controlled face-off while the speeches were going on a block away.

LAPD was very courteous and friendly to all, even assisting a collapsed marcher.

Now, let me get some rest and upload some pictures (including one of me in the infamous pink mini).

Some demographics of today's LA march:

Just about all sorts of political allegiances imaginable - from socialist and communist to Ron Paul Republicans to mainstream Democrats.

Healthy nonwhite representation. I was surprised by a fairly large Korean drum troupe - these guys advocate carrying out the inter-Korean agreement of 2000, and oppose the free trade agreement South Korea just imposed on the US, positions that are quite unpopular in Koreatown. Plenty of Filipinos denouncing the Arroyo government's aid to W in the "war on terror." Pro-Cuba and pro-Venezuela Latinos galore.

Lots of trade unionists, as well as the bus riders' union, a very powerful working class organization here in Los Angeles.

A good number of 9/11 conspiracists.

Even a Hollywood actor (forgot his name) and a musical cast. This is Los Angeles, after all.

Photos & accounts of today's rallies:

Seattle: (Kayakbiker)
http://www.docudharma.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1785

Minneapolis: (Slugbug, aka NMP)
http://www.docudharma.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1781

Both up also at http://www.silencedmajority.blogs.com

Ally - thanks for the report!! I was wondering. Would love you to report at the sites above. We were not happy with the turnouts in our cities. More people cared about football than whether there is war.

Karen - I will try to see that one. Also recommended is "Iraq in Fragments" - that one tells how we did everything wrong we possibly could have, and more!

Pastors for Peace bus:

Los Angeles photos now available at my blog:

http://rachelkso.blogspot.com/2007/10/war-protests.html

NMP and anyone else: feel free to use these photos in your own blogs, just make sure to credit me for the photos.

I will now upload these to Facebook.

NMP

Los Angeles hasn't had an NFL franchise in 11 years, so that may have helped with the turnout down here.

Even then, it was only a few thousand.

Ally
We had like 1000. Before the war we had 60,000.
Not that it would do much good.

People would need to do a complete work stoppage, plus boycotts & tax resistance.

& martial law would be imposed.

We need to at the very least clean up our government a whole lot, at all levels - local, national.

We need to make some friends on this planet (as JK said). That is going to take alot of work.

NMP

JK was a visionary. Too bad the voters were too stupid to actually see that.

Honestly, if I could get away with not paying taxes, I would, given that my money is going to the military, which considers me substandard moral material, and not to healthcare, which I need.

Ally
I put three of your photos at http://www.silencedmajority.blogs.com and put up a link to your blog for more. So now we have Minneapolis, Seattle and LA and any more that are offered.

Before I hit the "save" button, I got a phone call from a friend who had just flown in from LA, and in the meantime, Nyc (former Marine) had posted a response to our McCain/Woodstock piece that is just so right on! There would not have BEEN a Woodstock without the stupid Vietnam mistake.

Woodstock is where Country Joe and the Fish sang "Feel LIke I'm Fixin' to Die Rag," which contains the lyric "Be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box."

When I was 15, my boyfriend joined the Marines (he was 17) and he knew that song. He joined "to get it over with." He taught it to all the guys on the plane and they sang it continuously all the way over there, before they had even seen Vietnam.

One of my upper classmen did come home in a box, and my dad brought it home for scrap lumber. I used to sleep in it. It said "head" at the top. Maybe you've heard this story. It's part of why I have been antiwar since my teens, that and my dad's electroshock.

Seattle Times, the more conservative of the two papers, did a good job with the story of the antiwar protest.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003978765_webmarch28.html

Seattle P I
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/337152_protest28.html
Again sympathetic story, estimated 3000 people.

SF photoblog
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/27/20619/019

Is everybody out or sleeping? Still early here on the W coast.

NMP

I *was* sleeping.

I am exhausted, between the march today and the hangover from last night in West Hollywood's nightlife. With my folks away in Alaska for the weekend, I'm going full steam ahead with lots of stuff.

Woke up only because my folks just called from Anchorage.

Will visit a Unitarian church tomorrow morning, then meet with Gayle Brandeis in the afternoon to discuss the march and more.

NMP

Noticed your blog entry of LA events and my photos. Thanks for spreading the word :)

Another video of the arrests at the Condi hearings on Capitol Hill. This is from a different angle.

Ralpheh,

That video infuriates me all over. They really went after Liz and Lori and you can see the look on the cop's face (I think his name is SULLIVAN) as he yanks Liz up, and then goes for Lori.

Liz's neck was hurting Friday night. She got a massage. I spoke with Lori on Saturday and her shoulder is hurting. Neither one said or did anything in that hearing. Desiree did not plan what she was going to do at all, much less share her intentions, so Liz and Lori were taken completely by surprise.

I hope many watch the police beating up on women of peace who were sitting quietly in a hearing.

The sick part is then at the end I hear a woman's voice going "yeah! Good to see you!" like nothing is going on.

Ignore the people.

So, will this video make a difference when it goes to court?

This country is retarded these days.

Karen,

Is there any way I could ask a favor? That Gandhi portrait, is there any way you can get a real good close up pic of it for NMP?

I just did a Billie Holiday that is DYNO-MITE! It is going to be hard letting her go. But what else do you put in a music room painted blood red?

I'll get a pic up asap. She rocks.