I never expected this much betrayal from the Dems...I guess it's time to reopen deuddersun says... and go back on the offensive. These folks need to know that we won't forget and we certainly won't forgive.
A group of Democrats friendly to Wall Street interests forced a delay in consideration of the landmark financial regulatory reform bill scheduled to hit the House floor on Wednesday, Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told reporters in the Speaker's lobby. ...
Powerful words. In those three words lie the basis of our Constitution, our Nation, our Freedom, for all power given to Government is derived from the People. We are the Government and those we "hire" to do our will are answerable to us. Otherwise we become the "governed", subject to the rule of a handful of others, rather than a free and independent people, self-governed through Representatives we elect to serve us.
For the last eight years we have been "governed" by a handful of "others" who have sought only to serve themselves and their own self-interests. They have taken the Power we gave them and abused both it and us. It is time to take that Power back. It is time for a second American Revolution. It is time for change.
Today we will have the chance to make that change. To Revolt against those who have misused our sacred trust. Who have misled us into an un-necessary war for profit, bankrupt our economy, left our children behind, abandoned our fellow citizens in time of National Disaster, (Katrina), deprived the new Veterans they have created of the proper medical care and benefits they have earned, shredded our Constitution, broken our Laws shamelessly and without fear of reprisal, lied to us continuously, allowed Bin Laden to remain dangerous and at large,and made Justice a travesty. They have made profit for themselves their only goal, while using our hard earned money for corporate socialism as they ignore the plight of millions of Americans who have lost homes, jobs and hope.
Today it is time for us to Declare our Independence once more. Today we can take back America, and make it ours again. Today, with one vote at a time, we can tell those who would reduce us to a feudal state that we will take no more, we will not allow them to rape us for the benefit of multi-national corporations whose only interest is maximizing profit at our expense. We can tell them that we want our freedom back - the freedom of a worker to choose whether or not he or she joins a Union, the freedom of a woman to choose what to do with her own body, the freedom to communicate with each other without government eavesdropping, the freedom to peacefully assemble and petition our government without jackbooted thugs attacking us, the freedom from fear of an unforeseen health crisis destroying our lives, the freedom from religious zealots imposing their will upon us. Freedom. The very foundation upon which our America was built - that foundation which the Bush-Cheney regime has consistently undermined and sought to destroy for the last eight years.
Today we must say NO to those who would continue the failed policies of the past. Today we must reclaim the Power we gave to the usurpers and return it where it belongs, with We, the People! Today we must unite together, millions of Americans speaking with one loud, clear voice, it... is... over, we will take no more! We will choose freedom over slavery, hope over despair, the future over the past!
There are at least two larger national lessons to be learned from what is likely to be the last gasp of Allen-McCain-Palin politics in 2008. The first, and easy one, is that Republican leaders have no idea what “real America” is. In the eight years since the first Bush-Cheney convention pledged inclusiveness and showcased Colin Powell as its opening-night speaker, the G.O.P. has terminally alienated black Americans (Powell himself now included), immigrant Americans (including the Hispanics who once gave Bush-Cheney as much as 44 percent of their votes) and the extended families of gay Americans (Palin has now revived a constitutional crusade against same-sex marriage). Subtract all those players from the actual America, and you don’t have enough of a bench to field a junior varsity volleyball team, let alone a serious campaign for the Electoral College.
The good folks at Alternate Brain have a great post up dealing with racism in the upcoming election. Their view is a little rosier than mine and I thought it should be included in any discussion of the subject. I hope that they are right. I hope that there will be a "reverse Bradley effect", where-in white middle-class folks, who would never admit it to each other in their local taprooms, will actually pull the lever for the best candidate for America after all. I hope that I am totally wrong in my fears of latent racism affecting the outcome of this election. I hope that I have "misunderestimated" my own race. Time will tell.
While you are at Alternate Brain take a look around. They cover a lot more ground than I do and they do a damn good job of it too. So head on over and give them a look. You won't be sorry.
This is an older post that I am re-posting. With only 9 days left to the Election, it is time for the "undecideds" to "decide". I post this in the hopes that any who may have reservations about voting for a "Black man", will exhibit the courage required to go against their own prejudices and do the right thing for their families, their country and themselves.
d.
The other day at work, a friend of mine asked me who I was supporting in the upcoming Presidential election. Now this particular individual is actually more than just a friend, I consider him my Brother. He got me into the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local # 52, which is no easy feat. We don't recruit, we don't advertise and we try not to organize. Our Local is the Elite of the motion picture and television industry for technicians and we can only keep it that way by accepting the very best. As such we are powerful in our industry and command the highest wages. It is an honor and a privilege to belong to IA Local #52. For this reason alone, I owe him a debt of gratitude I can never repay. On top of that, he has always hired me as his General Foreman whenever he gets a job. The man has enabled me to make more money than I ever thought possible for a guy who basically nails shit together for a living.
We have always had a very open and honest relationship. He has helped me through some tough times and I have had the privilege of doing so for him. His opinions have always carried a great deal of weight with me and there is virtually nothing I wouldn't do for him.
So when he asked me who I was supporting for President I didn't hesitate. "Obama", I replied.
"Obama?", was his answer. "How can you vote against your own kind?"
"What? My own kind?"
I was stunned as the implication of what he said sunk in. "My own kind?", I repeated slowly. "What 'kind' is that? You mean, how can I vote for a Black man?"
"That's right", he said.
Shock. This is a man who threatened to fire a guy who used the "N" word on the job. This is a man who always said that there was no place for racism on any of his jobs...Shock.
I was stunned. Speechless. This same man has always held me in somewhat high regard because of my service in the Marine Corps, so I thought for a moment.
"Do you know the most important thing I learned from my time in the Marines?", I asked him.
"No. What?"
"That there is only one color in America. Red. The color of the blood that runs through all of our veins. The color of the blood that many of us, Black, White, Brown and Yellow have spilled and bled, to keep this country safe. Believe me Brother, when the shit hits the fan you don't give a flying fuck in a rolling donut what the color of the guy next to you is as long as he's doing his best to keep us all alive, and the shit has definitely hit the fan for America. Who do you want next to you and does his color really matter?"
I have no doubt that John McCain suffered greatly for our country. I have no doubt of his heroism. I do doubt his sincerity though, when he votes against every bill that would aid the veterans we are creating in Bush's nightmare in Iraq. I doubt his sincerity when he says that taking the proper care of our nations new veterans will discourage re-enlistments because it will make it too easy to get out of the military, too attractive to return to civilian life. Well, John, there are two solutions, neither of which you will like. Make it more "attractive" to stay in the military or reinstate the draft, without deferments, so all who live here and reap the benefits will have to serve the country who provides the opportunities. As far as McCain's stand on the economy and domestic issues, well, I do not want another 4 to 8 years of what has already brought this once great nation to it's knees, militarily, financially and Constitutionally.
Anyway, I digress.
What it all boils down to in a nutshell is this. The shit has hit the fan for America. Who do you want fighting with you? For me, it's Barack Obama. For my Friend/Brother, well, he thought about what I said and promised to think about it some more, that maybe I was right.
Think about it yourselves. Talk to some of our new veterans. Search the internet for truth. Don't buy into Faux News or the other falsehoods being spread by the Always Wrong Right. Who do you want fighting for and with you?
And remember. It is about color. It's all about color. But the color it's about is red.
I am putting this back on top because with only ten days left to the most critical election in the history of our nation, I think this is too important to miss. For those of you who are still on the fence, still undecided, ask yourselves, what is the real reason I'm holding off on supporting Barack Obama?
As you watch the video below, look at the faces in the crowd. They are people just like us. Our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers, our families. Listen to what Brother Trumka has to say. Look into your own hearts and decide - four more years of George Bush's failed policies? Or four years of hope and rebuilding. It's time for a change. We need to rebuild America! We need to create jobs! We need a government that is more responsive to Main Street than Wall Street! Barack Obama is the man who can lead us in that effort.
So I'm asking you, working men and women, Union or not, to put aside your prejudices for just 7 minutes and 40 seconds and watch and listen. Then decide.
Come mothers and fathers Throughout the land And dont criticize What you cant understand Your sons and your daughters Are beyond your command Your old road is Rapidly agin. Please get out of the new one If you cant lend your hand For the times they are a-changin.
Bob Dylan
Hat tip to my good friend and Union Brother, Manny Sanchez
d.
PS: Please, please repost this video! Add your own commentary or use mine. It is time for the undecided to decide!
In yet another crushing blow to the Always Wrong Right, former White House Press Secretary to George "Dumbya" Bush, Scott McClellan, has endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President on the premiere of D. L. Hughley's new show on CNN!
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802) 3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
d.
Edited by siteowner to include Jefferson's quote and commentary below.
PS:Since there has been much hand wringing and gnashing of teeth from those on the Always Wrong Rightabout how Nancy Pelosi's speech infuriated and alienated so many Republi-cons that they felt no other choice but to vote against the bailout, I think it is only fair to present Nancy Pelosi's speech in it's entirety. Judge for yourself.
To me, at least, two things are obvious. First, Ms. Pelosi is finally doing her duty and putting the American taxpayer first. Second, Barney Frank is right. This feigned anger on the part of the Republi-cons is merely a cover-up for their own miserable failure to muster the required number of votes from their side of the aisle to pass the Bill, and perhaps even deeper, a real anger at having their misdeeds, which created this crisis, finally exposed. It's a bitch when the chickens come home to roost, isn't it Sen. Boner, uh Boehner?
Like the corporate raiders of the '80's, the Bush Administration, aided and abetted by fellow Republi-cons, have dismantled our economy and sold off our assets to their own great profit. Coupled with the criminal war-profiteering going on in Iraq, this Administration has used all of us to their own advantage .
Understand this about Iraq - there is not now, nor has there ever been, a plan to "win". The plan has been to rape Iraq and the American taxpayer for as long as it remains profitable to a handful of Corporations. Same as Viet Nam. (Does anyone really believe that the country who defeated both Germany and Japan a few short years earlier couldn't have defeated North Viet Nam had thePoliticians wanted to?) The profit is in the treatment, not the cure. And the treatment is being liberally applied in Iraq right now, at a cost of thousands of American lives, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives and billions of our tax dollars, tax dollars that could have been well used to benefit the American Middle-class. That being said, I hardly think we can expect anything different from someone who voted with George Bush 95% of the time over the last 8 years - John McCain.
For the last 8 years, every attempt by the Democrats to right our Ship of State has been crushed by the Republi-cons. As Ms. Pelosi states below, Democrats couldn't even get a vote on a $25 billion Economic Stimulus Bill, and yet now comes George Bush, at the last minute, begging for $700 billion to cover his own ass and crimes, and save the country from his own miscreant behavior.
So, Ms. Pelosi had it right. The party is over.
Lets make sure it doesn't just end on Wall Street, but at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as well.
Moderateman, founder of the American Patriot Institutehas been warning us about this disaster for quite some time now. A retired CEO himself, (and a former combat Marine), Mod has an understanding of financial markets, both foreign and domestic, that is astounding. I suggest that you visit his blog, The Moderate Man, and begin reading anywhere for an excellent viewpoint of our current financial crisis.
Enemy of the Republic at Cruel Virgin offers what I like to call a "street level" look on the Bailout Vote. Check her out here, Cruel Virgin.
Let's check in with a couple of "Good Ole Boyz" and see if they can shed a little light on this...
Oooookay...
Gee, in spite of her "hotness", guess I'm still gonna have to vote for the Obama/Biden ticket.
And in case you missed it, here's Barack's acceptance speech, in full, without interruption. He may not be as "hot", (to me anyway), as "Sarah Barracuda", but he doesn't need to be...see he actually has a "plan" for America.
I recieved an e-mail from Moveon today and I thought I should pass on a wonderful opportunity to counter the Always Wrong Right's attempts to smear and discredit Barack Obama on MTV.
I know it must seem like every post I make lately is asking for money or time for one progressive cause or another. The fact is, the Always Wrong Right is taking nothing for granted. They believe that with the proper propaganda, they can win this Presidential Election. If we become too confident, too complacent, we could find ourselves faced with four more years of war, recession, lost jobs and lies and broken promises - in other words, a continuation of the policies that have brought our once great nation to it's knees, the policies of Geroge Walker Bush.
It is critical that we do all that we can too ensure that Barack Obama wins the Presidential Election. We must also work hard to get as many Progressives elected to public office as well. Notice, I didn't say Democrats. There are way too many DINO's, (Democrats In Name Only), and we must replace them with dedicated individuals who are committed to the principles outlined in the Consitution. We cannot afford to let up for one minute, or we may face our worst nightmare come January 20, 2009.
So please take a look at the ad below. If you like it and can afford it, click the link below and help get it on the air. It is up to us, the people, to take back our government and make it, once again, a Government of the People, by the People and For the People.
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From the e-mail:
Dear MoveOn member,
MTV just started accepting political ads. And the first political ad that millions of young people will see is a negative attack on Barack Obama—saying he's "worse than a flip-flopper" and accusing him of no longer being against the war.1 It's outrageous.
The Republicans' strategy is clear: kill the hope that's brought millions of new young voters out of the woodwork.
We can't let that happen. And as it turns out, we've got a funny, positive, hopeful way to fight back.
The "funniest ad" award winner in our Obama in 30 Seconds contest is a perfect counterpoint to the cynicism-mongering ad on MTV. Plus, it was made by actor (and MoveOn member) Rider Strong.
We just found out that we can run this ad on MTV and Comedy Central (as their first political ad ever) for $150,000. If 6000 of us contribute $25, we can do it. Can you check out the ad below—and if you like it, will you chip in to get it on the air?
'I want to know the truth,' president tells reporters
Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Posted: 1:46 AM EST (0646 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Tuesday he welcomes a Justice Department investigation into who revealed the classified identity of a CIA operative.
"If there's a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is," Bush told reporters at an impromptu news conference during a fund-raising stop in Chicago, Illinois. "If the person has violated law, that person will be taken care of.
"I welcome the investigation. I am absolutely confident the Justice Department will do a good job. ..."
Bush said he has told his administration to cooperate fully with the investigation and asked anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward.
Vice President Cheney's FBI interview on the subject at issue
WASHINGTON - President Bush invoked executive privilege to keep Congress from seeing the FBI report of an interview with Vice President Dick Cheney and other records related to the administration's leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity in 2003.
While I fervently hope that "King" George and "Dick" Cheney will be impeached and indicted, I have come to realize that this will probably never happen.
I can, and do, implore all of our elected reps, from both sides of the aisle to come to their senses and force the Bush Crime Cartel to co-operate with the legally mandated investigations "King" George promised he was anxious to co-operate with. Didn't he say something about firing anyone in his Administration who had taken part in the outing of a covert CIA operative?
By now, even the staunchest Republican must realize that Bush and his Cronies are RINO's, Republicans In Name Only, and that their party has been hijacked by criminals who make John Gotti and Al Capone look like Alter boys.
It is up to us, the People, to make sure that all of our Elected Representatives, Democrat and Republican, understand that their actions in the coming months will determine how long they "serve" the people. It's an important election year. Let's tell our "servants" that we expect honesty and openess in our Government, and that they can regain our faith in their leadership only if they restore "Government Of the People, By the People and For the People", by holding those who have abused their power, and ignored the People, accountable.
