Washblog

But our "stuff in common" seems to kind of stop there.

So tell me, how is it that we need the bodies of undocumented Latinos to sustain American Imperialism at the same time we need them as debate subjects based on pretended American political hatred? 

Why are we debating the ejection of illegal aliens at the same time we desperately need them to body-up the supposed mighty military arm of American freedom?

Last night about 300 folk received the "call" with great enthusiasm as we prepare to make 9/11 a DAY OF DEMOCRACY with a multitude of direct actions.  

After the "talking" we broke into small groups and there was an "electric buzz" throughout the building: it was fun.

Below is the address that launched the call.

Rich lang

The Rev. Rich Lang is pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church (6512 23rd Ave. NW Seattle, 98117).

What is there about the demeanor of the Busheviks that suggests unconcern about a looming landslide electoral disaster in 2008?

... in which a totally discredited Republican party loses more seats and faces the prospect of a subsequent Democratic majority more powerful than the vindictive, greedy, corrupt, abusive and extremely partisan Republican majority of Delay, Hastert, Cheney and Bush?

I published my entire opinion about this on my own blog so today on Washblog, I'm just asking.

When the dog suddenly got aroused and commenced a furious barking at something ahead, his owner saw  a black bear sauntering across the trail. The bear seemed oblivious to the dog and its master and crossed with only a minor hesitation.

... until the dog began barking at the two cubs who started across the path following their momma. Then all hell broke loose and without hesitation, Momma black bear was in full charge right down the trail.

The title of this article is the beginning of the only paragraph I remember him writing as we argued about Bush and Kerry.

Right ....

So now what about this absurd behavior of the current crop of so-called republican statespersons?

Am I now justified in a declaration that I may never vote for a republican again?

So what exactly is our yearning when we seek the spiritual within the walls of our local chapels?

Better asked perhaps ...  Just what is it that our Christian congregations offer in their communities when someone outside the circle comes seeking light and knowledge?

Does the traditional pastoral offering have a real potential of satisfying the needs or hungers of those looking through the doors and windows of America's chapels and mega-churches?

We are now at another turning point.  The supplemental bill that passed in May appropriated funds only through 2007. Bills authorizing and providing funds for the occupation beyond that time will be voted on soon.   Our group wanted to know Senator Cantwell's position on these new bills.  And we wanted to encourage her to stand up to the President and her Republican colleagues and refuse to continue funding the failed occupation.

Hale began the meeting with an update on the current status of legislative actions on Iraq.  Before the recess, he said, the Senate will address energy and immigration first, and then the defense authorization bill.   Later this summer, after the recess, the Senate will consider the defense appropriations bill. Senator Cantwell is planning to support a number of amendments to the authorization bill, he said.  At least one of these, sponsored by Senator Dodd, would set a deadline for the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq.  He mentioned other amendments, now in various draft stages, sponsored by Senators Byrd and Feingold. (1)  Hawkins provided a paper copy of the discussion draft for the Dodd amendment, and I've reproduced that at the end of this post.

Today's topic is about a very real organ of the Democratic Party and just how useless it is and has been: The Democratic Leadership Council and its marquee celebrity cowardly figurehead, Harold Ford Jr.

Ford - by the way - could take a cue from Ed Schultz regarding Squawk Hannity.

Eli is stationed at Camp Victory in Baghdad with JVB Bravo Company, 1-149 Infantry of the Kentucky Army National Guard.  This soldier's decision to refuse orders puts him at great risk, especially because he is in Iraq, isolated from legal assistance and other support.  The following is a message that Eli sent yesterday to a friend back home:

I think it is relevant as this soldier Is In Iraq Now and is Refusing....very dangerous and courageous.  I believe this soldier deserves everything we - the citizens on the homefront - can do to help him. Notify his Senator - notify Congress.

Senator Mitch McConnell:
http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Washington Office
361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2541
Fax: (202) 224-2499

I've posted excerpts from an excellent Memorial Day article in a country that still sees American foreign policy in terms of emphasizing the big stick at the expense of walking softly. The original rambo-character without the anti-social psychotic nonsense, John Wayne - if he wasn't going to put his body on the line but stay home and make a career out of pretend - probably exerted a useful influence during the Second World War when in this country the good guys and the bad guys were more easily perceptible. You know, when we didn't start it but we sure as hell ended it.

Of course as victors we then by force of arms owned the right to define ourselves as noble, violent purveyors of truth, justice and the American Way.

In the years between my own military service as it seemed we were between catastrophic foreign policy disasters, my own son was too young to face the consequences of point-of-a-gun American imperialism disguised as noble advocacy of global democracy.

Now nearly 30 and also a father, he just might be too old to get sucked into the meat-grinder even via a draft. But when he was a child, my son and I had a favorite film - meaningful to both of us in different ways. For me as a father and future grandfather and for him as a son.

The film was Big Jake. 

The Spanish headline on the poster says "A Giant Among Men."

Text from the bill below the fold.

and ain't that the truth?

It's of course also a truth that many prominent Democrats seem to fear bar fights with bullies as much as they fear a supposed backlash that might occur should they flat out tell Bush, "no more funding."

... or if they justifiably pursue impeachment of presidents, vice presidents and the most incompetent attorney general in our history.

I don't know who they are afraid they will offend and why such an imagined offense might be catastrophic  to their political futures. Backbone is not birthed out of indecisiveness and courage does not emerge from timidity and a failure to act.

Remember the videos last week of the mugger behind the open car door reaching around the door to punch a helpless 90-year-old  car-owner in the face before stealing his car?

Jane Johnson, our former county Dem treasurer down in Thurston County, blogs up Rep. Adam Smith's town hall meeting last week:

When he opened the floor to questions he got MANY questions regarding why we're not impeaching Bush. You could tell he'd gotten these questions many times before. He gave unsatisfying answers about bitterly divide the Country, need 67 Senate votes, not up to his standards of impeachment, blah, blah, blah.

I didn't challenge him because I was saving my question to talk about toxic food imports. He agreed that FDA needs to be strengthened and promised they would discuss it at next weeks Trade Policy Caucus meeting. We thanked him for his "yea" votes on the McGovern and Schiff amendments.

He took many great questions about our returning vets and promised to look into the use of the nursing home at American Lake, consider a traumatic brain injury trauma center at Madigan, increase case workers at the VA and change their mission to be advocates for the vets, and got other information about our vets. (He's GREAT on these issues!)