Washblog

God bless you, Arthur.  I hope you can make it to the Tahoma Progressive Media Conference next Saturday.  Perhaps we bloggers can plan some more effective way of affecting our country's leaders than typing and phone calling.  

General strike, anyone?

by Tahoma Activist on Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 09:12:45 PM PST

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our Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson spoke of the suspension of habeus corupus and said she would be wearing a black arm band today. I, too, mourn the systemmatic destruction of our Constitution and the rule of a despotic regime.

by DWE on Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 08:21:14 AM PST

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As much as I could stomach. All I can say is that we have a number of flaming fascists and fascist-enablers in our highest legislative body. I don't use that word lightly.

The worst among these authoritarians that I heard this week are Republicans Warner, Pat Roberts, and John Boehner. Apalling to hear them DEMANDING absolute authority for their monarch to identify, interrogate and punish "our enemies", with no limits and no oversight to "tie our hands". That a 5-year sunset clause would "send the wrong message to our enemies".

One of them said the proposed amendments with limits and complicated oversight obligations were unnecessary, as "all we have to do is ask" and the CIA will be forthcoming about all of their actions.

Jay Rockefeller (D, TN) of the Intelligence Commttee rebutted furiously (I paraphrase): "Are you kidding? All we have to do is ask? How many TIMES do we have to ask? Our committee has been trying to get XX documents from the CIA for years, and they're STILL stonewalling!"

Then in the end Rockefeller voted for the bill anyway.

John  Kerry was without nuance: Trust this administration? Are you mad? We've down this road before. We were told X, Y, Z, none of it was true..."

Kennedy was roaring: U.S. personnel WILL be tortured in return, using these X, Y, Z methods, the same that Japanese and Germans were using who were convicted of WAR CRIMES, and some even excuted.

Barney Frank (in the House): Haven't we seen enough examples of MISTAKES, people wrongly accused and wrongly detained?

Several Dems cited the Arra case, the Canadian who is suing after being accused of terrorism rendered to Syria and tortured for 10 months before he was released with no evidence.

Every American should be made to listen to the whole thing, not the 10-second soud bites o the news.

******
So that's it. One of the least competent and least ethical officials on earth, one who's been privileged and protected since birth, will have to power to point his finger at anyone and have them "disappeared".

by dinazina on Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 08:53:35 AM PST

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by noemie maxwell on Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:15:37 AM PST

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I used weeping Liberty on the sidebar here, hope you don't mind.

by noemie maxwell on Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:22:15 AM PST

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  This isn't a prelude to how he retains power after '08. Suspension of some rights is a step towards suspension of all rights.
  Just a flimsy excuse (maybe unruly party conventions), and they might try declaring martial law, suspending elections, and "disappearing" the opposition.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:45:06 AM PST

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Can someone tell me why the democrats in the senate did not filibuster this legislation?  We then would have had the recess to expand public education on this important issue.

by leduc on Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 11:31:42 AM PST

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For Immediate Release

September 28, 2006

Cantwell Statement on Military Commissions Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - Thursday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement after the Senate's approval of the Military Commissions Bill (S. 3930).  Cantwell voted against the bill.

"We must win the war on terrorism by being smarter and tougher, and by passing legislation that makes our troops more secure.  I believe the bill passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month met this test.  The legislation voted on tonight still has critical flaws.

"The legislation voted on by the full Senate will permit the Bush Administration to undermine the Geneva Conventions, broadly expand the definition of enemy combatants, allow for coerced and secret evidence and abandon habeus corpus.  For more than three years, our ability to try terrorists has been hampered by the Administration's refusal to abide by U.S. law.  The provisions in this legislation may be once again deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, only further delaying our goal of bringing the terrorists to justice.

"Short-term political goals should never come ahead of America's long-term success in the war on terror."

by noemie maxwell on Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 03:58:05 PM PST

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   It clearly is what it is - no longer the slippery slope, now we all stand at the precipice.  

   I may have a perverted sense of it but it seems the inattention of the American public and Congress to what genie was let out of the bottle with Iraq invasion/occupation is looming large in coming back to haunt.  Almost 4 years now content to let that 'all volunteer military' and their families carry that burden of Iraq (the supposed 'terrorist threat')   ...   is this the time that Americans wake up and sense that something has unalterably shifted?

   Is this the juncture where we stand together as Americans and notice that we are all in the same boat after all ... hmmm, maybe we all now do have 'skin in the game'.  Does it seem somehow that back when Congress gave away the farm in voting for Iraq invasion/occupation they have been unable to gain back the ground they gave away - and they somehow keep losing more ground?  

   Losing in Iraq - losing in America - that creed I hear among military families so often (no matter their politics) that freedom isn't free seems somehow to ring true and the ring resonates with new meanings.  

   

On the Surge in Iraq "--we have set the bar so low it's buried in the sand at this point." - Barack Obama

by Lietta Ruger on Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 05:24:56 PM PST

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...right here: http://www.washblog.com/comments/2006/9/24/141726/057/2#2

Every one of these clowns needs to go home, smoke that last joint, and make sure their Get Outta Gitmo.. Free! ticket isn't counterfeit.

by m3047 on Sat Sep 30, 2006 at 09:29:07 PM PST

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