This evening's public meeting with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' Chief of Staff organized by DFA TUCSON which took place at the City of Tucson Ward 6 Office focused on the topic of impeachment. At times a couple of outbursts that were a bit beyond the bounds of civil discourse. But given the intense emotion and passion that was palpable amongst all of the attendees the overall meeting went fairly well.
DFA had sent a list of 11 questions all focused on some aspect of the possibility of and reasons for the need to Impeach Bush, Cheney et al which Ms. Policelli attempted to address. Truth be told the questions were lost in the overall repeated attempts of most of the attendees to impress upon Policelli that Giffords constituency is extremely concerned about the successful Bush regime attacks on the U.S. Constitution and the slow but steady erosion of our liberty and democratic principles.
At first Policelli stuck to the script and responded in rather predictable Capitol Hill procedure-ese. "The Freshman Congressperson (as a generic entity) has little to no influence... Giffords has let it be known that the abuses to our system of government by the Executive Branch in this administration is unconscionable... No call for an investigation is before the House, the only thing before the House is the actual call for Impeachment which has no more than 50 votes... It would be worse to attempt to impeach and not reach the number as that in some ways would vindicate the Bush administration...There isn't time before the administration leaves office... our country is still the best...at least we don't kill each other..."
And then she said, "It isn't going to happen. Impeachment just isn't going to happen."
Question after question from the attendees focused on simple variations of a theme, "what can we do to get Giffords to understand that the restoration of the rule of law and upholding her oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution are the most important tasks for every elected official in Congress."
There were variations voiced, "All the other problems faced by our country are connected to the criminal actions of this regime." "We don't want to hear defeatist rhetoric." "We need those Freshmen Congresspersons to live up to the mandate the people gave them when they were elected and brought the Democrats back into power on The Hill. How can we get our country back to governance by elected officials representing the people and away from governance bought and paid for by Global Corporations? The duty to restore balance among the three branches of government. The likelihood that people will leave the Democratic Party if this Congress doesn't do something, anything to check the Bush Gang." There were a few side issues brought up but for the most part the focus was on impeachment.
I don't know how many of those present had spoken with Ms. Policelli prior to this evening, but from my perspective from meeting her in January 2007 in the newly established and not yet unpacked Giffords office, I think she has come a long way. I can't speak to whether Giffords has changed but the candor Policelli showed during the last half of the meeting tonight was distinctly different from the far more closed attitude I encountered when I spent a month in D.C. a year ago as a member of CODEPINK Women for Peace as we were first trying to establish a long-term nationally drawn Pink Presence on The Hill. Tonight she used words like horrific, abuse, blatant, and the like to describe the consequences of the Bush II administration's disregard for the laws of our country. She did hear us.
She will be getting back to the local DFA about having Giffords petition her colleagues to have an investigation. She definitely heard the message that if impeachment isn't accomplished before the election Bush will pardon everyone and his or her brother and sister before he leaves office. She also knows that we want Giffords to speak to this topic in a larger town meeting type gathering.
Maybe I will post more on the topic. But for now... that is it. It is a minute until midnight and I still have other work to get done before I sleep.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Where Torture Leads Us
Recently in the English speaking world we have begun to talk about torture as though it is some distasteful cultural oddity that can be discussed, legislated, and most importantly swept under the carpet by decent people. I hear American people talking about whether torture is "worth it;" whether the information gained from such means is reliable. The fact that we are even having such conversations is a eerie testament to how small the steps humanity has taken toward civilization in the last few millenia really are.
I recently heard Ret. Colonel Ann Wright speak on the book tour for DISSENT Voice of Conscience and she reminded the few of us who had come out to hear her speak about the stories of the valiant few in government or military service who have in some cases have lost their very identity for doing what is right rather than what is at most technically legal. In the course of ther discussion she reminded us that the the vast majority of the pictures from Abu Ghirab prison have been locked away to never be seen as the world would not stand still for what we did to those prisoners. The head of the U.S.'s judicial system talks about simulated drowning when it IS in fact drowning with resuscitation happening before the person dies.
Torture eats away at the soul of the tortured and the torturer, and if a culture can be said to have a soul in a shared moral structure that soul is also diminished when torture is sanctioned.
I firmly believe that women must be the ones to save our civilization from the barbarism of war and the torture and atrocities generated by the mentality of war and aggression. Women and children have increasingly been the victims and casualties of war over the last century.
If you have read this far, do the world a favor and read the linked article The War Against Women by Ann Jones. Don't shirk from the knowledge or the discomfort created by reading it. Each and every one of us is responsible for what we allow people to do in the name of our country and indeed to occur anywhere on our planet. I'm especially frustrated by the women I encounter in my daily life who say they are too busy, aren't interested, or don't know enough to follow politics. We who ignore hate and violence are as guilty of the crimes we allow to happen in our names as the people who carried out the the violent crime of war on our streets and around the world. I feel especially strongly that we in the U.S. and the rest of the world that has benefited so excessively from Industrial Revolution have to accept the responsibility that comes with living in countries that once were bastions of freedom and a light toward what we might become. If we don't want genocide, torture/rape to be what our daughters and grand daughters know as life then we better all wake up now. Our world is facing dramatic instability in the near future as climate change forces every aspect of our lives to shift in unpredictable ways. What we will do in the face of unknown adversity is likely to relate to what we do and allow our fellow citizens to do in the here and now. When demonstrating in front of a military recruiting center and in spite of my own better judgment when I allowed myself to be drawn into interaction with the paramilitary terrorists who call themselves patriots who harass individuals expressing freedoms guaranteed by our U.S. Constitution to voice dissent about military recruitment of our country's youth to fight in illegal wars I've been told that hanging is the just reward for "traitors" like myself. I have no doubt that the man who smirked as he spat these words out in my face would be completely capable of horrific acts similar to what has happened in Serbia, Croatia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Lione, Darfur.... and countless other places in our world.
How can we as the mothers of the world do anything less than act to stop these horrors?
I recently heard Ret. Colonel Ann Wright speak on the book tour for DISSENT Voice of Conscience and she reminded the few of us who had come out to hear her speak about the stories of the valiant few in government or military service who have in some cases have lost their very identity for doing what is right rather than what is at most technically legal. In the course of ther discussion she reminded us that the the vast majority of the pictures from Abu Ghirab prison have been locked away to never be seen as the world would not stand still for what we did to those prisoners. The head of the U.S.'s judicial system talks about simulated drowning when it IS in fact drowning with resuscitation happening before the person dies.
Torture eats away at the soul of the tortured and the torturer, and if a culture can be said to have a soul in a shared moral structure that soul is also diminished when torture is sanctioned.
I firmly believe that women must be the ones to save our civilization from the barbarism of war and the torture and atrocities generated by the mentality of war and aggression. Women and children have increasingly been the victims and casualties of war over the last century.
If you have read this far, do the world a favor and read the linked article The War Against Women by Ann Jones. Don't shirk from the knowledge or the discomfort created by reading it. Each and every one of us is responsible for what we allow people to do in the name of our country and indeed to occur anywhere on our planet. I'm especially frustrated by the women I encounter in my daily life who say they are too busy, aren't interested, or don't know enough to follow politics. We who ignore hate and violence are as guilty of the crimes we allow to happen in our names as the people who carried out the the violent crime of war on our streets and around the world. I feel especially strongly that we in the U.S. and the rest of the world that has benefited so excessively from Industrial Revolution have to accept the responsibility that comes with living in countries that once were bastions of freedom and a light toward what we might become. If we don't want genocide, torture/rape to be what our daughters and grand daughters know as life then we better all wake up now. Our world is facing dramatic instability in the near future as climate change forces every aspect of our lives to shift in unpredictable ways. What we will do in the face of unknown adversity is likely to relate to what we do and allow our fellow citizens to do in the here and now. When demonstrating in front of a military recruiting center and in spite of my own better judgment when I allowed myself to be drawn into interaction with the paramilitary terrorists who call themselves patriots who harass individuals expressing freedoms guaranteed by our U.S. Constitution to voice dissent about military recruitment of our country's youth to fight in illegal wars I've been told that hanging is the just reward for "traitors" like myself. I have no doubt that the man who smirked as he spat these words out in my face would be completely capable of horrific acts similar to what has happened in Serbia, Croatia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Lione, Darfur.... and countless other places in our world.
How can we as the mothers of the world do anything less than act to stop these horrors?
So if our votes no longer count for anything... what next?
Just a quick question?
If our participation in the governance of our lives and property has been usurped, and:
I believe our Declaration of Independence says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
When I was in school all students were required to memorize the Declaration of Independence. We did not have to memorize the constitution.
If our participation in the governance of our lives and property has been usurped, and:
- we know the 2000 election vote count was subverted before it was complete in Florida and we've also verified the massive illegal suppression of voters who were statistically favorable to Gore in that state in that election.
- we know that significant impropriety occurred in the presidential election voting in Ohio in 2004. And other likely tampering abounds.
- we're now hearing about super delegates having been given the ability to overrule the ballots of delegates so as to make sure an "electable" candidate is chosen to run as a democratic Candidate
- we hear that statistically impossible vote distributions were found in New Hampshire and York primary balloting,
I believe our Declaration of Independence says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
When I was in school all students were required to memorize the Declaration of Independence. We did not have to memorize the constitution.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
McCain 180 Degrees on Torture
John McCain switches and votes FOR TORTURE. What else is he willing to do to get elected, or to please his corporate handlers once elected? There is no telling is there? The poor man was tortured for 6-7 years in a N. Vietnamese prison camp. It is not his fault, but anyone who has undergone torture and survived has some emotional and mental damage. His explosive temper is well documented. Then there is the vote against cancer research even though he is a cancer survivor. And of course the stench of the Keating 5 that lingers under his American Hero cologne. This switch to vote for torture caps it for me - John McCain is unstable. This time I agree with the conservatives... McCain is no conservative. Neither is he liberal in any sense of the word. If you look at his record over time you will find that it is awash in significant reversals that cast doubt on his loyalty to any party. Reversals are fine if tempered with reason and based on increased information or evidence. His reversals are not. They are based on who he is serving at the time.
McCain received funds connected to Abramoff. Deja Vu: he was part of the Keating Five who worked to protect Charles Keating. Keating bankrupted The Lincoln S & L. An interesting aside: The ties to Reagan Bush campaign finance is interesting too. (Remember Reagan deregulated the banking industry.) A good summary of the whole sordid Lincoln S & L affair that shows the connections to Arizona and how this hurt thousands of individuals (some committed suicide) as well as all American taxpayers who ultimately paid the costs of this fiasco can be found in a letter written by Franklin R Mancuso. For more scholarly discussion of the Bush-Reagan role in all stages of the S & L crisis read Bill Black and James Galbraith's 2002 letter.
McCain helped out the criminal who cost the American taxpayer 3 billion dollars. Furthermore, has ties to Abramoff slime. If this isn't enough, think about this: Manchurian Candidate. And geesh I've been so good I didn't even mention his age or other personal problems.
McCain received funds connected to Abramoff. Deja Vu: he was part of the Keating Five who worked to protect Charles Keating. Keating bankrupted The Lincoln S & L. An interesting aside: The ties to Reagan Bush campaign finance is interesting too. (Remember Reagan deregulated the banking industry.) A good summary of the whole sordid Lincoln S & L affair that shows the connections to Arizona and how this hurt thousands of individuals (some committed suicide) as well as all American taxpayers who ultimately paid the costs of this fiasco can be found in a letter written by Franklin R Mancuso. For more scholarly discussion of the Bush-Reagan role in all stages of the S & L crisis read Bill Black and James Galbraith's 2002 letter.
McCain helped out the criminal who cost the American taxpayer 3 billion dollars. Furthermore, has ties to Abramoff slime. If this isn't enough, think about this: Manchurian Candidate. And geesh I've been so good I didn't even mention his age or other personal problems.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Ann Wright Speaks on the Costs of Conscience and Tucson Judge Shows Justice Can Have a Conscience
Michele Obama's appearance in downtown Tucson probably drew some folks away from Ann Wright's talk today about brave individuals who raised voices of conscience against illegal and immoral actions by our government since 2001.
Ann Wright spoke at the University of Arizona Bookstore this afternoon. It wasn't a feel good talk. No one whose stories are in DISSENT Voices of Conscience has won any medals, most are no longer in the careers they were busily building when they discovered violations of the letter and spirit of the law of the United States of America that they served through military or civil service. Col. (ret.) Ann resigned her Foreign Service position on March 19, 2003 as the U.S. began invading Iraq.
What was feel good was the news Ann brought with her from downtown and the trial and sentencing of three protesters arrested inches inside the gates of Fort Huachuca last November during SOA sister action protests. Today Betsy Lamb, Mary Burton Riseley, and Franciscan Fr. Jerry Zawada were admonished for not keeping their protests within the law. But in an amazing voice of reason from the bench Judge Marshall encouraged protests to continue protesting against illegal actions by the U.S. Government and spoke of the duty to do so, but within the law. She spoke of knowing that incarceration would do no good as each would protest again. The three were each found guilty and sentenced to time served, two years of probation and a $5000 fine that can be paid as a fine or via community service hours at the rate of $100 credit against the fine for each hour of service. No jail time. Putting a value on protest of $100 an hour. This is a well reasoned sentence voiced with justice.
If only the individuals whose stories Ann Wright tells in her book DISSENT had the scales of justice actually action with judgment. But truth telling is not valued in this country, nor in the UK nor Australia it seems.
Elizabeth Wilmshurst advised the British Government that aggression toward Iraq would violate international law. They ignored her counsel. She had to resign and is now working at a think tank. Jessalyn Radack was devoted to justice and worked to maintain fair and just treatment for all Americans, even John Walker Lindh. She advised before interogation that anything obtained at that time and under those conditions could not be used at a later time in a court of law. Her emails detailing this advice disappeared and Lindh's conviction used information obtained through early interrogations. She had IT recover the emails. She was forced out of her DOJ job. Her next employer (private) was told to let her go as the government was pursuing her disbarment and criminal prosecution. They let her go. Neither happened but she now knows that voicing matters of conscience will get you punished.
The stories are many. Most end up out of a job through forced retirement or forced resignation but some go all the way up the escalation scale to new identities and the Federal Witness Protection Program.
All of the personal stories in here are important when they stand alone. Together these instances form a critical collection worthy of study as a text in government, history, political science, and indeed any course that touches on philosophy or governance. The individuals covered in the chapters in this work are truly brave and noble individuals. Ann says she collected these stories together to thank the brave voices detailed in DISSENT, someone has to as the future of justice depends on the courage of such individuals, Ann included.
Get the book. Buy a copy for a library, a school, your book club, send it to a Congressperson who is playing it safe.
Ann Wright spoke at the University of Arizona Bookstore this afternoon. It wasn't a feel good talk. No one whose stories are in DISSENT Voices of Conscience has won any medals, most are no longer in the careers they were busily building when they discovered violations of the letter and spirit of the law of the United States of America that they served through military or civil service. Col. (ret.) Ann resigned her Foreign Service position on March 19, 2003 as the U.S. began invading Iraq.
What was feel good was the news Ann brought with her from downtown and the trial and sentencing of three protesters arrested inches inside the gates of Fort Huachuca last November during SOA sister action protests. Today Betsy Lamb, Mary Burton Riseley, and Franciscan Fr. Jerry Zawada were admonished for not keeping their protests within the law. But in an amazing voice of reason from the bench Judge Marshall encouraged protests to continue protesting against illegal actions by the U.S. Government and spoke of the duty to do so, but within the law. She spoke of knowing that incarceration would do no good as each would protest again. The three were each found guilty and sentenced to time served, two years of probation and a $5000 fine that can be paid as a fine or via community service hours at the rate of $100 credit against the fine for each hour of service. No jail time. Putting a value on protest of $100 an hour. This is a well reasoned sentence voiced with justice.
If only the individuals whose stories Ann Wright tells in her book DISSENT had the scales of justice actually action with judgment. But truth telling is not valued in this country, nor in the UK nor Australia it seems.
Elizabeth Wilmshurst advised the British Government that aggression toward Iraq would violate international law. They ignored her counsel. She had to resign and is now working at a think tank. Jessalyn Radack was devoted to justice and worked to maintain fair and just treatment for all Americans, even John Walker Lindh. She advised before interogation that anything obtained at that time and under those conditions could not be used at a later time in a court of law. Her emails detailing this advice disappeared and Lindh's conviction used information obtained through early interrogations. She had IT recover the emails. She was forced out of her DOJ job. Her next employer (private) was told to let her go as the government was pursuing her disbarment and criminal prosecution. They let her go. Neither happened but she now knows that voicing matters of conscience will get you punished.
The stories are many. Most end up out of a job through forced retirement or forced resignation but some go all the way up the escalation scale to new identities and the Federal Witness Protection Program.
All of the personal stories in here are important when they stand alone. Together these instances form a critical collection worthy of study as a text in government, history, political science, and indeed any course that touches on philosophy or governance. The individuals covered in the chapters in this work are truly brave and noble individuals. Ann says she collected these stories together to thank the brave voices detailed in DISSENT, someone has to as the future of justice depends on the courage of such individuals, Ann included.
Get the book. Buy a copy for a library, a school, your book club, send it to a Congressperson who is playing it safe.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Obama Rally in Phoenix: Grijalva, Kennedy, Napolitano and of course, Obama
Just got back from Phoenix where Barack Obama was well received by a political crowd different from any I'd seen before. Hard to describe, but this was not your standard all gung ho backers with a few shills thrown in to yell hateful oppositional things. The air was filled with what I can only describe as sincerity, belief, and hope. It didn't feel staged. But I'm ahead of myself.
First stop today before leaving for Phoenix was a quick stop in a fast food place where this lovely woman, who told us she was a retired nun, was delighted to have her handmade and from the heart Obama tag photographed. Isn't she lovely?
The first speaker was Raul Grijalva. Interesting that when speaking in Phoenix you have to bring in a Tucson /Yuma Congressional Representative.
And Caroline Kennedy and Janet Napolitano.
The arena (State Fair Grounds) was packed -- of course the section behind the podium (what the media cameras would see) was filled first and the sections they'd readied for attendees (about 3/4 of the arena) filled and they had to open the rest of the area. I take it that was a good showing. It seemed that way.
I have to admit that a few weeks ago I was undecided as to how vote in the primaries. Edwards or Obama? The situation changed. And you know what? I don't feel like I have to hold my nose to vote. Oh, we have to push as hard as ever, and apply as much pressure as it takes to convince our leaders that our troops must come home now, and it doesn't mean we don't have to change our government so that our Republic once again reflects the democratic principles upon which it was founded.
Given the choice between Obama and Clinton, there is no choice. Obama it is!
I think this pic will be the one I associate with the Rally. It is her life that we are fighting to make tolerable in the near future and improve dramatically for her children,
and hers,
and theirs.
First stop today before leaving for Phoenix was a quick stop in a fast food place where this lovely woman, who told us she was a retired nun, was delighted to have her handmade and from the heart Obama tag photographed. Isn't she lovely?
The first speaker was Raul Grijalva. Interesting that when speaking in Phoenix you have to bring in a Tucson /Yuma Congressional Representative.
And Caroline Kennedy and Janet Napolitano.
The arena (State Fair Grounds) was packed -- of course the section behind the podium (what the media cameras would see) was filled first and the sections they'd readied for attendees (about 3/4 of the arena) filled and they had to open the rest of the area. I take it that was a good showing. It seemed that way.
I have to admit that a few weeks ago I was undecided as to how vote in the primaries. Edwards or Obama? The situation changed. And you know what? I don't feel like I have to hold my nose to vote. Oh, we have to push as hard as ever, and apply as much pressure as it takes to convince our leaders that our troops must come home now, and it doesn't mean we don't have to change our government so that our Republic once again reflects the democratic principles upon which it was founded.
Given the choice between Obama and Clinton, there is no choice. Obama it is!
I think this pic will be the one I associate with the Rally. It is her life that we are fighting to make tolerable in the near future and improve dramatically for her children,
and hers,
and theirs.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
AZ Liz found NOT Guilty!!!!
Liz Hourican of CODEPINK Phoenix -and for much of this past year a PINKer based in D.C. bringing Arizona peace messages to our elected officials in D.C. - was found NOT GUILTY today in a D.C. Court.
In Liz's own words from an email sent earlier today:
"The case stemming from the Condi Rice Bloody hands False arrest 10.24.08
after 2 hours of trial i was found not guilty!!!
desiree's case was continued april 2nd 2008"
Read Liz's blog post on the CODEPINK DC site.
Liz is the person who was arrested after being dragged by opposite arm and leg while being pulled from the chair in which she was quietly seated waiting for Condi the War Criminal to speak. She had her face smashed into chairs and door jams breaking her glasses and injuring her. This all stemmed from when Desiree (of Arlington, TX) seized a wide open opportunity to confront Rice with symbolic bloody hands (it was red paint.)
Arizona Liz is an amazing woman!
Now lets focus on sending rational thoughts and energies in the direction of the D.C. court that Desiree (of TX) will appear in on April 2nd.
There must be something about Western women! Woot. Woot.
In Liz's own words from an email sent earlier today:
"The case stemming from the Condi Rice Bloody hands False arrest 10.24.08
after 2 hours of trial i was found not guilty!!!
desiree's case was continued april 2nd 2008"
Read Liz's blog post on the CODEPINK DC site.
Liz is the person who was arrested after being dragged by opposite arm and leg while being pulled from the chair in which she was quietly seated waiting for Condi the War Criminal to speak. She had her face smashed into chairs and door jams breaking her glasses and injuring her. This all stemmed from when Desiree (of Arlington, TX) seized a wide open opportunity to confront Rice with symbolic bloody hands (it was red paint.)
Arizona Liz is an amazing woman!
Now lets focus on sending rational thoughts and energies in the direction of the D.C. court that Desiree (of TX) will appear in on April 2nd.
There must be something about Western women! Woot. Woot.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Conundrums, Quandaries, and Feb 5th
What's a progressive girl to do? Feb 5th approaches and I'm facing a question that hundreds of thousands (I'd like to say millions, but I don't think there are that many thinking people actually involved AZ Democrats) of other Arizonans are facing , do cast my initial approval, my primary vote in the AZ Democratic Primary for the woman, the black man, or the white man? Crass way to look at it I know, but at first pass that is what it seems like. It isn't a horrible situation to be in compared to what we've had in the past. White man, white man, white man... ad infinitum. It isn't a great situation to be in either.
Can't get real information on the candidate via the media, just talking heads flapping their jaws about polls and such. As has been the case for far to long, the media is making the news and not reporting information to be interpreted by the masses. I do not care much for Tim Russert, he gives the impression that he isn't framing issues and asks hard questions, but he misses the big glaring issues about corporatism, fascism, voting fraud and the farce elections have become in this country. His interview with Hillary Clinton this past weekend allowed me to remember why I think Hillary is a very bad choice for President.
Time after time yesterday when I watched Meet the Press I was absolutely floored by the false impressions she created when she spoke.
Hillary Clinton on Barack Obama, "He gave a very impassioned speech against it and consistently said that he was against the war, he would vote against the funding for the war. By 2003, that speech was off his Web site. By 2004, he was saying that he didn't really disagree with the way George Bush was conducting the war. And by 2005, '6 and '7, he was voting for $300 billion in funding for the war."
Via omission of the political climate of 2003 she misdirects people into assuming he pulled the speech from the website because he no longer believed in it. In 2003 there was near hysteria in this country about "you are either for us or against us." and the absolute cut and dried false picture that the administration and the media painted and piped into peoples homes 24 hours a day was that any criticism of the the invasion of the sovereign nation of Iraq was akin to treason. It would have been political suicide to leave that speech up on the website at that time.
She goes on to say a bit later in the interview, "I have been working on behalf of civil rights, women's rights, human rights for years and I know how challenging it is to change our political system and I have the highest regard for those who have put themselves on the line."
That is utter poppycock! Unless those people who are putting themselves on the line this time happen to disagree with you, as she has repeatedly shown in her disdain for the women of CODEPINK. Rather than answer questions about her support of the war in 2003 and stay and discuss the concept of the pink slip Jodie Evans attempted to present to her, she marched out of the room, and when she authorized her staff to call for the arrest of women engaged in demonstration in her outer office rather than meeting with them to answer hard questions they posed she showed no respect for those on the front lines of protest and change.
I can go on and on with statements she made yesterday that paint a completely false picture. Most times it can't be said that she lies in an outright fashion, but she is deceptive and judiciously picks through contradictory snippets to create depictions that lie. She is a consummate politician just as is her husband.
"Look, this is up to the voters of our country to determine. But I want them to have accurate information about our respective records, what we've accomplished, the working that each of us have done when given a chance to serve." she later stated. With election integrity being a missing component in the last several elections, anyone who speaks about voters determining anything without addressing the need for clean and fair elections conducted via paper ballots, then what they are saying is just balderdash. For AZ election integrity info check out Blog for Arizona
Can't support her -- she is all about what she can do for the country --- and changes her depiction of herself as necessary per shifting understanding about that for which the country may be looking. She plays old school politics with the big boys where the game is all about getting elected and not about having a vision that you support and strive to make real.
That brings us to Barack Obama. Geesh, he has a good presence and his diction and polished demeanor are everything that the top schools, colleges and universities promise to their well heeled clients, the parents of their students. He epitomizes a new diverse elite class that is coming into existence in the U.S. White men will not rule for much longer. Shifting demographics alone tells us that. I have been in the same room with him and he is , from my gut assessment which I trust most of the time, a sincere, intellectually sharp, and artfully well spoken. It does worry me that he has not been a successful leader in getting the war stopped.
Edwards. I really like him because of his wife. I won't vote for someone just because of a spouse. I heard her speak at the BlogHer conference in Chicago this past summer and was awed by the direct uncensored manner in which she spoke. Stage IV cancer had not up to that point diminished her presence, drive, or the courage to speak her mind. She said that her blog is uncensored much to the occasional chagrin of her husband's campaign coordinating publicity staff. I think I could relate to a man who has such a life partner. Now about him. I suspect that having a mill worker as a father gave him a very different life from Obama and Clinton. He was the first in his family to attend college. He started out in a private college, Clemson, and transferred to a state school, North Carolina State where he got a Textile Technology degree. When I transferred from private to state it was because of money. I suspect the same sort of thing played some role his transfer. Eventually he became a trial attorney and fought for individuals against corporations. So far so good. Blue collar. Worked for his education. Married an intelligent woman. Self made wealth. Knows what it is to lose a child; and understands health care concerns and adversity. I'm leaning in his direction -- the only real concern I have about him is his cushy cosiness with the banking industry -- the bad guys.
Can't get real information on the candidate via the media, just talking heads flapping their jaws about polls and such. As has been the case for far to long, the media is making the news and not reporting information to be interpreted by the masses. I do not care much for Tim Russert, he gives the impression that he isn't framing issues and asks hard questions, but he misses the big glaring issues about corporatism, fascism, voting fraud and the farce elections have become in this country. His interview with Hillary Clinton this past weekend allowed me to remember why I think Hillary is a very bad choice for President.
Time after time yesterday when I watched Meet the Press I was absolutely floored by the false impressions she created when she spoke.
Hillary Clinton on Barack Obama, "He gave a very impassioned speech against it and consistently said that he was against the war, he would vote against the funding for the war. By 2003, that speech was off his Web site. By 2004, he was saying that he didn't really disagree with the way George Bush was conducting the war. And by 2005, '6 and '7, he was voting for $300 billion in funding for the war."
Via omission of the political climate of 2003 she misdirects people into assuming he pulled the speech from the website because he no longer believed in it. In 2003 there was near hysteria in this country about "you are either for us or against us." and the absolute cut and dried false picture that the administration and the media painted and piped into peoples homes 24 hours a day was that any criticism of the the invasion of the sovereign nation of Iraq was akin to treason. It would have been political suicide to leave that speech up on the website at that time.
She goes on to say a bit later in the interview, "I have been working on behalf of civil rights, women's rights, human rights for years and I know how challenging it is to change our political system and I have the highest regard for those who have put themselves on the line."
That is utter poppycock! Unless those people who are putting themselves on the line this time happen to disagree with you, as she has repeatedly shown in her disdain for the women of CODEPINK. Rather than answer questions about her support of the war in 2003 and stay and discuss the concept of the pink slip Jodie Evans attempted to present to her, she marched out of the room, and when she authorized her staff to call for the arrest of women engaged in demonstration in her outer office rather than meeting with them to answer hard questions they posed she showed no respect for those on the front lines of protest and change.
I can go on and on with statements she made yesterday that paint a completely false picture. Most times it can't be said that she lies in an outright fashion, but she is deceptive and judiciously picks through contradictory snippets to create depictions that lie. She is a consummate politician just as is her husband.
"Look, this is up to the voters of our country to determine. But I want them to have accurate information about our respective records, what we've accomplished, the working that each of us have done when given a chance to serve." she later stated. With election integrity being a missing component in the last several elections, anyone who speaks about voters determining anything without addressing the need for clean and fair elections conducted via paper ballots, then what they are saying is just balderdash. For AZ election integrity info check out Blog for Arizona
Can't support her -- she is all about what she can do for the country --- and changes her depiction of herself as necessary per shifting understanding about that for which the country may be looking. She plays old school politics with the big boys where the game is all about getting elected and not about having a vision that you support and strive to make real.
That brings us to Barack Obama. Geesh, he has a good presence and his diction and polished demeanor are everything that the top schools, colleges and universities promise to their well heeled clients, the parents of their students. He epitomizes a new diverse elite class that is coming into existence in the U.S. White men will not rule for much longer. Shifting demographics alone tells us that. I have been in the same room with him and he is , from my gut assessment which I trust most of the time, a sincere, intellectually sharp, and artfully well spoken. It does worry me that he has not been a successful leader in getting the war stopped.
Edwards. I really like him because of his wife. I won't vote for someone just because of a spouse. I heard her speak at the BlogHer conference in Chicago this past summer and was awed by the direct uncensored manner in which she spoke. Stage IV cancer had not up to that point diminished her presence, drive, or the courage to speak her mind. She said that her blog is uncensored much to the occasional chagrin of her husband's campaign coordinating publicity staff. I think I could relate to a man who has such a life partner. Now about him. I suspect that having a mill worker as a father gave him a very different life from Obama and Clinton. He was the first in his family to attend college. He started out in a private college, Clemson, and transferred to a state school, North Carolina State where he got a Textile Technology degree. When I transferred from private to state it was because of money. I suspect the same sort of thing played some role his transfer. Eventually he became a trial attorney and fought for individuals against corporations. So far so good. Blue collar. Worked for his education. Married an intelligent woman. Self made wealth. Knows what it is to lose a child; and understands health care concerns and adversity. I'm leaning in his direction -- the only real concern I have about him is his cushy cosiness with the banking industry -- the bad guys.
However, there’s one highly significant chapter in his Senate career omitted from Edwards’ campaign Web site. Edwards, who comes from a state where banking is big business, played a critical role in brokering legislation to allow banks to sell mutual funds and insurance, and to engage in other speculative ventures. This law, worth hundreds of billions to the banks, blasted a gigantic hole in the Glass-Steagal banking law’s firewall of protections designed to prevent the kinds of bank collapses that marked the Great Depression of the ’30s — meaning that it put the money of Joe Six-Pack depositors at risk. Such a gigantic boon to the banking lobby can hardly be classed as a populist victory. - LA Weekly 1/29/04So what is a girl to do. Guess I will wear a clothes pin on my nose when I go to vote in the February 5th AZ Democratic Primary. I'm serious, I'm wearing a pink clothespin on my nose when I vote... even while I show my ID, and restate as I have the last few times I have voted, that requiring me to show an ID is unconstitutional.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Time to Shut Down the State Level Democratic Parties and Illegal Voter Coercion
It isn't time to dance in the streets just yet. Yes a man with dark skin won the Iowa Democratic Caucus. I'm terribly pleased that the front running war monger Hilary Clinton did not take the state. But it is one state. Two parties do not a Democracy make. Look at what Kucinich currently must deal.
Gabby kicks off her re-election campaign on Jan. 13th. Maybe there should be some stooges in the crowd who can ask her some hard questions about her support for the war, her allegience to the DLC and corporate interests over her constituents. She is a Hillary clone and as such is nothing more than Republican lite supported by special interests albeit slightly different ones than support the Bush Regime.
Neither Dennis Kucinich nor I will ever simply give our vote to an "approved" candidate.
Kucinich Files Lawsuit After Party Denies Him Place on Ballot
The Associated PressWednesday 02 January 2008
Austin - Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, along with supporter Willie Nelson, have filed a lawsuit to get Kucinich on the ballot in Texas after they say the Texas Democratic Party rejected his application.
The civil lawsuit was delivered late Wednesday afternoon to U.S. District Court for the Western District of the United States, Kucinich spokesman Andy Juniewicz said late Wednesday evening.
The lawsuit says that Kucinich was informed by the Texas Democratic Party on Wednesday that his application was "defective" because he crossed out a loyalty oath in the application that said he would swear to support whoever the Democratic nominee for president might be.
The lawsuit asks that a temporary restraining order be issued to stop the Texas Democratic Party from certifying to the Texas Secretary of State a list of candidates and to restrict the secretary of state from accepting any list that doesn't include the name of a qualified candidate who refuses the loyalty oath.
Kucinich, a congressman from Ohio, also wants the court to declare that the oath requirement violates the First Amendment and the 14th Amendment in the Constitution.
"He's right to challenge a blind loyalty oath to the Democratic Party because it's un-American," Willie Nelson said in a news release from the Kucinich campaign.
Calls for comment made to the Texas Democratic Party and the secretary of state's office after business hours on Wednesday were not immediately returned.
As long as two bought and paid for parties run everything all the way from local races to national elections and break the law doing so, there is no democracy. (Last time I checked, it was a crime to attempt to purchase or coerce a vote.) And don't get me started on national level interference in House elections such as Rahm Emmanuel and the DLC financially infusing Gabby Giffords campaign to the point where true grassroots, superbly qualified candidates are unable to compete financially and thus unable to compete in visual media and all other mediums.
Gabby kicks off her re-election campaign on Jan. 13th. Maybe there should be some stooges in the crowd who can ask her some hard questions about her support for the war, her allegience to the DLC and corporate interests over her constituents. She is a Hillary clone and as such is nothing more than Republican lite supported by special interests albeit slightly different ones than support the Bush Regime.
Neither Dennis Kucinich nor I will ever simply give our vote to an "approved" candidate.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Register to vote by Jan. 7th!
Voter Registration...
Monday, January 7th, is the last day to register to vote if you want to vote in the Primary.
In order to vote in the primary, you must be registered as a Democrat or a Republican. No third parties are allowed in AZ primaries (that sucks by the way!) You can then change to Green or whatever later. The officialese from the Recorders web site states:
If someone who is currently registered to vote as an Independent or Party Not Designated wants to participate in the upcoming February 5, 2008 Presidential Preference Election, that voter will have to re-register for the political party affiliation of the candidate that they wish to vote for. They need to change their registration not later than midnight on Monday, January 7, 2008.
Register downtown @ Registrar's Office in the Old Pink Dome building.
That is:
| Pima County Recorder's Office | 115 N Church Ave |
You can find all the info at: http://www.recorder.pima.gov/regvote.html
Thanks to Susan T. for reminding me all about this! My daughter turns 18 tomorrow and she is raring to vote so tomorrow she will be downtown bright and early to register. In order to vote in the Feb 5th primary you have to be 18 by that date, so even if you are 17 now -- go downtown and register tomorrow. If you can't do that, register online.
And while I'm at it.... I might as well list the forms of ID that you have to have with you at the polling place in order to vote. (This is @#$$&* unconstitutional! but right now if you want to vote you have to comply.)
From http://www.co.pima.az.us/elections/ID%20polls.htm
Every eligible registered voter is required to show proof of identity at the polling place before receiving a ballot. The voter shall announce his/her name and place of residence to the election official and present one form of identification from LIST #1 that bears the name, address, and photograph of the voter OR two different forms of identification from LIST #2 that bear the name and address of the voter.
A voter who does not provide one form of identification from LIST #1 OR two different forms of identification from LIST #2 shall not be issued a regular ballot, but shall receive a conditional provisional ballot and will have five (5) business days after a General Election and three (3) business days after any other Election to provide sufficient ID to the County Recorder in order for their conditional provisional ballot to count.
List #1 – Sufficient Photo ID (including name and address):
Valid Arizona driver license or non-operating identification
Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification
Valid U.S. federal, state or local government issued identification
List #2 – Sufficient ID without photo bearing the name and address (two required):
Utility bill of the voter that is dated within 90 days of the date of election. A utility bill may be for electric, gas, water, solid waste, sewer, telephone, cellular phone or cable television.
Bank or Credit Union statement that is dated within 90 days of the date of the election
Valid Arizona Vehicle Registration
Indian Census Card
Property tax statement of the voter’s residence
Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification
Vehicle Insurance Card
Valid U.S. federal, state, or local government issued identification
Voter Registration Card / Recorder’s Certificate
Any “Official Election Material” mailing bearing your name and address
Monday, November 26, 2007
What Would Jesus Buy?
What Would Jesus Buy?
A fantastic film from Reverend Billy who heads up the Church of Stop Shopping. It will be in Tucson at the Loft on December 7th. At the Loft. Be there or be square.
Organize a trip to see it with friends. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder how our society ever became so ill with consumerism. Sacrilegious? Yep. On target. Yep. A must see? Absolutely.
From The Loft's Website:
Rev. Billy joined CODEPINK in the hallowed halls of Congress for “Don’t Buy Bush’s War” actions this past spring. Can you say, "Peacealujah!! my friends?
Film screenings (from the website:)
GET A GROUP TOGETHER AND SAVE BIG BUCKS
PLEASE CALL 877-447-4670 FOR DISCOUNT INFORMATION
NOVEMBER 16
Cinema Village
22 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10013
212-924-3363
Website
NOVEMBER 21
Sunset 5
8000 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90046
323-848-3500
Website
Westpark Theatre
3755 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92606
Website
NOVEMBER 23
Shattuck Cinemas
2230 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704
510-464-5980
Website
Ross Media Arts Center
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Website
Lumiere Theatre
1572 California St., San Francisco, CA 94109
415-267-4893
Website
Cinema 21
616 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Website
NOVEMBER 30
Aquarius Theatre
430 Emerson St., Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-327-3241
Website
Landmark Varsity Seattle
4329 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105
Website
Landmark Century
2828 N. Clark St., Chicago
Website
Edina 4
3911 West 50th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55424
Website
Criterion Cinemas
86 Temple St, New Haven, CT 06510
203-498-2500
Website
Plaza de Oro Twin
371 South Hitchcock Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
805-963-9503
Website
Charles Theater
1711 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201
410-727-3456
Website
Westgate
340 Westgate Mall, Madison WI, 53711
203-498-2500
Website
DECEMBER 3
The Screen
Santa Fe, NM
Website
DECEMBER 5
The Movies on Exchange
10 Exchange St, Portland, ME 04101
207-772-9600
Website
DECEMBER 7
Chez Artiste/Landmark
2800 South Colorado Boulevard at Amherst Denver, CO
Website
The Magnolia
West Village
3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75204
214-764-9106
Website
Regal Arbor Cinema @ Great Hills
9828 Great Hills Trl, Austin, TX, 78759
512-231-9742
Website
The Loft Cinema
3233 E Speedway Blvd, Tuscon AZ 885716
520-795-7777
Website
Landmark Greenway
5 Greenway Plaza., Houston, TX 77046
Website
Tower
876 East 900 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Website
Regal's Tara
2345 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E. Atlanta, GA 30324-3758
Website
Landmark Hill Crest Cinemas
3965 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
Website
Real Artways Cinema
Hartford, CT
Website
DECEMBER 14
Crest Theater
1013 K St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Website
DECEMBER 21
Guild Theater
3405 Central Avenue NE., Albuquerque, NM 87106
Website
JANUARY 11, 2008
Nickelodeon
Columbia, SC
Website
A fantastic film from Reverend Billy who heads up the Church of Stop Shopping. It will be in Tucson at the Loft on December 7th. At the Loft. Be there or be square.
The Loft Cinema
3233 E Speedway Blvd, Tuscon AZ 885716
520-795-7777
Organize a trip to see it with friends. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder how our society ever became so ill with consumerism. Sacrilegious? Yep. On target. Yep. A must see? Absolutely.
From The Loft's Website:
Rev. Billy joined CODEPINK in the hallowed halls of Congress for “Don’t Buy Bush’s War” actions this past spring. Can you say, "Peacealujah!! my friends?
Film screenings (from the website:)
GET A GROUP TOGETHER AND SAVE BIG BUCKS
PLEASE CALL 877-447-4670 FOR DISCOUNT INFORMATION
NOVEMBER 16
Cinema Village
22 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10013
212-924-3363
Website
NOVEMBER 21
Sunset 5
8000 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90046
323-848-3500
Website
Westpark Theatre
3755 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92606
Website
NOVEMBER 23
Shattuck Cinemas
2230 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704
510-464-5980
Website
Ross Media Arts Center
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Website
Lumiere Theatre
1572 California St., San Francisco, CA 94109
415-267-4893
Website
Cinema 21
616 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Website
NOVEMBER 30
Aquarius Theatre
430 Emerson St., Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-327-3241
Website
Landmark Varsity Seattle
4329 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105
Website
Landmark Century
2828 N. Clark St., Chicago
Website
Edina 4
3911 West 50th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55424
Website
Criterion Cinemas
86 Temple St, New Haven, CT 06510
203-498-2500
Website
Plaza de Oro Twin
371 South Hitchcock Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
805-963-9503
Website
Charles Theater
1711 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201
410-727-3456
Website
Westgate
340 Westgate Mall, Madison WI, 53711
203-498-2500
Website
DECEMBER 3
The Screen
Santa Fe, NM
Website
DECEMBER 5
The Movies on Exchange
10 Exchange St, Portland, ME 04101
207-772-9600
Website
DECEMBER 7
Chez Artiste/Landmark
2800 South Colorado Boulevard at Amherst Denver, CO
Website
The Magnolia
West Village
3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75204
214-764-9106
Website
Regal Arbor Cinema @ Great Hills
9828 Great Hills Trl, Austin, TX, 78759
512-231-9742
Website
The Loft Cinema
3233 E Speedway Blvd, Tuscon AZ 885716
520-795-7777
Website
Landmark Greenway
5 Greenway Plaza., Houston, TX 77046
Website
Tower
876 East 900 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Website
Regal's Tara
2345 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E. Atlanta, GA 30324-3758
Website
Landmark Hill Crest Cinemas
3965 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
Website
Real Artways Cinema
Hartford, CT
Website
DECEMBER 14
Crest Theater
1013 K St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Website
DECEMBER 21
Guild Theater
3405 Central Avenue NE., Albuquerque, NM 87106
Website
JANUARY 11, 2008
Nickelodeon
Columbia, SC
Website
Saturday, November 24, 2007
CODEPINK Human Rights Delegation to Pakistan
CODEPINK & Global Exchange cofounder Medea Benjamin, and LA and DC CODEPINK activist Tighe Barry are traveling to Pakistan as a CODEPINK human rights delegation to Pakistan. A letter from Medea per this delegation and its mission follow. Codepinkalert.og will have blogs and reports from Medea and Tighe on the site as they are received.
Hold them and peace in your hearts.
From: Medea Benjamin
November 23, the day after Thanksgiving
Human rights activist Tighe Barry and I are on our way to Pakistan today. It's a bit of a trek--leaving from New York to Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), where we have an 11-hour layover, then on to Karachi for a week, then Lahore and perhaps Islamabad.
This is the beginning of what we hope will be an on-going presence of US human rights observers in Pakistan until the elections are scheduled to take place in January.
We've been very troubled by the state of affairs since General Musharraf imposed martial law on November 3. Under the guise of the war on terrorism, he has jailed thousands of lawyers, human rights advocates and opposition leaders. Some have been released, but many remain in prison or under house arrest. He sacked the Supreme Court and then stacked it with his own judges, thereby wiping out an independent judiciary. And he clamped down on the press, closing several stations and restricting others.
So we are going to learn more about the situation, hoping to interview the lawyers and activists who have been victimized by the crackdown. We'll get their stories and learn how we can be of support as they take great risks to bring the rule of law back to their country.
With the US government shoring up Musharraf and continuing to give millions of our taxdollars to his regime every month, we in the US have a great responsibility toward the people of Pakistan. Thanks why this trip--and hopefully the subsequent delegations--are so important.
Below is a description of the delegations and their purpose. We hope you'll help us spread the word, so that more people from the US will join us or donate funds so that others can come.
Much love and happy holidays to all.
Thanks so much,
Medea Benjamin
Cofounder, Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace
Emergency Delegations to Pakistan to Support the Rule of Law
The Ad-Hoc Committee for the Rule of Law in Pakistan (ACRLP) is organizing a series of delegations to Pakistan starting November 25, 2007 and continuing through January, 2008 -- when elections promised by President-General Parvez Musharraf may or may not be held. The delegates include lawyers, human rights activists, free press advocates and labor supporters who will travel to various parts of the country to meet with Pakistan-based democracy activists, as well as representatives of local political parties.
The delegations' purpose includes:
To show support for the secular progressive communities in Pakistan that have been victimized by emergency rule, as well as local human rights and democracy activists who have been especially targeted by authorities;
To produce a well-researched report documenting the crackdown on human rights and democracy activists
To consult with local human rights and democracy activists and develop recommendations for restoring democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan;
Upon returning to the U.S., to pressure the White House and Congress to adopt the recommendations crafted with the advice of local human rights and democracy activists;
To educate the U.S. public about the dire situation in Pakistan, its implications for the region and U.S. national security, and how to support a return to democracy and the restoration of the rule of law.
If January elections do indeed move forward, to assess the conditions for free and fair elections.
On the ground in Pakistan, we will be assisted by professors and students from the Law and Policy Program of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
The first delegation will start the week of November 25.
The ACRLP currently faces several needs:
Groups to sign on to the Ad-Hoc Committee for the Rule of Law in Pakistan
Individuals to join the delegations
Funds to support the effort. Checks (tax-deductible) can be made out to Global Exchange/Pakistan and sent to 2017 Mission St, 2nd fl, San Francisco 94110.
Hold them and peace in your hearts.
From: Medea Benjamin
November 23, the day after Thanksgiving
Human rights activist Tighe Barry and I are on our way to Pakistan today. It's a bit of a trek--leaving from New York to Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), where we have an 11-hour layover, then on to Karachi for a week, then Lahore and perhaps Islamabad.
This is the beginning of what we hope will be an on-going presence of US human rights observers in Pakistan until the elections are scheduled to take place in January.
We've been very troubled by the state of affairs since General Musharraf imposed martial law on November 3. Under the guise of the war on terrorism, he has jailed thousands of lawyers, human rights advocates and opposition leaders. Some have been released, but many remain in prison or under house arrest. He sacked the Supreme Court and then stacked it with his own judges, thereby wiping out an independent judiciary. And he clamped down on the press, closing several stations and restricting others.
So we are going to learn more about the situation, hoping to interview the lawyers and activists who have been victimized by the crackdown. We'll get their stories and learn how we can be of support as they take great risks to bring the rule of law back to their country.
With the US government shoring up Musharraf and continuing to give millions of our taxdollars to his regime every month, we in the US have a great responsibility toward the people of Pakistan. Thanks why this trip--and hopefully the subsequent delegations--are so important.
Below is a description of the delegations and their purpose. We hope you'll help us spread the word, so that more people from the US will join us or donate funds so that others can come.
Much love and happy holidays to all.
Thanks so much,
Medea Benjamin
Cofounder, Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace
Emergency Delegations to Pakistan to Support the Rule of Law
The Ad-Hoc Committee for the Rule of Law in Pakistan (ACRLP) is organizing a series of delegations to Pakistan starting November 25, 2007 and continuing through January, 2008 -- when elections promised by President-General Parvez Musharraf may or may not be held. The delegates include lawyers, human rights activists, free press advocates and labor supporters who will travel to various parts of the country to meet with Pakistan-based democracy activists, as well as representatives of local political parties.
The delegations' purpose includes:
To show support for the secular progressive communities in Pakistan that have been victimized by emergency rule, as well as local human rights and democracy activists who have been especially targeted by authorities;
To produce a well-researched report documenting the crackdown on human rights and democracy activists
To consult with local human rights and democracy activists and develop recommendations for restoring democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan;
Upon returning to the U.S., to pressure the White House and Congress to adopt the recommendations crafted with the advice of local human rights and democracy activists;
To educate the U.S. public about the dire situation in Pakistan, its implications for the region and U.S. national security, and how to support a return to democracy and the restoration of the rule of law.
If January elections do indeed move forward, to assess the conditions for free and fair elections.
On the ground in Pakistan, we will be assisted by professors and students from the Law and Policy Program of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
The first delegation will start the week of November 25.
The ACRLP currently faces several needs:
Groups to sign on to the Ad-Hoc Committee for the Rule of Law in Pakistan
Individuals to join the delegations
Funds to support the effort. Checks (tax-deductible) can be made out to Global Exchange/Pakistan and sent to 2017 Mission St, 2nd fl, San Francisco 94110.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
UN SECURITY COUNCIL MUST LISTEN TO IRAQ'S PEOPLE AND PARLIAMENT
Please forward this letter widely and ask that recipients take action. The signers of this letter are some of the most involved and informed individuals in the Progressive community. Take a moment to consider that pressure must begin to come from the global community to get the U.S. out of Iraq. Our supposed leaders in the U.S. ignore the wishes of the citizenry, this is the next best hope. Peace.
---------------------------------------------
LISTEN TO IRAQ'S PEOPLE AND PARLIAMENT
The United Nations Security Council will soon consider re-authorization of the U.S.-led occupation force in Iraq. The Iraqi cabinet, led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, is about to send a letter to the Council requesting extension of the mandate of this so-called "multinational force." The U.S. government is drafting a Council resolution, and the vote will come up in a matter of days.
But the Iraqi constitution clearly calls for ratification by the parliament of any such international agreement. And the parliament is demanding a voice. Last April, 144 members, a majority of Iraq's parliament, signed a letter calling for a timetable for withdrawal of occupation forces. And the same letter denounced as "unconstitutional" a move by the al-Maliki cabinet to unilaterally request a mandate renewal without consulting the parliament. As the current mandate comes closer to expiring, it appears that al-Maliki, under pressure from the U.S., is about to repeat the same unconstitutional and illegal process.
In May, by majority vote, the Iraqi Parliament passed a law reaffirming the Constitution's requirements – that the cabinet must get two-thirds majority approval from parliament for any force renewal request to the Security Council. An overwhelming majority of Iraqis want a complete withdrawal of all the occupation forces, as numerous polls have shown. While the Bush administration insists that it wants to "build democracy," it is ignoring the Iraqi people and their elected representatives. Washington wants to renew the UN mandate without approval of the Iraqi parliament-- another illegal step to justify and prolong the U.S.-led occupation.
TELL YOUR GOVERNMENT TO STOP UN SUPPORT FOR OCCUPATION!
ANY EXTENSION OF THE UN MANDATE MUST BE RATIFIED BY THE IRAQI PARLIAMENT AND INCLUDE A TIMETABLE FOR TROOP WITHDRAWAL.
People worldwide should take action. Nations sitting on the UN Security Council are particularly important: United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, France, Belgium, Congo, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Slovakia, South Africa
For background., see: http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/mnfindex.htm
TAKE ACTION! See sample letter at http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/mnfrenewal/2007/1119sampleletter.htm
Jim Paul, Global Policy Forum
Gael Murphy, Code Pink
Medea Benjamin, Global Exchange
Leslie Cagan, United for Peace and Justice
Phyllis Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies
Emira Woods, Foreign Policy in Focus
Anna Polo, Europe for Peace
Alice Slater, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, NY
Alfred Marder, International Association of Peace Messengers
Bruce Gagnon, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
Anna Goodhun, Fairbanks Coalition for Peace and Justice
Stacey Fritz, No Nukes North
John Burroughs, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy
Jacqueline Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation
---------------------------------------------
LISTEN TO IRAQ'S PEOPLE AND PARLIAMENT
The United Nations Security Council will soon consider re-authorization of the U.S.-led occupation force in Iraq. The Iraqi cabinet, led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, is about to send a letter to the Council requesting extension of the mandate of this so-called "multinational force." The U.S. government is drafting a Council resolution, and the vote will come up in a matter of days.
But the Iraqi constitution clearly calls for ratification by the parliament of any such international agreement. And the parliament is demanding a voice. Last April, 144 members, a majority of Iraq's parliament, signed a letter calling for a timetable for withdrawal of occupation forces. And the same letter denounced as "unconstitutional" a move by the al-Maliki cabinet to unilaterally request a mandate renewal without consulting the parliament. As the current mandate comes closer to expiring, it appears that al-Maliki, under pressure from the U.S., is about to repeat the same unconstitutional and illegal process.
In May, by majority vote, the Iraqi Parliament passed a law reaffirming the Constitution's requirements – that the cabinet must get two-thirds majority approval from parliament for any force renewal request to the Security Council. An overwhelming majority of Iraqis want a complete withdrawal of all the occupation forces, as numerous polls have shown. While the Bush administration insists that it wants to "build democracy," it is ignoring the Iraqi people and their elected representatives. Washington wants to renew the UN mandate without approval of the Iraqi parliament-- another illegal step to justify and prolong the U.S.-led occupation.
TELL YOUR GOVERNMENT TO STOP UN SUPPORT FOR OCCUPATION!
ANY EXTENSION OF THE UN MANDATE MUST BE RATIFIED BY THE IRAQI PARLIAMENT AND INCLUDE A TIMETABLE FOR TROOP WITHDRAWAL.
People worldwide should take action. Nations sitting on the UN Security Council are particularly important: United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, France, Belgium, Congo, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Slovakia, South Africa
For background., see: http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/mnfindex.htm
TAKE ACTION! See sample letter at http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/mnfrenewal/2007/1119sampleletter.htm
Jim Paul, Global Policy Forum
Gael Murphy, Code Pink
Medea Benjamin, Global Exchange
Leslie Cagan, United for Peace and Justice
Phyllis Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies
Emira Woods, Foreign Policy in Focus
Anna Polo, Europe for Peace
Alice Slater, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, NY
Alfred Marder, International Association of Peace Messengers
Bruce Gagnon, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
Anna Goodhun, Fairbanks Coalition for Peace and Justice
Stacey Fritz, No Nukes North
John Burroughs, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy
Jacqueline Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation
Monday, November 19, 2007
New Impeach Cheney Campaign
Just got this impeach Cheney campaign info that is aimed at draft age students. I suggest forwarding it to every teen and young adult you know.
You will need a Facebook account to access this page.
You will need a Facebook account to access this page.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Pakistan, societal dissociation, and Sapir-Whorf
Okay... do you get it now? We've supported a military dictatorship in Pakistan since 1999 and enabled this rogue dictatorship's development and ownership (and thus USE) of nuclear weaponry. Yes -- we -- not our government... not our administration, not any other euphamistic term that downplays our individual responsibility for allowing this to happen. Listen for the use of the phrase "came to power" by the talking heads rather than any referenced to an election.
Whatever the Bushites do, we do, because we are not stopping them. I cannot continue to use language that separates we the people from we the government because it leads to dangerous societal dissociation. WE must stop using language that minimizes our responsibility for the fascistic government we have governing us. Language is power. The language we use in the present changes future pattern of thoughts and thus what is likely to happen.
While not all things scale up, I think this is an organizing principle of social systems. We must visualize and speak of a societally created, better and just governance or we will have no chance of enacting it.
So -- this week's exercise: watch how the corporate media describes the Pakistani military dictatorship's suppression of the fragile tendrils of democracy in the courts and government and how you talk about the situation.
Whatever the Bushites do, we do, because we are not stopping them. I cannot continue to use language that separates we the people from we the government because it leads to dangerous societal dissociation. WE must stop using language that minimizes our responsibility for the fascistic government we have governing us. Language is power. The language we use in the present changes future pattern of thoughts and thus what is likely to happen.
While not all things scale up, I think this is an organizing principle of social systems. We must visualize and speak of a societally created, better and just governance or we will have no chance of enacting it.
So -- this week's exercise: watch how the corporate media describes the Pakistani military dictatorship's suppression of the fragile tendrils of democracy in the courts and government and how you talk about the situation.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Update on Liz's condition
Thought I should update you all per Liz's condition. Received this email this morning from the Phoenix CODEPINK Coordinator.
A friend reports, "Captain Mark Sullivan, perhaps on a signal from the Secret Service, brutally yanked Liz out of her seat and dragged her down the row. At one point, one officer had her feet and another had her arms and they were pulling her in opposite directions, banging her face on a chair leg."
We Arizonans need to contact Gabrielle Giffords and Jeff Flake, both members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,non-Arizonans can contact other members of the Committee, and urge them to issue a statement of apology to the seated CODEPINKers who were brutalized by these police captains and to request formal reprimand of officers Captains Gerber and Sullivan.
Yesterday, Liz was released from jail after 30 hours, despite the vice-chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee calling the Capitol Police several times to request her release. While she was in quite a bit of pain, she was never actually hospitalized because she wanted to stay with the other people who had been arrested. She was charged with resisting arrest although, as you can see from the videos, it would have been difficult for her to willfully resist arrest. Her glasses were broken, she has at least one black eye and cuts on her face, and she feels generally battered, but she's well and back at the Code Pink house.From my take on what happened, and you can see that she wasn't doing anything and was sitting when the attack began - she was also being exceptionally quiet as as she'd been informed that if she so much as burped in the hearing that she would be arrested. The cops grabbed her from either side, were in fact, pulling her in two directions and slamming her face into the chairs in the row in front of where she was seated. This was an unprovoked attack on her that resulted in serious bodily injury. She was at no time in any condition to even attempt to resist arrest. The charge is totally bogus. Furthermore the refusal of the Capitol Hill police to release the CODEPINK five after direct instructions from the Committee heads -- who are supposed to be entirely in charge of what is happening in their hearings is outrageous. None of the seated CODEPINKers showed disrespect to Congress or even the War Criminal Rice; it was the police who expressed their contempt of Congress.
You can see a series of video clips on http://www.codepinkalert.org/codepinkarrests .
A friend reports, "Captain Mark Sullivan, perhaps on a signal from the Secret Service, brutally yanked Liz out of her seat and dragged her down the row. At one point, one officer had her feet and another had her arms and they were pulling her in opposite directions, banging her face on a chair leg."
We Arizonans need to contact Gabrielle Giffords and Jeff Flake, both members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,non-Arizonans can contact other members of the Committee, and urge them to issue a statement of apology to the seated CODEPINKers who were brutalized by these police captains and to request formal reprimand of officers Captains Gerber and Sullivan.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Phoenix CODEPINKER Kept in D.C. Jail Overnight
UPDATE on Liz's condition (from a Phoenix friend):
Desiree knew, I'm sure, what the consequences of confronting Rice might be. She is an extremely intelligent woman. She was also careful not to touch Rice and to keep her hands clearly visible. Plus these cops know these women. They know that these are not violent women. The psychological profiles I'm sure they have done must show this or they wouldn't have been allowed into hearings on an almost daily basis for the last couple of years.
The wonderful thing about CODEPINK is that it values the individual and nothing is "policy written in stone" other than those necessary for 501c3 status. Those pink women sitting in the "audience"/gallery did nothing wrong. The police acted in defiance of known Congressional authority. And they did this repeatedly. If the police are no longer respecting the laws of the land and the procedures of the leaders on The Hill, we are in watching a slow motion military/police cout d'etat.
Call/write/contact your Congresspersons and let them know you are outraged by this flagrant police abuse of the law and disrespect of Congress.
"I just got off the phone with Dana in Washington. She says that she's heard that Liz is fine, although the Capitol Police broke her glasses and her head was cut in the scuffle. She apparently did not go to the hospital. She, Medea, and Lori will see a judge today at 1:00 eastern time to see what happens next. I'm not sure when Desiree (the woman with the red hands) will be released or what she's going to have to go through. I think it's significant that the vice-chair for the House Foreign Relations Committee called the Capitol Police to say that the committee's policy is to only escort activists out and not to arrest them. The vice-chair asked for their prompt release, but everyone was kept over night. I'm guessing that the Capitol Police are now just the strong arm of the administration."What a lot of people don't realize is that law inside the Capitol, especially when a hearing is in session, is a bit different from what people might presume it to be. The chair of the session has authority over his or her hearing room. For me, this is the most deeply disturbing aspect of yesterday's arrests. From what I can tell from out here in the western U.S.A., the Vice Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee asked the police to immediately release those arrested and act according to the known policy of that committee. The police knew this policy and should have honored the law. Furthermore, once the will of the Committee Chairwas iterated, those arrested without provocation should have been immediately released. They were kept in jail overnight.
Desiree knew, I'm sure, what the consequences of confronting Rice might be. She is an extremely intelligent woman. She was also careful not to touch Rice and to keep her hands clearly visible. Plus these cops know these women. They know that these are not violent women. The psychological profiles I'm sure they have done must show this or they wouldn't have been allowed into hearings on an almost daily basis for the last couple of years.
The wonderful thing about CODEPINK is that it values the individual and nothing is "policy written in stone" other than those necessary for 501c3 status. Those pink women sitting in the "audience"/gallery did nothing wrong. The police acted in defiance of known Congressional authority. And they did this repeatedly. If the police are no longer respecting the laws of the land and the procedures of the leaders on The Hill, we are in watching a slow motion military/police cout d'etat.
Call/write/contact your Congresspersons and let them know you are outraged by this flagrant police abuse of the law and disrespect of Congress.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Liz Hourican, from Phoenix, roughed up and arrested by Capitol Hill police
, Liz Hourican of Phoenix was assaulted and injured by Capitol Hill Police today when the police defied the policy of the House Foreign Relations Committee to escort Citizen Protesters from the room without arrest if they are nonviolently disruptive vocally or written signs.
“The blood of millions of Iraqis is on your hands!” yelled Desiree Fairooz to Condi Rice during the hearing and displayed her hands covered in red paint simulating blood. She was escorted from the room. Four women and one man ended up being arrested. Fairooz was arrested. Then two women who were sitting quietly in the hearing room were forcibly dragged from the room into the hall where they, who had engaged in no provocation, were brutally treated by the police. One of the women, Liz Hourican, had to be take to the hospital. Lori Perdue was also inexplicably dragged from the room and arrested. Medea Benjamin who had no written signs and who had not said anything in the hearing room was asked to leave when she made a peace sign with two fingers, She gathered her stuff and left the room. She was then arrested in the hall as was a gentleman who was vocally challenging the actions of the police as they happened.
You can watch the videos and judge for yourself.
Later in the day the press was given the following information in a statement from Dana, a CODEPINK spokesperson:
I haven't yet heard how Liz is doing or if she is out of the hospital. I will post again when I find out more.
“The blood of millions of Iraqis is on your hands!” yelled Desiree Fairooz to Condi Rice during the hearing and displayed her hands covered in red paint simulating blood. She was escorted from the room. Four women and one man ended up being arrested. Fairooz was arrested. Then two women who were sitting quietly in the hearing room were forcibly dragged from the room into the hall where they, who had engaged in no provocation, were brutally treated by the police. One of the women, Liz Hourican, had to be take to the hospital. Lori Perdue was also inexplicably dragged from the room and arrested. Medea Benjamin who had no written signs and who had not said anything in the hearing room was asked to leave when she made a peace sign with two fingers, She gathered her stuff and left the room. She was then arrested in the hall as was a gentleman who was vocally challenging the actions of the police as they happened.
You can watch the videos and judge for yourself.
Later in the day the press was given the following information in a statement from Dana, a CODEPINK spokesperson:
"Liz Hourican is now being treated at a local hospital for her injuries. The Deputy Chief of Staff of the House Foreign Relations Committee contacted the Capitol Police later in the day to again relay that their is a policy of that committee to not arrest Citizen protesters but to instead escort them out of the room. The Deputy asked for the CODEPINK members to be released promptly from custody.I know Liz. She is a sincere, peaceful person, active in Arizona and Phoenix politics and an incredibly patriotic person who takes her duties and responsibilities as a citizen very seriously. She also is one of the least wimpy folks I know. To hear her crying in pain is horrible enough but to hear the despair in her voice when she is saying "I didn't do anything" is equally as painful for me as I know she believes in justice and truly was aghast at the abuse of justice by the police.
For more information please contact Dana Balicki at 202 422 8624 or Gael Murphy at 202 412 6700."
I haven't yet heard how Liz is doing or if she is out of the hospital. I will post again when I find out more.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Cops out of control in case you needed any more evidence
Thanks to the Sonoran Progressives for making me aware of this gross abuse of power by out of control Maricopa Sheriff Joe Arpio. Seems the owners of the Phoenix New Times, a weekly newspaper, were arrested yesterday on charges of revealing Grand Jury information. The New Times, a Village Voice company, has had its executives, reporters and names of readers subpoened by a special prosecutor. The special prosecutor was appointed to see if the newspaper violated the law when they published the home address of Sheriff Joe Arpaio three yeares ago. A sheriff's department spokesperson refused comment on the subpoena, saying that Arpaio is a "crime victim."
Hmmmm.... Woman dies in Phoenix airport within minutes of being "taken down" by airport security staff. Sheriff arrests persons named in grand jury probe centered on info about the sheriff. None of that would make me want to travel to Phoenix or spend one second there that I didn't have to. Do I need to say that this city is also the home of Hell-bent Hawk John McCain and Bush administration apologist and right hand boy Jon Kyl.
If anyone doubted that Phoenix was a hell-hole, this should get them on the path to changing their minds.
And if anyone doubts that police are way out of control in this country, along with our purported "leaders," these stories of high level abuse of power parallel and encourage the street level abuse of the citizens of this country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyvrqcxNIFs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8ndctwAJmU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J9_Xcs0Tho
Read more here about the Phoenix abuse of the legal system in the New Times case:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/business/media/19cnd-arrest.html?hp
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1019newtimes1019.html#
Warning: You'll be part of the subpoena if you read the New Times online.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-10-18/news/breathtaking-abuse-of-the-constitution/
Hmmmm.... Woman dies in Phoenix airport within minutes of being "taken down" by airport security staff. Sheriff arrests persons named in grand jury probe centered on info about the sheriff. None of that would make me want to travel to Phoenix or spend one second there that I didn't have to. Do I need to say that this city is also the home of Hell-bent Hawk John McCain and Bush administration apologist and right hand boy Jon Kyl.
If anyone doubted that Phoenix was a hell-hole, this should get them on the path to changing their minds.
And if anyone doubts that police are way out of control in this country, along with our purported "leaders," these stories of high level abuse of power parallel and encourage the street level abuse of the citizens of this country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyvrqcxNIFs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8ndctwAJmU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J9_Xcs0Tho
Read more here about the Phoenix abuse of the legal system in the New Times case:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/business/media/19cnd-arrest.html?hp
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1019newtimes1019.html#
Warning: You'll be part of the subpoena if you read the New Times online.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-10-18/news/breathtaking-abuse-of-the-constitution/
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Shame in Tucson
Louis Vitale, 75, a Franciscan priest, and Steve Kelly, 58, a Jesuit priest, were each sentenced on Wednesday, October 17th to five months in federal prison. Their crime? Attempting to deliver a letter opposing the teaching of torture at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. The priests are now in prison.
Common Dreams describes the offense thusly:
Despite the Disney-esque image that comes to mind with use of the Fort's nickname, "Fort Sneezy," the real nature of what goes on there is far more sinister. Fort Huachuca is Army Intelligence HQ. Oxymoronic but still dangerous.
In Friar Kelly's words, "“We will keep trying to stop the teaching and practice of torture whether we are sent to jail or out. We have done our part for now. Now it is up to every woman and man of conscience to do their part to stop the injustice of torture.”
Every man and woman... that's us folks. Shall we begin?
Common Dreams describes the offense thusly:
Demonstrations against the teaching of torture at Fort Huachuca are scheduled for November 16 and 17 this year.The priests were arrested while kneeling in prayer halfway up the driveway to Fort Huachuca in November 2006. Both priests were charged with trespass on a military base and resisting orders of an officer to stop.
In a pre-trial heating, the priests attempted to introduce evidence of torture, murder, and gross violations of human rights in Afghanistan, Abu Ghraib in Iraq, and at Guantanamo. The priests offered investigative reports from the FBI, the US Army, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Physicians for Social Responsibility documenting hundreds of incidents of human rights violations. Despite increasing evidence of the use of torture by U.S. forces sanctioned by President Bush and others, the federal court in Tucson refused to allow any evidence of torture, the legality of the invasion of Iraq, or international law to be a part of the trial.
Despite the Disney-esque image that comes to mind with use of the Fort's nickname, "Fort Sneezy," the real nature of what goes on there is far more sinister. Fort Huachuca is Army Intelligence HQ. Oxymoronic but still dangerous.
In Friar Kelly's words, "“We will keep trying to stop the teaching and practice of torture whether we are sent to jail or out. We have done our part for now. Now it is up to every woman and man of conscience to do their part to stop the injustice of torture.”
Every man and woman... that's us folks. Shall we begin?
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