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Friday Night at 8: The Power of One

by: Nightprowlkitty

Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 17:00:00 PST        
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Give Bush and Cheney a fair trial -- something they have not bothered with since they stole office.

It's funny how the powers that be in the media and government are running around with their big fat excuses as to why we can't hold these criminals accountable for their crimes.  It all boils down to "It's too hard!!!"

It's too hard.  It would affect too many people.  It would interfere with the crucial work of restoring our economy.  Blah blah blah.  Not one of these folks say, however, that no crime has been committed, no law has been broken.  No one says that.

I find that stunning.  We all know, at least those of us who have been paying attention, that Bush and his crew of crooks have broken the law over and over again.

And Cheney says "What you gonna do about it?"  And Cheney says "oh, the Dems knew about this and approved it, hell they wanted us to be even tougher than we were!"

And we should believe Cheney ... why?

Nightprowlkitty :: Friday Night at 8: The Power of One
I don't want speculation any more.  I want the truth, the facts, what really happened.  Only a special prosecutor can get that information, someone who is inured to the politics of Washington D.C. by being given the independent power to investigate.

What I like about this petition is that it shows the power of the individual citizen.  This is not a grassroots effort decided by committee.  A couple of folks got together and came up with the text and others jumped in to work further on it and spread it around.

The power of the individual citizen.

I am extremely annoyed at the argument that we citizens are somehow childlike creatures who don't know all the real problems of our country and so we shouldn't cry and whine about our "pet issues" when the government knows so much more about what is important and should be made a priority.

Bleh.

We ARE the government.  The only people who will take back power as citizens, are citizens!  That's us.

To me, Obama's election is a signal that we can now start taking back that individual power, our individual rights.  It's not for Obama or any elected representative to tell me what I should make a priority.  I get to decide that for myself.  They'll do their jobs, and I'll do mine.

The measure of our success with this petititon will be the resistance from the powers that be, the Dems, the Repubs, Obama, the media.  The more we read about how this is not a good idea, getting a special prosecutor, the more we'll know we have them on the run.

Many of us have sent this petition to friends and family, whether they be politically agreeable to us or not.  One by one people will sign.  This isn't "organized" grassroots and it's netroots only insofar as the structure.

To me, this is about the power of each indviidual citizen, not resting happy with the decisions of our elected representatives but standing up for what we feel is right and making our voices heard.

We need to know the truth about the crimes committed in our names.  We need to have every American citizen aware of what has been done so there can be no denials or excuses.

At this time, the only line between tyranny and freedom is an informed citizenry.  By signing this petition and working to make it known we will not accept anything less than full accountability for torture being done in our name, we are exercising our power, not the power one step removed of the three branches of government.

We have power collectively and we also have power individually.  I think the citizenry of this country are going to be tested enormously as we have to let our representatives know we are not asking for favors on our "pet causes" but taking our government back, of, by and for the people.

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Happy Friday. (4.00 / 14)
For those who are interested, tomorrow is the New Moon.

What a great essay! (4.00 / 8)

Anyone wanting to repost it can download a .txt file of the html here (right click and save).

:-)


[ Parent ]
Oooops (4.00 / 5)
Hope you don't mind, NPK?

[ Parent ]
Mind? (4.00 / 4)
I'm part of this gig ... the whole task is to spread the word!

[ Parent ]
Like a pro! (4.00 / 5)
beevis and butthead are dead meat.

[ Parent ]
How about OpenLeft and Mydd? (4.00 / 5)


[ Parent ]
not registered ... (4.00 / 5)
... and too tired tonight.  Will register tomorrow.  Any other places?  My Left Wing, I am registered there and will post it tomorrow.

[ Parent ]
Gotta get used to ... (4.00 / 5)
... the idea of multiple postings when we write on this topic.  That's all part of the gig, lol.

[ Parent ]
I gone for the night too (4.00 / 4)
many long hours today...

[ Parent ]
You did good work today ... (4.00 / 5)
... so you have a good rest!

Hope you are taking care of yourself, btw ... hope all is well with the medical stuff.


[ Parent ]
I crossposted this to (4.00 / 4)
They gave us a republic... also.

Medical situation is really bad. Doctor says I'm dying, but it's going to take about 40 or so years, apparently! ;-)


[ Parent ]
Thanks, Edger. (4.00 / 4)
And don't scare me like that!  ;-)

[ Parent ]
Blue Girl promoted you (4.00 / 4)
to the front page, too!

[ Parent ]
Wonderful! (4.00 / 5)
And now also at My Left Wing.

buhdy's diary is still on the rec list over at the orange.  Yay!

As you said, we have a date with Obama and Eric Holder every day till the Inauguration.


[ Parent ]
Beevis and butthead (4.00 / 4)
better run....

[ Parent ]
Now if everybody can Digg it (4.00 / 4)
it'll be on Digg a whole bunch of times, too. And maybe some people can StumbleUpon it also?

They could use the Share Button up underneath the title to do that, and to bookmark it on lots of other social bookmarking sites too, if they knew it was there, and pretty soon you'll be nationwide, and bush and cheney will be trying to flee the country. ;-)


[ Parent ]
Nize! (4.00 / 4)
I have learned a lot from doing this essay -- hopefully when I do more essays on the petition I'll have my ducks in a row when it comes to cross-posting and formatting!  

[ Parent ]
You all have inspired me (4.00 / 5)
I took the essay I threw together too quickly here the other day and re-did it at orange.

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

[ Parent ]
Saw it! (4.00 / 4)
And rec'd and tipped.

One suggestion -- and I did that the first time I wrote about it as well.

Maybe put the badge at the beginning of the essay?

And the stuff Edger puts on top, that it can be reposted with permission of the author, etc., and an html version to do so.

That would be helpful, I think, for us to get more eyeballs -- and signatures.


[ Parent ]
Right on. Thumbs up! (4.00 / 4)



[ Parent ]
Here you are, NL (4.00 / 4)
You can add this to the top of your dkos essay if you want to!

If you wish to repost this essay you can download a .txt file of the html here (right click and save). Permission granted.


[ Parent ]
Thanks Edger! (4.00 / 4)
I'll add it.

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

[ Parent ]
You got rescued at kos (4.00 / 4)
Cool!

[ Parent ]
awesome! (4.00 / 3)


No ponies, but
"Please pass the lotus flower..."  


[ Parent ]
Thanks Alma!!! (4.00 / 4)
Very Cool.

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

[ Parent ]
Now it's up also at (4.00 / 4)
TalkLeft. They don't allow images posted in diaries there so I made some minor changes, but I think it reads well.

[ Parent ]
Yeah ... (4.00 / 4)
... I think it reads well, too.

This is really a new way of blogging for me, and I think it does fulfill DD's "blogging the future."


[ Parent ]
Extreme Blogging. :-) (4.00 / 4)


[ Parent ]
Can I take a break (4.00 / 4)
and go have breakfast now?

[ Parent ]
Um ... (4.00 / 4)
... no, I don't think so.

lol


[ Parent ]
Leverage (4.00 / 4)
Results 1 - 10 of about 78 for "The Power of One" nightprowlkitty

And LeftWord picked it up off of OOIBC


[ Parent ]
We have to do something about bush... (4.00 / 4)


[ Parent ]
Thanks, Edger. (4.00 / 6)
You've been a real inspiration, imo, when it comes to this project.  Perfect attitude!!!

[ Parent ]
I added a couple of lines at the top inside it (4.00 / 5)
one that says people can download and repost it, and the other says "crossposted from" and links back to here. You can see it in your browser just by clicking the link above.

[ Parent ]
Wow, I feel stronger just reading this!!!!!!!!!!!! (4.00 / 6)
Are you going to put it up at orange?

Oh, and I gave you a rec button because I wanted to rec it and because I can. Ahhhhh, see how strong I'm feeling!!!

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi


You are strong! (4.00 / 5)
Maybe I will post it at the Orange - just to keep the petition on the list.

[ Parent ]
You really (4.00 / 5)
get around, don't you? ;-)

[ Parent ]
Ok now. (4.00 / 4)
This is seriously cool.

And very Sagittarianish!

;-D


[ Parent ]
I emailed it to the OOIBC members list (4.00 / 5)
85 blog owners, and cc'd you.

[ Parent ]
Thanks! (4.00 / 5)
I'm beginning to see the bigger picture here when it comes to the tech of it all -- spreading it so quickly to so many places.

This is verrrrrryyyy interesting!

Mwooo ha ha ha ha.


[ Parent ]
An example... (4.00 / 5)
Google search: Results 1 - 10 of about 91,000 for Citizens Petition for a Special Prosecutor.

[ Parent ]
Cool Edger and Kitty (4.00 / 5)
You two are doing a grand job.  Kudo's to you both.  :)

 


[ Parent ]
Thanks, Alma. (4.00 / 5)
It's sort of a wilder version of election diary rescue -- buhdy started it and then it just started growing organically with little discussion (just like EDR).

What's cool about this project is you don't even have to write a diary or essay - Edger provides the html to copy and you can post it at any blog you can think of with permission from the author already stated.

I did that with edger's essay here, I put it on the FP of Sanctuary.  It took around 3 minutes.


[ Parent ]
On the rec list (4.00 / 6)
at the orange - along with Buhdy - YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

[ Parent ]
Get out! (4.00 / 5)
(as they say in NY).

This is officially a Hot Topic!

:-)


[ Parent ]
Here's the thing.... (4.00 / 6)
...the most important thing, IMHO, is making absolutely certain that the torture stops and cannot continue.  Making sure, absolutely sure, that there are not future crimes is more important than any justice or even truth about past crimes.

The truth will out, I believe, because that is the way of things.  We know today that Jefferson fucked his slaves; we will know what truly happened at the White House.  But preventing atrocities is so much more urgent than it is that we seek the truth or justice of those in the past, even the recent past.

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false face for the urge to rule it." ~ H.L. Mencken


Did you sign the petition? (4.00 / 5)


[ Parent ]
Which one? (4.00 / 6)
For a special prosecutor?  Yes.

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false face for the urge to rule it." ~ H.L. Mencken

[ Parent ]
Good! (4.00 / 6)
Yes, I agree with you completely - the goal is to stop torture, not some theoretical truth seeking.  That is the number one priority.

I do think, though, that the two are somewhat connected.

I also think one way of stopping torture is to have an informed citizenry, something this country has been sorely lacking for too long.


[ Parent ]
I think an informed citizenry is impossible... (4.00 / 6)
...at least under our current system, as I have mentioned before: the incentive problem is too big to overcome.  If they tried John Yoo at the Hague, half of America still wouldn't know his name.

At the end of the day, this is the value of the law.  Because while we have this narrow window of opportunity, we can establish institutions which prevent legalized torture from taking place again.  Think of it like the opportunity the Church committee gave to give real oversight to Federal law enforcement and intelligence.  There was a chance to establish a FISA court which couldn't last, because of public apathy.  The key in our system needs to be how to prevent outrageous government action in the face of inevitable public apathy, IMO.

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false face for the urge to rule it." ~ H.L. Mencken


[ Parent ]
I don't think ... (4.00 / 6)
... it's at all impossible.  I think we have the means now to reach way more people than ever before.

Gutenberg was a start!

It seems you contradict yourself in your last paragraph -- you say there is so much value in the law, yet the "apathy" you speak of was what allowed the laws to be broken, which would suggest informing the citizenry is important when it comes to preventing "outrageous government action."  Could you clarify that for me a little?

I don't think it's inherent that folks are apathetic.

I do think there are a myriad of causes for the present situation which is not, imo, apathy but deliberate propaganda and conditioning and fear mongering which has blinded the body politic.

I think we can have an informed citizenry and I also think it's well worth the work of trying.


[ Parent ]
I know... (4.00 / 6)
...fwiw, it isn't inherent that folks are apathetic; it is a result of the incentives of this particular relationship.  In a large, centralized republic, people know their votes don't matter particularly, and simply speaking, they are right.  Therefore, being an informed citizen is possible, but most people will rationally choose to use their time more productively.  You can make being informed easier, and as we've seen, more people will do so because of it.  But most people will remain quite apathetic and ill-informed, because the only rational reason to do otherwise is if you derive sufficient enjoyment out of being informed to do so.  No one who is informed doesn't enjoy it.  And most people who aren't informed won't find it as enjoyable as we do.

Having the means to reach people is no different than having free gyms available for everyone to go to.  It would make a few more people go to the gym, but most people who don't already still won't, because the gym is hard work and the incentives these people have to go are insufficient.

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false face for the urge to rule it." ~ H.L. Mencken


[ Parent ]
Well, that's the thing. (4.00 / 6)
One thing we have to inform the citizenry is that electoral power is not the only power we have.

And we don't have to join large organizations either.

We do have individual powers and we can exercise them.

I'm not satisfied with the gym analogy, I don't think it's comparable.  Although both the gym and being informed are hard work, being a citizen doesn't require bench pressing or anything, lol.

I'm not saying it would be easy ... but I do think it is more possible now than ever before.


[ Parent ]
P.S.: (4.00 / 5)
I also think it isn't just apathy that keeps folks from using their power.

There are consequences to using power, from being slightly  hassled to being put in jail to being killed.

And I think that folks are suffering enough now that they would be willing to take more risks in that area if they were sufficiently informed of how to do so.


[ Parent ]
Bingo Kitty (4.00 / 4)
they would be willing to take more risks in that area if they were sufficiently informed of how to do so.


[ Parent ]
I think we're talking about different things... (4.00 / 3)
...we're conflating being informed with making a difference.

And you're assuming that being informed and trying to make a difference makes things measurably better.  I dispute that, and particularly dispute it when what you believe would make things better is not a shared view with a large number of people.  Take my support for drug legalization.  I'm very informed, and quite active.  I'm also making no measurable difference.  And I can accept that and keep trying, but honestly, most people wouldn't bother.

But the point is that the combination of not easy and not immediately important is enough to keep most people disinterested.  People believe their time has value.

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false face for the urge to rule it." ~ H.L. Mencken


[ Parent ]
Though I am ... (4.00 / 2)
... in solidarity with you on drug legalization, as I am also in solidarity with Robyn on GBLT matters and with Duke, Kyle, Kai, Manny, etc. on immigration issues, I think this is different.

Torture is a far more universal topic, yet it does touch on all those other issues as well.

Take, for example, immigration issues.  I am very involved and passionate about how undocumented workers are pretty much tortured and terrorized in the US under the present practices of the ICE.  (And yes, I claim torture, as many folks have died in Halliburton-built family prisons).

There are many Americans of all political persuasions, I believe, that would, if it were presented easily to them, sign a petition about torture, and advocate getting a special prosecutor.

These folks may not know much about the other issues.

But if they, not as activists, but just as citizens, got involved in speaking out against torture, we might make a difference in getting our laws against torture enforced in a way that would say that human rights abuses are not tolerated in this country.

In that instance, the consensus could apply to other issues as well.  We could use the same strategies, in other words, to inform the citizenry about other issues in a way where they don't have to take a great deal of time to make their voices heard.

We'd have a vehicle, as it were.


[ Parent ]
Agree, except (4.00 / 4)
I don't equate "being informed" with "enjoyment" but, rather a necessity. Being informed is mostly a very depressing experience in these circumstances.  I think most of us who seek to be informed do so because we want to know what is going on behind the scenes -- what are we REALLY dealing with and HOW do we cope with it.

Say "YES" to Generation We  Go there, read the Petition and sign, if you agree!   Say "YES" to GENERAL STRIKE

[ Parent ]
Think of it like how people enjoy... (4.00 / 4)
...upsetting difficult movies, or Beckett and Albee plays.  People enjoy the feeling of being involved in something important, or of something serious.

It clearly isn't a necessity for most people.  Not being informed does well by plenty of people.  They are happy, and about as well-cared for as informed people.  Most people don't need to see what goes on behind the scenes.

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false face for the urge to rule it." ~ H.L. Mencken


[ Parent ]
This is a super essay, NPK! (4.00 / 3)
It reaches the "guts" of us, as individuals and collectively.  

On "torture?"  I think most people have an inherent knowledge that torture is WRONG!  Of course, we were never addressed as to how WE felt about torture -- it was simply agreed upon and done, initially, without our knowledge.  The same like most of everything we've seen these past eight years were first actions, without our knowledge, then reactions with acquired knowledge, but most always after the fact.

We have International laws that forbid torture -- no amount of words by Bush, Cheney, et al. can take the place of their "actions" -- actions of heinous cruelty to humans.  So the "actions" stand and will stand -- there is no statute of limitations.  

There are, however, limitations as to how long we, as America, such as our perception of it is, can continue to exist as a country having a Constitution and a so-called democracy.  Not addressing these high level criminals is tantamount to a condonation of them and a paving to the future and, ultimately, no return to our original purposes as established by our forefathers.  

Say "YES" to Generation We  Go there, read the Petition and sign, if you agree!   Say "YES" to GENERAL STRIKE


[ Parent ]
Fun with CNN! (4.00 / 6)
So, CNN posted this story about how Rove and Bush have a reading contest every year, and Rove keeps beating him.

Oh what mad stylin' elitist intellectual leaders we have runnin' the country today.

So here's the comment I left on the discussion board attached to the story. I seriously doubt CNN will have the guts to post the comment, but at least people here will appreciate it. :)

READ IN JAIL, CREEPS! HERE IS YOUR READING LIST!

1) The Bible. Actually read the frigging thing, eh?

2) The Constitution of the United States: try this one too, it's a classic!

3) Voices of Conscience: Col (ret) Ann Wright, who resigned a 29 year career in military and government service to protest the invasion of Iraq

4) The Assault on Reason: Al Gore

5) Screwed: The Undeclared War Against The Middle Class and What We Can Do About It: Thom Hartmann

6) Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and the People who Fight Back: Amy Goodman

7) Truth and Consequences: Special Comments on the Bush Administration's War on American Values: Keith Olbermann

8) Fair Game: Valerie Plame (you'll just LOVE this one, Doughboy!)

9) Stop The Next War Now: Medea Benjamin/Jodie Evans

and one last try to penetrate the concrete between your collective ears:

10) The Tao Te Ching: Lao Tzu, another interesting classic that echos the same words Jesus Christ said two thousand years later:

DO UNTO OTHERS THAT WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE DONE UNTO YOU!



Anyone who fails to see the historical parallels between Blackwater & the Nazi SS, or the DHS & the Gestapo, needs a serious reality check.

I hope no one minds... (4.00 / 6)
I just had to throw the book at them.

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

(flees and runs away, giggling insanely)

Anyone who fails to see the historical parallels between Blackwater & the Nazi SS, or the DHS & the Gestapo, needs a serious reality check.


[ Parent ]
Great list (4.00 / 6)
and you gave me a good chuckle!!!!!!!!!!

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

[ Parent ]
The Power of One (4.00 / 5)
(with ripples!!!)



Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi


Keep beating the drum (4.00 / 6)
Same drum a lot of us are beating - Truth! Let's get it out there. Let justice find the punishment. Truth comes first. It is the prerequisite for anything that may follow.

Our "leaders" are full of fear. They fear the Truth being known to the great, unwashed masses. They see themselves as the "adults" and us as the children. I see them as the sausage-makers and us as the ingredients. And they have the gall to tell us to trust that they know what's best for us. Well, I know what's best for me and that for the full Truth to be known so my descendants don't have to see the next Bush in office.

I like this thought you had:

To me, Obama's election is a signal that we can now start taking back that individual power, our individual rights.  It's not for Obama or any elected representative to tell me what I should make a priority.  I get to decide that for myself.  They'll do their jobs, and I'll do mine.

Obama is a symbol of what the people can do when we decide on what we want. He's the one We chose. The means by which he came to office is at your fingertips. He was swept in on a major net tide. I doubt that the full force of that tidal change has been recognized just yet.

We need to push relentlessly, constantly and forcefully to get the elected reps to do the will of the people. Those reps used to get their marching orders from the press, pundits and party bosses. Time for the people to have their say.

More petitions, more e-mail avalanches, more LTEs, more protests. Here's a thought:

Patrick Fitzgerald for Special Prosecutor

Never stop. Never give up. This one is too important.

Satya.

"Three things cannot be long hidden: the Sun, the Moon and the Truth." Buddha


I don't know if you saw this (4.00 / 5)
in NPK's diary over at dkos yet. But I fully expect that when you do, it will be plastered all over the internets.



Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi


[ Parent ]
I thought of you the minute I saw it. (4.00 / 5)
Pretty sick, huh? LOL

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

[ Parent ]
You want to see me in handcuffs??? (4.00 / 5)
:(

[ Parent ]
bwwwwahaha... (4.00 / 5)
oh, i thought that was a joke.   ;-)

No ponies, but
"Please pass the lotus flower..."  


[ Parent ]
Well, not exactly (4.00 / 5)
what came to mind...but if you've got photos, please do share. LOL

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

[ Parent ]
the letter not sent... (4.00 / 5)
to family and friends, but added to the petition:


"I am grateful for the good sense the American people showed themselves and the world on November 4 - the good sense to turn away from the politics of preemptive war, torture, extraordinary renditions, domestic spying and the obscene neglect of their own country people, as witnessed in the aftermath of Katrina.

May the world breath a sigh of relive that reason has returned to America.

May we never forget the refugees caused by Bush's Folly in Iraq.

May we never forget the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual damage caused to American troops, and their families, for their honorable service in a war created for the enrichment of a few dishonorable men.

May our Constitution endure.

And may we always, always, always remember, revenge is never the answer; justice is."

i am extremely psyched at all of you; all the energy and work.   :-)

No ponies, but
"Please pass the lotus flower..."  


Hiya, NPKitty!~ (4.00 / 5)
I've just crossposted over at ePluribus Media.

If you sign up for an account over there (free registration -- you know the drill), then the next time something like this comes up (er...hope not, of course), I can crosspost it and assign your name to it for you if you like.

As it stands, I think it came out fine.  ;)

Peace.


Thanks, GreyHawk! (4.00 / 4)
I shall definitely register at ePluribus Media.

I appreciate your doing this!


[ Parent ]
We're all in it together, my friend. (4.00 / 4)
Either we work together to unite the people toward the goal of restablishing the rule of law and enforcing it, or we all go down in flames.

Or, perhaps it's even better expressed by the quote snafubar built a diary on:

When considering cruelties committed in the name of a free society, some may be guilty, but all are responsible.

;)


[ Parent ]
March on Washington
Saturday, March 20
 

 

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