February 2008 archive

Loaves and Fishes

By David Whyte

This is not

The age of information.

This is not

the age of information.

Forget the news,

and the radio

and the blurred screen.

This is the time

of loaves

and fishes.

People are hungry,

and one good word is bread

for a thousand.

For previous diaries in this series, see this page

I am all for running everywhere, and the 50 state strategy.

But neither we nor the Republicans are running everywhere (at least not yet!) In this series, I will look at where we are not running (I am not going to look at where Republicans are not running, as I have no desire to help Republicans, however modestly)

This diary is partly inspired by the great work done by BENAWU.

crossposted to swingstateproject

I am all for running everywhere, and the 50 state strategy.

But neither we nor the Republicans are running everywhere (at least not yet!) In this series, I will look at where we are not running (I am not going to look at where Republicans are not running, as I have no desire to help Republicans, however modestly)

This diary is partly inspired by the great work done by BENAWU.

crossposted to dailyKos

This is an Open Thread:Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin

Into the future

Sunday’s Headlines: Nuclear Leaks and Response Tested Obama in Senate: Area Schools Set To Lose Millions Under Medicaid Policy Changes: Former Hussein supporters live in fear in Iraq: Chad capital hit by new fighting: Wave of anarchy blamed on Kenya’s ‘General Coward’: Revealed: Chávez role in cocaine trail to Europe: They’re back from the front line – so why are these ex-soldiers still fighting their own wars?: Seeking a Path in Democracy’s Dead End

A Frail Economy Raises Pressure on Iran’s Rulers

TEHRAN – In one of the coldest winters Iranians have experienced in recent memory, the government is failing to provide natural gas to tens of thousands of people across the country, leaving some for days or even weeks with no heat at all. Here in the capital, rolling blackouts every night for a month have left people without electricity, and heat, for hours at a time.

The heating crisis in this oil-exporting nation is adding to Iranians’ increasing awareness of the contrast between their growing influence abroad and frailty at home, according to government officials, diplomats and political analysts interviewed here.

From fundamentalists to reformists, people here are talking more loudly about the need for a more pragmatic approach, one that tones down the anti-Western rhetoric, at least a bit, and focuses more on improving management of the country and restoring Iran’s economic health.

On January 25, Donna Norton had a 40 minute conversation with a legislative assistant in the office of John Conyers regarding Impeachment.   It did not go well.  In fact, it was a big FUCK YOU to every American who believes in the Constitution, the rule of law, and American democracy.  

Take a look at betrayal.  Take a good look at it:

In Continuing Battle with Conyers’ Office on Impeachment , Ms. Norton reports what she was told by one of the smug aides of the no longer trustworthy Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee:

* Impeachment’s not necessary. The next election will take care of EVERYTHING.  Just ELECT DEMOCRATS. (This chorus was repeated throughout our discussion.)

* A sitting President is not subject to court actions. Nothing in the Constitution says a President is subject to the law.  He finally conceded this remains an “unsettled” question in the courts. (I insisted on documentation to support his statements, and he emailed me a Congressional report, 1978 “CRS Report for Congress” #98-186 A, on impeachment, about 30 pgs.)

* Congress does not have an OBLIGATION or duty to investigate or take any action to prevent a President from breaking the law or abusing his powers.  It’s totally up to THEIR DISCRETION.

* It’s okay for their decision to be based on party politics rather than Constitutional considerations because the decision is solely theirs to make.

* The courts can follow up with any illegal acts of the President or Vice-President AFTER they’re out of office, and all will be fine.

* Correcting power-abuse really has no meaning because power is what it’s all about.  They all abuse it.  So what?  It’s just politics.

The aide seemed not the least bit disturbed by the gravity or import of my conclusions.  It is, after all, just politics.  And, by the way, electing Democrats to office will take care of everything (just in case I forgot to mention that).

Lies.   Forty minutes of lies.    

If it was legal to walk up to that smug traitor and punch his lights out, I’d make an appointment and punch his lights out.   Unfortunately for American democracy, the Bill of Rights does not provide abused, lied to, spied on, robbed blind and betrayed citizens with the right to deck smug traitors.   It’s illegal.   Treason and fascism are legal though. They’ve been legalized by the USAPatriot Act, they’ve been legalized by the Military Commissions Act.  They’ve been legalized for seven years by the thugs in what used to be our White House, our Congress, and our Supreme Court.   I can’t punch out even one of those traitors, so I have to settle for asking that complicit son of a bitch in Conyers’ office a few questions instead . . .