"A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer."**

Excellent photos, Karen. Nice and clear. My God, look at the faces of the people in that room. Very somber and solemn. They KNOW.

Karen, who were the people in the fourth photo down?

Nice article at CNN.com this morning about the hearing, complete with a picture of Conyers delivering the petition to the aide from the White House through the fence.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/06/16/downingst.memo.ap/index.html

HERE COME MORE LIES, NICE TIMING! POUNCE EVERYONE... POUNCE!!!!

Bush shifts focus to Iraq
Schedules major address for June 28

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Facing growing pressure to bring troops home from Iraq, President Bush is launching a public relations campaign to try to calm anxieties about the war.

Bush scheduled a major address for June 28, the one-year anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty from the U.S.-led coalition to Iraqis.

Four days before that, he will meet at the White House with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who heads the transitional government chosen after January elections.

The president also plans a series of radio addresses and appearances outside Washington. He will emphasize the importance of democracy in Iraq and elsewhere when he meets with fellow world leaders in Gleneagles, Scotland, in July, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

The president's campaign comes as the U.S. death toll in Iraq has climbed above 1,700. A relentless wave of suicide bombings, kidnappings and beheadings has killed at least 1,070 just since al-Jaafari's government was announced April 28.

"The president recognizes that this is a concern that's on the minds of the American people," McClellan said. "That's why he's going to sharpen his focus, spending more time talking about the progress that's being made on the ground -- there's significant progress that has been made in a short period of time -- the dangers that remain and that lie ahead, as well as our strategy for victory in Iraq."

A few Republicans have broken ranks with the White House on Iraq, supporting a resolution that calls for Bush to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq by October 1, 2006.

"After 1,700 deaths, over 12,000 wounded and $200 billion spent, we believe it is time to have this debate and discussion," said one sponsor, Rep. Walter Jones, R-North Carolina, who voted for the war.

Many GOP lawmakers also have been reluctant to embrace Bush's signature second-term domestic issue -- allowing younger workers to set up private investment accounts with part of their Social Security taxes.

But the president has shown no public evidence yet of backing down and has traveled the country weekly -- and will again next week -- to campaign for his proposals.

Still, at a time when Bush intended to be concentrating primarily on his domestic agenda, he finds himself shifting emphasis to Iraq.

Foreign policy has typically given Bush his highest scores with the public, but that has changed. An Associated Press-Ipsos poll this month found just 41 percent of adults supported his handling of the Iraq war -- an all-time low.

In addition, a Gallup poll released Monday found that six in 10 Americans say they think the United States should withdraw some or all of its troops from Iraq.

As with his new domestic agenda sales job, Bush plans to offer no policy changes on Iraq.

One development, though, could throw Bush completely off-stride. The Supreme Court's first vacancy in over a decade could come by the end of the month, and the fierce nomination battle that would immediately ensue would consume a huge portion of the president's -- and the entire capital's -- attention.

Bush scheduled a major address for June 28, the one-year anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty from the U.S.-led coalition to Iraqis.

Posted by: monkey at June 17, 2005 09:44 AM

Let's see if I have this right.....

'Mission accomplished, world better off without Saddam, no more torture and rape rooms, fight over there so we don't have to fight over here, it's hard work, freedom and democracy breaking out all over.'

Did I miss anything?

Posted by: tutterfly at June 17, 2005 10:20 AM

Don't forget Poland!

He will emphasize the importance of democracy in Iraq and elsewhere when he meets with fellow world leaders in Gleneagles, Scotland, in July, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

Posted by monkey at June 17, 2005 09:44 AM

"He will emphasize the importance of democracy in Iraq and elsewhere........" O.K., folks. We have been through this before. I watched CNN the last two nights a little to see if there was something on it about the Bolton hearing, (and I can't stand five minutes of it.) But I noticed there, and on CBS nightly news, that there was alot of propaganda about the people in Iran who were "under (get this) a theocracy, and therefore they had no democracy, and they really want a democracy, and just because they just voted in the recent election there, doesn't mean they can really vote and it matters, because the elections in Iran are fixed." Yes, that's right, folks.

I have a deep gut feeling about a war with Iran. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it wasn't already planned. I know this is just MHO, but I feel it. And when I feel something this strong I am hardly, if ever, wrong.

I don't see Bush backing down about Iraq, and I do anticipate an upcoming strike on Iran, or else a heck of a try at one.

I personally think the only thing that is going to stop this maniac and the people who own him is peaceful protest, and impeachment.

And please, if you have time, send an email to Rep. Conyers thanking him.

This is off subject but I feel that there are many stories other than the Downing Street memo that we are missing out on today.

THE SCHIAVO AUTOPSY REINFORCES THE CRUELTY AND HOW OPPORTUNISTIC POLITICIANS MISUED HER LAST DAYS.

Terri Schiavo for instance. Pinellas Cty medical examiner Thogmartin concluded that Schiavo's brain damage was irreversersible and that no amount of of treatment would have reversed it. Dr. Frist mal practiced when he insisted that Ms. Sciavo might come out of her vegetative state. Tom DeLay insisted that Schiavo's condition had been misrepresented by the media. Now from the autopsy we clearly know who was doing the misrepresentation not to mention the exploitation of a sad, family riving tragedy. Republicans have spoke out about their p.r. fiasco not their wrongheadness.

And today Bush is out bragging about his Medicare prescription drug fraud. The bill that his Medicare actuary certified wouldn't cost 1 cent over $400 billion dollars. And the corrupt Congressional vote being kept open for 10 hours with threats, intimidation and possible bribery being conducted on the floor of the US Congress.

"WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush kicked off a nationwide campaign on Thursday, telling older people to circle November 15 on their calendars. That's when they can enroll for the new prescription drug coverage under Medicare."

I am all for pushing the Iraq debate but hope that we don't lose site of these other issues which the media covered non stop when the Republicans pushed their spin but maybe 5 seconds yesterday discussing the correct version and Republican overreaching. The Schiavo matter was a major overreach by DeLay/Frist which we should not let CNN forget.

Tutt,

Nope you didn't miss a thing, except for, as we all know, the mission was not accomplished (as McClellan kindly advised us yesterday, that we can't leave, because our mission is not complete), and most Iraqis don't think they are better off without Saddam, it's still hard work, but not for Bush, who get to sit in airconditioning, while the lights are still on only three hours a day in Baghdad, and ummm, oh yeah, Iraqis continued to get slaughtered everyday.

Nope, I don't think you missed anything at all on the subject which we will be hearing lies about come June 28th.

Truth---

that funny feeling in the pit of your tummy about Iran is shared. There is an article in the July Readers Digest (I KNOW I KNOW) about OBL, al Queda, Iran and the shared goals they have.

It sounds like the case for running right over there are all being set into place. They are training terrorists, they are going to make nuke bombs, they aren't spreading freedom and democracy.

But, how will Dubya pull off a new war? Pull the troops from Iraq or start a draft? What about the money? Equipment? Does he have to go to Congress again? Will Condi do a new 'aluminum tube' schtick?

I discussed this with someone just the other day, and the horror of horror that we both agreed on, is that the one way the country would jump into a NEW war would be if there was another terror attack that could be blamed on Iran. I never want to be so wrong about anything. Please let me be wrong.

p.s. sorry Poland, my bad.

Posted by: tutterfly at June 17, 2005 10:46 AM

O.M.G. Tutt! That is EXACTLY what I was thinking last night and this morning. EXACTLY!!!

O.M.G.

And, you know what Tutt? The infotainment "news" is Terra this and Terra that, and also, did you know Osama bin Laden surfaced again last week? And word was out that he is ALIVE AND WELL, and traveling around alot. And, we caught a major Al Queda operative this past week? And, also, did you know that the people who are in power in government in Iran are mean evil people, and the people really need democracy and freedom? And that there are alot of Terra-ists in Iran and Iraq? And that we caught some Terra-ists in California last week that were planning a major attack in America? Yup.

Posted by: monkey at June 17, 2005 09:44 AM

So bush is going to give speeches to try and "calm anxieties" about Iraq? Rememeber what happened when he did that with Social Security? He LOST support.

Does anyone know FOR SURE, would Dubya need authorization to go into Iran? Does he have to go to Congress again? What would the drill be?

This is not the T.G.I.F. feeling I was looking for you know.

By the way...

http://www.bobcaseyforpa.com/

Posted by: tutterfly at June 17, 2005 11:05 AM

That would depend. If he were to pretend Iran was just another necessary act in the war on terror or even the war with Iraq, I could see him going to Iran without getting approval from congress. (in kind of a lyndon johnson-eque way). But most likely, he would need approval first. The question is-- would this be actual approval to go to WAR, or something more like the IWR?

The Bush family apparently has learned nothing from the Schiavo debacle and now wants to keep this story going. After yesterday's autopsy report I say thank you governor, you really have no common sense and don't understand how visceraly the American public, including evangelicals that I have spoken with, really don't want anything to do with this tragedy. Let them keep driving a wedge into their base.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Jeb Bush asked a prosecutor Friday to investigate why Terri Schiavo collapsed 15 years ago, calling into question how long it took her husband to call 911 after he found her.

Uh-oh....
GOP stabs their do-girl Katherine Harris in the back big time!

GOP eyes Bense as opponent to Harris
Party favors state speaker in bid to unseat Nelson
TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush and the White House are pushing House Speaker Allan Bense to challenge fellow Republican Katherine Harris for the U.S. Senate, fearing her candidacy would damage the GOP's chances in that race and the governor's contest next year.

The behind-the-scenes maneuvering appears to negate what was widely viewed as a deal that kept Harris out of the 2004 Senate campaign in exchange for her party's support in a 2006 challenge of Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

If Bense agrees, what had been expected to be a relatively smooth run to the nomination for Harris could become a heated primary battle between two Republicans.

Bense, of Panama City, has one year left in his term as House speaker, and earlier said he had no political aspirations beyond that office. Now he acknowledges that may soon change.

"I'm sure not pushing it, I can tell you that," Bense said. "But the calls have stepped up since she got in the race."

On Thursday, he acknowledged he was considering the race amid strong courting by the Republican establishment.

Gov. Bush and Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., who heads the National Republican Senatorial Committee, are among those who have reached out to Bense since Harris declared her candidacy last week.

President Bush's political adviser, Karl Rove, also has lent support to the Bense recruitment effort, several Republican sources said.

On Thursday, Gov. Bush said Bense would be "a very good candidate if he decides to run."

Asked what message the Republican establishment's courting of Bense sends to Harris, Bush said, "Nothing; absolutely nothing. It says more to my respect and working relationship with a really fine guy."

But courting a rival Republican for Harris is a volatile move for the governor and his brother. It violates the political axiom that leaders should avoid picking favorites in primary fights and raises questions of loyalty in a family that puts great weight in that virtue.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-asecbense17061705jun17,0,1693760.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Posted by: florida dem at June 17, 2005 11:24 AM

eek, i never thought id say these words but... I hope Harris wins!!! (just the nomination, of course!)

I was shocked, shocked I tell you to learn this...

DeLay owns $50,000 worth of Exxon Mobil stock:
How do you spell "conflict of interest?"

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usmtbe174307744jun17,0,328974.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-headlines

Native - I know. :)

Regarding the PBS funding:

Travel guru Rick Steves is now getting involved in the effort to save PBS funding.

http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/npr.htm

Last week Bush's approval ratings were 48%. I don't know where this gets us though?

Bush's Support on Major Issues Tumbles in Poll

By ROBIN TONER and MARJORIE CONNELLY
Published: June 17, 2005
"Increasingly pessimistic about Iraq and skeptical about President Bush's plan for Social Security, Americans are in a season of political discontent, giving Mr. Bush one of the lowest approval ratings of his presidency and even lower marks to Congress, according to the New York Times/CBS News Poll.

Carol T. Powers for The New York Times
President Bush promoted the new benefit program at a rally Thursday.

The New York Times
"Forty-two percent of the people responding to the poll said they approved of the way Mr. Bush was handling his job, a marked decline from his 51 percent rating after of the November election, when he embarked on an ambitious second term agenda led by the overhaul of Social Security. Sixteen months before the midterm elections, Congress fared even worse in the survey, with the approval of just 33 percent of the respondents, and 19 percent saying Congress shared their priorities.

Despite months of presidential effort, the nationwide poll found the public is not rallying toward Mr. Bush's vision of a new Social Security that would allow younger workers to put part of their payroll taxes into private investment accounts. Two-thirds said they were uneasy about Mr. Bush's ability to make sound decisions on Social Security. Only 25 percent said they approved of the way Mr. Bush was handling Social Security, down slightly from what the poll found in March.

Moreover, 45 percent said the more they heard about the Bush plan, the less they liked it. The survey also found the public shared the growing skepticism in Washington about Mr. Bush's prospects for success on Social Security, with most saying they did not think Mr. Bush would succeed."

25% now approve of his handling of SS. That is amazing and means that more than 50% of self described Republicans are now rejecting his SS plans. When will he take the hint? Yea, yea we know the answer. Never.

Bill Clinton the guy the right likes to eviscerate was at 60% at this time in his second term.

Could someone please explain to me how so many conservative Christians could be so manipulated with the smoke and mirror issues of gay marriage and abortion rights? Bush doesn't care about those issues. He wanted, and got, re-election. How can a man, who calls himself a Christian perpetrate war and cause the deaths of so many? It seems to me that if you are willing to kill for your religion, you are little better than the terrorists he claims to fight. How can a man who lies so easily, not have been held accountable by our congress up to this point? How can I help bring about his impeachment...though Cheney is certainly not presidential material either.

Posted by: Kathy at June 17, 2005 11:42 AM

Kathy -

Gay marriage and abortion have been sold as "crisis" issues that demand IMMEDIATE attention. That's why it's working so well for the Republicans, even (or shall I say especially) here in Los Angeles with the socially conservative immigrant communities. I know I am playing into Bush's game when I speak out against these immigrant communities, but I simply can't trust them anymore.

I have decided that the Christianity as practiced by American Dominionists is a religion of death, and renounced it as a result.

And you were too generous in calling Bush "little" better than the terrorists. To me, Bush is the worst terrorist on the face of this earth, because he has more firepower at his disposal than Osama bin Laden could ever dream of.

Kathy and others here talking of impeachment you are in a dream world. Are you suggesting that either Dennis Hastert or Sen Frist will initiate impeachment? Heck the ethics commitee is strggling to even maintain a modocum of ethics rules that aren't twisted to excuse Tom DeLay's abhorent behavior, much less Bush's.

Sorry, I just don't understand how such discussions ad to the political discourse.

Oh...one more thing...Why are men even allowed into the debate over abortion rights? Sorry Ally...living with distrust seems to be an overwhelming result of the politics practiced by this presidency.. Hurray for the John Conyers of the nation.

Ira --

Lots of people are talking about impeachment, on this blog, in the mainstream media, and on Capitol Hill.

It may or may not be likely that Bush will be impeached by a Congress utterly lacking ethical conviction. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep talking about it.

He lied to the nation and Congress to take us to war in Iraq. If we're not talking about impeachment over that, I don't know what the hell impeachment is for.

"In view of the president's problems, conservatives who favor private accounts are about to step in with their own alternative. Next week, Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina will introduce legislation, with support from third-ranking Senate leader Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, that shuns the solvency goal in favor of creating small private accounts from Social Security's current surpluses. Trustees project the program will start running annual deficits in 2017"

We should step up the pressure against Bolton next week and fear the above Santorum/DeLay plan which truly would bankrupt SS and make it whither on the vine. Spending the surplus when there is already a shortfall. Where do these lunatics come up with these irresponsible ideas.

By the way I would like to issue a personal thank you to Howard Dean who will be spending the week here in Texas fundraising and reinvigorating our state party. All I can say is that we have waited a long time to see national interest in our state.

Ira...I'm looking for a way to make a difference. I've been searching for quite some time... I have no money to contribute...I certainly have no political influence...and I'm not certain that my vote counts...so perhaps the discourse is important for those of us who feel we do not have a say in the way our country is run. Perhaps enough discourse will somehow lead the the revolt of the peasants and a change in our world.

Posted by: Ira at June 17, 2005 11:48 AM

If we find good enough Democratic candidates across the nation for the congressional races of next year, we can have the Dems oust the Republicans from power for a reversal of 1994.

Alas, it's easier said than done, considering the comatose DNC, DLC, and of course the media. Not to mention the pro-Republican redistricting that has happened in Texas and may soon happen in California if Ahnuld gets his way. It will be a very uphill fight.

Posted by: Kathy at June 17, 2005 11:57 AM

Kathy, the men on the right seem to want to talk abortion because they only seem to see women as no more than reproductive devices for them.

And as for gay marriage thing, I forgot to mention this. Dictatorships/fascists need a common societal enemy in order to win support and consolidate power. The Nazis had a slew of enemies, but their primary enemy was the Jewish community; the current Christian fascism in America has decided on gays as the destructors of American social fabric.

Oh, right: Impeachment is for blowjobs. I forgot.

kerryon62: you are exactly right that Bush's behavior specifically his misuse of the CIA by what we all know was intimidation by Cheney of what is suppose to be an independent branch of govt (the CIA)to provide false info provided by curveball to Congress regarding Iraq is as serious a violation of his oath of office as Nixon's. Its a clear violation of the separation of powers doctrine, it just won't reach the impeachment standard like oral sex does.

My point is that it takes our eyes of the ball regarding issues which I feel we may have more influence on: SS reform, Choosing the next Supreme Ct. Justice, helping to keep John Bolton out of the UN, and reminding the evangelical right that Bush did not have their interest at heart when he flew back from Crawford to sign that ridiculous Terri Schiavo legislation.

I agree that we need to get out of Iraq, but I feel it is more credible when we see Republican Congressmen like Jones push that issue. Just my point of view.

I will belive your idea of impeachment when I see Bush in the low 30% approval rating.

Ira --

I think impeachment discussion fits right in with the goal of unseating these lunatics in 06.

Their reign has created an unprecedented abuse of power in a huge number of areas.

Bush's war lies, the numerous ethics scandals, the takeover of CPB... all these things a part of the fabric that will bury these guys in 06.

It all has a place. And even though it's going to take a hell of a lot more than 5 minutes a day, I think we can win in 06, and I'm willing to work as hard as it takes to keep it all in the public consciousness. Every last smidgen:)

Ally:

That is why I had numerous posts last week about Anold's plans to put Daryl Isses and Pete Wilson in charge of a commitee to ReDistrict California and got exactly 0 responses. And its smells of what Tom DeLay did here in Texas.

ReDistricting may actually be one of the most important issues we need to mobilize against next to the war, SS, and Congress's tampering with an independent judiciary.
Texas ReDistricting was ugly, I attended numerous forums here in Texas and deligently worked my state reps, one Ron Wilson we were able to defeat, to stop it, w/o success.

Your referedum is coming up in Ca. in November. So is a governor's election in Virginia, a state that is teatering on swinging blue. And yet nothing, absolutely nothing has been spoken here about 2 critical elections coming up in less than 5 months no matter how many times I urge these discussions. That is why I am concerned on wasting energy on a non existant impeachment b/c it diverts our attention from immediate issues including stopping John Bolton.

Why?

kerryon62:

Actually I think that pushing impeachment into the '06 election would be counterproductive.

If voters see the motive for electing Dems in '06 is to seat Dems determined to push impeachment heraings and ignore voters needs (ie on healthcare, the economy etc) they may decide that Dems are just as much idealogues as Repubs and reject that along with stirring massive numbers of Bush loving Repubs to "stand up for the President" and turn out in places like Pa where we intend to otherwise unseat Rick Santorum which will be ugly. I just don't see that as a viable political strategy but one that has the potential to backfire, explode in our faces, and give us 2 more years of a runaway Congress. Just my contrarian thoughts which I am sure are not popular here.

My thoughts tend to be more strategic than ideological even though I agree with many of the arguments posted here, just not all.

Ira --

I don't think anybody's wasting energy. Discussion here ranges over a lot of areas at different times.

The Downing Street Memo is getting MSM attention for the first time really, and that's why we're talking about it.

The elections coming up will have their day, too, but you have to kind of go with the media flow to bring attention to these things.

It's all important:)

Posted by: Ira at June 17, 2005 12:21 PM

Ira, you are not alone in your frustration.

I mentioned it before in another thread, but the California Democratic Party is too complacent. They still think they have the state, based on their numbers in the Bay Area and pockets of Los Angeles. They still think they have the immigrant vote. Surprise - they don't anymore.

I need all the help I can get to make sure California stays blue. The neocon-owned Korean-language media thinks redistricting is a good thing because it allows the Koreans to be better represented down the road. (My father's Korean, that's why I read the d*mn language.) If the representation they are talking about is along the lines of former congressman Jay Kim (R - Diamond Bar, which BTW is my district) who was no different from those Cuban reps in the Miami area, NO THANKS. This is one ethnic community we have lost for good thanks to our complacency and the "moral values" crap of the Republicans. Don't let this happen to the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Latinos either!

I will do my part. I am contacting my writing teacher over the weekend to introduce her to DCP. She is a progressive based in the arch-conservative Inland Empire area, and she can definitely fire up her friends in the writers' community. This will give DCP a presence both in Los Angeles and Inland Empire. I will have to come out to her, yes, but that's a small price to pay to keep California in the hands of the correct people.

To add one more thing: I am weary of the potential political power of the right-leaning Korean community. So much that I put my response on the 2000 census form as follows.

Because of my parents' heritages, the "correct" answer for me would've been to tick Korean/Korean-American and Chinese/Chinese-American boxes on the race/ethnicity question. I refused to tick the Korean box because to tick it would give the community more strength in numbers, something I did not want to see. ESPECIALLY after they helped pass California's gay marriage ban, Proposition 22, just a month before the census. I didn't check the Chinese box either because my mother, though ethnic Chinese, is so removed from the culture.

My response was "Other Asian, Specify:" except that I didn't specify anything.

E.J. Dionne says it's time Frist ponied up an apology for his comments on Schiavo's condition in March, regardless of his morning show denials that they was a diagnosis.

Posted by: kathy at June 17, 2005 12:03 PM

Kathy, you are in the right place. The Democracy Cell Project (DCP) is about everyone. Everyone has something to contribute, and they don't need to have alot of political influence, money to contribute, and your vote does count. Every vote counts. So does your opinion.

We are about a grass-roots movement, Kathy. If you tell one person the truth about what is happening to our country, and they tell another person, your vote and influence is tripled. I live in a rural area, and I have a few people I influence, but they spread the word to their friends and neighbors and co-workers about the importance of caring and working for change in our country. If you care enough to share with others, and to help in anyway you can, (we have 5 minute tasks a day for democracy and we do more if and when we can) you can be part of this grass-roots movement.

You are welcome here, and you can make a difference. You are important. We are each important. Your thoughts might motivate me today, and mine might motivate you tomorrow. Discussion is welcomed. It is through dialog and discourse we learn and grow together.

Welcome to the DCP.

Hell, if Frist is gonna start apologizing for things, this could take a while...

Sorry, I thought we were here to try and drive the media message, not just go with the flow.

The Va governor's election is in 140 days. When do we decide to get involved, a few weeks out?

Again Va is borderline blue and their current Governor Warner has made tremedous political strides in what could be the first southern state to vote Dem in 3 presidential election cycles in 3 1/2 years. That would be a great start that won't happen if Kilgore takes that state back for Republicans this Nov.

You stated kerryon62 "The elections coming up will have their day, too, but you have to kind of go with the media flow"
WHY?

Again why are we ignoring California and Va? Did we not learn the importance of losing 5 Congressional seats to Tom DeLay's shanagans here in Texas?

Did my 5 minutes today on Big Bird and the CPB... emailed people even though they're not from my state...

Well, Ira, it helps to go with the flow because when the MSM decides to finally pick up the story, you can make enough noise to make an impression.

The MSM is talking about the memo because we pushed it, and forced them to. Now it's getting national attention that Bush lied, which is really what it's all about. Impeachment is secondary, although having the word out there is significant.

As far as Virgina goes, what do you think should be done? If you've got an idea what to do, feel free to share it.

Bush must candidly address public on Iraq
War has GOP incumbents facing ouster in marginal districts

MSNBC: Tim, polls are showing the American public growing more and more disenchanted with what is going on in Iraq – now a majority of Americans think the United States should no longer be there. President George W. Bush’s domestic and foreign policy numbers have been on a downward movement. It appears members of congress - up for mid-term elections - are seizing on that and taking on the issue of setting a timetable for getting out of Iraq.

Tim Russert: There’s anxiety everywhere — in the White House and on Capitol Hill and across the country — with 60 percent of Americans now believing things are going badly in Iraq and a majority now believing it’s not worth the price being paid.

President Bush is going to have to address the country in a very sober way to try to reassure the nation why the U.S. is there and what’s at stake.

On the other hand, members of congress running in 2006, just 16 months from now, are getting very, very nervous.

Democrats had a meeting Wednesday where they were given the latest polls and they were cheering, because they think some of the swing marginal districts show the Democrats beating Republicans simply by saying, “Get rid of those guys” – not because they have any alternative plan, it’s just “throw the incumbents out.”

Read more... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5961048/

Ira, you are right. There are many other issues that are very important. But yesterday the hearing with Conyers on the Downing St. Memo was a big deal, it got press coverage, and that puts the idea in alot more people's heads that Bush is not the pious wonderful man they thought he was. In turn, it could have the effect of winning alot more votes for Dems in '06. It's all a part of a larger picture.

Your issues are just as important, and we do, and have, spent alot of time on them at certain times too. No one is trivializing your concerns. They are our concerns too. Unfortunately, there are alot of issues, and we can't focus on all of them all at once. Yesterday it was the Conyers hearing (and we explained to you all the good that media coverage can do for '06), and today we are excited and happy about it. We deserve to be happy, because we have been sad and angry for a long time. The more people who get awakened by the Conyers hearing and the press coverage of it, the more votes we get in '06.

O.K. Ira? We promise to be happy and excited today and work just as hard tomorrow on all the other issues that need alot of attention, like you say. You are 100% right. But as much as we care, and as hard as we work, a day to be happy is good for the soul. All work (and angry, disappointed and sad) and no happiness when a glimmer of light shows through makes people down. A little joy and light brings us up.

And Ira, when we take time to rejoice, we are that much stronger tomorrow. :)

kerry62: I have been posting on Commonwealth Conservatives, a conservative Va blog site but did not make a point of saying I live in Tx b/c I would have less credibility. My in laws are in Va and I am planning on traveling there for a few weeks to volunteer but others should contact the Tim Kaine office at:

Headquarters
6010 N. Crestwood Ave.
Suite B
Richmond, VA 23230
804-673-2100
804-377-2019 (Fax)

Field Offices
Northern Virginia
1575 Anderson Road
Mclean VA, 22102
703-720-2600

Hampton Roads
200 Golden Oak Court
Suite 410
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
757-340-4905

Hampton Roads II
11817 Canon Blvd.
Suite 502
Newport News, VA 23606
757-873-9209
Roanoke Valley
308 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, VA 24011
540-344-1160

Prince William County
4326 Dale Blvd.
Suite 6
Woodbridge, VA 22193
703-730-1409

and see what you can volunteer to do from out of state such as phone banking on your cell phone, but as Suz knows that's difficult to co-ordinate from out of state or just blogging on Va blog sites.

Guys, so much to do and so little time. I always have a problem with following the red meat at the expense of our organization, eyes on the prize of election reform. However, how will we ever prove what we claim without proving-or at least showcasing-their illegality? More than freedom fries pushing for the end or pullout of the war, foolhardiness of it, manipulation and lack of trust to this degree needs some major attention.

No matter what anyone said about intentions of the neocons in books, as Bonifaz said, we now have something bona fide. Official minutes from within the British gov't after a fact-finding trip to the US.

But as politics are local, we still can't get the tar to stick to a congressperson, and if he or she is liked. And get our country back. Lobbyists are next.

personally I have always thought that it takes young people, high school and college students, demonstrating, boycotting, walkouts, armbands, ptotests in front of recruiting offices, underground newspapers (is there such a thing as an underground blog site today) etc to push pressure on the adminsitration to get out, that says we won't put our a**** on the line for Bush's policies. Although there are many boomers who are also being sent to Iraq, young people's demonstrations and chants of hey hey GW how many boys did you kill today can get that message across more clearly than chants of impeachment. impeachment.

I understand the urgency of ending the war, but its going to take a new Congress to force Bush's hand and we need to be smart about how we go about plotting that strategy.

You are right, Ira. Is there anything I can do over the weekend to help in any way?

The blogs were the 'media' about the DSM. It took blogs to take an issue off the 'internets'

If that is any idea of how things have to be done right now, geting people to call their reps. getting people to sign petitions, getting people to take an issue OFF their computer and into the wider world, then that is what we have to do.

We can't raise money for a candidate at the DCP and we can't endorse anyone, but we can post links for people, and put them in touch with people in states that are looking for help from interested parties. We are a conduit here, and we have to work together to make information easy to find.

The DSM is the perfect tool to expose secrets and lies. This is not the time to say we had our say and let it go away. It is maybe the best chance to expose a whole lot of other secrets.

For my part, I think that wise people would let the Schiavo issue rest, if only because Terri was misused before, and those who harp on it are still misusing her. She isn't a campaign tool, we saw how the country reacted when government got involved. People don't want government there, and trespassing again is not a good idea. IMHO.

The media are still looking for some 'exciting' thing from Dean or Durbin or any Democrat who might come out and speak a bland, bald, drop dead truth. Anything so that they can go back to reporting the way they've been reporting for over five years. Now is not the time to let them.

I said something to someone earlier today that there are so many meeses out there to pick and chhose from, we are sure to see them in different lights and with wide ranging opinions. So be it. There is not ONE thing we have to focus on, there are multitudes. No one person can do it all, and for people who are focused on things other than my focus, I'm grateful.

the word impeach is getting used. People hear it, understand it, look at what brought the word out into the open. Remember, it wasn't the sex it was the lie. Well, okay, it isn't the war , it was the lie. But it's the war too. Oh, to see that lying creep and his crew painted into a corner!!!

And I agree with you too on the youth being very effective peaceful protestors. Ira, I was thinking, that maybe the word impeachment gets the press out there, and that might be a very good thing, because it puts it out there to alot of television viewers that, "Hey, Mr. Bush might not be as honest as I thought he was", and that sort of thing. What do you think, Ira? Do you think it might get some t.v. viewer's attention, and make them start questioning Bush's "morality and Christian values"? I kind of do. What do you think? If all those "values" voters from '04 start seeing him for what he is if he misled Congress on Iraq, alot of them might vote for the Dem's values in '06?

tutterfly: I hope that my links to the Tim Kaine campaign complied with the structure and guidelines you spoke of regarding the DCP site.

I agree with not 'using' Terri Schiavo for a political purpose but I am apalled that CNN gave us 24 hr coverage of Frist/DeLay and Sciavo and Congress' zeal to interfere, and literally seconds of coverage yesterday with their repudiation of the lunatic right's cause. As Ed Schultz said yesterday, it was all about getting their judges (like Ownes, Brown and Pickering confirmed).

I have spoken with evangelicals who seem disturbed with DeLay's intrusions into their most personal and difficult issues like end of life. Perhaps we need a short hand way of dealing with it w/o using the Schiavo name such as respect for personal decisions. Even evangelicals don't want to be dictated to when it comes to these kinds of decisions and Frist and especially DeLay should pay a political price for crossing that rubicon into the most personal and difficult of human decisions. Jeb Bush apparently is not comfortable with dropping this story.

DiAnne called--she is at a Bush protest in Minneapolis and will report back tonight!

Even evangelicals don't want to be dictated to when it comes to these kinds of decisions and Frist and especially DeLay should pay a political price for crossing that rubicon into the most personal and difficult of human decisions. Jeb Bush apparently is not comfortable with dropping this story.

Posted by: Ira at June 17, 2005 02:13 PM

Ira:

This may be more a case of saving political face for his base in the state.

Ira--

I would tend to continue in the vein that Dean did--refuse to be dragged into personal, private issues, respectfully. Just continue to say, without using Terri's name that the American people made it plain how they feel about painful, personal issues and how they want their privacy. Speak out for the belief that we have that we trust people to proceed through their personal issues with dignity and integrity, and that no one should take it upon themselves to sit in judgment or denounce anyone who is proceeding in a manner worthy of our respect.

(ok-well Dr. Dean didn't say all that, I'm not putting words in his mouth, but you get the drift of what he meant, even if I embellished it.)

Ira, I live in VA and the news around here is all Kilgore, all the time. Lots of Repub political ads on but not a single Dem one.
Kilgore's got a good media machine and all you hear on TV news or the newspapers is about his campaign. He's always putting press releases out about his various plans and Kaine is left to say, "Yeah, I have some sort of plan too."
Kaine's campaign is not being pro-active at all around here, from what I can see. Nobody knows anything about the guy or what his plans for the state are except through the attack ads that are already appearing. As Lt Gov he's been pretty invisible too.
I think the best move right now, outside of grassroots door-to-door, is to get some info about him and his plans out into the media, especially on topics where Kilgore hasn't said anything yet. Not through expensive ads, but just through Kilgore's tactic: press releases to the hungry media about his great plans for the state.

Fe that would make sense if Jeb were running for the Nelson Senate seat or for Pres. which I am still not convinced despite his denials that he does not want to do, but as he is leaving office soon, his story about wanting to criminally investigate Mr. Schiavo struck me as being totally insane and made me think that these folks like Dobson/Frist/DeLay have no regrets or apologies for their outrageous conduct even in light of the autopsy results yesterday. I can not just ignore that story, as it was insulting to the millions of familys that go thru that horrendous decision each year with their loved ones. In my mind it was true gutter politics of the worst sort. Its truly frightening to think that politicians now think that it is OK to interject their religious beliefs on an issue as senitive as that.

Kilgore's web site says he has 2 commercials kind of lame on his family and guns. My family in Richmond and Va Beach say they have seen Kaine's ads perhaps you live in northern Va where he is not spending money. Do you have any contact with the Kaine campaign to let us know what we can do to help. Warner worked too hard to let Va slip back to the darkside and destroy any chance we have against Allen or in Va in '08 for the whitehouse.

My guess is that no one will pay much attention to tv ads til after labor day. By the way a nutjob named Potts has been throwing insults at me on the Commonwealth Conservative blog site. Perhaps Potts can syphon off 5-6% points and we should encourage his candidacy. I think that election is far from over but I am encouraging everyone I can here to help.