VIGILS

Karen
256 vigils, 5 locally. I think these numbers will grow alot just in the next 24 hours.

Thanks also for the sign on the main page (when it's ready).

Suburban Chicago (western suburdbs) has at least one vigil planned and I signed up for it last night. This is sponsored by the same group that had an anti-war candle light vigil in March and two hundred people showed up. They are expecting at least two hundred people again.

Family Values

Frameshop: The 'Grieving Mom' Frame

In broad terms, the success of the 'grieving mom' phrase indicates that Americans are now thinking about the War in Iraq through the frame of the family, rather than thinking about Iraq through the frame of 'terrorism' or 'ideology.'

http://frameshopisopen.com/

This is a very insightful piece about how the Bushcos are losing their grip on the social values argument.

You can add your photo, "standing with Cindy"

http://www.photochains.com/view/standwithcindy?ltl=1124112684
http://www.standwithcindy.com

I finally got the nerve to look at rightwing sites such as Drudge (usually don't want the negative energy, as can already imagine what they're like) - they invariably try to point out someone else's apparent contradiction but none of their own. Besides "Go home Cindy" shirts, they sell "If you got nukes, you got Seoul" "Winning Through Superior Firepower" "Redstate Conservative" and "ProWar." The photos and age group appear to be about the same as Cindy's son so maybe some of these guys will see action up close yet. They are deluded.

Sending good wishes to my Vigil Auntie and all of her supportive, peace loving cousins today in Crawford and around the world.

OnCall
Thanks for the "Frameshop" piece, which I just sent out to a bunch of individuals & groups.

John Conyers has some 'help Cindy' links.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4354226

That poster on our home page is very, very cool. Thanks, Karen.

If you didn't see this commentary by Clarence Page (very conservative) in yesterday's Chicago Tribune (annoyingly conservative), please check it out. It gives me hope that people are waking up, not only to the mess in Iraq, but also to media control. The whole article is worth a read, but I've put some snips here.

Mr. President, can we talk about the war too?
Cindy Sheehan's vigil raises uncomfortable questions for Bush
by Clarence Page

WASHINGTON -- I sympathize with Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who wants to talk to President Bush about her son Casey, who was killed in Iraq. I also sympathize with President Bush. It can't be easy to look as confident as he usually does while he's trying to get his country out of a bigger mess than he expected to get it into.
--snip--
I, too, would like to talk to the president. I'd like to talk to him about how it feels to live near Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Hardly a week goes by that I do not run into a young wounded GI at a local market, movie theater or 7-Eleven who is getting used to the latest technology in artificial arms and legs. Like the president, I don't want their sacrifices to be in vain.
--snip--
So Bush had to throw cold water on the sunny optimism of Army Gen. George Casey, head of the multinational force in Iraq, who said last month that forces might be significantly reduced next spring. That would be a relief to incumbent Republicans, but Bush says no decisions had been made. We might even have to add more American troops to safeguard the Iraqi elections scheduled for December. No, the question is not whether to withdraw from Iraq, but how?
--snip--
Iran? Oh, yes. It's back. Iran, with its long record of sponsoring terrorism against Israel and the United States, is becoming a nuclear power and not a terribly friendly one.

That's why I'd like to ask President Bush whether he got his countries mixed up. Did he really mean to invade Iran? Does he now wish that we had?

Questions like that help explain why the president's handlers steer him exclusively to friendly audiences-- and why his surrogates try to challenge the patriotism of reporters and commentators who get too uppity. We all make mistakes. Team Bush just doesn't want to admit any. That's too bad. Facing up to your mistakes is the first step toward avoiding more mistakes in the future.

http://tinyurl.com/7dd5c
----------
BTW, it wouldn't hurt to write to him to thank him. Let's show him how polite progressives are.
E-mail: cptime@aol.com

From Cindy at kos-

Mon Aug 15th, 2005 at 01:44:40 PDT
I apparently am the sacrificial lamb of the peace movement. I don't care about myself. Putting myself in the forefront and daring to challenge the president on his lies left myself open to the attacks. Which are, of course, half truths and distortions.

CindySheehan's diary :: ::
When they start sliming my home life and my family, that's where I draw the line. Yes, my husband has filed for divorce and yes he filed before I left for the VFP Convention and this trip to Crawford and yes IT IS BETWEEN MY HUSBAND AND I.

Having Casey murdered in Iraq by George Bush's reckless policies has been hard enough on my family, but me setting off on my holy war to bring the troops home, my constant absences, and all of the media attention has put additional stresses on my family.

I chose my path after Casey died. The rest of the family has chosen theirs. We all still love each other and support each other in anything that we do. We didn't want Casey to join the Army, but once he made that decision, we supported him and even encouraged him through boot camp.

We are a normal American family who have had good times, bad times, and terrible times. We hope the good times will come back. We hope that we will be able to laugh with abandon together like we used to one day. We hope that the troops come home and no other families have to go through what we are going through.

It isn't about politics for us. No one asked Casey what political affiliation he was before they sent him off to die in Iraq and no one asked us who we voted for in 2000 before we were handed a folded flag from Casey's flag-draped coffin.

I am not perfect and I never even claimed to be perfect. My family isn't perfect, but we are pretty special...especially the children. We all miss Casey so much and it is George Bush and his neocon cabal who is at fault. The people who are dragging my family through the mud need to grow up and look at themselves. The Christ said: "He who is without sin, cast the first stone."

If everyone followed Jesus's advice, the world would be a much better place.

And there's a little humor on kos as well.

Cheers and Jeers: Monday
by Bill in Portland Maine
Mon Aug 15th, 2005 at 05:39:18 PDT
From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE...

Ahhhhh, sweet vacation...

"President Bush talked tough today. He said he's not backing out, he's staying the course for as long as it takes. He's in it for the long haul. Not Iraq---his 5-week vacation."
--Jay Leno

"President Bush is at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, and here's the good news: he says he will only stay until Crawford is capable of self rule."
--David Letterman

"President Bush is now in the second week of his five-week vacation down there in Crawford, Texas. He's been taking a lot of criticism for this long vacation and his aides say he has his laptop with him so he can still play Solitaire and Minesweep---so it's business as usual."
--Jay Leno

"In a radio speech this weekend Bush said, 'I will not be satisfied until every American who wants to work can find a job.' Then Bush went back to his five-week vacation."
--Conan O'Brien

"President Bush is on a five-week vacation. From what?"
--David Letterman

"And while President Bush was out of town Hillary Clinton stopped by the White House on Friday for an important meeting with her decorator."
--Jay Leno

The monkey in Maine is back and I'm here to dance for you. Cheers and Jeers starts in There's Moreville... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]

Here's a very disturbing article from the Guardian about the possibilities of war with Iran... I won't even put snips here because the article should be read in its entirety and in context, IMHO.

How Bush would gain from war with Iran
http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,12858,1549335,00.html

True Majority is just sending out its mailings about vigils.

here is what happened when I sent info about "framing" to an Army base in Heidelberg:

My friend wrote:

Web site blocked... by the mind police.

-----Original Message-----

Subject: "Framing" Standing With Cindy

http://frameshopisopen.com/

These two go together like...beer & pretzels

http://www.theillustrateddailyscribble.com/daily.scribble.pages.05/08.15.05.html
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/wire.ssf?/base/news/1124011285247770.xml&coll=2

William Rivers Pitt: Cindy's Victory
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/081505Z.shtml

from the Guardian:

The Japanese prime minister today apologised for atrocities committed by his country during the second world war, on the 60th anniversary of the end of the conflict.

In a written statement, Junichiro Koizumi expressed his "deep reflections and heartfelt apology" for Japan's colonisations and invasions in Asia during the war, before joining Emperor Akihito - son of wartime Emperor Hirohito - for a ceremony marking the end of hostilities.

-- Now what will Bush do - compare himself to FDR and Churchill again?

Mom to Continue Protest Against War

(old news to some, but it looks real pretty going out on Associated Press & all over the world)

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - Undaunted by counter rallies and even a neighbor's gunshot blasts into the air, a woman whose son died in Iraq said she will continue her anti-war demonstration near President Bush's ranch for three more weeks.

``We can't give up, no matter hard it gets,'' Cindy Sheehan said Sunday, more than a week after she started the protest in memory of her 24-year-old son Casey.

Sheehan's makeshift campsite along the road leading to the ranch has grown to more than 100, and hundreds more have stopped by to show their support.

On Sunday, as about 60 in Sheehan's group held a religious service, neighbor Larry Mattlage fired his shotgun twice into the air. Sheriff's deputies and Secret Service agents rushed to his house but did not arrest him.

``I ain't threatening nobody, and I ain't pointing a gun at nobody,'' Mattlage said. ``This is Texas.''

Mattlage said he was initially sympathetic toward the demonstrators, but that they have blocked roads in the area and caused traffic problems.

He said he fired his gun in preparation for the dove-hunting season, but when asked if he had another motive, he said, ``Figure it out for yourself.''

Sheehan, 48, said she was not concerned with her own safety but has told others to be aware that ``this could get physical, even though we are peaceful.''

``I think we knew of the risks when we came down here,'' said Sheehan, of Vacaville, Calif. ``I'm surprised we haven't had more of that since we're in Bush country.''

Sheehan says she won't leave ``Camp Casey'' until Bush meets with her during his monthlong ranch visit, or until his vacation ends. She met with two top Bush administration officials on her first day of the protest.

Bush has said he sympathizes with Sheehan but has not said if he will meet with her.

Sherry Bohlen of Scottsdale, Ariz., whose son Thor has been in Iraq for a month, drove with two friends to Crawford last week. She didn't leave Sunday as planned.

``This is history in the making, and it's hard to walk away from that,'' Bohlen said.

With this proviso that I think what Cindy Sheehan is doing is great, invaluable, important and heroic, let us take a realistic look into the future and see what might or might not happen in Washington and Iraq.

UNLESS THE PARTISAN COMPOSITION OF CONGRESS (MORE SPECIFICALLY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) CHANGES AFTER THE 2006 ELECTION - PERHAPS WITH THE DEMOCRATS GAINING MANY HOUSE SEATS, NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE OVER THE HOUSE BUT SIGNIFICANT - I do not believe the U.S. policy toward Iraq will change. The Republicans have well gerrymandered and drawn the Congressional districts so the job for Democratic challengers in Republican held districts is even that much harder and therefore change in the general composition of the House unlikely.

The Bush policy on Iraq appears to be set in stone - "Stay the Course". Now there are reports from Washington that U.S. troop levels will INCREASE in Iraq as the new constitution is written and presumably adopted. The U.S. military is now talking about a commitment of years not months before we will be able to leave Iraq.

The Frank Rich essay notwithstanding - I do not see much change occuring in Washington or Iraq.

**********
***********

Interesting stuff:

On Thursday, lobbyist Jack Abramoff, known in some circles as "Director of Travel for DeLay, Inc.," was indicted for fraud. These charges are too complex to explain in full here, but suffice it to say that it involved lucrative casino boats, tens of millions of dollars, and a deal with a man who was later killed in a gangland style murder.

And as Bloomberg noted, this may be just the first of many shoes to drop. For months now, the actions of Jack Abramoff and his partner Mike Scanlon (a former DeLay spokesman) have been under investigation by a Senate committee and the Department of Justice. In what was probably the most lucrative lobbying scam in the history of American politics, the two of them reportedly made off with approximately $80 million from a host of Indian tribes that they fleeced, all the while referring to them as "monkeys" and "troglodytes" in private emails.

see http://www.HouseOfScandal.org.

"Who will be found in that ditch at the side of a Texas road, her--or the president of the United States."

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/GH16Aa01.html

Ralpheh

If you take the Zogby poll, he sends you a pdf file that tells what we'd have to do in 2006 to take back the Senate (equivalent of pitching a perfect game). It goes through each likely Senate race. It's a formidable amount of work that needs to be done!!

Well, I'm about to leave for Crawford (only takes an hour and a half to get there from here) before I leave, are there any suggestions for things I should bring them?

Posted by: NativeTexan4Kerry at August 15, 2005 10:46 AM

Please take a digital camera if you have one!!! We can post photos here. Can you call one of us to give us live updates???

I am taking the digital camera!

Posted by: NativeTexan4Kerry at August 15, 2005 10:50 AM

You've got mail...

Karen,

Thanks for the banner. I put it up in my office. I will be forwarding the link to the organization that sponsoring the vigil.

Looks like the Army blocks any site that has "personal web pages."

(just heard from my friend in Germany again - I tried to send him the "frameshop" info and the entire URL is blocked)

Looks like McCarthyism and the John Birch Society are now Main Stream for Republicans, apparently even for those in blue California.
This association with a John Bircher needs to be tied around Anold neck come referendum and re election time.

His new cause: Helping governor pass Prop. 75.
By Andy Furillo -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, August 15, 2005
Story appeared on Page A1 of The Bee
He is an unapologetic McCarthyite and a former member of the John Birch Society whose hard-right ideology has taken him to the fringes of American conservatism.

Now, the 71-year-old Uhler is working as the front man - at the urging of a close contact to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger - for Proposition 75, the ballot initiative aimed at reducing the influence of the state's public employee unions.

As an icon of the right, Uhler through the years has drawn fire from champions of the left.

"Lew Uhler is a right-wing ideologue trying to advance his extremist agenda ... (to) increase the power of corporations over our government at the expense of workers and our communities," No on 75 spokeswoman Sarah Leonard said in a statement.

Under Reagan, Uhler led the fight to shut down California Rural Legal Assistance, the program best known for helping farmworkers and other poor people seek legal redress. He also put together the framework of Reagan's tax reduction and spending control initiative. It failed in the special election of 1973, but its principles were enacted in the winning Gann initiative of 1979.

Along the way, he co-wrote a book with Nobel Prize laureate Milton Friedman and has maintained his standing as one of the leading conservative activists in California and as a top anti-tax advocate nationally, with contacts in Washington and think tanks throughout the country.

Friedman is the famed economist whose theories on controlling inflation by keeping a tight hold on the money supply have provided the intellectual foundation for conservatives since the late 1940s. He characterized Uhler as "one of the most influential" conservatives in the nation.

Although Uhler has operated mostly behind the scenes, he served as Reagan's point man in 1970 to torpedo California Rural Legal Assistance, writing a report that accused its staff, among other transgressions, of engaging in ideological campaigns instead of representing the poor.

Uhler still thinks it was one of the key battles of his career.

"I used to tell people, if half of what they said in the report was true, we should all be in prison for the rest of our lives," said Reynoso, who is now a law professor at the University of California, Davis. "So I have to conclude that these were folks, including Lew at that time, for whom the ends justified the means."

Uhler said he spent six months in the John Birch Society after being recruited into the organization in the early 1960s by Rousselot, his old boss. Uhler said he joined the group, which was ardently anti-Communist and opposed to U.S. membership in the United Nations, to try to educate the group's members "on the constitutional framework of our nation." But when they didn't seem interested in the concept, he quit.

At Yale in the early 1950s, one of Uhler's closest associates was author and journalist M. Stanton Evans. According to Uhler, Evans is now finishing up a book that "I think has confirmed that Joe McCarthy was on target" in exposing the alleged Communist infiltration of American government and society. McCarthy, of course, was the Wisconsin senator in the 1950s who was later censured by the U.S. Senate. But in spite of a past that includes the brief membership in the John Birch Society, his fight with CRLA and his endorsement of the McCarthy approach, Uhler brushed off accusations that he is an extremist.

NT4K,

Tell Cindy to talk with her communications people and do NOT Let the attacks on her personal life affect her sense of purpose.

We are behind her--we have her back!

Takes awhile to read but this is a nice background article on Senator Chuck Schumer...

talk about energy...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/14/AR2005081401235_4.html?referrer=email

If you take the Zogby poll, he sends you a pdf file that tells what we'd have to do in 2006 to take back the Senate (equivalent of pitching a perfect game). It goes through each likely Senate race. It's a formidable amount of work that needs to be done!!

Posted by: DiAnne at August 15, 2005 10:40 AM

*************
*************

It is impossible, I believe, to take over the Senate (unless there is a huge scandal in the administration: Rove and Libby are indicted and convicted etc...).

Do the Democrats have any hope of picking up ANY SENATE SEATS in 2006 - Penn., maybe??? I have heard that, amazingly, several Dem incumbent Senators are "vulnerable" in 2006.

I have given up on change in the Senate - I was going to go for the House of Reps.

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001701.htm
Sibel Edmonds, lobbyists, drug dealing, murder

"Sweet Neo Con" -- "You call yourself a Christian, I call you a hypocrite/You call yourself a patriot, well I think you're full of s---," (Rolling Stones, from their new album)

Diane:

Don't you have to pay Zogby a subscription Fee to get his monthly downloads of campaign polls?

I soooo appreciate what Cindy is doing,those that support her from Crawford and afar. My friend from Nashville a VM vet and now vet for peace has joined the Crawford fold.
I don't want to be "short-sighted" here but with 06'only months away we have much to do and need to keep going. We have a White House that could care less about us,more about them;we have a Senate and Congress that was bought and we desperately need to change course.

Box of Rain
by Grateful Dead
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Phil Lesh

Look out of any window
any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky -
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
this is all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago
Walk out of any doorway
feel your way, feel your way
like the day before
Maybe you'll find direction
around some corner
where it's been waiting to meet you -
What do you want me to do,
to watch for you while you're sleeping?
Well please don't be surprised
when you find me dreaming too

Look into any eyes
you find by you, you can see
clear through to another day
I know it's been seen before
through other eyes on other days
while going home --
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago

Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams
to another land
Maybe you're tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted
with words half spoken
and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do
to do for you to see you through
A box of rain will ease the pain
and love will see you through

Just a box of rain -
wind and water -
Believe it if you need it,
if you don't just pass it on
Sun and shower -
Wind and rain -
in and out the window
like a moth before a flame

It's just a box of rain
I don't know who put it there
Believe it if you need it
or leave it if you dare
But it's just a box of rain
or a ribbon for your hair
Such a long long time to be gone
and a short time to be there

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/wire.ssf?/base/news/1124011285247770.xml&coll=2

Posted by: madame defarge at August 15, 2005 10:21 AM

What??? Did he REALLY say that? Or is this satire?

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at August 15, 2005 01:52 PM

Sad, but true. Straight out of the chimp's mouth...

Posted by: madame defarge at August 15, 2005 01:56 PM

He'll get on with his life alright, while Cindy's son, and untold thousands of others won't have that luxury.

Insensitive Chimpocrite

Posted by: madame defarge at August 15, 2005 10:21 AM

I guess you could say this is one time he is being honest.

Posted by: madame defarge at August 15, 2005 01:56 PM

~snip~

"But," he added, "I think it's also important for me to go on with my life, to keep a balanced life."

The comments came prior to a bike ride on the ranch with journalists and aides.

~snip~

In addition to the two-hour bike ride, Bush's Saturday schedule included an evening Little League Baseball playoff game, a lunch meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a nap, some fishing and some reading. "I think the people want the president to be in a position to make good, crisp decisions and to stay healthy," he said when asked about bike riding while a grieving mom wanted to speak with him. "And part of my being is to be outside exercising."

I'm sorry, George, but Casey Sheehan will never live a balanced life, because you took his life.
Cindy Sheehan used to watch Casey ride his bike, and play little league, and go outside and get exercise, and probably even go fishing. He used to make good, crisp decisions, George, before you and war profiteers took his life.

What's that you say, George? It's ALL about YOU?
Well, there are millions of us, George, who say that IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU. Or Cheney. Or Rummy. Or the Carlyle Group.

(A brain fried on drugs and alcohol takes HOW long to regenerate healthy brain cells?)

(How many times has he fallen off his bike? Doesn't he wear a helmet when he rides?)

~snip~

"But whether it be here or in Washington or anywhere else, there's somebody who has got something to say to the president, that's part of the job," Bush said on the ranch. "And I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say."

~snip~

Well, Cindy Sheehan definitely has something to say to the President, George. And, she is quite capable of making "good, crisp decisions", George, because she has a functioning brain. There's nothing wrong with HER brain, George. It's her heart. It still has your dagger in it.

Correction. What I meant to say was "doesn't he wear a helmet under his cowboy hat when he rides?"

heh

On a lighter note, I find the situation in Crawford lends itself to great openings in
conversation. I talked to my best friend from my home town last night by phone. She voted for Bush in '04 because she felt he was the one who could keep her safe from Terrrr.

I said "Have you seen the news about that lady in Texas who wants to talk to the President about the death of her son?"

She "Yes".

Me "What do you think of that situation in Crawford, Texas?"

She - "I feel sorry for her. I think he should go talk with her so she can go home, you know?"

Me - "He doesn't want to talk with her, because he doesn't want to answer the questions she is going to ask him. She wants to ask him why her son died for a lie. She wants to ask him about the Downing St. Memo, that shows that information could very well have been falsified in order to get the Congress to vote to give him the okay to go to war with Iraq."

Her voice cracked as she said "Oh?"

Yes, I agree with you George. Get lots of exercise on vacation so you can make "good, crisp decisions". Lots and lots.

It's her heart. It still has your dagger in it.

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at August 15, 2005 02:54 PM

Correction... Pitchfork.

(The devil is in the de-tailed)

A very astute observation, Monkey-Won-Kenobi.

She is outflanking him. When he refuses this request he will look like the spoiled rotten brat that he really is.

Sheehan invites Bush to Friday prayer vigil for troops

David:" Cindy Sheehan is hoping that a less confrontational strategy will be more effective. Will President Bush, as a man of faith, join her and others on Friday at noon to pray for the troops? The president is reported to have nothing on his official schedule for this week."
A candlelight prayer vigil is planned for Wednesday night. Cindy asks that mothers around the nation join together on Wednesday night in solidarity to pray for our troops.

http://crooksandliars.com/

Was there a hidden meaning when the Crawford Bush supporter said he was just getting ready for Dove Hunting?

Ira,

I think so. "Dove" season. Well now, a gun isn't exactly an olive branch, is it.

I didn't find it punny.

Posted by: Ira at August 15, 2005 11:22 AM

Regarding the anti-union initiative:

First of all, California can't be blue. With Southern California outside Los Angeles being so red, and even Los Angeles being borderline at best, no amount of blue strength elsewhere, even Northern California, can make up for it. The notion of California being blue is a media lie designed to lull the liberals into complacency, so that conservatives can eat the state away.

Second, with all the immigrants coming into SoCal, and few of them entering union jobs (and many of them becoming anti-union "entrepreneurs"), unions are good as dead in this state.

The Governator's other propositions will fail. But this one is going to pass, according to the polls. The fact that Yes on 75 has a John Bircher heading it doesn't matter.

Remember that California's gay marriage ban (Proposition 22, which passed in 2000) was written by an extremist, the late Pete Knight (a state senator), who badmouthed Latinos at every opportunity, but that didn't prevent Latinos from being the most enthusiastic supporters of his measure. And yes, Knight was from "blue" Los Angeles County.

Posted by: Ira at August 15, 2005 11:22 AM

And speaking of McCarthyism, as long as there are Koreans and Vietnamese in the State of California, McCarthyism will always be ALIVE AND WELL.

southern ca may be conservative, but the fact that I saw 300 demonstrators against Tom Tancredo's immigration forum in a very small Carlsbad arena, made me think that all is not lost in southern California, ally and that many southern californians are not thrilled with Anold, his tyranny or redistricting efforts. But that was just my read of local media stories on this forum which was definitely angry with Tancredo's immigrant bashing. I see a tide turning in California even in conservative southern california.Nurses and teachers are certainly p.o with anold.

A little "refreshing insight" into the 2006 contest courtesy of a poster at Texas Kos:

From Monday morning’s South Texas Republicans newsletter, …[this is a] commentary by a conservative Republican blasting the current GOP in power in Washington. What he doesn't get unfortunately is the NeoCons currently in power aren't about Conservatives or really even about Republicans. They are simply using them to gain power. They are about completely eviscerating the US government so there will be no money for anything in the future except the military and a few other agencies that fill their own needs which will be used by the extremely wealthy and the multinational corporations to gain and maintain control of the rest of us.

[from the newsletter itself]
Conservative Icon Richard Viguerie Blasts GOP

In an open letter addressed to "Conservative Leaders," Viguerie writes: "It has become increasingly clear that Republicans in Washington care little or nothing about grassroots conservatives and the values they hold dear.
"After we spent decades defeating the Rockefeller wing of the Party, it seems we have a new enemy - the Washington wing of the GOP. They're not just wasting money; they're actually massively growing government in direct contravention of everything Republicans purport to stand for."

Viguerie, a consultant and direct-mail specialist who helped elect Ronald Reagan in 1980, said Republicans are betraying conservatives who believe in limited government, lower taxes and modest spending.

"The highway bill just passed by our Republican Congress (with the president's blessing), at $286.4 BILLION is the most expensive public works legislation ever passed," he writes.

"The National Taxpayers Union put it best when describing one of the more offensive projects in the bill: ‘$220 million for a 5.9-mile bridge connecting Gravina Island (population 50) to the Alaskan mainland. The cost of the bridge alone would be enough to buy every island resident his own personal Lear jet.'

"One can only be reminded of 1998 when the Republican Congress, just four years after taking power, went on a similar spending spree - only to watch grassroots activists desert them in November. The GOP lost House seats in the second midterm election of a Democratic president, a failure almost unheard of in American politics."

Viguerie urges conservatives to speak out about how Republicans have "betrayed" them, and "make clear that our interests, as conservatives, are being seriously undermined by this new political class: long-serving Republicans in Washington more interested in keeping power than doing right by the Constitution and the American people."

He asks: "When will the GOP learn that the party's success is directly tied to the level of commitment from its core base of conservative voters and activists?"

And he warns:
"If these Washington Republicans continue to prove to conservatives that there really is no difference between them and Democrats ... they are headed for a disappointing election night in 2006."

(All views that are posted on this website by Truth Shall Prevail are not necessarily indicative of any other poster, or of the DCP board or crew.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

NATIVE TEXAN 4 KERRY,

In my opinion, Cindy should not let Bush take advantage of a prayer vigil for publicity purposes, by showing up, and then leaving without answering her question(s).

She should definitely make certain that if he agrees to come to the prayer vigil, that it is
completely understood and agreed upon ahead of time, (in writing might be a good idea - does she have a lawyer down there? Does anybody know if she has a lawyer down there?) that it is for the purpose of partaking in the prayer vigil, AND sitting down and talking, one on one, with Cindy. It is about listening to her question(s), and answering them.

It would be just like them to try to weasle out of this confrontation by having Bush show up to "pray", then escorting him away, for "security purposes". That would be too smooth and too slick. This is not about his publicity stunts.
It is about a peaceful and prayerful confrontation.

Cindy Sheehan wants to ask the President a question or two. She wants honest answers, (after he prays, of course). Someone PLEASE get the word to her, that this cannot be turned into a publicity stunt for Bush, his party, or '06.

Tell Cindy. This is about CASEY.
This is about CINDY and her family. This is about ALL THE CASEY'S, and ALL THE PEOPLE THEY LEFT BEHIND.It's about the death of Casey. It's about the deaths of over 1800 American soldiers. It's about the murder of tens of thousands of Iraqis. It's about integrity. It's about death, and lies and corruption. It's about honesty.

It's about our future. It's about America.

No stunts. Cindy deserves answers, and so do we.

Hey if anyone's in the mood to swat some trolls, check out http://www.afterdowningstreet.org. You'll find them everywhere - in comments under articles and in the "Post notes to Cindy."

We can't let the Bush's recess appointment of Bolton slip off the front burners. Oh, so many scandals. How can we keep up?

Ever since President Bush slipped him through the UN's backdoor via a recess appointment, John Bolton has been giving reporters the cold shoulder. He strode past them when he showed up at the UN on August 2nd to present his letter of appointment, and WaPo columnist Al Kamen shows that he hasn’t opened up much since (via TWN).

But Bolton apparently has a warm spot in his heart for at least one journalist: none other than Judy Miller.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/featuredposts.html#a005687

We have 2 events in the Illinois Tenth, Highland Park at Port Clinton and Northbrook at Village Park Green. Both Wednesday at 7:30 PM.

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at August 15, 2005 04:53 PM

TSP,

After I posted the link to crooks and liars about Cindy's request to have Bush join her for a prayer meeting, I started thinking the same thing you did. To me it is an even split if he agrees to a prayer meeting. I think he believes that the President should not be intimidated into a meeting, so he might not go. On the other hand, he knows that politically he is getting creamed, so he may just try to save face.

Guys,

I don't know if anyone posted this or not, but there is a call out for help at Crawford House.

They desparately need an electrician and carpenters. Anyone in the area, or who knows someone in the area, please put out the word.

Here's the post from DKos:

I just set up an account "Crawford Peace House" but see I can't post for a week. If that can be expidited, I will post under that account).

I am working in the office of the Crawford Peace House doing support work for the action here.

We are desperate at the moment for electrical and carpentry work. We will take the work donated; we will pay you if you will come and do it. We cannot get local workmen.

outragemeter's diary :: ::
We have a new refridgerator coming tomorrow; we need to get an ice machine, but we are maxing out our electrical load. The dryer won't work. I'm telling you we are DESPARATE!

We have got some offers of handy people who are coming the 18th and the 21st. We need help today, tomorrow at the latest.

If you have any skills in this area and can get here right quick, please call us, or email to crawfordpeacehouse@yahoo.com with FACILITY FIXUP in the subject line.

You will be doing a great, great service to this action.

If you don't have these skills and believe in prayers being answered, please keep this urgent need in mind.

And, not to be rude: thanks to everyone who has donated so much already. All donations are being put to good use. The folks here feel your support and are very grateful for it.

We still need financial help, so use the Paypal button on our site, http://www.crawfordpeacehouse.org. We have also added a community discussion area at http://crawfordpeace.nfshost.com and you can read about what we are doing.

Oncall,

Maybe Cindy has advisors that have suggested this.

Personally, I wish they hadn't made that offer to meet over prayer, because it would be too easy of a way out, and then we will not have gotten anywhere as far as calling him to accountability.

(I know you know that.)

Oncall, I really hope that she has an attorney or two with her on her behalf down there. She might need one somewhere down the line, someone who has witnessed, and recorded what's going on, can get signatures if needed, and I think it would be a good idea if Bush agrees to meet with her to draw up an agreement that he will sit down with her and answer her questions.

CONDOLEEZA RICE LIVE ON CNN RE: IRAQ any minute...

Ira

If Zogby polls you, he'll sometimes give you free downloads. Otherwise, yes, they are subscription only. I'll send to you.

I think I fit a demographic he wants - middle age white female urban dweller liberal - so he has polled me maybe 30 times.

Surprise! An extension...until Aug. 22 for Iraqi Constitution. Wouldn't you just love to be in a room with Rummy & Dickie right now...(Georgie's out riding his bike.)

Iraq constitution deadline extended
National assembly allows extra week for further negotiations

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Iraq's National Assembly voted unanimously Monday to extend for a week the deadline to complete talks on the country's new constitution.

The committee drafting the document asked for an extension after it failed to reach a compromise by Monday's deadline after months of talks. The new deadline is August 22.

Without the extension, the government would have dissolved, requiring new elections in December and starting the process again, a prospect the United States has strongly opposed.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/15/iraq.main/index.html

WE ARE NOT DOING THAT WELL IN TODAY'S AOL POLL:

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050815070609990001&ncid=NWS00010000000001

If you add up both the people who sympathize with Bush and the ornery neighbor, we actually lose 43% to 57%

With whom do you sympathize most?

Protester mom Cindy Sheehan 43%
Gun-toting neighbor Larry Mattlage 37%
President Bush 20%

Total Votes: 291,752

Madame,

You scooped the story!

Condoleeza just got here, 25 minutes late, busy going over speech w her advisors.

Here's a really good post I found on DU:

"We Don't Care" -- tell us something we don't already know.
Well, I think we’ve met the new Repug/RW slogan. It’s been shouted at a Gold Star mother who is trying to turn the grief over the loss of her son into change. It’s been shouted here by disruptors against everything we say is wrong with this administration and where it’s taking our country and the world.

Hey, at least they’re finally being honest.

And, I hate to tell them, but they aren’t telling us anything we didn’t already know about them. We know they don’t care about the environment, because they love their SUVs and any mention of trying to curb our energy dependence on oil sends them into fits. We know they don’t care about the reputation of our country, because they support sending Bolton to the UN. They don’t care that there are people in our country without access to health care because they work for a company that doesn’t provide insurance, because that would cut into profits. They don’t care about the civilians in Iraq, because they think the “liberal media” is doing something wrong by occasionally, when pushed to the wall by activists, reporting on some of tragedies that have been caused by the war. They don’t care about the Geneva Convention or human rights, because they ignore the abuses that have been going on in Gitmo and other places. They don’t care about our soldiers, because they think it’s just fine to have them fighting a war without a foreseeable end, with a lack of equipment, and anybody who suggests that maybe we should talk about bringing them home is labeled, by them, to be a traitor. They don’t care about our Constitution, because they support the PATRIOT act, which basically shreds the Bill of Rights and they act like the ACLU is somehow un-American for trying to guard some of our remaining civil rights. They don’t care that their beloved Bush Administration is the most corrupt administration many of us have seen in a long time, with their secrecy, underhandedness, and war profiteering.

In everything they do, in everything they believe, in everything they are, in the way they have chosen to live their lives, they have shown us that they don’t care.

How is that a rallying cry? How is that something that you want to be known for? How emotionally and morally decrepit do you have to be to make a phrase like “I don’t care” something to be shouted at a mother who has lost her son in this country’s military? How is that a stance? “I don’t care.” What pride is there in that when you are talking about lives of other human beings? What pride is there in that when talking about our country? What pride is there in that when talking about our future?

If they have ever shown their true colors, it is with this phrase. They do not care – not about us, our children, our world, our environment, our rights, peace, or justice. And the remarkable thing is that, by their actions and their attitudes, they show us that THEY don’t care about their country, their children, their world.

The only thing they do care about is themselves. And to me, that makes them pretty damn horrible people.

And no, they do not need to tell me that. I already know. I just wonder why they think it’s something to be proud of.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4357369

Condoleeza would make a terrible poker player.

That "spreading freedom and democracy around the world" is "hard work". Isn't it?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4358647

Vote for Cindy.

Was there a hidden meaning when the Crawford Bush supporter said he was just getting ready for Dove Hunting?

Posted by: Ira at August 15, 2005 03:37 PM

How about if we make the tried and true suggestion that if this hunter wants to shoot his gun perhaps he would be of more use in Iraq shooting his gun than in Crawford.

I am quite tempted to call him - his phone number is ***-***-****

Diane:

I have been polled 4 times by Zogby, don't understand why-I don't fit his profile.

Anyways I know he has a state by state breakdown of his polling that I am definitely interested in but it looks like he has a nice charge for it.

Ira
You are probably a demographic that Zogby hasn't even conceptualized yet! LOL (compliment)

--

Just heard a couple of interesting things by chance:

-- Cindy Sheehan speech from William Rivers Pitt site that my husband had on. Amazing brave woman.

-- local Episcopal priest saying Seattle has a deep spiritual connection to the mountains and ocean & between people & a striving for social justice - that this is touched upon by some religions but is more fundamental. Commentator asked if this wasn't a generic superficial form of spirituality that really should be more organized into specific religion to be of more value. The priest said absolutely not, as some members of religions are far more superficial.
Good stuff!

So I actually got sucked into some sort of religious broadcast and was listening as I drove by the peace church that says to Love Abundantly, something like that.

Aeriel photos, maps 'n stuff of the "funny farm"

http://www.phxnews.com/fullstory.php?article=24196