January 2006 Archives

The Democracy Cell Project is reporting live from the Capitol, and will be doing so all evening.

WASHINGTON D.C.-Live Blogging the SOTU, and the Alternative SOTU happenings around Washington DC from today's activities and the plans for the evening events.

Karen is reporting in to us right now.

She is standing directly front of the Capitol. A cold wind is blowing in Washington tonight. Interestingly enough, there are about 14 FEMA trucks between the protesters and the Capitol itself. It's possible, though hard to believe, that these trucks somehow got lost on their way to provide relief in Louisiana, for what other purpose could they be here, when help is still so desperately needed there?

It's sadly heartwarming to see that flags are flying at half-mast in observance of the death of civil rights icon Coretta Scott King. To the program tonight for the Alternative SOTU, we have added a bagpiper who will be playing Amazing Grace at the beginning of the event, to honor Mrs. King's memory.

Right now nationally known performers Chris Chandler and David Roe are setting up the and sound checking their instruments. They will be contributing spoken word and musical performances this evening, along with geurilla poets, jazz musicians, folk musicians, a few tap dancers (and you thought they were all tap dancers in Washington were members of Congress, busily answering corruption charges), along with The Rhythm Workers Union, who will be bringing in the "mother drum ship". We're not quite sure what a "mother drum ship is", but it is certain to be more interesting than watching Mrs.Sob Sister Alito in the gallery sitting with the self-styled Laura "I AM a Desperate Housewife" Bush.

Earlier today, Karen wandered through many alternatives to the State of the Union. One highlight of the afternoon was the large "Impeach Bush" sign being driven around the neighborhood, courtesy of The Velvet Revolution.

Gold Star Mother Cindy Sheehan is doing many events today and Karen has run into her several times, and can report that it's much warmer in Venezuela than Washington, in more ways than one.

As the day wore on, it became clear that more people than ever before, are coming out of their homes and into the street to protest this president's policies and the lies and deceptions he and his administration have used to sell them to an unwitting, and sadly, and unquestioning public. But the public of years before, is not the public this administration will be facing this evening. The public is sending this President a message-his popularity is at 39% for a reason. People are angry, dissatisfied, and remember the sixteen words from the State of the Union of two years ago. And they remember that they were lied to. And the anger and the questions have just begun.

The limosines are beginning to arrive, carrying the scions of political power once more behind the gates, and away from We the People. But not for long.

Evening has fallen in Washington, and the perfume of dissent is sweeping briskly through the air.

Written and reported by Karen B. and Casey Morris, The Democracy Cell Project

[Editors Note: Cross-posted at The Daily Kos. There will be live blogging of the SOTU this evening beginning at 8:45 here on The Democracy Cell Project Blog, and in the IRC Chat Room. Please come join us.]

The State of the Union is a Mess: (hattip to Otter)

Number of State of the Union speeches that Bush has given since 9/11 ........ 4

Number of times Bush mentioned Iraq in those four SOTU speeches ........ 74

Number of times Bush mentioned Saddam Hussein in those four SOTU speeches ......... 28

Number of times Bush mentioned Osama Bin Laden in those four SOTU speeches ......... 0

Lives lost and lives ruined as a result of Bush's war of foreign adventure in Iraq ........ Priceless

Today, the Congressional Progressive Caucus led by Rep. Lynn Woolsey and Rep. Barbara Lee are giving an alternative SOTU. Karen is there and her liveblogging notes will be posted below.

Later on today brave people from the World Can't Wait and other organizations are marking this annual day of President Bush's lies with meetings, protests, and music. Karen will be there as well.

I wanted to put up an open thread so that people who wanted to, could say nice things, say thank you, and talk about ideas for next time.

This was my letter to them:

Dear Senator Kerry and Senator Kennedy,

This was a hard one, but I'm thinking right now of how I would be feeling today, after the cloture vote if I had done nothing, and that helps alot.

I know the vote was much closer than it looked, that once the sixty votes were assured, some Senators folded their tents to avoid backlash. Such is the state of world's greatest deliberative body on this day.

I just want you to know that like you, I also believe in taking on the fights worth fighting. Sometimes those are the fights you can't win, but you can't lose them either. Unless you quit.

Thanks for staying around, and standing up with the rest of us.

Best regards,

Casey Morris

[Editor's Note: Please feel free to post your comments below anytime in the next 24 hours and we will send it to JK and EMK.Cross-posted at Daily Kos The Diary is named "Thank you Kerry and Kennedy Open Thread"]

"What it is --> is --> up to us"

That’s a rather brief sentence fragment; but in seven short words, it says an awful lot. It’s the widely-quoted motto and mantra of artist/writer/futurist and globe-trotting Internet evangelist Howard Rheingold. And it also sums up the mission and the meaning of grassroots political action communities like the Democracy Cell Project.

If you don’t know who Howard Rheingold is, you haven’t been paying attention online. You certainly know what he’s done for you, though, even though you may not realize it. Rheingold was one of the early advocates of using the global communications power of the Internet to bring people together. He doesn’t just believe in using online tools to build virtual communities, he quite literally wrote the book on it.

Often referred to as "Internet guru Howard Rheingold” (usually by media types quoting him as a reference to add credibility to their pieces), this one individual has had an incredible influence on the explosive growth of online communities and the blossoming of the World Wide Web as a medium for globe-girdling personal exchanges of ideas. He’s long been a passionate advocate for electronic grassroots organizing and the creative pursuit of positive social change. As a widely-read author, speaker, Internet consultant and forward-looking online activist, Rheingold’s ideas have had a huge impact on the Web as we know it and use it. It’s safe to say that without his breaking new ground for virtual communities like ours, the Democracy Cell Project as we know it would not even exist today.

The latest in our series to heal the lumpen masses. And they are lumpen. Really…

Dear Polly:

Mad At Misguided Americans

I found this poem held up by funky magnets on Karen & Dick's fridge when I visited them. It spoke to me.

Throw Yourself Like Seed

Shake off this sadness, and recover your spirit;
Sluggish you will never see the wheel of fate
That brushes your heel as it turns going by,
The man who wants to live is the man in whom life is abundant.

Now you are only giving food to that final pain
Which is slowly winding you in the nets of death,
But to live is to work, and the only thing which lasts
Is the work; start there, turn to work.

Throw yourself like seed as you walk, and into your own field,
Don't turn your face for that would be to turn it to death,
And do not let the past weigh down your motion.

Leave what's alive in the furrow, what's dead in yourself,
For life does not move in the same way as a group of clouds;
From your work you will be able one day to gather yourself.

Miguel de Unamuno

It has become the custom in New Mexico, by order of the Governor to fly the flag at half staff every time a soldier from here is killed.

Flags at Farmington Library
photo credit: C Anderson

This time it flies for a soldier from my home county. Sgt. Clifton Yazzie was 23 years old, killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. They'll bury him Saturday. As has also become the custom, the service will be at the Civic Center, so that everyone can attend.

He leaves a 21 year old widow, and 2 children ages 4 and 18 months. Sgt. Yazzie's mother said that he had always wanted to be a soldier. It is a proud tradition in the Navajo Nation, going back to the Code talkers in WWII.

Why bring this up? What is one more soldier when over 2000 have died? I bring it up because this Tuesday we have the chance to make our voices heard, and to make sure that we know just what this administration says it's going to do about the Sgt. Yazzies who are still over there.

It is time again for the State of the Union address. Just another speech by the President you say, can't stand to listen to him, I'll probably skip the whole thing. Don't skip it, for the sake of Sgt. Yazzie, and for the sake of the Union. It is so important that we note this speech, either by protest, or at the least by listening to it, and being ready to respond to what is said.

The history of this speech is rather interesting; you can learn more about it here. It hasn't always been a speech, but since Truman it has been used, less as an address to Congress, than as the President's chance to address all Americans.

We know where some of us will be that night, at the Reflecting Pool, giving voice to our objections to this current administration.

Where will you be? If you want company join us in the IRC, where the ready wit and wisdom of your fellow DCP'ers will make listening fun. What ever you do, make time to listen to this most important speech of the year.

Ann Coulter, speaking last night in Arkansas:

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, speaking at a traditionally black college, joked that Justice John Paul Stevens should be poisoned.

Coulter had told the Philander Smith College audience Thursday that more conservative justices were needed on the Supreme Court to change the current law on abortion.

Stevens is one of the court's most liberal members.

"We need somebody to put rat poisoning in Justice Stevens' creme brulee," Coulter said. "That's just a joke, for you in the media."

UPDATE: Over at Kos I was reminded of a small but important point. As newsmodels continue to misreport the news that 41 votes are needed for a filibuster (you only need one for a filibuster), folks forget the real need here is for Frist to round up 60 affirmative votes.

Until Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell can report that he has 60 hard count votes, there is little reason for Frist to file a motion for cloture.

Once Frist files the cloture motion, he has 24 hours to come up with the votes and the vote for cloture cannot take place sooner that 24 hours.

It's gonna be a busy weekend.

UPDATE: Online activists are swarming quickly and one of the most interesting places is at Vichy Dems. Vichy Dems have posted a gameplan for action on Alito for tomorrow. Since DCP is an educational site, we can't recommend any specific political action to take, like going over and following their plan. All we can recommend is that it's important to act. The cloture vote is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Once again, Madame DeFarge and DW have the goods:

In answer to the rumors that have swirled around Washington all day, John Kerry's office confirmed late this afternoon that Senator Kerry (D-MA) will be leading a filibuster against the confimation of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court of the United States.

For immediate information on how to take action, click here.

CNN has further updated this story to include that Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) will join the other senator from Massachusetts in the fight.

As the Senate now stands, there are 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats and one Independent. Sixty votes (no vacancies) are required for cloture. During last year's contentious cloture vote on John Bolton (for US Ambassador to the United Nations), a filibuster seemed likely with the possibility that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist would break the Senate's rules to require a simple majority of fifty-one votes (instead of the three fifths reequired by Senate Rule 22) to end debate, which has been referred to as "the nuclear option".

Just prior to that occuring, fourteen senators, who quickly became known as the "Gang of Fourteen," reached a non-binding agreement to end debate and in the future to filibuster a cloture vote only in extraordinary circumstances. There is no way of knowing what that term means, as it has remained undefined. The next couple of days may yield the answer to that question, as the "Gang of Fourteen" senators will be required to vote on cloture on the nomination of Judge Alito and move the question to the full Senate for the confirmation vote.

Senator Kerry, who was not one of the Gang of Fourteen, has clearly decided that the circumstance of confirming a judge for a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land is an extraordinary circumstance. Since there have only been 109 Supreme Court Justices in the entire history of the United States, it would be difficult to argue this is not an extraordinary circumstance.

Jane Hamsher over at FDL and Markos at Daily Kos both have posts up on certain realities that exist in this fight for the filibuster.

Senators have declared their position on cloture already, but that was before they heard the voice of the people.

It's not over 'til it's over, and there is still time to change opinions, minds and votes. But only if you get involved, stand up and be counted. Call, fax and e-mail the Senators.

If you care about it, then just do it. Because if "Judge" Alito becomes "Justice Alito", it just might be your ten-year-old child who gets strip-searched next.

Dan Rather, long known as the "hardest-working man in news", has been retired from "CBS Evening News" for almost a year. During his career, he reported on the Kennedy assassination, the Vietnam war, and the 9/11 attack.

This week he toured the Pacific Northwest, stopping in Portland and Seattle, as part of the "American Voices" series that in the past included Gore Vidal and Ambassador Joseph Wilson. I am a fan since my teens, so I went to see him at jam-packed McCaw Hall and a Portland friend saw him the night before.

Rather emphasized the importance of the Pacific Rim, as discovered in his travels through Asia, most recently to North Korea. If there is another world war, it could ignite here rather than in Europe due to our proximity to North Korea, China and Russia, all of which have nuclear weapons or ambitions. There is also fierce competition for finite resources.

Of course I cheered when he said U.S. news organizations continue to be deficient in their coverage of foreign news. "They (North Koreans) speak about Portland, Seattle and Vancouver (BC) with a knowledge that surpasses anything most Americans know about North Korea," Rather said.

"I love the news," he said, and I believe he does. Rather discussed the need for the media to not feel timid in the face of government power. "When we begin to think that, to be a patriotic journalist, quote unquote, you have to go along and get along and pull your punches, not ask the tough question, not speak truth to power . . . I see that as a dereliction of our duty."

In today's Washington Post, the battle against the continuing enclosure of public space and minds continues.

For the record, we have a permit for January 31. And the U.S Park Police have been, if not apologetic, at least concerned about the blowback from denying the original site offered.

Here is an excerpt from the Washington Post article this morning:

Demonstrators have been told to confine their gathering to the gravel walkways on the Mall between Third and Fourth streets, farther from the Capitol. The grassy areas are fenced off because they are being resodded.

Travis Morales, one of the organizers of the demonstration, said the restrictions effectively deny the protesters a meaningful public space to gather as a group. The nearest place to meet together, he said, is Seventh Street, about a mile from the Capitol.

"We are being told that turf renovation and security trump our First Amendment right to protest," he said.

The World Can't Wait is filing a lawsuit, protesting the ever-changing 'laws' that protect President Bush from hearing or seeing the dissent of the people.

Here's where you can help

They have asked us (please share among the blogosphere) to help their case by researching all known and publicized incidents where the people were prevented from protesting near the President in the past five years.

They need this information this morning.

Meanwhile, our plans continue for the DC event, wherever it will be held (it will definitely be on the west side of the Capitol somewhere).

Here is a description:

We will be on the west side of the Capitol, around and in front of the reflecting pool. The Press will be parked along 3rd Street and along the South Side of the Capitol (Independence). Cindy Sheehan and Ann Wright will speak to us (and them) at 8 pm; they will be followed by other speakers (the Rev. Yearwood and Doug Nelson, an Vietnam War vet) and then at 9, the main event will begin:

Picture a marching band/brass ensemble, a drum circle, a choir, tap dancers, a rock ensemble, hip-hop poetry, other spoken word, hootenanny, African, Asian, Irish glorious soaring rhythmic, each beginning and doing a few minutes in sequence, followed by overlapping moments, followed by at least 30 minutes of jazz-like improv, call and response, followed by one fully stunning long-held harmonious wall of sound that rises to the heavens. The whole main event will last 50 minutes, from 9-9:50. It’s possible the media might be roused from their hypnotic stance to report on it.

Thanks for helping to get the word out.

As for the larger message here, it has been appalling to note the slow seeping removal of access to public buildings and spaces here in DC, all in the name of *national security*. The message could not be clearer -- the people no longer have agency or say in how the government is run. We no longer have access to the buildings our tax dollars build and maintain. We no longer have access to dissent. We are enclosed from even the critical thoughts within our own minds by the steady stream of MSM BS.

As Travis Morales points out in today's Washington Post article:

"...the Bush administration 'is trying to push us so far away that we can't be seen or heard. . . . A protest not seen and a protest not heard is not a protest.' "

My name is John McCain, and I hope you caught my stellar appearance on the Today Show this morning... During a biting, in-depth interview with Matt Lauer, I was asked whether I thought George Bush's domestic spying program was illegal.

Well, it depends on what your definition of 'illegal' is. As in when you might run for President, and having an actual opinion can put a fella in a very lonely place. Heh Heh. But I did go out on a limb and call for Congressional hearings on this subject. This could be serious. Or not. We don't know. Any of me. We could look into it. But I must bear in mind my impending re-evisceration in 2008 at the hands of the far right. I love you. I hate you. I love you... sorry. Heh Heh. Anyway, today I also casually mentioned in passing that the Iraq War Resolution, oft cited by the Shrubmeister (heh heh), didn't actually reference domestic spying. Fortunately, this factette escaped the keen journalistic instinct of Mr. Lauer. Right across the bow, and not even a blink. Heh heh.

I was particularly clever at the close of our segment when I informed Mr. Lauer that I am older than dirt. Heh heh. Americans like a witty man. Oops. I think I just tinkled a little...

Heh Heh.

Sigh.

In response to the completely asinine way The Washington Post has handled the Deborah Howell vs. The Truth fiasco, Washington Post Executive Editor, Jim Brady, will be holding an online chat, billed as a "panel discussion".

This time, he will actually have a guest, the fabulous Jane Hamsher (of firedoglake blog) who knows what she is talking about. Jane will be representing the community of people who have a liberal blog that accept comments, as opposed to Brady's last blogging expert, Hugh Hewitt. It is nothing short of bizarre that Brady would turn to Hewitt for expert insight and online whinathon about mean old liberal blog commenters, since Hewitt is a conservative with a blog that does not accept comments.

It's about damn time that Brady sits down with at least one member of an online community about which he has been complaining for days, but actually knows very little about.

The online chat is TODAY at 1 PM.

Click here to submit your questions.

[The rest of the panel includes Jeff Jarvis of BuzzMachine, Jay Rosen of PressThink, and Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit.]

If you haven't been following the story of the WaPo's aggrieved Public Editor (ombudsman), Deborah Howell, who was harshly criticized both because she has yet to represent the public, as is her job, and is sloppy with factually challenged reporting, you could go to this link and start clicking to hear the Post's er, um, highly questionable version of the story. To hear something which would actually be true, go here, here, and here.

As Josh Marshall put it:

T]he whole blow-up has created this subdiscussion about whether honorable press types like Howell and others are being mauled and knocked around and generally abused by cyber-ruffians who have been on her case over the last few days.

This stuff isn't always pretty. But, really, thank God those folks are on her tail because shoddy reporting isn't pretty either.

Bloggers hold people who post to one standard - tell the truth and be prepared when we start asking for things like proof, or facts, to post links to your proof and facts. If you don't or can't, then you print retractions. Period.

Why is that such a bizarre concept for the traditional media and in this particular instance, the Washington Post, to understand?

Maybe that's the first question to submit.

Memo to Media: Get used to it.

There's alot going on and alot being written about what is going on, so I thought I'd do a short round up of what I have been reading and hope others will contribute links to their favorite or most compelling blog post of the day:

Wolcott: On Bush's Big Adventure and other fluffy puppy stories.

Digby: On the persistence and prevalance of intellectual dishonesty on the right.

The Washington Note: Today is our very lucky day. Steve Clemons (with Chris Nelson's permission) reprints the entire Nelson Report, which, as Steve rightly notes, is "one of the single best daily US-Asia policy and national security issues analysis letters in Washington. Normal beings can't subscribe, and it's not available on the web." But today we get it for free via Steve Clemons. Yippee!

juancole: Professor Cole is best expert on Middle East politics and policies I have ever read. Period.

The Buffalo Beast: The Beast gives us the 50 most loathsome people in America. Agree or disagree, you gotta admire the time and stomach it takes to even identify these folks.

majikthise: Today, Lindsay brings us up to date on the activities of one Kenneth Blackwell of Ohio. It seems Mr. Blackwell is getting pretty cocky-enough to allegedly hold illegal campaign-related inteviews in his taxpayer-funded office. (When I was both employed by the state and working on a campaign, I couldn't even use the phone in my office to make an interview appointment, let alone hold an interview in my office.) Of course, even more disturbing, as Lindsay points out to us, is what he say during the interview.

Dependable Renegade: Blogger Watertiger provides us with completely inappropriate humor at completely appropriate times. (may be unsafe for work or those who don't care for the colorful vocabulary of others).

Eric Boelert: How the collectively plays dumb about K Street. K Street? What K Street?

Feministe: My favorite law student blogger Jill, takes on the WorldNetDaily article by Joseph Farah enumerating
the anti-abortion folks position one by one.

Freeway Blogger: IMHO Everyone should read Freeway Blogger. It's inspirational, even if you don't freeway blog yourself. Who knows, you just might give it a try! Or maybe you already have!

Jesus' General: For humor, this is one of the funniest blogs around. Just as John Colbert stays endlessly in character for his show, the General is always in character, and always an 11 on the manly scale of absolute gender. If you already read this blog, here's a little tidbit I bet you didn't know--The General is a grandfather.

The Poor Man Institute: They do wingnut watch so I don't have to. The are also the group who bestows the Golden Winger Award to the Wanker of the Week.

FireDogLake: Jane, Reddhedd and Loren post about the United States happily outsourcing torture. In this story, Reddhedd links to Bob Geiger's blog who linked to us with nice word of praise for our blog yesterday (thanks Bob!). Below this story is also a good piece on the Alito vote today.

Bob Geiger: Bob Geiger opens the frameshop for the 2006 elections in this piece about Rove's strategy speech.

Ezra Klein: Ezra Klein is one busy guy. Today he is filling in for Ana-Marie Cox of Wonkette fame. He also writes his own blog and writes for Tapped. It's the Tapped article to which I direct folks, as it contains an interesting primer for the President's State of the Union speech next week.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of stuff out there, but I realized that we have posted an Around the Blogs Piece in a while. This is what I like. I'd lovee to hear about the blogs, besides this one of course, that you enjoy reading.

P.S. I left out the tops-in-pops folks like Atrios and Daily Kos, Josh Marshall and HuffPo, DU and others, since everyone seems to read those already.

Hope I directed you to something which will help move the gray cells around. Feast away!

[Editor's Note: The DCP fundraiser for the fund to feed the activists is continuing. Please check here for more details and to add your support.]

Last week in this space, Karen Bradley and Dick Bell presented a shrewd analysis of the current state of fluidity in American politics. The essay they wrote for the DCP blog included a stirring call to arms, one that was picked up and echoed elsewhere in the political blogosphere as well. (If you didn't read their 'Constitutional Crisis' essay the first time around, go read it now. And if you did read it before, go back and re-read it again. It's that good.)

As Karen and Dick wrote in that piece, "Our energy has to go into organizations, be they existing organizations, or brand-new ones that we found, to push Bush and his congressional support out of power as soon as possible. These are opportunities and they abound ... We each need to contribute, in the largest sense of that word. It could be a simple as forwarding an email that you know has truth. It could be as complicated as building an online community for a cause or a candidate. It probably needs to be 'all of the above' ... We each must build our own capacity for taking action, making sure the infrastructure is in place, contributing to the hands reaching out for us, and joining them."

And those certainly are laudable goals. But it's easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available to us these days, especially with the Internet as a medium of intellectual and emotional exchange. And it's easy to think that by being ardent online activists, we're doing everything we can to make change happen in the real world.

Jack came to Washington for the first demonstration against the war, in 2003--the one that was so huge and so clear that we just knew we could stop the invasion...three years later, Jack is back, age 22, having taken a leave from college, to work on The World Can't Wait events. He has been in NYC, assisting local chapters across the country, and after traveling across the country a few times, now he is here, helping to organize the DC events.

Eliska also left college, graduate school, to be exact, where she was studying to be a social worker. She came to DC to organize, manage, and run the office, which she has done with far more skill and foresight than most 24-year olds, or most 50-year olds.

They came to help, and they are busier than most their age. They are up early and working late. They are reliable and committed.

They left their lives behind on trust that they could be housed and fed without having to think too much about it as they work. And they are housed, but the feeding issue is more challenging.

They and the 15-16 other young volunteers are committed and tenacious. They do not stop to grab a bite in a restaurant, nor do they have money to do so. There is a small kitchen at the office hq, but little time to go shopping or cook.

And so, the DCP is launching a Feed the Activists fundraising campaign. If you click on our DONATE button to the left, you can go to our paypal account and contribute a small or a large amount. Our goal is $3000.

Every dollar will go to feed these wonderful kids for the next two-plus weeks. We will even do the shopping.

Thank you.

(We have already raised $375 towards our goal! Thanks!)

The latest in our series to heal the lumpen, teeming masses of the politically lame…

Dear Polly:

Suspicious Lady Out West

There's no such thing as a book you can't learn something from. Even so-called 'light reading' can present you with some pretty heavy things to think about.

Today's example of this principle in action is the following text, which comprises the opening page of a 1999 private-eye novel written by Les Roberts titled "The Best-Kept Secret." (You can find a copy at your local public library, a wonderful resource if ever there was one -- thank you, Mr. Franklin! -- or buy one here, among other places.)

Wisdom is where you find it. And this mini-essay by Mr. Roberts qualifies as darn good wisdom in my book.

Where do people come up with their agendas, their causes, their passionate advocacies? They don't tell you what your responsibilities are when you're born. They don't give you a job description and a list of your duties. You have to figure it out for yourself.

I'm not presumptuous enough to say exactly why I was put here on earth, because I don't know. And when I meet somebody who does, who tells me they're absolutely certain they were created to save the whales, spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, revive the American theatre, kill everyone who isn't a white Protestant, convince gay people to change their wicked ways, rail against the evils of demon rum, or bitch at other poor bastards about the sexual habits, their choice of reading material, or their cigarette smoking, they are either purely full of baloney or possessed of the most astonishing hubris.

What's right for me isn't necessarily right for somebody else, and I take great umbrage at those who try to force the rest of us to do it their way.

I think our main job is to find out who we are and what's the right thing to do for ourselves individually, and then shut up about it and go do it.

We have probably all seen more wonderful politically progressive documentaries in the last few years than in the rest of our lives combined. Michael Moore has been at it for more than 15 years ("Roger & Me" "Bowling for Columbine" "Fahrenheit 9/11", and many of us saw documentaries by other film makers, on topics ranging from Walmart ("Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price") to MacDonalds ("Supersize Me") to Karl Rove ("Bush's Brain") to Fox News ("OutFoxed") to Al-Jazeera ("Control Room").

The Mission:

Filmmakers fill some of the the vacancy left by journalists who have failed to ask hard questions. 2004 was unprecedented for cinematic activism, with a push to get controversial films out before the election.

Distributors and exhibitors make more room for documentaries now. As the right laps up talk radio, the left has a strong appetite for intelligent documentaries. It's a visual culture and people watch tv and discuss movies. More people are going to film school. The cost can be minimal and editing is becoming less technical. The increase in amateurs does not mean that veteran film makers are not producing excellent documentaries (eg. Greenwald's "Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War", which was financed by MoveOn.org).

The question still hasn't been answered as to how films appeal to those beyond a certain segment. It would be interesting to see the audience expand beyond progressives and film festival fans to the working class, military, and to all reaches of the nation. That requires more financing than most film makers have. Michael Moore's image as a populist has been helpful in this respect.

"Be the Media" Ideas:

I had heard about the "Meaningful Movies" night that one of our neighborhood peace groups has. There is a new place here called the Film Connnection, a non-profit who will loan any of 365 independent, foreign, political and/or documentary films out to foster community and promote dialogue. Groups register for free, borrow films (one at a time, on DVD) for free, and pay no postage or late fees. Groups who make a certain donation can use more films at a time. The idea is to get people discussing larger issues and getting active. They also advise on moderating discussions post-viewing.

http://www.thefilmconnection.org

Another option is to donate to their library, but they are selective about the types of films. So far, there are 1250 member groups. Two of three members live in cities and so far 75% live on the west coast, but the hope is to spread across the country. There is no marketing budget, which limits outreach to rural and distant communities, but the website can be passed around. Start a "meaningful movie" night in your community!

Here is a site where you can download documentaries over the internet, for free.

http://www.freedocumentaries.org

The Movies:

Here are some of the best-known in the genre, available from more mainstream video outlets or book/video distributors. These can be followed up with more obscure choices, with more specificity and less coverage.

1) Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Academy Award-winning director Michael Moore examines what happened in the United States after Sept. 11, the Bush administration's financial ties to Saudi Arabia and the bin Laden family, and why the United States has become a target for hatred and terrorism. Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

2) Bowling For Columbine (2002)
With his trademark charm and biting wit, Michael Moore tackles the problem of gun violence in America in this Oscar-winning documentary. From a look at the Columbine High School security camera tapes to the home of NRA President Charlton Heston, Moore sets off on a journey to the heart of the country hoping to discover why the American pursuit of happiness is so riddled with violence.

3) Outfoxed (2004)
"Outfoxed" examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, have been running a "race to the bottom" in television news. This film provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public's right to know. Produced and directed by Robert Greenwald.

4) The War Room (1994)
This documentary film takes us inside Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign and the exciting, topsy-turvy race that proved to be one of the most memorable in U.S. history and came to define American political discourse in the 1990s. Directed by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

5) Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War (2004)
This documentary film chronicles the Bush administration's determined quest to invade Iraq following the events of September 11, 2001. The film deconstructs the administration's case for war through interviews with U.S intelligence and defense officials, foreign service experts, and U.N. weapons inspectors. Produced and directed by Robert Greenwald.

6) Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election (2003)
Fillmmakers Richard Ray Perez and Joan Sekler take a look at the 2000 Presidential election, and the controversy and scandal that surrounded it. Examining the accusations of vote-rigging and suspicious irregularities that don't appear to add up, the two filmmakers expose some sinister going's on that appear to undermine the very notion of democracy.

7) Bush's Brain (2004)
"Bush's Brain" is a documentary that introduces the country to Karl Rove, the man known as "Bush's Brain", the most powerful political figure America has never heard of, the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain of today's Presidential politics. It is based on the best-selling book "Bush's Brain" by journalists James Moore and Wayne Slater.

8) The Hunting of the President (2004)
An eye-opening look inside the "vast right-wing conspiracy" identified by Hilary Clinton as committed to driving her husband from the presidency. Featuring acid portraits of Clinton nemeses, from Gennifer Flowers to Kenneth Starr, longtime Clinton friend Harry Thomason's documentary is an entertaining look at a particularly bilious time in American politics.

9) Journeys With George (2002)
Alexandra Pelosi, the daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, chronicles George W. Bush's exploits on the 2000 campaign trail. This candid and surprisingly intimate documentary illuminates the tumultuous world of big budget politics, captures firsthand the pressures of being a political figure, and paints a revealing portrait of a man who managed to make the leap from wealthy Texas businessman to President of the United States of America.

10) The Fog of War (2003)
This documentary is built around over 20 hours of interviews that director Errol Morris conducted with Robert McNamara (1916-), which is supplemented by archival footage and supplementary interviews. Robert McNamara was the Secretary of Defense during both the John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson presidential administrations, and as such was a key figure in the Vietnam War.Important product disclaimer information about this About site.

Others:

"Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train", Directed and produced by Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller.

"Persons of Interest", Muslim and Arab immigrants talk about their legal battles stemming from their detention by federal officials after 9/11. Lawrence Konner, executive producer.

"Uncovered: The War on Iraq", Robert Greenwald's expanded documentary featuring ex-government officials dismantling the Bush administration's rationale for going to war.

"Tour of Duty", Based on the book of the same name by Douglas Brinkley. Portrays the Vietnam experiences and antiwar activities of Sen. John F. Kerry.

"The Oil Factor Behind the War on Terror", Original footage from Afghanistan and Iraq and interviews with Bush administration officials link oil interests to the military conflicts. Gerard Ungerman and Audrey Brohy, directors.

"Inside the Bubble", A look inside the Kerry presidential campaign. Steven Rosenbaum, director.

"War Feels Like War", Stories of reporters who ventured into Iraq to get the stories uncovered by "embedded" journalists. Esteban Uyarra, director.

"The Hunting of the President", Based on the book about the campaign to discredit the Clintons by Gene Lyons and Joe Conason and Los Angeles July 23. Perry and Harry Thomason.

"The Corporation", Based on Joel Bakan's book "The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power", Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbot, directors.

Here is an update from the Pew Institute, which studied public interest in political documentaries during 2005:

“Fahrenheit 9-11” had broad political reach in 2004. Overall, 31% of adult Americans saw a political documentary last year and 16% read political books

Michael Moore’s documentary made a powerful contribution to American politics during last year’s campaign.

Overall, more than 60 million people said they saw a documentary film related to the campaign or candidates in 2004.

This level of exposure in the time of a campaign to a theatrically released motion picture about that campaign is unique. Rarely do voters in the digital age spend a long time paying close attention to a single message about an upcoming election. Most campaign messages today come in short forms: advertisements, sound bites, email postings, bumper stickers.

The year of the unprecedented attention to political documentaries also involved other kinds of long-form media. The survey showed that 16% of adult Americans said they read a book about current politics or national affairs. By comparison, 7% said they attended a campaign rally. And it should also be noted that 5% say they get political information from radio host Rush Limbaugh and 3% cited Howard Stern.

I would love for people to keep updating the list.

[Editor's Note: I opened my mail this morning and it was full of requests to post on Alito. The first post is a call to action from DCP member Rick Albertson. The second post comes to us from DCP member Barry Schwartz. As some of you may know, Senate Majority Leader Frist has refused Senators time to speak on the floor of the Senate about Alito until January 25 (the day after the scheduled committee vote). In response, Senators are fanning out across America to give speeches urging action against the Alito confirmation. I will reprint a short portion of Senator Edward Kennedy's (D-MA) speech with a link to the full text. The upshot of these posts is clear. ACT NOW.]

CALL NOW

From Rick:

This news alert slash call to action comes direct to you from the fine folks over at Political Cortex. We're reproducing it here body and soul because goshdarnit, fellow DCPeople, this is important stuff and we all need to get on the horn and on the keyboard and make your feelings known before it's too late!

Via Political Cortex
[gently edited to comply with DCP's federal regulations]

Alito's not a done deal!

Over at Daily Kos they estimate he no longer has 60 votes!

Let's make sure thatwe are heard: CLICK HERE TO CALL YOUR SENATORS

John Edwards has endorsed this petition for FILIBUSTER

Phone, fax, and email addresses for the Judiciary Committee

People for the American Way has collected over 60,000 signatures to send to the Senate, please add yours: Save the Court Petition

MoveOn.Org's Stop Alito Petition

Democratic Party's Reject Alito Petition

Stop the NRA's Oppose Alito Petition

And while you're at it, sign: Planned Parenthood Petition

NARAL Say "No" On Judge Alito

Brady Campaign

Human Rights Campaign

National Abortion Federation

National Council of Jewish Women

National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association

National Organization for Women

National Partnership for Women and Families

National Women's Law Center

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

US Action

From Barry, via WaPo:

It's all in the record.

Law professors at Judge Alito's alma mater, Yale Law School, analyzed more than 400 of his published opinions and concluded: "In the area of civil rights law, Judge Alito consistently has used procedural and evidentiary standards to rule against female, minority, age and disability claimants..."

"In the context of these civil rights cases, Judge Alito seems relatively willing to defer to the claims of employers, the government, over the individuals advancing civil rights claims."

KENNEDY: And other objective observers who have examined Judge Alito's record have reached a similar conclusion. According to an analysis by the respected University of Chicago law professor, Cass Sunstein, said, "when there is a conflict between institutions and individual rights, Judge Alito's dissenting opinions argued against individual rights 84 percent of the time. In almost all of the cases in which Judge Alito dissented in order to reject an individual rights claim, he was sitting on a court with a majority of Republican appointees."

A comprehensive review of Judge Alito's published opinions by Knight-Ridder similarly found that Judge Alito has "seldom sided" with "an employee alleging discrimination" and "almost never found a government search unconstitutional..."

An analysis published by The Washington Post found that "routinely, he defers to government officials and others in positions of authority" and has "very little sympathy for those asserting rights against the government."

In sum, in case after case, Judge Alito's decisions demonstrate a systematic tilt toward the powerful institutions and against individuals attempting to vindicate their rights. He cites a few instances in which he has decided for the little guy, but they are few and far between.

Justice Lewis Powell captured the spirit of America best when he said: "Equal justice under law is not merely a caption on the facade of the Supreme Court building. It is perhaps the most inspiring idea of our society. It is one of the ends for which our entire legal system exists."

In evaluating Supreme Court nominees, there are no more important questions than whether they are dedicated to equal justice under law. Judge Alito is a highly intelligent man, but his record does not show a judge who is willing to enforce the constitutional limitations on executive power when government officials intrude on individual rights.

His record does not show a judge who is open to the claims of vulnerable individuals asking only justice against powerful institutions. His record does not show a judge who upholds the liberty and privacy of citizens seeking to protect their fundamental rights.

His record just does not show a judge who is committed to equal justice under law.

Full text of Senator Kennedy's speech can be found here.

It's clear. The time to act is now.

Blog entry written by Rick Alberson and Barry Schwartz, with contributions by Casey Morris and Suz Krueger.

I just don't understand and maybe someone can help me.

Say, for example, I am the leader of the reconstruction effort in Iraq for 18 months, and during those 18 months, I repeatedly lie about any number of things, including the state of the reconstruction, the state of the war there, the cost of the reconstruction. And not only do I lie, I lie about it on camera, repeatedly, and often, during many, many interviews with journalists covering the war.

Fast forward to a year later. I have now left the job and written a book about it. And almost everything I have to say in the book is in direct opposition to what I claimed was the truth only a year ago when I made statements to the reporters in Iraq.

Moving along, I begin to go on my book promotion tour and, lo and behold, a journalist has some minimum wage staffer pull up the video tape of me lying on camera and shows it to me during our interview and asks the inevitable questions about the discrepencies.

Here's the question, why am I shocked at this? If you had behaved that way, would you be shocked?

So why was former Ambassador-cum-Reconstruction Czar in Iraq, shocked and maybe a teeny bit irritated when Wolf Blitzer did just that? From CNN transcripts:

CNN -- The Good News:   Bob Novak is gone.

CNN -- The Bad News:   Glenn Beck is hired.

With a tip of the hat to DCP blogger Monkey, we share this story from Media Matters.

CNN reportedly hires radio host Glenn Beck

Summary: CNN's Headline News has reportedly hired radio host Glenn Beck in spite of his history of making controversial comments.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on January 17 that CNN's Headline News has hired Glenn Beck -- a nationally syndicated radio host known for making controversial statements -- "for a new prime time program." Media Matters for America has compiled some of Beck's more notable comments:

On families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: "[T]his is horrible to say, and I wonder if I'm alone in this -- you know, it took me about a year to start hating the 9-11 victims' families? Took me about a year."

On Hurricane Katrina survivors who remained in New Orleans: "And that's all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones that we're seeing on television are the scumbags -- and again, it's not all the people in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention."

Discussing disclosures from a caller who claimed to have tortured prisoners in U.S. custody: "I've got to tell you, I appreciate your service. ... Good for you. Good for -- I mean, good for you. Is it because you did it for the country? ... I have to tell you, when all is said and done, I'm glad people like you are on our side."

On filmmaker Michael Moore: "Hang on, let me just tell you what I'm thinking. I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out -- is this wrong?"

On the father of Nick Berg, American civilian executed in Iraq: "The 'want to be a better person today than I was yesterday' says he's a dad, he's grieving, but I don't buy that. I'm sorry, I don't buy it. I think he is grieving, but I think he's a scumbag as well. I don't like this guy at all."

News of Beck's hiring follows a recent report that CNN has hired radio host and former Reagan administration Secretary of Education Bill Bennett, who said in September, "[Y]ou could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down."

And per Monkey's instructions,

WANNA STOP THIS MEDIA NONSENSE, START HERE.... JAM CNN'S PHONE LINES ALL DAY!!!!

or as Media Matters suggests in their email concerning Glenn Beck,

Take Action! Click here to contact CNN and urge them to stop providing a platform for conservative misinformation and hate speech.

A remarkable amount of devastation seems to have occurred in a relatively short time on this planet - the tsunami in Indonesia, the hurricanes in Louisiana and Mississippi, the earthquakes in Pakistan and Iraq, to name a few. The magnitude of death and destruction has been hard to fathom, without even factoring war casualties, AIDS, and the specter of avian flu.

I remembered a seemingly obscure study done twenty years ago that was shared with a colleague and I by a researcher who had worked for a time in India. We took a great interest in it, and both recently dug it out to reread, as it had a tremendous impact on us. It is entitled "Whose Lives Count?: TV Coverage of Natural Disasters", and was published in Journal of Communication 36 (Spring 1986):113-122 and reprinted in Television: Critical Concepts in Media and Cultural Studies, Toby Miller, ed. (Oxford: Routledge, 2003).

The conclusion of the study was that the severity of natural disasters explained less than ten percent of the variation in the amount of attention they were given in nightly U.S. television newscasts.

[Editor's Note: Originally published this morning, this thread is being moved back to the top in observance of the day. The discussion of Gore's speech continues on the thread below this one. Thanks.]

When we were little and in grade school, we were admonished for dreaming. How many times did we hear, "Stop daydreaming and pay attention" from various adults around us?

Shouldn't we be doing both?

Dr. King was paying attention to everything he saw around him. It is by paying attention that we then begin to form our dreams of what can be. In observance of Dr. King's birthday today, we would like to encourage everyone to pay attention to the world around you. And then dream of what can be instead.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

--Martin Luther King, Jr.

The full text and audio of Dr. King's speech can be found here.

Blog entry written by Suz Krueger and Casey Morris

KAREN WILL BE LIVE BLOGGING GORE'S SPEECH BEGINNING AT NOON (EST).

CSPAN will also be showing the broadcasting the event live:

The American Constitution Society and the Liberty Coalition host a speech by Fmr. Vice Pres. Al Gore at the DAR Hall in Washington. Gore speaks about the limits of executive power, the issue of monitoring domestic communications and the authorization of the use of torture in the war against terrorism.

Please join us for this event on the blog or in the IRC chatroom.

Blog item written by Casey Morris and Suz Krueger.

The latest in our series to heal the politically afflicted…

Dear Polly:

Woman Riled about Tacky Husband

(ED. NOTE: The following was co-written by Karen and Dick Bell, after a morning discussion about people and groups floundering between despair and hope over the past week. Karen and Dick co-founded The Democracy Cell Project, along with a group of remarkable citizen-activists, in 2004. They live in Washington DC.)

The understanding that Bush has provoked a "constitutional crisis" is taking root and spreading. Al Gore is expected to deliver a speech on Monday that is going to focus on this. (We will be there and hope to do a little live blogging, if possible.)

We think we are entering a period of extreme fluidity; Bush's ability to control the many dark forces that he has unleashed is diminshing by the day. But, this is a time of both great danger and great opportunity. Watching Americans slowly coming to grips after years of indifference is not a pretty picture, but it is movement in the right direction. In American history, we know that there are periodic convulsions in which the forces of evil sometimes get the upper hand. (i.e. The Alien Sedition Acts of 1798, the red scare of the early 1920's, the internment of Japanese-Americans in WWII, McCarthy, decades of J. Edgar Hoover's illegal actions, COINTELPRO, and now Bush, the NSA, and the Patriot Act.)

I recently saw the "Chronicles of Narnia" movie with my kid -- somewhat against my will, because of the recent reviews from the religious right praising the film. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed the film.

As a child reading about the adventures in Narnia, I remember burying myself in the magic of the imaginary land and its inhabitants. I remember believing in triumph of good over evil, in love over hate. Such is the innocence of a childhood analysis and interpretation. I did not associate the story with religious teachings, even if it was C.S. Lewis's intent. If anything, I remember equating the moral message with what I knew of the history and lessons of World War I and II.

"They hate us for our freedoms."

So sayeth President Bush on many, many, many occasions, when fumbling to explain why any number of people in the Middle East and elsewhere, wish to blow Americans up, kill Americans, et cetera.

I've been meaning to get around to writing about this for a while, and I would like to write more about it in the future. Given this week's Alito hearings, it seems appropriate to at least comment on this phony statement.

More and more, I am wondering what freedoms he is talking about?

Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure? Gone.

Freedom from being thrown in jail without a writ of habeas corpus? Gone.

Freedom from unwarranted intrusions by government into privacy, whether it be privacy in who we talk to, what we read, where we go. Gone.

Freedom over the privacy of our bodies? Going, going, gone.

It seems to me that when Judge Samuel Alito becomes Justice Samuel Alito, and the unitary executive theory becomes the de facto law of the land, the President moves out of reach of all of the laws of the land, because he becomes out of reach of both other branches of government and the checks on the Executive's power envisioned necessary by the founders and framers.

And once the President becomes above the law, all of our freedoms are gone. It is solely the checks on one person's power run amok which is at the core of the liberties that we all enjoy, to the extent that we can still enjoy them.

It's clear to me that the President believes wholeheartedly in the theory of the unitary executive. And in so believing, he also believes himself to be above the law, and that he can remove any person he wishes from enjoying any "freedoms" once guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws which have since followed.

So really, if the President's view of the Constitution is that his power is unfettered by the Constitutional legal contraints on limiting another's freedom without due process, what "freedoms" is he talking about?

If any and all of my actions, no matter how benign, are under the sole discretionary authority of the unitary executive, the President, what freedom do I really have?

What "freedoms" do any of us have?

I'm shocked, shocked...oh, nevermind.

From HuffPo, what we all knew:

The Huffington Post has learned the Bush administration recently asked high ranking military leaders to denounce Congressman John Murtha. Congressman Murtha has called for the Bush Administration to withdraw US troops from Iraq.

The Bush Administration first attacked Rep. Murtha for his Iraq views by associating him with the filmmaker Michael Moore and Representative Jean Schmidt likened him to a coward on the floor of the House of Representatives. When those tactics backfired, Dick Cheney called Murtha "A good man, a marine, a patriot and he's taking a clear stand in an entirely legitimate discussion."

Though the White House has backed off publicly, administration officials have nevertheless recently made calls to military leaders to condemn the congressman. So far they have refused.

Elizabeth of Seattle has provided me with the following action idea that I think is tremendously clever and appropriate to these times. It might be a good idea to find out if sufficient copies have been sent in. If so, it wouldn't be hard to "adopt" the project, ie. gather copies to send to your own state's legislature.

ACTION:

Mail us or drop off your tattered copies of "1984." When we get 537 of them, we'll send them to every member of the House of Representatives and Senate and to President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Feel free to inscribe the book with a note, reminding these fine people that we Americans take the threat to our liberties seriously. Remind Congress that it makes no sense to fight a war for democracy in a foreign land while allowing our democratic principles to erode at home.

Bring or mail your books to the Oakland Tribune, 401 13th St., Oakland CA 94612. Doors are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Remind President Bush that ours is a country of checks and balances, not unbridled power.

Perhaps our nation's leaders can find some truth in this fiction and more carefully ponder the road we're traveling.

RATIONALE:

From The Oakland Tribune
Big Brother is watching

It took 21 years longer than expected, but the future has finally arrived. And we don't like it. Not one bit.

We are fighting a war with no end to create a peace with no defined victory.

We occupy a foreign land that doesn't want us, while at home our civil liberties are discounted.

We are told that it's better not to know what our government is doing in our name, for security purposes. Meanwhile, our government is becoming omnipresent, spying on us whenever it deems it necessary.

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

George Orwell was right after all.

The US is its own worst enemy in Iraq War. But this time, I am not the one saying it. It's a high-ranking British military officer saying it. And it's not a retired high-ranking officer saying it (equivalent of a one-star general). It's a man in active service.

Of course, aside from the obvious interest this story would generate all by itself, there is the added interest of who the publisher is.

The publisher is none other than The United States Army.

Remarks at the White House 1-10-06

My name is Mike Hersh. I'm here representing Progressive Democrats of America, Convict Bush Cheney dot Org, and After Downing Street dot Org. I've been working to impeach Bush and Cheney since 2000, even before they took the oath of office, on the theory that if fibbing about a blow job is sufficient reason for impeachment, then cheating in the elections, losing, and having your friends on the Supreme Court throw out the votes to put you into office is grounds for impeachment and removal from office.

Apparently this attracted notice, because I was visited by Secret Service agents in early January 2001. They were investigating the "threat" I posed to the incoming Bush Administration because of a protest website a friend and I set up in late 2000: bushoccupation.com which is still up today. So this domestic spying issue is very personal to me. I believe this visit was intended to intimidate me. It didn't.

Immediately after the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, a Mrs. Powel asked Benjamin Franklin: "Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" He replied, "A republic" but added, "If you can keep it." Today more than ever before that question challenges us: Can we keep it? Can we keep our republic? That was 1787.

That landmark convention enshrined the primacy of the people over their government. It crowned the work begun in 1776 when brave Patriots rose up opposing a crazy King George. The more things change.... We're here today speaking out against another crazy George who thinks he's a king.

The question is out there--is an event such as today"s delivery of indictments from a self-defined *tribunal* (www.bushcommission.org) worth covering? Worth even knowing about? Worth doing at all?

It's a gorgeous warm afternoon in front of the White House. Everything is in place and I will be reporting here, live.

Meanwhile, feel free to discuss the above questions, here.

David Swanson

Cliff Kindy and Kevin Zeese

Lila Rajiva

John Judge

I was late to our Town Hall event because I had a houseful of guests, so unfortunately I missed Congressman Jim McDermott. I did arrive in time to see the giant "Backbone" puppet exiting the Seattle Labor Temple. A woman asked me, "Is there a giant Backbone around the corner?" and I replied "Yes, I just saw one." I was quite familiar with the Giant Spine from Vashon Island, WA, having seen it around locally at various events and also at the DNC Convention, Summer 2004. Each vertebrae contains a plank for a progressive platform, and awards are given to political figures (and courageous citizens). I was glad to join the colorful procession (complete with percussion) and we carried the Backbone like some kind of crazy political Chinese dragon! We went first to KIRO (Fox outlet) and then to KOMO, and when no one came to the door, we taped our Letter to the Editor of each paper, with demands for media transparency and balance. We did this in the shadow of the Space Needle.

For more information, see http://www.backbonecampaign.org. (The Backbone Campaign is a grassroots effort to embolden citizens and elected officials to stand up for progressive values. We are expanding the political dialogue by providing creative tools for citizens and the progressive movement. The backbone symbolizes an interlocking agenda, a coalition, and the personal courage necessary to fight for a future worthy of our children.)

The latest in our series to heal the politically and spiritually blighted…

Dear Polly:

Lethargic in Philly Suburb

A cold morning in Lafayette Park, the White House glistening in the bright morning sun. Four mounted park police stand in formation opposite the White House fence, while another policewoman plays a rough game wrestling with a K-9 dog over a foot-long orange plastic attack-dog toy.

I’m here to watch a small group of United Methodist pastors who’ve come together to conduct a “Ritual of Social Exorcism” service to rid the White House of the demons that George Bush and his cronies have unleashed: deception, white male ego, greed, arrogance, fear, hubris, hegemony, and ignorance. (That’s a good list, although I’m sure every one of us could add a couple more; casting out these devils would be a great start.)

|

Hello DCPers:

Remember this picture from last Spring?

John Evans is a Vietnam Veteran who spends a lot of time speaking truth to power. As you may recall, we ran that photo on Veteran's Day 2005 and told you that Mr. Evans had collapsed in front of the White House while protesting, and we did not know his fate. The last we saw of him was the retreating ambulance. Many of you expressed concern and we told you we would check into what had happened.

WELL, take a look at Mr. Evans now:

He showed up at Busboys and Poets last night for a meeting to plan The World Can't Wait events. It turns out that one of the people who was part of the White House Encampment had called 911 when Mr. Evans had his heart attack in November, and had possibly saved his life. So he came by to offer his support for the efforts of the organization.

Mr. Evans' story is harrowing and you can learn more at http://www.forgottenvets.com. But the highlights are that he is a diagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder victim from the Vietnam War. He was given 100% disability but periodically the VA would alter that and rather capriciously, it seems, redeclare him better. The result was years of roller-coaster rides. This recent heart attack was his second one. In 1994, after the death of his 18-year old son, he tried to get benefits for his granddaughter. Through whatever mysterious processes the VA has, HE was declared dead. He received a sympathy letter in the mail, which is how he found out he was dead. (You have to hear him tell this....). He went to the bank and found out that the VA (which had power-of-attorney due to his condition and ongoing treatment) had closed his account. So he went to his credit union to borrow against his car temporarily so he could get by until he straightened out the confusion.

Mr. Evans was living in Indiana, and he drove over 100 miles to the VA to demonstrate his state of liveliness. He was told it would be 3-4 weeks until they could straighten out the files. He reminded them that he had fought for his country and he allowed as he thought it might be possible for them to give him his overdue check right then.

No go. He drove home, called his brother and collapsed. His brother went to take him to the VA Hospital but Mr. Evans decided that he was not really interested in further dealings with the VA. He went to another hospital and they performed surgery, after stabilizing his blood pressure. He was there for 2-3 weeks.

Mr. Evans has devoted himself to telling his story, which he is fully aware is common tale. He is in relentless pursuit of veterans' rights, and he takes feet to pavement every chance he gets.

This from Time magazine (via Atrios);

Washington's power players have always bragged about being well-wired, but for disgraced former congressman Duke Cunningham, "wired" wasn't just a figure of speech. In a week when legislators are focused on the question of who else might be brought down by ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s cooperation with prosecutors as he seeks lenient sentencing over his two federal guilty pleas this week, sources tell TIME that in a separate investigation, ex-Rep. Cunningham wore a wire to help investigators gather evidence against others just before copping his own plea.

Sources familiar with the situation say Cunningham, a California Republican who pleaded guilty Nov. 28 to taking $2.4 million in bribes — including a yacht, a Rolls Royce and a 19th Century Louis-Philippe commode — from a defense contractor, wore a wire at some point during the short interval between the moment he began cooperating with the feds and the announcement of his guilty plea on Nov. 28.

The identity of those with whom the San Diego congressman met while wearing the wire remains unclear, and is the source of furious — and nervous — speculation by congressional Republicans. A Cunningham lawyer, K. Lee Blalack, refused to confirm or deny the story, and wouldn't say whether Cunningham will implicate any other members of Congress. The FBI is believed to be continuing its probe of defense contractors involved in the Cunningham case. An FBI spokesman declined comment. Asked whether Cunningham, an ace Navy fighter pilot decorated for his service in Vietnam, had worn a wire, the spokesman said the response from a higher-up was, "Like I'd tell you."

Let's recap: Congressional Republicans are "furious" because someone may have been listening in on what they thought were private conversations without their consent or a court warrant.

Amazing. It's like some people in Congress got their copy of the Constitution printed on paper, and others got their copy printed on Jello shots.

Yesterday was one of the deadliest days in Iraq for both US troops and Iraqis throughout the country:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military on Friday announced the deaths of six more American troops killed in the recent barrage of violence that has swept Iraq, bringing to 11 the number of troops slain on the same day.

A U.S. Marine and soldier died in the attack by a suicide bomber who infiltrated a line of police recruits in Ramadi on Thursday, killing at least 58 and wounding dozens. Two soldiers were also killed in the Baghdad area when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb, the military said Friday.

In addition, two U.S. Marines were killed by separate small arms attacks while conducting combat operations in Fallujah, the military said.

The military had previously announced the deaths of five soldiers hit by a roadside bomb south of Karbala. The attack came minutes before a second suicide bomber struck Shiite pilgrims in that city, killing 63.