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"What It Is --> Is --> Up To Us"
"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.
So if you don’t know who Howard Rheingold is, take the time to find out. He’s a fascinating individual and an inspiring social visionary, and you’ll be glad you looked him up. There’s an awful lot of Rheingold online; googling his name alone will return some 860,000 hits. But you can save time and keystrokes by using the Wikipedia article on him as a jumping-off point, or you can cut straight to the chase and visit his own domain to learn more about the man, explore his ideas, read his rants, and ogle his amazing artwork while you’re at it.
But let’s get back to one of Rheingold's most potent and consistent themes, especially as it applies to the DCP community:
"What it is --> is --> up to us".
That means what each one of us does matters; and it matters a lot. What happens at the top of the people pyramid is the direct result of what all the folks farther down in the pile are doing every day. Every time that we write a Representative, call a Senator, elect a new mayor or buttonhole a local councilman, we directly affect what happens in the political hierarchy around us. Every time we talk to a neighbor or chat with a friend or post in online forums like this one, we directly affect what and how the people around us think about the government affects them in turn.
As individuals, we can only do so much. But as a community, we can do a great deal. And all of our individual actions add up to a larger, more potent force for change. What it is really is up to us -– to each one of us, acting separately and together, and that applies to the small things every bit as much as the big ones. Small things matter because they’re cumulative; remember the adage that a butterfly flapping its wings in Beijing can cause a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.
Everything that’s taking place in the political sphere right now is critical to our future, and what we’re doing about it individually is crucial to what happens to us collectively. The 2006 mid-term elections are just around the corner, and all of us need to do everything we can to make sure that the right people get elected and the wrong ones get the boot instead. We can’t just sit back and wait for 2008, and we can’t just stand by and watch what happens between now and then.
Everything we do matters, and this is the time to do anything and everything possible if we’re going to help drag our country back from the brink. In simple bumpersticker terms... we all have to put our motions where our mouths are, put our boots on the ground and our hands in the dirt, and change this country’s future one voter at a time. Or, as Molly Ivins so succinctly summed it up in a recent column:
"What matters here is not what the Republicans or the Democrats do -- it's what you do before November. Sit up, join up, stir it up, get online, get in touch, find out who's raising hell and join them. No use waiting on a bunch of wussy politicians."
Well - did freeway blogging - photos blurry unfortunately (need new camera soon) - called Senator Cantwell's offices til found a human - working on same process with Senator Murray - the lines seem jammed which I guess is good.
I hope people have had a chance to see Kerry on CSPAN today. The first part of his speech was magnificent. . he was absolutely eloquent. . he didn't get to quite finish, and hopefully will get that chance at 2 pm ET. .if you missed it, try to see rebroadcast or video archive. .he was GREAT.I've never had more respect for him than right now
My hero .. this is my plug and is not meant to represent a political party or website, just myself. mbk - I am going to look at C-span site - got to see.
Nothing makes us stronger than the values of equality and justice that Americans throughout our nation's history have fought tirelessly to preserve and advance. Now our commitment to these values is being tested once again: Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court threatens the fundamental rights and freedoms we cherish, and we must do everything we can to protect them.
It is for this reason that Senator Kerry and I are doing everything we can to keep Samuel Alito off the Supreme Court. The crucial vote will come this afternoon, when Senators vote on whether to end debate and vote on the nomination.
Samuel Alito's troubling record speaks for itself. The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings confirmed our worst fears, and we have to take the strongest possible stand against him.
Americans deserve better. We need Supreme Court Justices whose commitment to protecting our rights and freedoms is beyond dispute -- a Court whose members transcend partisan politics to inspire Americans, not divide us.
The vote by the Senate on a Supreme Court Justice is second only to the vote to send our men and women to war.
I hope you will join me and do everything you can to protect the values that unite us as Americans.
Edward M. Kennedy
P.S. Too often, Americans take our rights for granted -- and that's never been more dangerous. Remind yourself of what's at stake and then make your case to others.
http://www.tedkennedy.com/billofrights
Will a filibuster of the Alito nomination help or hurt the Democrats?
Survey question on http://capitalnews.org/
Heard that question from the voice in the background between senators on C-SPAN2...
Right now, 60% say it will HELP THE DEMOCRATS...!
From the Daily Kos web site, I saw this quote:
"I will make a bargain with the Republicans. If they will stop telling lies about Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them." -- Adlai Stevenson
Filibuster should help the Democrats.
I heard the political correspondant on NPR cite a poll where the Republicans were below the Democrats in the public perception (speaking of Congress) by 16 percentage points. I think it's got to be the scandals, despite the fact that the press doesn't cover them like they should.
Will a finlibuster Help or hurt Democrats?
That should be irrelevant. We are doing this because it is the right thing to do period.
"Sometimes politicans do things out of conviction and many Democrats are supporting a filibuster because they really believe that he should not be on the Supreme Court."
snip
" This may look like a ragged strategy in some respects, but it is good for us to be seen doing things that have no obvious political advantage and for which we can legitimately claim to have taken the moral high ground."
Will a finlibuster Help or hurt Democrats?
That should be irrelevant. We are doing this because it is the right thing to do period.
Posted by: Ira at January 30, 2006 02:05 PM
To quote DiAnne:
Unitary Executive = Dictator
I totally agree with you, Ira. Doing the right thing for the American people is - technically - what all of our senators and representatives should be doing on our behalf. That's their job. But they have not been doing their jobs for the last five years.
For too long, Democrats have rolled over and piddled themselves every time Bu$h barked. Democrats didn't even bother to bark back...!
If Democrats will FINALLY do the right thing by the American people and bark back FOR A CHANGE (i.e. turn down Alito who would only give rubber stamp approval to The Cretin and his Criminal Cabal who have so abused their offices and mangled the laws of this land and have subscribed to such horrors as torture and illegally attacking another country that did not do anything to us), it can only help ALL of us to keep some semblance of our rights and privileges as we traditionally have known them under the current Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
This nation has been wavering back and forth on the edge of the abyss of fascism with a wannabe dictator at the helm. One push, like approving Alito or someone like him, and we go over the edge... and it would take decades to get back to normal (which would not happen in my lifetime; I'm old), if it ever could. For the good of ALL of us (even the Republicans!), Alito - AND people like him - should NEVER be elevated to the Supreme Court.
OT from The Washington Note:
another representative of the Bushco Culture of Corruption and Cronyism Administration....
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001208.php
THE DUTY TO FILIBUSTER
John Nichols, The Nation
We elect Senators with the hope and expectation that they will fight for democracy, not rubber stamp the status quo.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/31423/
ALITO: CLEAR AND OMINOUS
Mary Lynn F. Jones, AlterNet
With Alito's confirmation, Bush will succeed in replacing O'Connor's moderate vote with a sure vote for the right-wing's agenda.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/31256/
Marjorie Cohn | Military Hides Cause of Women Soldiers' Deaths
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/013006J.shtml
In a startling revelation, writes Marjorie Cohn, the former commander of Abu Ghraib prison testified that Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, former senior US military commander in Iraq, gave orders to cover up the cause of death for some female American soldiers serving in Iraq.
Nevada Senator Ensign in head-on collision
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-5581628,00.html
Senate to decide whether to end debate on Alito -
If Democrats stuck together and a few Republicans woke up, we wouldn't have ended up in this fix. Why are there always more Democrats ready to cross the aisle than Republicans, even when Democrats are in the Minority?!!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060130/ap_on_re_mi_ea/zawahri_tape
Al-Zawahri Calls Bush a 'Butcher' in Video
CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri said in a videotape aired Monday that President Bush was a "butcher" and a "failure" because of a deadly U.S. airstrike in Pakistan targeting the bin Laden deputy, and he threatened a new attack on the United States.
Excerpts:
"Butcher of Washington, you are not only defeated and a liar, but also a failure. You are a curse on your own nation and you have brought and will bring them only catastrophes and tragedies," he said, referring to Bush. "Bush, do you know where I am? I am among the Muslim masses."
~~~~~~~~~~
"My second message is to the American people, who are drowning in illusions. I tell you that Bush and his gang are shedding your blood and wasting your money in frustrated adventures," he said, speaking in a forceful and angry voice.
"The lion of Islam, Sheik Osama bin Laden, may God protect him, offered you a decent exit from your dilemma. But your leaders, who are keen to accumulate wealth, insist on throwing you in battles and killing your souls in Iraq and Afghanistan and — God willing — on your own land."
Al-Zawahri then vented more fury at the United States and Britain, its main coalition partner in Iraq.
"Your leaders responded to the initiative of sheik Osama, may God protect him, by saying they don't negotiate with terrorists and that they are winning the war on terror. I tell them: You liars, greedy war mongers, who is pulling out from Iraq and Afghanistan? Us or you? Whose soldiers are committing suicide because of despair? Us or you?" he said.
"You, American mother, if the Pentagon calls to tell you that your son is coming home in a coffin, then remember George Bush. And you, British wife, if the Defense Department calls you to say that your husband is returning crippled and burnt, remember Tony Blair."
The Democratic Party and folks like Senators Lieberman, Byrd and Salazar are at a crossroads today. Are our leaders going to stand up for our values or join the trust me crowd, especially you Senator Lieberman, if you are listening? Senator Kerry has laid down the marker of what we as a party and country believe in. Do you share OUR VALUES or the values of the anything goes party? Do you share our undying loyalty to the US Constitution and the principles of our founding fathers to liberty and justice, or do you believe in the dimantling of this country's progress over the last 200 years? Do you truly believe in Equal Justice before the law, or justice structured for the strong and wealthy?
No do overs Senators. Your legacy, Senators Byrd and Specter, will be etched today, over the doors of the US Supreme Court. Your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will read about this moment of our nation, in their history books. Either march forward or join the Regressives.
The entire GOP is afraid of the fundie vote, the wacko vote, and not just the primary candidate. They control our ballot box, padding a little here or there, controlling the partisan apparatus, and as a party know that's their voting base. More than mob loyalty.
Just saw Why we Fight about the build-up of the Military Industrial Complex with outreach to every state's employment. We fight to steal those resources of that occupied country or to sell our products. A quick sign of K Street, and mention of the Roman Empire, rather than Germany. More cerebral and effective than F911, with blame going back decades.
Far more indicting listening to Ike's entire farewell speech, itemizing each cost of a weapon and what we're giving up in aid to our citizens. Traces back Iran and Iraq quickly, and that quote used before, we thought they had weapons because we had the receipts. They didn't have an exit strategy because they never planned to leave Iraq.
Oh, WOW!!! Go Teddy!!!
Hope you're hearing him speak right now!
Sorry, I don't get it. All a dither over ending a debate for George's SOTU. What's a couple more days of debate for something critical if hearings format inadequate. Everyone of every stripe could justify it.
For courtesy of the opposing view.
Does anybody know if C-Span is going to show reruns of today's Senate proceedings?
Posted by: Marjorie G at January 30, 2006 04:27 PM
I don't get it either. I don't think Lamestream Media has talked about it at all - at least no one's mentioned it the first five minutes of any in-state newscast (I've written to them), people have NO CLUE what's at stake. Teddy Kennedy made the same point. They just started talking about this last Wed. He said they need a chance to tell people about Alito because their minds are on other things right now....
But The Cretin's "style" of governing is to RUSH everything... he has to have his 'up or down vote' on everything... just like the Patriot Act that was given the bum's rush through both houses and look what a disaster that is! No deliberation or debate, no way to inform the people of this nation (those of us interested in something besides reality TV, that is). If some young women knew that Roe v. Wade will likely be overturned with Alito, they just might wake up and be concerned.... If anyone knew we could end up with a dictator (officially, not like unofficially right now), they just might perk up and pay attention...
The Senate and the House are supposed to deliberate and discuss... so let them deliberate and discuss already...! O'Connor won't go anywhere until a replacement is found for her anyway. So what's the big RUSH??? IMHO, they can deliberate and discuss this until after inauguration day 2009...!
Lieberman just voted aye. What a jerk.
today's vote for cloture summarizes why Democrats can not win elections.
Survey question on http://capitalnews.org/
Heard that question from the voice in the background between senators on C-SPAN2...
Right now, 60% say it will HELP THE DEMOCRATS...!
Posted by: NonnyO at January 30, 2006 01:40 PM
--
now 74% agree that filibuster push will help the democrats..
now 74% agree that filibuster push will help the democrats..
Posted by: mbk at January 30, 2006 05:15 PM
Well, at least it will help with those of us who care and give a damn about whether or not our senators act ethically or responsibly.
I heard Dayton vote no...! Good.
But the chatter in the background on C-SPAN with no announcement of the vote tally is giving me ulcers....
Posted by: oncall at January 30, 2006 04:52 PM
They usually do, OnCall. You can email them or call them and ask them if they are going to show a rerun.
But The Cretin's "style" of governing is to RUSH everything...
Posted by: NonnyO at January 30, 2006 04:54 PM
Our President seems to want to rush everything. That is, unless we have been attacked and he's reading "My Pet Goat", or the levee broke and people are drowning. He's real S L O W when that happens.
Otherwise he wants to rush. (Was it good for you?)
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
sure won't help them with fundraising mbk,
When I heard Dem after Dem say aye to cloture, I immediately tore up my DNC fundraising letter that I was getting ready to send in. Just don't understand how the likes of Salazar,Cantwell, both Nelsons and Lieberman can vote for cloture and then expect ANY party loyalty whatsoever. I will get over it, but as I read Supreme Court decisions over the next few days I will remember today and the absolute cowardice I saw today from many Democratic Senators.
sorry about my misstatment I am just too rankled right now to think straight..
"When I heard Dem after Dem say 'aye' to cloture.."
today's vote for cloture summarizes why Democrats can not win elections.
Posted by: Ira at January 30, 2006 05:09 PM
Ira,
Rigt now, I couldn't give a sh+t about most of the Democrats. Let one of their people call me and try to ask for a donation. Whenever somebody tells me that voting for a third party candidate is as good as throwing my vote away. I will ask them what good does it do to vote for a Democrat?
Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at January 30, 2006 05:24 PM
You are 100% correct.... Slowness is his game when it suits him, but otherwise... RUSH.
[Edited: please keep it clean]
will remember today and the absolute cowardice I saw today from many Democratic Senators.
Posted by: Ira at January 30, 2006 05:26 PM
But please DO support the valiant senators who had the guts to vote AGAINST cloture, and especially those who fought so hard to sway their colleagues! These people really deserve our thanks and support.
Oh, CRAP!
The ayes have it, and we're doomed!
Can someone please post the DEMOCRATIC HALL OF SHAME. We should know who these cowards are.
None of these Senators should ever be given a leadership position in our party again, starting with Senator Salazar, who I busted butt to help get elected. He is just really lucky that he is not up for re-election for quite a while b/c my friends in Denver are really fed up with him after a mere 1 year in office.
and then the HALL OF FRAME with the name of Senator John Kerry at the very top of the list for his VALIANT SERVICE to his country.
Current list of No's (24)
Boxer
Dodd
Durbin
Feinstein
Feingold
Kerry
Kennedy
Leahy
Stabenow
Levin
Wyden
Obama
Jeffords
Biden
Dayton
Menendez
Shumer
Reed (RI)
Reid (NV)
Bayh
Clinton
Mikulski
Murray
Lautenberg
current running list of Democratic Aye's (14)
Edited on Mon Jan-30-06 10:21 PM by Strawman
Landrieux
Rockefeller
Dorgan
Nelson (FL)
Nelson (NE)
Salazar
Lincoln
Baucus
Lieberman
Cantwell
Kohl
Akaka
Inouye
25 Bold Senators, how absolutely pathetic.
Rockefeller, Cantwell, who are you afraid of? Where the h*** is your spine?
Thank Goodness for Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer.
Todays vote is also a perfect indication of why I can no longer claim allegiance to any party.
What a bunch of spineless dirtbags.
Congrats to all those who just changed America forever.
Tyranny loves company.
From a poster on FDL:
Rather than opposing certain Dems, why not support the hell out of the ones who voted NO. Crash their phone lines in support. Everyone expects to hear angry calls. Screw that. If you're thankful to the brave senators, let them know.
I'm sure some of the cloture voters will take notice if the filibuster Senators see a spike in their contributions. Why don't the filibuster blogs join together to set up a fundraising effort for the ones who voted against cloture? That will get you more notice than a dozen angry emails/phone calls.
gq | Homepage | 01.30.06 - 2:49 pm | #
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/firedoglake/113865970738074802/#239868
Why don't the filibuster blogs join together to set up a fundraising effort for the ones who voted against cloture? That will get you more notice than a dozen angry emails/phone calls.
gq | Homepage | 01.30.06 - 2:49 pm | #
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/firedoglake/113865970738074802/#239868
Posted by: sparrow at January 30, 2006 05:58 PM
Sparrow-I'm with this poster 100%!
Posted by: mbk at January 30, 2006 06:03 PM
The others we should use their own envelopes (postage prepaid) to send them stale bread crumbs.
Rough day... But we can't give up the fight. Here are two relevant quotes I found on another site...
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt (1858 - 1919)
When I despair, I remember that all throught history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they may seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it ~ always.- M. Gandhi
"I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat." -- Will Rogers
Yeah, well you know what? Screw that. That's no more funny as a joke than it is a valid excuse for failure. Stoopid is still stupid, no matter how you spell it.
I'm not usually an either/or person, and/but I gotta tell ya... just being not-a-Republican is not enough to earn my trust or win my vote anymore.
I'm sick and tired of trying to justify being a default member of the Grand Old Larry-Moe-and-Curley Party.
No wonder the Dems' party symbol is an effing jackass... not that their trunk-swallowing opponents are any better, mind you. But "Vote for us because we suck less than they do, mostly" just doesn't cut it as a campaign slogan. And it sure as hell ain't good enough to win back a country with.
I will support the Democrats that I can still believe in, based on their principles and their actions. I will also support the Republicans that I can believe in, too -- and, yes, there are at least a tiny handful of those out there also.
But you can chalk me up in the none-of-the-above column with those who believe that the only thing that can save this country is a new coalition of liberal independent progressives that are neither Democrat or Republican, but simply honest and fair and coherent. *Especially* coherent.
Yup. You betcha. I'm going to be calling for, working for, and even begging for a valid third-party candidate for the White House in 2008, and picking and choosing my votes in 2006 accordingly.
I'm disgusted as hell and I ain't gonna take it anymore. As far as I'm concerned it's open season on jackasses now, no matter *which* party they happen to belong to.
the whole damn lot of 'em ain't even worth the powder to blow 'em to Iraq,
Otter
In other words...
Small-d, yeah. You betcha.
But Large-D?
My otter asterisk.
where's a conscious coherent collective backbone when you need one,
Otter
FYI,
Unless I'm wrong NOT ONE Republican crossed party lines. These Republicans know how to keep the money flowing.
Sparrow, on the cloture vote that's true.
Supposedly Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) will be voting no tomorrow on Alito.
I never thought we'd get a heroic win, just the effort.
I don't really see the risk to extend the debate, if explained how Alito not a Conservative, but an extremist. How will we ever change the opinions, party identity, and without media, if we don't make the effort.
Do we expect to win locally just because people like the interchangeable candidates, when the fundies and defrauders create such havoc?
Posted by: dwahzon at January 30, 2006 07:04 PM
Yes, some will vote no, but they already know it's a pointless vote because the filibuster was the real one!
The filibuster vote would have given more time for questions and would have forced Bush and Alito to be more truthful to the American people.
The filibuster was an accountability moment and those people chose to let him off the hook again!
A lot of times I take what kos takes with a grain of salt but there's a lot of wisdom in his current posting. It's long but I think it's definitely worth reading once you cool down a little.
---------
We lost the cloture vote, but that was -- despite some of your best wishes -- a pre-ordained conclusion. But that doesn't mean we lost on the bigger picture.
What you guys accomplished the last week was amazing -- the outpouring of emails, letters, faxes, and phone calls was unprecedented for the netroots and particularly surprising given how weak our issue groups organized against Alito. We should've played a supporting role to strong efforts by NARAL, People for the American Way, and others. Instead, we ended up being pretty much the entire effort.
But say what you will about blogs and the netroots, we are not effective organizers for this type of large-scale effort, with an opposition wielding tens of millions of dollars. That we got this much accomplished in the fact of that is simply incredible.
So we are now on the map. The Alito vote may have fizzled, but you better believe the Dem establishment knows we exist. So what's next? Well, we channel that energy into doing something that would've improved our chances to stop Alito -- getting more Democrats elected to the Senate. And the more likely the chances of success in something like this, the more likely senators are to join the bandwagon.
As I wrote before, the numbers in the Senate always worked against us. We need to increase the number of Dems in order to give Red state Democrats (who we very much need) the cover they need on votes like these. That's the single most important thing we can do. So, I rerun this advice:
We need more Dems, and we need more good Dems. Tester's headline on his campaign website states that he'd vote "no" on Alito. Let's replace Conrad Burns with him. In Vermont, Bernie Sanders would be an easy "no" and a much more reliable progressive vote than Jeffords ever was. Both Matt Brown and Sheldon Whitehouse in Rhode Island would be reliable "no" votes, and much more likely to filibuster than Lincoln Chafee.
In Ohio, both Paul Hackett and Sherrod Brown would be guaranteed votes against Alito. While Missouri's Claire McCaskill said she wouldn't filibuster Alito, she would vote against him.
With these top-tier pickup opportunities alone (not including PA, where Bob Casey is suddenly running to the Right of Attila the Hun, and TN, where Harold Ford might not always vote with us), Dems would suddenly be at 49. And that's what we call a "margin of error". Able to lose 9 senators and still uphold a filibuster, we could protect our Red state Dems and still hold the line against reactionary ideologues like Alito.
And, we work our a***s off, we can put states like Arizona (Jim Pederson) and Nevada (Jack Carter) in play.
Ahh, you're thinking, we can say "**** Ford and Casey", right? Absolutely not. Those guys, even if they might vote for an Alito, would vote for Harry Reid as majority leader, and the Dems would control the chamber's committees. And we all know how much mischief the governing party could make in committee. We saw dozens of Clinton's judicial nominees held hostage in committee for nearly his entire term in office.
In addition (this isn't an "either/or" situation), make sure you sign up to support Ned Lamont in his potential primary challenge against Joe Lieberman. If you are in Connecticut, fantastic. If not, it doesn't matter. We all can help rid the Senate of its chief Fox News Democrat and get ourselves a better (D) than Lieberman has been in recent years.
You are angry. Good. Now channel that anger into something positive -- the need to change our nation for the better.
While this may feel like a huge loss (and it is), understand that it's not the end of the road. Republicans are still fighting to turn back the country to the 18th century, and we're all that stands in the way. And we are doomed to keep losing until we boost our numbers in both the House and the Senate. That's the ONLY way we will prevail.
----
check it out here with all the embedded links...
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/1/30/175352/650
I'd also like to encourage people to RUN against a neocon or a vichydem. (whatever!)
Just run. Take matters into your own hands if you can. Help a candidate.
Start the emails and faxes and calls NOW about the spying stuff. Just don't invest this effort for one weekend, instead do it daily! Live as if it's the one vote here and now!
Boy howdy, is *that* new thread ever a challenge! I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to post there in the vein that the thread header asks for. I'm still very pro-K&K, but I'm just not feeling very pro-DNC right now. So indict me.
sorry Casey,
Otter
Right on Murray
What happened to Cantwell - & I was thinking about volunteering for her, not just voting.
Well, it used to be that I just voted.
Now I remember why.
Damn.
I choose to look at today's events differently.
I choose to celebrate the fact that we made a difference, that our call to filibuster convinced as many as it did.
I choose to ask who can I help rather than who can I hurt in elections.
I choose to determine who is the best person for a seat in Congress not based only on which party the person belongs to, but instead on how well that person will represent me and the issues I'm concerned about.
I choose to move on to another fight, another day.
Yeah, it stinks that Alito will be a justice. But we still live in a democracy, damn it, and I'm going to do my best to keep it that way.
- (excerpted from The Independent)
This pits Bush's View of the World against what is actually going on in the world.
NORTH KOREA
State of the Union
The regime is a bandit state that will stop at nothing to build a nuclear arsenal. There are fears it will send plutonium to Iran.
State of the Region
US policy on North Korea has been a complete failure and the regime has blackmailed South Korea into sending aid.
CANADA
State of the Union
President Bush sees new Prime Minister Stephen Harper as an ally on issues including abortion. Mr Harper criticised Canada for not joining Iraq war.
State of the Region
Mr Harper's first move was to say he rejected the US assertion that the Arctic North-west Passage was "neutral waters".
EUROPE
State of the Union
Enlargement of EU protects friends of the US: Poland, the Czech Republic and the Baltic states. Nato shares the burden in Afghanistan.
State of the Region
Merkel supplanting Blair in "special relationship". Use of European airports for "rendition flights" has damaged US.
AFGHANISTAN
State of the Union
US trumpets progress, pointing to $5bn spent on the country. Afghan government committed to improving security and economic affairs.
State of the Region
President Karzai confined to his palace as the insurgency spreads in the south where UK troops will be deployed.
IRAQ
State of the Union
"Free elections" were held in December. Iraqis replacing American forces, raising prospect of troops' withdrawal.
State of the Region
Shia majority, allied to Iran, swept to victory. Insurgent attacks dashing hopes of withdrawal. More than 2,240 US troops have been killed.
IRAN
State of the Union
Adamant Iran must not be allowed nuclear weapons. Washington wants diplomatic solution but bombing an option.
State of the Region
By keeping military threat alive, Mr Bush may allow mullahs to justify nuclear weapons programme for self-defence. Could invite riposte from Israel.
ARAB-ISRAEL
State of the Union
After first election for a Palestinian parliament in a decade, US refusing to deal with Hamas until it drops terrorism and ambition to destroy Israel.
State of the Region
Dilemma for US is whether to cut off funds to Palestinians - choking the seeds of democracy. Same problem across the Middle East.
AFRICA
State of the Union
US forgave debt of the poorest countries. A key bulwark in the "war on terror''. Its mineral and oil assets make it a key strategic partner.
State of the Region
Scramble for Africa between China, the US and India. US defines its value in terms of oil and access to military bases.
LATIN AMERICA
State of the Union
A problem. Socialist candidates topped the poll in 11 elections in past year. But US investment in region is strong. The market economy safe. Drugs war being stepped up.
State of the Region
Voters rejecting unfettered capitalism. New leaders expanding state control on the oil and mining industries.
CHINA
State of the Union
An ally in the "war on terror" and a source of enormous potential profit for corporate America.
State of the Region
China is poised to challenge the US global leadership and overturn international standards. Economically and militarily the Middle Kingdom is bursting outward.
What it is --> is --> STILL up to us.
always remember paul wellstone,
Otter
Posted by: Otter at January 30, 2006 08:00 PM
Otter knows...
Wise words from ladytechie in the IRC tonight RE: the filibuster:
"We've lost a battle, not a war..."
Good article to read before watching/listening to SOTU address (or not)
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article342139.ece
Some potentially heartening stuff in here, but need to add to the ingredients alot of hard grassroots work.
"We've lost a battle, not a war..."
Posted by: madame defarge at January 30, 2006 08:12 PM
That's debatable... but I'm sure we'd lose that vote too.
http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_01_29_firedoglake_archive.html#113867195405228177