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William Rivers Pitt: Do Fear the Reapers
While karen's down in Mobile dancing for peace where the ragman draws circles up and down the block, Americans everywhere are shouting out their windows that they're mad as hell and they're not going to take it anymore. William Rivers Pitt recently summed up both the dammed-up hope and the the pent-up rage that Americans are feeling so brilliantly in this Truthout essay that we felt it worth reposting at length as today's thread header here. Pitt's use of his friend Dan's small but serious gesture as a metaphor for what needs to be done and his description of the single thing that still unites our intensely fragmented American society are examples of political writing at its best, as is his echoing of a powerful quote by another one of America's great activists, Frederick Douglass:
"When men sow the wind it is rational to expect that they will reap the whirlwind."
A Time to Reap
by William Rivers PittMy friend Dan was on his way home the other day, and found an American flag crumpled in a gutter outside his apartment building. The flag, perhaps as big as the cover of a book, had been used as a decoration for some pre-Fourth of July party, but afterwards was merely thrown aside like litter for the street-sweepers to collect.
Dan gathered it up, smoothed the creases, and hung it from a nearby railing. The motivation for his actions was hard for him to explain, but it came down to this: Everything else in America is so screwed up, but this American thing before him would not be defiled within reach of his arm. My friend, surrounded by the chaos of a flailing nation and filled with the need to act, found some solace in the rescue of that flag.
He is not alone in his sentiments, not alone in his desire to make things right again within reach of his arm.
There is something happening today in America. With the right kind of ears, you can hear it in the sound of millions of brows slowly furrowing in anger and disgust. It feels like those tense moments just before the eruption of a summer thunderstorm, those moments when the air is electric, the ozone reek of spent lightning fills the world, and you know something very loud is about to happen.
What is happening, what can be heard and smelled and sensed all across the land, is the cresting wave of rage, betrayal and fury that is, finally, roaring across the shores of our collective American heart. After more than six years of lies, theft, graft, corruption, manipulation and misconduct, just about every living person within these borders finds themselves today gripped by the slow seethe, directed inward as much as outward, of one who has come around to see just how much of a fool they've been played for.
[...]
Americans are realizing that their faith and trust in the workings of the republic have been deliberately undermined, and the simple ability to feel good about their nation has been stolen away. Faith in the constructs of our democracy has turned to gall for the citizen who perceives now the magnitude of this theft. When joined in this by another citizen and another and another again, when the unrest of the one becomes a massed and overwhelming majority, those responsible should rightly tremble before the looming possibilities of what may come to be unleashed.
Most Americans, at bottom, have very little in common with one another. We are a collection of races, creeds, colors, faiths, schools of training and the generational freight of inherited bias and belief. We are separated by region, by upbringing, by the economics of class, by that which we know, that which we have forgotten and by that which we choose to ignore. The distances between us are at the center of our American experience, a rift that would be terminal if we ever lose our core linkage, the thing we all have in common as Americans.
We are from everywhere, with beliefs in everything, and the roots of our national unity can only be found in the weaving of our beginnings. All we have in common, across the broad span of this gathered multitude, are the documented dreams inked onto our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, the Declaration that announced us and the laws that have flown outward since. All we have in common is our faith in that link, in the ideas that created it. That's it. That's the one true bond between us, one both strong and fragile in equal measure.
That is the missing thing people have come to sense, the stolen thing which summons the storm. Partisan sensibilities and the your-team/my-team nonsense of modern politics is being replaced by the broad belief that we have all been screwed, that what is most important has been discarded by those in power. The poll numbers charting low approval for Bush and the GOP are matched by similarly low numbers approving of the new Democratic majority in congress. The former bears most of the responsibility for what has happened, as far as the citizenry is concerned, but the latter's failure to stop or reverse the trend is equally shameful.
The seeds of this Becoming have been planted, and have grown, and the time has come to reap.
[...]
The American people are tired of waiting, tired of revealed wrongs continuing without consequence or punishment, tired of anticipation. This frustration smells of ozone, and feels electric, and means something very loud is indeed about to happen.
This new Democratic Congressional majority is not new anymore, and it knows what it needs to know, and the time has come to reap. Potential must become actual, actions must have consequences, and our faith in each other and what binds us together must be restored. Enough of talk. The subpoenas must be sent, the oaths must be required, the truths must be told, and the consequences of betrayals must be felt.
This new Republican Congressional minority is not new anymore either, and it knows what it has done, and it must join in the reaping. Matters have progressed beyond the pettiness of parties, because the problems before us can no longer be deflected with spin and blather. Enough of talk. The subpoenas must be welcomed, the oaths required, the truth embraced, and the consequences suffered.
My friend Dan did a small thing the other day. He made sure one small bit of America was right and proper and respected, because it was something he could do within reach of his arm. The Democrats in Congress must do likewise, must reach out their right arm, must make change with their long reach instead of merely promising change; they must do this now. Something is happening today in America, and it involves each and every one of us, and it is going to get very loud if matters continue as they have been.
It is time to reap.
Good morning Rick. Thanks for posting William Pitt's article.
I agree with what he has said. I have been saying it for at least a month now. I sense the rage beneath the surface. The rage at the gas pumps. The clerks at the store who make minimum wage and still face the front line of our anger and frustration at being squeezed out of eating and driving and working!!!
I know the Republicans with whom I speak are ashamed right now. They have no idea what has become of their party. And even my in-laws who still support the mafia-pResident and his cohorts in crime seem to be confused about what they should do since they see their families struggles deepening as a result of the decisions made by their political side--and yet they seem to be unable to admit that their 'side' is corrupt, slimy, and evil!!! They've always thought and pushed that meme onto those awful 'liberals' like my sister. But now, they're stuck in neutral on a moving train; and they can't seem to recognise that it was their own bigotry and narrow-minded thinking that has allowed this to happen.
While I was a former Republican/ Independent/ Democratic person who was not as 'liberal' as my sister (read extreme into liberal), today I find myself in agreement with my liberal sister on just about everything!!!
After 9-11 my sister was out protesting the war. She was out protesting the Patriot Act. She was talking about habeas corpus and so on, while I was more like your average Joe who just naively thought that our President wouldn't send us to war for no reason and wouldn't abuse the Patriot Act.
I was suckered!
But the people who still voted for Bush in 04 now feel even more suckered than I do. Because now they are just beginning to understand that everything we were saying in 04 about the spying, the lies, the corruption is true. They now admit the election was likely stolen. (I guess all you early protesters get the biggest "Told you so!!!")
At any rate, for a long time, I've wanted to call this lady who sent me an anti-Kerry email in 04 and was also buying into the SBV lies (former military herself), and whom I returned a letter to her with enough 'truths' in it that I surely "pulled the skin off her eyes'. I've wanted to ask her, "What do you think now? Do you wish you'd have followed the links I sent you in 04? Do you wish you'd have paid more attention to the HOW the war was being handled rather than the SBV raising the issue of Vietnam protests?" But I don't make that call.
I have to admit...I suspect she may be one of the new ones with a belly full of rage.
DCP,
After all the usual conversations here in Mobile, and in agreement with sparrow, above, it is time for us to do something more concerted. At least, I think so.
Remember the Five Minutes a Day for Democracy?
The sense of rage and disempowerment that is rampant right now is worthy of consideration. It is very difficult to bring people into the level of conversation and awareness that the regular posters on this blog have.
Last night several folks said to me, "I just don't know what to do." I told them that they have to call their Members. Every day. And get 299 friends to do the same.
They said, "I don't know what to say, if I call."
We have been there. But no one here does NOT know what to say if we call.
So let's get back to that Five Minutes a Day thing. And instead of simply posting it here, let's each of us develop a distribution list of 100 people who agree to forward the action immediately to 50 people each. And so on.
If we do this in a disciplined way, we can make a difference.
Who would be interested in this action?
Posted by: not my president at June 23, 2007 12:20 AM
NMP, TSP, Ally...
Back to the sex talk again...
The religious people with whom I homeschooled were not 'against sex'. ***(see note at bottom) They were against pre-marital sex and/or promiscuity. They believe that sex was special and should be for those who loved each other and sex was for intimacy.
They taught the boys the same as what they taught their girls.
They taught their boys to respect the girls in the group. There was no sexual harrassment like there is in traditional school settings. They taught their boys that sex is intimacy and you don't just 'love em and leave em'.
They taught girls to respect themselves and to respect and 'help the boys respect them' by dressing modestly. (Keep in mind that during the time that I was homeschooling with them, Britney had made the looooooooow hip huggers and the miniscule tops the rage. Heck...I heard comedians even joke about the fact that guys should at least get to know the girl's name before they get so close to her 'private parts'.)
When I say "They" with regards to the homeschoolers, you can also assume that I agreed with them on this issue and that I still do.
I do still believe that it's not about repressing sexuality or limiting women.
I do agree with nmp that society has allowed the paternalism and the strong male sex ideology to encourage violence against women. And also that by weakening the women (and her sexuality), it forces women to be passive against the violence.
***By way of explanation--These were people in the homeschooling group. We met with them for classes and social time about 2 x per week. For some of them, they lived within 10 minutes of each other's homes so they actually had 'recess' together! ****
Karen,
I would! In fact, I've been doing the '5 minutes a day' for the last two weeks by calling at least 3 members and Speaker Pelosi each day. Well, since my house Rep is a card carrying Bushie, I've exchanged his number for one of the 'so called Republicans distancing themselves from Bush' and have been telling that member that it looks like politics to me. I tell him that he doesn't get my vote next time unless he co-signs Kucinich's impeachment bill.
When I talk to people at the store and gas station, I give them the number at the Capital. If I'm not in a hurry, and if they're not the employee, I will spend more time helping them make that call. (The employees generally may talk but can't do anything like that at work. But...2 years ago...talking politics was really touchy. Today, I'm finding lots more people in this choir even if they don't know all the facts.)
So it's not really a strict list I have going. I also have no follow up. But what I'm trying to do is at least get the number out there.
Could these imperial bastids *be* any more arrogant?
--------------
WASHINGTON — The White House said Friday that, like Vice President Dick Cheney's office, President Bush's office is not allowing an independent federal watchdog to oversee its handling of classified national security information.
An executive order that Bush issued in March 2003 -— amending an existing order —- requires all government agencies that are part of the executive branch to submit to oversight. Although it doesn't specifically say so, Bush's order was not meant to apply to the vice president's office or the president's office, a White House spokesman said.
[snip]
More here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cheney23jun23,0,863839.story
See also:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201809.html
---------------
Oh, yeah, it's definitely reaping time. Impeach, dammit, impeach!
shrubiana delenda est,
Otter
"The only answer is rigged elections in more states than we know about."
Did yall see what I posted yesterday about elections commissioners in Louisians from Coushatta?
I will split a hair here and say we thought, until yesterday, it was about rigging local elections, in Red River.
It wasn't.
It was about rigging the entire freaking state of Louisiana.
Woz, you know your statements about 'how we lived with it'...?
I will tell you how, we quit asking WHY?
Why? is useless when you don't know why. Why sets you up for a fall every time when you have no idea what it is about. Why nags at you and makes you afraid.
You never stop wondering WHY, but you will quit asking after long.
All of my life I have wondered about what happened in Coushatta and WHY.
What on earth could be so g*ddamned important to protect while letting killings, even serial killings, go unchecked...?
For the first time in my life, in this last week, I can now see WHY.
It was then, and is now about election fraud.
This was beautiful, Rick. Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention . Also, yes, that story about Cheney (Otter at June 23, 2007 09:05 AM) was chilling, and chillingly unsurprising. And also, Christy (Christy at June 23, 2007 09:10 AM+ 09:40 AM), it is about election fraud, which led to the "loss" of two fine presidential candidates in 2000 and 2004, and is as dangerous a threat to our democracy as it ever was. And it's also about commitment to making it right. (If there were more people like Karen, our country would not be in the fix it's in!)
"And it's also about commitment to making it right."
It is kinda hard to commit to that when you are allergic to shotgun blasts to the face.
Christy: whatever you do, don't go hunting with Cheney.
Kos5678, Skeptica, and TSP,
Here is a project that might interest you. It's called "Mapping Faith"
http://faithinpubliclife.org/map/index.html
via Street Prophets
http://www.streetprophets.com/storyonly/2007/6/21/23351/6600
Let me add this to that list, sparrow:
http://www.instituteforprogressivechristianity.org/crossleft/
"it is about election fraud, which led to the "loss" of two fine presidential candidates in 2000 and 2004,"
It goes back even further than that.
Ever wonder about Jack Ruby, the 'mafia guy'....?
Have you ever heard anyone correctly identify EXACTLY which cartel he was part of?
Ever wondered how some chick on the side of the road in Louisiana knew that they were going to 'kill Kennedy' right before they...killed Kennedy?
Ever wonder where georgie got his coke from?
Secret Service: Retired Bush will be 'high value terrorist target'
CNN reported Thursday that the Secret Service expects President Bush to be "a high value terrorist target after he leaves office." They then showed the Secret Service practicing to deal with everything from James Bond-style stealth weapons to roadside IED's in order to meet that challenge.
Retired agent Terry Samway told CNN, "We have the mandate to make sure that whatever they did during their presidency, they are still safe from any of those lingering issues after their presidency."
Even before 9/11, the cost of protection for former presidents was estimated as $24 million a year, and Bush will be guarded by an unprecedented 103 full-time agents starting in January 2009. However, a 1997 law limits the duration of Secret Service protection for former presidents to just 10 years.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Secret_Service_Retired_Bush_will_be_0621.html
Meanwhile, our soldiers in Iraq lack proper body armor...
"We have the mandate to make sure that whatever they did during their presidency, they are still safe from any of those lingering issues after their presidency."
Um, yeah, that's what presidential pardons are for, too...
*fnord*
Off this weekend to cover the dueling Pride parades - one group wants to go "mainstream" and take it "off the hill" (out of the "gay ghetto"). I'll see what I think. I notice Congressman McDermott is parade marshall today and the Dykes on Bikes are leading. They are my favorite and I loved it the year the people who are supposed to be keeping order said, "Oh no, the dykes are out of control!" They were riding their motorcycles in places other than the strict parade route. What delicious freedom! The weather could be sunnier but the day is still young. I do love summer here - it is nothing but festivals and parties (except when I'm working) and every one has progressive politics along with local color.
Five Minutes a Day for Democracy? That would be fine, but I seldom send the exact same thing to my entire email list - it's always tailored to the persons as individuals. & I think it's good to spend at least 30-60 Minutes a Day for Democracy, at a minimum. There is the multiplicative effect. I think we are already doing alot of sending and receiving of emails, belonging to of lists, forwarding of emails, donations, blogging, volunteering, media watching, recycling, documentary attending, meeting going, peace marching, educating, preaching outside the choir and so on - but using this website in a more directed manner more frequently seems like a good addition.
Thanks also for posting the WR Pitt article. He isn't always so lucid, as judged by some of the stuff he's posted at DU, but this is good.
Check out blog and its archives - talk about a man who covers a lot of turf!!
http://www.free--expression.blogspot.com/
http://free--expression.blogspot.com
(the previous wouldn't open - maybe the strange bracket mark at the end?)
Sample of recent content:
Links to all of the following
Chomsky and Herman on "20 Years of the Propaganda ...
Audio of Q&A from the recent U Windsor conference...
Marlon Brando, Last Tango in Paris, "Paul's Eulogy...
Amazing acting.
Finkelstein on Tenure Denial
On (gasp!) Al-Jazeera...
Michael Moore on Kucinich's Plan and Stance on HR ...
Moore endorses Conyers/Kucinich plan
All You Need to Know about American Society -- Geo...
Classic Carlin
HMO Whisteblower Dr. Linda Peeno on the Subordinat...
From Democracy Now! -- a brave woman.
Lewis Lapham film: The American Ruling Class
Looks very interesting...a docu-musical-drama.
Sy Hersh on Democracy Now! -- More on "The General...
Discussing his latest piece (see below)
"Revisiting NAFTA," Economic Policy Institute
Another view of free (sic) trade.
Palast on Randi Rhodes Discussing Vulture Funds, G...
Greg Palast, on a roll.
Greg Palast, "The Tears of a Clone"
Ditto.
An Hour with Michael Moore on SiCKO
Self-explanatory; from DN!
Uri Averny, "Crocodile Tears"
Israeli commentator on the occupied territories...
"Welcome to 'Palestine,'" Robert Fisk
British commentator on same
Norman Finkelstein Solidarity Campaign Blog
FYI
Sy Hersh, "The General's Report," The New Yorker
His latest piece, on Taguba.
(Not to worry, NMP, I fixed your broken link from your previous comment for you...)
Thanks Rick - you are great!
Posted by: madame defarge at June 23, 2007 10:29 AM
Interesting comments on that article...!!! Bwahahahahaha!!! As worded, the headline almost implies it would be 'safer' to leave him in office for the rest of his natural life. As noted by commenters, DimWit could be a domestic target, but has no value as the target of any international 'ter'rist' organization. The international 'ter'rist' organizations have gained more recruits while he's been in office, so they have every reason to keep him alive (thanks to Georgie's illegal invasion of Iraq, torture policies, etc.); out of office he's of no value to them whatsoever; he'll be ignored as the piece of $h*t he is, because the only thing that would happen if they took him out is that we'd party like it was Mardi Gras for a solid year in gratitude for his not existing to plague us any longer and their recruitment numbers would go down. I predict that in retirement he will be ignored and be left alone to clear brush on his little ranch to his heart's content, and the only thing that the SS will have to protect him from might be rattlesnakes.
Bush out of office... The only people who might want to talk with him are from Faux Snooze. If he moves to Paraguay or Dubai (neither of whom have an extradition treaty with us), how will the SS protect him there? I don't think they have any jurisdiction in those countries. Perhaps he and Chinkster will have to hire private mercenaries from Halliburton (or subsidiaries) or Blackwater to protect them, but I don't know the law about SS protection if ex-preznits move out of this country in retirement. On the whole, out of office the safest place for Georgie or Dickie will be in a maximum security facility (say, in one of the prisons Halliburton is building? at Gitmo?). Otherwise, except for any criminal proceedings (if anyone wakes up and does something about their war crimes), their itty bitty egos will be horribly crushed when no one wants to hear their opinions about how to run the world and start illegal wars....
If you were a secret service member, would you take a bullet for one of the two most hated men on this planet? Hmmmmm...?
Evil people have a unique ability to live to very old age while inflicting misery on everyone around them and most die peacefully from natural causes in their own beds. I predict that is just how the end will come for both Georgie and Dickie (but I'd prefer they die in prison where we all know they belong for the war crimes they've committed)....
Gitmo Panel Cooked Intel On Detainees: Army Officer
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/062307Z.shtml
An Army officer with a key role in the US military hearings at Guantanamo Bay says they relied on vague and incomplete intelligence and were pressured to declare detainees "enemy combatants," often without any specific evidence.
Halliburton Accused of Cooking Its Books
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/062307Y.shtml
Investors have shrugged off almost all the bad news at Halliburton Co. the past few years - accusations of overbilling the Army and bribing foreign officials, along with scrutiny over business dealings in Iran and non-compete bids on government work. The same investors might take notice, though, if Halliburton's financial statements were in doubt, and a former company accounting executive says they are.
If you accidently snort, say chlorine...
Is that like...overly dangerous?
Feel the burn, babe, feel the burn.
It no longer burns but it tastes like I drank clorox and I have lost my sense of smell.
Am I going to die?
A family member just told me " No, you are not going to die but you will have to face the fact you are retarded."
And they all wonder why I never come for holidays anymore.
Christy, you are just too darn funny sometimes!
"Enough of talk. The subpoenas must be sent, the oaths must be required, the truths must be told, and the consequences of betrayals must be felt."
Amen, Mr. Pitt, amen. From your lips to Her ears. And from all of ours to Hers, too, from all of us standing up together and shouting as one brave strong people in the name of all those strange and wonderful things about America that Shrub & Co. seem to think don't matter any more.
Impeach, dammit, IMPEACH.
Time for a LAUGH AT GEORGE BUSH" break.
Here is Will Ferrell doing another brilliant imitation of the leader of the free world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkqrI3IibYI
BTW this video clip has over a million and a half views:
Views: 1,690,914
|
Comments: 1514
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Favorited: 8571 times
Or, to steal a little dKos fire and put it a tad more delicately:
(¯`*._(¯`*._(-IMPEACH-)_.*´¯)_.*´¯)
"LAUGH AT GEORGE BUSH" second installment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1wogkDmLlQ
George Bush (Will Ferrell) talks to America about the global warming problem.
This video clip is quite popular too with almost 1.5 million views -
Views: 1,476,110
|
Comments: 1734
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Favorited: 5249 times
(¯`*._(¯`*._(-IMPEACH-)_.*´¯)_.*´¯)
Posted by: Otter at June 23, 2007 02:20 PM
@@@@@@@
Resolution # 333 in the House of Representatives calling for the impeachment of Dick Cheney. 8 Co=sponsors so far
The American people are tired of waiting, tired of revealed wrongs continuing without consequence or punishment, tired of anticipation. This frustration smells of ozone, and feels electric, and means something very loud is indeed about to happen.
@@@@@@@
The American people, then, need to do something other than complain to each other.
How about calling your Congressmember about impeachment
202-224-3121
Calling or writing Speaker Pelosi's office about impeachment;
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100
Contacting the House Judiciary Committee about impeachment
Address: 2138 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3951 Fax: (202) 225-7680
Website: http://judiciary.house.gov
SHOWDOWN BETWEEN WHITE HOUSE AND SENATE OVER SPYING
Bush, Senate Head for Showdown on Domestic Spying
Reuters
Thursday 21 June 2007
Washington - President George W. Bush headed toward a showdown with the Senate over his domestic spying program on Thursday after lawmakers approved subpoenas for documents the White House declared off-limits.
"The information the committee is requesting is highly classified and not information we can make available," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said in signaling a possible court fight.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the subpoenas in a 13-3 vote following 18 months of futile efforts to obtain documents related to Bush's contested justification for warrantless surveillance begun after the September 11 attacks.
Three Republicans joined 10 Democrats in voting to authorize the subpoenas, which may be issued within days.
"We are asking not for intimate operational details but for the legal justifications," said Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat. "We have been in the dark too long."
Authorization of the subpoenas set up another possible courtroom showdown between the White House and the Democratic-led Congress, which has vowed to unveil how the tight-lipped Republican administration operates.
Last week, congressional committees subpoenaed two of Bush's former aides in a separate investigation into the firing last year of nine of the 93 U.S. attorneys.
Please excuse the rambling, y'all, but I am listening to Bob Edwards' show on the local PBS station this afternoon, one of my favorite small pleasures, and Randy Newman's the featured artist today, and a few minutes ago he sang one of his songs that took on incredible significance for a lot of us after May 2005, and it reminded me to tell you, Christy, in case you never heard me say it before, that there's no way in hell I will ever let them wash you folks away, I may not live in Louisiana now but like many of us I still got roots there way too deep ever to shake loose, and there is just no way in *hell* that any of us are going to let them make you go away...
-------------
Louisiana, 1927
by Randy Newman
What has happened down here, is the winds have changed
Clouds rolled in from the north and it started to rain
It rained real hard, and it rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
The river rose all day, the river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood, some people got away alright
The river had busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away
Oh Louisiana, Louisiana
They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away
President Coolidge come down, in a railroad train
With his little fat man with a note pad in his hand,
President say "Little fat man, oh isn't it a shame,
What the river has done to this poor cracker's land"
Oh Louisiana, Louisiana
They're trying to wash us away, you're trying to wash us away
Oh Louisiana, oh Louisiana
They're trying to wash us away, oh Lord, they're trying to wash us away
They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away
--------------
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline, 1927... twelve feet of water in the streets of the Lower Ninth, 2005... different uncaring bastards in the White House both times, but the song remains the same...
Sins at home, crimes abroad, teflon politicians claiming non-executive privilege to fiddle while the modern-day equivalent of Rome burns down all around us, and we the sheeple are supposed to just sit here and take more and more of it every day?
Nope. Sorry. Too late, all ye fatcats and fuddy-duddies and greedheaded sycophantic psychopaths.
You've had way too long to sow already. Now it's time to reap.
I'm just sayin'.
you can have our country mr. president when you pry it from our cold dead fingers,
Otter
Look, I'm sorry if that sounded harsh. There's just been way too much bullspin piling up from the executive (or is it the not-executive?) branch piling up on top of the already big wet steaming heap this last week, and yr hmbl otr crspndnt is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.
That's just my own personal $.02, though. I speak for nobody but my personal self when I say that. Your Mileage May Vary.
you can have our country mr. president when you pry it from our cold dead fingers,
Otter
Posted by: Otter at June 23, 2007 02:59 PM
Amen Otter.
And God bless you.
I heard a family member the other day, perhaps she forgot who she was talking too or where exactly I live, but we were basically talking about 'people from Louisiana'.
She then used the words that made me turn ice cold. '...when those people won't even help themselves.'
I think she knew she had... badly blurted.. it, she tried going back but it was too late.
I asked her 'What people?'.
' Which people are NOT trying to help themselves?'
I made sure to mention that while georgie was trying to federalize the state of Louisiana Blanco and Nagin evacuated 99.9 % of New Orleabs and surrounding populations. The ones left behind were either extreamly poor or elderly with no where to go and no way to get there.
I reminded her what we know about Alines case, and how in the hell are people supposed to seek justice under such conditions?
People have been killed in large numbers, the intimidated outnumber the dead 1000 to 1. We all stand against it as much as we can but, not even I want to die for it.
Who WANTS to die to make it right? Cause whoever does make it 'right' will most likely die for it.
I love her, and I was trying very hard not to scream, and I didn't scream, but God I admit I wanted too.
'...when those people won't even help themselves.'
I do not think I can ever again hear that without becoming completely hostile.
So. Damn. Sick. Of. It.
Posted by: Christy at June 23, 2007 01:10 PM
Chlorine mixed with ammonia, IS a deadly gas, and it WILL kill you.
That's why people who use bleach in toilets should never urinate in the toilet while the chlorine is in the water, but should immediately flush the toilet when it's clean. It is toxic and deadly to mix chlorine and ammonia (and ammonia is in our urine).
I don't have toxic chemicals in my home for the simple reason I'm allergic to most of them. I use plain vinegar and baking soda to clean most things, including the toilet. All biodegradeable. And MUCH cheaper than the other stuff that can kill a person, or, at the very least, cause an asthma attack or other breathing problems and skin rashes.
Nonny,
I was never really in danger of my pee beng mixed with the chlorine, but since I do use bleach in my toilets, it is still good to know anyways.
I don't usually snort chlorine, but I had a very freaky pool incident, and saw it in time to close my eyes but forgot to stop breathing.
My Dr. Pepper still tastes like Dr Clorox.
Ick.
Posted by: Otter at June 23, 2007 03:01 PM
Not harsh at all, oh, dear furry and cuddly friend. You echo the same sentiments that have been rolling around in my brain since 2000, the first shock and awe moment of this mis-"administration."
Between your $.02 and my $.02 and the $.02 of everyone else, that's a lot of opinion - especially when one considers the same kinds of opinions are shared by every progressive blog I've ever read.
Hmmmm.... If every blogger or lurker contributed $.02 to one account, I wonder if we'd have enough to buy *our* country back from the greedy corporations who have taken over...? I'm a poor person by today's standards, but I'd up the ante to $.25 or even a bit more if a pool of money could buy *our* country back from the corporations.
I'm rather fond of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the Geneva Conventions, and other relevant documents and the good things this country once believed in and stood for, things my ancestors fought for, and at least one died for (and everything in those documents is easily understood because the language is simply elegant and elegantly simple).
In my pretty rosy daydreams, I'd like to see all the bad laws (and idiotic signing statements and executive orders) enacted since the boneheaded SCOTUS decision of December 2000 repealed and then try to move forward from there. We need to go backward and fix what's been broken to bits before we can logically move forward and get past these hellish nightmare years.
That's why Will Pitt's column is so relevant. I've been aware of the "tenseness" of people from reading this and other blogs and there is a SEETHING discontent, even rage, rumbling below the surface that reminds me of when Mt. St. Helen's blew her top. (I was living out west then, downwind of the eruption, and ash fell on us for days!)
I've a feeling that if we had a strong Congressional "leadership" that could focus that Nemesis-like righteous anger, the whole country would unite behind him/her/them and we could throw the criminal usurpers out of *our* White House on their arses... er, make that frog-march them out of *our* White House in handcuffs like the criminals *WE THE PEOPLE* know they are. (Then we'd have to clean the whole place out, fumigate it, sweep it for spy-bugs, and then it might be safe for the next occupant.)
Harsh? I think not. Focused white-hot rage can be cathartic and transformative, like high-firing clay to make exquisite works of art.
We've endured the evil the criminal cabal "leading" thi country long enough. I'd be glued to C-SPAN on my computer if I could watch an impeachment process happen in the House or Senate. Heck, to watch that, I'd pay for cable to get C-SPAN and tape the whole thing.... 'Interfere' with any other legislative action in the House or Senate for impeachment proceedings? GLADLY, with applause and kudos!!! ANYTHING to get rid of the evil that's plagued us all these years!!! We'd all be better off for it in the long run. If our Congress Critters want their poll ratings to soar, all they have to do is start the impeachment process: Dickie first (since everyone is afraid of being stuck with him if Georgie were impeached), and then follow up with Georgie in short order.
The big question is: What's taking Congress Critters so long? WE all know the long list of Georgie's and Dickie's crimes already, have their crimes memorized, even....
(¯`*._(¯`*._(-IMPEACH-)_.*´¯)_.*´¯)
Democrats plan to cut Cheney out of executive funding bill
Following Vice President Dick Cheney's assertion that his office is not a part of the executive branch of the US government, Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) plans to introduce an amendment to the the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill to cut funding for Cheney's office.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Democrats_plan_to_cut_Cheney_out_0623.html
HAHAHA!
AHHHHHH HAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHA!
OMFG HAHAHAHAHA!
That is beautiful.
"On Thursday, Emanuel suggested that if Cheney feels his office is not part of the executive branch "he should return the salary the American taxpayers have been paying him since January 2001, and move out of the home for which they are footing the bill."
HeHeHeHeHe!!
Back from one of the parades, lunch with some new friends from Boston who treated me, and I met a cowboy from Wyoming who was coming out for the first time, and also spent time in the Wildrose beer garden. Ally will know about that. My ears are still ringing from the motorcycles and my head is spinning a little but I should still be able to upload photos. I'm not going to self-promote my blog but you'll be welcome to look if interested.
And you'll be welcome to write a post w/ pics here if interested, too... :0)
Christy,
A few years ago I read a book written mob Don Sam Giancana's brother and nephew, Sam and Chuck Giancana. The name of it is "Doublecross".
I started it one evening as the sun went down and couldn't put the freakin' thing down until I finished that dawn.
Sam and Chuck claim that they know the entire story of the why's and hows of the Kennedy assassination, and murder of Marilyn Monroe and many, many other people who "knew".
From what I remember, one of the relatives was in hiding like in a witness protection program, and he even tells of a reporter who went in to Oswald's cell before he was shot and came out and said "I have a story that will blow the top off this country." According to that relative, that same reporter never made it home that night, her car "went out of control" on the way home.
I don't know if any of it is true or legit, but it sure was interesting.
Supposedly now the Don Sam Giancana's daughter is upset because she didn't get the inheritance she thought she should have, so she also has written a book exposing what she knows.
I found they are all still available through Amazon.com
I'm just sayin' it was interesting.
http://tinyurl.com/3e5nsy
Posted by: Christy at June 23, 2007 04:57 PM
Christy -
That story (and comments from some people on that story on that web site) made my day!!! Thanks!!!
:-)
Please check out Ellen of the Tenth today about what an idiot we have representing us in IL-10...
Mark Kirk's Big Idea to Solve the Immigration Problem
http://ellenofthetenth.blogspot.com/2007/06/what-does-kirks-idea-for-mexico-mean.html
Make sure you read the comments too. There's some good stuff in there...
Otter and Sparrow,
Please check your emails. Thank you.
HAHAHA!
AHHHHHH HAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHA!
OMFG HAHAHAHAHA!
That is beautiful.
Posted by: Christy at June 23, 2007 04:57 PM
@@@@@
I would remove Cheney's Secret Service protection (executive branch).
His access to all government agencies - including CIA, Defense department and state department.
Revoke his security clearance for access to classified documents.
Air Force 2 should be grounded!!!! LOL
The big question is: What's taking Congress Critters so long? WE all know the long list of Georgie's and Dickie's crimes already, have their crimes memorized, even....
(¯`*._(¯`*._(-IMPEACH-)_.*´¯)_.*´¯)
Posted by: NonnyO at June 23, 2007 04:44 PM
@@@@@@@
When they start hearing from their constituents about impeachment. Right now they are hearing a lot more about immigration reform from their districts than they are hearing about impeachment.
I would recommend calling C-Span to get coverage of the impeach Cheney and Bush movements. They have covered impeachment before in some limited segments - forums, book talks etc...
You can call their general switchboard and leave suggestions
Main Number: (202) 737-3220
or try to fit impeachment into a comment on the particular featured subject:
Washington Journal: Support Democrats (202) 737-0002
Washington Journal: Support Pres. Bush (202) 737-0001
(this is damn near impossible - Washington Journal - I have gotten on WJ once and this was through repeated calling for about 45 minutes straight)
Posted by: madame defarge at June 23, 2007 06:32 PM
That is just plain old racist.
At least you had a great Democratic challenger, and he will run again next year. That's more than I can ever say about my own district!
Posted by: sparrow at June 23, 2007 08:44 AM
Good points, sparrow. You are very eloquent here.
Your points are also the precise reason why I called sexuality a gift with *many responsibilities*.
The "abstinence until marriage" concept, however, fails, as long as the W cabal (1) wants to ban gay marriage altogether, and (2) wants to ensure that someone like me will NOT be able to marry anyone, male or female.
Am I supposed to give up sex altogether? Just a question I must throw.
http://www.theage.com.au/
Resilient Afghanistan
Scroll down to the World News section and click on the photo of the Afghani girl/woman. A few short video clips. A woman training for her running event in Beijing next year. People returning to their homeland. Some stills also.
Ellen has put up a diary about Kirk's condoms. Please feel free to recommend & comment on it to help us get national visibility on what a moron & hypocrite we have for a representative. Thanks.
Mark Kirk's Big Idea on Immigration
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/23/203438/823
fwiw, there's a new thread now.
About no sex before marriage - some people aren't ever going to marry, others would like to but aren't allowed to, and I see nothing wrong with sex before marriage, in fact I would think it would be optimum - ah well - to each his/her/their own. My son did have a good sex education background and was taught to use condoms and to respect girls and women and did and does. I would hate to think some people would get married partly so they could experience sex. Maybe I'm just old fashioned but I really do like to listen to Al Green and Marvin Gaye - let's get it on ..