You go get him, homeboy

(Al Franken grew up about a mile away from me.)

I hope he wipes up the floor with Coleman. This is going to be good, folks.



Franken tells DFLers he's running for Senate
By Rob Hotakainen, Star Tribune

WASHINGTON - Comedian and radio talk show host Al Franken has begun calling Democratic members of Congress and prominent DFLers to tell them he will definitely challenge Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in 2008, the Star Tribune has learned.

On Monday, Franken announced that he was quitting his radio show on Feb. 14, and he told his audience that they'd be the first to know of his decision. But Franken has been working the phones in recent days, telling his political friends he's ready to declare his candidacy.

The Star Tribune confirmed today that Franken made calls to at least two members of the Minnesota congressional delegation in Washington to break the news. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity, not wanting to pre-empt Franken's announcement.

"From his voice to my ears, he's running," said one House member, who relayed the remark via his press secretary.

"I can tell you we got one of those calls," said a top-ranked aide for another House member.
One long-time DFL House member said she was happy to receive a call from Franken: "He said he's in and he just wanted to let me know."

Franken declined to be interviewed.

"He's not going to comment on his private conversations," said Andy Barr, his spokesman. But he added that Franken has "made no secret" of his interest in Coleman's seat.

No other Democrats have announced plans to challenge Coleman, who's expected to be among the most vulnerable GOP incumbents next year.

Franken, who grew up in St. Louis Park, achieved fame in New York as a comedy writer for NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live" and went on to become a best-selling author. He moved his radio show to Minneapolis last year and has become increasingly active in Minnesota and national politics.

His Midwest Values political action committee raised more than $1.1 million and he distributed checks of $10,000 each last year to Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Claire McKaskill of Missouri and Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and he gave smaller amounts to dozens of other national and state candidates.

Coleman has had little to say about Franken, but in an interview last year he said he expected him to be "a very strong voice for the far left" and a strong fundraiser. Republicans will try to exploit Franken's ties to Hollywood: Contributors to his political action committee included Barbra Streisand, Phil Donahue, Larry Hagman and Norman Lear from the entertainment industry, former Minnesota Gov. Wendell Anderson and Minneapolis attorney Sam Kaplan.
That list of contributors prompted Coleman to say that Franken "obviously has a sense of humor" by calling his PAC Midwest Values.

"Hollywood values aren't Midwest," Coleman said, "and the money isn't Midwest."

Franken expects his years in New York to be an issue in the campaign but has had a ready line as he promotes himself to Minnesota audiences: "If I do run against Norm Coleman in `08, I'll be the only New York Jew in the race who actually grew up in Minnesota."

Coleman grew up in New York and moved to Minnesota as an adult.

Under pressure

Being a slacker was easier.

I'm in week 4 of school, and the pressure is on.

I'm trying to learn a massive program (Photoshop) on a computer that I have no experience with (Mac), in a very short span of time (3 months.)

Before class, I told the instructor that this isn't easy for someone who hasn't been to school in 23 years. I told him that I'm struggling and I might need extra help. By the end of class, he made it a point to tell me that I'm right where I'm supposed to be, and I'm doing fine. While that was nice to hear, I still walked out of there with major anxieties. I tend to fold under stress, but I'm hanging in there.

I'm sorry if I'm not commenting on everyone's blogs right now. Some things may fall by the wayside while I have my freak-out. Rest assured, I'm reading every one of your posts.

In the meantime, I will still watch Olbermann and Jon Stewart every night, but as far as other TV news goes, if the subject isn't blocking the troop escalation or the impeachment of GWB, I don't want to hear it...at least for today.

When all else fails...

When you're completely frustrated with world events, what can you do? Post some cute pics of your dogs on your blog.

This is Stella & Norman on the way to the French Bulldog Meet-up group last weekend.


When we got there, Norman found the first submissive Frenchie he could bully. It's a French Bulldog thing.

Wellstone turns 2 today. He can speak about 40 words now. I'm still trying to teach him "Impeach Bush."

"the hunter will sin for your ivory skin" (Bono)

U2 - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses


After importing my CD collection into iTunes, I've been going back to some of the stuff I used to listen to in the 70's & 80's.

When this song came out in '91, I didn't pay much attention to it, but it's been getting to me lately. It's strange how some things can make their way back into your life.

Anyway, I thought it was time to cleanse the pallet from politics for a moment. I'm sure I'll be right back at it in no time.

The last honest Republican

Chuck Hagel comments on Iraq resolution: 01.24.07

(This gets especially good at the 2:05 mark.)

Forget McCain, this should be their guy.

Of course I would never vote for him, not only because he's a Republican, but because of his voting record. However, I do appreciate his courage on this matter.

America: Freedom To Fascism (2nd post)

America: Freedom To Fascism - Trailer


Brian's comment on my last post inspired me to post the trailer for this film, and to strongly urge everyone in America to see it.

To order the DVD:
Aaron Russo's America: Freedom To Fascism or here

YouTube also has clips, as well as the whole film, on their site.

This stuff is almost too horrible to comprehend, but it's real. To learn how far down the rabbit hole this really goes, check out this site:

Alex Jones' Infowars.com

America - freedom to fascism, indeed.

Hillary for President? by Cindy Sheehan

(I was hesitant to post this due to it's harshness, but she deserves to be heard.)


SEN. HILLARY CLINTON IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

13 people killed in a helicopter crash today in Iraq. Two other soldiers and one marine also killed.

16 people dead in the last two days in a war that the Senator has supported since she first voted “yea” to give Bloody George carte-blanche to invade Iraq and her continuing support via her “yea” votes on giving the war-addict in the White House the key to the treasury.

Soon after Camp Casey in August, 05, I was meeting with some Hollywood people who pretended that they supported me, but really were big money donors and supporters of Hillary. I was told that the Senator was really against the war, but she was waiting for the politically correct time to come out against it. I was told that she was the best hope for the Democrats in 2008, and I should give her a break.

I don’t know who Mr. and Mrs. Hollywood and Mr. Hollywood Got Rocks thought that they were talking to. My son was used as a "soldier of Christ" in BushCo’s crusade against the world and a political pawn in such pro-war Democrat’s moves to the White House. I was disgusted and noted this in many blogs that I wrote at the time.

I supported the candidate for Senate in New York that ran a very courageous, anti-war race against Clinton: Jonathan Tasini.. CODEPINK New York did amazing work dogging the Senator and her supporters everywhere that she went and outing the fact that she is a Republican in Democratic clothing. Unfortunately, the people of New York spoke and Clinton, the pro-war candidate beat out Jonathan. The conservative area that she and President Clinton moved their carpet bags to after their presidency was over had a major impact on the last elections.

I, my sister, Dede, and another Gold Star Mother, Lynn Braddach, whose son, Travis Nall was killed in Iraq in 2003, met with Sen. Clinton in DC in September of 2005. We poured our hearts and souls out to her. We cried as we told her of our sons and our fear for the people of Iraq and the escalating body count of our brave young people. She sat there stone-faced and walked out and told Sarah Ferguson, of the Village Voice, "My bottom line is that I don't want their sons to die in vain.... I don't believe it's smart to set a date for withdrawal.... I don't think it's the right time to withdraw." She may as well have slapped us in the face using Bloody George’s line and using our son’s sacrifice to justify her war-mongering.

On Thursday, January 18th, Senator Clinton introduced a meaningless bill to put a cap on the number of soldiers that can be in Iraq set at January 1st levels. It is as weak and meaningless as the non-binding resolution and a politically safe move, since almost ¾’s of the country oppose the war and oppose Bloody George. When she introduced her Senate bill last Thursday, over 1000 of our young people have come home in body bags and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis have died while she was waiting for the best political time to be semi-against the war. How many of our troops are lying in Walter Reed with devastating injuries that could have been prevented if a Senate leader like Clinton would have taken a moral, instead of political stance?

This occupation of Iraq can’t be won by being smarter---it was lost before we went in. The US, again, were big losers in a capricious military expedition with the support of Senator Clinton. She is an amazingly brilliant person and she cannot say that she was fooled, or lied to by George. We, the American public can be brilliant to, and we can’t buy that baloney.

In 2005, I was dying to support Hillary for president: finally a bright woman with experience. However, she is a champion fence sitter and politically heartless.

I, again, affirm my commitment to peace. I don’t care if it is a man or a woman; Democrat or Republican; white or black; Christian, Jew or otherwise. I will only support a candidate who is courageously and uncompromisingly committed to peace.

Hillary Clinton is not that person. She never will be. History speaks louder than words.


Cindy Sheehan


Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Spc. Casey Sheehan who was killed in Bush's war of terror on 04/04/04. She is the co-founder and president of Gold Star Families for Peace and the Camp Casey Peace Institute. She is the author of three books, the most recent is: Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey Through Heartache to Activism.

The question of experience put to rest

Obama 2008

Well, there it is...

Hillary Clinton: 'I'm in' 2008 White House race



10:59 a.m. EST, January 20, 2007
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton jumped into the fray as a 2008 presidential candidate with the words "I'm in" posted on her Web site.

"And I'm in to win," she added in a statement, announcing she has set up an exploratory committee that can gauge opinions and raise money for a presidential campaign.

From Lizzy:
I must admit, even though there was no doubt that she was going to run, I am disappointed. Hillary may be a smart, good woman, but I don't want her to be our candidate.

Someone that shapes her opinions by the polls, isn't for me. Someone that voted for the war, and has yet to say that her vote was a mistake (like Edwards), isn't for me. Someone that will lose, shouldn't run.

But, we must be careful, my fellow lefties. Hillary divides our party, and that cannot be. We're finally coming together and we cannot let anything or anyone loosen the binds.

That being said, Hillary doesn't get a free pass from my rants, but I'll try to tone it down. Ultimately, if she's our candidate, she will have my support. However, in the meantime, I will do all I can to make sure Obama, Edwards, or maybe even Kucinich, is the one.

The catalog card not found anywhere

Catalog Card Generator

Thanks to Snave of Various Ecstasies for the link to the site where you can make one, too.

How'd I do?

How I feel about a "Non-Binding Resolution"

The Republican-drafted resolution declares “that the United States must complete ‘the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure and united Iraq’ without setting ‘an arbitrary date for the withdrawal or redeployment’ of U.S. troops,” as The Washington Post reports today. Further down in the story, we learn that “the votes will not bind the administration …” to action.

Translation: a non-binding resolution is a whole lot of nothing. Is this what we voted for last November? Is this really the best we can do? Definitely NOT.

Come on, Senators, show us what you've got...or you will pay the price in the next election cycle, too.

AMERICA: FREEDOM TO FASCISM

I think of myself as very well read when it comes our government and politics. I read the mainstream press, foreign news sites, as well as a lot of fringe news sources. I thought I was aware of most of what was going in the world, until I saw this film.



Tom & I's friend, Brian, came across the documentary, "America: Freedom To Fascism" while researching some other things on the web. I saw Brian and his girlfriend, Bekkah, after they watched the DVD and they seemed visibly upset by it. They brought the film over to the house so they could get my take on it. It had the same affect on me.

This is a documentary every American must see. It doesn't matter where you stand politically. This is for all of us. It's the scariest shit I've ever seen.

I will never look at what is happening in this country, and the world, through the same eyes again.

Film synopsis:
Determined to find the law that requires American citizens to pay income tax, producer Aaron Russo ("The Rose," "Trading Places") set out on a journey to find the evidence. This film which is neither left, nor right-wing is a startling examination of government. It exposes the systematic erosion of civil liberties in America since 1913 when the Federal Reserve system was fraudulently created. Through interviews with U.S. Congressmen, a former IRS Commissioner, former IRS and FBI agents and tax attorneys and authors, Russo connects the dots between money creation, federal income tax, and the national identity card which becomes law in May 2008. This ID card will use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips which are essentially homing devices used to track people. This film shows in great detail and undeniable facts that America is moving headlong into a fascist police state. Wake up!


Before anyone out there passes this film/filmmaker off as some kind of conspiracy-laden crap, let me just tell you that it isn't. The people he interviews in the film are the real deal.

From the film's website:

Are you aware by May of 2008 the law will require you to carry a national identification card?

Are you aware that there are plans being developed to have all Americans embedded with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) computer chip under their skin so they can be tracked wherever they go?

Are you aware the Supreme Court has ruled that the government has no authority to impose a direct unapportioned tax on the labor of the American people, and the 16th Amendment does not give the government that power?

Are you aware that computer voting machines can be rigged and there is no way to ensure that vote is counted? (Yes, that one I did know.)

This film could literally start a revolution, however it's primary objective is this:


Stop the polarization of America

Stop the domination of the Democratic and Republican parties over our political system

Shut down the Federal Reserve system

Return America's gold to Fort Knox and have it audited

Have Congress and the IRS, in a public forum, reveal the law that requires Americans to pay a direct, unapportioned tax on their labor.

Make computerized voting illegal in all 50 states

Keep the internet free and out of the control of large institutions

Rescind the law called the Real ID Act so Americans never have to carry a National ID Card

Make it illegal to implant RFID chips in human beings

Educate juries to the fact that they have the right to determine the law as well as the facts of a case

Educate juries to the fact that they are not obligated to follow the instructions of a judge

Stop Globalization because it is the path to a one world government

Protect our borders

Restore the environment

Put an end to the Patriot Act

Sign up millions of Americans so we can accomplish our objectives

To check out the trailer/website and order the DVD:

Aaron Russo's America: Freedom To Fascism

YouTube also has clips, as well as the whole film, on their site.

I would like to make copies and send them to you, my blogger friends, but I want to look into the legalities first. If you don't want to watch it online, or buy it, let me know, and I'll see what I can do.

You must see this film.

My call to the Speaker of the House

In a 60 minutes interview before the election, Nancy Pelosi made a pledge that if the Dems take control of Congress, they would not bring impeachment procedures against the President.

I know I'm not alone when I say this, but that blows.

I called Speaker Pelosi's office last Friday to leave a comment and was pleasantly surprised to find that I was able to talk to a real person, and not a message service. I stayed calm & professional and told the staffer that Ms. Pelosi needs to reconsider her position, especially now that Bush wants to send over 2100 more of our men & women into slaughter.

At the end of my comment, I asked her if other people had called and said the same thing. Her response was a definitive, "Yes."

If you'd like to call (or write), here's the info:

Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100

Use the power of the purse by Russ Feingold

Keeping our brave troops in Iraq indefinitely is having a devastating impact on our national security and military readiness.

That's why I have consistently advocated that we set a timetable to redeploy our troops from Iraq. But the president refuses to set a timetable, even though the American people soundly rejected his Iraq policy in November. Instead, the president has announced he wants to send approximately 20,000 more troops.

We should be redeploying our troops out of Iraq, not sending in more.

Conditions in Iraq are deteriorating, the strain on our military is increasing and the threats we face to our national security elsewhere in the world continue to grow. We can't afford to wait any longer. Congress must use its main power - the power of the purse - to put an end to our involvement in the war in Iraq.

Over the next several weeks, I am going to take a hard look at just how we should do that in my capacity as a member of the Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees, both of which will be holding hearings on Iraq.

As the president made clear Wednesday night, he has no intention of redeploying our troops from Iraq. Congress cannot continue to accept this. Congress can, by restricting funding for this misguided war, do what the president refuses to do - redeploy from Iraq to refocus on defeating global terrorist networks.

Some will claim that cutting off funding for the war would endanger our brave troops on the ground. Not true. The safety of our service men and women in Iraq is paramount, and we can and should end funding for the war without putting our troops in further danger.

Congress will continue to give our troops the resources and support they need, but by, for example, specifying a time after which funding for the war would end, it can give the president the time needed to redeploy troops safely from Iraq.

Our troops in Iraq have done their job professionally and heroically. But we cannot continue to send our nation's best into a war that was started - and is still maintained - on false pretenses. An indefinite presence of U.S. military personnel in Iraq will not fix that country's political problems. And sending more troops will not provide the stability that can only come from a political agreement.

Our country needs a new national security strategy that starts with a redeployment from Iraq so we can focus on the global threats to our national security that have only grown while this administration has been bogged down in that country.

We need to finish the job in Afghanistan and address threats to our security in Somalia and other weak or failed states that we have neglected for too long. We should scrap the failed diplomacy the administration has used to offend, push away and ultimately alienate so many of our friends and allies, while we also repair and infuse new capabilities and strength into our armed forces.

Keeping massive numbers of American troops in Iraq indefinitely is not the way to defeat global terrorist networks. We will continue to weaken, not strengthen, our national security by continuing to pour a disproportionate level of our military and intelligence and fiscal resources into Iraq.

In the November elections, the American people made it clear that they want our troops out of Iraq, and it is up to Congress to respond. Our top national security priority must be to defeat the global terrorist networks operating in countries around the world. With Wednesday's announcement that he seeks to escalate the Iraq war, the president made it clear that he will continue to shortchange that global fight and to ignore the will of the American people.

From the beginning, this war has been a mistake, and the policies that have carried it out have been a failure. Congress must not allow the president to continue or escalate a war that has already come at such a terrible cost.

It's time for Congress to use the power of the purse to end this devastating war and finally bring American troops out of Iraq.

Sincerely,
Russ Feingold
United States Senator
Honorary Chair, Progressive Patriots Fund

Dear Mr. President: Send Even MORE Troops (and you go, too!) ...from Michael Moore

Time Cover: July 12, 2004

Latest letter from Michael Moore:

1/10/07

Dear Mr. President,

Thanks for your address to the nation. It's good to know you still want to talk to us after how we behaved in November.

Listen, can I be frank? Sending in 20,000 more troops just ain't gonna do the job. That will only bring the troop level back up to what it was last year. And we were losing the war last year! We've already had over a million troops serve some time in Iraq since 2003. Another few thousand is simply not enough to find those weapons of mass destruction! Er, I mean... bringing those responsible for 9/11 to justice! Um, scratch that. Try this -- BRING DEMOCRACY TO THE MIDDLE EAST! YES!!!

You've got to show some courage, dude! You've got to win this one! C'mon, you got Saddam! You hung 'im high! I loved watching the video of that -- just like the old wild west! The bad guy wore black! The hangmen were as crazy as the hangee! Lynch mobs rule!!!

Look, I have to admit I feel very sorry for the predicament you're in. As Ricky Bobby said, "If you're not first, you're last." And you being humiliated in front of the whole world does NONE of us Americans any good.

Sir, listen to me. You have to send in MILLIONS of troops to Iraq, not thousands! The only way to lick this thing now is to flood Iraq with millions of us! I know that you're out of combat-ready soldiers -- so you have to look elsewhere! The only way you are going to beat a nation of 27 million -- Iraq -- is to send in at least 28 million! Here's how it would work:

The first 27 million Americans go in and kill one Iraqi each. That will quickly take care of any insurgency. The other one million of us will stay and rebuild the country. Simple.

Now, I know you're saying, where will I find 28 million Americans to go to Iraq? Here are some suggestions:

1. More than 62,000,000 Americans voted for you in the last election (the one that took place a year and half into a war we already knew we were losing). I am confident that at least a third of them would want to put their body where there vote was and sign up to volunteer. I know many of these people and, while we may disagree politically, I know that they don't believe someone else should have to go and fight their fight for them -- while they hide here in America.

2. Start a "Kill an Iraqi" Meet-Up group in cities across the country. I know this idea is so early-21st century, but I once went to a Lou Dobbs Meet-Up and, I swear, some of the best ideas happen after the third mojito. I'm sure you'll get another five million or so enlistees from this effort.

3. Send over all members of the mainstream media. After all, they were your collaborators in bringing us this war -- and many of them are already trained from having been "embedded!" If that doesn't bring the total to 28 million, then draft all viewers of the FOX News channel.

Mr. Bush, do not give up! Now is not the time to pull your punch! Don't be a weenie by sending in a few over-tired troops. Get your people behind you and YOU lead them in like a true commander in chief! Leave no conservative behind! Full speed ahead!

We promise to write. Go get 'em W!

Yours,
Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com
http://www.michaelmoore.com/

Here's something I never thought I'd say:

Norm Coleman, I'm proud of you.



From Senate floor, Coleman criticizes Bush plan for Iraq
FREDERIC J. FROMMER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Sen. Norm Coleman took to the Senate floor Wednesday to raise his objection to President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq, arguing that an escalation of U.S. forces isn't the answer to the violence in Iraq.

"A troop surge in Baghdad would put more American troops at risk to address a problem that is not a military problem," said Coleman, a Minnesota Republican and White House ally. "That will put American soldiers in the cross-hairs of sectarian violence, create more targets. I just don't believe this makes sense."

President Bush will deliver a prime-time speech Wednesday night, in which he is expected to announce he's sending 21,500 more Americans to Iraq. Coleman, who visited Iraq last month, has previously announced his opposition to this approach, but he elaborated in his Senate speech Wednesday.

Coleman said the U.S. is fighting two fronts in Iraq: against terrorists, and in the war between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

"Our military must continue the battle against extremists and terrorists, but we have no business being caught in the cross-fires of an Iraqi sectarian conflict," he said. "... The only long-term solution for bringing stability to Iraq must be centered on national reconciliation."

That's up to the Iraqi government, Coleman said.

"I refuse to put more American lives on the line in Baghdad without being assured that the Iraqis themselves are willing to do what they need to do to end the violence of Iraqi against Iraqi," he said. "If Iraq is to fulfill its role as a sovereign and democratic state, it must start acting like one."

An increase in troops ignores the conditions on the ground, said Coleman.

"My consultations with both military and Iraqi political leaders confirms that an increase of troops in areas plagued by sectarian violence will not solve the problem of sectarian hatred," he said.

Coleman stressed that the U.S. must succeed in Iraq.

"It is easy to lose sight of the fact that we are in Iraq as part of a global war on terror," he said.

"There is no question that Iraq has become the key battleground of this war. Failure cannot be an option in either the overall war on terror, or in Iraq."

A failed state in Iraq, Coleman said, would create a breeding ground for terrorists.

The White House had no immediate comment on Coleman's speech.

More evidence of tides turning

Blog friend, J. Marquis of Major Conflict fame, wrote a great post on the awakening of the American public. Here is more proof of his correct assessment:

"Broadcasting & Cable," a trade publication for the TV industry, reported that Fox News’ ratings are “dropping precipitously.”

Slackers at Fox News Channel, you’re on notice! Your boss is not pleased. Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes is on the warpath following his network’s recent ratings slump, and he won’t hesitate to clean house to turn things around.

So far during the second quarter, the No. 1 cable news channel’s primetime schedule has dropped 22% in its core 25-54 demo and 8% in total viewers. The first quarter was even worse. […]

Insiders say that, even though Fox News remains No. 1, Ailes is fuming over the complacency he senses among staffers.

Production values are slipping, and bookers aren’t competitive enough, relying too heavily on the same pool of faces and settling for authors or actors after they’ve already been on CNN or … gasp … MSNBC.

For that matter, as Singer added, MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann is “edging ever closer to Fox News’ big star, Bill O’Reilly, among the much-coveted 25-54 demographic.”

Consider this your morale boost for the day.

Say hello to my little friend

Ok, it's not so little. (I just felt like quoting Tony Montana.)

This is my first major purchase for school -- a 17" MacBook Pro.

Apple sure knows what they're doing. It's the most beautiful computer I've ever seen. Even their packaging and manuals are first rate.

I'm have a feeling that everything was designed, and written, by liberals. : )

Redeploying Our Troops Out of Iraq

Letter from Russ Feingold - U.S. Senator
Honorary Chair, Progressive Patriots Fund

According to the latest news reports, in the coming days the President will address the nation about his intentions regarding the situation in Iraq. While the President ought to set forth a timetable to redeploy our troops out of Iraq as soon as possible, all signs point to a repackaged version of "stay the course," possibly with an increased U.S. presence on the ground. That strategy simply doesn’t make sense. Our open-ended presence there only fuels the insurgency, and adding more troops with no end date in sight only adds more fuel to the fire.

Thanks to each and every one of you, starting today, Democrats now control Congress – and now is the time for us to lead. There is no higher foreign policy priority than making America safer and getting our nation back on track by redeploying our troops out of Iraq.

Co-Sponsor the Resolution to Redeploy Our Troops Out of Iraq

It has been almost two months since Americans went to the polls and rejected the President’s strategy in Iraq. Since then I've continued the fight we started in August 2005 when we were alone in demanding a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. Today, in this new Democratic Congress, I have introduced legislation that would require the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq within six months.

The administration has repeatedly ignored recommendations for a timely redeployment of our forces currently fighting in Iraq. But it's reckless to continue to devote so much of our resources to one nation while ignoring the growing threats we face elsewhere in the world. It is now time for Congress to work toward redeployment. I'm asking for citizen co-sponsors from all 50 states to join my call for redeployment.

I know the Progressive Patriots Community has always been by my side and I hope you’ll continue to work with me on this extremely important issue.

I will continue to work for a sensible foreign policy that refocuses our efforts from Iraq in order to continue the global fight against terrorist networks. Please co-sponsor my resolution to help send the message that we can't afford to wait any longer. It's time for Congress to take the necessary steps to fix our Iraq policy immediately.


Sincerely,

Russ

T-minus 45 minutes!

Hey Repubs, Paybacks a bitch

(I love this story. Go House Dems!!!)

From CNN:

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: As soon as Democrats -- House Democrats officially take control on Thursday, they will start debating the dizzying legislative agenda they promised in the first 100 hours of the new Congress, which translates in -- into two-and-a-half weeks of work.

Now, Democratic leadership aides say this will be the schedule. Thursday and Friday, they will pass measures perform -- performing -- or reforming, I should say, House lobbying and ethics rules. And we will get details on that tomorrow.

Now, next week, House Democrats will vote to implement outstanding 9/11 Commission recommendations, vote to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, lift federal funding limits on stem cell research, take up a measure intended to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for Medicare.

If you can follow all of this, then, next week, they are going to cut student loan rates -- that's their plan, at least -- in half, and also cut subsidies for oil companies.

Now, in order to get all of that passed, and fast, Democratic leadership aides say they will limit Republicans' ability to offer competing measures. Now, that's exactly the way Republicans ran the House for 12 years, shutting out Democrats on most key legislation. But Republicans are crying foul.

They're pointing to quote after quote from incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, promising open debate and room for opposition. And GOP leaders are even holding a press conference tomorrow to propose a set of what they call minority rights that Pelosi herself demanded before the election.

We're told some House Democrats were worried about looking and sounding hypocritical here, but the leadership decided that this is the only way to ensure their campaign promises are kept, and insist that, down the road, Republicans will have more rights

"..an underperforming, bon vivant scion of the "right kind," and sent him out amongst us

Latest letter to the editor of the East Hampton Star from my very wise & wonderful Uncle Richard:

Yesterday my wife and I went to the movies and saw "The Good Shepherd." After the movie, I wanted to refresh my memory about the history of the OSS, CIA and those who ran it and still run it.

What struck me most in the movie was when Joe Pesci, playing the role of a Mafia Chief, is approached by Matt Damon playing the role of the leader of the CIA effort in the "Bay of Pigs" fiasco, to ask for Mafia assistance in the US government's effort to overthrow Castro in Cuba. Pesci asks Damon to explain something he (Pesci) doesn't understand..." We Italians have our love of family, the Jews have their traditions, the Irish have their homeland, the blacks have their music, what do you guys have?" Damon answers "we have the US of A and you are all our guests!"

Wow! Is that true? I asked myself? So I went to the internet and researched for some answers and insight, and you know what? Matt Damon's quote was right on the money. Those people do, literally, have the country and they move us to do their bidding like chess pieces! WWI, maipulated; WWII manipulated; Vietnam manipulated and now Iraq, manipulated.

My reading just clarified and reinforced my latent feelings that America and its stated goals and hailed concepts of liberty and justice for all, has been hijacked by an elitist group of male, white, Protestant and pseudo-Protestant, rich, connected, Ivy League type "Real Americans", many with memberships in "Skull & Bones" and other like, closed, secret organizations. These same, linked and networked "Real Americans" sit on all of the major corporate boards, are known , and appointed to most of the key political positions in Washington, run for and are backed with oodles of dollars and elected to almost all of the positions of power, (assassinating or destroying those who defy the pattern or who may not follow it, (i.e., the Kennedys, Martin Luther King, Dukakis, Humphrey et al., ) they exercise inordinate power and control over our lives and, with great input into our national public policy and institutions, they spend their lives doing what they deem to be "what is best for the country and those who they allow to live in it" regardless of what the majority of the people think or want (hey, ain't Iraq just so?) using false fears, false rumors, coordinated press releases etc.

And our Universities? Our free press? our "fair and equal" TV?

Yale Univ. gave out a degree to an underperforming, bon vivant scion of the "right kind," and sent him out amongst us. A History major who knew no history, a furture World Leader who knew 0 about the world, a man whose own mother thought was a complete loser, who didn't know that Kim Jong-il is not Kim Jung II; who thinks Pyongyong is a a game played with paddles and a small white ball; who never knew that the Shiites and the Sunnis have major, violent differences, doesn't read, doesn't listen to wise advisors, never makes a mistake or admits to one and is generally scary when one thinks of the power and position he holds. And now he has violated the singular most important duty of an American President, to keep our people safe from harm and war unless there is absolutely no alternative"

Thanks Yale....you have put "Skull & Bones" alumni and their power, money and influence ahead of your duty to the country and your students and failed to maintain excellence in the field of education. Shame on you.

Now most of the foregoing is just speculation on my part, backed up by many disjointed but unassailable facts. Make of it what you will, but we may have started to wake up in 2006...hopefully we will continue to stand guard against the subtle subversion of this great country by "the end justifies the means" guys we have been following like sheep lo these many years.

Richard H.
East Hampton, NY