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

Happy New Year

Wishing family & friends all over the world a very happy & peaceful New Year.

I have a feeling that things will start to get better in 2007.

Fondly, Lizzy - The OCD Gen X Liberal

From slacker to student

Big changes are afoot.

I haven't been to school/college in over 23 years, but that's all about to change. I am starting the digital video program at one of our local colleges this Wednesday.

The past few years I have been editing family & friends home movies and turning them into DVD's, but I always found the software I use to be very limiting. I have pondered taking it upon myself to learn Adobe Premiere, but I don't think I have the self-discipline to do so. Additionally, I always knew that if I really wanted to be an editor, I'd have to learn how to use a Mac.

I'll be purchasing my first Mac next weekend. Extra bonus - Apple is a blue company.

I'm also hoping that school will fulfill some wanderlust (wonderlust?) for something new. Sometimes you need to shake things up -- right?


Time will tell how school will affect my blogging time. But, hey, wouldn't it be cool if the Dems fix so much of what is wrong with the world that we all could take a little break? (yeah, right)

Best of Media & Politics 2006

There are a few "Best of" lists going around the blogesphere, so I'd thought I'd do one myself this year.

Person of the Year:

Keith Olbermann

For me, it begins and ends with Keith Olbermann - the Edward R. Murrow of our generation. I love this man. In a world of O'Reillys, Hannitys, Weiner-Savages, and Limbaughs, Olbermann stands out as a man of truth, courage, critical thought, and humor.


Runner ups:
Jon Stewart
Bill Maher
Jack Cafferty (from CNN's The Situation Room)
Stephen Colbert


Best Network TV Show:
Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip (NBC)
While Studio 60 has been uneven at times, this exchange alone was enough to earn it the top spot on my list.

Runner Ups:
Boston Legal (ABC)
House (FOX)
CSI: (CBS)
Law & Order SVU (NBC)

Best in Cable:
Countdown with Keith Olbermann (MSNBC)
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
The Sopranos (HBO)
Big Love (HBO)
CNN's The Situation Room (Hate to go a day without Jack Cafferty & Bill Schneider)
What's With That House? (HGTV)

Best in Reality TV:
Project Runway (Bravo) (Earns the top spot for one reason only - Tim Gunn)
The Amazing Race (CBS)
Survivor (CBS)

Best TV Character:

Hugh Laurie as "House."
Laurie's portrayal of House makes this otherwise standard medical drama one of the best shows on TV. In the last new episode of this year, there has never been a truer depiction of a drug addict on network TV.

Runner Ups:

Stanley Kamel as Dr. Charles Kroger on Monk (USA)
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk on Monk (USA)
Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy on Law & Order (NBC)
Wallace Langham as lab tech David Hodges on CSI (CBS)
Maria Lark as middle daughter Bridgette Dubois on Medium (NBC)

Best Film:

I rarely go to the movies, so I picked the best film I've seen on DVD this year. If you haven't seen Goodnight and Good Luck, rent it. The subject matter is even more relevant today. My prediction, in the near future, George Clooney will be considered one of the top filmmakers of our time.

Runner Up:
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

Films I wish I could add to this list, but haven't seen yet:
An Inconvenient Truth
The US vs John Lennon
Thank You For Smoking

Best CD:

Again, I don't hear a lot of new music, but from what I did hear, the choice was clear: The Avant-Garde Sounds of The Hard Left
Minneapolis power-pop at it's best.

Runner Up:
Neil Young: Living With War
While songs like Let's Impeach the President and Looking for a Leader deservedly got the most press, Young's "Families" is the best song on the disc. With very few exceptions, Neil Young can do no wrong, in my book.

Best Radio Station:
Air America

Best Politician:
Russ Feingold

Feingold alone stood up to the Bush admin when no one else would. Along with the late Senator Paul Wellstone, Russ Feingold is my political hero. Hearing the news that he isn't running for President was crushing.

Runner Ups:
Howard Dean - WAY underrated for what he accomplished for us in the last election
Rahm Emanuel - Instrumental in our victories
Dennis Kucinish - Dares to speak where others won't
Al Gore - Finally coming into his own. Will Gore be the comeback kid in '08? We'll see.
Barack Obama - He may be the one we've been waiting for


Best Guy Named Sven:

Sven Sungaard, weekend meteorologist, Kare-11 News.
(Or, as I like to call him, "Sven Svenson") What can you say about a goofy guy from Minnesota named Sven? Perfect. There is something about him that is extremely sweet. Come on, just look at the guy.


2 Picks That May Hurt My Street Cred :

1) Best reality show moment:

Lukas Rossi performing Coldplay's "Fix You" on Rockstar Supernova.

If you play the video, stick with it, it gets better. If video won't play, click here

2) Best Pop Song Criticizing the President, for the younger crowd:
Pink featuring Indigo Girls: "Dear Mr. President" If video won't play, click here.

And best of all:
You:
Laura, Tom, Paul, Julie, Hallie, Noah, Ethan, Scott, Jane, NY relatives, family-in-law, Michelle, Wendy, Norman, Stella, Wellstone the parrot, Little Bird, all of my blogger friends, Brian, Bekkah, Pat, Heather, Scott, David the contractor, and Kurt & Brian - my (very) occasional drinking buddies -- I wish all of you the best of everything in 2007.