These are all the Blogs posted today: Monday, 28, 2008.
CHENEY DUMPED FROM SPEAKING TO VETS BECAUSE HE WANTED VETS TO WAIT 2 HOURS
Which Crayola is the color 'Despicable'?
45 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog Which Crayola is the color ‘Despicable?’ _ On this November’s ballot in Arizona is the following initiative: “The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.” _ AP reported this morning (July 28) that Senator John McCain, in a reversal of an earlier position that asserted such attempts were “divisive,” announced in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that he now supports the ballot proposal. McCain defended his support of the measure by claiming “I do not believe in quotas, I’ve always opposed quotas.” (In 1998, before an Hispanic business group, McCain said, “Rather than engage in divisive ballot initiatives, we must have a dialog and cooperation and mutual efforts together to provide ever child in America to fulfill their expectations.”) _ It must be noted that such affirmative measures have not for years involved “quotas,” because, for years, the courts have struck every quota-oriented measure down. Thus, using the ploy, opposition to “quotas,” in arguments against efforts that are intended to redress existing unfair racially- or gender- or other-based differences in opportunities for access to education, employment and contracts, etc. can only be construed as disingenuous, deceptive code; white-sheet cover intended to appeal to a “conservative” (also known as “bigoted”) base. _ As important an inquiry into McCain’s campaign motives as that may be, this arrow is aimed elsewhere, to an equally ugly facet of McCain’s characteristics. _ By his own words (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yIhVAim_P0), in his “Service to America” tour, before his private prep school alma mater, Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, Senator McCain was “straight-talking” sure enough when he admitted that, with a barely “B” average, he had not been “a particularly good student.” _ Regardless of overall GPA, regardless that his extracurricular activities were hardly as expansive as are required of almost every other applicant, John McCain was admitted to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. As was the case with our current president, whose high school record was also considerably below that which is typically necessary for admission to a prestigious university, something else considerably beyond merit was at work. In both cases, McCain’s and George Bush’s, that something else was legacy, parents and grandparents who were alumni — important alumni, with important connections. For John McCain it was a father and a grandfather, both of whom, following graduation from Annapolis, had risen to full admiral status in the Navy. _ Questions abound. Which policy is the more egregious, which is the more unfair, and which serves the interests of our country and society least: affirmative action programs, the sole objectives of which are to compensate extant differences that are the product of racially and gender based discrimination, or programs that facilitate access to opportunities that ignore completely the first reference to an individual’s merit? _ Remember, my assault here isn’t concerned, one way or the other, on the respective pro and con points of either affirmative action programs or ballot initiatives that would eliminate affirmative action programs. That debate can be had another day. This assault is aimed directly at a presidential candidate who, having taken full advantage of programs and opportunities he did nothing whatsoever to earn, programs and opportunities not available to others with similar (or even, superior) aptitudes and personal records, would now deny even a hint of assistance to entire populations. _ But then, none of this should surprise anyone. It was Senator McCain who, recently before the NAACP convention, admitted that his nearly two decades’ strenuous opposition to a holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was “a mistake.” Admitting that, during a presidential campaign, to a gathering of African-Americans . . . And before announcing his support of an anti-affirmative action initiative . . . Convenient? Or, just coincidental? _ A decent, and honorable, and “straight-talking” person, when presented with a question that concerned the Arizona ballot measure would have replied, something along the lines, “Look, the American taxpayers paid the complete costs of my education at a very prestigious institution of higher education, an institution, by the way, I had no right entering, if my previous academic record was of any consideration. So I’m not going to stand in the way of others, less advantaged than was I . . .” _ I said, a decent, and honorable, and “straight-talking” person. But then, George Stephanopoulos’ query was addressed to John McCain. _ And I repeat my question: Which Crayola is the color ‘Despicable’? I ask that because that is the crayon that should be used to color John McCain. — Ed Tubbs Thousand Oaks, CA PS — Of course I welcome responses, those that disagree as well as those that agree. But I’ve got to insist that only those retaining the courage of their convictions to include their real name and the city where they reside, exactly as they would for any letter to the editor, will be read or responded to. Now is the time for all of us to live up to the words and sentiments in our National Anthem. _ PPS — Once again, whether or not to be an ignorant fool is a completely voluntary choice each of us makes. For those who are more insistent on opinions backed by facts than opinions out the rear sphincter, I’m appending the just plain facts database URL, with links to how your party or office holder voted concerning every (EVERY) issue that came before the House and/or the Senate. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/?wpisrc=newsletter Read more | 0 comments
CNN: WILL McCAIN SAY
Imperial presidency hearings- MOMENTEM FOR IMPEACHMENT?
34 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog In the interest of keeping alive the story of Friday’s House Judiciary Committee Hearings on Bush’s Imperial Presidency (formally titled “Executive Power and Its Constitutional Limitations”), I’ve been collecting the resources below, which are worth viewing outright, along with their numerous comments, to gauge the historical impact of what’s occurred. For those interested in purousing the highlights, I’ve excerpted what I feel to be especially relevant passages of each article, and my notes appear in italics before each excerpt. Any bold text within the articles repesents my emphasis. (You can also view the complete video on Youtube.)
Impeachment a hot topic at ‘not Impeachment’ hearing, Nick Juliano, RAW STORY, 25 July 2008 This article is provides a summary of the proceedings and highlights key comments by committee members and witnesses, including Chairman John Conyers, representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Hank Johnson (D-TX), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Steve King (R-IA). After spending long hours, sometimes late into the night, making his case for impeachment before a nearly barren House chamber, Rep. Dennis Kucinich finally got more of an audience for his case against President Bush Friday. Even though Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers insisted early on that the panel's evaluation of Bush's "imperial presidency" was decidedly not an impeachment hearing, the prospect was not far from many minds during the six hours of testimony. Kucinich formally introduced his articles of impeachment into the record of the committees proceedings -- although he did not utter the dreaded I-word, instead referring to the resolutions by their more legalistic titles "H. Res. 333, H. Res. 1258 and H. Res. 1345." A committee aide tells RAW STORY that members were cautioned to abide by the Rules of the House, which prohibit lawmakers from "impugning" the president's character during official debate. Some apparently took this to mean they could not explicitly call for Bush' impeachment. None of this would stop Republicans from accusing the committee's majority of seeking just that. The prepared text of Conyers opening remarks referred to Congress's "power to impeach." When he spoke before the committee, Conyers modified that line to the "power to remove through the constitutional process" officials who abused their powers. Kucinich was similarly circumspect in his testimony to the committee. "The question for Congress is this: what responsibility does the President and members of his Administration have for that unnecessary, unprovoked and unjustified war?" he asked. "The rules of the House prevent me or any witness from utilizing familiar terms. But we can put two and two together in our minds. We can draw inferences about culpability. ... "I ask this committee to think, and then to act, in order to enable this Congress to right a very great wrong and to hold accountable those who misled this nation," he concluded. […] Article includes the following VIDEO:Rep. Wexler recommends impeachment hearingsRep. Kucinich testifies at executive power hearinghttp://rawstory.com//news/2008/Hundreds_gather... Veteran, other activists booted from Judiciary hearing, Nick Juliano, RAW STORY, 25 July 2008 The other Raw Story piece on the topic focusus on the forced removal from the hearing of several audience members after some “ erupted in applause after one of the dozen-plus witnesses delivered a particularly incendiary indictment of President Bush.” A veteran was included among those kicked out, though it’s not made clear whether he was ejected for participating in the disruptions or for wearing attire deemed inappropriate by security officers: […] Later in the hearing, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) complained about "the fifth time there's been a reaction" when no response from the audience could be heard. "You have people in the audience who have signs that are inappropriate to be here, and I wish the chairman would have the rules of the House respected and enforced," King groaned. Conyers instructed committee staff and Capitol police officers to "ask anyone with such signs to either remove them or leave the hearing room from this point on."This request kicked off more than three minutes of disruption and commotion as blue-clad police officers entered the crowd to escort out a man wearing camouflage fatigues and an anti-war button. "You're hassling a veteran for wearing a pin? That's an outrage!" another spectator shouted, before escorting himself from the hearing room. Article includes video from C-SPAN showing protesters being ejected and a photo of the vet. http://rawstory.com//news/2008/Angry_Cindy_Sheehan_exits_Judiciary_hearingImpeachment Hearings are the Appropriate and Necessary Next Step, Posted by John Nichols, NATION, 25 July 2008 As the title indicates, the piece that follows supports (as I do) the popular notion that the inertia of these hearings should rightly lead Congress to push for the “I” word. Despite Chairman Conyers’ euphemistic caution regarding the word, and under the objections of the Republican Rep. King, impeachment was “mentioned dozens of times during the hearings, often in significant detail and frequently as a necessary response to lawless actions of the president and vice president.” Included here is part of the author’s lengthy treatment of the testimony of committee member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who reminded the committee that presidents and vice presidents take an oath of office, prescribed by the nation’s founders, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution,” and that the founders were also explicit in their provisions for the removing a president and vice president found guilty of “high crimes and misdemeanors," among other offenses. "Presidents and vice presidents do not take that oath in a vacuum,” Baldwin explained, “They are informed by the actions or inactions of past presidents and congresses, who establish precedents for the future." The excerpt below picks up from that point and includes Baldwin’s detailed list of “credible allegations of [the Bush administration’s] abuse of power”: […] It is in the power of the Congress to begin setting the precedent to which Baldwin addressed herself. That power was defined by the framers of the Constitution, as were the practices and procedures to be used in executing it. With that in mind, Baldwin correctly outlined the next steps for a committee and a Congress that has begun to place not just the matter of impeachment but the broader question of the imperial presidency on the table but that certainly has not completed the process" (The) American people have been forced to sit by while credible allegations of abuse of power mount: • We have seen this Administration fabricate the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and allege, despite all evidence to the contrary, a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda. These lies dragged our country into a preemptive and unjustified war that has taken the lives of more than 4,000 U.S. troops, injured 30,000 more, and will cost our nation more than a trillion dollars. • We watched as this Administration again undermined national security by manipulating and exaggerating evidence of Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities and openly threatened aggression against Iran, despite no evidence that Iran has the intention or capability of attacking the U.S. • We have looked on in horror as the Administration suspended habeas corpus by claiming the power to declare any person an "enemy combatant" – ignoring the Geneva Convention protections that the U.S. helped create. • We have seen torture and rendition of prisoners in violation of international law and stated American policy and values, and destruction of the videotaped evidence of such torture, under the tenure of this Administration. • We have seen this Administration spy on Americans without a court order or oversight in violation of the Fourth Amendment. • We watched as U.S. Attorneys pursued politically-motivated prosecutions in violation of the law and perhaps at the direction of this White House. • We watched as Administration officials outed Valerie Plame Wilson as a covert agent of the CIA and then intentionally obstructed justice by disseminating false information through the White House press office. As we know, the framers of our Constitution called for impeachment only in the case of high crimes and misdemeanors. The standard is purposely set high because we should not impeach for personal or political gain – only to uphold and safeguard our democracy. Sadly, in my judgment, at least two high ranking administration officials have met that standard. Although the call to impeach is one I take neither easily nor lightly, I now firmly believe that impeachment hearings are the appropriate and necessary next step. http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/339253
Conyers- Now Is the Time to Impeach -Elliott Adams, President, Veterans For Peace Also testifying on Friday was Veterans for Peace president Elliot Adams, who began by citing Ben Franklin’s 1787 response to the question “What have we, a republic or a monarchy?”, to which Franklin had responded: “A republic…if you can keep it!” Adams reminded the committee that as military members we took an oath, just as did members of Congress, to protect and defend the Constitution against “all enemies, foreign and domestic,” pointing out that he and other veterans present were there on the Hill to show their continuing commitment to that oath. After listing some of the numerous good works of Veterans for Peace, Adams noted that many of the organization’s members have set such work aside to take up the cause of “defending the very democracy of this country by working for impeachment.” He said that the question at this point was not whether or not impeachable offenses had been committed by the Bush administration, but “what, if anything, each member of Congress will do about it.” Adams said as well that he could not escape the “visceral pain and indignation” felt by those who served in combat upon finding “our own government condoning and/or committing war crimes and/or crimes against humanity.” He specified the crime of torture as especially appalling and derided it as ultimately useless in a tactical sense. Adams then implored the committee members to follow the example of those who stood up, in spite of their worries of possible execution, to sign the Declaration of Independence, asserting to the lawmakers that the time has come for them to stand up. In closing Adams quoted the following statement by Albert Einstein: “The world is a dangerous place—not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” The excerpt below is from the letter submitted to Chairman Conyers by Veterans for Peace on 16 May 2008, along with their petition seeking impeachment: We realize that this administration has committed numerous impeachable offenses such as spying on U.S. citizens, and condoning torture at Guantanamo and Iraq to name just two. Our petition, however, focuses on what veterans are understandably concerned about: violations of the Geneva Conventions, the U.N. Charter and resolutions, the Nuremberg Principles, and the Laws and Customs of War on Land, which limit the conduct of military forces towards each other and civilian populations. We will provide you with several pages of documented claims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace contained in our “Case for Impeachment.” http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Letter_to_congress_may_08.vp.html Along the lines of Elliot Adams' closing remarks to the Judiciary Committee, I think the following quote has some relevance in regard to these hearings, and wraps-up as well my humble view of the impeachment issue: O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the globe. Asia, and Africa, have long expelled her. — Europe regards her like a stranger, and England hath given her warning to depart. O! receive the fugitive, and prepare in time an asylum for mankind. --Thomas Paine, Common Sense Read more | 1 comments
What's happened to America?
34 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog What’s happened to America?
I watched Detroit’s US Representative John Conyers’ 5½-hour long house hearing last week concerning what acts would compose the executive branch’s abuse of power to the point they were impeachable offenses; high crimes and misdemeanors. This post is not to that topic. This is to a matter that is much more consequential: What’s happened to America? The same question repeatedly insinuates itself into my conscious whenever I watch any tape of anything involving one of Senator John McCain’s campaign forays: What’s happened to America? Although it’s a rhetorical question, one I’ll try to address with some contemplation, it’s also one I’d like others to ponder seriously, and offer thoughts on; thoughtful thoughts.
When I refer to America, I am not referring to any of the country’s geographical or topical features. For the most part, they remain fairly much as they were. It’s the spirit of the country that troubles me; the near total absence of a gristly cantankerous in those who like to think of themselves as Americans, but who just don’t seem to any longer have the right stuff, the hard edge stuff that would make them ‘American.’ I just can’t fix it in my darkest imagination that Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, or any of the founders would contemplate for the first part of a second a Pledge of Allegiance as possibly obtaining the first chance of being thought of as American. First and foremost, an American is a pain in the ass to a government. An American asks the most indecorous questions of those who would deign to govern, and demands the most unvarnished of answers. An American is not a subject of the government, an American is the tough boss, and never forgets that. The only pledge those who would govern should ever be able to count on is the promise there’s a good likelihood they may someday be hanging upside-down, strung from a rail, headed out of town. But today, whisper “terrorist” and folks fall all over themselves, wanting to know which of the liberties and rights, the panoply the founders considered so sacrosanct that they were inviolable as to the slightest diminishment, that the president can now scratch off the list as no longer convenient. Those were the bundled messages conveyed by the GOP members at the hearing. As far as they were concerned, President Bush had done nothing whatsoever constitutionally inapposite through his stalwart efforts “to protect the citizens of the United States against further attacks of terrorism.” Eliminate habeas corpus? Got it — Check. Deny congress access to security findings that contradict or that do not support absolutely the position of the executive? Got it — Check. Tear up the “supreme law of the land” that prohibits the use of torture? Got it — Check. Intimidate the press so that it’s not as persistent or inquisitive or as criticizing as it could be? Got it — Check. Quarantine protesters behind chain-link enclosures, eliminating the people’s right to petition their government for a redress of grievances? Got it — Check. Ignore the need for a warrant before rummaging through the people’s right to be secure n their communications? Got that one too — Check. “Just give me a promise that you’ll protect me and, oh, as long as I’m entertained, and as long as you come across as someone I’d like to have a beer with, as long as you’re not, you know — too smart, too ‘elitist,’ you can shove all that other stuff into the dumpster. And remember to tell me how smart I am.” And now it’s oil, cheap gas, and “Boy! how I absolutely demand that. As long as I can get to the mall and take the kids to soccer and can put cheap gas in my car you can also drill for oil wherever you want (71% of respondents, via a recent survey.). Don’t care that much about America that might be beautiful. If I want ‘beautiful,’ I’ll spruce up my apartment with a new rug, or buy one of those really sharp purses, or maybe those jeans at Nordstrom. Besides, what’s beautiful got to do with it if the price is $4.50 a gallon. How’s that help me?” Most probably won’t. But some will, remember the “keep America beautiful” television ad from the 70s, the one that featured the chisel-jawed Native-American with the tear finding it’s way down his cheek. When I pause to consider the state of our country, what’s happened to America, what’s happened to Americans . . . I feel the same sadness, the same feeling of tragic loss. And I want to ask: What’s happened to America? I also want to ask: Is there any chance we can get it back? Turn things around? Because if there’s not . . . The sign on the front gate might say ‘America.’ You can call a thing anything you want, but it won’t be AMERICA. You see, Americans live in America, and Americans just don’t behave the cowardly, sycophantic, servile way I’ve seen most in this land behaving these past seven years. — Ed Tubbs Thousand Oaks, CA PS — Of course I welcome responses, those that disagree as well as those that agree. But I’ve got to insist that only those retaining the courage of their convictions to include their real name and the city where they reside, exactly as they would for any letter to the editor, will be read or responded to. Now is the time for all of us to live up to the words and sentiments in our National Anthem. PPS — Once again, whether or not to be an ignorant fool is a completely voluntary choice each of us makes. For those who are more insistent on opinions backed by facts than opinions out the rear sphincter, I’m appending the just plain facts database URL, with links to how your party or office holder voted concerning every (EVERY) issue that came before the House and/or the Senate. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/?wpisrc=newsletter Read more | 0 comments
when you deal with your VA, unlike combat...by JIM STRICKLAND
29 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog I believe Veterans Advocate Jim Strickland (VAWATCHDOG dot org) already told every veteran just what they need to know the most in the column below and it should be taped to every refrigerator door and read by every veteran before they leave home for that appointment at their VA. “The lesson to be learned here is that we are often our own worst enemy. I rarely feel any tension when I'm working with another Veteran. We speak the same language. We share similar experiences and we understand the non-verbal communications. The civilian employee of any part of the Veterans Administration doesn't feel that way. They haven't walked in our shoes, they aren't part of our club and they've been warned of our potential for aggressive, loud, maybe violent behavior. When we walk in to a clinic or hospital for treatment, it's our duty to remember who we are. If we're smart, we'll leave our aggressive nature at home and become acutely aware of the effect our presence has on those we interact with.” “Think of it this way; when you deal with your VA, unlike combat, you can speak softly...because you don't need a big stick.” Please read the whole column here and then tape it to your fridge: Read more | 0 comments
CNN: IRAQ: IS THIS WHAT McCAIN CALLS
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