"Scores" descend on the capital...

Don't you mean scores of thousands?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I would strongly urge Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate, to hold real hearings on Iran. Not the mealy-mouthed Joe Biden-led hearings we witnessed on Iraq in July-August 2002, where he and his colleagues rubber-stamped the President's case for war, but genuine hearings that draw on all the lessons of Congressional failures when it came to Iraq. Summon all the President's men (and women), and grill them on every phrase and word uttered about the Iranian "threat," especially as it has been linked to nuclear weapons. Demand facts to back up the rhetoric.

Summon the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), or any other lobby promoting confrontation with Iran, to the forefront, so that the warnings they offer in whispers from a back room can be articulated before the American public. Hold these conjurers of doom accountable for their positions by demanding they back them up with hard fact. See if the US intelligence community concurs with the dire warnings put forward by these pro-war lobbyists, and if it doesn't, ask who, then, is driving US policy toward Iran? Those mandated by public law and subjected to the oversight of Congress? Or others, operating outside any framework representative of the will of the American people?

If a real case, based on facts as they pertain to the genuine national security interests of the United States, can be made for a confrontation with Iran that leads to military conflict, so be it. America should never shy away from defending that which legitimately needs defending. The sacrifice expected of our military forces, while tragic, will be defensible. But if the case for war with Iran is revealed to be as illusory as was the case for war with Iraq, then Congress must take action to stop this conflict from occurring. This is the Democrats' issue now, the one that will make or break them in 2008 and beyond.

If hearings show no case for war with Iran, then Congress must act to insure that the United States cannot move toward conflict with that nation on the strength of executive dictate alone. As things currently stand, the Bush Administration, emboldened with a vision of the unitary executive unprecedented in our nation's history, believes it has all of the legal authority it requires when it comes to engaging Iran militarily. The silence of Congress following the President's decision to dispatch a second carrier battle group to the Persian Gulf has been deafening. The fact that a third carrier battle group (the USS Ronald Reagan) will probably join these two in the near future has also gone unnoticed by most, if not all, in Congress.

full article

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Anyone who thinks that will hamper Bush is living in a fantasy world - he will simply take money away from other parts of the budget. I mean, it really is a hopelessy naive viewpoint - it has as much chance of stopping Bush as a 'strongly worded non-binding Senate resolution to oppose the escalation' does.

Instead, call for Congressional hearings into all of Bush's crimes, and force Cheney to resign over his involvement in the Scooter Libby/ Valerie Plame Affair - and it's about time we saw the complete "Cheney Energy Task Force Report" as well, isn't it? The Democrats have been complaining that they can't hold hearings for some time now; well - now they can. Make them do it.

Bush is out of control; he's an anti-democratic wannabe dictator, and impeachment seems like the only option that will really stop him - forceful removal from office. Calls for 'cutting off funding' remind me of Bush's calls for 'success in Iraq' - what exactly does that mean?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

...to if and how effectively the local news stations where I live will cover this march. We had a reporter in Washington DC for the SOTU and, of course, it just so happens there was an anti-abortion march where a few thousand (that was jacked up to 'tens of thousands' with emphasis on that from our local anchor) showed up. The local reporter spent about 10 minutes with camera crews showing several signs spreading the usual falsehoods about abortion, and went on and on about the issue and then we heard dubya himself prattling on about 'human life' being sacred, ad nauseam.

I called the station, discussed the above, and asked about specific anti-war protests they had covered with the challenge that they had not covered them. I did say that I will be waiting for the station to effectively and fairly the upcoming anti-war protest and will call them on it, figuratively and literally.

They said 'fine'.

This is where the rubber meets the road. It is assumed by even some on MSNBC that there have been no significant anti-war demonstrations when just last year there was a huge event taking place in NY.

I hope all of you will be paying attention likewise. The sanitation of all things Bush and his policies by local stations that only feed into support for him and his lies is criminal at best. And unfortunately because of a lack of time, and apathy with so many citizens, local news is about all they have the time and interest for.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Remember-
Who sent you there.
Who pays the bills, including your salary.
Who you were charged with representing.
The Constitution to which you are to abide by.
The people who end up going to the wars you start.
The people who's lives you eff up by passing bad laws.
The people who can send you packing.

The people who started this government under this Constitution who can, at their will, disband it and start anew. Read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution- it's our right.

We will not only be electing a new President in 2008, we will be electing a new Congress. The same voters that sent you to Washington can kick your arse out.

Try US.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

We know that Bush has allowed the NSA can monitor and intercept mail, email and other communications without a warrant (never mind the US Constitution). History shows, that with most tyrants, they may start out with an external enemy. Such it was with Stalin and Hitler. But, later, as dissent emerges internally and domestically, they use the "special powers" and authority they gained during the past "crisis" to crack down on internal dissent. We therefore have to wonder if Pelosi and Obama do not have some fear of this happening with Bush. Could he not effectively disband Congress if they dared to pull funding for the Iraq war? Bush could say he needed to do so on "national security grounds." Next, would be many "talking heads" on Fox news discussing why this "needed to be done,..." etc. Would the American people buy it? It may sound paranoid to even think this way, it seems so against what we once thought America was. But, America has changed my friends. If they can hold foreigners at Guantanamo indefinetly, without charges, on the assumed pretext of guilt, can journalists reporting negatively on American policy or affairs by far behind? And, even those in Congress, who do not have control of an Army or military, who can stop a President turned tyrant from imprisoning or "disappearing" them. Frightening to think about. But, we are almost there.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY! This situation is much bleaker and more urgent than Congress and the public in general realize. This president thinks he has all power over the other two branches of government, so he feels nothing can stop him no matter what! Our senators and representatives don't have time to impeach him and Cheney, so the next best step is to force him out of office the way the republicans did when Nixon was out of control! If enough of them put some muscle into a movement to get him to RESIGN, maybe, just maybe it might be effective. Other than a drastic move such as this, he will continue to spin out of control, and all the nonbinding resolutions and even emergency legislation won't stop him. He thinks HE IS THE DECIDER about everything!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The most powerful branch of government, the people, must send a copy of their bill to elected officials. The Bill of Rights. Viewing this bill as toilet tissue is not an option. The march in Washington is only the first step in a series of stronger actions. Soldiers returning home to stripped rights, liberties, and freedom is unacceptable.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Coming soon to a political protest near you.

Dboy

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I see no alternative at this point than impeachment of Bush and Cheney. They are leading us to WWIII. We are a nation at grave risk to ultimately have a war on our own land if Bush and Cheney are not impeached.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Without taking a shot at the president? What's wrong with taking a shot at the president? The days of a Republican majority are over, and last election shows that voters want a "shot at the president".

And where is Lee Harvey Oswald when you need him?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

halt..Stop buying things except what we need to survive.
Companies may start crying for us. Stop America from moving and force Congress to Impeach Bush And Remove Dicky while there at it..Wait who would be next in Line?
And as someone said which I said the other day..I wouldn't be surprized if they are still in office after 2008
And if you look he's just about the same size as hitler.
I'm wondering what he has on Congress that lets him get away with the shit he pulls on us..I guess it's that money thing

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]