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How We Can Take the Constitution Back From the Brink

By Tara Lohan, AlterNet. Posted August 9, 2007.


A new organization is leading the fight to stop Bush from trampling on our Constitution and our rights. Find out how to join them.

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At no time in our country's history has the abuse of power by the executive branch been more flagrant and more dangerous to democracy.

In just the past month, the Bush administration has ordered employees to ignore congressional subpoenas, asserted broad new parameters for executive privilege and issued an executive order that could permit seizing assets of Americans deemed at its discretion to be hurting the war effort in Iraq. Meanwhile, the administration continues to spy on its own citizens, including widespread data mining of telephone records and emails.

Since taking office, Bush has pushed his authority past the bounds of the Constitution, and now a new group is ready to push back.

The American Freedom Campaign has stepped up to the plate and is working to build bipartisan grassroots support "to reverse the abuse of executive power and restore our system of checks and balances."

The group was spearheaded by Wes Boyd, the founder of MoveOn.org; David Fenton, the executive director of Fenton Communications; William Haseltine, a scientist and social entrepreneur; and Naomi Wolf, author of The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot.

They've been joined in their efforts by the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, MoveOn.org, and other partner organizations.

"The Bush administration's 'war on terror' is not making Americans safer. It's making Americans less safe," said Carroll Bogert, associate director of Human Rights Watch. "What's more, these policies are a gift to dictators everywhere. They significantly undermine America's moral credibility, which should be the cornerstone of any effort to combat terrorism."

The American Freedom Campaign is designed to be an online hub for Americans concerned about the country's democratic system and who are ready to act to protect the Constitution.

The campaign is asking all Americans to take the American Freedom Pledge to "fight to protect and defend the Constitution." The pledge begins, "We are Americans, and in our America we do not torture, we do not imprison people without charge or legal remedy, we do not tap people's phones and emails without a court order, and above all we do not give any president unchecked power."

The campaign is also asking all presidential candidates to take the pledge as well. "This campaign responds to the unconstitutional behavior of the current administration," said Wolf. "Therefore, our first order of business is to get commitments from those running to be the next occupant of the White House. The American people need to know that executive power will not be similarly abused in the future."

Past administrations have led America through much scarier times without taking away personal freedoms, Boyd said. "This is not about a trade-off," he added. "It's about principle. All political parties know they have nothing to gain by having a monarchist president."

The campaign expects to build a grassroots base of hundreds of thousands of Americans who will make their voices heard when issues of excessive executive power arise.


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Tara Lohan is a managing editor at AlterNet.

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Here's a better solution.
Posted by: maxpayne on Aug 9, 2007 12:36 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Get your progressives together and quit letting the cave-in phoney "centrist" and "blue dog" motherfuckers win. Also, it's big business that's empowering a dictatorship just like previous times in history. DEFUND DEFUND DEFUND DEFUND !!!!

Second, the Left has to learn how to PRIVATIZE the "Right" if our country is going to have any chance of taking back our Constitution.

Lastly, stop supporting politicians who keep caving in to the ideology of greed. You'll know they're doing it the more they make a big deal of their social ideological stands such as on gays, abortion, guns, god, etc ... When will people learn that the ideology fight is a red herring to keep gullible voters' attention focused on something of zero consequence to the well-being of the average American? Never, I guess. The pro-wrestling, the rigged fake fights are just more fun to watch. Until the arena burns down.

Tattoo this somewhere so you can read it each day:

CORRUPTION VOIDS IDEOLOGY

Who cares what a bribe-taker says???

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

» RE: Here's a better solution. Posted by: maxpayne
» RE: Here's a better solution. Posted by: maxpayne
It's About Time For Some Action with Unity!
Posted by: MAT2 on Aug 9, 2007 2:17 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This new coalition of concerned and active citizens could very well be our country's last best chance at turning the tide. I hope that everyone posting comments here is also actively engaged in groups like The American Freedom Campaign.

One of the most fundamental and critical goals of this campaign will be to educate and inform the masses because without pressure from the masses, there will be no change. We must find clever ways to link and enact the ideas of the virtual world with actions in the real world with the massive segment of the American population that is not on the internet.

I for one, am pledging 100% of the proceeds from my initiative, My America Too, to The American Freedom Campaign until October 1, 2007. I hope that many of you will find your own way to contribute to this or other campaigns that will accelerate the process of educating and motivating the masses.

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

» Give up! Posted by: skoog5600
» RE: Give up! Posted by: MAT2
» Think again .... Posted by: skoog5600
» RE: Think again .... Posted by: MAD
» nice try... Posted by: skoog5600
» RE: Think again .... Posted by: peacefullaim
EASY ANSWER. ELECT RN PAUL WHO IS BY FAR THE MOST ..
Posted by: poppop_schell on Aug 9, 2007 7:07 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
PRINCIPLED CONSTITUTIONALIST RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT WHETHER DEMOCRAT OR GOP.

ronpaul2008.com

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

» No Need to Yell Posted by: EKSwitaj
DONT GIVE UP FIGHT BACK
Posted by: FAITHCARR on Aug 9, 2007 7:07 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It is time to form the new underground

Resistance is required

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

Another petition = still no action
Posted by: mgloraine on Aug 9, 2007 7:14 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I sympathize completely with the sentiments expressed in the article. But another symbolic gesture, however well-intended, still falls short of actually changing anything. Having candidates take a pledge of good intentions today is no guarantee of good behavior in the future.

The best insurance for our Constitution is to arrest and prosecute those who attempt to violate, undermine, or bypass the rule of Constitutional law, particularly those who have sworn to uphold and defend that Constitution upon taking office.

If present Democrat political strategy does not allow for impeachment of BushCo conspirators/racketeers for the daily assaults on our civil liberties and crimes against humanity, then they all (GW Bush, GHW Bush, Jeb Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, Gonzales, O'Connor, Tenet, et al.) need to know that there will be Federal Marshalls ready to arrest them and seize their ill-gotten personal/family fortunes, and Grand Juries ready to indict them the instant their term of office has ended. There can be no care-free retirement for agents of organized crime such as these. Prosecution should begin at once for those already out of office.

The principle of civil deterrence is simple: provide severe and well-publicized penalties for proven law breakers. If we'd like to prevent a recurrence of the BushCo debacle, the perpetrators must be penalized with hard jail time and the loss of the stolen/misappropriated material wealth which motivated them in the first place.

If the entire BushCo team is allowed to simply keep all the money and retire to the ranch, we shall be ensuring the continued erosion of civil liberties and the ongoing availability of high government office and/or favorable court findings to the highest bidder. Representative democracy replaced by divine-right plutocracy.

A million petitions won't make a difference; only taking the scoundrels to court (and ultimately to jail) will halt the present crime spree and deter future plotters. What we need is a group of lawyers to be filing complaints and freezing assets before all of the stolen money disappears into some offshore fascist slush-fund!

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» RE: Another petition = still no action Posted by: AMERICAN VETERAN
WE HAVE TOO MANY COOKS
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Aug 9, 2007 7:32 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Spoiling the brew. There are more organizations than we can count. Petitions, emails and phone calls, etc. One huge mass of like minded people have to take to the streets, the way they did before TV and the internet. The people who object are free to speak their minds but we've also been scattered and no one group has any clout to speak of. You only have to go back to the 60's to see what like minded people can do. We are not as united as we should be. Thanks, ANNA

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

» RE: WE HAVE TOO MANY COOKS Posted by: clvngodess
» RE: WE HAVE TOO MANY COOKS Posted by: AMERICAN VETERAN
» RE: WE HAVE TOO MANY COOKS Posted by: Lauren
Fear for Funds Part I
Posted by: EncinoM on Aug 9, 2007 7:49 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Not only the right can use fear for fund raising. Lets look closely at the 10 points.

"Fully restore the right to challenge the legality of one's detention, or habeas corpus, and the right of detained suspects to be charged and brought to trial. "

The right of Habeas is never defined in the Consitution. Theorically, because the Consitution allows congress to determine the jurisdiction of the Federal courts, Congress could restrict Habeas. But that is all theory, the right exists for all american citizens and for non-citizens within the US. The right is in question for non-citizens held outside of US Courts Jurisdiction.

"Prohibit torture and all cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment."

Define torture. Again, does not apply to US citizens. Citizens are still protected by 8th Amendment.

"Prohibit the use of secret evidence. "

Here is how secret evidence works, there must be a threat to National Security, if so the Court view the evidence in camrea to determine to what extent the evidence can be shown to the otherside.

"Prohibit the detention of anyone, including U.S. citizens, as an "enemy combatant" outside the battlefield, and on the president's say-so alone."

Supreme Court has spoken with regards to US citizens, they get full rights. Non-citizens, to use the POW model, a person can be seized and held as a POW regardless of the fact that he never was near the battle field or held a weapon, it depends on the amount of aid and support he provided the enemy (it is within Geneva). This is a new war, you have a NGO army, who does not wear a uniform or follow any codes of war. Geneva, is a guide, but does not address how to treat such prisoners.

"Prohibit the government from secretly breaking and entering our homes, tapping our phones or email, or seizing our computers without a court order, on the president's say-so alone. "
ANy evidence seized in such a way is prohibited from entering court.

"Prohibit the president from "disappearing" anyone and holding them in secret detention. "

Do we have examples of US citizens. Non-citizens are protected to the same extent as US citizens, with no protection once they leave our borders.

"Prohibit the executive from claiming "state secrets" to deny justice to victims of government misdeeds, and from claiming "executive privilege" to obstruct congressional oversight and an open government. "

Again, the Federal Court can claim state secrets (and ther are such things) but it is for thecourt to make that determination. The US Supreme Court has said that a certain amount of Executive Privilege does exists, and does extend to a President's inner circle, the Court has not defined who within the inner circle gets the privilege and how far the privilege extends. The court has been clear that is not as great as the privilege granted to congressional staffers.

"Prohibit the abuse of signing statements, where the president seeks to disregard duly enacted provision of bills. "

I agree with this one, but it will take congress to act, not citizens, notions of sovreign immunity prevent many citizens suits to compel federal actions, unles the federal statute grants citizens such power.

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

» RE: Fear for Funds Part I Posted by: brunowe
» RE: Fear for Funds Part I Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Fear for Funds Part I Posted by: brunowe
» RE: Fear for Funds Part I Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Fear for Funds Part I Posted by: brunowe
» RE: Fear for Funds Part I Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Fear for Funds Part I Posted by: brunowe
Fear for Funds Pt. II
Posted by: EncinoM on Aug 9, 2007 7:50 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"Use the federal courts, or courts-martial, to charge and prosecute terrorism suspects, and close Guantanamo down. "

Did you read what you wrote, court martial are military in nature, they would need to hold the prisoners some where. Not in a civilian jail. FOr it would have to be a military prison complex, say like Gitmo. Addtionally, if the prisoners are closer to POW's in status they can not be tried for any crimes, Geneva. The only allowed court action would be to determine what their proper status is. Again non-citizens less rights, no consitutional crisis.

"Reaffirm that the Espionage Act does not prohibit journalists from reporting on classified national security matters without fear of prosecution. "

No need, Pentagon Papers case is established law. NY Tmes was not hauled into court and reporters arrested for the leaks of the wire tapping.

This are not real issues but fund raising points of the progressive movement. Need your su[pport and money to stop all these ad things from happening, be afraid of republicans and neo-cons, blah-blah-blah.

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

» RE: Fear for Funds Pt. II Posted by: brunowe
FarClan45
Posted by: FarClan45 on Aug 9, 2007 8:13 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My Agenda goes like this:

Impeach them all!

Repeal The Patriot Act
Dissolve Homeland Security

Dissolve ALL measures based on those things.

End the stoopit war of greed and apply current
military budget to needs at home.

Hold new general elections for ALL elected offices
as was done in Illinois in 1964.

Bi-Partisan no longer has meaning; they are Fascists
United. We need a whole new organization!

Christine
Jefferson County
New York

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» RE: FarClan45 Posted by: peacefullaim
Soap(STFU hippies)..Ballot(Yeah ..right)...Jury (mwuahahahhahah)...
Posted by: ekipnrut on Aug 9, 2007 8:27 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hmmmm...could it be that its time to PTL and pass.....???
...jus asking a question folks.... :O)

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

There is Another Possibility
Posted by: parmenicleitus on Aug 9, 2007 8:43 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How about that radical idea, secession?

I know nearly all Americans assume a priori this is the best system in the world, so it has little chance of reaching people's ears much less becoming a possibility.

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» Texas first! Posted by: fanny666
» Lincoln's Folly Posted by: jmooney
» RE: Lincoln's Folly Posted by: brunowe
» RE: Lincoln's Folly Posted by: jmooney
» RE: Lincoln's Folly Posted by: brunowe
» RE: Straw Man Posted by: parmenicleitus
» RE: .There is Another Possibility Posted by: aurora2484
» RE: There is Another Possibility Posted by: poppop_schell
Center for Constitutional Rights
Posted by: fanny666 on Aug 9, 2007 9:00 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It's worth it to sign up for the Center for Constitutional Rights mailing list. They send infrequent but important e-mail updates.

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

. Saving a mauled Constitution
Posted by: aurora2484 on Aug 9, 2007 11:29 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Would that Americans were as protective of the mauled Constitution as these buffalo were of their mauled calf (fighting off lions, and were a couple of crocs in there too):

YouTube: Battle at Kruger

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Refuse
Posted by: surrendered on Aug 9, 2007 1:44 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This could be the year I refuse to finance genocide of the spirit, lack of respect for any human life or other life for that matter, and the total corruption of the young, very young men who are engaging in the lowest form of human behavior, for the humiliation and destruction of life and property is as un-American and un-patriotic as you can get. This could be the year that I refuse to pay taxes. The government and the military of the US is not representing me as a US citizen nor adhering to the Constitution or the Bill of Rights; MY RIGHTS!

Will any one join me?????

I am asking that any of my fellow citizens that are aware and awake enough to experience the “Shock and Awe” of it all, are ready yet to take the same drastic, dramatic, and distracting actions like those that have been heaved on all of us? When will we be ready to face what we are up against, and take the necessary action in mass, in numbers, in unity, There are infinite ways that are peaceful and we have the power to stand up and say no more to the killing in the name of God and Freedom. Refuse to let this government terrorize its own citizens he same way it is spreading terror to the world. ("Confessions of 50 Iraqi Veterans, 7/13 )


If 70% of he American people just “refused to participate in the those actions that directly or indirectly support this insane war, destruction and death of the spirit, we might turn things around. Refuse to watch the news or buy a news paper for 7 days or longer. Refuse to eat GM foods. Only Organic food for a week. Only buy the bare necessities for 7 days. Put off any large purchases for a week. Drive less or not at all if possible. Take a bike or walk short distances or use public transportation. I won’t hurt. Refuse to buy anything made in China for 7 days (if possible). Drink only water, refuse sodas or beef raised in a chopped down part of he rainforest. Refuse to talk politics for one week.
Refuse to buy anything that you truly know is not good for you, food or otherwise. Do not pay any bills or make any bank deposits for one week. Withdraw all you like. Refuse to use credit card or pay any interest for one month (dare ya’)
There are many more things that we can refuse to participate in that are killing us off, and they can be done in a way that promotes and protects life. Nothing suggested is against the law or would get you in jail.


There is just no doubt about it now. We should not give anyone the right to do what these soldiers are doing in our name. I will find as many ways as I possibly can to participate in stopping this war. Talk won’t do it and the government won’t do it but we can. Hit em where is hurts. It is greed and money and the dependence on our consumption of goods that keeps it all going. What if everyone went on a strike to purchase gas or oil products for (?) days. Oh Yeah, maybe you could refuse to buy any weapons or ammunition for one week. I am not sure, but it might help.

Last but not least, refuse to pay income tax. However, it could get you into jail, even though there is no written law on the books that we must pay it. BUT if at least 70% of the American citizens do not support this war, that is a lot of people and a lot of strength, if we were still living in a democratic society. So those of you who finally get that we have been totally fooled into believing the world is one way, when it is really NOT that way, it is time that we take individual actions in unison and protect ouselves agianst a regime that is terrorizing the world.

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» RE: efuse Posted by: EncinoM
This is great
Posted by: fox1 on Aug 9, 2007 1:52 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
an article on this communist news site saying" protect the constitution?' You people have articles here calling for more government control to ensure "fairness", income redistribution, etc. Acoording to this website, Bush and his cronies are all at fault. I guess the Dems that you retards fall over don't bear any blame?

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

» RE: This is great Posted by: InBetween
» RE: This is great Posted by: SayForSure
. The 10 Goals
Posted by: aurora2484 on Aug 9, 2007 3:21 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This needs repeating (clearly and often):

"To put America back in the hands of the people, the AFC has outlined 10 clear goals":

* Fully restore the right to challenge the legality of one's detention, or habeas corpus, and the right of detained suspects to be charged and brought to trial.

* Prohibit torture and all cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

* Prohibit the use of secret evidence.

* Prohibit the detention of anyone, including U.S. citizens, as an "enemy combatant" outside the battlefield, and on the president's say-so alone.

* Prohibit the government from secretly breaking and entering our homes, tapping our phones or email, or seizing our computers without a court order, on the president's say-so alone.

* Prohibit the president from "disappearing" anyone and holding them in secret detention.

* Prohibit the executive from claiming "state secrets" to deny justice to victims of government misdeeds, and from claiming "executive privilege" to obstruct congressional oversight and an open government.

* Prohibit the abuse of signing statements, where the president seeks to disregard duly enacted provision of bills.

* Use the federal courts, or courts-martial, to charge and prosecute terrorism suspects, and close Guantanamo down.

* Reaffirm that the Espionage Act does not prohibit journalists from reporting on classified national security matters without fear of prosecution.

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» RE: . The Supreme Court Posted by: parmenicleitus
Mumble the Mantra..... for More of the SOS....
Posted by: ekipnrut on Aug 9, 2007 6:32 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
You have to do more than recite truth to power....
Item 1 : Leslie Southwick If you say," WhoTF is this person?" I
say THAT's the problem!....The groups mentioned in the article as constituting the nucleus around which the 'new' proposed group would begin to aggregate are exactly the groups who ought to have given a proactive 'heads up' to progressives so that the shit Feinstein pulled would probably not have happened as a result of intense political scrutiny on her.
Item 2 FISA...same deal
Item 3 (recent) Funding for the war crime...same deal
and on and on...
My point is that these people have demonstrated a complete
inability to carry out the simplest of tasks and challenges of
the American political dynamic. Mere rearranging of the
organizational deck chairs on the 'Titanic' upon which they and their Democrap congresspersons are apparently content to continue voyaging as first class passengers .... would seem to be nonproductive. The proposed list is ,in itself,not particularly objectionable....BUT it is (content) low on 'HOW'. Precise and specific courses of action need to be articulated...committed to..and FOLLOWED THROUGH on. There are many constructive
innovations that COULD be done via the Internet, however
some of you are wasting 21st century to continue promoting
the usual faux elitist (typically lacking the genuine intellectual depth of development required to validate the flippant 'mouth') , (usually)racist, self congratulatory cliquish horseshit that is in part responsible for the current horrific war crime crisis.
Could Bush Be Prosecuted for War Crimes? By Jan Frel, AlterNet. Posted July 10, 2006. Remember this piece?
Nearly 400 comments....all to many of which were concerned with NOT Bush..but who might be a 'troll'. One of the first things done to destabilize a group is to sow the seeds of mutual distrust and suspicion with bullshit disinformation so as to get people fixated and consumed with viewing one another as possible 'snitches' and neglecting to do anything else!
This is Gestapo...Stalin...COINTELPRO -'101'
If some of you had spent more time keeping tabs on DiFi...or
Southie...or FISA...and less time sniffing the cyber butt crack of somebody you THINK is a 'troll'....then maybe some of the stuff that went down AFTER Frel's article could have been prevented. No guarantees..but maybe. Moreover 'troll' has come to compete with 'antisemite' as the most popular throwaway piece with which to suppress or silence dissent.
For some , state anything whatsoever that is even remotely critical of Israel and we have 'ansemitism'..immediate and obvious!! Matter of fact, the old McCarthy era of 50's blacklisting (that's what the film Good Night,Good Luck was about) was characterized by being condemned as a 'commie' if you did or said anything not in keeping with 'American values'.
Commie..troll...antisemite...same shit... different verbiage.
OMT...90%..thereabouts..of a troll's posts are about..guess what ...who he/she 'out's' as a troll..... sort of a litmus test for the little gremlin CS... :O)

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» Elephant Talk Posted by: apophenia_monkey
Fuck It--You Want
Posted by: apophenia_monkey on Aug 9, 2007 6:58 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
change, you're gonna have to pick up a gun or its equivalent--a pc and decent hacking skills for isntance. this country had the balls to tackle the best armed force on the planet for its freedom. words failed, blood and determination succeeded.

yeah we the people sucked then, just as we the people suck now.

i don't see much blood or determination here--just words.

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» Gutless Wonders Posted by: apophenia_monkey
Go Out And Show Them You're Mad
Posted by: InsertNameHere on Aug 9, 2007 9:50 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
They don't know you're serious if you sit around here moanin' and complainin'. They regard your petitions with the same contempt they do a congressional subpoena.

To get their attention at this point, you're gonna have to go out and burn some shit down. That's how things always get done.

When they tried to pull this funky election shit in the Ukraine, they went out and protested and refused to leave until justice was done. When they did it to you, you just rolled over and played dead. Change ain't gonna come from the comfort of an oversized lounge chair at Starbucks boys and girls.

You need to get on the verge of civil unrest up this muthaf*****!!

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It's about time . . .
Posted by: covalentbonded on Aug 10, 2007 6:49 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
We, the People understand we are being "played" by the National WarParty. Both wings of the National WarParty agree that Iraqi oil is, by a God-ordained right, America's and it doesn't matter how many die we ain't leaving.

Sheehan is right to run as an Independant cause if she had beaten Pelosi in a primary Pelosi would have pulled a Lieberman and run as an Independant.

Wake up folks. Leave the game. Strike/Boycott 08!

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SayForeSure
Posted by: SayForSure on Aug 10, 2007 10:34 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
WE HAVE NEVER LIVED IN MORE DANGEROUS TIMES. NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE FACED SUCH AN ENEMY. NEVER BEFORE HAVE SUCH PRECAUTIONS BEEN NECESSARY. AT ANY MOMENT A THERMONUCLEAR DEVICE MAY BE DETINATED INSIDE A LARGE US CITY. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS FOR LIBERTIES. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT MY/OUR LIFE IS AT STAKE. AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO GETS THAT?

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Somebody needs to keep a tally
Posted by: scheherezade on Aug 10, 2007 11:54 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It's about time somebody started a running tally of damages done.

U.S. policy is based in law -- where the devil is in the details -- and where all these issues can be addressed and ameliorated, if sufficient attention to details happens.

That's because few lawmakers, House, Senate, or otherwise, are versed in, research or keep abreast of day to day legislative developments. Many rely on news or non-profit lobby groups to keep them up to date, and never even read the legislation they sign.

A clear and accurate summation of problematic legislative changes, and appropriate legal solutions, would go a long way towards addressing unwanted policy changes.

As anyone who's ever slogged through 200 pages of legislative bill language knows, the resources required to monitor every little proposed policy change are all but impossible for grassroots volunteer agencies to muster.

Sometimes, changes appear at the last minute that nobody gets a chance to review.

Independent oversight like this, if conducted in a creditable and comprehensive manner, would go a long way towards pushing lawmakers to make the right decisions.

Not only would it provide them with exact and accurate legislative information, but it would also be a tremendous organizing resource for grassroots orgs and independent media.

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Yes! A Fine Start
Posted by: alicelillie on Aug 12, 2007 5:20 PM   
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I glanced over the list and say Yes!!!

But we must remember that the list is incomplete. There are 10 Amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights and each is endangered to some extent.

These rights are natural and accrue to individuals.

We have the God-given (or natural if you do not believe in God) right to speak out as guaranteed by the First Amendment.

We have the God-given (or natural) right to self-defense which the Second Amendment is *really* about, and yes!!! This does accrue to *individuals!*

Without these we might as well give up.

But, like I say, this is a good start!

See my blog! http://www.alicelillieandher.blogspot.com

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zeitgeistmovie
Posted by: zeitgeistmovie on Aug 15, 2007 3:31 PM   
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There are multi agency drills for the event of a large nuclear device planned for the Portland Oregon area Aug. 20-24. Given that 9-11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB, and that simultaneous war game drills were used to mask and confuse air traffic controllers on 9-11; and that the 7-7 London subway bombings were also timed to coincide with simultaneous drills: everyone should be very concerned and aware.

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mick3
Posted by: mick3 on Aug 19, 2007 10:37 AM   
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In 2002, when the "Patriot" Act was voted into being without having been read, let alone studied, we lost the remains of our democracy--or rather, plutocracy. With that, I put a homemade sign on my car. It read: TOO LATE.

In case anyone hasn't noticed, it's now way past too late. BushCo have a death grip on government, and a whole cadre of religious nut cases are running the military, willing to follow anyone who claims equal nuthood, e.g., Bush. With a dictatorship/police state now legally in place, it's only a matter of time before BushCo turns its fangs on ordinary Americans who disagree with them. We have never before been in such dire peril, and the media natter on about back-fence gossip, other people's personal tragedies, sports, the weather. Anything except actual news about what matters.

As for Americans mobilizing and demonstrating, BushCo doesn't give a rat's a... about public opinion. We are mere human resources to them. Expendable.

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