Well by golly, Howard Dean is first and foremost.

Yes, that is what my Dad called Nixon.

Let's help get rid of  Gonzales by donating.   The High Court will not help us now.  We are truly on our own to rid ourselves of all this vermin.

More on Gore:

Gore has consistently said it's highly unlikely he will enter the race, but he also has left the door ajar.

"I want him to run, but he's not running," says Donna Brazile, Gore's former campaign manager. "Maybe if we all stop talking about it, he'll decide to run then."

Maybe you're right Donna but I doubt that this will happen.

I'm looking into Costa Rica in case Gore doesn't run....or Mexico.

Well, I may be getting really cranky but these solicitations for funds are annoying.  The messages aren't targeted according to whether the person being asked to give more is already in the database; the donation page isn't correlated to the amount being requested, and one has to enter one's information all over again.  It just seems to me that people who have been around for three or more years, ought to at least be able to make an extra donation without going through all the rigamarole. 

OK, so Amazon is a money-making enterprise, but they remember the previous addresses you sent stuff to and they remember your credit card.

For all the hype about how Dean pioneered getting funds from the internet, it's my sense that the organization STILL isn't with it.  When are we going to bring back the bats?  

Oh, I'm sure it complicates things to run a contest to see how quickly a goal can be attained, but more than the money is the opportunity for the membership to get energized.

Why not put up a bat to get more funds for an enhanced IT capability?

Frankly, I don't see how sending DFA dollars is going to get Gonzo impeached.  It's not like taking out a billboard in a guy's district where lots of people already know he's a sleeze. 

I agree that we need a bat specially for Gonzales.  The bat is a proven way to raise lots of money quickly so I don't get HQ either.

HOWARD DEAN ON HARDBALL ON mONDAY!

"I want him to run, but he's not running," says Donna Brazile, Gore's former campaign manager

I hope to hell if he does run, he stays clear of that loser

Subpoenas, Executive Privilege and Liberal Pipedreams

http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff06292007.html

There are two ways to look at the growing confrontation between Congress and the White House over access to information.

Either the administration is suckering Congress into a fight, confident that the Democratic Congress will back down and forever surrender its role as a co-equal branch of government, or that it will bring its contempt citations to federal court and lose, thanks to all those right-wing Federalist judges that Reagan, Bush I and Bush II have stacked the judiciary with from bottom to top.

Or, Congress is pushing the administration to a point that Democrats will be forced to initiate impeachment proceedings.

Naturally, for the sake of the Constitution, and the survival of a government with at least a semblance of democracy, I'm hoping it's the latter. It would be nice to think that Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others in the party leadership have all along been acting on a belief that the American people don't want impeachment, and have to be brought along to a point that they agree there is no alternative. It would be nice to believe that these leaders really do understand that the Constitution is under grave threat, and that Congress itself is under assault by the administration, but that they just want to be pushed to the wall before they take the required action.

The White House, recognizing the timidity of Congressional Democrats, and its own edge in the courts, has decided to go for broke by challenging Congress to a duel. Certainly the blatant way that Bush has refused to budge on his Iraq War escalation or on Congressional requests for information about issues like the political firing of prosecutors, the warrantless spying on American citizens, or the destruction of improper White House emails, or that Vice President Dick Cheney has refused to provide information of any kind to congressional committees seems designed to taunt Democrats into issuing subpoenas. And the refusal to comply with those subpoenas seems designed to taunt Democrats into declaring the administration in contempt, which puts the issue into court.

Does anyone want to bet on how that will go?

So now Congress has a choice: risk permanently destroying the carefully balanced system of tri-partite government established by the Founding Fathers over two centuries ago by playing the president's and vice-president's game of chicken over subpoenas, or change the game and begin impeachment proceedings immediately.

It's a decision that will have to be made soon.

--------------------------------------------------------

And guess what? The Dems will roll over again..............

GREAT PIECE--I'LL JUST POST THE PUNCHLINE

http://www.counterpunch.org/green06292007.html

It may sound ridiculously platitudinous, but the fact is that there is really no substitute for our hands-on engagement in the governing of our society and our world. It all comes back to that--Congress, the Democrats, the media--all of it. The genius of democracy is in its responsiveness to the public will, and unfortunately that is precisely what American democracy is doing right now--responding to our collective indifference. But until Dick Cheney cuts to the chase already and anoints himself emperor, there's just enough democracy left in America to bring this thing around. It will require considerable effort, though. We have to tend to our garden. We have to support the seedlings and purge the weeds.

We cannot, fundamentally, delegate this one. We cannot hire someone to do our thinking for us. Not, at least, if we expect to be happy with the results. Not if we want to grow roses instead of weeds.

(Oh, now I get it. That's what the W stands for!)

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/062907A.shtml

 Bush Plays al Qaida Card to Bolster Support for Iraq Policy

     Facing eroding support for his Iraq policy, even among Republicans, President Bush on Thursday called al Qaida "the main enemy" in Iraq, an assertion rejected by his administration's senior intelligence analysts.

 "Al Qaida is the main enemy for Shia, Sunni and Kurds alike," Bush asserted. "Al Qaida's responsible for the most sensational killings in Iraq. They're responsible for the sensational killings on U.S. soil."

    U.S. military and intelligence officials, however, say that Iraqis with ties to al Qaida are only a small fraction of the threat to American troops. The group known as al Qaida in Iraq didn't exist before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, didn't pledge its loyalty to al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden until October 2004 and isn't controlled by bin Laden or his top aides.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES CAN BE IMPEACHED TOO!

6.

I'm looking into Costa Rica in case Gore doesn't run....or Mexico.  

Sea,

Costa Rica is a gorgeous environmentally diversified country. I spend several weeks there a few years ago and visited everywhere we could cram in a visit too. Great friendly people there!

But you would have a big problem trying to move there. Costa Rica has (or at least had when I was there) a very tough immigration policy. One could stay six weeks there but then had to leave the country and reenter each time they wanted to stay longer.

It worked well until wealthy Americans built an airport on the northwest coast on the Pacific Ocean. Americans began slipping in and building highrise condos. That coast was unprotected as Costa Rica has no military at all, only immigration agents at the San Jose Airport.

I didn't know that SC justices can be impeached.

Pelosi has recently said that she's not happy with congress either.  If the House impeaches Gonzalez, it's possible the Senate would indict since many senators do not like the DICK.  But someone, very soon, has to start something cuz the DICK isn't gonna roll over and the WH is taunting, knowing the courts are in their favor.

Can Roberts be recalled?  Or Alito?  Kind of a *oops, we goofed* kinda thing? 

11.

I think you might want to take Justice Kennedy's definition of government into account.  He makes the distinction between the "agents of government"--i.e. the people elected and appointed to the three branches--and the government itself made up of all the people from whom all powers flow.

According to Kennedy, "limited government" means that the agents of government are restricted to taking only those actions which are specifically permitted in the law. This makes them different from the general population to whom everything is permitted, except for what is specifically prohibited.

In that context, it would seem that the school decision out west was based on the perception that the there was no justification for prohibiting the parents from sending their children to the neighborhood school they preferred.

Perhaps the more significant decision in the last two days is the determination that the Court would hear the petition by the detainees in Guantanamo that they be permitted to challenge their detention in a civil court.  What I think has happened is that in the prior consideration, the issue was the military commissions which hadn't been properly set up--i.e., according to a law passed by Congress.  Since that was the first item they considered, they didn't address that, even when properly constituted, such a judicial process would be illegal in those cases where it was applied ex post facto. That is, military commissions, properly constituted, might be appropriate for individuals whose "crimes" were commited or discovered after this judicial process was set up.  And then, of course, there's the Alien Tort Claims Act which has been on the books for a couple of centuries which grants foreigners who think they've been wronged by the government of the United States to sue for compensation in the civil courts.

Of course, when our agents of government do the right thing, these laws don't need to be tested. 

Senator Leahy will be on MTP this Sunday. That's a MTP I won't miss.

Joan, are Americans still welcome in Costa Rica?

When I lived in Mexico for 4 years, every six (or was it 3)  months I made a run to the Belize border, with a *mordida* tucked into my passport, and voila, an hour later I was on my way home.  We really need to have a *mordida* here for those smaller infractions.   Only pols and the rich seem able to bribe and get away with it most of the time. 

I like Elizabeth Edwards and she doesn't look well.  :-(

7.

Monica Smith
Fri, 06/29/07
5:21 pm

...Frankly, I don't see how sending DFA dollars is going to get Gonzo impeached. It's not like taking out a billboard in a guy's district where lots of people already know he's a sleeze. ...

----

Good point Monica. I thought that too but then I figured the good folks at DFA probably already have something cooking on the back burner. I just hope it's not any rubber chickens.

I sent in small donation for the effort, bat or no bat. I just want our country back.

16.

sea,

SC judges can be impeached in much the same way a president in impeached.

I believe what they have just done on segregation of schools is confusing and probably just the beginning of what they might do about it in the future.

It seems to me that they have violated the trust of the people who have supported desegregation for decades without complaint by the majority. Why this racist reversal is beyond me. Must be part of the Nazi-fascist dreams for America they have. Next will be the hanging of all homosexuals and slavery of blacks and browns.

Grounds for impeachment? That is up to the legislative branch.

19.

sea,

I would expect Americans are still very welcome in Costa  Rica. Much of their economy is based upon its very busy tourism. We were well taken care of. We went in late May after the tourist season and after the deadline for the rainy season to begin.

Consequently, tourists were scarce then so we had tour guides to ourselves who led us into unbelievable forests to see parrots and moneys and birds of all kinds , volcanos and the black sand beaches of the southern Pacific coast.

Of all the places I have visited, this is one of the few places I would love to return to. Just don't ever try to drive in Costa Rica yourself. All the roads are horrible and full of huge potholes.

On 7.7.07 more than two billion people will come together during Live Earth. That number is unfathomable - more than one-fourth of the world’s population will participate in a single event and demand a solution to the climate crisis. This unique moment presents us with a unique choice.

Do we use this unprecedented opportunity to organize a global movement that will last beyond 7.7.07? Or do we let the moment pass?

I know my answer - and I think I know yours. That’s why I am issuing this challenge: Let’s use this moment to pledge our support to solving the climate crisis. Just as important – let’s ask everyone we know to join us as part of this movement.

Sign the 7.7.07 Live Earth Pledge:

http://liveearthpledge.org/algore.php

The 7.7.07 Live Earth Pledge:

I PLEDGE:

1. To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;

2. To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral;"

3. To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;

4. To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;

5. To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;

6. To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,

7. To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

Sign the Live Earth Pledge by visiting:

http://liveearthpledge.org/algore.php

Together we were able to make March’s Congressional hearings a huge moment by collecting more than 500,000 messages and demonstrating the significant public support for solving the climate crisis to our elected leaders and the media. Our next opportunity to demonstrate this growing movement will come on 7.7.07

Live Earth will not just be a 24-hour concert – but the launch of a massive campaign to demonstrate that the political will exists to solve the climate crisis.

Sign the Live Earth Pledge by visiting:

http://liveearthpledge.org/algore.php

As our movement grows larger we will shake loose the paralysis currently gripping our political system. Working together we can get it done.

Thank you,


Al Gore

P.S. You can still sign up to host a Live Earth House Party by visiting:

http://joinliveearth.org/gore

I wish these 19 Democrats had not voted for cloture on Alito.  We are seeing the sad effects now.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1361

Hi mprov!

http://liveearthpledge.org/algore.php

I couldn't take this Live Earth pledge but I tried. There is no public transportation in rural area where we live and it's difficult to find somebody to ride share.

*************************************************************

 I was considering the ramifications of the Supreme Court ruling about using race as a criterion for school desegregation long before the ruling came down - it seemed obvious which way they would rule.

 Discussion about school desegregation since then has included opinions about other criteria which may be used to desegregate school districts - including economic status.

As a person of Irish descent - and please bear with me if this at first seems to not be relevant - I always winced when people described the conflict in Ireland as strictly a religeous one. Many individuals whose thoughts on the matter make a lot of sense to me - including Bernadette Devlin and the members of the Cranberries - aptly pointed out how they saw the conflict as more a matter of class and social standing than one of religeous belief. The British government pitted the Irish Catholic against the Irish Protestant while the British government was holding both groups ( although the Catholics much more than the Protestants ) down economically. This is a similar tactic to the way poor whites in America are pitted against poor blacks - rather than both groups recognizing their similar plights and working together against the common foe, the wealthy who are keeping both groups down economically.

 Back to school desegregation - using economic status to integrate schools would, in my opinion, be a much better way to integrate schools and society than integrating by race. Case in point - some middle-class blacks were among the groups who brought suits against school desegregation. They had reached an economic stature which allowed them to move into suburban neighborhoods ( with better-funded schools ).

They had become like Putrid Pat Buchanan has become on the immigration issue. Buchanan, whose Irish ancestors had come to America and been treated horribly - now is perfectly o.k. with the current group of immigrants being treated horribly - rather than insisting that America be more true to its values today than it was yesterday.

Therefore, integration by economic stature - which is still a perfectly legal measure for school desegregation - may in fact be a better way to truly integrate America.

Jmho.

A,AA,IISVGTBHAF.

27. hey, susan. i generally don't like pledges, but thought others not on that list might be interested. i think maybe if a person can't do their best without a pledge, then maybe they couldn't do it anyway???

29. hey, back at you, mprov. And you're assumption is probably correct.

28.

David A. Stevenson
Fri, 06/29/07
7:41 pm


They had become like Putrid Pat Buchanan has become on the immigration issue. Buchanan, whose Irish ancestors had come to America and been treated horribly - now is perfectly o.k. with the current group of immigrants being treated horribly - rather than insisting that America be more true to its values today than it was yesterday.

A,AA,IISVGTBHAF.
-------
David I expect Putrid Pat differentiates between lawful immigrants and outlaw immigrants as do I (also of Irish descent). And I don't think he or I want anyone treated horribly, just lawfully.

btw what do the letters stand for?

Friends,

FYI this "Dear Colleague" letter to Congress was circulated publicly today.

Christine Pelosi

***********************************************************

OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER

June 29, 2007

Dear Colleague:

Thank you all for a successful first six months. With great optimism and hope for the future, we have brought a New Direction to our country.

Nowhere have the American people been more clear about the need for a New Direction than when it comes to the war in Iraq.

Democrats are committed to an American military that is second to none. That is why in this Congress we have made huge investments in America's military readiness. And we will always do whatever it takes to support our troops. But we believe that the best way to support our troops in Iraq is to bring them home.

At a news conference with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other House and Senate Democratic leaders today, I announced that July will be a month of action in the Congress to end the war in Iraq.

Next month, the House will vote on legislation to begin redeployment of our troops within 120 days and to conclude by April 1, 2008, with the exception of those remaining for certain limited purposes.

This is one of many legislative arrows in our quiver, which we will be sharpening in coming weeks. Additional initiatives include legislation to de-authorize the war in Iraq, a bill to prohibit permanent bases in Iraq, and provisions affecting Iraq in the Defense Appropriations bill.

These votes are a recognition that the President's policy is not working, and a reflection of the wishes of the American people.

Democrats have changed the debate on Iraq; now we are working to grow the votes to end the war. Some Republicans, such as Senator Lugar and Senator Voinovich are now joining us in speaking out against the war. The date-certain legislation gives our Republican colleagues another opportunity to join Democrats in heeding the wishes of the American people to wind down this war and bring our troops home.

I hope that we will be able to work in a bipartisan way to redeploy our troops so they can come home safely and soon.

Below is a good wire story on Democrats' efforts to end the war in Iraq.

Please accept my best wishes for a safe and happy Fourth of July.

Best regards,

Nancy Pelosi
Speaker

* * *
Agence France Presse
June 29, 2007
Democrats Target Bush Anew on Iraq
By Stephen Collinson

Democratic leaders of Congress Friday took the wraps off a new effort to force troop withdrawals from Iraq, hoping to heap more political misery on a weakened President George W. Bush.

The new assault on White House Iraq strategy follows the collapse of a landmark immigration drive on Thursday in the Senate, which dealt a grievous blow to Bush's hopes of a legacy-enhancing second-term domestic achievement.

Mounting Republican anxiety over the war is emboldening Democrats, who have been repeatedly frustrated by Bush's congressional allies in their attempts to handcuff him over Iraq policy.

"We have many arrows in our quiver, and we are sharpening them," said House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi Friday, as members of Congress left town for a week-long Independence Day recess.

Pelosi said she would introduce a bill in July to authorize troop redeployments to start within four months and to be completed by April 1, 2008, a formula that Bush has already blocked once with a presidential veto.

The only exceptions would cover forces fighting terrorism and protecting US installations in the war-ravaged country, she said.

Senate Democrats will introduce their own attempts to force Bush to accept troop withdrawal timelines, extend rest periods for troops between deployments and curtail his congressional authorization to wage war.

"People in Iraq are celebrating dying of natural causes," Reid said Friday, relating details of what he said was a "mind boggling" radio report.

"If you die of a heart attack or cancer in Iraq, they celebrate because so many people are being killed prematurely ... I feel that I -- and just not as a senator, but as a person -- have a moral obligation to do what I can to stop the death and suffering. By pushing a withdrawal date, it does just that."

The new Democratic initiative comes a month after party leaders bowed to Bush's demands to strip troop withdrawal timelines out of a new 100 billion dollar emergency war budget.

Although Democrats grabbed control of Congress in elections last November, partly on a wave of voter anger over the war, they lack the crucial super-majority of at least 60 votes in the Senate needed to overcome Republican blocking tactics.

Asked whether signs of ebbing Republican support for Bush could help the Democrats piece together 60 votes, Reid said : "I don't know if we can or not. We're going to keep pushing, because it's the right thing to do."

Bush was able to keep his firewall intact in the last showdown over Iraq because most Republicans and many Democrats were unwilling to take the ultimate step of halting funding for the war while troops were in harm's way.

But as the next Democratic assault will be attached to bills setting policy for the Pentagon, rather than to appropriation bills funding the war effort, some observers believe Republican support may be more prone to fracturing.

Bush on Thursday pleaded with Americans to give time for his strategy of surging nearly 30,000 extra troops into Iraq, to work, after the US death toll rose above 3,500 in the war.

"Americans have got to understand it takes a while to mobilize additional troops and move from the United States to Iraq," he said.

Bush's plea came after two Republican senators broke ranks with renewed calls Wednesday for changes in US strategy.

Senator Richard Lugar, a reluctant rebel and foreign policy expert, sent shockwaves through Washington by warning the "surge" would not work.

Fellow Senate Republican George Voinovich, who like Lugar has resisted Democratic attempts to curtail Bush's war powers, recommended a disengagement from Iraq.

The new Democratic attempt to skewer Bush on Iraq is seen as a prelude to what is shaping up as a crucial month in September, when the US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus is expected to report on the progress of the surge.

Senior Republicans in the House and the Senate have said they expect Bush will have little option but to look for a course change in Iraq once the report is delivered.

Annilow - in case David is off... A,AA,IISVGTBHAF
and as always, it is so very good to be here among friends :-)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hi, bye til tomorrow

♥'s to all

Kindness is free!

Annilow
Fri, 06/29/07
9:03 pm

Reply to this

Thank you, thankful - for explaining my tagline !

Annilow, two points about the "illegal immigrant" vs. "legal immigrant" matter :

Up until a few years ago - when Ireland's economy became much stronger - the word was that at any given moment, there were over a million "illegal immigrant" Irish in Boston alone. It would be incredibly presumptive to think that Pat Buchanan's ancestors came here on the up-and-up.

Secondly, the deck is horribly stacked against immigrants from many nations. They would have virtually no chance of coming to the U.S. "legally". When the so-called "free-trade" agreements crushed Mexico's agricultural small farm economy, the choice became for many to head for the U.S. or starve. Tough choice, eh ?

Corporate America plays both ends against the middle with these hard-working immigrants. They pay them rotten wages - then they want an immigration bill passed that would punish them severely for standing up against unfair employment practices.

Nowhere in the quiver full of arrows is a statement indicating that we will leave their oil alone.  I guess the oil corps, ie cheney, will continue to rape and  pillage.

CAIRO, Egypt - The death of a 12-year-old Egyptian girl at the hands of a doctor performing female circumcision has sparked a public outcry and prompted health and religious authorities to ban the practice.

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Call to end female circumcision

Muslim scholars from around the world have called for female genital mutilation to be banned and those who carry it out to face punishment.

At a conference on the subject in the Egyptian capital Cairo, the scholars said governments should enforce existing laws against the practice.

Earlier, the top religious authorities in Egypt said religion offered no justification for the procedure.

Paine, I can't bear to look at that photo.  I read a detailed book on this subject and I wanted to burn it.  It's the women who have perpetrated this barbaric act.  Of course I'm sure the men coerced them in different ways.

Makes me want to scream.

seashell

yup, sorry, but it was timely news.  Really rips you up.  I think it important to post the photo of the young GIRL who died for a belief and "about $9 to a female physician to perform the procedure."

CNN's Malveaux Gushes Over Jenna Bush

Malveaux to write book on Bush family.  <Projected best seller.

Keep the pressure building with an end of quarter contribution of $15!

https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/gonzo

On Murdoch

Bill Moyers, 06.29.2007

FOX News huffs and puffs, pontificates and proclaims, but does little serious original reporting. Now he's about to bring under the same thumb one of the few national newsrooms remaining in the country.

~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~

Electronic big band jazz:

Mocean Worker

CD: Cinco de Mowo
Song: "Tickle It"

From Moyers:

* Rupert Murdoch is no saint; he is to propriety what the Marquis de Sade was to chastity. When it comes to money and power he's carnivorous: all appetite and no taste. *

>

Greenspan loved Ayn Rand (it seems)

Murdoch is an ideal character in her fiction

Hey yo, seashell!  FYI - new thread.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/21351#comment-1096629

34.

David A. Stevenson
Fri, 06/29/07
9:58 pm

Well David, I do agree with one thing -- corporate America is the root of all evil. Well I guess not all. But 2 wrongs don't make a right -- in other words, if Mexico passes a law (or an agreement) that is detrimental to its citizens, why is it up to the US to solve it? I find my health insurance premiums difficult to pay. Should Canada have to take me in?