How to Talk to a Republican #10 - National Security

My dad used to say Republicans start wars so Democrats can get us out of them. And I used to laugh at my father's wisdom.

The myth that Democrats are somehow soft on national security arose during the Congressional endgame of the Vietnam War. Johnson knew the war was lost during the last half of his presidency and Nixon knew it was lost going in. Still they escalated until finally the Democratic Congress of the age defunded the war. Then two years after the combat role officially ended, Saigon fell and the Republicans have been blaming Democrats for the defeat ever since. If we'd stayed a little while longer, the historical revisionists among them say, we could have won.

Fast-forward to 2007. Our all-volunteer army has been fighting two wars since 2002 and it is broken. Neither war is being won because resources we could have used to win the just war in Afghanistan were diverted to Iraq and now the Right is rattling sabers in Iran's direction. If I'm right in my reason for the Iraq war, not to remove Saddam nor to lock up Iraq's oil but to establish a more powerful strategic presence to defend oilmen in the Persian Gulf, we are in Iraq precisely to counterbalance Iran but I digress.

As a result of his two expeditionary wars, Bush has broken the Army. The soldiers broken in the war are receiving bureaucratic run-arounds to receive treatment in facilities crawling with roaches and contaminated with rat feces. If the damage is psychological, commanders are simply discharging the soldiers rather than treating them. While GOPers in their SUVs sport yellow "Support our Troops" ribbons, they perpetuate the troops' sacrifice through their excessive use of resources...

I could go on but if you want support of the troops, I can't think of a worse record than the Republicans' From endless war failed war planning to invading "on the cheap" to overextension of the National Guard to recruiting standards to the body armor crisis to armored HUMVEEs to substandard Veterans' hospitals to deployments lasting one day too short for the Guard troops to receive benefits, the Republicans have failed our soldiers at every turn. The only possible response to a GOPer who says "we're the party of national security" is a good belly laugh.

Unfortunately, the joke's on our troops.

Cross-posted from Colorado Progressive.

New Posters

We're up to five people posting on HD 40 Dems, one of which is our candidate for Colorado's 6th Congressional District, Mike Collins. After the Tancredo years, Mike will be a refreshing change in Washington. Authors always wanted! See the panel at the right for instructions.

A Few More Modern Newspapers...

Center for American Progress
and its companion site Science Progress.
Huffington Post is another good site for news and commentary.
Then there's The Progressive.
And if you want commentary with an international flavor, there's Watching America.
Enjoy the sites. There's a lot of good info on all of them you won't get from CNN.

Your new newspapers

Recently invited to blog at this site, my only intent is to share with you the news of the day – unread, unheard, unlearned by many voters on an ongoing basis.

Setting out to learn the cause of the endless Congressional barrier to scheduling hearings on articles of impeachment, I began to research online. It did not take long to find background on the holdup plus abundantly available data on much on the machismo breakdown of the U.S. government. The links provided at web political home pages, site-to-site, are an education on the Gulleverian tie-up of, well, us. Can and do we Colorado residents discuss this all intelligently being well-informed, and because we want to come together and save the government?

If we were all to actually attempt to learn what we need to know to discuss why Congress doesn’t function sensibly, we might find the answers by clicking and reading these links, if only one article per day, at such as: www.afterdowningstreet.com (the granddaddy); also, uncensored news, analysis and commentary at http://www.onlinejournal.com, www.thenation.com, www.antiwar.com (Discussion of War Party), www.counterpunch.com political newsletter, www.democrats.com, (Aggressive Progressives), www.aipac.org. AIPAC is not the same as the nation of Israel. Ask Jimmy Carter. I would ask you to look at the AIPAC home page, or its new subcomponent, American Friends of Likud (AFL – isn’t that sweet?), http://www.thelikud.org/, if only at the banners across the top, which present in a proprietary fashion, the U.S. Flag or a simile of it…almost looks like a U.S. patriotic site, rather than a website representing foreign interests, doesn’t it?

Searching words like Wahabi, Bush cousin, Arab-American Institute, Zogby, Likud Party, then adding impeachment, or names of Senators and Congresspersons and adding a foreign interest, such as Irgun, Rahm Emanuel, Feinstein, Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, John Conyers, Lieberman, Clinton, endless Republican congresspersons as well as other Democrats, all functioning as Lilliputians to an American ship of state called “Gulliver.” No, Irgun/Likud/AIPAC does not equate to the Nation of Israel. But, does Arab-American Institute and Wahabi/Bush cousin equate to the Arab on the street, or Bin Laden Bets to the Muslim, or does the USA equate to rogue militant machismo power roaming the world, at the behest of stringpullers? The answers are individual to newsreaders. Please consider searching elected officials under www.wikipedia.org, just stringing an elected person’s name with Wikipedia should bring you the site. Click www.Opensecrets.org at the end of each such bio, especially in the 2005-06 donor section. Addressing the endless war:

It is widely acknowledged that the reps and senators are ticked at AIPAC, and their hostility seems to be growing these days. With upwards of 60% of their campaign contributions coming directly or indirectly from the Israel Lobby, the Democratic congressmen are not free to respond to their antiwar base (emphasis added). This opens them to an antiwar electoral challenge on the Left or Right from forces not subservient to AIPAC. And that could cost them their next election, a little thing, which has them very worked up. Capuano's cry of "AIPAC" was no simple outburst of candor but a cri de coeur for his career. http://www.topix.com/forum/il/hadarom/TMEGP0D7URLF6T1LB

It will take more than hundreds of thousands of citizen oncologists to surgically operate, cauterize and treat the U.S. Government for the rot finagled inside this government by interested foreign outsiders. Where does it begin and where does it end? Too busy with your plans for the future to click? What plans, again? Are you recognized among the “brothers and sisters,” or know them? In the spirit of American government, the executive offices upstairs are empty now. Though there may be committees meeting on the middle floors, no one is home at the top, though some workers may still clock in daily. Those who believe that when a federal candidate says they will do this and that, and imply the power is in place to do that, they are mistaken, and misleading you. In the chain of command there are no American executives that the public would recognize at work upstairs. Okay, okay, there might be some really sick puppies playing around – what a cleanup job!

It is said that the most effective Congresspersons are the freshmen and sophomores. They make an effort until they recognize the ghost ship of state in a sea of fog owned and sailed under a foreign flag. If we are too busy to board the ship and replace the flag, what is it that is so important that we are so busy about?

Espionage. Perhaps, search, “espionage trial 2004 U.S.”

If you are not reading the new newspapers, how well can you participate in the discussion: http://www.democracyrising.us/ Democracy Rising seeks to Bring the Troops Home, End the Occupation by Empowering Activists across the Nation and is a national effort based in Washington, DC, http://www.votersforpeace.us/about.html activating voters, www.ivaw.org, national Iraq war vets male and female working to bring Iraq military home now, http://www.gsfp.org/ Goldstar Families for Peace, http://www.veteransforpeace.org/ Denver’s Vets for Peace who did make it into the local Veterans parade this month, at first denied a place. How did Denver’s group manage it? Know who is who among them?

Writers: The truest/purest Gore Vidal wrote the following Oct. 27, 2002, and is now following the Kucinich campaign: a 'Bush junta' used the terrorist attacks as a pretext to enact a pre-existing agenda to invade Afghanistan and crack down on civil liberties at home. He gets it right first because of a strict standard for telling the truth of much of what he knows. John Nichols, David Swanson, Richard C. Cook, John V. Walsh. Know them as their names will become, like the radio commentators of the greatest generation.

How much more would each of you be able to contribute to clean up if, say, any one of the following websites would be clicked almost every day, and any one article read by you? Meet those in the ranks, pretty much known as the “brothers and sisters,” “Peace and Justice,” the marchers, the sit-inners, the sit-downers, those who are on trial in Denver next month for sitting down at 15th and Stout in the Columbus Day Parade because they learned that the iconography of some guy from Malta, who has nothing to do with Italians, and everything to do with genocide, pretty much links with the concept that genocide always attaches to imperialism, the Vets for Peace who did march in the Veterans Parade in Denver after all, the people who sit at John Conyers office by the hour, momenting the words, whom the Congressional switchboard operators call “those people;” the phone responders when the “call” message is sent out; those who wear orange. Do you see yourself here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rose. Learn that most of the above persons and those that help Kucinich and Conyers and Wexler to feel helped, Feinstein to back down, and who seem to finally be reaching Pelosi, would not identify themselves as Democrats.

Those who inveterately cross these website thresholds are the Activists; the ones causing change, not, it appears, your congressperson, senator, president, or Party workers. Elected officials hope readers and knowers and learners and investigators provide them “coverage,” courage, and strength and they know, really, it will come from those with a willingness to educate yourselves so you understand where the attacks that undermine U.S. strength and independence are coming from by becoming cognizant of these sites and others: http://www.innworldreport.net/ articles plus links to guest writers and partners, http://www.bradblog.com/ - voter fraud, http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/ (Is Lou Dobbs fronting for Michael Bloomberg?), http://www.legitgov.org/ is this legit or what? http://www.commondreams.org independent investigative journalism; accountability of corporations at http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11314 - http://www.dailykos.com/ - State of the Nation, http://journals.democraticunderground.com/davidswanson/256, the ACLU is finally joining in, http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/index.jsp - covering the newspaper industry, http://www.accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=1591 …the Institute for Public Accuracy makes frequent communication possible between independent policy analysts and working journalists, http://www.juancole.com/, http://anonymousliberal.com/ - blog by a lawyer, http://www.vheadline.com/main.asp - Democracy in Venezuela. Someone want to check this out? http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/categories/20070329 In the tradition of Drew Pearson's and Jack Anderson's famous "Washington Merry-Go-Round" syndicated column and I.F. Stone, this online publication tackles the "politically incorrect" and "politically embarrassing" stories and holds government officials accountable for their actions, http://angryarab.blogspot.com/ - politics, war, mid-east, culture and art – and some interesting illustrative political cartoons; The Smirking Chimp - and what is planned for the 5th Fleet:http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18687.htm, They’ve got muck; we’ve got rakes, http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002494.php; Lieberman says No to investigating Blackwater at www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2007/10/5747, www.thinkprogress.org, research and analysis.

How to Talk to a Republican #9: Estate Taxes

Warren Buffett, no relation to Jimmy, is a billionaire. He has made billions by buying and trading stocks. When Buffett speaks about money, I listen.

The Right calls it the Death Tax, claiming it's somehow unfair to leave the heirs and assigns of one who has lived the American Dream(tm) with a reduced sum of money. This argumentation is incorrect on many levels but here's what Buffett had to say:

"Without the estate tax, you in effect will have an aristocracy of wealth, which means you pass down the ability to command the resources of the nation based on heredity rather than merit," Buffett told the New York Times in 2001. "[Repeal would be like] choosing the 2020 Olympic team by picking the eldest sons of the gold-medal winners in the 2000 Olympics."

Let me get one thing straight: I fully support the ability of the first generation entrepreneur to get as rich as he or she can figure. And I fully support the obligation of the second generation to earn it again. And the third generation, well, famous third-generation babies include George W. Bush and Paris Hilton. Should they be rich? As Buffett said, it's an aristocracy of wealth.

I call it self-perpetuating wealth, assets that pay beyond the point where they can be spent. Second-generationers may ward and grow the family business some but they normally end up putting their wealth in second-generation assets, stocks excluding IPOs. These do not benefit the broader economy as none of the money from the sale goes back to the company issuing the shares. They may employ a few stockbrokers, an illegal maid or two but on the whole, their wealth becomes parasitic. And by the third generation, well, Bush and Hilton.

119 of the nation's richest people are signing on to prevent repeal of the estate tax. The estate tax is the greatest protector against generational wealth and the greatest re-distributor of wealth possible. In Europe, a large part of their higher living standard and greater emphasis on mid-size companies can be attributed to the estate tax, called the opportunity tax by some there. And hey, if Buffett says it's good money sense, it probably is.

Impeachment update

Do you have any idea how desperate the corporate media is to suppress coverage of the growing impeachment movement? One of the most riveting events to occur in Congress in recent history occurred last week, and not one of the major so-called news channels wanted you to know it had happened. An incredible live event, and they didn't even cover it. But they will, finally, if only more of us speak out now. Cheney Impeachment Action Page: http://www.usalone.com/hres333.php Facebook Version: http://apps.facebook.com/fb_voices/action.php?qnum=pnum709 On Nov. 6, 2007, Dennis Kucinich brought a privileged resolution calling for the impeachment of Vice President Cheney, based on just a couple of Cheney's constitutional high crimes. And for two hours the House of Representatives was tied up in knots trying to figure out how to try to shut him up. In their contempt for the people, the Republicans committed the colossal tactical blunder of trying to mock the momentous occasion. When the Democratic so-called leadership tried to table the Kucinich resolution, as we expected them to do, the Republican big shots suddenly directed their underlings to change their votes, to start voting AGAINST the motion to table, thereby forcing the very vote Kucinich sought. The entire House of Representatives was thrown into a turmoil. It was high drama as the motion to table suddenly was being rejected numerically, with Republican help. The scheduled 15 minute vote extended into two hours, with nobody in a leadership position knowing how to deal with the crisis of one man standing up and speaking the truth. And did you hear about this incredible drama on your cable TV. No you did not. Now the defeatists out there, and we know they are out there, will try to tell you that because the impeachment resolution was ultimately sent to the Judiciary Committee that nothing more will happen. That's like saying because the indictment was given to a judge and a prosecutor, that will be the end of it. But whatever the vain intent of certain so-called Congressional leaders, the Judiciary Committee is exactly where we want the resolution, for that is where the actual impeachment articles must emerge from. Look at what's actually happening, and not what the right wing spinners are trying to tell you is happening. Progressive talk personalities are calling for action all over the dial. They are giving out toll free congressional phone numbers and calling on their listeners to now put real pressure on the Judiciary Committee. This is happening only because your voices forced the issue in the first place, by calling those shows and talking about impeachment and the necessity for it. Look at what's actually happening. Members of the House are being forced to justify why they have not yet acted to defend and protect the Constitution. And their lame and pathetic excuses are exposing just how poorly represented the people of the United States are. More people are realizing that their voices do count, and that Congress has no answer to defend their failure to do their sacred constitutional duty. It is only because of the impeachment movement that attention is being focused on Cheney's insane fixation on bombing Iran and starting the last World War of them all. It is only your voices that can stop the secret march to Armageddon, as they make up new lies to sucker the American people into yet another, and even more monumental, military debacle. Yes, the heat is on the Judiciary Committee alright. Their first bleating reaction was to talk about how busy they were putting together a contempt citation for Mier and Bolton. This is something that should have happened instantly 6 months ago when the subpoenas were first defied, at the direction of the Cheney White House, itself an impeachable offense. Well, we'll just see if they even do that in the next two weeks. Yes, the heat is on the Judiciary Committee, as more and more people all over the country raise their voices, some for the perhaps the first time. Join those voices now. Use the either of the action pages below to send your personal message to the Judiciary Committee, Nancy Pelosi and your own member of the House as well. Tell them we will not shut up. Tell them we will not go away. Tell them they work for us and not the other way around. Cheney Impeachment Action Page: http://www.usalone.com/hres333.php Facebook Version: http://apps.facebook.com/fb_voices/action.php?qnum=pnum709 What is actually happening is they have stupidly and arrogantly given the people hope. And hope is the most powerful enemy the corrupters of our democracy have. The only thing they have going for them is fear, and its two evil twins, defeatism and inaction. The rule only by fear . . . flooding our TVs with propaganda and smug indifference to the will of the people, masquerading as the news. Tell them you are not afraid. Tell them you will no longer be ruled by fear. Speak out now to force the hand of the Judiciary Committee, and necessary truth of how our country has been systematically betrayed by imperial subversives in the White House for the last 7 years will be heard and confronted, at last. Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this alert as widely as possible. If you would like to get alerts like these, you can do so at http://www.usalone.com/in.htm Or if you want to cease receiving our messages, just use the function at http://www.usalone.com/out.htm