Censure

by Linda Milazzo

Amy Goodman of Pacifica Network's Democracy Now! was arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota, while trying to free two of her producers, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, who were unlawfully detained. Also arrested was Associated Press photographer, Matt Rourke.

For many in America, Amy Goodman is the defining journalist of their generation. Amy's arrest, and the arrests of nearly 300 others, in addition to the warrantless raids, searches and seizures of private homes, and the creation of the police state of Minnesota in-service to the Republican Party, are unconscionable acts that SHOULD NOT be tolerated.

by Linda Milazzo

IS THIS REALLY WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE?!

by Linda Milazzo

Last Monday evening, in the plush environs of Los Angeles' American Jewish University, a dedicated group of pro-peace, Pro-Constitution patriots "booked" Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. No, I don't mean "booked" as in charged her with a crime and jailed her. In this scenario, "booked" is more akin to "punked" - in which case we surprised Madam Pelosi by revising her new book, and then forced her to read our revisions. Tuh-Dah!!

It happened like this:

Madam Speaker of the House Pelosi, second in line to the Presidency, appeared at a book signing for her ironically titled new tome, "Know Your Power." Since Madam Pelosi has not used her power as Speaker to hold impeachment hearings against George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as prescribed by Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution, we pro-Constitution patriots held her to task. We took her new book and scrawled our personalized imperatives and questions within it. I wrote "Honor Your Oath" on side-by side blank pages in the book and "Debate Cindy Sheehan" on the blank side of the book jacket. See below:

Boulder City Council ponders resolution on calling to impeach Bush
Activists want document drafted to call for president's impeachment
By Ryan Morgan | DailyCamera.com

Boulder's elected leaders are expected to decide next week whether to draft and vote on a resolution calling for the impeachment of President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

The Doo Dah Parade

Three weeks ago, on January 1, 2008, the White Rose Coalition (WRC), a diverse consortium of pro-peace/pro-impeachment patriots, challenged the simplistic Happy New Year message of the 119th Pasadena Rose Parade by penetrating the festivities and infusing it with critical issues of war, war criminals, and Constitutional accountability. Three to four hundred patriots brazenly appeared on the scene to infiltrate one of Southern California's most conservative communities for one of America's most conservative events. The WRC wore Revolutionary era clothing, displayed signs reading "Impeach Bush & Cheney," and held as prisoners bobbleheaded semblances of war criminals George Bush, Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld, dressed in prison stripes with requisite balls and chains.

On Tuesday, January 15th, four free speech/fair election patriots visited the set of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (and guest, Bill Maher, who was coincidentally appearing), to voice their displeasure over NBC, MSNBC and parent company General Electric's refusal to allow Congressman Dennis Kucinich to debate his fellow Democrats in MSNBC's televised Presidential debate to be held that evening. The four First Amendment advocates, Carol Barbieri, Jennifer Epps, Eva James and Mark Lipman, "interrupted" the Tonight Show airing, exercised their Constitutional rights, and used the people's airwaves to inform conglomerate G.E. of its failure to appropriately inform American voters of the views and policies of ALL candidates vying for the nomination of the Democratic Party.

Since their brazen challenge to G.E., NBC and MSNBC via their Tonight Show "presence," there has been wide media speculation as to who the "visitors" were and why they had made so vocal - and perhaps disruptive an "appearance." The following is their OPEN LETTER in their own words to Jay Leno, Bill Maher, MSNBC, conglomerate General Electric, and the American public to provide an in-depth and informative explanation. (Please view the youtube link of their Tonight Show "appearance": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDWsxgVOSk8)

I know these patriots personally and respect their love of nation and their fearlessness. I've been provided this letter and substantiating data to publish on their behalf. I'm delighted to do so:

Five people who staged a sit-in this week in Congressman Maurice Hinchey's Hudson Valley office - demanding the congressman support an effort to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney - will meet again with Hurley Democrat to push their position.

By The Onion

WASHINGTON, DC—In an emblematic move intended to stand in for the official symbolic reprimand of the president, a vehemently well-mannered mob of demonstrators censured an effigy of George W. Bush Tuesday, making known its displeasure over such actions as illegal wiretapping and the politically motivated firing of federal lawyers.

Just in from Senator Feingold:

Over the last week, I've held Listening Sessions across Wisconsin and heard the same sort of comments that thousands of people like you have emailed my way over the last week - it's time to hold the President, and his administration, accountable.

Become A Citizen Co-Sponsor of Censure

The President and Vice President led our nation into an unwise war, under false pretenses, without adequate planning, and have mismanaged the situation that continues today. The President and Attorney General have time and time again thumbed their noses at the Constitution and the rule of law - on everything from warrantless wiretapping to undermining Congress' role to conduct adequate oversight.

House and Senate Dems Introduce New Censure Resolutions Against Bush, Cheney and Gonzales
Unlike Articles of Impeachment the Resolutions, if Passed, Would Carry Absolutely No Actual Consequences for the Men Accused of 'Disregarding Rule of Law'
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4923

First Bill:

S.RES.302
Title: A resolution censuring the President and Vice President.
Sponsor: Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] (introduced 8/3/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 8/3/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

(text not yet available)

________

Second Bill:

S.RES.303
Title: A resolution censuring the President and the Attorney General.

First Bill:

H. RES. 625
Censuring the President and Vice President.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 4, 2007
Mr. HINCHEY (for himself, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. COHEN, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. FARR, Mr. FILNER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HALL of New York, Mr. HONDA, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. LEE, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. PASTOR, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. WATSON, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, and Mr. ROTHMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

Democrats introduce Bush, Cheney, Gonzales censure resolutions in House and Senate
By Nick Juliano, Raw Story

Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced resolutions calling for the censure of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Sen. Russ Feingold sponsored two resolutions in his chamber calling for the legislative action against the administration officials because of they misled the country in pursuing war with Iraq and have undermined the rule of law, he said.

By Jonathan Springston, Atlanta Progressive News

(APN) ATLANTA – Two Democratic lawmakers will introduce censure resolutions next week concerning President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and other Bush Administration officials over the US Invasion of Iraq and other abuses of executive power, Atlanta Progressive News has learned.

By Katrina Vanden Heuvel, www.thenation.org

On Meet the Press Sunday, Senator Russ Feingold, D-Wis., announced that he will be introducing two censure resolutions in the next few days, aimed at holding President Bush, Vice President Cheney and other administration officials responsible for the damage done to our country — weakening our security by misleading us into the disastrous war in Iraq and shredding our Constitution.

By Pat LaMarche, Bangor Daily News

I like to think that humor can be found anywhere. And for the most part I’m right. Oh sure, folks don’t always agree, but it’s not because the material isn’t funny. Some people just don’t get certain jokes; other folks take things too personally, while sadly, some people have no sense of humor at all.

By David Swanson

Here in Virginia they apprehended a suspected murderer yesterday. The man had long been wanted in the death of his wife. He killed 12 police officers in a shoot out before they captured him. His lawyer has released a statement this morning that reads as follows:

"As of yesterday morning my client was deeply repentant for his crime. He does not, however, have any regret for the additional deaths he caused yesterday. He was compelled to take those lives in hopes of persuading our justice system to drop the earlier charges against him and treat him the way major criminals are treated. He is prepared to accept censure. We believed a criminal indictment would be inappropriate and traumatic for the community."

By Bob Geiger
http://www.democrats.com/node/10982

In a move that many Progressives will find incredibly disappointing, Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold has announced that he will not run for president in 2008, choosing instead to focus on his work in the United States Senate.

"I want you to know that I've decided to continue my role as Wisconsin's Junior Senator in the U.S. Senate and not to seek the Democratic nomination for President in 2008," said Feingold in a statement.

By John Nichols, The Nation

When Russ Feingold first argued that the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program was in clear violation of federal law and the spirit of the Constitution, and that the Senate must censure the president for his wrongdoing, the maverick senator was condemned by the White House, ridiculed by Republicans and given the cold shoulder by most Democrats.

But, now, the Wisconsin Democrat who in March proposed that the Senate censure Bush for flagrantly disregarding the law has a federal judge on his side. And the question becomes: When will Democratic and Republican members of the Senate join Feingold in demanding that the administration be held to account for its assaults on basic liberties and the rule of law?

Statement on Muslims condemned
http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/14/stories/2006081415741400.htm

LUCKNOW : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said on Sunday that the UPA Government should bring a censure motion in Parliament against U.S. President George Bush for terming Muslims as `mafia'.

Stating that the Samajwadi Party had condemned the statement, he said it was wrong to blame the entire community for the misdeeds of some.