Still Fighting

Activism

The other day, we pointed you to the One America Committee, which is dedicated to helping elect Democratic candidates across the country. But it's so much more than that. Started by John and Elizabeth Edwards, OAC is dedicated to getting you involved. You can help support Cindy Sheehan by signing Elizabeth Edwards's letter of support here. You can help OAC get the minimum wage raised here. You can read about John Edwards's and Jack Kemp's efforts with the Council on Foreign Relations here. OAC is definitely a site that you should bookmark and check often. Half the battle of getting this country back on track is electing progressives. The other half is mobilizing with groups like OAC and doing your part.

News

Roberts Disparaged States' Sex-Bias Fight. Ladies and Gentlemen, your Supreme Court Justice nominee, John G. Roberts. Roberts wrote against states battling against female discrimination. In a quote that just defies logic, Roberts wrote that he wondered whether "encouraging homemakers to become lawyers contributes to the common good." Ironically, ten years later he married an attorney. He also supported the idea of a National ID card (He once wrote "I think this audience would be pleased that we are trying to grant legal status to their illegal amigos," referring to the publication Spanish Today). He agrees with the idea of "defund[ing] the left." He counseled Reagan against saying that AIDS couldn't be transmitted through casual contact. These are just some examples of the things found in the already-released documents from the Reagan Library. And this man will begin his Senate Confirmation Hearings September 6, 2005. And Democrats are prepared to let him just waltz through.

Bush's Aid Cuts on Court Issue Roil Latin American Neighbors. In 2002, Bushco started asking countries to exempt Americans from the then-new International Criminal Court. Many refused, and so Bush started pulling their aid. Imagine that - they refused! America isn't above the International Criminal Court - even thinking so reduces the effectiveness of the ICC and the 139 countries that back it. What's interesting is what's between the lines - does Bush anticipate sending Americans (or has he already?) into situations where their actions could be construed as War Crimes? But we're not just talking about military figures. Bush wants protection for civilians and tourists. Again, so much for international cooperation.

U.S. 'Will Not Relent' in Iraq, Cheney Tells Veterans Group. "The war is going fine. The war is going fine. LA LA LA LA! The war is going fine! If you disagree, you are a bad American. We're gonna keep doing what we're doing, cuz the war is going fine." Ladies and gentlemen, we have just summarized Dick Cheney's recent speech to the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Yes, the same Order of the Purple Heart that John Kerry is a member of, and the same Order that attendees to the 2004 RNC convention mocked with purple-hearted band-aids. Putting that aside, it's pretty amazing that Cheney refuses to hear what anyone in the nation is saying. Public opinion has turned against the war, but he believes by reciting over and over again how well it's going, and how we won't give up, that somehow this will make us successful. Chuck Hagel disagrees, as does most of America. Who's out of touch with America now, Dick?

Editorials

It Takes the Right Army. "As Iraqi forces stand up, we will stand down." Sounds great, doesn't it? Of course, no one even knows how many trained and equipped Iraqi forces there are. (Answer: Not enough.) But is that even the right approach? More troops will hopefully improve day-to-day security, but what about tactical operations? What about transportation? What about air support? All of these things we take for granted because of America's superior firepower. What happens when that goes away, and they're left with a bunch of inexperienced, undermanned, under-equipped troops? At this point, it doesn't seem there's any good way out of this quagmire.

Louisiana Purchase: The Feds Recruit Culture War Cadets. Some days, it seems that if Republicans had their way, there would be absolutely no line between religion and government. We're willing to bet that they'd feel differently if their religion wasn't the most popular one in this country. The problem is, the line between church and state is actively being blurred. And let's not pretend that abstinence-only education is somehow good public policy. No, it's a product of religious dogma, and they're using tax dollars to spread it. Not only that, but they're taking funds earmarked for abstinence-only education, and using it to breed dogmatic politicians. The article is long, but an important read if you want to understand and loosen the stranglehold that the religious right is trying to put on this country.

Blogger Commentary

Another Mission Unaccomplished. Iraq, Iraq, Iraq: It's all you seem to hear about these days. But what about Afghanistan? Surely we must be wrapping things up there, right? Wrong. Despite leaving out a couple of years worth of stats, we're taking steadily increasing casualties, up to 69 this year. The Taliban is learning from the Iraqi insurgents. It's too bad that we don't seem to learn as quickly as they do. If Afghanistan regresses into chaos, it'll be yet another casualty of the Iraq war. How many can we afford?

Modern Newt. Oh Newt Gingrich, you were gone barely long enough for us to miss you! Well, now the Newt might be back, possibly gearing up for a 2008 run. But let's not forget who Newt truly it. He's a radical, who seems to believe that there truly is a left-wing conspiracy to undermine religion, and who set his sites on taking down Clinton. He may be a little more genial and entertaining at times, but that doesn't make him any less heartless or dangerous. He's not quite as good at hiding his disturbing agenda, but that's not a good excuse to allow him to return to power. Hopefully, it'll just make it easier to expose his true extremist beliefs to America.

Activism

One America Committee. The class divide in American has grown under Bush's careful guidance. Tax cuts for the richest among us ensure that having money is, indeed, the best way to make more. The One America Committee is dedicated to building one America, for all of us, by helping to elect Democrats across the country. The site features both a text blog and a video blog, as well as news, podcasts, and resources on political issues. Electing Democrats won't magically make everything better, but it's an important first step in reversing the trend of American aristocracy for some while so many others barely scrape together a living.

News

Officer: Army Unit Blocked from Sharing 9/11 Info with FBI. What did the government know, and when did it know it? This news bombshell just landed recently: More than a year before the attacks of September 11th, a secret military unit had identified two of the three terror cells involved. Mohammad Atta and three other hijackers were identified in 2000 by the "Able Danger" unit, but lawyers from the Special Operations command rejected suggestions that this information be shared with the FBI. It's easy to look back with hindsight and gauge where things went wrong, but this piece in particular shows how dysfunctional our intelligence-sharing systems have been. Hopefully this is one lesson we'll learn from.

More Dead Bring Anguish, Anger in Ohio. Are we turning a corner? Is the insurgency in its last throes? These and other statements made by administration officials paint a rosy picture of inevitable American victory in the War in Iraq. But the death toll of American troops continues to rise, and as more people here lose friends and loved ones over there, the difference between what we're told and what we later learn to be true is growing ever more stark. The death of sixteen Ohio Marines has prompted wider debate on whether the ongoing sacrifice is worthwhile.

Protest Campsite Moving Closer to Bush Ranch. Cindy Sheehan's protest has grown beyond even her expectations. Camp Casey, as it is called, is a sprawling hodgepodge of chairs and tents staked out on a small piece of public land near Bush's Crawford ranch. The protestors' campsite has been a point of contention for Crawford residents, some of whom wish it would all just go away. Now one of Bush's neighbors has offered the protesters more space to spread out on his land, which is not only closer to Bush's ranch but also right across the street from his church. Bush himself may just wish they'd go away, but with the extra legal protection of being invited guests on private property it seems Camp Casey is here to stay.

Editorials

More Than Minority Blues. One representative laments "I sense arrogance on the part of many of my colleagues," saying such arrogance can take hold "when members of Congress seem to be unaccountable for their actions." These comments aren't those of Democrats, as you might expect, but instead among those made in 1987 of then-minority Republicans frustrated by Democratic dominance in Washington. There are two lessons here: Complacency and arrogance among the majority can lead to its downfall, and those who forget the past are usually doomed to repeat it.

Does the U.S. Plan to Be in Iraq Forever? BushCo says we'll stay in Iraq until the job is done, but that job is still yet to be clearly defined. Pulling out early will embolden insurgents, we're told, but with rumors of permanent US military bases being built in Iraq, it's not clear that leaving is part of the plan. Spreading democracy is all well and good, if that is in fact what we're doing there; the planting of permanent military installations on Iraqi soil, if true, may indicate that more than freedom is on the march.

Blogger Commentary

October, 2001: Earliest Documentation on Iraq War Planning. It's amazing that documents like these come out and no one seemed to bat an eyelash. Take a hop over to the link and you'll see what we mean.

The New Know-Nothings. It seems pretty clear that for all their bluster, the Bush administration really doesn't know much about Iraq, or foreign policy in general, for that matter. But when the get caught in a lie, or even just a case of being flat-out wrong, do they admit it? No, of course not. Instead, they venture into philosophy. In such a complex world, can anything really be "known" for certain? And if not, is it fair to blame the Bush administration for not knowing how miserably they'd fail in Iraq? The answers, of course, are "maybe not", and "absolutely". Postmodernism really isn't an effective foreign policy.

Activism

Campus Activism. There was a lot of discussion last year around mobilizing young voters to get involved in the election, and the Campus Activism site provides tools for today's progressive youth to stay involved past Election Day. Students can use the site to connect with each other, sharing information and resources on the causes they care about. Browse through the site's listings of campaigns, speakers, and resources, keep track of upcoming political events, and exchange ideas with other students at the forum. Students are often dismissed as unmotivated slackers, too busy to get involved in (or even care about) how the world they'll inherit is being shaped today. The Campus Activism site provides students the tools they need to get involved in making a difference.

News

US Fights Fresh Abu Ghraib Images. Prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib became a big story when photos surfaced last year of American troops humiliating and physically abusing detainees at the prison, twenty miles west of Baghdad. Since that time, administration officials have dismissed the prisoner abuse as the work of a few "bad apple" soldiers, and indeed it has been only these low-level personnel who have been punished. Now there are more photos of prisoner abuse, and our government is trying to keep them out of the public eye, claiming that releasing them will only aid the insurgency. With reports of officials as high as Alberto Gonzales and Donald Rumsfeld involved in setting the policies that led to this culture of abuse, it's no wonder that they're desperate to deflect attention. This kind of inhumane treatment of prisoners is one of the arguments used against Saddam Hussein, back when this war was about taking him out. I'm sure Bush would love to have this whole affair disappear without a trace; what he and his chickenhawk administration don't understand is that we have a right to know what they're doing over there in our name, and the responsibility to hold them accountable for it.

Still No Agreement on Iraq Constitution. Since almost the very beginning of the war he chose to start, Bush has touted visions of a free and independent Iraq. Milestones were marked when Baghdad fell, when Saddam Hussein was captured, and when elections were held. Bush himself predicted that the Iraq elections would amaze the world "that a society has been transformed so quickly." The latest step on Iraq's journey toward a free and democratic society is the writing of its Constitution, which is scheduled to be completed today. Unfortunately for Bush's timetable, there are several key issues which remain unresolved, and so far it seems that consensus is still out of reach for the various groups involved in defining the form that a free and democratic Iraq will take. Kurds and Shiites remain divided over what role Islam will play in defining Iraqi law, and there isn't much time left for them to reach a concensus. One Shiite member of the constitutional committee stated that only a bare majority of the national assembly, "fifty percent plus one," is required to approve their Constitution; hardly an atmosphere of consensus on the eve of a new society's birth.

Four Amendments & a Funeral. Matt Taibbi spent a month observing the intimate inner workings of our Legislative Branch, and his report in this month's Rolling Stone is a wake-up call to anyone who isn't already paying attention. Taibbi followed Representative Bernie Sanders as he worked on passing four legislative amendments, three of which did pass and a fourth which never came up for a vote. Ultimately all four amendments were defeated by what Taibbi calls "the grossly corrupt and absurd vortex of political dysfunction that is today's U.S. Congress." Sanders himself says that if anybody knew how Congress was really run, "they'd go nuts." It's nothing new to those of us who've been paying attention, except in the scope of this report's detail: For the first time, we're treated to a detailed accounting of how our Congress works behind closed doors. Massive giveaways in Bush's recent victories on the Hill, an energy bill and a highway bill loaded with corporate kickbacks and stuffed with hometown pork, were "a veritable bonfire of public money." We always sort of knew that this kind of thing goes on, but the real question now is what can we possibly do to put a end to it?

Editorials

Mr. Bush, Let's Talk. Cindy Sheehan started a buzz that so far refuses to die down, a wonder in itself in this age of ADD media hype. Those on the left applaud her and support her cause; those on the right cast doubt on her character and tell her to sit down and shut up. We can't bother the president, they say: He's either on vacation or still working hard, depending on who you talk to. Just yesterday he took a bike ride, after telling reporters that he can't talk with Cindy because it's important for him to get on with his life. In theory, those who hold elected office have a duty of responsibility toward those they represent, and the foundation of our society is based in part on governance by the will of the people. It seems Bush defines "the people" as only those who support him, financially and otherwise. It's true that he did meet with Cindy once before, shortly after the death of her son, but since then a lot of new information has come out that casts doubt on his shifting justifications (and there have been many), and highlights the fact that there's no clear goal in Iraq. Bush could defuse this situation by giving her what she wants, but he continues to hide himself behind a wall of privilege, rhetoric, and denial. Mr. Bush, tear down that wall!

Kissinger's Revisionist History Lesson. Supporters of Bush's war in Iraq deny there are parallels between the Vietnam War and where we find ourselves in Iraq today. Henry Kissinger was Nixon's Secretary of State, and he draws on his experience as an architect of our withdrawal from Vietnam to analyze how a similar withdrawal from Iraq might affect the war effort there. The problem is, Kissinger views the end of the Vietnam War as a success story for America, and by focusing solely on military matters he ignores the larger social and cultural issues involved. Public perception had much to do with the war effort then, and it plays a large part of the Bush administration's strategy today. The sad truth is their focus is more on ensuring continued support for the war and less on ensuring that the actions they take, in our name and on our behalf, make sense and get the job done. Kissinger's rosy view of the past colors his perspective today, and by focusing solely on what he believes should be true he perpetuates BushCo's narrow-minded errors in judgement.

Blogger Commentary

WOW. Cindy Sheehan has been camped out near Bush's "ranch" for just over a week now, and every day she posts updates to let us all know how it's going. This diary of hers at Daily Kos tells the story of a caravan of supporters who showed up at Camp Casey after a rally in downtown Crawford. As much as the Right Wing Noise Machine would make Cindy out to be a shrill tool of the "far left," it's clear from her own words that she is motivated by genuine feelings of grief and betrayal. It's easy to get dispirited by the Bush administrations ability to duck, dodge, deflect, and deny bad news and dissenting opinions, but Cindy shows that all it takes to make a difference is the determination to hold them accountable. Read Cindy's account of this outpouring of support for her and her efforts near the heart of darkness, and take heart yourself: Her struggle is, in a way, also ours, and Bush can't ignore us forever.

Finally, We Are Come to This. We all make mistakes, even though we rarely like to admit them. A main theme of the Bush presidency has been "steadfast" and "resolute" leadership; ignoring the bad news in favor of the good, even if that means making up your own good news to make yourself look better. The Light of Reason blog compares this mindset to that of "a badly damaged adolescent," and uses Bush's warnings against early withdrawal in Iraq to highlight the dangers of this way of thinking. Staying the course does no good if you end up driving off a cliff. Refusing to back down even when you're proven wrong indicates a dangerous disconnect from reality. It must be nice to feel untouchable, wrapped inside a protective bubble of power and privilege where no-one dares question even your simplest mistakes, but when you're in charge of world's most powerful country it's a disaster just waiting to happen. We haven't yet felt the full weight of Dubya's mistakes during his time in the big chair, but ultimately it's just a matter of time.