http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/category_rss/peaceandjustice As of Wed. 11/26 at 6:00 am the responses to this Impeachment OpEd had grown to over 1,246 The right wingers of both the Democrats and Republican parties were doing their best to ruin the discussion and diss the Constitution. They posted garbage using fake names which kept the right wing Dem/GOP messages on top. For instance the message "Blah.. Blah... Blah... this gets old" repeated many times really got in the way of real discussion. Regardless this is a record for comments on that paper for an impeachment discussion. It is a marvel that the Editorial Board allowed the article to be published. Our thanks to everyone who read it and commented at the newspaper. ----------------------------------------------- PLEASE: FORWARD TO YOUR LISTS NOW ! Thanks e. Suggest we all read and comment on this Pro-Impeachment op-ed piece in the Detroit Free Press today. Earlier the better. Getting to 1,000+ comments might help. Interestingly it is placed high on the paper's website. Is the paper now getting behind impeachment??? The comments have tripled to over 500 in 2 hours. Please add your pro-impeachment hearings comment and forward to your lists asap. Thanks John John H Kennedy, Denver CO impeach Colorado Coalition For economy's sake, Pelosi needs to push for impeachment now BY ROCHELLE RILEY Nov. 25, 2008 For economy's sake, Pelosi needs to push for impeachment now Rep. Nancy Pelosi's ineffectiveness became clear the day she became Speaker of the House and immediately announced that there would be no impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney. Advertisement Guided by politics, she said leading investigations into just how much the Bush administration did - and did wrong - would be divisive. What she didn't express was her worry that too many Democrats faced elimination from the House if they took on the difficult task of proving who knew what, when. But Congress is running out of time to finally make the Bush administration own up to its actions for eight years. If Congress isn't careful, the president who already has issued 171 pardons could also pardon every appointee and employee he has ever had - and their dogs. And then Americans will never find out what happened to our country over the past eight years. Pelosi wouldn't have to start from scratch: Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the bravest member of Congress, introduced legislation 11 months ago to impeach the president and vice president. Last January, the House gave a first reading of one of those articles of impeachment. Our own Rep. John Conyers, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, joined 38 other representatives to sponsor HR 635, which would form a committee to look into whether there are grounds for impeachment. Revive that effort! Last week, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, submitted a resolution demanding that Bush stop issuing "pre-emptive pardons of senior officials in his administration during the final 90 days of office." Nadler said in news reports that he was moved to action by the president's "widespread abuses of power and potentially criminal transgressions against our Constitution" and that he wanted to prevent the "undeserved pardons of officials who may have been co-conspirators in the president's unconstitutional policies, such as torture, illegal surveillance and curtailing of due process for defendants." Nadler is storming the beach; others should join him. If Congress moves quickly and forces the president to focus on impeachment, then he won't have so much time to push through last-minute regulatory changes that will continue to hurt our country and our ideals. He already has pushed deregulation that would allow employers to talk directly with employees' doctors and allow power companies to build polluting facilities close to national parks. Anyone worried that our congressional representatives can't tie their shoes and chew gum at the same time, or cannot focus on the economic crisis and impeachment hearings at the same time, will find that many answers to our economic and global defense problems will come from those hearings. The only question I have for Nancy Pelosi is this: What are we waiting for? --------------- If the House Democrats fail to hold Bush and Cheney accountable, they are unlikely to get you Single payer Healthcare or anything else that will take courage to accomplish. --------------- http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQDp http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQDp/commentary#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:02:57 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQDp John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDp/ For several years now the evidence of the Alberto Gonzales gang's manipulation of the Federal Civil Service within the Department of Justice has been well publicized. The fact that right-wing political ideologues were being approved for career professional positions based on social issue orthodoxy, rather than competence and qualifications, is yet another blight on the scandalous legacy of the current occupant of the White House. Today's report in the Washington Post reveals that this practice of burrowing right-wing political operatives into the Civil Service is also in-place in the scientific agencies. Perhaps this is the mis-administration's strategy for making permanent the Republican obsession for combating the truth of science with their twisted political and social priorities. The Center for Public Integrity is soon to release their "Broken Government" study. The fund-raising teaser release promises 120 specific cases. This kind of investigative effort to hold the Bushies accountable as the mis-administration fades into oblivion is crucial.  Revealing and acting on the depth and breadth of this conspiracy is vital to the success of any reforms and corrects to the offenses of the past eight years. The Obama-Biden Administration will be stretched and tested to uncover and flush-out these right-wing activists who have burrowed their way into the Civil Service like so many termites. The evidence of these infestations must be met with quick action. Executive appointees selected for positions above these people must be prepared to take every possible action within the laws and regulations of the Civil Service structure to either get them dismissed, or make it too hard for them to stay and accomplish their nefarious goals. Attention to the selection of the Administrator of the Office of Personnel Management will be a key to success in this area. Various Executive agency inspectors general must be supported in investigating these political opportunists. IF they are found to be substantially unqualified for the job description that they were hired to fill, then it should be clear grounds for dismissal as an unlawful appointment. The Obama-Biden appointees who are saddled with these burdens must enforce clear, precise and enforceable performance standards. When confronted with qualitative requirements to enforce and perform based upon laws and regulations that these infiltrators are likely to hold ambitions to undermine and avoid, could more easily force them to resign. Even in its demise the minions of the current mis-administration are appearing to be increasingly unwilling to follow the current occupant of the White House and the vice out of Washington. This certainly adds to the challenge and urgency of establishing the new administration's executive leadership. Too many months and too many acting, caretaker, leaders in the executive departments will make it all the harder to untangle the tentacles of the Bush parasites. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQDn http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQDn/commentary#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:53:14 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQDn Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDn/ Failed U.S. health care is a major contributor to our systemic economic crisis. Indeed, the excesses of Wall St. and the subprime mortgage catastrophe mirror U.S. health care policy  – both are typified by privatized profit (for investors and insurers), and socialized risk (for taxpayers and consumers). Inflated U.S. health care costs – 16% of GDP and rising – are major contributors to an inflationary economy. Redress of this single aspect of an out-of-control U.S. economy would lift all boats. Comprehensive health care reform would improve the economic status of all, relieving health access concerns of families, individuals and businesses, large and small. So-called "legacy costs" alone, comprised largely of retiree health and pension benefits, have contributed significantly to General Motor’s negative cash flow, prompting yet another request for government bailout. In 2005, costs of health care coverage to GM amounted to $5.6 billion for 1.1 million employees, retirees and their dependents. In 2005 BusinessWeek reported that legacy costs added $1,600 to the cost of each GM vehicle. It’s time to confront the crippling economic effects of employment-linked health coverage that reduces competitiveness of businesses in the world marketplace, reduces effective employee take-home pay, and adds to the costs paid by all for goods and services (note above cost added to each U.S. -made car). State and city budgets, too, are depleted by escalating health costs for employees and retirees. Progressives leaders must do a better job of promoting civic discourse while clearly defining issues, like health care reform. Democrats shoud cease parroting right-wing framing and code words intended to distort the issue, e.g., "government health care" or "socialized medicine," as a couple of recent Colorado candidates have done. We need to refute Republican "free-market" advocacy that treats health care as a commodity to be exploited for maximum profit, with top-skimming of over 25% of health care dollars for private insurance shareholder profits, CEO salaries, excessive administrative costs, marketing, lobbying, etc. "Free-market" health care is as perverse an incentive as free-market police and fire protection would be, leaving everyone vulnerable, at the mercy of the marketplace. Barack Obama showed promise broaching issues during the campaign. He made a start at explaining the high cost of privatizing Medicare (13% higher than traditional Medicare), and the failure of Medicare prescription drug reform that prohibits negotiation of bulk drug rates, as the VA does to save money. The 2003 reform was a giveaway to insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies, with billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies and inflated costs to benefit their bottom lines. Now is the time to make the case for an improved Medicare for All - a public insurance with true free choice of providers and hospitals. By contrast, for-profit insurance choices are narrowly limited to "in-plan" providers, necessitating change of providers with change of insurance. Comprehensive health care reform shoud be part of a broad economic remedy. U.S. health costs are almost double those of all other industrialized nations, and growing; yet we still experience worse overall health outcomes. Increasing numbers of underinsured pay escalating costs for decreasing coverage. Taxpayers currently pay for over 60% of health care costs, including 70% of legislators’ health coverage. By many accounts, that is enough to provide single-risk-pool coverage for all. In fact, single-payer health care is the only model of reform that has demonstrated in over 20 federal and state studies the capacity to save money and provide comprehensive coverage for all. It is time for reform that benefits the worker as well as the CEO. First posted on Huffington Post 11-13-08 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CQDV http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CQDV/commentary#comments Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:33:24 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CQDV Michele S Michele S 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDV/ Obama advisers: Bush era war criminals will walk . No Accountability for Bush, CHENEY, Rumsfeld, Addington, and the rest of these scum. IF THAT PISSES YOU OFF Call 800-828-0498 Ask for each of Colorado's Congressmen in turn and tell them to file their own Impeachment Resolution and to do it THIS WEEK. (Hint: leave a voicemail at night) IF enough Congressmen file single crime impeachment resolutions during the same week (this week) it will get the attention of the Media. Yes the MEDIA got Obama elected, and now are much more likely to pay attention to impeachment. WE MUST GET PEOPLE RILED UP ENOUGH TO DEMAND IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS NOW John Kennedy Impeach Colorado Coalition ImpeachCO.com QUESTION: HOW MANY US SOLDIERS HAVE TO BE KILLED AND MAIMED FOR THE BUSH/CHENEY WMD LIES Before Colorado Voters (you and me) bother to call the state's US Congressmen and Demand Impeachment Hearings NOW? Hint: Over 4,197 Killed Over 30,000 Maimed (some reports say it's over 70K) .. .... http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQzh http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQzh/commentary#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:32:56 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQzh John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQzh/ My current words: I'm still alive. You've all been to those events where you introduce yourself by standing up and saying three words that illustrate why you're there, who you are, and so on, right? I used to point to my hair and say, "Turning Colorado blue!" (And whaddaya know, it worked!) I managed to survive my county wide Voter Reg project, and to be brutally honest I was planning to pretty much coast from October 6 through the election, because I really didn't think there would be much left to do. (I know, clearly I was deranged.) But everyone had caught fire, and new projects kept being proposed, new events kept being set up, and so for the last month my Three Words were a snarly "God, what NOW?!?!" But here we all are. We not only survived, we did a whole lot of winning! Here in Prowers, our voter turnout was 72.61%, and 58 percent of that was Early or Mail-In voting, so NO ONE got disenfranchised this year because the lines were so long they couldn't get in. The county still went roughly 2 to 1 in favor of the GOP, but we can work on that over the next two years. :) I think it may take just a little while to adjust to semi-normal life, but I'll do my best. For now, here is a really great song that helped get me through. It's called "I Approve This Message", although a good alternate title would be "We, The People". Hey, any song that mentions St. Molly of Austin and has lyrics like these: "I am the precinct walker I am the polling place volunteer I am the statistician and 4 out of 5 of me approve this message...." is a good song. (Can't seem to get it to embed, so here's the link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwCCwg0xcIU http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CQ8s http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CQ8s/commentary#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:04:19 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CQ8s Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8s/ OBAMA CITY, JAPAN :  Banners on parade and dancing in the streets with shouts in English "YES WE CAN" KENYA:  Dancing in the streets - 2 days of national holiday declared amid chants of "YES WE CAN" FRANCE:  People pour into the streets of Paris amid dancing and singing there are shouts "YES WE CAN" LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA....ALL OVER THE WORLD: The REVOLUTION has been legitimized, accepted and praised.               WE actually won the 2nd revolution for the United States of America. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ88 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ88/commentary#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:26:59 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ88 The Mad Woman http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/fcb34917d9fd3e3809_u806mvulr.jpg The Mad Woman 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ88/ The McCain Campaign is out answering the internet blogosphere again. A continuation of the policy of smoke and mirrors... "SO, Mr. McCain, what about the Economy?"   "uh, uh, HEY! Look over here...Obama stubbed his toe and he didn't bleed - proves he's a vampire!!! Afterall,we knew he had to be... He runs with alien terrorists from MARS!!!!! The Washington Post has films of the landing and met with their leader..... We are demanding right here and now....RELEASE THE FILM!!!!!" YES McCAIN and his Campaign are LIKE BUSH in one major way... They will SAY anything (LIE); They think WE are STUPID; And when all else fails, blame the Democrats! http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ8Z http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ8Z/commentary#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:15:10 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ8Z The Mad Woman http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/fcb34917d9fd3e3809_u806mvulr.jpg The Mad Woman 271 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8Z/ The "right-to-life" movement that elevates embryonic life above women's lives is more accurately termed "right-to-prenatal-life." One of the most extreme 2008 anti-abortion, anti-contraceptive ballot measures is the so-called Colorado "Personhood" amendment - number 48 - defining fertilized eggs as "persons" with Fourteenth Amendment rights to "life, liberty and due process of law." Simultaneously, rightists have opposed the same rights for women as "reading feminism into the Constitution." Both Amendment 48 and a rule change proposed by the Bush administration Department of Health and Human Services would re-define pregnancy as the point of conception, disregarding the medical definition of pregnancy - "the implantation of a fertilized egg." They would effectively categorize as abortion any contraception (e.g., the pill, IUD, emergency contraception, contraceptive patch) that interferes with the implantation of a fertilized egg, thus outlawing most contraception - the primary means to reduce the need for abortion. In a slippery slope to 19th century status for women, rightists have promoted "conscience clauses" permitting pharmacists' and others' refusal to fill prescriptions or provide health care for women. The HHS proposal states, "[T]he conscience of the individual or institution should be paramount in determining what constitutes abortion..." - holding women's health hostage to anyone's professed religious/ideological beliefs. It is time to recognize that abortion serves as surrogate for a spectrum of unspoken issues related to female personhood and male entitlement. The anti-abortion political litmus test was introduced by Paul Weyrich, who dictated that women step aside and "make way for new life." It serves dual purposes - the marginalization of women and the lightning rod around which to mobilize political coalitions, notably, Evangelicals and Catholics. The elevation of fetal life over women's lives, coupled with conservative strategist Howard Phillips' euphemistically described goal of return to "one-family-one-vote," is calculated to marginalize and disenfranchise women, consistent with the ultraright tenet that ultimately, only select white Christian males should retain the right to vote or hold office. Rickie Solinger concluded from her historical research of women's health care that women's rights have often been held hostage by politicians and others with "political agendas hostile to female autonomy and racial equality" ( Wake Up Little Susie: Single Pregnancy and Race Before Roe v. Wade , 1992). The criminalization of contraception and abortion, and the widespread U.S. adoption black market that assigned value to babies and punishment to women based on race, were some effects of pre- Roe efforts to control women's reproduction. At core, Weyrich's anti-abortion, anti-contraceptive and abstinence-only ideology serves as cornerstone of an anticipated male supremacist theocracy. It is the platform upon which the majority of Republican candidates continue to run in 2008. The greatest conceit - that pregnancy is not a health issue and women's lives are expendable - underlies the dual standards of Republican Party pronatalist policy demanding female submission to males who presume the right to hold women hostage to personal beliefs. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CQ8R http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CQ8R/commentary#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:42:59 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CQ8R Michele S Michele S 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8R/ We have operatives in this country committing massive election fraud. But it's not ACORN . http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/agadorspartacus/CQ8M http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/agadorspartacus/CQ8M/commentary#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:47:51 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/agadorspartacus/CQ8M Agador Spartacus Agador Spartacus 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8M/ Two years ago I was fortunate to see Barbara O'Brien and Jeanne Ritter devote some of their campaign time to the cause of military families. It is so good to see that continue. Politico.com has posted a great story that is popping-up in several of my veterans e-newsletters. The example and precedent that Michelle Obama is setting is not only the right thing to do, but holds great promise for correcting a decades-old problem within the Democratic Party. Here's the link, and the full story is in the Extended Post Text. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14733.html I continue to see signs and symptoms of a Colorado Democratic Party that hasn't figured out how to get past the Vietnam-era paradigms of domination by anti-war activists. Perhaps with Michelle's example we'll see more Democratic Party officers who will behave as if they are not afraid of the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem, and will remember to include either/both of those in party functions. The barrier between Democratic events and spoken prayer is lowly crumbling. Releasing the anxiety for Democratic candidates to speak openly about religion. But, there are still too many occassions where a Democratic event will include a 10-foot tall American flag and silence on that final Patriotic step of including the Pledge or Anthem. Democrats who have served in the Armed Forces and would like to continue their service in political office are often dismayed and disappointed by this behavior. There are too many really nice renditions of the National Nathem available to not allow the 2-minutes it takes to play one on a tape deck or over the PA system. Yet every time a group meets, and the American flag is in the room, the failure to make this Patriotic effort will disappoint a veteran, offend a veteran's family member or friend, and the favorite charge by the opposition of Democrats being "un-patriotic" is perpetuated. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8B http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8B/commentary#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:15:47 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8B Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8B/ Please do not vote to retain ANY judges or justices in Colorado! Under Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey's leadership, Colorado's Judiciary and legal system has been turned into a protection racket for corrupt judges, justices, and attorneys. Self regulation is laughed at, and the Judicial Performance Commission's recommendation, cannot be trusted. As an example, see www.coloradoopencourt.blogspot.com Despite overwhelming evidence of judicial corruption, the Judicial Performance Commission recommended Judge David R. Lass be retained in 2004. Until there is real accountability within our judiciary, vote every justice and judge out of office. They are domestic terrorists who destroy the foundation of America, i.e., our inalienable rights and Constitution(s). I also petitioned ALL State Legislators to investigate the corruption and to hold the judges and justices accountable. To date, NO Legislator has made any real effort to protect We The People from Colorado's corrupt Judiciary. Therefore, please vote out EVERY incumbent as well. Please spread this message to everyone you know and ask them to do the same. If they (judges, justices and legislators) refuse to hear the truth, let them hear our vote!! Halena Lewis Halen@axint.net Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) Join my group to support accountability within our judiciary at www.progressnowaction.org/page/group/OPENCOURT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/halenalewis/CZCx http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/halenalewis/CZCx/commentary#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:28:37 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/halenalewis/CZCx Halena Lewis Halena Lewis 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZCx/ I was just listening to former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder on a radio show. He made a critical and brilliant observation about John McCain. His evaluation of the Sarah Palin selection rests on that decision as an indicator of how McSame would later decide on the people to fill the other leadership positions in a supposed McSame mis-administration. This is a powerful indictment of a candidate for president of the US when the nation so despirately needs a clear change of direction. The specter of Sarah Palin equivalent appointments throughout the US Executive Branch shows no chance of reforming, and certainly not reversing, the criminal excesses of the past seven years. There will be no resolution to the US Attorney firings, and little hope of removing the fraudulently hired radical right-wingers who have been peppered throughout the Department of Justice to undermine, rather than enforce, the law. This demonstrated decision-making pattern by John McCain is a screaming warning to America. No other fact shines so brightly than the selection of Sarah Palin to confirm that McSame is the incarnation of a third, and perhaps more devastating, term for the G.W. Bush policies. Considering everything you find important, think your retired relatives who will be hurt if McCain succeeds and leads America down the path of more for the wealthiest and less for the rest. Victory in the race for the White House is critical, but top to bottom electoral victories on the ballot is equally important for our communities and state. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZB9 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZB9/commentary#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:22:03 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZB9 Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZB9/ Either Disney has gone to a new generation of Animatronics or we now have proof of pod people taking over the country........ Is SARAH PALIN For real? http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CZGh http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CZGh/commentary#comments Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:21:26 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CZGh The Mad Woman http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/fcb34917d9fd3e3809_u806mvulr.jpg The Mad Woman 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZGh/ The Fools on the Hill...... I love that those all-knowing Grand Wizards of all things important, sitting on the Hill in D.C., are JUST figuring out what many have known for 10 friggin' years. The so-called housing bubble, that churn and burn growth of a market based on air, was the ONLY thing propping up an economy that has needed to do an adjustment since 1998; Staved off by the Republicans in their bids to keep the sleazy corporatists going without oversight..... UNFETTERED GROWTH without any natural controls is called CANCER.... http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CZMZ http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CZMZ/commentary#comments Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:46:38 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CZMZ The Mad Woman http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/fcb34917d9fd3e3809_u806mvulr.jpg The Mad Woman 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZMZ/  On August 29, the Friday before the Republican Convention, members of the Council for National Policy convened in Minneapolis to grant their imprimatur to the vice presidential candidacy of Sarah Palin. Focus on the Family's Tom Minnery described the group's reaction in a Focus on the Family Action video, which has since been removed from their website: "There could not be more excitement based on the little we know about Palin so far," enthused Minnery. Given general longstanding opposition to women in positions of power among CNP members, Minnery was asked whether James Dobson could possibly support a woman for the office. He quoted Dobson: "If it's the right woman, we are ready to vote for her." Dobson has been hoping for some time to find a "Margaret Thatcher" type, noted Minnery. Outside the obvious, i.e., her anti-gun control and anti-abortion positions, Minnery recited Palin's positives as a conservative candidate: a hocky mom in an intact marriage who "has not rejected her feminine side"; because she and her husband are union members, it was speculated that blue collar voters in important swing states would be attracted; and (improbably) because she is a woman, that she would appeal to Hillary Clinton supporters. The Council for National Policy (CNP) has remained largely below the radar since its 1981 founding as an umbrella group uniting a network of over 500 members from Congress, the business community and hard-right evangelicals. The press are excluded from their secretive invitation-only strategy meetings, held three times annually. The group is strongly influenced by the teachings of the late Rousas Rushdoony , a CNP member and patriarch of the reactionary Christian Reconstructionist (Dominionist) movement that has infused the doctrine of conservative churches since the '60s, and seeks Christian dominion over all aspects of society and the world. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CZMG http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CZMG/commentary#comments Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:48:40 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CZMG Michele S Michele S 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZMG/ See TODAY's Denver Post article about the AP Poll supporting impeachment. We in Colorado have waged a tough campaign to get our four Democratic Congressmen to support impeachment. We have pressured Rep. Udall because he is in contest for the Senate in a race considered "too close to call" in a battle ground state. As a result of our pressure his recent replies to his constituents indicate he is coming closer to calling for impeachment. Today the Denver Post published this article about the new poll by the Associated Press and the National Constitution Center. "WASHINGTON--Americans strongly oppose giving the president more power at the expense of Congress or the courts, even to enhance national security or the economy, according to a new poll. Two-thirds of Americans oppose altering the balance of power among the three branches of government to strengthen the presidency, even when they thought that doing so would improve the economy or national security. People were more evenly split over giving Congress more power in the same circumstances." You can read the entire AP poll article here: as well as Our Challenge to Rep. Udall to Call For Immediate Impeachment Hearings and for extension of this session of Congress or the calling of a special session. Our challenge to Udall: This is the defining moment for Rep. Udall. "Two-thirds of Americans oppose altering the balance of power among the three branches of government to strengthen the presidency, even when they thought that doing so would improve the economy or national security", The Associated Press-National Constitution Center poll Speaker Pelosi of the US House is suppressing impeachment resolutions and trying to quietly but quickly end this session of Congress without dealing with the massive fraud of the WMD Lies foisted on the Congress and the American people by President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Pelosi has led the incumbent House Democrats so poorly that they have worse positive poll ratings than Bush. The Democrats desire for a filibuster proof Senate and a veto proof Congress are now at stake. The effort by Pelosi to suppress any little discussion of holding Bush and Cheney liable for misleading Congress and the American people may cost the Party the majorities they so desperately desire. This election is still too close to call in all respects. The Congress and the American people need a Champion now. A courageous congressman who will stand up immediately and call for impeachment hearings to begin prior to the election and who will also call for the extension of this session of the House or for a special session to deal solely with impeachment. Starting the hearings now will send a message to the entire world that the American people do not agree with the methods of the Bush Administration and that we do not wish to be perceived to be as reckless as Bush and Cheney have been. Finishing the hearings prior to the election is not as important as getting them started before the election. As scary as they are, neither the turmoil in the markets or the War on Terror are are the greatest threat to democracy. The expansion of Presidential Power if left unchecked by the incumbent House Democrats is the great threat to our republic in our lifetime. Incumbent House Democrats are also at a defining moment. They have in their hand the power to end the Bush war of terror against our US Constitution. The incumbent House Democrats took their Oath OF Office on the Holy Bible and made a pledge to protect Our US Constitution Against All Enemies including those "domestic", Bush and Cheney. The incumbent House Democrats must not be let off the hook on this holy responsibility. The Impeach Colorado Coalition has opposed the promotion of Udall to the US Senate because he continues to refuse to protect the US Constitution and the power of Congress against Bush and Cheney. We believe that congressmen and congresswomen who cover up for an obviously corrupt President and Vice President are perhaps themselves corrupt. However, careful analysis of Udall's recent reply emails to his constituents reveals he is in fact debating with himself whether or not to support impeachment hearings. We believe that Udall will rise to the immediate need, seize this opportunity, stand up for Congress and Our Constitution and place his name high in the Annals of American History. Please see this link link to video of Bush and Cheney's statements on WMD. John H Kennedy, Denver CO 43 yr Democratic voter, Obama delegate to the Denver County Convention and organizer of the IMPEACH COLORADO COALITION http://ImpeachCO.com http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CZj5 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CZj5/commentary#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:55:11 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CZj5 John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZj5/ Of late, it appears the Democratic Party has been falling all over themselves to prevent themselves from appearing insensitive to that little woman from Alaska.... Fear of sexism, fear of appearing to beat up on the poor little lady.... The poor little Sarah, that sweet lil' thang.....that fighter for femininity and the rights of women everywhere in a sea of male domination.... Claiming the title of Feminist and the woman that will pick up the mantle dropped by Hillary so she can blast through that glass ceiling http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CZGy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CZGy/commentary#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:12:25 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CZGy The Mad Woman http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/fcb34917d9fd3e3809_u806mvulr.jpg The Mad Woman 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZGy/ To be caring to ones neighbor is innate in humans. One would be hard put to find a small village or town in the past that did not take care of their own. When someone got sick or hurt the village took care of them. This is still true in some small towns in America, but for the most part America has lost its way and systematically turned its back on its neighbors. We have been so propagandized by the Republican machine that half of us believe that we shouldn't have to pay our fair share to take care of our own citizens. Sure, when disaster strikes like 9/11 we have lots of caring people who give up a lot to help out, and then we pat ourselves on the back and say, "Just look at how caring America is." What a MYTH! Where is the caring that really counts? When the helpers at ground zero get sick from the toxins spewed into the air, and don't have any health insurance, we say, "Too bad so sad, but I would rather have low taxes." Where is the willingness to pay ones taxes so children won't have to go hungry, and do without medical care? Where is the caring for the millions of uninsured, or the millions of children who are getting a poor education? http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ofrankturner/CZGW http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ofrankturner/CZGW/commentary#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:25:10 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ofrankturner/CZGW O.Frank http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/7ca9dc390a84ad7122_x7wymv3ef.jpg O.Frank 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZGW/ A breaking story from "The Hill" (a Washington DC insider news source) shows that the gloves are coming off in the fear and smear based Republican anti-Obama campaign. This is a credible report of Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (Georgia) using and then confirming that he intended to use the word "uppity" to describe Barack Obama. The full story is in the extended text This is not the first time that a GOP elected official has been suspected of uttering GOP "code words" seeking to enflame centuries-old racial hatred against Barack Obama. So, what we would have expected to be a classic Rove whisper campaign is coming into the open. These are probably the end results of a string of disgusting "conservative" messages that have encouraged the kind of actions we have seen in Colorado ove th past week. From the Aurora Assassination Cell that GOP US Attorney Troy Eid is working so hard to dismiss as harmless, to the Loveland assassination caller that the newspaper is trying so hard to ignore, it's getting ugly. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq7Q http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq7Q/commentary#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:01:39 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq7Q Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq7Q/ BREAKING - Sunday, September 7th  Perhaps this should be counted as a media watch victory.  R-H editor Ken Amundson published a lengthy apology and signifcant policy change for the telephone call-in column.  Still, the R-H won't publish even their own editorials online.   In addition to the election season curtailment of political LTEs to 200-words, Amundson will not allow comments on individual candidates to be published in the call-in line column.  At least this could slow down the Right WingNut lies and slurs in one Colorado newspaper.   ///original post///  Among the wide range of Colorado newspapers the Loveland Reporter-Herald rests in a unique place between hometown paper and loyal arm of a conservative media group. But, on Tuesday September 2, 2008 the R-H crossed a dubious line by publishing an anonymous telephone message claiming that assassinating Brack Obama is acceptable because he is inexperienced.  "All you Democrats take what you're saying about Sarah Palin, and that's what all of us Republicans are saying about Obama.  He's way too inexperienced for the job.  I would much rather have a little inexperience at the number two position than the No. 1 position.  The only way to get rid of that experience in an inexperienced president is either by impeachment or assassination." (emphasis added) Political commentary is expected in America, but advocating one of the worst crimes for the offense of "inexperience" is truly despicable.  By publishing this rant without edit, or disclaimer is an indictment of complacancy  and possibly even accessory by the Reporter-Herald.   In response to my my protest of this publication the Managing Editor of the R-H, Ken Amundson, provided this response: I also reacted negatively when I read that comment this morning. I have taken steps internally to deal with it. Ken Amundson Today's edition of the R-H makes no mention of the offending comment.  It seems that Mr. Amundson's true definition of dealing with it internally is to ignore it and hope the issue dies.   Don’t look for this on the Reporter-Herald website.  It was originally published as part of the “R-H Line” feature for anonymous telephone calls.  They also do not publish letters to the editor on their websites.   The Extended Post Text holds the necessary information for others to join me in demanding that Ken Amundson and the Reporter-Herald take responsibility for this incident, cooperate with Federal authorities to determine if there really is a threat to Barack Obama, and publish an apology with a condemnation of inciting the public to illegal, criminal acts that undermine the political process in America. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq7v http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq7v/commentary#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:00:02 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq7v Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq7v/