See entire article at http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/hearingday
Impeachment Begins! Preliminary Hearing Friday July 25th
By David Swanson www.afterdowningstreet.org
At 10 a.m. on Friday July 25th, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a preliminary hearing in Rayburn Building Room 2141 on the topic of impeachment, with a presentation by Congressman Dennis Kucinich. This is not yet a true impeachment hearing, but it is our opportunity to push for one, and it represents a tremendous victory after years of effort by millions of Americans who want to keep the Constitution alive. This never would have happened without your hard work. And we can't let up now! The National Impeachment Network is organizing a rally and asking everyone who can to take a day off for justice and meet at 9 a.m. on Friday July 25th in front of the Rayburn House Office Building on the Independence Avenue side. Bring impeachment shirts and posters! For more information contact ningroup@gmail.com.
David Swanson reports that Veterans for Peace had a meeting on impeachment already scheduled with Conyers for the 25th. He notes that they'll be in town and could perhaps take a lead in organizing people.
He also suggests contacting CodePink for organizing assistance.
WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN COLORADO:
1. Join our weekly impeachment protest this Saturday 7/19 at noon:
http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/event/detail/visibilitysignwaving/4jrxd
Want to get involved? Contact: protestinthestreet@yahoo.com
2. Contact your Congressional Representative to cosponsor H Res 1258 (35 Articles of Impeachment George W. Bush http://afterdowningstreet.org/bush)
Call at 202-224-3121 and email http://www.democrats.com/35-articles-of-impeachment
3. Contact the media to cover the hearing, like independent media does:
Denver Post newsroom: newsroom@denverpost.com 303-954-1201
Rocky Mountain News newsroom: 303-954-5201
4. Contact the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and urge them to begin impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/judiciarycommittee5. Sign the petition at Congressman Kucinich's website:
July 7, 2008
Governor Bill Ritter
136 State Capitol Building Denver, CO. 80203
Certified Mail No. 7002 2030 0000 0388 5347
Dear Governor Ritter,
On May 22, 2008, I sent you a certified letter regarding the criminal conduct within our judicial and legal system. I detailed how my rights, water, and land was stolen from me through corrupt judges and attorneys. I also detailed that I have been unlawfully subjected to the Summit County Court for more than ten years, and that the criminal conduct is allowed and protected by Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey, and all the Colorado Supreme Court Justices. Instead of answering my letter with concern over the criminal state of the people’s judiciary, and helping to put a stop to it, you answered my petition for an investigation and accountability through an unsigned letter from a Citizen Advocate dated June 18, 2008. I herein answer your letter:
1. You said, “the Governor has no jurisdiction over the Judicial Branch.” Yes you do. When corruption is involved as it is in this case, you, Governor Ritter, have the authority and duty to ask that the CBI and/or FBI investigate and bring charges. You also have the authority to convene the Legislature in order to impeach the corrupt Judges, Justices, and other public officials. Every day they are allowed to remain in office, is another day that all Coloradans are in jeopardy of losing their rights and freedom.
2. You said, “the Governor’s office cannot intervene in court cases, overturn decisions made by judges, or offer legal advice.” I never asked for that. Nowhere did I ask that you intervene, overturn a decision, nor did I ask for legal advice. I asked you to do your job as Governor and call for an investigation and accountability. Again, you not only have the authority, you also have the duty.
3. You recommended that I my petition the Colorado Legal Services, and the Colorado Judicial Department instead. A. Colorado Legal Services does not handle corruption cases, nor do they have investigative authority. B. The Colorado Judicial Department is the State Court Administrator. The State Court Administrator does not have investigative authority.
4. A Citizen Advocate, also does not have authority to demand an investigation, only you do.
Governor Ritter, do not dismiss my worth of your time, nor dismiss my grievances as insignificant. The corruption is real, and our offices of public trust have been turned into a network of organized crime for the super wealthy and connected. The information I sent you on May 22, 2008 evidences that I am not a disgruntled litigant, but rather a victim of the lawless corruption within our Judiciary and legal system.
On June 20, 2008, Judge David R. Lass announced his retirement. He will be allowed to leave public office unaccounted, and allowed to resurface somewhere else. Isn’t this the same as the pedophile priests were allowed to do? Once there were complaints, they were moved and allowed to continue the abuse. By not holding Judge Lass to account for his criminal conduct, he also is a threat to the unsuspecting public everywhere. The criminal conduct will continue, because if he allowed such criminal behavior at work, he’s allowing the same in private life. He has shown his true character, and just as any other criminal, must be brought to justice. It will also be found that Judge Lass did not act alone. There are many more elected officials involved in this criminal network.
Just as Judge Lass has shown his true character, so too have all the other corrupt public officials who today are allowed to interact with the unsuspecting public. How many more victims will there be? In my case, my mortgage company is also being defrauded. How much longer will you allow the corruption to go on? Eventually, all will be brought to light. When it is exposed, what will you tell the people when they find out you knew about the corruption and criminal conduct within our Colorado Government, and did nothing to stop it? What will you tell God? Our Laws are rooted in the Ten Commandments, so this corruption is not only against man, it is also against God. Is He not worth your time either?
On its face, the amount of the corruption is eighty million dollars, crosses State lines, has cost the taxpayers millions, and is being allowed to continue. Imagine what an investigation will uncover. Governor Ritter, I will be expecting that you will use your authority to call for an investigation into the corruption and abuse of power. If there is more information you need, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above address and phone number. Thank you for your time, and I will be expecting to hear from you soon.
Respectfully, Halena Lewis
Note: This letter and all future replies will be shared with the public.
Last month, Kucinich introduced 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush in the form of a privileged resolution.
Kucinich, a former 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, spent four-hours reading the impeachment articles into the Congressional Record last month. He accused the commander-in-chief of a wide range of high crimes and misdemeanors, such as lying to Congress and the public to win support for the Iraq war.
The impeachment articles introduced by Kucinich last month took place a few days after the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released a long-awaited report on prewar Iraq intelligence that concluded President Bush and Vice President Cheney knowingly lied to the public and to Congress about Iraq's links to al-Qaeda and the threat the country posed to the U.S. in the aftermath of 9/11.
“These articles of impeachment are about accountability,” Kucinich said. “I think our country is at risk. We’re setting a terrible precedent for future administrations if we choose to turn a blind eye to the crimes committed by this administration."
The House of Representatives referred the Bush articles of impeachment to the Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI).
Conyers has yet to release a public statement on the motion, but has in the past not been supportive of impeachment efforts. The resolution to impeach Cheney, which Kucinich presented in April 2007, remains stalled in the committee he chairs.
(To read the original news article, click here:
OUTRAGED ABOUT THE OIL WAR LIES AND DEATHS, DOMESTIC SPYING, IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT DUE PROCESS, AND TORTURE? HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Tell our Colorado U.S. Senators and Representatives to remember the oath of office they took, promising to uphold the Constitution. Tell them to support impeachment hearings:
http://www.democrats.com/impeach
Contact the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and urge them to begin impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/judiciarycommittee
Join our local Impeach Colorado Coalition's weekly honk-to-impeach protests:
http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/event/detail/visibilitysignwaving/4jrxy
Read more:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/bushaction
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/cheneyaction
The time is always right to do what is right. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
BUT Udall vs Schaffer
get your tix now and ask questions--all info on this link:
http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=94369
Well, here we go again...time for another Secretary of Veterans Affairs to resign. This time we find that another arm of the George Bush mis-administration has made a dubious legal interpretation, trampled on the rights and benefits of veterans and is denying any wrong-doing.
You have to read the entire New York Times story to believe the depths of this tragic scenario.
This is a bizarre and deplorable action on the part of the mis-administration of the current occupant of the White House. Refusing to facilitate voter registriation is definately not prohibited by the Hatch Act. It's really disappointing that former Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) remains silent on this controversy.
I realized that this is a very positive development. I'm looking for more "lasts" of anything and everything for the coWH. The case against the mis-administration regarding Iran is particularly damaging.
It's clear that since entering office that the coWH has acted against the best interests of the United States on relations and policies towards Iran; the jumbled focus of his European tour sound bite script. Rather than advancing the best interests of the US, the current mis-administration has consistently played to the advantage of Ahmadi-Nejad and the ruling Iranian radicals. Read More »
Heads-up Colorado Springs and Northern Colorado. Beyond the fact that I've been working pretty hard for months to get this off the ground, it's just gonna be great! This issue has been ignored (or at least danced around the edges) for too long.
A Conversation with Rand Beers Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
Keeping Our Promises: Veterans, Soldiers and their Families
Rand Beers, President and Founder of the National Security Network, former senior White House national security staffer and Vietnam-era Marine, will be the featured speaker at two town hall forums on issues facing the military community: repeat deployments for members of the active-duty Armed Forces, Guard and Reserves, the needs of a growing new population of disabled veterans, and the burdens on military families. Beers combines front-line experience (Rifle Company Commander in Vietnam and 10 years in the White House) with years of briefing our nation’s political leaders and, with the National Security Network, trains and advises candidates and advocates on how to address these issues in today’s political environment. A question and answer session will follow.
1:00 – 3:00pm
UCCS: The Upper Lodge
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918
6:30 – 8:30pm
Bill Reed Middle School
370 West 4th Street
Loveland, Colorado 80537
RSVP: rkeenan@nsnetwork.org
Read More »
A full explanation of the case of Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) is provided by the Hill's Jackie Kucinich in the extended text.
This is more than a corrective swing in the political climate. The radicalization of the GOP has depleted their candidate pipeline of all but the most marginal of fringe characters. Add to this the repeat scandals of GOP incumbents and the result is brand failure.
The retail/consumerism obsessed American populace is arguably on the verge of abandoning the GOP label. Precise issues and programs may not lead the reasons, but a failure in basic values and trust appears to be the key to independents and other voting groups casting their ballots for Democrats in even deeply red districts. Read More »
One of the more gut-wrenching depravations of the Republican Legislature and Republican Governor of 2003 was the agreement to raid the Colorado Veterans Trust Fund to the tune of $2.3 Million. With the benefit of reports from several sources I've pieced together an "oh really?" tale of the day this fund was restored, with interest. This boosted the Trust Fund by a total of $2.9 Million.
The Grand Junction Sentinel provided the best coverage of last Friday's bill signing. With the benefit of January to May hindsight any meddling or opposition to this legislation is questionable.
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/05/16/051708_3a_Vets_bill_signed.html
At the center of the drama are GOP representatives Douglas Bruce and Kevin Lundberg. Back on January 14, 2008 Douglas Bruce became an even greater historical curiosity during morning prayers. Two days later, January 16, it was Bruce who weighed-in as a benefactor of the Veterans Trust Fund cause in the House Finance Committee. it was through Bruce's amendment that approximately $600,000 in interest was added. And, Lundberg who failed with an amendment to paint the pay-back as a new general fund appropriation.
In an additional context of Douglas Bruce and John Kefalas acting in agreement on a bill the Fort Collins, Colorado Rocky Mountian Chronicle originally covered the event.
http://www.rmchronicle.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1872
By the end of the committee hearing Rep. Lundberg has flipped back to the supporter and cast a rare vote with the majority to pass the bill. While Bruce and Kefalas were consistent supporters of the bill, Lundberg's move for fiscal re-packaging is yet another dubious entry in his spotty record.
Still, there is soooo much work to be done correcting the damage he has done. America certainly does not deserve Bush McClone as the next President.
Reprinted from an admired source (with a few choice edits) with an encouragement to share.
The George W. Bush Museum is being planned at Southern Methodist U. DALLAS Methodists opposed to a George W. Bush Presidential Library, Museum and Policy Institute at Southern Methodist University here are mounting a last-ditch effort to block a nearly completed deal by throwing the decision to a regional church conference in July.
Prominent features of the George W. Bush Library are:
1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which will be perpetually under construction.
2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you can't remember anything and practice the phrases "…yes Mr. President…whatever you want, Mr. President."
3. The Texas Air National Guard Room where you don't even have to show up.
4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.
5. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.
6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.
7. The Iraq War Room. After you complete your first tour, they make you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tour.
8. The Dick Cheney Room in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shooting gallery.
9. The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.
10. Last, but not least, there will be an entire floor devoted to a 7/8 scale model of the President's ego. To highlight the President's accomplishments, the museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate them.
Colorado gift law revived
The Colorado Supreme Court today reinstated Amendment 41, the controversial measure that limits and bans gifts to government officials.
The court ruling reversed a Denver District Court preliminary injunction which stopped the ban from being implemented.
"Amendment 41 is back in effect," said Nate Strauch, spokesman for Colorado Attorney General John Suthers.
The court ruled the challenge by a group of public officials was premature because the ethics commission meant to enforce the amendment was never put in place.
Strauch said only four of the five commission members have been selected so far.
When the commission is completed, it will start promulgating rules to enforce the amendment and hear cases, he said.
Then, the plaintiffs could file a new lawsuit if they felt the amendment caused them harm, he said...
This is exactly what Amendment 41's opponents didn't want. Sagely Pols weigh in:
What many of 41's opponents fear most is the Ethics Commission prescribed by the law being successfully established, since it is likely to shake out the more alarmist hypothetical cases posed by 41's detractors as baseless and establish operating procedures that administer the law fairly. What the Supremes said essentially is that commission has to be established now, and a actual sanction made before the case is "ripe" to be adjudicated. Amendment 41's defenders at Colorado Common "Curse" Cause insist that the commission will demystify the "scare tactics" used by opponents and show that Amendment 41 can work constitutionally, dramatically changing the discussion.
What, you mean the sky won't fall after all? You mean all that nonsense about kids denied scholarships...is going to be proven just that? That the will of an overwhelming majority of Colorado voters...might actually be followed?
Be still my heart.
See also:
Washing my hands of Amendment 41Imagine that -- Amendment 41 is doing its job
Post's devastating criticism of Amendment 41 obstinates
Amendment 41: thank you, Speaker Romanoff
Amendment 41: "lobbyist-driven hysteria"
Amendment 41: now here's an interesting idea
Amendment 41: don't believe the hype, hard numbers edition
Colorado Confidential demolishes Amendment 41 hypocrisy
Amendment 41: don't believe the hype, part III
Amendment 41: don't believe the hype, part II
STOP the passive aggression on Amendment 41
Amendment 41: don't believe the hype, part I
"They see a force stretched dangerously thin and a country ill-prepared for the next fight."
So much for national security and a competent effort to fight the "Global War on Terrorism." Here's the direct link to the story.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4198&page=0
I find it striking that such a high level of criticism and cycism would come out of this survey population. FP and CNAS turned to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) for the survey population and polled a very large number to build the data. MOAA is a moderate to conservative leaning group.
The seniority of the survey population largely makes the conclusions indisputable. So much for the health of the greatest military force on the face of the earth.
*More in the extended text.* Read More »
Every Congressional District nominating assembly/convention must take a closer look at candidates for CU Regent. Removing the GOP Regents currently representing districts of Democratic members of the US Congress should now receive higher priority. The holder of a CU Regent's seat does matter. Read More »
I'm struck by this piece because it notes deplorable changes in a measurement that started in 1980; that's the year I enlisted. I retired in 2006, and it is becoming an almost daily event to see how badly my former comrades-in-arms are being abused.
Today the issue is suicide. The thought of rising numbers of soldiers taking their own lives after serving in combat because of poor and inadequate medical treatment at home is devastating. A "1-800" line for redeployed soldiers to seek psychological counseling...pathetic.
The knot in my gut is yet more proof the America needs a change. The legacy of the current occupant of the White House must be in the form of an eraser. What he has wrought on the US military by conducting a needless war "on the cheap" cannot continue past November.
The next Democratic President-Elect must lay a clear roadmap for erasing the coWH's endless war and un-ending occupation of Iraq. The remaining GOP Presidential caandidates are delusional in making any comment that says otherwise. Any Congressional candidate hinting at continuing the coWH's policies must be defeated.
Read the full story in the extended text. Then get on-board with any and every Democratic candidate that you can support. Read More »
The Colorado newspapers have done a good job of recounting cases of wounded warriors from Fort Carson being unconscientously deployed to Iraq. The Denver Posy coverage today is another valubale expose.
Add to that this morning's NPR story of an anonymous DoD "Tiger Team" coercing VA officials at Fort Drum, NY to NOT help soldiers get their just due medical benefits, and the road to yet another deeply embarassing sacndal is becoming clear. The current mis-adminstration is obsessed with padding the bank accounts of GOP donors, and completely comfortable with doing it to the detriment of dead and maimed soldiers.
The Denver Post:
http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8104393
NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18492376
Democrat presidential candidates and the Reid/Pelosi-run-Congress have promised to repeal the Bush tax cuts, retreat from teh War on Terror and increase the size of government through their one-size-fits-all health care plan.
Plan your counter-agruments (AKA, the truth) accordingly. OBTW - I decided to support the USPS by stuffing the entire contents of my latest Val-Pack mailing into their postage paid return envelope (2 1/4 oz).
************ Original Post *********************
It's hard to tell what going on at the Republican National Committee (RNC) on December 5, 2007. While Robert M. "Mike" Duncan (RNC Chairman) was hoping to create a profitable fundraising campaign, it appears that he missed the mark and has provided dedicated Democrats and Progressives with a good laugh.
Holiday parties around the country are likely producing the same experience as a recent gathering of mostly Democrats in Larimer County. We went around the room comparing who did, and did not, get Mike Duncan's plea for donations.
Be it amazing, perplexing or even pathetic, a large number of us had that letter at home, or had even brought it to the party as a conversation piece. There was an abundance of humor and criticism available after many eyes picked through this correspondence. Read More »
Unfortunately, Majority Leader Harry Reid favors a bill that includes immunity for telecommunications companies that are alleged to have cooperated in President Bush's illegal domestic wiretapping program. We still don't know the extent of how the phone companies colluded with the Bush Administration's illegal spy program and violated our civil liberties.
Click the link below: tell Colorado Senator Ken Salazar to oppose any bill which grants immunity to the phone companies for their role in the NSA wiretap scandal.
Tell Salazar to reject immunity for illegal surveillance
We will deliver this petition to Senator Salazar's office immediately.
Watch Bradley Whitford ("Josh Lyman" on The West Wing) spread the word about the importance of opposing retroactive telecom immunity and upholding our constitutional privacy rights.
Video courtesy Courage Campaign, ProgressNow's sister organization in California.
So it continues to perplex me when I see piles of "User from, ????" as the name on so many member profiles and blog comments. All of the Groups seem to be over-run with legions of people named "User from, ????" (Oh, and Bobby and Michael and Alan and John K are always there too.) Can it really be that hard to create a pen-name - nickname - logon name, etc?
Consider that I'm so non-creative that I just use my real first name and last initial. I'm not even fun enough to be neon, or something colorful like that.
Point is folks, put a little effort and fun into this. I know your parents and grandparents didn't want to you to be known as "User from."
Pathways to Leadership appears to have gained Angie's undivided attention. I can't fault her for her decision, because it looks like my dream job also. But, it is yet to be seen if either Betsy or Eric can rise to Angie's level of voter support and volunteer dedication and enthusiasm. Read More »
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Call for Bob Schaffer to Apologize for War Profiteering
Posted Jul 18, 2008 2:28pm
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Action Alert: Fri 7/25 House Juciary Committee Preliminary Impeachment Hearing
Posted Jul 18, 2008 9:43am
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An angry email from the....some part of the politcial spectrum.
Posted Jul 17, 2008 10:15am
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Michael Collins: Election Fraud & Tyranny - Part 2
Posted Jul 17, 2008 10:11am
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Obama leading McCain in . . . . Arizona???
Posted Jul 16, 2008 7:49am
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Mr. Schaffer can you please answer the question?
Posted Jul 15, 2008 12:33pm
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Interns wanted for Talkingpointsmemo
Posted Jul 15, 2008 8:01am
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Colorado Petition for Education Savings Account
Posted Jul 15, 2008 1:47am
Comments (1)
Bob Schaffer just makes stuff up (telling omission edition)
Posted Jul 14, 2008 6:58pm
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Amendment 47 criminal circulators
Posted Jul 14, 2008 2:21pm
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