Udall should apologize to all for his supporters "get the f##k out of mine and Mark's way" comment to Veteran Mike Collins
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Who is this guy? An interesting and hot discussion on the blogs at ProgressNowAction.org regarding Congressman Udalls senatorial campaign. A blogger at ProgressNowAction.org by the profile name of "Johne" apparently organized a bunch of Udall supporters to pack Udalls Town Hall Meeting Wednesday afternoon in response to a plea that went out from the leader of Boulders Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center for all anti-Iraq War activists to attend Rep. Udall's Town Hall Meeting and press their views on Udall.
"Johne" also later posted a reply ( Sep 13th 2007 at 7:20 am MDT) on a post by Michael Collins regarding Udall
Udall has a big problem where he made his "get the fuck out of mine and Mark's way just because you don't agree with his strategy to end the war in Iraq" comment. Rep. Udall is a candidate to replace Allard as a Senator for the great State Of Colorado.
I think Rep. Udall should apologize to everyone for his supporters boorish behavior.
The conduct of establishment Colorado Democrats toward those of us who want the War to end now and Impeachment is getting worse by the day.
I believe that regardless of whatever party or group any of the attendees belonged to they were American Citizens and had a right to be heard at Udalls Town Hall Meeting. I think Udall went out of his way to marginalize his opposition at the meeting and his supporters helped him do it.
The blogger's profile and pen name is
Johne.
His actual identity is concealed but his website profile linked above mentions that he is the
Host of Drinking Liberally Denver and is a Democrat and a Liberal. The profile also says he is a member of the PNA Group Smoke-Free Denver, and the PNA Group Administrator for the HD-4 PNA Group.
The blogger "Johne", originally took umbrage at the fact that a call went out from the leader of Boulders Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center for all anti-Iraq War activists to attend Rep. Udall's Town Hall Meeting and press their views on Udall.
He later posted a reply on a post by Michael Collins regarding Udall.
Udall has a big problem
where he made his "get the fuck out of mine and Mark's way just because you don't agree with his strategy to end the war in Iraq".
I attended the Udall Town Hall meeting on Wednesday in Thornton.
Udall stated that he has heard from those opposed to the war but he represents over 600,000 Colorado voters and wants to hear from the rest.
He didn't make much of an effort to hear them out Wednesday afternoon. He held his meeting in a room that was way too small. It was filled to over flowing. There were perhaps 50 in the hallway. Some apparently left without getting in.
Udall could have held his meeting later in the evening so some of those 600,000 voters who work for a living could have attended, but no.
One of the irritating things was in spite of the fact that the people in hallway were there first the event organizers let in and seated probably 30 people ahead of those in the hallway but after the room was pronounced full.
Because of traffic delays on I-25 I arrived at 4:30 pm, too late to gain entry into the meeting room. I watched and listened from the threshold of the doorway to the room. Some people asked for the sound level to be turned up. Those in charge turned it down about 50% instead.
The meeting room was like an armed camp with police everywhere. Some of the police threatened to haul away anyone speaking out of turn. I expect DeGette to pick up on this tactic at her next town meeting. She was down right rude to the anti-war and impeachment oriented voters at one of her recent meetings and was really angry at one activist for bluntly asking her position on impeachment. If voters couldn't occasionally interrupt politicians they would never get their views heard.
Getting back to Udall, then Udall announces that he would not take questions on the Iraq War until 3/4 of the way through the hour long session, leaving only 15 minutes for the Iraq war, short shrift indeed. And he apparently didn't want to allow any discussion of Impeachment. Not on his agenda. The Iraq War and Accountability for the Bush Administration were the two main reasons the voters gave the Democrats control of the House and Senate. Short shrift again.
The time for the Iraq War discussion came and went. Udall let the clock run down to 4:20 before announcing the time had come to talk aboout the war. Then a few seconds later he said he had special quests. Turned out to be a couple of the Darfur lost boys I believe. They were there to repeatedly thank him for helping them and stretched out the clock some more by presenting Udall with some kind of award. This pretty well ran out the Iraq War discussion clock.
It was a masterful demonstration of Udall's ability to control the voters voices in a public meeting. I was truly impressed. And dismayed. I went out in the streets for Udall carrying his signs in the last election cycle. Am I now to be content to be told to sit down, shut up and keep my opinions to my self? Are you?
As a senator he will represent all Coloradoans and should be answerable to all of us. To surround himself at public meetings with apologists who insulate him from diverse opinions is unacceptable.
I hope I will be able to support Udall in 2008. His behaviour will determine whether I do. Also the behaviour of his supporters.
Those on the ProgressNowAction.org website who tell us to "get the fuck out of mine and Mark's way" are the dangerous ones. Did the GOPs neocons move over to the Colorado Democratic Party after Nov. 2006?
My wife worries about my safety when I go out on street corners to protest for Stopping The Iraq War Now and on Impeachment. Given some of the venomous language and veiled threats we are now seeing here in print perhaps I should take her warning more seriously.
And Udall does have a big problem as expressed by Veteran
Michael Collins on ProgressActionNow.org.
A quote from former Senator Gary Hart, circa June 2006 sums up the Iraq War and Impeachment situation for Representatives Udall, DeGette, Salazar, Perlmutter and we voters.
"But the real spotlight of history now rests on those Congressional Democrats who support sinking deeper into the Big Muddy of Iraq out of fear of Karl Rove and greater concern for their own re-elections than the lives of U.S. service personnel being destroyed by roadside bombs
What will history say of them? How will they account for their own silence, their own weakness, their own careerism?
There is something in life a lot more important than holding on, at all cost, to a Congressional seat. There is integrity, there is conviction, and there is courage. History's jury will sit in judgment today on those Democrats and will find wanting those without the conviction and courage to say "enough"."
I found this quote was on a posting-reply by Casey Mulligan a local lawyer who had replied to
another post by" Johne" at Squarestate.net
on this very topic .
Related: in a story on The Fort Collins Coloradoan website in a speech to the Rotary Club of Fort Collins
former Senator Gary Hart is quoted saying "American troops will need to remain in Iraq for an additional 10 to 25 years if President Bush's "stay the course" Iraq war strategy is going to work".
"Johne" also later posted a reply ( Sep 13th 2007 at 7:20 am MDT) on a post by Michael Collins regarding Udall
Udall has a big problem where he made his "get the fuck out of mine and Mark's way just because you don't agree with his strategy to end the war in Iraq" comment. Rep. Udall is a candidate to replace Allard as a Senator for the great State Of Colorado.
I think Rep. Udall should apologize to everyone for his supporters boorish behavior.
The conduct of establishment Colorado Democrats toward those of us who want the War to end now and Impeachment is getting worse by the day.
I believe that regardless of whatever party or group any of the attendees belonged to they were American Citizens and had a right to be heard at Udalls Town Hall Meeting. I think Udall went out of his way to marginalize his opposition at the meeting and his supporters helped him do it.
The blogger's profile and pen name is
Johne.
His actual identity is concealed but his website profile linked above mentions that he is the
Host of Drinking Liberally Denver and is a Democrat and a Liberal. The profile also says he is a member of the PNA Group Smoke-Free Denver, and the PNA Group Administrator for the HD-4 PNA Group.
The blogger "Johne", originally took umbrage at the fact that a call went out from the leader of Boulders Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center for all anti-Iraq War activists to attend Rep. Udall's Town Hall Meeting and press their views on Udall.
He later posted a reply on a post by Michael Collins regarding Udall.
Udall has a big problem
where he made his "get the fuck out of mine and Mark's way just because you don't agree with his strategy to end the war in Iraq".
I attended the Udall Town Hall meeting on Wednesday in Thornton.
Udall stated that he has heard from those opposed to the war but he represents over 600,000 Colorado voters and wants to hear from the rest.
He didn't make much of an effort to hear them out Wednesday afternoon. He held his meeting in a room that was way too small. It was filled to over flowing. There were perhaps 50 in the hallway. Some apparently left without getting in.
Udall could have held his meeting later in the evening so some of those 600,000 voters who work for a living could have attended, but no.
One of the irritating things was in spite of the fact that the people in hallway were there first the event organizers let in and seated probably 30 people ahead of those in the hallway but after the room was pronounced full.
Because of traffic delays on I-25 I arrived at 4:30 pm, too late to gain entry into the meeting room. I watched and listened from the threshold of the doorway to the room. Some people asked for the sound level to be turned up. Those in charge turned it down about 50% instead.
The meeting room was like an armed camp with police everywhere. Some of the police threatened to haul away anyone speaking out of turn. I expect DeGette to pick up on this tactic at her next town meeting. She was down right rude to the anti-war and impeachment oriented voters at one of her recent meetings and was really angry at one activist for bluntly asking her position on impeachment. If voters couldn't occasionally interrupt politicians they would never get their views heard.
Getting back to Udall, then Udall announces that he would not take questions on the Iraq War until 3/4 of the way through the hour long session, leaving only 15 minutes for the Iraq war, short shrift indeed. And he apparently didn't want to allow any discussion of Impeachment. Not on his agenda. The Iraq War and Accountability for the Bush Administration were the two main reasons the voters gave the Democrats control of the House and Senate. Short shrift again.
The time for the Iraq War discussion came and went. Udall let the clock run down to 4:20 before announcing the time had come to talk aboout the war. Then a few seconds later he said he had special quests. Turned out to be a couple of the Darfur lost boys I believe. They were there to repeatedly thank him for helping them and stretched out the clock some more by presenting Udall with some kind of award. This pretty well ran out the Iraq War discussion clock.
It was a masterful demonstration of Udall's ability to control the voters voices in a public meeting. I was truly impressed. And dismayed. I went out in the streets for Udall carrying his signs in the last election cycle. Am I now to be content to be told to sit down, shut up and keep my opinions to my self? Are you?
As a senator he will represent all Coloradoans and should be answerable to all of us. To surround himself at public meetings with apologists who insulate him from diverse opinions is unacceptable.
I hope I will be able to support Udall in 2008. His behaviour will determine whether I do. Also the behaviour of his supporters.
Those on the ProgressNowAction.org website who tell us to "get the fuck out of mine and Mark's way" are the dangerous ones. Did the GOPs neocons move over to the Colorado Democratic Party after Nov. 2006?
My wife worries about my safety when I go out on street corners to protest for Stopping The Iraq War Now and on Impeachment. Given some of the venomous language and veiled threats we are now seeing here in print perhaps I should take her warning more seriously.
And Udall does have a big problem as expressed by Veteran
Michael Collins on ProgressActionNow.org.
A quote from former Senator Gary Hart, circa June 2006 sums up the Iraq War and Impeachment situation for Representatives Udall, DeGette, Salazar, Perlmutter and we voters.
"But the real spotlight of history now rests on those Congressional Democrats who support sinking deeper into the Big Muddy of Iraq out of fear of Karl Rove and greater concern for their own re-elections than the lives of U.S. service personnel being destroyed by roadside bombs
What will history say of them? How will they account for their own silence, their own weakness, their own careerism?
There is something in life a lot more important than holding on, at all cost, to a Congressional seat. There is integrity, there is conviction, and there is courage. History's jury will sit in judgment today on those Democrats and will find wanting those without the conviction and courage to say "enough"."
I found this quote was on a posting-reply by Casey Mulligan a local lawyer who had replied to
another post by" Johne" at Squarestate.net
on this very topic .
Related: in a story on The Fort Collins Coloradoan website in a speech to the Rotary Club of Fort Collins
former Senator Gary Hart is quoted saying "American troops will need to remain in Iraq for an additional 10 to 25 years if President Bush's "stay the course" Iraq war strategy is going to work".
I have nothing to apologize for. If someone wants to favor Bob Schaffer over Mark Udall simply because they don't like Mark Udall's stratgey but aren't going to offer up any alternatives, yeah I got a big problem with that.
It's pretty clear the Green party in Boulder wants to move America more to the right by helping people like Bob Schaffer.
I decided a long time ago that while I may not like everything within the Democratic Party, it's far easier to reform it from within than to start a third party. I can see now that my choice was the right one based upon your rhetoric.
I stand by what I wrote and here it is in it's entirety:
So, continuing with the likes of Nader you're attacking the one Congressman who genuinely stood up for the 2nd district, voted against the original resolution to use force in Iraq, and continues to work on a way to end the occupation of Iraq. But, there's one difference, he doesn't want to do it the way you've deemed is the only way that's acceptable. If I understand your position correctly, you're calling for Mark Udall's head while ignoring the likes and antics of Allard, Musgrave, Salazar, Leiberman, etc. (I'm only listing Leiberman last as he's not from Colorado)
If you really feel there's a genuine alternative to Mark Udall, then put him or her up to run for the Senate, against Udall and Schaffer and help that person to raise enough money to make a credible challenge either in the primary or as a member from a third party. If you're not willing to do that and just want to keep attacking Udall, then we're going to get the Colorado Senate equivalent of the 2000 race between Bush and Gore. I think we all now realize there are huge differences between those two folks.
If you're not willing to do that, then get the fuck out of mine and Mark's way just because you don't agree with his strategy to end the war in Iraq.
BTW, telling the entire American population to start walking may seem like a perfectly valid solution to you in Boulder, but I don't think it's going to go over so well for the rest of Colorado and the rest of the county. When you have a candidate, why don't you let them try that line in their first speech and see how far they get.
BTW, if you're so shocked by the work "fuck" here it is again, "fuck" Yea, sometimes bloggers use dirty words. Get over it!
He's the House sponsor of the Webb bill which will mandate one to one home base time for time spent by service members in-theater. This will have a dual effect--it takes care of service members some of whom are on their 4th and 5th deployments, which have been extended from 6 to 15 months since the war began, and gives them a break to recoup and retrain, and as a result it effectively reduces the pool of available troops, which will force a drawdown.
He's the house sponsor of the bill to implement the Iraq Study Group recommendations.
He has worked every angle for ending the war ever since Congress voted to support it (he voted against it). He will continue to do so, but not in a way that leaves our soldiers starving and defenseless in enemy territory, which is what cutting off funding will do.
Fully funded withdrawal. That is the exit strategy. The question is whether we can get it done before Bush leaves office or after. To do it before will require much more Republican support to overcome a veto by Bush. That is where the pressure needs to be applied.
...American troops will need to remain in Iraq for an additional 10 to 25 years if President Bush's "stay the course" Iraq war strategy is going to work.
Did you read the whole article? It's completely lost on you that Sen. Hart DOES NOT WANT THAT, isn't it? If you had kept reading instead of freaking out on paragraph one, you'd see where he says the American people will not tolerate that long of a military deployment in Iraq.
The real tragedy here is that Mark Udall and Gary Hart are not your enemies. They want the Iraq War to end just as you do, they just live in the real world where you don't. Ending the Iraq War, especially without a progressive President or even a supermajority in Congress, will take time and compromise. That's right, compromise. And since realistic people like Udall don't tell you exactly the unrealistic thing you demand to hear they are now your enemies, no better than Republicans to you. Burn them like witches, guillotine them like enemies of the Republic. Okay.
I am more than happy to provide you with a forum to mount your futile, quixotic 51-vote impeachment crusades, viciously attack the people you might otherwise have a chance of influencing (unlike Republicans who will only laugh at you), and any other self-destructive activity you wish to engage in. But I'm asking you to please, think for a minute about what you're doing. It may feel good, liberating, purifying, whatever--but you're making a bloody irrelevant ass of yourself, guaranteeing that no one in a position of authority will dare give you a moment's consideration again because you are belligerent, paranoid, and unreasonable.
Is that really how you want to participate in the democratic process?
I'd like to add that Johne has done as much or more for Colorado progressive politics than just about anyone I've known. He is smart, knowledgeable, open-minded, reasonable, and friendly. His work to establish Drinking Liberally chapters across the state gives folks a social setting to discuss and become engaged in politics. DL is the new town square.
Alan, Bobby, Johne, Pacified, and Wendy (Norris), amongst others have helped turn Colorado Blue. Mr. Kennedy, what have you done to make a difference to anyone but yourself?
Mmm, that's nice.
Second, the Green's are aiding and abetting the conservative right wing when they counterfactually claim that Udall is worse than Shaffer, and encourage people not to support their natural ally Udall, because Udall doesn't precisely adhere to the Green Party line. Our electoral system shouldn't cause third party candidates to hurt their friends, but it does and it won't change before 2008.
Greens would apparently prefer none at all to half a loaf, but most of us care about our country enough not to have a fit over the fact that someone who isn't perfect is your best available option.
But remember, we even let the shrill have their mic time, as the continued presence of this misinformed screed should indicate.
Why should Rep. Udall have to apologize for anything? The suggestion is way over the top.
Fuck, thanks everyone! ;-)