More Democrats want their leaders to stand up against Bush, war

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

BY STEVEN THOMMA
Knight Ridder Newspapers

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Anti-war and anti-Bush fervor is growing among rank and file Democrats, threatening to pull the party to the left and creating a rift between increasingly belligerent activists and the party's leaders in Washington.

Many outside-the-Beltway Democrats want the party to turn forcefully against the war in Iraq and to investigate, censure or even impeach President Bush should the party win control of Congress this fall.

Yet party leaders such as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York have maintained support for the war while criticizing the way Bush handled it, and have shied away from talk of using power to go to after him.

The fault line is evident as Democrats gather for spring and summer sessions filled with demands for bolder action by the congressional wing of their party, especially if they win control of the House or Senate in November.

Continued: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/nation/14740572.htm

[Cha]

1. I don't know what

polls hillary is watching.

Bout time they listened to the Rand and File!

[KyuzoGator]

2. Sad that this headline is being presented as "Latest Breaking News"...nt

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

3. I took a long time for MSM to figure it out.

[longship]

4. R & K

Important that people are waking up to the fact that many of us are, and have been, awake.

:kick:ed

[samplegirl]

5. Bring on the Dean

Scream!!! With every Democrat following.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Hopefully most Democrats are tired of the "keep the powder dry" crowd

Alito is on the Supreme Court in part due to Senate leaders not fully backing Kerry's filibuster. I guess going to a boxing match with McCain was more important than keeping a fascist Opus Dei pig like Alito from the Supreme Court.

The "keep the powder dry" crowd doesn't want to offend the GOP, or the magnetic ribbon crowd, by bringing the troops home and holding accountable the war criminals responsible for this needless war.

[bvar22]

11. More importantly,

they don't want to offend their Corporate contributors who are making $BILLIONS off the little adventure Iraq.

[IndianaGreen]

7. There are great Russ Feingold quotes in the article

In New Hampshire, the state that will kick off the party's 2008 presidential primary voting, activists gave thunderous ovations this weekend to Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., when he pressed his anti-war agenda, boasted that he alone among potential 2008 presidential candidates opposed the war from the start, and pushed for a censure of Bush.

<snip>

"I never bought into it," Feingold said to applause from more than 600 activists at New Hampshire's state Democratic convention Saturday. "I didn't just write an op-ed (article) about it. I voted against it."

<snip>

That tension created political doubletalk, Feingold said, that hurt the party in 2002 and 2004 because it wasn't clear what Democrats believed.

"There were all kinds of ways that people were trying to be against the war without really being against it," he said after his speech.

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/nation/14740572.htm

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

8. I loved reading those... This story went ALL over the wires.

It should get a lot of exposure and be Rush & Sean's topic tomorrow.

[Tesha]

9. Feingold's speech was great -- Mr. Tesha and I were there.

And after that, the Progressives took possession of the NH
Democratic Party! (See my thread in the "Greatest" section.)

Tesha

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

32. Now that is cool!

[karynnj]

10. Interesting article

It is strange though that it ignores the main issue of the Kerry email which is to ask people to call their Senators and ask that they support a withdrawal amendment. This could, if it gets enough momentum, get people like Clinton and Bayh to move to a position like Murtha, Kerry, Kennedy and Feingold. As it backs the thesis of the article, it should have been mentioned.

In case you haven't seen it, the petition is on http://www.johnkerry.com/ Even if you don't like or support Kerry, it would be good to call your Senators.

[IndianaGreen]

13. I get e-mail alerts from johnkerry.com

and I fully support him in his efforts to bring this needless war to an end. As to Hillary and Bayh, there aren't enough foul words in the English language to describe how I feel about the unrepentant war enablers.

[Arugula Latte]

12. Those damn "belligerent" activists.

Why can't they just shut up? The Democratic Party has been doing so well for the past several years -- what is their problem? Remember, in DLC We Trust.

:sarcasm:

[Faygo Kid]

16. Me? Belligerent Activist? I'm a gentle sweetie pie.

Except when it comes to the ruin of my nation.

[UpInArms]

14. a Dem fundraiser called me last week

I told them that I was giving no more money until they stood up en masse and stopped the crap that was coming from the WH - I was furious with them allowing Hayden to take the head of the CIA - only a couple signing on for censure - all of the allowing the spying on everyone crap - and no one stopping the lies that continue to spew forth.

I was told that Stabenow was taking a stand against Bush - I then said I would call her office and give money to her.

I asked when these creeps were going to stand up for the Constitution and the citizens and he said that the Dems were "afraid" of Dimson.

I just became furious! What in the world!?! Afraid????

I need to represented by cowards like I need a hole in my head!

I am still steaming!

[ecoalex]

15. ya'll miss the DLC contingent who say take it easy...We want Impeachment

Look at the Feckless Dems, a schism between the DLC...... Clinton, and the DNC.... Feingold.One says stay the course, the other says Impeach or censure or??? Thx DLC, thanks a pant load.

[roguevalley]

17. If they don't stand against chimpy and the war, fuck them.

[MrTriumph]

27. I did the same. The Dem. Senatorial campaign called

wanting another contribution. I told them I did not like Harry & Co. siding with bush on open borders & amnesty and would not contribute more. The solicitor told me he was hearing quite a bit of that sentiment.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. I was looking for the "No Shit" file.

Thanks to you, I've found it. Glory be!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

19. LOL! But you have to admit, it's good to see it in print by a news

service?

:toast:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

20. I always check myrtlebeachonline first thing in the morning.

Now it has the official stamp of truth!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

21. This is all over the country... Knight Ridder sent it out all over

the place. This was just the top of the Google list.

[wordpix2]

22. well, good, it's time we progressives take over the party & country

Hear that, freepers? :)

[struggle4progress]

23. Well .. uh ... yeah ... ever since the December 2000 coup, in fact

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

28. Ka-ching!

[FreeStateDemocrat]

24. I didn't know the Democratic Party had any leaders.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

29. You have a point... n/t

[Courtesy Flush]

45. ***SNORT***

[justinaforjustice]

25. Hawaii Dems Call for Immediate Withdrawal, Impeachment, Prosecution

The Hawaii Democratic Party met in convention May 26-28, 2006 and voted for immediate withdrawal from Iraq and the impeachment and prosecution of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and Gonzales. They also voted to support single payer health care and free public education to the university level.

First Congressional Representative Neil Abercrombie gave an extremely powerful keynote address in which he detailed the Bush administration's illegalities, calling for an end to Bush's imperialism and restoration of our constitutional government. Convention-goers were repeatedly on their feet yelling and clapping their agreement.

Representative Ed Case, Abercrombie's Second Congressional District counter-part, in contrast, was virtually shunned by the delegates, attributable to his announcement that he will challenge long time liberal Senator Daniel Akaka in the upcoming Democratic Party primary and attributable to his Republican-like voting record.

Case, who replaced Congresswoman Pasty Mink on her death, has wandered very far afield from Mink's positions, supporting Senator Joe Lieberman for president, Bush's continued occupation of Iraq, and co-sponsoring a Bankruptcy reform act which would have had Mink crying out with rage.

When Akaka appeared to speak to the convention, the hall was filled to over-flowing with stomping and cheering Akaka supporters. Senator Akaka voted against the Iraq invasion, and has consistently opposed Bush's reactionary policies. Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye addressed the convention indicating his support for Akaka and calling on Democrats to keep a strong team, with a lot of seniority, in place in Washington. The majority of delegates clapped and yelled their enthusiastic agreement with Inouye's endorsement.

[MaineDem]

35. Maine Democrats adopt Bush impeachment and censure resolutions

Democratic State Convention delegates adopted a resolution Saturday calling for impeachment proceedings against President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, but they opted not to include the measure in their party platform.

The strongly worded resolution says the president and vice president have "betrayed their oaths" in their prosecution of the war in Iraq, treatment and detainment of prisoners and use of illegal domestic surveillance.

It urges Congress to investigate the leaders' actions, "carrying the legal process through to its conclusion in an act of impeachment." It also calls on the Maine Legislature and the state's congressional representatives to press for an investigation.

[RaRa]

26. Didn't the repukes start to gain power

when their right wing took over? I'm happy to be a part of the "fringe" element of the Democractic party.

[Olney Blue]

30. I'm going to trust Dean. I hope the congressional Dems do too.

[nashville_brook]

31. in what alternate reality is this Late BREAKING "News"??

you can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone who is sick and tired of Reid et al.

(not questioning the placement in LBN -- just that this ain't "news")

[BenDavid]

33. Well, it seems like

SSDD all over again. In the past when things needed to be said about the damn bushco administration it ususally was the women in the congress which voiced their displeasure. Seemed as though they were the only ones that had the balls, and they were born without a set. The men folk of the dems in congress would not speak up and out. All thay had to do was just sit back and wait for a reporter to stick a mic in front of them and they would be critical of whomever it was that made a statement against bush or his policies...

You know and I know the only way the dems are going to take back control of either house in congress is to speak out and speak often and speak loud enough for the media to take notice. Have some game plan and all speak from the same damn play book....The American people are ready to hear from the Dems and what they have to offer and if the rethugs remain in control of the congress this country will be forever lost....

And one other thing I have on my mind that I need to say..After this election in November and if Hillary Clinton decides to make a run for the Democratic party nomination then we do not need dems or independents that post in this forum to come here and be critical of her. If you do not support her in the campaign then work hard as hell for whomever you think will be the best to run again the repug candidate....Now if she runs and wins the nomination then please do not come in here and post and spew all the hillary hatred you can muster up....Accept it and either work to see her get elected president or do not do anything. Just sit there on your hands but get up long enough to vote in November of 08...but remember, she will be like Bill clinton when it comes to answering any damn charges made by the repugs. She will not let it lay for a day or two like Kerry or for that matter Gore...She will fight back and fight back hard.

All Hillary would need do is have a big and I mean a damn big ass rally and at that rally say something to this effect....Ladies and gentleman, young people, middle age people, our beloved senior citizens, I am running for president because this country is in need of a change and a new direction set, and a leader that will make it so and make it happen for ALL our citizens. As you may have read or heard on the news from the republican party some accusations and the media is carrying their water, and I am hear to say that I am married to Bill Clinton, and WE will be married till death do us part.....Now to the media I say this....We have important issues facing this country and you the media should be reporting these issues instead of reporting on things that do not affect OUR peoples lives. I ask you today to seek out and ask me why i am running for president and ask me why I want to be president... You do that and this campaign will be more the better and the American people will be well informed. So, I ask you the media to come on board and see and hear what Americans are saying and what makes me run to become President..It is for them.....ALL Americans....

Once she says that and confronts the press they cannot come back with anything else....

[secular humanoid]

39. the country and the world

"...if the rethugs remain in control of the congress this country will be forever lost...."

and we'll see the pain wagons deployed on US soil within 10 years.



peace

[Solly Mack]

34. It's got jackshit to do with "party" - As a human, as an American

I demand Congress act against the crimes of Bush.

Bush is a war criminal and no amount of spinning by anyone in Washington can erase that fact.

Congress, as a whole and as individuals, can act to stop Bush or be complicit.

There is no wiggle room. There are no "gray" areas.
This is not a history that can be rewritten - America is a war crime nation.

[eviltwin2525]

36. not my leader

Hillary Clinton is NOT a leader of my Democratic Party. She's the leader of a single-candidate faction promoting, guess what, Hillary Clinton. We need a Democratic woman President; Hillary Clinton is not it.

I support the last person lawfully elected President of the United States, Al Gore. (Although Kerry certainly won but had the election stolen in 2004, since he was running against the guy who overthrew the lawful government in 2000, the whole basis of the 2004 election is illegitimate, as it was not conducted under the Constitution of the United States, but under the illegal lawless Bush christo-fascist imperialist despotism.)

The time for Al Gore is (STILL) now!

[anotherdrew]

43. seriously, I was like- leaders? WHAT LEADERS? leaders lead

we've got a bunch of god damn clowns bought and paid for by the same interestes that backed bush.

[Writer]

37. That should read "More AMERICANS want their leaders to...

stand up against Bush, war."

Americans as a WHOLE have woken up and are more willing to listen to Democrats.

[redqueen]

38. "threatening to pull the party to the left"? No! Back towards the center!

:banghead:

[Chemical Bill]

41. That got to me too.

That damn "liberal" media calling common sense "left" and using the word "activists" when they should say "everybody". To think that Knight_Ridder is the best we have....

Bill

[sutz12]

40. AFT, too.

About Fucking Time they started listening to the people.

[anotherdrew]

42. impeach? hell, possibly convict him for murder and execute the sunofabitch

total destruction of the bush clan down even seven generations might be in order.

[Copperred]

44. Hail the Pharoahs!!!! (jk)

Down with the DLC....

Bring Edwards, Dean and Clark to the top of this pyramid!!!!