Change is a-coming

[unhappycamper]

When the new Congress convenes next year, We The People need to remind our Democratic Congress why they are now the majority party. The issue that carried the Dems to power is the Iraq war and occupation. The long 500-year forever war wet dreams of PNAC neo-cons and the BFEE are no longer a national priority.

The election was also about lying, spying, torture, corruption, cronyism and incompetence, but the tipping point was the ongoing fiasco in Iraq.

Dennis Kucinich, in a four parts series on Huffington Post hit the nail on the head:

In 2004 Congress created a mechanism at the request of the Defense Department, a bridge fund, to avoid cash flow method of funding for the troops, until the next Supplemental Bill is passed. Under Title 9 of the Appropriations Bill, Congress appropriated $25 billion in FY2005, $50 billion in FY2006, and $70 billion in bridge funds for the Iraq War. Since the war is costs about $7.5 million a month (a uhc correction here – this war is costing us at least $7.5 billion a month), this latest amount will last until approximately the end of June, 2007. There is no immediate cash flow problem. That money bridge can be used to fund troops in the field. It can also be used to bring the troops home.

This is where the debate will center among Democrats. It will begin soon and it will be in earnest and it will determine whether or not Democrats maintain public support. Do we close ranks as a party and move quickly to bring the troops home? Or do we ignore voters' intent and keep the money pouring into Iraq. Congressional approval of appropriations bills since the enactment of the war authorization has enabled the Bush administration to continue the war with hundreds of billions at his disposal.

Democrats have a real chance to use the power of the people to take a new direction, to offer a new plan, to end the occupation by ending the funding of the war. We can rescue our troops and our nation from Iraq. We can rescue whatever vestiges of good reputation the US has in the world. We can claim our constitutional obligation to provide a check and balance to the abuse of Administrative power. History is calling us to a high accounting.

Whaddayathink? We know that impeachment is “off the table.” I suspect the upcoming investigations of the last six years may force a change in that position.

But what I don’t see is our elected officials getting down to is the task at hand – stopping this illegal and immoral occupation of a foreign nation. Stopping the killing of our children; stopping the killing of Iraqi children; stopping the killing for Iraqi oil; stopping the rape and pillage of our National Treasure. And stop it we must.

As a Viet Nam vet, a member of the been-there, done-that crowd, and a member of the Veterans For Peace I have to ask “How much more can we allow to happen in our name?” Did we not elect new officials to bring our troops home? What can they be thinking? What part of “Bring Them Home Now” was not clear?


Voices for Creative Nonviolence is organizing the Occupation Project, a campaign of sustained nonviolent civil disobedience aimed at ending the U.S. war in and occupation of Iraq. The campaign will begin the first week of February 2007 with occupations at the offices of Representatives and Senators who refuse to pledge to vote against additional war funding.

The Occupation Project: A Campaign of Sustained Nonviolent Civil Disobedience to End the Iraq War

Dear Friends,

Voices for Creative Nonviolence is initiating the Occupation Project: A Campaign of Sustained Nonviolent Civil Disobedience to End the Iraq War. The campaign begins on February 5, 2007 and will run for eight weeks. The campaign challenges Representatives and Senators to publicly declare that they will vote against any further funding for the war in and occupation of Iraq.

We invite you to join with us and others around the U.S. in organizing sustained nonviolent civil disobedience at the offices of Representatives and Senators who do not publicly pledge to vote against war funding.

President Bush is expected to submit to Congress yet another request in early 2007 for supplemental war funding for the Iraq war. Already, the military services are requesting $160 billion in additional war funding for the current fiscal year, which just began on October 1, though modest reductions will likely be made before being submitted to Congress in early 2007. The funds will be for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for the so-called Global War on Terror.

In Chicago, a coalition of organizations and individuals will conduct weekly occupations inside the offices of elected Representatives and Senators beginning February 5. Campaigns are also being organized in Wisconsin and Iowa. We ask your participation in the Occupation Project campaign in your own locality—building a campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience focused upon your own Representative and Senators.

Read all about The Occupation Project here


So the question is: are you going to cross your fingers and hope your representatives represent you? Or are you going to remind them up close and personal? Unfortunately, I think the only way out of Iraq is going to be the up close and personal reminder. Every day. Every single day until they close the money machine spigot.

[goclark]

1. I agree

[hashibabba]

2. I agree. Its a good idea to write/call our representatives every

single day.

[katty]

3. don't waste time with impeachment-give the sick one an

offer he can't refuse-it's either the Nixon way out or we will rid the world of you!!

[unhappycamper]

4. A shameless kick to get off of page four.

To be honest, I'm somewhat surprised at the lack of responses. We need to get in our representatives faces. Every. Fricking. Day. Until. This. Stops.