Tuesday, March 07, 2006

"I was silent because I thought someone else would speak . . ."

Okay, let's all hope there are no problems with Blogger/Blogspot tonight. Please visit Mikey Likes It to check out Mike's thoughts on today's news. Tonight, I'm starting with a book.


Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush (Center for Constitutional Rights, pp. 55-56):
Speaking about impeachment, one of the framers of the Constitution, James Iredell, stated, "The President must certainly be punishable for giving false information to the Senate." And that is precisely what President Bush has done, and more. He has lied to the American people and the Congress as to the basis of the war with Iraq. He has involved the United States and its people in a devastating war that has killed thousands and cost billions. By doing so he has subverted the will of Congress, which alone has the right to declare war, and coerced them into doing so by falsities. He has undermined democracy by painting a false picture of the reasons for war to the American people. He has broken the law, both by committing a fraud on the American people, and by violating the fundamental legal precept prohibiting aggressive wars. He has attempted to end the system upon which our country was founded: that the president is a creature of the Constitution and law and has limited powers that are checked and balanced by the other branches. By issuing false statements and lying to Congress and the American people, he has induced Congress and the American people to enter into a war to which the people may not have consented had the true facts been know to them. By doing so, he has subverted the powers of the Congress that are meant to check presidential power. He has undermined our republican form of government. He has violated the public trust and overstepped the bounds of his office. For these reasons, George W. Bush must be impeached.

C.I. quoted that this morning. We all either now have the book or will shortly. (Thank you, C.I.) I believe we're aiming to have a discussion of the book at The Third Estate Sunday Review for this Sunday's edition. I haven't cracked mine yet, it just arrived today. But the excerpt alone makes we want to rush through tonight's post and start reading. Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush is put out by the Center for Constitutional Rights.


"Supreme Court Rules Federally-Funded Schools Must Allow Recruiting" (Democracy Now!):
In other news, the Supreme Court has ruled military recruiting must be allowed on college campuses that accept federal funding. In a unanimous ruling, Justices rejected a free-speech challenge from law schools that said they shouldn't be forced to accept recruitment so long as the military maintains a "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay men and lesbian. The schools maintain the policy is discriminatory.

I looked at three papers this morning (including "the paper of record") and not one reprinted the decision. The Court can and does make mistakes. They supported slavery, until Lawrence, they spat on the rights of gays and lesbians. I don't agree with this decision but I'm having a difficult time understanding their argument when I haven't been able to read it.


"Army Announces New Review of Tillman Death" (Democracy Now!):
In military news, the US army has announced a new review of the death of former football star turned US Ranger Pat Tillman. Tillman made headlines when he quit the NFL to fight after the Sept. 11 attacks. He died while serving in Afghanistan in April 2004. The military initially mislead his family into believing he was killed in battle when in fact he was killed by US troops. Tillman’s death has already been probed on three separate occasions. The probes have only resulted in light punishment for some of his fellow soldiers. The new probes will focus on both the details of his shooting and allegations the Army covered up crucial facts after he was killed. A military spokesperson said earlier investigations had produced enough evidence to warrant possible charges of negligent homicide.

Mike is covering this topic tonight from the angle of "credit." I'll add to what he's planning to write that the administration was happy to use Tillman as a prop. He wouldn't let them do that while he was alive (he refused to do p.r.) so it's all the more shameful that they did it after he was dead. The parents have a right to know what really happened. Whether this investigation will bring them any closer to the truth . . . I hope it does.

This is the third anniversary of the start of the illegal war. I hope you're getting active. If you're thinking, "I would if I knew of anything near me" -- well check out the following.

"BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME NOW: 3 YEARS TO MANY" (UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE)
March 15-22: A WEEK OF LOCAL ACTIONS TO END THE WAR
Click here for events calendar, resources & more
Legislative action: Keep the pressure on!
March 15: National Day of Local Media Protest
March 16: Young People's Resistance to 3 Years of War


Why should you take part? To make your voice heard and to help speak for those who can't. Some who can't are serving. Some who can't are locked away.

"Remarks of Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA)" (February 26, 2006; Kevin Benderman Defense Committee):
"Mr. Speaker.....This administration is being investigated on how we got into the first war, and now they want us to go to a second war, to open another front on this war. It is about time that we say no more war. No more war, Mr. Bush.
I also want to, as I remember the gentleman in my district who is over 40 years of age who has been told that he has got to report for duty in Iraq, remember Kevin Benderman, whose wife frantically contacted my office asking for help for her husband. Kevin Benderman went to Iraq one time. He was asked to do things that he thought as a human being went against his conscience.
We know that collateral damage is not just a number: 100,000; 200,000. It is people. It is little boys and little girls. It is women. Kevin Benderman said, I am not going to kill innocent people. Don't ask me to do that. I have done it once. Once is too much.
He decided that he would apply for conscientious objector status. Well, Kevin Benderman is in the brig because he did not want to kill innocent little girls and little boys and women and men in Iraq. He is in the brig."

Kevin Benderman stood up. Monica Benderman did as well. He's serving a sentence that he shouldn't be serving and she's doing everything she can to make sure he's not forgotten. If you're on the fence about taking part in protests this month, how about telling yourself that you'll do it in honor of the Bendermans and their fighting spirit?

Action Quote
I was silent because I thought someone would else would speak. When no one else spoke and I tried to, it was too late.









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