How long did my hope last this time? Two days?

I guess Pelosi and Reid are fine with running out the clock on this president no matter how much protesting and objecting they hear.

We the people, once again, get screwed.

I've never been one to throw in the towel, but hoping for an outcome that will never happen is a sure sign of being delusional.

I actually feel ill.

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Democrat: capitulate, bow, give in, relent, submit, surrender, yield

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I am sick of this sh**. I am past being civil.

peace,
Paul

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when they're on the same team?

I don't know that I can vote 'for' a Democrat, or a Republican, though I might be able to vote 'against' one.

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but it must be, 'cause all I smell is chickenshit.

plur

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I'm so sick of the cowardly congress... the whole lot should be drawn and quartered for violating their oaths to the constitution.

What are we teaching our children? It's okay to lie, cheat, steal as long as you don't admit it ...it's okay. Or the christian version - lie, cheat and steal at will and pray for forgiveness - and all it fine. I'm ashamed, truly ashamed to be a citizen of the US.

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The Constitution prohibits Ex Post Facto prosecution. I, not being a lawyer, wonder if it is illegal for Congress to grant retroactive immunity to anyone for any purpose.

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Can anyone tell me what Reid gets out of this?

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...off the table. Out of Congress. He has no business there.

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Be elected as the majority, rule like the minority.

Keep voting for them, folks. I'm sure they'll stop selling you out at some point...

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Reid (and Pelosi in the House) are spineless, feckless examples of how not to be leaders. Reid should be thrown out and replaced by Dodd, Biden, or Webb. Otherwise, I'm voting Libertarian in the next election.

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Of course it was absolutely obvious to me long ago that Bush would get everything he wanted on this issue. (And on every issue.) So I am not shocked in the slightest. But can someone tell me of even ONE incident where the Dems didn't cave in to Bush completely? (And if they did not cave in on some occasion, which I find highly unlikely, is there an incident where the Dems didn't cave and Bush didn't get everything he wanted anyway by using signing statements or by ignoring the law?)
Hey, Dems. Bow down and worship your master, the Duh-cider. Because you certainly don't represent the people of America in any slight way!

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What's worst of all is that the FEW companies, that didn't capitulate to the Bush will be harassed out of business with phony charges that WILL be endlessly "investigated" while the rest will get off scott free. And since Bush controls the courts he can continue to do whatever he wants. Our only hope is that France or some other country charges Bush and Cheney with war crimes and puts them away.

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I've watched the Dems doing exactly the same thing since they ran away, screaming from Jimmy Carter. The question is: why do you all continue to support them? It's like the definition of neurosis: doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome. You can argue that "we don't want another George Bush in the White House", but I'd argue that, by electing another Republican in Democrats clothing you open the door for just that. Further, when a Dem does fill the White House (or control Congress) most of our fellow outraged citizens go back to sleep.
It's time to focus on other parties. Voting for the Dems is like trying to stand still on a beach, as the waves gradually erode the sand beneath your feet. A better analogy might be the frog in hot water: If you try and place a frog into boiling water, it will jump out. If you place it in cold water, and slowly heat it, the frog will stay and die.

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so it appears that we are devided. Some of us blame the congress for giving in -- and some of us blame the masses (not ourselves ofcause) for being stupid, asleep, ignorant. Both are true. However, getting stuck in "blaming" is itself a trap that accomplishes nothing. So I guess this is what Rich meant when he wrote we have become the "new good germans". Now we blame -- soon we will be afraid to do even that. So if things are bad now -- how much worse can they get?
Ask this reporter -- he will keep us informed.
If this sounds like blame -- it is closer to frustration, as I still believe the fat lady has not (yet) sung -- although she is beginning to walk towards the mike. I surely can understand how you guys feel -- but I do not want to understand your response to how you feel. Maybe because all the young kids are waiting for Obama to save us (if they even understand from what) and the mid aged people are busy trying to live their dreams, and the placid old folks are saying "don't worry the democrats are coming" and all the savey old folks are ringing their hands and yelling Oy -- its not good.

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Are 51 (or more) Senators FOR illegal spying???

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The only way to stop the lawless outrages of the criminals Cheney and Bush is to IMPEACH them! The Constitution provides the tool to hold the thugs in the White House accountable!
Use it!

Impeach Cheney NOW

Defense of the Constitution Knows No Party


The Bush administration has illegally seized and imprisoned Americans without benefit of their trial by jury, has spied on Americans without warrant in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, has lied America into a disastrous war, and has betrayed an American intelligence officer, who was working on weapons of mass destruction networks, to our enemies (Valerie Plame.)

Impeachment hearings against Vice President Dick Cheney are now a distinct possibility, thanks to a recent outpouring of public support for impeachment by Americans across the political spectrum. Your calls and faxes to House Judiciary Committee members are needed to keep up the pressure.

Leave a message for your Congressman, to demand he obey his oath to "defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." Act now to restore your rights and the rule of law bequeathed to us by our Founding Fathers, which brave men have died defending throughout our history.

Call the House Judiciary Committee

202-225-3951
and demand that Impeachment hearings begin ASAP!





*What Happened to Make This All Possible?

On November 6, 2007, Rep. Dennis Kucinich brought H.Res.333, for the impeachment of Cheney, to the House Floor for debate. It was broadcast on CSPAN. A sudden outpouring of public support for impeachment forced lawmakers to keep the resolution alive. Democrats, most of whom currently resist demands for impeachment, were unwilling to kill the bill with the public watching. Republicans and some Democrats, mindful of impeachment sentiment, voted to debate the bill, but failed. At the end of the day, Americans of both parties had made it clear whose "table" this is, and that they want to see impeachment on it.



For more information go to
NEImpeach.org
www.wexlerwantshearings.com

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How many times do the American people need to be slapped in the face by the representatives they elect before they not only say enough is enough, but actually do something about it.

Voting Democrat or Republican is throwing your vote away. STOP DOING IT

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Far be it for me and my non-lawyerly mind to question the insightful analysis of such brilliant, litigious minds of both the lovely, Ms. Jane Hamsher and the slightly less-lovely but equally proficient Mr. Glen Greenwald, but if you hop on over to Senator Russ Feingold's website you'll see that the good senator remains hopeful that he'll be able to strip the "telecom immunity" clause from the FISA bill, and subsequently, add to it a couple of the other amendments that will protect our civil rights.

Besides, if things don't mesh the way he believes they will, Senator Feingold says he will support a real filibuster, in which I'm sure Senator Dodd (along with others) will join him.

From the statement on his website:

"If the final bill produced by the Senate doesn’t protect the privacy of law abiding Americans or if it includes immunity for telecom companies, I will strongly oppose it and will vote against cutting off debate on it.”

I'm not panicking yet.

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I heard the following story: They captured the Tzar, and they released the information that they had killed him -- and then they waited 3 days -- and when no one came to storm the castle -- they proceeded to kill him.

Even during Hitler's reign, there was an underground. It is not too late -- we simply have to figure out what to do. The problem is: the only thing most are doing is: TELLING OTHERS TO DO SOMETHING. You are preaching to the choir -- we want change -- we just dont know how.

Nadar warned us. We need another party. It is too late now to vote against the democrats, even if this is a truthful machine accounting election. We do not want to give the impresson that we are ready for more of Bush and Chenney. ANd it will be easier to force the demos to uphold their campaign pledges, if -- IF we organize and actively work on it.

PS I will check out the impeachment group, that is a good suggestion. He deserves to be impeached.

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Boycott

It's something most people aren't willing to do anymore, something that gets very little consistent press, something that is absolutely necessary to get these companies and parties to change.

I call on Alternet to create a Boycott section on this site of companies and politicians we should boycott and / or never vote for.

An easy to use guide that shows all of us which companies don't work for us the people and which politicians don't work for us the people.

It would also help to have a list of good companies, companies that are green, have good customer service, good products, etc.

We need it easier for the average person to make informed decisions without having to spend hours on research.


I have 5 companies to boycott already:
Chase Bank - They absolutely refuse to waive late fees even though they used to do so and I haven't had a late payment in atleast the last 6 months. They would rather lose business (I told them I would cancel without a waiver of the $39 late fee) than do a favor for a customer.

Amazon.com - It was an Amazon.com credit card and they are just as responsible as Chase for the policies surrounding their card. I will no longer shop on Amazon.com either.

EA Games - They buy out smaller gaming companies and fire all the employees there. They buy exlusive rights to sports franchises like the NFL so that no other company can make an NFL game with all the real players and stats in it. Sega made a superior NFL game to the Madden series and EA's answer was to buy exclusive rights to the franchise rather than make a better game.

EA also uses software known as Punkbuster which does diminish cheating to an extent but it spys on the processes running on a user's PC to hunt for cheat software. It slows down the game, random boots from the game servers occur because Punkbuster is flaky.

Schwab - They have ridiculous account maintenance fees even though they aren't actually doing anything for the clients. My account with them was dormant for a long time and they tacked on monthly fee after monthly fee all just so I could hold on to some shares I had bought of another company.

Citibank - They bought one of the largest banks in Mexico Banamex, whose CEO laundered cocaine money into his bank and let his own property be used by drug smugglers as a stopping point from Colombia to the U.S.

Not to mention the pyramid scheme that is Primerica.

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LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE BUSH/CHENEY FASCIST PARTY HAS BEEN SPYING ON AMERICANS SINCE BEFORE 911. THEIR PEOPLE MUST HAVE CAREER ENDING INFO ON THESE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS. BLACKMAIL SEEMS TO GET THE JOB DONE FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION.

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I hope that everyone remembers all of this when they go to the polls in November (or during the primaries) to cast their votes for their Washington representatives.

I hope each and every member of Congress that has caved in to Bush is given their pink slips and told they are no longer worthy of representing their constituents!

They are worse than the Repubs because they have rolled over on every major issue, and those of us who are able to make sure they get a one-way ticket from Washington back to their home districts in December!

If we don't send them packing, Democracy is dead.

I'm moving to Norway.

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they've done more for the Bush rape of America than anybody could have believed would be possible.

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These politicians are RICH people! They don't represent us, they represent themselves and their global cronies. Their purpose is not to serve the interests of the majority, they are there to ensure that the military industrial complex and all who are fat and rich from their association with it(including them,Clintons and all)get even fatter and richer at the expense of the majority of the world's people. Environment be damned. Climate change be damned. Environmental refugees be damned. They are determined to keep feeding at the public trough. Once it was national, now it is global. Bend over and kiss your a** goodbye with these pigs in power.

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Has come to pass. Evil bastards everywhere you look. What do Obama and Clinton have to say about all this? They need to be questioned thoroughlly about this, no bullshit or evations. Is it going to be left to US to do something about the loss of our Republic? Will the UN have to intervene here to save us? Where the hell is help coming from? If we decide to do it ourselves it'll be pretty gruesome, I'm sure. Never happen here? Hah!

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Is there NO ONE in "our" Congress who will stand between We The People and the fascists (and their enablers/accomplices) who threaten and corrupt our Constitional Republic?!

How can we account for the acquiescence of the supposed "Opposition Party"...unless they perhaps are buckling under threats of blackmail?

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"It is well enough that people of the nation do not
understand our Banking and Monetary system, for if
they did, I believe there would be a Revolution before
tomorrow morning." - Henry Ford

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>>
It is too late now to vote against the democrats, even if this is a truthful machine accounting election...
>>

It's NEVER too late to scare the bejeezus out of these tweedle-dee & tweedle-dum parties. Vote 3rd party or write in 'none of the above'. Sure, we run the risk of ending up with a real knuckle-dragger; but we've lived through such regimes before.

It's time to bite the bullet and deal with the consequences; otherwise we'll NEVER get out from under this corrupt 'duopoly'. Everybody complains about both parties, but they're too scared to vote 3rd Party.

Empower yourselves...and vote for a candidate you actually WANT....for the sake of future generations of Americans!
---------------------------------------

“I’d rather vote for what I want and not get it than vote for what I don’t want, and get it.” - Eugene Debs

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SORRY, I beleive we have another alternative. I beleive we can build a coalition. If the Republicans get in they will take it as a mandate to continue on their merry way. And the faster we disintergrate the more momentum we will pick up. It maybe too late to stop the downward spiriling.
I believe we need to vote democratic but we need to make a party of the people -- and we need to grow it strong and clear. And as we are growing -- we need to put pressure on our elected officials with a strong supported group effort. THis is my take on our only chance. And everyday that passes is a day that we have lost.

Amd for those that think that the UN or Nato or France or Great Brittian will intervene....let me say -- this is a global world and the business that have a strangle hold on our country work together and therefore lead their populace. Who do you think supported Hitler. It was the rich and the companies. They knew what he was, they considered him inferior and it was their goal to get rid of him. And don'
t worry -- we took care of that for them and gave them money besides to rebuild.
DIdn' t you hear -- while N Orleans is in trouble our Bush gave I think it was $40 B to Saudi ARabia to build their industry.
We, the people.......from planet earth anywhere....are too far down to worry about. Why bother with us -- when you can get 40cents an hour laborers and then sell the products back to us...Nicki pays 40cents an hour for a 14 year old girl and sells us those sneakers for upwards for $80 a pair. They are cleaning us out piece by piece ...the frog annalogy from earlier is a good one. WHat do you think will be the end result ??? We cannot afford to get mad or even or make simple spitting in the wind responses...no matter how good it would feel for the moment. We have to use our heads and plan our moves for our own future best interests.

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Oh and I can't help adding that tweedle dee and tweedle dom do not scare easily -- they just invite you out for a day of relaxed hunting and......if you happen to end up in the hospital....oh well....-- do you think all those Mafioso shows were for naught -- they were meant to condition the populace. Ofcause if you did what tweedle dum did...where do you think you would be residing now?
These are a different kind of people -- they have no shame -- they do not care what point you are trying to make or what you say -- they only care that they get what they want. Thats what makes it possible for them to do what they do in the face of the pain and distruction they have caused.

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GREAT IDEA! I am so psyched! /Buish SEnior promised us a "kinder, gentler nation" but he never delivered! Greed is the route of much of the evil and this will hit them in their pocket books. It is time we stopped being treated like animals and numbers and started to be treated with the kind of respect we deserve.
So, do you think Alternet will agree? After all, they want us to do something to help make change. This could be a beginning that could snowball.
I think if we want to have an impact it would help if:
a. we gathered research on the companies we are boycotting.
b. we advised them we are boycotting them and why especially while we are so small (one coucilman told us...if you want to be listened to: two people are better than one and 5 better than 10 etc.
now one of the companies I believe needs to be boycotted is Nike sneakers for outsourcing the manufacturing, paying 14 year old girls 40cents an hour and reselling these sneakers to us at well above fair market profit.

I think this is an exciting idea! and I have a greater sense of control and empowerment already!

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oh and I'd like to appologize -- I did a fast reading and my blood pressure went up -- I didn't realize that dweedle dee and dweedle dum were the rep and demo...i thought they were bush and channey. Never the less, if I had a chance I would modify my response but the thought remains intact.

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The only way people will act on this nation is to help all these fascists destroy it. Only then will people realize what they are loosing.

These mediocre approaches to hide the truth, by not talking about it and expressing hope in a hopeless situation, are the fiddling as Nero did while Rome burned.

It's the same as the candidates spin around the word "Change" with empty content.
Why is it not one of them has addressed undoing anything or everything Bush has implimented? This is why not one has asked for reopenning investigations into 911 or impeachment for that matter.

All any one of them would have to do is simply ask, " Where is flight 97?" or what the hell happened to Building 7.

The whole nation is under full slow-motion seige. Literally, stupid and psychotic maniacs are controling the direction the future will be at this moment. All of which are self proclaimed omnipotently chosen to do this.

Our only hope is total self reliance and withdrawing from participating in what will be our own submissiveness to a totalitarian regime.

Be good little boys and girls now!

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I'm trying to decide just how worthless Reid is and I need some input. So far I have, as worthless as a bucket of warm spit,,,,,please add your contribution to his legacy.

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That's the next bill whores Reid and Pelosi will next sponsor.

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No surrender! We know what has happened. We know we can keep this up as long as necessary. They know their time is short and the truth will come out. We know America deserves better and will not be silent till it does. Keep the words and videos flowing America. We the the people will not stand for corporates rat holing of just short of 2 trillion dollars telling the poor to pay for their mistakes when they won't own up to their own.

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Fellow Citizens:
I want to give you a brief look back to the past that will enlighten you about why we are observing what we see in the present.

In the 1920's, Congress created the FBI and appointed one J.Edgar Hoover to be the Director of the Agency. Mr. Hoover used his position to collect information on everyone the government deemed a potential communist, activist, or true American who believed he had rights under the law.

Mr. Hoover also collected information on each and every member of the Congress as well as the Executive Branch. He kept those files in his personal file cabinet in his office until the day he died, still on the job in 1972. The reason he was able to serve unchallenged for nearly 50 years was the fact that everyone that wanted to get him out of office would be confronted with their secrets and that would shut them up.

Well, around the time Mr. Hoover was getting ready to go to his just rewards (I can only imagine them to be warmer than Washington), Mr. Bush was also the head of a large agency, the CIA. Is it inconceivable that Mr. Bush would have known about those records long before the public found out? Isn't it very possible that these records were never truly destroyed or that the collection of the same types of information never ceased?

If you want to control America, you only need to control the 525 seats of Congress. What I've observed over the past eight years is a chilling show of power by Mr. Bush (junior) against another branch of government that is supposed to tell him what to do, not vice-versa.

The Congressmen and women love their jobs but, like anyone, they were once humans too and probably young at the same time which meant they may have dirt in their past. More importantly, once they got their jobs in Congress, they probably committed most of their blackmailable activities post-swearing in because they (stupidly) thought they would be above the laws of surveillance now that they are Representatives or Senators.

What can we do as responsible citizens to fix this mess? I suggest that every single incumbent be overturned in the next election. I suggest that the USA belongs to the PEOPLE, not the Government. I suggest that those who are elected take oaths of office to protect and defend our CONSTITUTION, not our President or our bloated institutions. If they aren't willing or able to do this job, their only recourse is to leave it for someone who can!

Some of you may claim that this is just paranoia or some kind of conspiracy theory. Well, consider these known facts: the records were kept to blackmail officials by Mr. Hoover. Our current Congress has acted as if they have no spine to hold them up, kind of like someone acts when they are under a lot of pressure from somewhere...hmmm. This could explain their behavior and their penchant for allowing Bush to screw us all with a smirking laugh.

The alternative: they are all so undereducated, ill-informed and just plain stupid that they thought they were doing the right thing by giving Bush everything he wanted...

You decide which sounds more likely...

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please donate to his congressional campaign

add to the boycott:
GE
NBC
MSNBC - sorry, keith find yourself another network.
Wal-Mart - but damn those fuckers do have everything.

VOTE OUT all who refuse to IMPEACH.
VOTE OUT all who refuse to protect the american public.
i'm personally working against anna eshoo and diane feinstein.

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What I find so sadly ironic these days is watching old (American) movies which have characters saying things like "This is a free country, and I'm a citizen of it", when faced with rogue authority. There were more such scenarios than I would have noticed before our country turned into a corporate dictatorship with unlimited powers to spy on its people, to arrest people and deny them legal counsel, to make people disappear.

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