Thursday, September 27, 2007

How Low Can They Go?

No, my tantrum over the behavior of our Democratic majority is not over. It should be, seriously. You’d think that gift-wrapping our Fourth Amendment rights and handing them to the new American Gestapo would sate them for a while. But no. With Rovian talking points to validate, the Democrats in Congress will not rest until they have won the argument for the opposition.

Drew Carey was on the Bill Maher show. His new game show does public opinion polling for its…whatever it does. They asked the question: “should American troops stay in Iraq and finish their job.” 12% said “yes.” Twelve fucking percent. News polls for over a year now rarely go above the low 30s.

Nobody wants the war, nobody believes Bush, or Cheney, and nobody believes their lap-dog General “Betray-Us.” Even Republican Chuck Hagel of Nebraska called their use of the General a disgraceful misuse of the military for promoting political policy, during the recent public cheer-leading session for the “surge.”

Leading Democrats expressed their skepticism, but, of course, didn’t do shit. And didn’t say in plain, longed-for, American language what needed to be said: That the Administration was full of liars and criminals, and Betray-Us has become one of them. So Move On had to say it. And they did.

Holy shit, you’d think the leading Democrats in Congress had been caught having sex in a public bathroom! The pressure they felt from Republicans (a party in disarray, mired in scandal, saddled with the most unpopular war, and now, apparently, gay as hell) was too intense! They had to do something! The Democratic majority leapt into action – ever looking to the interests of their base – they welcomed to the floor a resolution condemning Move On for their criticism of a liar and political puppet in uniform. They voted along with Republicans to condemn the free speech of a liberal organization that turns out votes for them, promotes issues important to their base, and advances democracy in this country – particularly among our disaffected youth. Seventy six votes against free speech, meaning at least half the Democratic senators voted against Move On’s free expression and criticism of all that is wrong with our country.

But wait! This bold statement of obedience having been made by the August and deliberative body: the Senate, should have made clear to Americans where the Democrats stand - right with the President! But apparently the statement was not strong enough. The House demanded their chance to vote on a measure of condemnation of dissent. After all, if the opposition party won’t dissent, we can’t have public-interest organizations spouting off and criticizing a man in uniform! That he is a fucking liar and Bush poodle is inconsequential. What matters is what Hannity will say! Striding tall, Nancy Pelosi allowed this measure to take the floor of the House of Representatives, making clear that she meant what she said, when she said she learned her lesson with the wiretapping bill. You know, letting it to the floor and all, to be supported by Blue-dog Democrats. Right?

Right.

These fucking people. If there is a bigger waste of time, breath or money than the Democratic party, I don’t know what it is. The average American should resent the atoms of oxygen that we have to share with them. They are worthless.

They are only good at validating the Republican talking points. Again, Republican talking points. The other party. The one that lost the election. The one mired in corruption, gay sex scandals, and the hated war. What issues have they framed in the last week or so that the Democrats have fallen all over themselves to endorse? Just these:

• “Betray-Us” is a great American, simply because he wears that cool uniform, and anyone who criticizes him is scum.
• Iran is dangerous, and may have to be nuked at any minute
• We are not leaving Iraq for at least six years, and maybe longer
• Health care should not be “national” or “single-payer”
• “War on Terror” is a valid strategy, and should be continued

Way to go Democratic presidential candidates and Congressional leaders. Who needs Carl Rove when the Bush Administration’s got you guys.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Dems are DONE – GO GREEN!

I have written, called, emailed and protested. All for shit. I have tried to work within the Democratic Party, and have even been a delegate at the county caucus level (ooh, aren’t you impressed?). I have given these fuckers my money. And for what?

I’ll tell you for what: to be reamed in the ass by my own party.

We are on the verge of General “Betray-Us’s” report to Congress. A report that has been edited, hell, written by Dick Cheney and his Neocon cabal. Betray-Us will lie, and tell us that the “surge” is going great, and needs more time.

Anyone reading this (and I have no illusions that it is more than I can count on one hand) knows that this is a seminal moment in the history of the Iraq war. A chance for the opposition, one with a majority - and full control of the purse-strings – to stand up and save America from moral, military and financial ruin.

Too bad there is NO FUCKING CHANCE WHATSOEVER of that happening.

The current Democrats are the same party that, when in the slight minority, did not fight in the slightest the following:

• The authorization for a war that THEY KNEW was bullshit
• The violation of civil liberties that occurred with the passage of the Patriot Act
• The confirmation (and TOTAL FAILURE TO FILIBUSTER) of the worst Supreme Court justices we have had since Clarence Thomas
• The Military Commissions Act – complete with the destruction of Habeas Corpus.

Thanks a lot Dems, way to fight.

But wait, we gave them a majority in 2006! Surely, with a majority, they will turn things around. You know: restore the Constitution, champion the middle class, STOP THE GODDAM WAR?…in say, 100 hours? No, sorry. (And please, please, PLEASE…if you are within arms’ reach of the next liberal that says “but they need 67 votes,” please bitch-slap them into silence, as this lie is as damaging as any Republican talking point.)

But hey, after a filibuster, legislative failure and total capitulation to the MOST UNPOPULAR PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY, they did raise the minimum wage a few cents. What else have they done?

• FAILED TO STOP THE WAR
• In fact, refunded the war, WITH NO “BENCHMARKS” OR ANY OTHER OVERSIGHT (Jesus they suck!)
• Approved wiretapping, and the DESTRUCTION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
• Are preparing now to YET AGAIN FUND THE WAR, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE STILL BEING LIED TO
• FAILED TO FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SENT THEM TO FIGHT

Why aren’t they fighting for us? WHY?!!

As they say, follow the money. Democrats are now receiving more cash from PACs and corporate America than the Republicans are. This is a tidal wave of green that they don’t want to see go away.

Corporations like the way Republicans operate. They have told the Dems, “keep up the Republican agenda, and the cash will keep coming.” Game over.

Unless the average chumps like me, working two jobs just to pay the bills, can shovel out as much cash as, say, the pharmaceutical industry, we will be ignored. And the Dems have proved it over and over again in the last six months – they don’t give a fuck about us.

Those of us who want our Constitution preserved, and a middle-class chance to raise our families, are done! We are the new dinosaurs if we don’t push forth our own tidal wave of green. Not cash, I’m talking about the Green Party.

Yes, it is time for a third party. And the Green Party is there and waiting.

The Republicans filled the void for the ineffective Whigs. The Progressives forced the Republicans, most notably Teddy Roosevelt, to pay attention to a host of issues that were being ignored, such as worker safety and corporate oligarchy. Even the Grange movement moved farmers deeper into the calculus of American politics. The Green Party can do the same thing.

I know, you are saying: “aww dude, the Greens? Do I really have to wear a beret and eat tofu? Save the whales and shit like that?”

No! Seriously, I am a middle-aged white guy who eats tons of meat and drives a truck. I brew my own beer, but I DO NOT grow my own organic vegetables. I do not even see myself as a big environmentalist (even though, for my kids’ sake, I probably should be). I AM NOT A HIPPIE! But I see an opportunity with the Greens.

In fact, you too may have an opportunity to shape the Green Party from its infancy in America. Google the Green Party for your state. In my state’s case, more than half of the counties don’t even have a contact person. YOU could be your county’s point person for the Green Party. YOU could shape policies and a platform to bring your neighbors with you, to challenge the Democrats, and bury them at the polls if they won’t do what is right by Americans. The Green Party could quickly become the party of Middle America, or, force the Democrats to resume that mantle.

And yes, I know what happened to Al Gore in 2000. SO WHAT? It shouldn’t have been that close. And the only reason it was that close is that DEMOCRATS SUCK! And for the “liberal” pundits that tell me “any of the Democrats will be 1000 times better than Bush,” I ask you: what is 1000 times zero?

Are you seriously telling me that a President Hillary will check the corporate massacre of the middle class? Stop the war? Restore our rights?!! She could have led these efforts over the past few years, or even now, and has instead crafted cool webcasts and attended bullshit debates. Obama too, has decided to spend two years running for President instead of fighting for us in the Senate. Only Dennis K has come close to saying and doing the “right” things that would make him an acceptable president. And EVERYBODY acknowledges that, within the Democratic Party, he doesn’t stand a chance.

This last episode, agreeing to tear up the Fourth Amendment rather than give up a vacation, should convince any American, any REAL American, that the Dems could give a shit about you or your rights. Even Russ Feingold should have stripped himself naked, smeared himself with his own feces, and ran rabid through the Senate chambers to stop that heinous violation of our rights from passing. Sadly, NONE of the Democrats did even close to enough to stop our cherished Constitution from being partially shredded.

When Democrats in the majority fund an illegal occupation of a foreign country, and vote to destroy the Constitution, they are no better than Republicans. They may even be worse.

So go GREEN! Be your county’s chairperson and shape the agenda. Bring enough of your neighbors and you will put pressure on the Democrats, and maybe even beat them. If we beat them, then we kick ass! If we lose, and cause them to lose, THEY DESERVE IT! And we won’t be much worse off. Since capitulation to Republicans (and their corporate masters) is all they know, they will do it as President too!

Can you imagine four, or even eight years of Hillary, nuking Iran and whoever else to prove to her neocon handlers, and a few soccer moms, that she has as big a set of “balls” as Rudy or Nit does? The only room to “triangulate” that she has left is to the right of Arlen Spectre, and she’ll go there! Sadly, at this point, I believe Obama will too. We will not get change, only more of the same. And the same is BAD! As Americans, we should not stand for it. We owe ourselves, our country, and the world more.

A third party will not fuck up 2008 – it’s already fucked! It is time the Democrats learned from real pressure from the left, or went the way of the Whigs.

Reid and Pelosi said they would “hold this president’s feet to the fire.” Since they didn’t, we must hold their feet to the fire. A real third party threat will put the Dems on the side of good quicker than working within the party itself, a party awash with corporate cash and its influence. If it doesn’t put them on the golden path, it can replace them, with candidates in time for the ’08 primaries.