Articles of impeachment to be filed against Cheney by Rep. Kucinich!

This was posted on the Information Clearing House website (www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17554.htm) and comes the same week as the Vermont Senate overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution for impeaching Bush and Cheney and Gonzales was grilled by Congress members and appears to be on the way out. 

 

Articles of Impeachment To Be Filed On Cheney

By Mary Ann Akers

04/18/07 " Washington Post' --- -- Looks like he's reached his boiling point.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), the most liberal of the Democratic presidential candidates in the primary field, declared in a letter sent to his Democratic House colleagues this morning that he plans to file articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney.

Kucinich has made ending the war in Iraq the central theme of his campaign. He has even taken aim at the leading Democratic presidential candidates in the field for their votes on authorizing the war.

Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to impeach the president, vice president and "all civil Officers of the United States" for "treason, bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

Sources tell the Sleuth that in light of the mass killings at Virginia Tech Monday, Kucinich's impeachment plans have been put on hold. There will be no action this week, they say.

Kucinich's office had no comment on the Congressman's "Dear Colleague" letter -- which apparently was drafted over the weekend, before the school massacre -- or on what the focus of articles of impeachment against Cheney would be.

But Kucinich shouldn't hold his breath on getting anywhere with his impeachment plan. "We'll see a Kucinich Administration before we'll see a Cheney impeachment," quipped one Democratic aide.

Here is the text of his letter, a copy of which was forwarded to the Sleuth:

April 17, 2007

Dear Colleague:

This week I intend to introduce Articles of Impeachment with respect to the conduct of Vice President Cheney. Please have your staff contact my office . . . if you would like to receive a confidential copy of the document prior to its introduction in the House.

Sincerely,

/s/

Dennis J. Kucinich

Member of Congress

letter to Hawaiian legislators on impeachment bill

This is a message I sent to Hawaii State Senators Clayton Hee (senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov) and Russell S. Kokubun (senkokubun@Capitol.hawaii.gov ) on the Judiciary and Labor Committee.  You can find out more about SCR 83 at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.  This is the first time I have done this for other impeachment campaigns, but I should do it more often, if it helps them help all of us. 

 

Dear Senator Hee:

I am writing to ask you to bring Senate Concurrent
Resolution 83, on impeachment, to a vote in your
committee.  The text does not seem to be online [actually it is], but
it is probably something I can also recommend that you
vote for.  I am a North Carolinian (and a member of
the Grass Roots Impeachment Movement,
www.impeachbushcheney.net ), but I was asked to support
the Hawaiian impeachment movement, and if Hawaii
forces Congress to consider impeachment, it will be
fulfilling the wishes of a majority of Americans.  It
will be a while longer before we can get North
Carolina to consider and pass a similar resolution.

This is not a partisan issue and I would be as hard on
a Democrat who commits the same crimes as Bush and
Cheney (and Bill Clinton did, but that is not what
Congress decided to impeach him on).  I was as much
for impeachment when Republicans controlled Congress
as I am now that the Democrats are in control.  In
North Carolina it is mainly Democrats who support
impeachment, but they are joined by Libertarians,
Greens, other third parties, and, at least nationally,
by some Republicans.  We need to send a message that
the Bush Administration's illegal and dangerous
actions will no longer be tolerated, and impeachment
might be required to bring peace to Iraq and prevent
aggression against Iran and anything else the
Administration is planning.

Some of the main reasons that both Bush and Cheney
deserve to be impeached are illegally lying to
Congress to start the Iraq War, illegally spying on
Americans, authorizing torture, and subverting
democracy in other ways, such as through their
excessive secrecy and habitually lying on a variety of
issues.  I think they are also guilty of war crimes,
such as crimes against the peace in Iraq and targeting
civilians and journalists.  War crimes are also
illegal under American laws.  There are other offenses
that might not be illegal, but should be impeachable,
such as corrupt government (serving Big Business, such
as Enron and Halliburton, at the expense of most
Americans), inaction in the Katrina disaster, the
Patriot and Military Commissions acts, anti-unionism,
etc.

I would welcome a reply, although I am not one of your
constituents.  Thank you for considering my concerns.

Solidarity with the impeachment campaign in Hawaii

An impeachment activist from Hawaii has requested the help of people here in getting the Hawaiian legislature to consider an impeachment resolution.  If it passes, it will force the US Congress to consider impeachment.  We need to contact Hawaiian senators Clayton Hee and Kokubun before this Friday.  The email does not include their contact information, but I'm sure it can easily be found through Google or any search engine.  This was sent over the GRIM listserve, so I assume it can be publicly posted (let me know otherwise and I will edit out whatever needs to be confidential). 

 

> Subject: URGENT ACTION NEEDED ON Hawaii SCR 83 requesting impeachment
>
> Aloha,
>
> I live way out in Honolulu and I have been fortunate
> enough to suggest and help draft for the Hawaii State
> Senate, Senate Concurrent Resolution 83, requesting
> Congress to commence impeachment proceedings against
> the President and the Vice President of the United
> States.
>
> The deadline for this resolution to make it through
> the Hawaii State Judiciary and Labor Committee is
> Friday the 13th. Senator Clayton Hee is the chair and
> he decides whether or not it will be heard. He has
> waffled a bit on this and is very clearly seeking a
> great deal of attention to be paid to this if he is
> going to hear it. Hence my desperately late letter to
> you to ask people on your list serve to sign a
> petition, call, or write letters to Senator Hee, the
> Vice-Chair Senator Kokubun and the other committee
> members before this thing dies in committee! It might
> actually work here in one of the most liberal states
> in the Union, but its got to get through this
> committee first!
>
> It does not matter that you and those you might be
> able to get to help call or write are not Hawaii
> residents, this Senator (and frankly this issue) needs
> national attention for action to take place.
>
> Below is a proposed draft letter. PLEASE get back to
> me on this ASAP. The local media wants to do a story
> on it too, but only if Sen. Hee agrees to hear the
> resolution. But unless people know about the
> resolution, they wont contact him to ask him to hear
> it...
>
> Dear Senator,
>
> If a state legislature forwards a bill or a resolution
> on impeachment to the Congress of the United States,
> then the Congress must act. I urge you to hear Senate
> Concurrent Resolution 83 before the JDL committee.
> This resolution reflects the sentiment of a growing
> number of people in the State of Hawaii and in the
> nation at large, and the people and the sentiment of
> the people should be heard.
>
> Considering this resolution before your committee can
> only strengthen our democracy by fostering a much
> broader national debate on the importance of holding
> he executive branch of our federal government
> accountable for its actions and will send a strong
> message to future Presidents and Vice-Presidents of
> the United States that they are not above the law.
> Please do not shy away from making the State of Hawaii
> politically relevant on the national level and hear
> SCR 83 before your committee before it's too late!
>
> Thanks for all you do and keep up the good work.
>
> [ML]
> Honolulu, HI

Defending liberty and peace this week

Below are three notices, about a protest for Sami al-Arian, a hunger striking political prisoner held at Butner, on the 24th, a day of action against the Military Commissions Act Wednesday (local petition on at www.petitiononline.com/stopMCA.petition.html), and an urgent need for calls to Price against war funding. [When I first posted this I forgot to mention, today there were student strikes against the War at UNC and local high schools. Also, NC Stop Torture Now is having a protest and press conference at 2pm on Wednesday (the 21st) at the Legislative building in Raleigh.]

Sami al-Arian

Join Lady Liberty to Free Palestinian Sami Al-Arian, 4 years in Prison 10 AM- noon, March 24 ,off I-85 N at Exit 189
(take exit and turn left onto NC 1103 toward Butner, NE of Durham)

Demonstration will aim to set up on the SW quadrant of the intersection. There is a I-85 service road along the exit ramp to access I-85 going south where parking looks feasible.

Attire: orange jumpsuits, black hoods, orange T-shirts
Needed: Large signs and banners to be visible from I-85
Carpools: Call [ X ]

Mileage for Lady Liberty from Cary: 31 miles, 41 minutes
Durham: 17 miles, 25 minutes
Chapel Hill: 29 miles, 37 minutes

Please come with concerned friends,

Peggy
====================================================
Sami Al-Arian has been a prisoner since February 20, 2003.

Dr. al-Arian, a Palestinian who taught computer science at the University of South Florida, stopped eating Jan. 22 to protest a judge's decision to hold him indefinitely after he refused to testify before a Virginia grand jury. March 17 is the 55th day and he has lost 52 pounds. Officials at the Federal Medical Facility in Butner have told al-Arian that they will begin force feeding if his condition worsens, according to his attorney, Peter Erlinder. Supporters of al-Arian have asked Gonzales to deport al-Arian before his scheduled release from prison in April.

During a six-month trial in 2005, prosecutors labeled al-Arian a leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which the United States calls a foreign terrorist organization. The trial ended in an acquittal on some counts and a hung jury on others. Prosecutors and al-Arian had agreed to deportation as a part of the plea deal. Erlinder declined to say where al-Arian would be deported. In a plea bargain last April, al-Arian admitted to conspiring to aid Palestinian Islamic Jihad and was sentenced to nearly five years in prison, although he got credit for the time he had already served. Al-Arian and his attorneys said that the plea deal also exempts him from testifying before a grand jury in Alexandria, Va., which is investigating Islamic charities in northern Virginia.

His five children were all born in the U.S. and the family lived in Raleigh for a period of time. I believe two of his children attended NC State University.

Read http://www.freesamialarian.com/home.htm for more information.

Dear [ X ],

On Wednesday, March 21, join the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and millions of our allies throughout the U.S. in an overwhelming grassroots repudiation of the Military Commissions Act! To ensure this effort's success, the BORDC has teamed up with other organizations including the ACLU, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, the
Presbyterian Church, and Public Citizen, each of which will take responsibility for a day the week of March 19-23.

The Military Commissions Act (MCA):

* Legalizes the President's ability to name anyone in the world an "unlawful enemy combatant" and to detain them indefinitely, denying them basic rights, including due process of law,
* Denies habeas corpus--the right for a detainee to challenge his or her detention before an impartial judge--to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen,
* Allows detainees to be convicted on the basis of secret and hearsay evidence, and testimony gained from the detainee through torture and coercion, and
* Permits the executive branch to ignore the Geneva Conventions.

The Message: Please phone both your Senators and your Representative
and urge them to:

* Co-sponsor legislation restoring habeas corpus and other
fundamental rights abolished by the MCA (see bill numbers below).
* Seek out Republican co-sponsors for legislation restoring habeas corpus.
* Hold hearings on legislation that would repeal key provisions of the MCA.
* Speak out publicly on the importance of a thorough restoration to
our vanishing rights.

Proposed Legislation includes bills to restore or preserve habeas corpus and bills to partially dismantle the Military Commissions Act (MCA).

Bills that take large steps towards dismantling the Military Commissions Act: S. 576 (Sen. Christopher Dodd) and H.R. 1415 (Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Jane Harman), Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, would not only restore the right of habeas corpus for those detained by the United States, but would also do the following:

* Prohibit testimony gained by torture or coercion,
* Narrow the definition of enemy combatant,
* Reassert the Geneva Conventions,
* Provide for expedited judicial review of Military Commissions Act

Bills that would restore habeas corpus alone:

* S. 185 (Senators Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter), the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007, would restore the right of habeas corpus for those detained by the United States.
* H.R. 1416 (Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Jane Harman), Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007 (House version of Senate bill S. 185 above).
* H.R. 267 (Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee), the Military Commissions Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007, would restore the right of habeas corpus for those detained by the United States.
* H.R. 1189 (Rep. David Wu), To Preserve the Right of Habeas Corpus, would restore the right of habeas corpus for all U.S. legal residents.

Make Sure Your Voice is Heard!

* Visit http://bordc.org/threats/mca-call-in.php for talking points and a link to a flyer you can print and distribute.
* On Wednesday, May 17, 2006, call the Capitol switchboard, 202-224-3121, and ask the operator to connect you (24 hours a day) or call your legislators directly (find their Washington office phone numbers at http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/).
* For more information about the MCA, visit
http://www.bordc.org/threats/mca.php.

Please forward this message widely, and don't forget to call your Senators and Representative during the week of March 19-23. You can call more than once!

Thank you for all you do!

The Bill of Rights Defense Committee:
Nancy Talanian, Director
Hope Marston, Organizer, West Region
Mohamed Elgadi, Organizer, East Region
Meredith Gray, Administrator

Price votes to enable the Iraq War

Last Thursday the Supplemental Appropriations bill passed in the House Appropriations Committee, and Price voted for it. It sets a deadline for the War, after which it will be unlawful, but the bill does not cut off funding after that date, so it could continue. The entire House will vote on it this week, so anti-war citizens need to let Price know what we think.

Price's office numbers:

Washington Office
Phone: 202-225-1784
Fax: 202-225-2014

Raleigh
Phone: 919-859-5999
Fax: 919-859-5998

Durham
Phone: 919-688-3004
Fax: 919-688-0940

Chapel Hill
Phone: 919-967-7924
Fax: 919-967-8324

Cooperate against the Bush agenda

I posted this on my other blog, durhamspark.blogspot.com, and I'm reporting it here because it is related to the impeachment movement.  Progressives need to cooperate against the reactionary right, and I think impeachment is a key campaign to unite around.  Impeachment is larger than the progressive community, though, and should include Bush opponents on the right who agree that the opposition should cooperate to remove Bush and Cheney.  That said, progressives are probably the largest group working for impeachment, possibly along with Libertarians.   

 

As Americans meet this month to protest the Iraq War on the anniversary of its start four years ago, we should look at the links between opposition to the War and other progressive causes, and if there is a root cause of the War that we should organize to change.   The unity of these causes was highlighted at the NC NAACP's large Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HK on J) demonstration in Raleigh last month, with its 14-point platform, addressing racial justice, the War, conservation, fair elections, democracy in the workplace, and other progressive campaigns (see www.ncjustice.org ).  Over the years, many have called for unity and tried to facilitate it.  Nationally, it was behind the Million Worker March in DC in the fall of 2004, attempts at anti-war unity, and the broadened demands of the Millions More March in 2005, a sequel to the Million Man March.  

 

The Bush Administration represents the conservative agenda, in the interests of Big Business, the rich, Christian fundamentalists, and other reactionaries who want to make the current system worse (for the majority of Americans, that is).   Who the Administration serves can be seen by considering the origins of its members in the Nixon and Reagan administrations and their positions on corporate boards (especially in the oil industry) when out of office.   Consider how they have governed, such as Bush's signing statements saying what Congressional decisions he chooses to consider laws, Cheney's heavily business influenced, and secretive, energy taskforce, the attempt to weaken the Clean Air Act and allow more arsenic contamination of drinking water, war serving the interests of the energy industry, etc.   Also consider their tactics, such as lying to Congress and the people on Iraq, harassing and criminalizing activists, retaliating against government critics and whistleblowers, apparently using assassination against opponents in Puerto Rico and overseas, and allegedly fixing elections and aiding or shielding al Qaida and its allies, such as government factions in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.  

 

To answer this challenge, we needs a movement representing the populist and democratic agenda, represented at events such as the NC Peace and Justice Coalition's protest tomorrow in Fayetteville.   This is a movement that is for upholding the UN Declaration of Human Rights and our Constitution and laws, democracy in the economy, helping the disadvantaged to beat poverty and poor circumstances, healthcare for all, a progressive tax code, protecting the Bill of Rights, giving ordinary people more opportunity to govern themselves, fair trade, fair and just relations with other nations, preserving biodiversity, a livable and humane society, and sustainable development that preserves the environment and our livelihoods.   The conservatives are trying to rollback the relatively few progressive gains won in the USA and the world, we should fight for a new program of progress.            

 

At the least, this calls for changes in society, and I would say that to realize these goals we have to remake the government and economy, otherwise there will be little progress on these goals and they will later easily be dismantled. I call this socialism, but regardless of whether people agree or not, progressives and populists must discuss a framework to realize and establish our proposals, and one that is American and fits our country today.  

 

This movement needs to be based on the working class of the USA, which the vast majority of Americans belong to, in one gradation or another.   Workers are the people who most benefit from what progressives are fighting for and workers' unions and other groups lead many campaigns on these demands.   Workers also have the power to realize these ideals, unlike other progressive sections of society.   The Republican Party has been able to frame issues in a way that makes many people vote for politicians who say the 'right' thing in the "Culture War" (for conservatives) but don't do anything about it, while pushing through policies for business that hurt the workers who voted for them.   If there were better alternatives, leading more people to participate in politics for the first time, we could beat the Republicans and "centrist" Democrats, and re-frame the political debate in this country.  

 

Another necessary alliance is between the majority white and white-collar campaigns existing now, and activists and communities of color, and those fighting for progress in other countries.   If white progressives and the progressive black, Latino, native, and immigrant communities in this State united, we could make great advances politically.   Whites need to consult with other communities, consider their desires, and work for more mutual involvement.   Other groups should also work towards multi-ethnic organizing, that recognizes the importance of class in politics (and lack of class consciousness among all ethnicities is part of the reason we have Republicans in power today), along with the usual, and just, demand for freedom for oppressed ethnic, cultural, sexual, and other minorities.  

 

We shouldn't be blind to, or afraid to recognize, people in other countries who either agree with us, are potentially allies, or unwittingly help the progressive cause, even if they are not progressive themselves.   For example, nationalists (as opposed to those who are causing sectarian splits) in the Middle East are fighting the same enemy as we are, the occupation and oppression of their countries by a US government (or its close allies, such as Israel and Turkey) run by and for the wealthy.   On the other hand, we share some priorities with the British Labour Party, such as concern about climate change, but it is aiding the Bush Administration and its leader thinks the West can and should overthrow any government it opposes.   This ignores serious conflicts of interest and the wishes of the people of those nations.  For example, Saddam Hussein was once a US ally, and Bush and Blair haven't built an Iraqi democratic republic at the point of a gun yet.   All opponents of the Administration aren't allies of ours, but some are, whether they mean to be progressive or not.  Regarding our international progressive allies, United Electrical union, local 150, representing NC public workers, eloquently argues for internationalism, and has several campaigns that include solidarity between workers from different countries.   For example, UE called for workers' and community organizations, and the working class as a whole, to "understand international law, international human rights standards, and international outreach and solidarity as fundamental to their rights and existence inside the United States" in the May/June 2005 International Worker Justice Campaign Bulletin.          

 

This is a progressive movement, but where possible activists should reach out to people who partially agree, and groups that are split between progress and reaction, such as small business owners and low skill workers hurt by immigrant competition or environmental policies.   We should welcome people who partially agree with a progressive platform, such as the left of the Republican Party, and Libertarians (who are often anti-war and pro-impeachment, while also being anti-union and against social welfare).   But the backbone of a progressive movement has to be workers, oppressed groups, and the disadvantaged.  We won't all agree on every issue, but surely we can create a common platform that we can rally around.   We all need to listen to each other and be willing to make sacrifices to create a basis for common action, so our efforts can reinforce each other and present an alternative that will shift us away from the increasingly conservative US and international political climate.   Anarchists, autonomists, communists, democrats, greens, liberals, minority nationalists, moderates, populists, republicans, socialists, syndicalists, and activists for progressive causes need to work for principled cooperation for shared goals.   Those at the left end of the spectrum should avoid being so ideologically 'purist' that they isolate themselves.  Progressive people closer to the "centrist" Democratic Leadership Council (right) end of the spectrum, should think about how well these so-called liberals have done in defending and implementing progressive ideas.  

 

Cooperative action can be expanded further through issue-based coalitions.  For example, it might be hard bring socialists and libertarians together to fight for both civil liberties and economic democracy, but they can ally on civil liberties.   The issue of economic civil rights can be left to the broad progressive coalition.              

 

How do we establish unity? 

 

We need to organize united fronts locally, by municipality, county, and Congressional district.   County and city efforts could be similar to the Durham People's Alliance.   To unite the entire State, we need Statewide conferences and communication.   Now is the time to make proposals.  The NCPJC has justice in its name, and the anti-war movement increases its voice by winning over workers and minority allies, so it could take up this call.   The NAACP is already working on this.  The Green Party could potentially help craft a progressive platform.  Democratic Party groups could help, as long as it is not just for partisan electoral gain and controlling.   The Democratic Party has the support of many very progressive people, but unfortunately it is often not very progressive as a group, and becomes less progressive the further ones goes from the grassroots.   We will fail if we depend on it or put "anyone but X" before standing for progressive demands.  Perhaps an electoral campaign could help organize common cause, but again, it has to be bigger than just electing that candidate, in case he or she loses, and the effort can't be top down and only electoral, if that candidate wins.   Next we need to develop a Statewide, and eventually a national, structure.  In all of this we need to campaign at the grassroots and in the streets, but we also need a third party that will resolutely take the platform that comes out of this grassroots organization into elections.   I don't have all of the answers, but I would ask these groups, what will you do to facilitate united action?  I've tried to contribute through uniting Bush opponents in the local impeachment movement and Durham progressives in the People's Alliance, and fostering socialist and communist cooperation in the Triangle Socialist Forum.       

 

We need to work on many issues.  I suggest that in addition to ending the Iraq War and defending our current democratic institutions and laws, impeaching Bush and Cheney is a political demand that unites progressives and other opponents of the Bush agenda.  

 

It is up to us, the non-elite (the elite having gotten us into this mess, and the worst elites being those backing Bush), whether we limit ourselves to particular issues and the current options, or fight to change the system.   Eventually we will bring the Iraq War to some conclusion, but will we miss the opportunity to end this rotten system, revealed in events like Bush's wars, the Gulf Coast disaster, and Iran/Contra, or will we fight to make it so this is the last time the US government is taken over by and for the benefit of corporate power?   As a small step, think of this when you go to the discussions the NCPJC organizes at the Fayetteville demonstration, or on buses to the protest in DC, or at local events.  

 

Contact me, or reply here, to discuss this further. 

Latest Administration offenses + upcoming demos

A lot has happened recently, continuing the Bush Administration's pattern of criminality and contempt for democracy.  Libby was indicted and the media actually highlighted calls for Cheney to resign.  Then this week the firing of the US attorneys led to calls for Attorney General Gonzales to resign.  The Administration has the right to fire the district attorneys he appointed, but this is the first time so many have been removed at once, in the middle of a term, and seemingly because they were not being properly partisan.  Now it has been revealed that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed says he was behind the 9/11 attacks, etc.  There are many problems with this alleged confession.  Even the 9/11 Commission thought his statements in detention were suspect and possibly exaggerated.  And he was reportedly tortured, which is how a government gets false confessions from people.  Even worse, the media refuses to point out that he is apparently connected to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, one of many connections between the ISI and 9/11.  Given the involvement of US allies and the US government in supporting al Qaida terrorism, I also find it suspect and one-sided that the Sudanese government was just found culpable in the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen.     

 

You can join the effort to stop the Administration's central crime, the Iraq War and the "Global War on Terror" by going to upcoming demonstrations (see the NC Peace & Justice update below).  I took out most of the contact information below, in case it is not posted publicly elsewhere; contact me at southplumb at gmail dot com for the info.  I might not be able to reply in time for the 3/17 events though.  

 

NC Peace & Justice Update, 3/15/2007

> www.NCpeacejustice.org   www.UnitedforPeace.org
>
> Let This Year Mark the Final Four
>
> As the NCAA Basketball Tournament begins and we
> cheer our North Carolina teams on to the Final Four,
> we will also fill Carolina streets and Congress's
> voicemail with urgent calls to make this the Final,
> Fourth anniversary of the Iraq War.
>
> As dozens of people are killed and hundreds wounded
> in Iraq nearly every day, and Congress dithers on
> cutting the funding for the war and setting a
> timetable for withdrawal, thousands of people in
> cities and towns throughout the United States will
> take to the streets to urge Congress and the White
> House to bring all the troops home now and take care
> of them when they get here.
> Please add one of these exciting events to your
> calendar this next week!
>
> North Carolina: 4th Anniversary of the Iraq War
> Events:
>
> March 17: Fayetteville Peace March & Rally: 10:00
> Gather at Community Health Center, 12:00 March,
> 1:00-4:00 Rally at Rowan Street Park.
> ( www.fayetteville-peace-rally.org)
> March 17: Support Military Resisters Rally,
> Greensboro, 11 am Governmental Plaza, Greene St.
> Downtown ( ncwcw.blogspot.com)
>
> March 17: March on the Pentagon, Washington DC
> (Buses from Chapel Hill 919 942-1740
> www.internationalistbook.org; and Charlotte,
> March 19: Vigils in Cities across NC on the 4th
> Anniversary of the War, listed at
>
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=79&id=
>
>
> March 20: Student Walk-Out, Rally, and March, 12:00
> UNC's Pit, Chapel Hill ( www.Chapelhillsds.org),
> Critical Mass Bike Ride Against the War from
> Carrboro Town Commons, 12:30
> March 24: Building Peace Rally in Asheville,
> 2:00-4:00 City Hall ( www.wncpeacecoalition.org).
>
> March 26: Court Date for Students Arrested at Rep.
> David Price's Chapel Hill Office, 9:00 am,
> Hillsborough Court House
> related: March 28: NAACP sponsors the HK on J People
> of Color Legislative Day, Raleigh State Legislature,
> includes Resolution to Bring the Troops Home. Info:
> ncnaacp at gmail dot com
>

> Next Monday will mark the fourth anniversary of the
> war in Iraq. Across the country, MoveOn members and
> allies will join together at candlelight vigils to
> commemorate this day, honor the sacrifices of our
> troops, and voice our stronger-than-ever call to
> bring them home soon and safe.
>
> Event List at:
>
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=79&id=
>
> Fayetteville March and Rally for Peace, Saturday
> March 17, 2007
>
> Holly Near Headlines Rally, Veterans Caravan to
> Arrive in Fayetteville
>
> Singer Holly Near has been to Fayetteville before.
> And she'll be back on March 17, 2007, at the
> Fayetteville peace rally.
>
> In 1971, Holly was part of the legendary FTA tour
> with Donald Sutherland, Jane Fonda, and other stars.
> The troupe presented militantly funny shows of
> antiwar songs and skits to wildly enthusiastic
> audiences of GIs and others near military bases
> around the US and across the Pacific.
>
> "FTA" by the way, stood for "Free The Army" -- among
> some other, less printable versions of the acronym.
> The tour was the basis for an early insurgent
> documentary film by the same name, which was briefly
> released, then suppressed by pressure from high
> places, with the Nixon White House topping the list
> of suspects. (More about Holly at:
> www.hollynear.com)
>
> Holly will be back in Fayetteville on March 17,
> doing a set of her music to headline the fourth
> annual peace march and rally there. She's eager to
> make a return visit to one of the nation's largest
> army posts, to be part of a growing and vocal
> movement to end the Iraq war a movement which now
> represents the sentiments of most US troops as well.
>
> Veterans for Peace will launch a veterans caravan,
> bound for the Gulf Coast, from Fayetteville on March
> 17, where the huge task of recovery and rebuilding
> remains far from being finished.  The caravan will
> include representatives from Veterans For Peace,
> Gold Star Families for Peace, Military Families
> Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, signers of
> the Appeal For Redress, and possibly several war
> resisters.  To keep up with Caravan plans:  X. Rally info:
> www.fayetteville-peace-rally.org
>
> Please join Holly Near and Veterans for Peace in
> Fayetteville on March 17. And please pass this
> message on.
>
> Rally info: www.fayetteville-peace-rally.org
> The 2007 Fayetteville Peace Program: Pre- March
> Stage Rally Begins @ 10:00 a.m., March @ 12:00,
> Rowan Street Park Program at 1:00 pm (Program also
> online at www.NCpeacejustice.org )
>
> Seeking Volunteers for "Guernica" Performance in
> Fayetteville
>
> We are slotted to perform our 10-12 minute piece
> "Guernica" at the Fayetteville march and rally on
> Sat. the 17th. We have a few people to do it with
> but need about 6 more.  If you can come to a
> rehearsal at 1:00 on fri. at the Carrboro town
> commons and are interested in being a part of the
> performance in Fayetteville please get back to us. I
> invite you all to come to the march anyway, which
> solemnly commemorates the 4th year of this unjust
> and illegal war. It starts at noon, though, people
> arrive at the start point at 10:30. We will be
> carrying the Giant Peace Crane and the Green Man.
> Cackalack Thunder will also be there drumming like
> mad.
>
> This Saturday, March 17, March on the Pentagon!
>
> Make plans now to join hundreds of thousands of
> veterans, military families, and peace and
> impeachment activists in a nonviolent march for
> peace and impeachment, beginning at 12:00 at the
> Vietnam War Memorial (23rd Street and Constitution
> Ave. NW) and ending at the Pentagon.
>
> http://www.marchonpentagon.org
>
> At the assembly site, between 8:00 a.m. and 12:30,
> there will be a pre-march People's Assembly.
> Contingents and organizations will be providing
> information displays and literature tables. We will
> be joined by the famous Bread and Puppet Theater.
> There will be children's activities, including
> sign-making for the march, where our children can
> also pick up anti-war balloons. There will be a
> large Impeach Bush tent with impeachment materials
> and a place for impeachment advocates from around
> the country to gather.
>
> Greensboro Troop Surge Protesters Found Guilty
> Protestors Argue "Necessity"; File Immediate Appeal
> For Jury Trial
>
> On March 13, 2007, Seven of the nine protestors
> arrested at a January 11 anit-war demonstration in
> downtown Greensboro were found guilty today of
> impeding traffic; two other protestors will be heard
> on a different date. Upon sentencing by Judge
> Lawrence McSwain the protestors, who argued that the
> seriousness of the situation in Iraq necessitated
> their actions, registered an immediate appeal for a
> jury trial.
>
> On Saturday, March 17, there is a Support Military
> Resisters Rally in Greensboro, 11 am at Governmental
> Plaza, Greene St. Downtown.  The honored guest who
> needs and deserves our support is Greensboro
> resident Pvt. Terri Johnson, a local military
> resister. (ncwcw.blogspot.com)
>
> Chapel Hill and Carrboro Events:
> Tuesday March 20: Students for a Democratic Society
> call for a Student Walk-Out, Rally, and March,
> gathering at 12:00 in UNC's Pit (near the student
> union), Chapel Hill ( www.Chapelhillsds.org ).  There
> will also be a Critical Mass Bike Ride Against the
> War, leaving  from the Carrboro Town Commons at
> 12:30
>
> Monday, March 26 is the Court Date for students
> arrested at Rep. David Price's Chapel Hill Office,
> while protesting continued funding for the war.  The
> court hearing is at 9:00 am, at the Hillsborough
> Court House.  Please come to show your support!
>

> Asheville Building Peace Rally
>
> Saturday, March 24: 2:00-4:00 City Hall
> ( www.wncpeacecoalition.org).
>
> The Price of War in North Carolina:
>
> As Congress prepares to vote on $100 billion in more
> war spending, NPP brings to the table a new
> state-level publication on what this new price tag
> would mean for your state and congressional
> district.  It also shows the number of dead and
> wounded in each state and what the total amount
> spent on the Iraq War could buy your congressional
> district in children's health insurance, affordable
> housing units and new elementary schools.
> http://nationalpriorities.org/morewar
>
> Please Call Congress Today, Tomorrow, Next Week!!!
> Call 1-888-851-1879
>
> Ask to speak to your Representative
>
> Click here to find out who your Representative is
> [link to:
> http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml ]
>
> The election that shifted the balance of power in
> Congress last fall was based on one thing: the
> American people's rejection of the Iraq war and the
> policies behind it. Yet many Democrats, as well as
> Republicans, refuse to heed the will of the American
> people, and Congress is poised to approve another
> $93 billion - or more - in supplemental spending
> that will continue and even expand the war.
>
> The fight to end the war quickly is at a precarious
> point and we need your help. The Democratic
> Leadership announced its plan for Iraq and according
> to early news reports it doesn't go far enough.
>
> Progressives in Congress are standing strong-pushing
> for a swift, responsible exit that brings the troops
> home by the end of 2007. But Dick Cheney and his
> allies in Congress are on an all-out assault-saying
> that Democrats are "undermining the troops" by
> trying to end the war.1 And some Democrats are
> wavering.
>
> Can you call your Representative and tell him or her
> that you want our troops home safely this year? They
> won't vote until next week so we still have time to
> affect the final plan and your call could make all
> the difference.
>
> Other Nonviolent Actions for March, 2007
>
> Stopping the Supplemental War Budget
>
> The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance is
> supporting and helping to organize a number of
> nonviolent direct action strategies this month to
> stop the supplemental war budget, and to demand that
> Congress do the people's business - as communicated
> to them last fall and in many subsequent polls,
> marches, rallies and actions - end the Iraq war,
> now! We urge you to consider joining us for the
> following:
>
> The Occupation Project - A campaign launched by our
> ally Voices for Creative Nonviolence, in which
> groups across the country are nonviolently occupying
> their Representatives' and Senators' offices,
> demanding an end to the war. Find out more at
> http://vcnv.org/
>
> The Christian Peace Witness - A major ecumenical
> gathering and nonviolent direct action at the White
> House on Friday, March 16. (And you don't have to be
> a Christian or religious to join!) Find out more at
>
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.cpw&item=cpw_organize_locally
>
> Declaration of Peace - To commemorate four years of
> war, as well as demand an end to it, our ally
> Declaration of Peace is organizing actions on March
> 16-19, both in Washington DC and around the country.
> Find out more at http://declarationofpeace.org/
>
> "No Business Before the People's Business!" March 26
> - 29 - The National Campaign for Nonviolent
> Resistance, in coordination with Voices for Creative
> Nonviolence, is organizing several days of
> nonviolent direct action tied to the U.S. Senate's
> consideration of the Iraq War supplemental budget,
> currently expected at the end of March. A variety of
> different nonviolent actions will be organized,
> based on the numbers and intent of those
> participating, as well as on the Senate schedule for
> that week.   If you can join us for these days of
> nonviolent actions, March 26 - 29, either as an
> individual or as an affinity group, please contact
> NCNR, as soon
> as possible. We welcome you to participate one day,
> two days, or for the entire week. (And while it is
> impossible to predict timing, the Senate vote on the
> supplemental could happen earlier rather than later,
> so we encourage people who can't be here the whole
> week to make plans to participate earlier in the
> week, if possible.) As noted, our plans will depend
> on who can attend, and time is short, so please let
> us know of your interest asap by contacting NCNR.
>
> "Poll: 58 percent want Iraq withdrawal by 2008 or
> sooner," CNN.com, March 13, 2007
> http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/13/iraq.poll/
>
> *** You are Subscribed to the NC Peace and Justice
> Update List, a weekly online newsletter maintained
> by the Campaign to End the Cycle of Violence, and
> the NC Coalition for Peace and Justice.  Visit
> http://www.ncpeacehub.org for more info.  This list
> is open to the public to join, but only the CECV
> Secretary can send messages.

PDA impeachment campaign updates

This is the last of three posts that weren't posted because of a Blogger problem.  The others are posted at durhamspark.blogspot.com. 

 

Below is an update I received from the Progressive Democrats of America March 2nd.  I'm re-posting it here since it has many useful links.  Locally, GRIM is planning an NC impeachment conference in Durham next month and the Durham Impeach Bush Cheney Meetup group (which is meeting at the Parkwood Branch Library in Durham on the 14th at 7pm) has a plan to get the Durham City Council to vote on an impeachment resolution and is planning to lobby Senator Elizabeth Dole. 

 

In related news, there will be a meeting / protest against the War at Price's Chapel Hill office today at 2pm, I believe. 

 

____________________

New Clearinghouse For National Impeachment Effort
I could compile links all day but it may be better for you to check this link for all actions building up to April 28th.  There are downloadable flyers and links to actions and events nationwide.  We need all of you more now then ever in this push to bring Impeachment into the light.  There is no lack of evidence only a lack of outrage!  Be sure to read the Campaign Launch Press Release for full details.
http://impeach07.org/

Bush Is Over
You can buy a T-shirt or print out your own signs for free.  Please take the time to upload your images to our gallery.
http://www.bushisover.org/spreadit.html

You can also customize your own shirt here
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/customshirt

Join the email list at this link to stay up to date on all A28 events and news
http://www.a28.org/
____________________

March Forth! is a National Day of Action being celebrated in over twenty cities Nationwide.  Take part in taking back your country!
http://www.wethepeoplemarch4th.org/

Sunday, March 4, 2007: In Los Angeles Dennis Loo  co-editor of "Impeach the President", Progressive Democrats of America and World Can't Wait and Clothing of the American Mind will be hosting a  screening of The Bush Crime Commission.  We will be screening short segments of the film and discussing key points of the Military Commissions Act.   There will be wine, music and information so that we can breathe this all in slowly and march forth as we should!
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/18454
____________________

A Special Invitation from Medea Benjamin
Please join us at this critical moment in D.C. for PDA's Grassroots Leadership Conference March 23-25.
PDA Board Member and Afterdowingstreet co-founder David Swanson will be leading a breakout session on oversight/accountability and impeachment on Saturday at 11:45 am!
http://pdamerica.org/articles/news/2007-02-28-11-38-04-news.php
____________________

Rep. Conyers on New Charges of Administration Misconduct
House Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers, Jr. (a PDA advisory board member) reacted to dramatic charges from David C. Iglesias, former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, that he was recently fired because he refused to give in to political pressure from Republicans.
http://pdamerica.org/articles/news/2007-03-01-07-55-09-news.php

Senate Democrats Seek Testimony From Fired Attorneys
The Senate Judiciary Committee this week will send letters to the dismissed attorneys asking for their voluntary testimony, according to fellow Democrat Charles Schumer of New York.
http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=357

Democrats Want Troops Out of Iraq if Goals Are Not Met
Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives have rallied around legislation that would bring US troops home from Iraq within 6 months if the Iraqi government does not lessen violence there, reports the Associated Press.
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Democrats_want_troops_out_of_Iraq_0301.html
____________________

Run to the Rock
Video of Beach Impeach Project that mysteriously got pulled from YouTube reposted on ifilm
http://www.ifilm.com/profile/james_cavenaugh/video/2827514

Beach Impeach Project
We want this happening in 100 cities.
http://beachimpeach.com/
____________________

Forward This Link to Invite Others to Join
http://pdamerica.org/impeach-wg.php

Contact the Media About Impeachment Coverage
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=9196431&type=ME

Email your Congress Member and Senators Now
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=9209911&type=CO

One-Pager for Lobbying Congress for Peace and Accountability
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16562

List of Key Committee Chairmen and What We Want From Them
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/investigations

Stop the War Video and Petition
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16434

Sign the Impeachment Petition
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/88

Sign the Impeachment Pledge
http://www.pledgetoimpeach.org

Resources for Organizing Impeachment Events
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

Find or Create a Congressional District Impeachment Committee
http://www.democrats.com/cdic

World Can't Wait
http://www.worldcantwait.org/

Minneapolis, Minnesota  Impeachment Campaign
http://impeachforpeace.org/

How to Pass a State or City Resolution
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/resolutions

New Mexico Impeachment Campaign
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/nm

Vermont: Impeachment Campaign
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/vt

New Jersey Impeachment Campaign
http://www.impeachthem.com/node/294

North Carolina Impeachment Campaign
http://www.impeachbushcheney.net/

Peace
Matthew Gerbasi
Progressive Democrats of America
Impeachment Working Group National Coordinator

Bush coming to NC this week

Bush is expected to visit a Novozymes facility in Franklinton, in Franklin Co., this Thursday. The plant manufactures various enzymes used to facilitate chemical reactions, such as the conversion of plant parts into ethanol for fuel.  Bush will tour the factory, speal on a panel, and talk about actions being taken to reduce gas consumption by 20% over the next decade.  Given his past proposals, this is probably an overly rosey, misleading, and underfunded effort.  WRAL's brief February 16th announcement of the planned visit is online at http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1205690/.  I'm sure Bush will be dogged by protesters, and I will post when I hear of definite plans.

 

  

Defend liberty, repeal the Military Commissions Act

The Military Commissions Act of 2006 (text online at
thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c109:4:./temp/~c109IVm4h3:: ),
passed late last year, abolishes habeas corpus for
citizens and non-citizens alike and legalizes torture.

Demand that it be repealed by signing the Durham Bill
of Rights Defense Committee's petition to NC
politicians, online at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/stopMCA/petition.html

There are paper petitions at Internationalist Books,
and soon at The Peoples Channel, the Durham Food
Co-op, and elsewhere.  There will be a Durham BORDC branch
meeting Saturday afternoon (there is also a Chapel
Hill BORDC branch).

The text of the petition is:

We oppose the Military Commissions Act of 2006. This
is an unjust law that violates the basic human rights
of citizens and non-citizens. It does away with habeas
corpus rights (to a prompt court hearing to determine
whether one's imprisonment is legal, to know what
charges have been brought, and to have legal counsel).
It also gives the executive branch power to allow
interrogation techniques that violate the Geneva
Conventions and human decency. No one should be
subject to arbitrary arrest or to detention without a
prompt and fair trial, and no one should, under any
circumstances, be subject to torture.
 

Local vigils today marking 3000th GI death in Iraq

Unfortunately more American (and Iraqi) deaths are ringing in the New Year.  There will be protests January 1st in Raleigh and Chapel Hill.  Below is a message with details posted on the NC Peace and Justice Coalition's listserve.  May the anti-war movement have many successes this year, so that there is peace, or at least improvement, in Iraq and around the world by this time next winter. 

 

Fw: The US military death total in Iraq has reached 3000, according to www.icasualties.org

 

A Raleigh vigil will be held at the United Community Church, corner of Wade Avenue and Dixie

Trail, tomorrow, Monday, January 1, 2007, from 6 to 7 pm.

 

Please bring any old pairs of shoes you may have for the program. We need to be together and

gather strength to fight this illegal occupation and bring our troops home. If  you need to contact

me before the vigil my cell is [ ].

 

A total of 918 US troops died this year so far.

===============================================

Orange County: Let's gather at Peace and Justice Plaza, corner of East Franklin and Henderson

Streets, 5 to 6 PM, January 1, 2007.  Take a candle and/or signs. [ ]

Report from the meeting at Price's office in Durham + Price letter on impeachment

At the meeting with District Liason Tracy Lovett at Rep. Price's Durham office we had two people from the western Triangle and two from Durham.  I think we were all late, and I was last, I think at least partly because I publicized the wrong address for the NC Mutual Building.  I hope the small size was not because of the address error or full visitor parking spaces (another reason why I was late to the meeting).  Basically we were providing comments, since Price was not there.  We discussed the Democrats soon having subpoena power in Congress.  I asked what Price has done (besides the wiretapping letter to Bush), and will do, to implement the suggestions in the Al Gore speech he praised to us when we met with his January 30th in Chapel Hill.  We were not given an answer, but I said that I hope that Price will do more for investigation, and will not be afraid to consider impeachment or censure, if and when Congress 'reveals' the crimes and undercutting of democracy and our liberties by the Bush Administration. 

 

I presented 50 signatures to the DSM petition on paper, 86 from www.petitiononline.com/dsmnc/petition.html (of which I think about 50 are new), and 35 GRIm collected at the Hillsborough town meeting last July, on paper.  I've been circulating the petitions at stores, at a few meetings, and online, rather than more actively circulating it, and it is mostly a one person effort.  We will continue to collect signatures.     

 

Below is an email on impeachment I received from Price's office November 29th.  I don't remember sending an email though.  I think this is not enough, though it could be an improvement, and that the Democrats collectively didn't speak out and vote many times when they should have to oppose Bush's policies.    

 

Dear [southplumb]:

Thank you for contacting me regarding possible grounds for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

I share your concern about the policies of the Bush administration and understand calls for the House to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President and Vice President. I think it is very likely that, among other things, the President exaggerated intelligence findings to strengthen his case for war in Iraq, that he and/or members of his administration authorized the use of torture, and that he violated federal law by authorizing wiretaps on the communications of U.S. citizens without obtaining the approval of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. I have voiced my opposition to these policies as forcefully as I can, and have pushed for investigations into presidential abuses of power. Unfortunately, congressional oversight of the executive branch has been almost totally lacking over the last six years.

When the 110th Congress convenes next January, under new leadership, I am confident that the situation will fundamentally change. We will have aggressive and extensive committee oversight on the broad range of President Bush's policies, and investigations into the many allegations that he and the Vice-President have abused their authority.

As you may know, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to be elected Speaker of the House in the next Congress, has indicated that the House will not initiate impeachment proceedings against President Bush at this time. She also made very clear that the House will once again be in the business of holding the executive branch accountable for its actions and policies. Rep. John Conyers, the likely chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has similarly indicated his intention to intensely scrutinize Bush Administration policies and the actions of the President and Vice-President.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to stay in touch on this and other issues of concern.

Sincerely,

DAVID PRICE

Member of Congress   

Meeting with Rep. Price's staff about impeachment, December 7th

There will be a meeting with David Price's Durham
stafd to present petitions and discuss impeachment
December 7th at 4pm at the Mutual Life Building (411
West Main St.).  There is visitor parking by the
office.  We should meet outside the office 10 minutes
early.  This meeting is to find out if Price's
position on holding Bush accountable has become more
active now that the Democrats will control Congress
and after further anti-democratic acts by the Bush
Administration. Updates will be posted at
downingstreetactionnc.blogspot.com.  Help
publicizing the meeting is appreciated.

The petition is online at
www.petitiononline.com/dsmnc/petition.html and on
paper at the Durham Food Co-op, The Peoples Channel
studio, and Internationalist Books.

A petition to the Durham City Council is
online at www.petitiononline.com/durimp and one for a

State resolution is at www.petitiononline.com/ncres.

Democrats.com called for impeachment committees to be
set up in all Congressional districts, and there are
now committees in all (?) of the districts in the
Triangle (link from www.impeachbushcheney.net).
Meetup.com impeachment groups are active in Durham

(next meeting November 29th) and Raleigh (soon to ask the

City Council to pass resolutions) and GRIM is planning

events in December and January.  There will be a demonstration

in DC January 27th and there will probably be charter buses from the Triangle.

Changes to DSA-NC

There is now a new mission statement, reflecting my view that impeaching Bush and others is necessary, but that many leading Democrats must answer for their actions (or inactions). Now that the Democrats control Congress, it is definitely their duty to oppose Bush's bad policies, and they will be more to blame when the Federal government (inevitably) betrays democratic principles.

I had hoped that this blog would be a hub for the local impeachment movement, but instead it has been more like a personal impeachment blog. I'm still open to the option of a joint effort. I hope to increase the originality of content, usefulness of commentary, and regularity of postings on Downing Street Action. Thank you to the people who do read and post here. The struggle to hold Bush accountable is mainstream now, through the work of GRIM and other local and national groups.

I changed the official name of the blog. I decided against using After Downing Street, but I didn't get around to changing it here. It's time to stop copying the After Downing Street Coalition's name! It could be time for an entirely new name, but I say keep DSA-NC, because that is the name in circulation and it commemorates the start of our local movement.

The old header is:

This blog grew out of the Chapel Hill, NC meeting on the July 23, 2005 day of action on the Downing Street memos (called by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. and the After Downing Street Coalition). This is a site for discussing and organizing action on the Downing Street memos and the impeachment of Bush & Co in North Carolina.

Meeting at Price's Durham office in December on impeachment

I'm scheduling a petition delivery meeting with Tracy
Lovett at Rep. Price's Durham office (411 W. Chapel
Hill St, the Mutual Life Building).  Thursday,
December 7th or 14th, at 4 or 5pm is available.  I
think December 7th would be good, since the After
Downing Street Coalition is calling for impeachment
events for Human Rights Day, on the 10th, and I assume
if we meet at 4pm we could talk longer than at 5pm, if
there is more to say.  What do you all think?  

 

There are more signatures on the first petition (online version at

www.petitiononline.com/dsmnc/petition.html) and there is a similar petition 

from over the summer to present.  The situation in Congress has of course

also changed since the last time we met with Price's staff (in Chapel Hill) and

Bush has pushed further against the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

(for example, with the Military Commissions Act, which can be used against

citizens).  As I said, I don't expect a lot from Price on

truly holding Bush accountable, but maybe something has changed, and it is

necessary to show what we think, even if it is not yet enough to move Price to act. 

Impeachment events around Human Rights Day, December 10th

This is another message from David Swanson, of the After Downing Street Coalition, sent Tuesday the 14th.  The local Grass Roots Impeachment Movement (www.impeachbushcheney.net ) is already using some of the tactics called for below.  The meeting at Rep. Price's office in Durham to present more petitions will probably be around December 10th. It might be on a Thursday in the late afternoon. 

Now that the Democrats control Congress impeachment is more likely, but we still face an uphill battle.  Rep. Nancy Pelosi and others have already rejected impeachment (or say they do).  I think Rep. Brad Miller rejected it (see the post about the CCR video showing in the summer).  Price might vote for impeachment, but I'm sure he won't be in the lead on it.  If the members of Congress do their Constitutional duty and impeach, it is likely they will be soft on Bush and others, since many Democrats in Congress support some of the illegal and anti-democratic policies pursued by the Bush Administration.  For example, many supported the attack on Iraq.  The Bush Administration was lying in its case for War, but many Democrats ignored the evidence that Bush was lying and these Democrats wanted "regime change" anyway.  Some wanted a UN Security Council seal of approval and a stronger coalition, but they still wanted to wage a war of aggression against a developing country that was not a threat to the USA and did not have weapons of mass destruction or ties to al-Qaida (unlike 'our allies' Pakistan and Saudi Arabia).  Many Democratic politicians are still advocating increased force in Afghanistan (instead of in Iraq) and harsh measures, possibly military force, against Iran and the DPRK (meanwhile some Democrats, such as Price and I think Miller, voted for Bush's nuclear deal with India, rewarding India for violating the non-proliferation treaty).  The Democrats might be more firm on Bush's signing statements and actions against Congressional oversight - we'll see.      

From David Swanson:

Can you modify any elements of this you want to use and send to the largest list you have? 

IMPEACHMENT BY SPRING: HERE'S THE PLAN

________________

Plan Events on December 10th, Human Rights and Impeachment Day

December 10 is Human Rights Day, and this year we're making it Human Rights and Impeachment Day. Slogan: "Putting Impeachment on the Table."

We encourage you to organize a town hall forum or rally on this day for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney.

You can create a public listing of your event here. You will be able to communicate with the people who sign up for your event, and to edit the listing for your event, changing or filling in details later.

You can view existing events and sign up to attend one here.

Here is a list of available speakers with their contact info.

Be sure also to invite your Congress Member or newly elected future Congress Member to speak.

Here are resources that will make your event easy and effective.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/december10

________________

Collect Signatures on Petitions
Collect millions of them, especially in front of your Congress Member's offices. Use this to build local organizations as well as a national list of names.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/petition

________________

Join a Congressional District Impeachment Committee
Organize locally to lobby your Representative:

http://www.democrats.com/cdic

________________

Pass State and Local Resolutions
Pass impeachment resolutions in your town or city, state, political party, or labor union. Use the petitioning (above) to help make this happen:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/resolutions

________________

Be a Media Activist
Work the media for impeachment:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/media

________________

Talking Points and Other Resources to Assist You

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/resourcecenter

________________

Impeachment Conference Call November 13, 2006
81 organizers and activists from across the country took part in a conference call Monday evening to discuss upcoming actions to advance the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. You can listen to the 90-minute call to catch up and get involved. We'll post the transcript and notes ASAP.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/impeachcall.mp3

________________

Audio and Video from Philadelphia on Veterans Day
Here is video of our impeachment movement launch:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/phillyvideo

Here is audio:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/phillyaudio

________________

We Now Have Shirts With Long Sleeves

http://www.wavelengthclothing.com/impeach_bush.html

________________

Invite the Bush Chain Gang to Your Town
Reduce fear and roadside trash: put them to work.

http://backbonecampaign.org/chaingang.cfm

Impeachment events around Human Rights Day, December 10th

This is another message from David Swanson, of the After Downing Street Coalition, sent Tuesday the 14th.  The local Grass Roots Impeachment Movement ( www.impeachbushcheney.net ) is already using some of the tactics called for below.  The meeting at Rep. Price's office in Durham to present more petitions will probably be around December 10th. It might be on a Thursday in the late afternoon. 

Now that the Democrats control Congress impeachment is more likely, but we still face an uphill battle.  Rep. Nancy Pelosi and others have already rejected impeachment (or say they do).  I think Rep. Brad Miller rejected it (see the post about the CCR video showing in the summer).  Price might vote for impeachment, but I'm sure he won't be in the lead on it.  If the members of Congress do their Constitutional duty and impeach, it is likely they will be soft on Bush and others, since many Democrats in Congress support some of the illegal and anti-democratic policies pursued by the Bush Administration.  For example, many supported the attack on Iraq.  The Bush Administration was lying in its case for War, but many Democrats ignored the evidence that Bush was lying and these Democrats wanted "regime change" anyway.  Some wanted a UN Security Council seal of approval and a stronger coalition, but they still wanted to wage a war of aggression against a developing country that was not a threat to the USA and did not have weapons of mass destruction or ties to al-Qaida (unlike 'our allies' Pakistan and Saudi Arabia).  Many Democratic politicians are still advocating increased force in Afghanistan (instead of in Iraq) and harsh measures, possibly military force, against Iran and the DPRK (meanwhile some Democrats, such as Price and I think Miller, voted for Bush's nuclear deal with India, rewarding India for violating the non-proliferation treaty).  The Democrats might be more firm on Bush's signing statements and actions against Congressional oversight - we'll see.      

From David Swanson:

Can you modify any elements of this you want to use and send to the largest list you have? 

IMPEACHMENT BY SPRING: HERE'S THE PLAN

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Plan Events on December 10th, Human Rights and Impeachment Day

December 10 is Human Rights Day, and this year we're making it Human Rights and Impeachment Day. Slogan: "Putting Impeachment on the Table."

We encourage you to organize a town hall forum or rally on this day for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney.

You can create a public listing of your event here. You will be able to communicate with the people who sign up for your event, and to edit the listing for your event, changing or filling in details later.

You can view existing events and sign up to attend one here.

Here is a list of available speakers with their contact info.

Be sure also to invite your Congress Member or newly elected future Congress Member to speak.

Here are resources that will make your event easy and effective.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/december10

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Collect Signatures on Petitions
Collect millions of them, especially in front of your Congress Member's offices. Use this to build local organizations as well as a national list of names.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/petition

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Join a Congressional District Impeachment Committee
Organize locally to lobby your Representative:

http://www.democrats.com/cdic

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Pass State and Local Resolutions
Pass impeachment resolutions in your town or city, state, political party, or labor union. Use the petitioning (above) to help make this happen:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/resolutions

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Be a Media Activist
Work the media for impeachment:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/media

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Talking Points and Other Resources to Assist You

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/resourcecenter

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Impeachment Conference Call November 13, 2006
81 organizers and activists from across the country took part in a conference call Monday evening to discuss upcoming actions to advance the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. You can listen to the 90-minute call to catch up and get involved. We'll post the transcript and notes ASAP.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/impeachcall.mp3

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Audio and Video from Philadelphia on Veterans Day
Here is video of our impeachment movement launch:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/phillyvideo

Here is audio:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/phillyaudio

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We Now Have Shirts With Long Sleeves

http://www.wavelengthclothing.com/impeach_bush.html

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Invite the Bush Chain Gang to Your Town
Reduce fear and roadside trash: put them to work.

http://backbonecampaign.org /chaingang.cfm