Democracy for Vancouver

6 Comments so far (Add 1 more)

1. Great freaking post! I remember being glued to the TV set at age 19 when the Watergate hearings (see below) were happening . Today it seems the shredding of the constitution is just “politics as usual”. No reason to hurry. American Idol anyone?

   From Wiki

   The hearings held by the Senate Committee, in which Dean was the star witness and in which many other former key administration officials gave dramatic testimony, were broadcast from May 17, 1973 to August 7, 1973, causing devastating political damage to Nixon. Each network maintained coverage of the hearings every third day, starting with ABC on May 17 and ending with NBC on August 7. An estimated 85% of Americans with television sets tuned in to at least one portion of the hearings.[11]

   Perhaps the most memorable question of the hearings came when Republican Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee asked “What did the President know, and when did he know it?”, which focused attention for the first time on Nixon’s personal role in the scandal.

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   1. Above comment written by bushtool on July 26th, 2007 at 2:44 pm (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

2. Our bottom feeding politicians need to rest, as it’s very very hard staying on the bottom.

   Used to think whale manure was on the bottom of the ocean, but the politicians have replaced that. Besides, they need to fill their pockets with some more cash.

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   2. Above comment written by Allen on July 27th, 2007 at 6:29 am (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

3. I say we can kick out all the incumbents we can. We can send a message by saying that, “Hey, I don’t care if you voted the way we wanted or not. This is a purge of all career politicians. We want representatives that are going to react quickly to the passions of their constituents.

   We elect new representatives and tell them that if they don’t do their job, we’ll fire them in another two years. It may take a couple of terms, but it could send a strong message.

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   3. Above comment written by greenm1981 on July 27th, 2007 at 1:35 pm (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

4. we can kick out all the incumbents we can.

   I agree this would go a long way to fixing things. The issue is how do we do this? The pols are so entrenched that most of them know they can ignore the will of their constituencies with no resulting adverse consequences. Look at the link in the footer of this site. Incumbents usually have substantially more money. Because they are already known, voters tend to vote for them over newcomers anyway.

   Heck, Lieberman was able to win even without his party affiliation. That is the power of incumbency and money.

   To change this will require massive organizing and getting everyone on the same page with regard to their campaign contributions, their organizing efforts and their vote. Or instituting publicly financed election systems that level the playing field between challengers and incumbents.

   And the later will only happen again with massive organizing efforts.

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   4. Above comment written by bushtool on July 27th, 2007 at 2:22 pm (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

5. Well, I’m glad to see you agree that a total purge of at least the HOR would be effective.

   You are also right in stating that it will take a massive organization of people.

   I think the first place to start is to organize and recruit members for a Vancouver chapter of Washington Public Campaigns. There is already one in the works.

   Meanwhile, all of us who exchange ideas on this site, listen to Air America, and read the same books need to realize that we are all preaching to the choir. We need to saturate every other angle of the media that we can. Including, and with special attention to, the right-wing blogosphere.

   Next, we need to go outside and mobilize an information operation. Yes, I’ll say it: Propaganda. I’m talking direct mailings, fliers, advertisements. Hell, even street-corner “information booths!” Granted, the expense would be great.

   I think it would take a GREAT deal of sweat from those of us who currently prescribe to this school of thought, but nobody else is going to do it. The status quo isn’t going to work in our favor and short of violence, I don’t see any other way.

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   5. Above comment written by greenm1981 on July 27th, 2007 at 3:05 pm (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

6. greenm1981,

   I think an almost 100% purge of Washington DC is in order. There are a handful of electeds in each house that deserve keeping around but the rest are just as you say, bottom feeders.

   I feel sorry for kids growing up these days. At least when I was growing up, the good guys died (Kennedy brothers and King) but the bad guys resigned in disgrace i.e. Nixon. Think of the message being sent to young people today? At least when I was young, I was taught to believe our government was a force for good and ran according to a set of rules handed down by our wise founders. How could a young person believe this to be true today?

   It is OK to invade people under false pretenses and then torture, hold them in prison and kill them.

   It is OK to lie to a grand jury and then have your sentence fixed by your boss when you get sentenced to jail.

   It is OK to lie to Congress or to not even show up for a Congressional subpoena ala Gonzales, Miers et al.

   It is OK for Congress to ignore its duty to uphold the constitution and not impeach government officials for high crimes and misdemeanors some of which have been confessed to by the perpetrators.

   At least Clinton’s little affair resulted in massive humiliation for him from the entire world. There was a consequence.

   It appears this administration is going to walk away laughing at what fools the rest of us are for letting them literally get away with murder and other crimes.

   Under the circumstances, how can anyone ever have any respect for our government?

   But I guess if you are not paying attention or don’t care, which is the reality for most Americans, these things are inconsequential. You get your sense of right or wrong from Paris Hilton.

   Out of sight, out of mind.

   Sooner or later there is going to be a wake up call. And I just hope it is not that we are fighting them over here because we fought them over there in an unjust and immoral occupation.

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   6. Above comment written by bushtool on July 28th, 2007 at 3:50 pm (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).