This is a sign that I noticed yesterday morning off Andresen Road.

This is called using your brain?

I am an advocate for free speech. But sometimes it is hard to swallow. This is one of those sometimes.

On the positive side, perhaps people will use their brains when they see this and realize that supporting McCain takes us in a dangerous and backward direction.

What do you think?

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

6 Comments

• At September 28, 2008, Cherish DesRochers wrote:

  I saw a similar sign near costco...I wasn't impressed. I am not a fan of negative politics.

• At September 28, 2008, John wrote:

  That is where this sign was yesterday. Didn't want to possibly impugn Costco by mentioning them because of its proximity to their location but it is not on their property and so they are not responsible in any way.

• At September 28, 2008, Truth wrote:

  In Whitman County, the radical, right-wing, racist, hate-mongers are burning Obama signs. They burned a 4 ft. by 8 ft. sign in the middle of Highway 27, and racist graffiti was scrawled on its replacement. Now that’s real hate (which is spurred on and encouraged by the radical right-wing blogs in eastern Washington).

• At September 29, 2008, Spanky wrote:

  The origin of the neo-con may be from a radical, extremist, liberal. However, what the meaning of "use your brain" has to do with anything I can't guess. I thought liberals use their brains and conservatives use their guns..

• At September 29, 2008, Cherish DesRochers wrote:

  I had someone write "sucks" below my political sticker on my car window. I thought it was crossing the line. I felt a a little violated & some anger. I quickly realized that my anger was what they wanted, and peeled off the portion that said 'sucks'.

  I wish people would grow up. I feel like it's 'bloods & crips' thing out there with all these signs.

• At September 29, 2008, Rosy wrote:

  The 3rd District psychologist voted for the bailout.

  Doesn't matter what his constituents think...

  Have to give Republicans some credit on this one ...

John McCain kicks librarian out of John McCain town hall event

And the charge against the librarian will most likely be dropped and free speech will once again be squelched sucessfully.

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• John McCain Kicks Librarian out of Town Hall Event

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

I know we are 3 days past the Fourth, but since Patriotism is the cheesy plastic hurdle that gets reset in the mud of every election year, I have to get this off my chest.

First, as an illustration of my larger point, it is typical - but nonetheless ridiculous - that so many on the right are lionizing Jesse Helms and expounding on the “appropriateness” of his Independence Day passing.

In my mind, his death on the 4th of July would only be “appropriate” if the Declaration of Independence itself grabbed a stiletto and did the deed, in order to redeem its original promise:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”

Nope. Can’t see old Jesse signing on to that.

But back to Patriotism. The shocker?

I do not love my country. I do not love the flag of the United States of America.

I do not love any country or any flag.

I love my family, my friends and my pets. I love my tae kwon do school. I love my neighborhood. I love the taste of an exceptional port or a great rare steak or a large wedge of lemon-vanilla cheesecake. I love my artist mother-in-law’s paintings. I love the writing of Michael Chabon and Jim Harrison, and I love the fact that I can express myself and read the impassioned opinions of others on the internets. I love to be at the beach - any beach - with the sun beating down on me and blue water beckoning. And I love most of the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence.

All of these things have a direct connection to me and mine, and enrich my life over and over.

But my country only enriches me because of an accident of birth. Had employment prospects and antisemitism not driven my ancestors to leave their birthplaces, I could have been Canadian or British or Czech - or the family line may simply have stopped around 1944, thanks to the Holocaust.

But even great-great-great-grandfather Jacob P.’s emigration and escape from modern European history makes it hard to find gratitude for my U.S. citizenship: How many of Jacob’s Sudatenland nieces, nephews and cousins died at Terezin because the U.S. refused them visas, just two decades after Jacob’s arrival in New York? And how many families like mine have lost the thread of their Jewish heritage because their ancestor, fleeing antisemitism only to confront it afresh in New York Harbor, discarded that identity in favor of Catholicism or another Christian (and therefore acceptable) sect?

Now, despite that heritage, I am seen as part of the white, Protestant, prosperous top 20%; I have neither paid for my country’s transgressions nor earned the rewards I reap simply by being the white daughter of a successful white man.

My country has only grudgingly granted equality to its non-white, non-male, non-straight, non-Christian citizens, and has yet to do so completely, or with anything approaching generosity or a recognition of past wrongs. My country continues to assert its primacy in the world based on the accepted exceptionalism of its white, straight, Christian males, enforcing that primacy through force of arms and killing millions without justification beyond its own greatness. My country regrets little and repents nothing.

And my country’s flag is nothing but a symbol, and too often an artifact of patriotic artifice, an easy pass-key into the cynical black heart of American politics.

Certainly, there are those who believe in the flag and “all it represents” with purest sincerity, but those good and trusting citizens are not the ones wielding the political and economic power in this country; they are not the ones who downsize and outsource and warmonger. They are the ones being told to hate their Hispanic neighbor, to hate the Iraqis, to hate the gays and the atheists and the feminists. They are the ones who hold tight to the flag, because its fleeting promise is the only hope that remains. And they are the ones being asked to volunteer themselves, and their sons and daughters, to the nation’s armed forces and whatever our government chooses to do with them.

“Patriotism” hides so much craven opportunism that even if I did love this country, I could not easily call myself a patriot.

Perhaps it is correct, then, that Jesse Helms be crowned as the quintessential American Patriot; he fought all his life for the privileges of his white, straight, Christian male cohort and its right to step over anyone, invade any country, steal any resource in the name of the American exceptionalism.

Is it any wonder few others love our country as much as our own American Patriots?

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

Oh, how I wish we lived in a country like this fantasy:

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

This is civilization?

Vancouver Public Schools may be the first district in the nation to not allow Scholastic Book Clubs to sell its merchandise through its schools.

School officials said that district policy prohibits them from promoting for-profit businesses, but that’s not what triggered the conversation in the first place.

In late November, a disgruntled Vancouver woman wrote an e-mail to Scholastic, complaining about its inclusion of the children’s book, “The Golden Compass.” The book has been perceived by some Christian groups as being anti-Christian.
…

The decision to no longer promote Scholastic Book Clubs — a step Scholastic Book Clubs President Judy Newman said by e-mail that she didn’t know of other school districts having taken — met resistance from parents and teachers.

“It was kind of like we were taking away apple pie,” Murdock said.

J. is a teacher, and Scholastic book sales are a big help in building class libraries. The books cost as little as 99¢ and many of them are less than $3.00, and the kids love being able to pick out their own books; and, for every 10 books that the class buys the teacher gets one free book for the classroom. Knowing how much J. spends every year on classroom supplies - including books - every little bit helps.

But next year, if he gets a job in the Vancouver District as we hope, no more book sales - and no more free books, thanks to a self-righteous Christofascist who can’t bear to have anyone malign her faith.

What kind of faith is it that can’t stand up to a children’s book?

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

Author, podcaster and Mondo 2000 founder Ken Goffman - better known as R.U. Sirius - has a proposal for all of us:

A dark cloud is passing over America. We’ve witnessed, in recent years, the death of many of our constitutional rights and liberties. We’ve also seen increasingly authoritarian trends in daily life and culture.Those of us who would prefer to keep our freedoms have been relatively powerless as the events of 9/11 have created an atmosphere of fear and acquiescence. Everybody knows the litany: the virtual death of habeas corpus, the legalization of surveillance against all Americans, the lawlessness and usurpation of powers by the executive branch, ad infinitum.

It is time for all those who oppose this gathering trend towards the worst type of authoritarian governance and culture to put aside their differences and join together in a coalition that can act as a counterforce to this gathering threat to our liberties. It is time for QuestionAuthority (QA).

1: QuestionAuthority: A Coalition

QuestionAuthority is an educational and advocacy project dedicated to defending and extending personal and civil liberties and encouraging free expression. Our goal is to create a broad-based coalition of non-authoritarian groups and individuals who may currently be working in relative isolation on single issues, for political organizations and candidates, or in relatively isolated ideological cohort groups. As a cohesive force, we can do more than just stem the tide one issue  “or one court case” at a time. We can exercise political and cultural influence by uniting the vast numbers of Americans who believe that the country has taken a radical turn in an authoritarian direction.

Read More.

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

3 Comments

• At November 29, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  IMO the biggest problem the progressive movement faces is the inability to get everyone on the same page.

  Polls indicate that we agree on most issues and we represent a significant MAJORITY of the population. And yet, because we are divided up with mostly meaningless labels, our message and our power as a group gets diluted and manipulated.

  Take a look at just the coalition partners of Win Without War:

  20/20 Vision

  American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

  American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

  Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities

  Center for International Policy (CIP)

  Conference of Major Superiors of Men

  Council for a Liveable World

  Families USA

  Feminist Majority

  Fourth Freedom Forum

  Global Exchange

  Greenpeace

  Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)

  MoveOn

  NAACP

  National Council of Churches

  National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

  National Organization for Women (NOW)

  NETWORK

  Pax Christi USA

  Peace Action Physicians for Social Responsibility

  Psychologists for Social Responsibility

  Rainbow/Push Coalition

  Shalom Center

  Sierra Club

  Sojourners

  Soulforce

  The Tikkun Community

  TrueMajority

  Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA)

  Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

  United Church of Christ

  United Methodist Church: General Board of Church and Society

  Us Foundation

  USAction

  Veterans for Peace

  Women's Action for New Directions (WAND)

  Working Assets

  Artists United to Win Without War

  Musicians United to Win Without War

  And there are many more groups out there that share the same basic values and goals. To succeed at changing things for the better, we need to stop fighting with each other and start supporting each other.

  There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community.

  M Scott Peck, MD

• At December 1, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  Sheehan has an article on the disunity as it applies to the peace movement here.

• At December 2, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  [riffly_audio]E46A38C8A13011DCAD1244CF0D09CCE3[/riffly_audio]

You’ve probably already heard about the almost-reasonable-sounding House Resolution 1955 (a/k/a Senate Bill 1959): the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. We all want to prevent Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism, don’t we? Anyone who doesn’t must want the terrorists to win! You freedom-hater, you!

Or so it must have seemed to the ALL BUT SIX congresspeople who voted for this very nasty piece of work, including every single congressperson from my home state (WA) and my work state (OR).

I don’t know what’s more depressing: that they all read the bill and didn’t realize the oppressive and dangerous potential therein, or that they only read the title and peed their respective pants before voting like a chorus of Frito Banditos.

Some choice parts of the House version read like something out of a George Orwell or Margaret Atwood nightmare:

SEC. 899A. DEFINITIONS.
…
`(2) VIOLENT RADICALIZATION- The term `violent radicalization’ means the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.

`(3) HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism’ means the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

`(4) IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE- The term `ideologically based violence’ means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual’s political, religious, or social beliefs.

What is force? Was the assembly of 500,000 people on the National Mall to demand an end to the Viet Nam War the “threatened use of force” to “coerce the United States government”? Was the March on Washington by 250,000 primarily African American citizens in 1963 the “threatened use of force … to promote the group or individual’s political, religious, or social beliefs”?

Also in this radical bill, doing violence to our Constitution:

`SEC. 899B. FINDINGS.

`The Congress finds the following:

`(1) The development and implementation of methods and processes that can be utilized to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating domestic terrorism.

`(2) The promotion of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence exists in the United States and poses a threat to homeland security.

Other than Christian white guy Tim McVeigh? This is a bigger problem than, say, health care reform, which could save literally thousands of lives every year?

Back to the scary shit:

`(3) The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens.

So this is why my husband worries about me blogging.

… `(6) Preventing the potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists domestically cannot be easily accomplished solely through traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and can benefit from the incorporation of State and local efforts.”

Really? Weren’t we supposed to have broken down all of those supposed barriers after 9/11, which changed everything?

`(7) Individuals prone to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence span all races, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, and individuals should not be targeted based solely on race, ethnicity, or religion.

But it’s a start.

`(8) Any measure taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism in the United States should not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, or civil liberties of United States citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Because “Anytime you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires — a wiretap requires a court order.” And, “This government does not torture people. ”

Riiiight. Riiiight.

`(9) Certain governments, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have significant experience with homegrown terrorism and the United States can benefit from lessons learned by those nations.

Because you’ve got to learn to fight fire with Five in the Noggin:

A man shot dead by police hunting the bombers behind Thursday’s London attacks was a Brazilian electrician unconnected to the incidents.

The man, who died at Stockwell Tube on Friday, has been named by police as Jean Charles de Menezes, 27.
…
Scotland Yard said Mr Menezes, who lived in Brixton, south London, was completely unconnected to the bomb attacks and added: “For somebody to lose their life in such circumstances is a tragedy and one that the Metropolitan Police Service regrets.”

The Senate version has not been voted on yet. Please, please, please contact your Senators and tell them that our Constitutionally protected rights of free speech, freedom of assembly, privacy, and the right to petition our government for redress of grievances do not condone such incursions, and that they must vote against it.
[emphasis added.]

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

1 Comments

• At November 28, 2007, Rich wrote:

  Thanks for covering this, Slim.

  I had meant to, but knew that multiple deadlines and my unusually short (as of late) attention span would mean I wouldn't be able to do it justice.

  This one's scary, folks.

  The important thing for all of us, no matter what side of the aisle we sit on in this bread and circuses we call democracy, this is going to have far reaching consequences.

  To put it another way, think how terrified that the Bush apologist camp are going to be after the Dems take the Whitehouse. This is the precedent this current president has set up, with full compliance of a spineless legislature.

  I wish we could all get along long enough to oust these bastards - regardless of party - who are selling this country up the river.

  There I go, getting violently radical.

  Maybe that's the point. When we go into the Democratic wash-cycle, we'll have all real Americans united against these fascist plutocrats, and there WILL be a need to clamp down on ALL OF US.

The Columbian has a piece today on some of the praiseworthy people that have been participating in sign waving for peace and justice every Thursday afternoon for several years now on the corners in front of the main library. There is also a video of them to the right of the article.

A big shout out to them for all they have done and continue to do to try to make things better for us all in these “times that try men’s (and women’s) souls”.

PS: Edie and Gary Cotton were not covered in this article but are two of the most dedicated of the bunch! Edie has been there practically each and every week and provided a variety of great signs for me to wave whenever I have taken the time to exercise my free speech right. And there are many others that have participated and deserve our thanks.

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

16 Comments

• At November 4, 2007, Pat Campbell wrote:

  Good piece. Nice to learn a little more about Genny who was our good and faithful Local 313 secretary for many years. Her son served in the Middle East recently.

  I see some of the local "chicken hawks" are already attacking her and the Columbian article. They might as well attack free speech directly. One who banned me from posting on his blog will probably soon show up here again to berate our local peace workers.

• At November 4, 2007, g. kortes, vancouver, WA wrote:

  Thanks, guys. Of course when one is asked questions, there isn't time to think thru the best answer. Oh well. I wish the reporter would have covered Edie Cotton. She's made many, many signs and unlike some of the other gals, she's been there every week.

  Don't know where write-ups against our visibility are showing up. Also, the video with article is blank for me.

• At November 4, 2007, Chief Wahoo wrote:

  No Pat; unlike you, I give them big points for being honest about who they really are, and doing their own talking; as compared to some of the whining, perpetual failed candidates who are forever shuffling for a better place to attach themselves to the Public Teat.

  You wouldn't be banned from Clarkblog Pat if you could answer a straight question about any of the things you say that you stand for.

  And watch who you call a "Chicken Hawk" my friend, as I am a 20 year retiree from Active Duty in the United States Navy. I'll be happy to let you review my collection of Honorable Discharges if you have the stones to challenge me on that to my face.

  ABECS(AW) USN (Ret.)

• At November 5, 2007, Pat Campbell wrote:

  Bob, Genny does not hate the United States of America because she demonstrates. Demonstrating for causes is part of my Amercia and one of the reasons why most of us served in the military and in other ways as well.

  Doing the spin on your blog that Genny somehow is being neglectful in not addressing the Japanese war criminal issues was over the top.

  You know why I quit answering your questions. It was because you didn't require the other candidate for the position to even anwer one question.

  As far as loosing elections, name one public office that you have run for...

• At November 5, 2007, arturo wrote:

  Pat,

  Those are good reasons not to answer. And I would like to challenge the notion that somehow or other calling people out, or shutting them up is the "manly" response. I see nothing manly in it. Those are the emotional reactions of scared or angry persons, hardly the archetype for a "real man."

  And Chief, serving does not a man make. character is expressed daily in your interactions with others, not as notches on your existential belt.

• At November 5, 2007, Pat Campbell wrote:

  Well, I guess that did it. Koski has even shut me out from even viewing his site.

  He may be adopting to a "blog yourself" format. A good way to save on internet costs if nothing else.

• At November 5, 2007, arturo wrote:

  Of course he did Pat, folks like Chief are all bluster, mere cowards who have to feel like they are the "winner" but can't ever manage do so on the merits of their argument. They resort to changing the rules of the game midstream.

  This is the kind of kid who when you were winning would toss the pieces across the board and go home. All grown up now into a real "manly" man. What a joke.

• At November 5, 2007, Allen wrote:

  Chief,

  You say you spent 20 years in the navy. Fine, I spent 3 years in the army, and I also have a honorable discharge, plus I am a disabled vet.

  I will call any person who supports Bush on his baby tantrum for war, a CHICKENHAWK. You don't like it, TS.

  And as old as I am, crippled up, out of shape, etc, I will say it to your face.

  Why is it Chief, over 60% of Americans do not like, nor do they think that Bush is so friggin great, and doing such a good job?

  My suggestion Chief, get a good bottle of fire spirits, and enjoy.

• At November 5, 2007, Faye Miner Koski wrote:

  You know, I'm not very politically active. A lot of it has to do with the uncivilized, infantile banter that goes on between people of differing political opinions. I would be blissfully oblivious to the exchange I just read, except for the fact that I am Mrs. Chief. I became curious when Bob was sitting at the PC, snickering. "What is it this time?" I asked. He had me read the preceeding thread.

  Mr. Campbell, shame on you. If name calling and avoidance of current topics is all the better you can do, you do not deserve to be elected to public office.

  Arturo, I assure you, my husband is no coward. You do not agree with him, which is your right. Hell, I don't agree with him a lot of the time, but I would never be disrespectful of his opinion, as it is always backed up with concrete fact. This man does NOT bluster. He has an opinion that he can back up. If you wish to have a meaningful dialoge, you'll need to have your facts together.

  Finally, Allen, thank you for your service to our country. My sincere apologies that you suffered a disability in the line of duty. Now that you're back in the world, how about exercising a little more civility? Why stoop to name-calling. Debate the man on the facts. If you feel the President has made a bad decision, say why you think so. I assume you were in the Middle East, so you would have first hand knowledge of why we should pull out rather than finish up. Bring that perspective...don't stoop personal attacks.

  So, gentlemen, thank you for the forum to get a few things out in the open. I doubt that it will make much difference, and I certainly won't stick around to hear a response or to have mud flung at me. However, all of you took a personal shot at my husband, which was rude. Shame on all of you.

  Mr. Campbell, you did make a comment about what public offices Bob had run for, knowing full well he has never run. You also know why, which again is insensitive on your part. Trust me, if his health were not an issue , he'd wipe the floor with you in any head to head race, and you know it.

  Stout Hearts

  Mrs. Chief

• At November 6, 2007, Allen wrote:

  Mrs. Chief,

  If I hurt your feelings, I apologize, as that was not my intent to hurt anyone. Your husband spoke/wrote his thoughts, and I did the same. But in all reality, if over 60% of Americans think Bush is wrong, (and I am one of the 60%+), maybe there is a reason for that.

  I have noticed that the Republicans have no problem calling people who disagree with them traitors, unpatriotic, and have no problem trying to "swiftboat" people. I guess what goes around comes around.

• At November 6, 2007, arturo wrote:

  Mrs Chief,

  I agree with you about the timbre of dialog. But I disagree with you about Mr. Chief. I do find his actions cowardly. The factual definition for his behavior is that of a "petty tyrant." One who gains power by attempting to render others powerless; one who gains by diminishing others. You don't have to live too long in this world to run into the petty tyrant, they are a dime a dozen. The world is full of men who think they miraculously gain in stature by fallaciously pointing out to the world just how inferior others are. It is the hallmark of an impotent use of power. (I find it intriguing Mr Chief stays mute, other than to snicker)

  I believe chief's own self avowed purpose in selecting his avatar was to offend. Sounds pretty petty to me. Baiting is petty, hit and run is petty. No Mrs Chief, these are the actions of a petty tyrant.

  IMHO, an honorable man would find a use for his power that elevates and enables others, that encourages and creates safety and comaraderie. I do not believe Mr Chief's hobby of slash and burn fits into this category.

• At November 6, 2007, TPain wrote:

  I find it interesting, and rather funny, that Mrs Chief has to come to the defense of Cheif Wahoo's manhood.

  Poor Chief, emasculated again.

• At November 6, 2007, Pat Campbell wrote:

  Faye,

  I am not aware of your husband's health status. It appeared the one time I met Bob that he is a survivor. Correct? It is not uncommon for a survivor to run for office or participate in government. Max Clelland comes to mind.

  Regards,

  Pat Campbell

• At November 6, 2007, Chief Wahoo wrote:

  I could learn to love the title "Petty Tyrant", but only if it is awarded for life, comes with a proper certificate (suitable for framing), and requires all of you lesser people to genuflect properly at my approach...

  

  Warm regards...

  Chief

• At November 7, 2007, Pat Campbell wrote:

  Bob,

  I hope things have settled down a little bit.

  I do feel I owe you an apology over any offense regarding your military service. All who serve in this way ultimately have agreed to sacrifice their lives if need be. This includes Genny's former husband and son, Arturo, you, and me.

  Sincerely,

  Pat

• At November 7, 2007, g. kortes, vancouver, WA wrote:

  My "former" husband and son have nothing to do with the original article. You guys really went off on a tangent, and I hope that's the end of it. :!:

the Gator way:

Andrew Meyer has addressed an apology letter to UF students, UF President Bernie Machen and Student Government for his “failure to act calmly” during a Sept. 17 forum with Sen. John Kerry.

In a letter released to the Alligator on Monday afternoon, Meyer wrote that he “stepped out of line” and felt he had tarnished UF’s image.

“For that again, I am truly sorry,” Meyer wrote.

You’d never guess that Meyer was the poster child for rent-a-cops run amok after he was tackled, tasered and arrested by University of Florida campus police for badgering John Kerry during a question-and-answer session.

The consequences of free speech have been draconian: Meyer was charged with a third-degree felony resisting arrest and second-degree disturbing the peace; he’s withdrawn from classes (at least until January); he’s accepted punishment for violating the Student Code of Conduct; and, he’s made a full confession of wrongdoing.

For what? From what I’ve seen of the arrest, the only thing that Meyer did was hector John Kerry, and then resist when his free speech rights were violated. In return for his free speech he was tackled and jolted with 50,000 volts, then cuffed and taken to jail.

If it were me, I’d be suing the ass off the school and the cops and the event organizers for false arrest, assault and wrongful imprisonment, and publicly asking John Kerry to demand that the school back off, apologize and drop all charges.

Meyer’s lawyer said that Meyer started drafting his groveling apology immediately after his release from jail; it reads like someone (his parents? Dean Wormer?) had his nuts in a noose:

In society, as in life, there are consequences for not following the rules. In this instance, not following the rules has imposed consequences for many people other than myself, people who have seen their school, and perhaps their degree, tarnished in the eyes of others through no fault of their own.

Resistance is futile.

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

2 Comments

• At October 30, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  My conjecture would be they are offering to drop charges or at least drop the felony charge if he publicly apologizes for his behavior.

  Felony convictions are hazardous to assimilation.

  Everyone now knows that the borg is still invincible and everyone will be assimilated.

  Otherwise it might look like resistance isn't futile.

• At October 30, 2007, slim wrote:

  I'm sure you're right, but it seems like he's got enough of a case to be on the offensive here, rather than stuck begging forgiveness of the cops/school that assaulted him. Somebody's giving him the squeeze...

Found at Open Left:

Thanks for standing up for our right to privacy.

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

1 Comments

• At October 24, 2007, Pat Campbell wrote:

  I think the era of affordable single family housing is over as wages effectively stagnate and family finances are stretched past the limit for a number of reasons - personal, social, and faulty marketing. The dense housing with community common space works overseas. I've seen it work well in South Korea.

  I believe this type of housing can be brought down to about $125,000 for the average family now. It would actually make better use of existing infrastructure and make mass transit pencil out better. The question is are we ready for it?

  Developers might try to put together a local project and see. A project would involve buying out an area perhaps with the lure of a family unit thrown in. Some of us are about ready to cash out our home, home maintenance, yard maintenance, extra vehicle and vehicle expenses ... and have more money and time for other pursuits.

  We simply cannot continue or afford sprawl. As it is. our homes are now an illiquid asset that few in the upcoming generation can afford.

As many of you know, Brian Baird usually is a guest on KPOJ AM620 on Tuesday mornings. This last Tuesday he spoke about the legislation to provide immunity to the telecoms for turning over phone records since BEFORE 911 to the NSA. Representative Baird’s interview begins at 15:40 in this segment with a discussion of SCHIP.

Download audio file (10-16-07_hr_1_POJ-cast.mp3)

It is not the telecoms fault. It is nobody’s fault. The government was just doing its job and the telecoms were just obeying its orders. Everyone go back to sleep now.

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

1 Comments

• At October 20, 2007, Rich wrote:

  My big reason against telecom immunity, and why progressives ought to fight against it, is if corporations were liable for what they do in this, they would resist these unwarranted erosions of our constitution. If they win their bid for immunity, they can simply cop to Baird's faulty argument that - to paraphrase him - "We were just following orders from the big, bad government". Corporations have the power, sadly enough, to write their own ticket and define the rules. There are providers that are saying no, and are probably under fire. Giant companies like AT & T could say no - and that would be the end of the argument - but instead bend over for Bushco.

  In some ways this reminds me of the pharmaceutical companies that managed to ram forward waiving liability with regard to immunization drugs in the Patriot Act.

…Canada Uses It To Ban Protesters From Entry

Two well-respected US peace activists, CODEPINK and Global Exchange cofounder Medea Benjamin and retired Colonel and diplomat Ann Wright, were denied entry into Canada On October third. The two women were headed to Toronto to discuss peace and security issues at the invitation of the Toronto Stop the War Coalition. At the Buffalo-Niagara Falls Bridge they were detained, questioned and denied entry.

“In my case, the border guard pulled up a file showing that I had been arrested at the US Mission to the UN where, on International Women’s Day, a group of us had tried to deliver a peace petition signed by 152,000 women around the world,” says Benjamin. “For this, the Canadians labeled me a criminal and refused to allow me in the country.”

“The FBI’s placing of peace activists on an international criminal database is blatant political intimidation of US citizens opposed to Bush administration policies,” says Colonel Wright, who was also Deputy US Ambassador in four countries. “The Canadian government should certainly not accept this FBI database as the criteria for entering the country.” Both Wright and Benjamin plan to request their files from the FBI through the Freedom of Information Act and demand that arrests for peaceful, non-violent actions be expunged from international records. “It’s outrageous that Canada is turning away peacemakers protesting a war that does not have the support of either US or Canadian citizens,” says Benjamin.

“In the past, Canada has always welcomed peace activists with open arms. This new policy, obviously a creature of the Bush administration, is shocking and we in the US and Canada must insist that it be overturned. Four members of the Canadian Parliament–Peggy Nash, Libby Davies, Paul Dewar and Peter Julian– expressed outrage that the peace activists were barred from Canada and vow to change this policy.

Ann Wright told OpEdNews that this was the second time the two Code Pink activists had been turned away from the border, the first event ocurring on August 19th.

Wright explained, “We decided to go to Canadian border to push the envelope to see if the Canadian Gov would not let us into Canada again until we had been “criminally rehabilitated.”

Read entire article.

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

1 Comments

• At October 8, 2007, g. kortes, vancouver, WA wrote:

  This is an outrage! Both because it should NOT happen and because it has not appeared in the news publications.

  I have met both Wright and Benjamin in Portland and Crawford, TX. They are strong women leaders in the peace movement.

  Thank you for having this web site for news we might not have known.

  This list against our people must stop. Our country limits our rights of travel. Unthinkable.

Looks like the Senate IS going to have an “admonishment of the week” as I recommended in an earlier post (jokingly). This week it is Limbaugh.

Please don’t watch this whole video. I only watched the first 30 seconds. It doesn’t merit your time.

Never mind that the Senate is about to give Bush another $200 billion for Iraq.

I give up. The children are in charge.

Coming up…

Congressional admonishment for 10/09/2007: How can anyone listen to America hater Mike Malloy. -Senator John Cornyn

Congressional admonishment for 10/16/2007: Why Ann Coulter is a traitor. -Senator Harry Reid

Consult your C-span schedule for further listings (or Comedy Central for more lambasting).

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

This is disgusting!

Let’s have an “Admonishment of the Week” vote every Thursday in Congress. That will give them something to do since nothing else they do amounts to anything anyway. And then the media will have something new every week to spin to make the D.C. politicians all look good. This is a perfect plan for us all.

Don’t you worry about occupying Iraq or bombing Iran. This will keep us all entertained and preoccupied. If not, you can always try American Idol.

PS: Maybe this will help Congress get their approval ratings into the single digits. (Not to mean they give a hoot about those silly poll ratings).

From Senator Robert Menendez:

That’s why everyday, in everything we do, we should keep in our minds that 130,000 sons and daughters of America remain in the crossfire, with no prospects for coming home. That our military continues to be stretched thin to the point that it can’t adequately respond to other threats that may arise. That our national guard remains overused and overburdened to the point that it can’t properly respond to disasters here in the homeland.

That the terror training ground in Iraq remains fertile, and one day those trainees could be on our soil. That Osama bin Laden is back in business and continues to roam free in a safe zone along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

That thousands upon thousands of Americans fighting in Iraq won’t be sitting at the table this Thanksgiving… or the next one. And that some won’t see another Thanksgiving, period.

Guess Who Else Likes to Attack The Honor and Integrity of War Generals?

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

1 Comments

• At October 17, 2007, Chief Wahoo wrote:

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72 Senators need to be replaced or admonished.

To express the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.

YEAs —72
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Roberts (R-KS)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)

They condemn the well deserved “personal attacks” against Patraeus and spin it into impuning the entire military. I condemn and hold in contempt the above Senators for trying to squelch dissent, wasting the Senate’s time on matters that are none of its business and ignoring their obligation to end the Iraq occupation and prosecute those responsible.

Here is a MoveOn.org petition you can sign and let the above disgraceful politicians know what you think about them.

You know, I never much cared for MoveOn until this happened. Now they have my support 100%. This is the same thing that the Bush crime family has done for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. By ridiculing and threatening him, they have enhanced his power among his people.

Post from: Democracy for Vancouver

10 Comments

• At September 21, 2007, Allen wrote:

  While I deplore personal attacks on any person, when an individual becomes a public figure, it is a different story.

  Congress was not given the Generals own version of Iraq, he was quoting the White House take of it, as the Bush Admin. mentioned it first.

  More and more free speech is being taken away from the American people. Just like the idiot at Kerry's speech getting tazered. Seems like some people who are elected to positions can't take the heat, therefore do their best to shut down dissent, won't let people vote on how their tax money is spent, etc. We have seen this here in Vancouver several times, last one was the Port district trying to raise taxes.

• At September 21, 2007, John Edwards wrote:

  Odd, isn't it, that you would so vociferously defend moveon.org's right to free speech while simultaneously condemning the right to free speech of the 72 senators in question.

  So, if I'm not mistaken, in your bizarro world, moveon.org may feel free to express any opinion they so desire, but the United States Senate is not so privileged?

  Good God. You people are such unmitigated hypocrites.

• At September 21, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  [quote post="856"]but the United States Senate is not so privileged?[/quote]

  I did not say the Senators are "not so privileged". I expressed may contempt for them wasting their time on unimportant matters and, because they are supposedly "leaders", helping to squelch dissent which is patriotic and what this country is founded upon.

  I would appreciate not twisting my words.

• At September 21, 2007, John Edwards wrote:

  That's a crock, BT.

  When you call for the "replacement" of 72 Senators engaging in PRECISELY the same thing moveon.org did; namely, expressing an opinion; you are, effectively, denying the Senate the same right you defend for moveon.org.

  If "wasting their time" were the criteria for such nonsense, then certainly you would make the same demand every time Reid engaged in stupidity trying to get bills passed for purely political reasons that have exactly ZERO chance of passing... like last weeks idiocy over troop rest periods between tours.

  But you see, you only get pissed when it's a "waste of time" that YOU don't agree with. "Wastes of time" that further the leftist agenda are, well, just swell with you.

  moveon.org has viciously attacked anyone they disagree with. They've done it in the past; they'll do it in the future. "Squelch dissent?" Exactly how does the senate expressing an opinion "squelch" ANYTHING?

  If ANYTHING, your bizarre demand that the Senators who voted in the affirmative on this bill has a far more chilling effect on free speech and dissent then anything the Senate did.

  I'm not twisting a damned thing, and both you and moveon.org are engaging in rank hypocrisy that will avail you nothing.

  Typically, when you're in a hole, the best course of action is to stop digging. Tossing more shovels into the hole won't get you anywhere.

• At September 21, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  Cindy Sheehan has a post on this subject today.

• At September 21, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  Olbermann to Bush: 'Your hypocrisy is so vast'

  A reaction to Thursday's press conference: the president was the one who interjected Gen. Petraeus into the political dialogue in the first place

  SPECIAL COMMENT

  By Keith Olbermann

  Anchor, 'Countdown'

  Updated: 6:59 p.m. PT Sept 20, 2007

  So the President, behaving a little bit more than usual, like we would all interrupt him while he was watching his favorite cartoons on the DVR, stepped before the press conference microphone and after side-stepping most of the substantive issues like the Israeli raid on Syria, in condescending and infuriating fashion, produced a big political finish that indicates, certainly, that if it wasn't already – the annual Republican witch-hunting season is underway.

  I thought the ad was disgusting. I felt like the ad was an attack not only on General Petraeus, but on the U.S. Military.'

  And I was disappointed that not more leaders in the Democrat party spoke out strongly against that kind of ad.

  And that leads me to come to this conclusion: that most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like Moveon.org or more afraid of irritating them, than they are of irritating the United States military.'

  That was a sorry deal.'

  First off, it's Democrat-ic' party.

  You keep pretending you're not a politician, so stop using words your party made up. Show a little respect.

  Secondly, you could say this seriously after the advertising/mugging of Senator Max Cleland? After the swift-boating of John Kerry?

  But most importantly, making that the last question?

  So that there was no chance at a follow-up?

  So nobody could point out, as Chris Matthews so incisively did, a week ago tonight, that you were the one who inappropriately interjected General Petraeus into the political dialogue of this nation in the first place!

  Deliberately, premeditatedly, and virtually without precedent, you shanghaied a military man as your personal spokesman and now you're complaining about the outcome, and then running away from the microphone?

  Eleven months ago the President's own party, the Republican National Committee, introduced this very different kind of advertisement, just nineteen days before the mid-term elections.

  Bin Laden.

  Al-Zawahiri's rumored quote of six years ago about having bought suitcase bombs.'

  All set against a ticking clock, and finally a blinding explosion and the dire announcement:

  These are the stakes - vote, November 7th.'

  That one was ok, Mr. Bush?

  Terrorizing your own people in hopes of getting them to vote for your own party has never brought as much as a public comment from you?

  The Republican Hamstringing of Captain Max Cleland and lying about Lieutenant John Kerry met with your approval?

  But a shot at General Petraeus, about whom you conveniently ignore it, was you who reduced him from four-star hero to a political hack, merits this pissy juvenile blast at the Democrats on national television?

  Your hypocrisy is so vast that if we could somehow use it to fill the ranks in Iraq you could realize your dream and keep us fighting there until the year 3000.

  The line between the military and the civilian government is not to be crossed.

  When Douglas MacArthur attempted to make policy for the United States in Korea half a century ago, President Truman moved quickly to fire him, even though Truman knew it meant his own political suicide, and the deification of a General who history suggests had begun to lose his mind.

  When George McClellan tried to make policy for the Union in the Civil War, President Lincoln finally fired his chief General, even though he knew McClellan could galvanize political opposition which he did when McClellan ran as Lincoln's presidential opponent in 1864, nearly defeating our greatest president.

  Even when the conduit flowed the other way and Senator Joseph McCarthy tried to smear the Army because it wouldn't defer the service of one of McCarthy's staff aides, the entire civilian and Defense Department structures, after four years of fearful servitude, rose up against McCarthy and said enough' and buried him.

  The list is not endless but it is instructive.

  Air Force General LeMay—who broke with Kennedy over the Cuban Missile Crisis and was retired.

  Army General Edwin Anderson Walker—who started passing out John Birch Society leaflets to his soldiers.

  Marine General Smedley Butler—who revealed to Congress the makings of a plot to remove FDR as President and for merely being approached by the plotters, was phased out of the military hierarchy.

  These careers were ended because the line between the military and the civilian is not to be crossed!

  Mr. Bush, you had no right to order General Petraeus to become your front man.

  And he obviously should have refused that order and resigned rather than ruin his military career.

  The upshot is and contrary it is, to the MoveOn advertisement he betrayed himself more than he did us.

  But there has been in his actions a sort of reflexive courage, some twisted vision of duty at a time of crisis. That the man doesn't understand that serving officers cannot double as serving political ops, is not so much his fault as it is your good, exploitable, fortune.

  But Mr. Bush, you have hidden behind the General's skirts, and today you have hidden behind the skirts of 'the planted last question' at a news conference, to indicate once again that your presidency has been about the tilted playing field, about no rules for your party in terms of character assassination and changing the fabric of our nation, and no right for your opponents or critics to as much as respond.

  That is not only un-American but it is dictatorial.

  And in pimping General David Petraeus and in the violation of everything this country has been assiduously and vigilantly against for 220 years, you have tried to blur the gleaming radioactive demarcation between the military and the political, and to portray your party as the one associated with the military, and your opponents as the ones somehow antithetical to it.

  You did it again today and you need to know how history will judge the line you just crossed.

  It is a line thankfully only the first of a series that makes the military political, and the political, military.

  It is a line which history shows is always the first one crossed when a democratic government in some other country has started down the long, slippery, suicidal slope towards a Military Junta.

  Get back behind that line, Mr. Bush, before some of your supporters mistake your dangerous transgression, for a call to further politicize our military.

  © 2007 MSNBC Interactive

  URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20896378/

• At September 21, 2007, Allen wrote:

  John Edwards,

  Not everyone has short memories. Moveon.org learned from the SwiftBoaters. REMEMBER THEM? A lot of people do remember.

  But it sounds like in your world, it was OK to swiftboat someone, but when it comes back at you, you guys cry like little babies. So touching.

• At September 22, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  And another article about Senators who don't deserve their titles.

• At September 22, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  And yet another from Jeff Cohen.

  This story just won't die but I bet most of the Senate wishes it would. No, no, wrong, this is a good diversion from having to do anything with meaning and substance like ending our illegal occupation of a foreign country.

• At September 24, 2007, bushtool wrote:

  Interesting take here about what really riled the Dems about the MoveOn ad.

  I love this quote from the article:

  Democrats, as my crusty old country uncle used to say, don't know whether to shit or go blind -- so they walk around all day with one-eye closed farting.'