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Stop $33.5 Billion for War Escalation
UPDATE 5/27 5:00 pm: House Appropriations Committee Hearing Postponed. (Now let's change postponed to canceled!)
UPDATE 5/27 12:30 pm: Ray McGovern asks David Obey to Listen to David Obey, and Obey plans to include the schools money, which may mean Republicans vote No, which would mean we only need 40 Democrats.
UPDATE 5/27 12:30 pm: Rep Barbara Lee Will Bring Amendment to Block War Escalation Funding, and Rep. Chellie Pingress Asks Pelosi for a Clean Vote on the War Funding
UPDATE 5/27 11:30 am: Senate now voting overwhelmingly against requesting a non-specified non-binding timetable for eventually leaving Afghanistan.
UPDATE: House Appropriations Committee mark-up starts at 5 p.m. and may run late, Thursday, in room 2359 Rayburn House Office Building: webcast.
The Senate is voting now, the House Appropriations committee tomorrow, and the full House after June 7. This means we need to be phoning senators today. But the House remains our best chance. So call these members of the Appropriations Committee now. And call your own representative this week, and plan to meet them in person next week.
House Appropriations Committee Members to Call:
Chairman David Obey (202) 225-3365
Sam Farr, California (202) 225-2861
Michael Honda, California (202) 225-2631
Marcy Kaptur, Ohio (202) 225-4146
Barbara Lee, California (202) 225-2661
José E. Serrano, New York (202) 225-4361
How to reach your representative and your two senators:
Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Keep track of where your representative stands at
http://defundwar.org
photo by James Nord
What to say:
If you do not try to block the war escalation funding, I will try to block your reelection in November. If you support peace, I will support you. Please commit publicly to voting No, no matter what nice things that could be passed separately are packaged into the same vote. Please join the 58 congressional candidates from every political party who have signed a statement against war spending at http://caws.us. Also ask them to support the War Is Making You Poor Act, and support it yourself.
Draft version of the bill: PDF.
Congressional Candidates Opposing War Spending Now Include Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and Socialists
Fifty-eight congressional candidates and 20 activist organizations are opposing any more funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and inviting more candidates, incumbents, and organizations to join them. The 58 candidates, from 25 different states, include 19 Democrats, 18 Greens, 17 Libertarians, 2 Independents, 1 Republican, and 1 Socialist (and more may be added to the website by the time you read this). Forty-nine are candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, and nine for the Senate.
UPDATE: Here's where Senator Coburn's opposition stands. And education funding is out, possibly because the House needs Republicans to pass the war escalation money.
Republican, Socialist Join Opposition to War Funding
Congressional Candidates Opposing War Spending Now Include Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and Socialists
Fifty-eight congressional candidates and 20 activist organizations are opposing any more funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and inviting more candidates, incumbents, and organizations to join them. The 58 candidates, from 25 different states, include 19 Democrats, 18 Greens, 17 Libertarians, 2 Independents, 1 Republican, and 1 Socialist (and more may be added to the website by the time you read this). Forty-nine are candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, and nine for the Senate.
They do not all agree with each other on many topics, including their reasons for opposing war spending. But they all back this short statement:
Jim Dean's Sorta Kinda Support for Marcy Winograd
By David Swanson
Progressive organizations set up to promote and fund progressive congressional candidates tend, as a rule, not to do so. Candidates like the Democrats and Greens listed here tend not to get support. Candidates like Joe Sestak and Bill Halter attract the lion's share of progressive backing, not because they could pass any progressive platform test (they couldn't), but because of the awfulness of the incumbents they are opposing. Give it a few years, and perhaps the awfulness of Sestak and Halter will lead to a "progressive" focus on replacing them.
Tell Senate Judiciary Committee to Find Out If Kagan Will Expand or Curtail Executive Abuses
Whether the nominee’s views as a justice would reflect the positions she has taken as a solicitor general is admittedly unclear. Indeed, the roles of senior Justice Department officials and Supreme Court justices hold little in common.
House May Not Vote on War Escalation Funds Until After June 7
But Chairman David Obey's House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to address it on Thursday. These five members of that committee voted No on war money last June:
Sam Farr, California
Michael Honda, California
Marcy Kaptur, Ohio
Barbara Lee, California
José E. Serrano, New York
The "Reduce Unnecessary Spending Act" Is an Act, and Worse: A Power-Grab
Here's a way for presidents to more tightly control another central duty of Congress: spending, while the easiest way to reduce the most unnecessary spending would be to END THE WARS.
Fear, War, Greed, Disaster, and Journalism
By David Swanson
The Independent Film Channel is airing a series of four programs this week that illustrate the kind of media we need in this country. The four programs, titled "Fear," "War," "Greed," and "Disaster," feature the reporting of four independent unembedded journalists: Max Blumenthal, Nir Rosen, Charlie LeDuff, and Andrew Berends. The 30-minute episodes premiere Monday, May 24 through Thursday, May 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
50 Congressional Candidates Oppose War Spending
Forty-six Fifty congressional candidates and 17 activist organizations released a statement on Monday opposing any more funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and inviting more candidates, incumbents, and organizations to sign on. The 46 candidates include 16 Libertarians, 15 Democrats, 14 Greens, 1 Independent, and thus far 0 Republicans (and more may be added to the website by the time you read this). Forty-two are candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, and four for the Senate. They do not all agree with each other on many topics, including their reasons for opposing war spending. But they all back this short statement:
Obama Lies to West Point Graduates
Obama today:
For many years, our focus was on Iraq. And year after year, our troops faced a set of challenges there that were as daunting as they were complex. A lesser Army might have seen its spirit broken. But the American military is more resilient than that. Our troops adapted, they persisted, they partnered with coalition and Iraqi counterparts, and through their competence and creativity and courage, we are poised to end our combat mission in Iraq this summer.
The Bush-Maliki agreement required being out of all localities by LAST summer. The Obama campaign promised to be out of the country by NOW. Removing all but 50,000 troops by this summer, if he does it, will be progress, but it will not be an end to combat. That will depend on what those remaining 50,000 troops DO.
Lipstick Excuse Already in Play for War Escalation Funding
By David Swanson
Even congress members who voted against the war supplemental in June 2009 are refusing to say they'll vote against an escalation supplemental in the coming days. Some of them, in fact, such as Jerrold Nadler and Chellie Pingree have told me that they will vote No if it's a stand-alone vote, but might very well vote yes if lots of other stuff is packed into the same bill.
Morally, this is like a cop telling you that murder will be allowed if you also do some good community service.
Strategically, this is like playing poker with your hand turned around to display all your cards.
Pingree says the war makes us all less safe, but she won't commit to not voting to fund it.
Here's what Pingree's office just sent me: "Congresswoman Pingree has urged leadership to give Members a clean vote on a supplemental---and in that situation she would definitely vote against additional funding for the war in Afghanistan."
$5 Friday: No More Victims
For today's $5 Friday, I've given $5 to http://nomorevictims.org
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No More Victims works to obtain medical sponsorships for war-injured Iraqi children and to forge ties between the children, their families and communities in the United States. We believe one of the most effective means of combating militarism is to focus on direct relief to its victims. If you want to learn more about how your community can become involved, send an email to No More Victims. |
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Baby You Can Drive My Oil Spill
Asked the earth what it wanted to be
It said baby, can't you see
I wanna be dirty, with oceans of oil
Stick in your toes and feel them boil
Drill Baby Drill my gas
Yes the fish are dying fast
Drill Baby Drill my gas
And BP will love you
BP 'm BP yeah
I told the earth that her prospects weren't good
she said baby, it's understood
I may be reaching the end of the line
But the BP executives are living fine
Drill Baby Drill my gas
Yes the fish are dying fast
Drill Baby Drill my gas
And BP will love you
BP 'm BP yeah
Drill Baby Drill my gas
Yes the fish are dying fast
Drill Baby Drill my gas
And BP will love you
I told the earth I can start here today
Clean up this mess and lock those bastards away
There're no more fish and it's breaking my heart
But BP's in trouble now and that's a start
Drill Baby Drill my gas
Yes the fish are dying fast
Drill Baby Drill my gas
And BP will love you
BP 'm BP yeah
BP 'm BP yeah
BP 'm BP yeah
BP 'm BP yeah
Machobama Man
Bombing...wanna feel my bombing?
Bombing...such a thrill my bombing
Bombing...wanna touch my bombing?
Bombing...it's too much my bombing
Check it out my bombing, bombing.
Don't you doubt my bombing, bombing.
talkin' bout my bombing, bombing,
check it out my bombing
Every man wants to be a machobama man
to have the kind of bombing, always in demand
Missiles in the mornings, go drones go
blasting people with a joystick, muscles glow
You can best believe that, he's machobama man
ready to get down with, any neocon he can
Kill! Kill! Kill, kill, kill!
Machobama man
I've got to be machobama man
Machobama man
I've got to be machobama man! Ow....
Machobama man
I've got to be machobama man
Machobama man (yeah, yeah)
I've got to be machobama!
Bombing, its so hot, my bombing,
Bombing, laws can't stop my bombing,
Bombing, made to please my bombing,
Bombing, don't you tease my bombing,
US military admits it now kills people because capturing and torturing them is too much trouble
Can't get much worse than a society that lies back and takes this.
Will Dems Use Republicans to Help Pass War Escalation, and Still Pass Everything Else on Their Own?
"Our Hill sources are saying that the leadership is weighing splitting the bill into two parts, one with the war funding and another with the other stuff. The war funding would pass, with the entire Republicans caucus and some Democrats voting for it. The add-ons would pass with almost all Democrats voting yes and no GOP support whatsoever."
That's the word from Foreign Policy which may, however, have simply pulled that out of its assigment desk, given that those sentences were preceded by this delusion: "100 or so anti-war Democrats will always vote against war spending." Like last June, right?
Here's where the money for this "temporary" war will go.
Here's why it's pissing us off.
Pakistanis and Americans Protest U.S. Drones
Pakistanis march against US attacks
Scores of Pakistanis in the volatile city of Peshawar have flooded the streets to protest against the recent wave of US drone attacks.
Protestors reportedly torched an effigy of US President Barack Obama during the Sunday demonstrations to condemn stepped-up attacks by unmanned US drones in tribal areas of Pakistan.
More from Press TV
NO Drones Vigil at CEO’s home in La Jolla
CODEPINK held a somber vigil outside of the home of General Atomics CEO James Neal Blue this morning in La Jolla, California. Members of the women’s peace group arrived at 10AM to find several news vans and police cars waiting for them. Unfurling banners that read, “Drone Attacks = Terror,” the three protesters set up a small altar with roses and candles to commemorate the children killed in drone attacks.
General Atomics manufactures the Predator and Reaper Drones, the only armed UAV’s made in the US. Though touted as high-tech and life-saving precision weapons, at least 30% of the deaths caused by drone strikes are civilians, with some human rights groups estimating even higher numbers. All the while costing US taxpayers $4 million to $12 million for each plane during a time when domestic needs are desperately under-funded.
More from Code Pink
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Virginia planning an execution May 20
Bad and getting worse --- the spill hits the Florida Keys
Obama cool toward 'mid-size states' deal
Operation Humiliate Now a Huge Success!
"Taking Back Homes from the Banks: Exercising the Human Right to Housing," by Bill Quigley
Could Another Bybee Memo Help Preserve Arizona Immigration Law?
The Rahm Emanuel Side Of Obama Cynically Pits Teachers Against Troops
We may all be forced finally to understand what Net Neutrality is -- after we lose it
Pakistani “Cooperation” on Faisal Shahzad
How Monica Lewinsky Saved Social Security: Clinton, Gingrich, Bowles and “The Pact”
War Still Going, for Reasons No One Understands
UK Iraq inquiry to question officials in US
(AP) LONDON — Britain's Iraq war inquiry panel says it is holding meetings in the United States this week as it continues to investigate the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
The panel is examining the case made for the war and errors in planning for post-conflict reconstruction — but it won't apportion blame or establish criminal or civil liability.
Britain's Cabinet Office said Tuesday the panel has arrived for five days of talks in Washington and Boston, but would not disclose in advance the identity of individuals meeting with the team.
It said that the panel visited France on May 4 to question ex-French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and others.
Hearings in London began in November and have seen ex-prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown testify.
We Can Stop the War Funding in the House or the Senate, And We Only Need One or the Other
It looks like the Republicans will vote against the war supplemental, and filibuster it.
Last June in the House, in this situation, we needed 39 Democrats to vote No and got 32. Now this is no longer war funding but escalation funding, and of a less popular war, and with a president who's lost that new car smell, and with the economy in the toilet, and importantly with the experience of last june under our belts. Plus we can get Blue Dogs to vote No too, because of all the spending included. We can stop this bill if we all work together.
Senator Coburn Will Filibuster War Bill Unless Paid For
By David Swanson
Senator Tom Coburn, a Republican from Oklahoma, is committed to opposing a supplemental spending bill that includes $33.5 billion to escalate war in Afghanistan, unless the funds to pay for it are found.
On May 10th Senator Coburn wrote to his colleagues asking for their support for an amendment that would offset the new spending in this bill with cuts elsewhere. I spoke on Monday with Senator Coburn's communications director John Hart who assured me that Coburn intends to oppose the supplemental spending bill unless such an amendment is passed.
Liveblog: New America Foundation Forum With Matthew Hoh, Paul Pillar, et al
8:30 starts at 9, people filling into the Pavilion Room in the Ronald R----n building (family friendly blog, no bad words)
On the Agenda:
9:00 a.m. James K. Galbraith, Economists for Peace and Security (which is cosponsor of this event)
9:15-10:45 a.m. (but I have to leave by 10:15) "Unnecessary and Counterproductive" (about covers it, just leaves out murderous and immoral and illegal and costly)
Michael Lind
Paul Pillar
Matthew Hoh
Hillary Mann Leverett
Steve Clemons (thanks to whom for putting this together)
Tom Andrews (who will likely push Rep. McGovern's nonbinding unspecified timetable bill even as they vote on another $33 billion in that domed building down the street)
Getting Smart About Stupid Communication
By David Swanson
Reducing political discourse to advertising slogans loses almost everything of value. Without lengthy books that develop complex ideas, we'd be so lost we'd never produce a worthwhile bumper sticker. The notion that facts don't matter because only emotional appeals to "values" sway anyone is an absurd and arrogant over-simplification. And, yet, something is gained, as well, in producing powerful and catchy imagery and slogans that at least disrupt the way people think about things. Rewriting "Columbus discovered America" as "Columbus invaded America" does alter the entire story. The image of tiny activist boats going up against enormous whaling ships does reverse the imagery of heroic sailors battling a leviathan. "Support the troops, bring them home," is a useful slogan.
As Long as We're Denying Miranda Warnings, and We're Free to Just Murder People, Surely We Can Delay Any Judicial Hearings Too?
Oh you betcha: more change you have to believe to see.
If Republicans Oppose War Escalation Because Funding for Teachers Included, Only 40 Democrats Will Be Needed to Kill It
Remember that in June we only needed 40 Democrats to block the war funding in the House, because all the Republicans voted no, due to the inclusion of bailouts for European bankers (which the Republicans mistook for something offensively useful). Now it looks like the same drama could play out, with funds for teachers in U.S. schools playing the role of banker bailouts. Here's what Boehner has to say. Read that whole thing, and you'll see that there's even the possibility that the Republicans could try to block the funding of any federal worker who watches pornography, which I think would be a lovely way to end the war. The right wingers will notice the financial cost right on queue if there's a danger that someone might get a better education than they did. They will NOT stand for funding teachers, which just might help us refrain from funding the escalation of a war.
