January 30, 2007
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TUESDAY POLITICS
Blah
blah blah. I have to confess I’ve been in a grumpy mood since about 5
minutes after the elections were over and the celebratants began to
behave in the business as usual manner. I keep flipping through the
cable news channels looking for actual news, not endless discussion.
We’ve had that for how many years now? I did happen to catch a few
moments of Jane Fonda speaking for the first time in 34 years at a
rally this past weekend in Washington, with the familiar contingent
from Hollywood behind her waiting their turn (Sarandon, Robbins, Penn,
etc.). And of course the next day heard the usual dissing of anything
“they” might have to say by the conservative newsfolks. So according to
this article
in the New York Times today the Senate Judiciary Committee is growing
increasingly pissed and a couple of proposals will hit the Senate floor
next week. For one, Russell Feingold, ever reliable, will introduce a
resolution ending all financing for deployment in Iraq after six months
and withdrawal of all forces. And apparently there is a precedent with
the Vietnam War of Congress cutting off financing to end it, and
various legal experts were present to say that can be done today. And
over this is the shadow of Iran and the increasing likelihood that this
is where Bush intends to go next with his killing machine. I see
individual citizens (like the Iraq Veterans Against the War) speaking
out clearly and loudly and repeatedly for immediate withdrawal, I see a
few individual politicians speaking out a few rungs down in decibel and
caution, and as for the rest of All of Them in Both Parties, it’s
pretty much blah blah blah.
Deep Thought: “I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and thinks, yes, you can talk, but listen to yourself!”
Today I am grateful for: The occasional good night’s sleep
Guess the Movie: “Don’t ever hit your mother with a shovel. It will leave a dull impression on her mind.” Answer: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Winner: eneventure.
DC Marchers Challenge Congress to End War
by John Nichols
Actor
Sean Penn summed up the new energy — and the new focus — of the
anti-war movement Saturday, when he turned George Bush’s own words
against the president.
Just hours after the president had again
reasserted his false claim to authority to pursue a war that is not
wanted by the American people or the Congress, Penn told anti-war
demonstrators gathered in Washington that Bush would be wise to review
the Constitution.
“In a democracy,” the actor told the cheering
crowd, which organizers said numbered in the hundreds of thousands, “we
are the deciders.” (Rest of article here.)
Comments (26)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
I need to see that again.
It’s about time someone spoke up and something got done….
Butch Cassidy and the SK – you nailed it!
Its going to get more interesting i think…I hope too its going to be about change..but i am a born optomist.
It will take some time for the Democrats to begin to feel confidence. US politics have slid so far to the right in the past 30 years it is scary, and politicians are rarely bold with small minorities. This is especially true in the Senate where the majority is made up of one guy post-stroke and still and the hospital, and Joe “GWB’s Favorite Senator” Lieberman. If the US worked like other democracies, and the opposition picked their leader right after the last election, there would be a clear voice, but the US is “plebesceterial” in nature, working more like an elected imperial system (the early Holy Roman Empire) than a truly democratic system. It’s an essential constitutional flaw.
*shaking head*
it has become very hard for me to follow politics & the news…
such a load of crap…
and i’m not sure if we can figure out how to swim out of it!
I’m still hopeful, but it gets harder all the time.
Politics has become very disturbing lately. I can’t seem to find my footing, as my views are neither at one extreme or the other… and most of what I see is clinging to opposing edges so I end up agreeing with no one.
I am about in the spot of Let Me Go Too, we seem to be hounded by extremists from both sides.
I have to say one of the great strengths of bloging is that it has given ordinary people confidence in their own opinions, as a result of the communities that have sprung up around blogging. Like xanga for example.
We’ve all learned to trust our opinions, and that our opinions are just as informed (if not more informed!!!) than some of our elected “leaders.”
I keep myself distanced… I know it is probably wrong to do so, but it saves my sanity. I can’t handle the loss of so many… sends into a spiral of grief.
Love the movie quote!! Too funny!
ryc: No, actually not. I found the term this summer in a seminar where we were battling over the relative merits of Presidential v. Parliamentary systems and two-party systems v. multi-party, and yes, it seems to date back to Napoleon III and the “imperial executive.” Because, honestly, though they both might have the title, no one in Germany or the UK would ever call Angela Merkel or Tony Blair “The Commander in Chief,” and neither would ever say “I’m the decider” or even, really, “The Buck Stops Here.” Because power is essentially legislative. In the US, since Lincoln surely (which matches up time-wise with Napoleon III), there has been this sense of the “I can do anything during my term” President – a winner take all mentality not found in European multi-party democracies. “Plebescetarial.”
Jane Fonda got a rough deal when she spoke out about the Vietnam War. She was very vocal – and in some instances, insensitive. But it was war – and her heart was in the right place (even if her words were not). She apologized a few years back on 20/20, but who knows, really, what impact she had on the Vietnam War – or the perception of the Vietnam War? Is Cindy Sheehan much different? I’m hopeful, but each day it gets harder and harder to remain hopeful. This government is wearing me down.
Russell Feingold is a beacon of light and there are a handful of others. But; overall, I am disappointed with the Dems! Americans put alot of faith in the Dems in November’s elections….but; this right/left wing thing is gonna be their downfall….this country is in dire need of a third party! I feel it was unfortunate that The Green Party essentially lost the election for Al Gore. But; at the same time, maybe we need more radical voices! Too much the same old same old!
I kinda hate being on the same side as Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and the rest of that crowd. But I guess I am.
I LIKE being on the same side as you. And I guess I am.
The point I’m making is that I dislike famous people using their fame to comment on issues that they’re no more qualified to comment on than I am.
Circumstances have turned me more liberal, and more antiwar, than I used to be.
They did cut off funding for the Vietnam war, but we already had 99% of the troops out, so it was almost symbolic. But they can do it if they want to. Always liked Jane. She went overboard and got her foot in her mouth in North Viet Nam, but always loved her as an actress and admire her for coming forward on this one in spite of the ridicule she’ll get.
RYC: I’ve had that thought about Bin Laden, too. Scary. What would that say about GWB? Little tyrant.
I could scream over politics.
RYC: Thanks for the comment. Yes, the 12 step has done much for me, along with therapy and medications. The “We” of the program is, for me, a great strength.
blah blah blah
Same ole’ same ole’
What did you expect? Some things never change.
RYC: His full name is Defecto the Wondercat. Which is absolutely priceless to hear my 3 yr old cry at the top of his lungs.
I was in a greenhouse at the botanical gardens.
I cheated on winter. hahahahahahaha
A good night’s sleep is wonderful and I have no idea what movie the quote was from…..
RYC: I gave up on the fireplace. Suburban Propane will just have to come and light the pilot light for me. ::sigh:: No fireplace until Monday.
*sparkle
I’m actually the President of the DRAFT JANE FONDA FOR PRESIDENT campaign. I think she’s articulate and smart, and has the temperate we need in the oval office.
Just stopping by to say I hope your week is kicking off well
Seeing Fonda, Sarandon, and Penn was nice. Seeing John Conyers, Dennis Kucinich and Maxine Waters was very nice. It’s a shame, though. Where were Edwards and Obama? Clinton and Feingold? Dodd and Biden? Vilsack and Richardson?