I have to share this, because it’s cathartic…

I’ll be entirely out of the loop for the week. My husband’s car died on Friday, so he needs a ride tomorrow.

Tuesday is medical fun day, getting my evil shoulder from hell injected – which of course will take longer than for most people, because I seem to have a knack for weird anatomy.

The rest of the week is going to involve becoming nomadic – because the septic intake and outflow pipes at the house we’re renting have frozen, so water can no longer leave the house or the septic tank.

But wait! There’s more! The best part is below the fold…

Unfortunately, since the water can’t flow out, it flows down … into the one drain below all the others: the one that ordinarily drains the washing machine.

The washing machine is now full of raw sewage.

This, of course, is the washing machine we had to buy last week because the one that came with the house died, flooding the basement.

The owners of the house will have to get someone to locate, dig up, and drain the septic tank and clear the ice out of the pipes to the house and the leach field, but we’re not hanging around in a waterless house full of stinking sewage for that to happen.

So we’re scrambling for someplace to stay tomorrow night (it has to be local due to Tuesday’s fun). We’ll stay at a hotel with a pool on Tuesday (‘cuz my shoulder will want to float – unless I’m curled up in a ball wishing I didn’t exist), then spend the rest of the week at my dad’s house, driving hubby home on Saturday, hopefully moving back into our own teeny cabin over the weekend (yes, the one we didn’t want to be in for the winter, because its pipes like to freeze – talk about irony).

This assumes we can get our dead plow truck plowed out by a neighbor and towed away to some lovely little dead-plow retirement farm. Otherwise we can’t really get to our cabin. Though, maybe if we buy snowshoes…

Oh, did I mention my new (to me) car got stuck in the driveway this week, needing to be winched out, breaking the front air dam in the process?

You know, if I weren’t living my life, I’d think it was fiction…

Mark Levine, former Counsel in the House of Representatives:

The hard work began here in Vermont. There is more work to be done.

Toward the end of this 7 minute video, Mr. Levine tells us what our part is.  

We’ve all seen cartoon scenes similar to the following:

A character takes an object of frustration, smashes it on the ground, and jumps all over it.

That’s what a recent Presidential Executive Order does to the separation of powers.

I don’t know if this has been covered in any depth, but I haven’t seen any major dissection of it, so I thought I’d post.

On January 29, 2008, President Bush issued an innocuously-named Executive order. He seems to be a man of few talents, but he has raised the naming of bills with innocuous sounding names to high art. Like a master magician’s sleight-of-hand, this administration’s sleight-of-word is phenomenal.

Follow me below the fold to learn how he turned a reduction in spending into the end of Government oversight with nothing more than his magician’s pen…

First, here’s the executive order. Its name says it’s supposed to save us money. What it does, however, is save us from democracy.

It’s long, so feel free to scroll…

Protecting American Taxpayers From Government Spending on Wasteful Earmarks

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the Federal Government to be judicious in the expenditure of taxpayer dollars. To ensure the proper use of taxpayer funds that are appropriated for Government programs and purposes, it is necessary that the number and cost of earmarks be reduced, that their origin and purposes be transparent, and that they be included in the text of the bills voted upon by the Congress and presented to the President. For appropriations laws and other legislation enacted after the date of this order, executive agencies should not commit, obligate, or expend funds on the basis of earmarks included in any non-statutory source, including requests in reports of committees of the Congress or other congressional documents, or communications from or on behalf of Members of Congress, or any other non-statutory source, except when required by law or when an agency has itself determined a project, program, activity, grant, or other transaction to have merit under statutory criteria or other merit-based decisionmaking.

Sec. 2. Duties of Agency Heads. (a) With respect to all appropriations laws and other legislation enacted after the date of this order, the head of each agency shall take all necessary steps to ensure that:

(i) agency decisions to commit, obligate, or expend funds for any earmark are based on the text of laws, and in particular, are not based on language in any report of a committee of Congress, joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference of the Congress, statement of managers concerning a bill in the Congress, or any other non-statutory statement or indication of views of the Congress, or a House, committee, Member, officer, or staff thereof;

(ii) agency decisions to commit, obligate, or expend funds for any earmark are based on authorized, transparent, statutory criteria and merit-based decision making, in the manner set forth in section II of OMB Memorandum M-07-10, dated February 15, 2007, to the extent consistent with applicable law; and

(iii) no oral or written communications concerning earmarks shall supersede statutory criteria, competitive awards, or merit-based decisionmaking.

(b) An agency shall not consider the views of a House, committee, Member, officer, or staff of the Congress with respect to commitments, obligations, or expenditures to carry out any earmark unless such views are in writing, to facilitate consideration in accordance with section 2(a)(ii) above. All written communications from the Congress, or a House, committee, Member, officer, or staff thereof, recommending that funds be committed, obligated, or expended on any earmark shall be made publicly available on the Internet by the receiving agency, not later than 30 days after receipt of such communication, unless otherwise specifically directed by the head of the agency, without delegation, after consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to preserve appropriate confidentiality between the executive and legislative branches.

(c) Heads of agencies shall otherwise implement within their respective agencies the policy set forth in section 1 of this order, consistent with such instructions as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget may prescribe.

(d) The head of each agency shall upon request provide to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget information about earmarks and compliance with this order.

Sec. 3. Definitions. For purposes of this order:

(a) The term “agency” means an executive agency as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, and the United States Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission, but shall exclude the Government Accountability Office; and

(b) the term “earmark” means funds provided by the Congress for projects, programs, or grants where the purported congressional direction (whether in statutory text, report language, or other communication) circumvents otherwise applicable merit-based or competitive allocation processes, or specifies the location or recipient, or otherwise curtails the ability of the executive branch to manage its statutory and constitutional responsibilities pertaining to the funds allocation process.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) authority granted by law to an agency or the head thereof; or

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

January 29, 2008.

Let’s break this down:

…executive agencies should not commit, obligate, or expend funds on the basis of earmarks included in any non-statutory source, including requests in reports of committees of the Congress or other congressional documents, or communications from or on behalf of Members of Congress, or any other non-statutory source, except when required by law or when an agency has itself determined a project, program, activity, grant, or other transaction to have merit under statutory criteria or other merit-based decisionmaking.

Here the President tells all agencies (CIA, DOE, NASA, GSA, EPA, etc…) of the government that they may do their work ONLY if a LAW is passed pre-allocating the funds to do that work.

This would prevent any agency from doing almost any work that had not been conceived of prior to its need.  For example, they would not be able to do new research or research on a new topic to help Congress make decisions about the potential efficacy of a proposed bill, unless Congress passed, and the President signed, a law okaying the funding for the research.

Heck, the way it’s worded, the Government Printing Office might not even be allowed to cover the cost of paper and printing expenses to print up pre-existing reports requested by Congress if the request for those reports hasn’t been made by passing a law, which of course must in turn be signed by the President – who might just not want Congress to have those reports.

It turns the President into a filter for any and all actions of any agency of government, enabling him to prevent Congress and others – including other agencies,  and possibly the courts – from receiving any information from or requesting any actions by those agencies.

For example, If a Congressperson were to order the General Accounting Office to provide a report to the Senate Intelligence committee about the dispensation of funds provided to certain entities on a certain date, the GAO could be prevented from taking any action on that order if doing so required funds that are not already included in a law, or those funds don’t meet the, um, fungible, criterion of “having merit under …  merit-based decisionmaking.”

Since it’s not defined, the definition of “merit”  is anyone’s guess, but we can rest assured that this President has a definition in mind, and it’s unlikely to involve the agency cooperating with the request.

(b) An agency shall not consider the views of a House, committee, Member, officer, or staff of the Congress with respect to commitments, obligations, or expenditures to carry out any earmark unless such views are in writing, to facilitate consideration in accordance with section 2(a)(ii) above. All written communications from the Congress, or a House, committee, Member, officer, or staff thereof, recommending that funds be committed, obligated, or expended on any earmark shall be made publicly available on the Internet by the receiving agency, not later than 30 days after receipt of such communication, unless otherwise specifically directed by the head of the agency, without delegation, after consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to preserve appropriate confidentiality between the executive and legislative branches.

This ensures that the President is made aware of any funding that he hasn’t signed off on. Essentially the President has just told all agencies that they may not keep any conversations with members of Congress or their staff confidential, if that conversation involves agency activities that would cost any money not already allocated in the budget.

Let’s take a look at a hypothetical situation under which this little tid-bit might come into play:

1) Say there’s a hypothetical corrupt executive office holder who might have treasonously outed an undercover operative as political payback, and that there are, perhaps 5 million hypothetical emails that were sent from the executive branch around the date in question, and that those emails are buried on hypothetical hard drives of servers deep in the bowels of a hypothetical IT department.

2) Congress wants copies of those hypothetical emails (which are required by actual statute to be retained), and needs the related agency to do forensic data recovery on the hypothetical hard drives.

3) In order to produce the hypothetical emails, the agency will need funds not already in their budget (forensic data recovery is expensive).

4) Congress says – we’ll give you the money, you do the work.

5) The agency hypothetically posts this fact publicly, as required by the new, hypothetical executive order.

6) Coincidentally, right after the hypothetical executive is tipped off by the posting that his hypothetical goose is about to be cooked, the hypothetical hard drives meet with some very powerful hypothetical magnets. Also coincidentally, the hypothetical hard drives are stored in a room where there’s a subsequent hypothetical fire. Sadly, all the data on those drives are hypothetically converted into a mass of molten metal and plastic.

This basic scenario (attempt to investigate, public tip-off, coincidental elimination of evidence) could play out, hypothetically, for any investigation of any kind, into any government activities (like war profiteering, or funneling nuclear technology to Turkey, or massive voter fraud, or … ).

Nah….

Of course, investigations aren’t the only casualties.

For example: If climate study isn’t specifically in NASA’s budget under statute, then NASA’s climate research has just been shut down. Poof!  We know that the administration does not consider climate change research to have any merit. If this is the case, then the only way to restart it is to pass a law adding climate study to NASA’s charter, which should be really easy – until the second it lands on the President’s desk. Then it’s DOA. Ooops!

Note: I do not know if funding for climate study is included in NASA’s budget by statute, but the point isn’t to discuss NASA specifically, it’s to describe the type of scenario that may now unfold at myriad government agencies.

(b) the term “earmark” means funds provided by the Congress for projects, programs, or grants where the purported congressional direction (whether in statutory text, report language, or other communication) circumvents otherwise applicable merit-based or competitive allocation processes, or specifies the location or recipient, or otherwise curtails the ability of the executive branch to manage its statutory and constitutional responsibilities pertaining to the funds allocation process.

The executive branch HAS NO constitutional responsibilities pertaining to the funds allocation process. (I haven’t enough information to know if the President has any such statutory responsibilities.) Constitutionally, allocating funds is the Congress’ job.

The President’s SOLE responsibilities are commander of the armed forces; ensuring that the laws passed by Congress are executed AS WRITTEN (or to veto and request a rewrite); and to signing treaties IF they’re ratified by the Senate.

On the plus side:

(b) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

Methinks Congress should specifically forbid the appropriation of any funds in support of this executive order… Someone needs to find applicable law that can relegate this piece of [fill in the blank] to the junk heap of usurpation history.

Anyway, that’s my take on it.

ACTION:

Call, write, fax, or otherwise pester the bejeebers out of your Congressional delegation – tell them NOT to appropriate funds for the implementation of this executive order. Heck, tell them to specifically DENY funds for the implementation of this order.

I’m live-blogging from a daylong conference on Peak Oil.

The room is full of people from all across the state, concerned about Global Warming’s evil twin – the time we switch from discovering more oil than we use, to using more oil than we discover.

One of the ost obvious impacts of this point is the increasing cost of oil.

In the full text, I’ll cover speeches from the day. ALL coverage will be paraphrased – I can’t type that fast.

[***Update: battery died, then we had lunch. I’ll fill in the asterisked parts later.]

Annie Dunn Watson

We’ll be discussing, among other things, what it’s like to attempt to educate others about something about which they don’t want to hear.

The silence that greets peak oil along with the naysayers who say “it’s not a production problem it’s an investment problem.”

We’ve helped create a greater interest in local food production, alternatives to dependence on the single occupant vehicle, green energy future, and community building. Energy and community projects around the state are being kicked off by peak oil-inspired people. We’re part of the work engagement instead of helplessness.

Our focus on communities has not deterred people in the network from partaking in statewide initiatives.

Home is going to become a lot more local than it used to be. We need to encourage one another, not criticize, because each of us will change as and when we can. Let’s offer courage to one another.

Carl Etnier

They are starting to pay attention to us. It’s happening not only globally, but here in the state. Peak oil task forces in Bennington, Brattleboro, Addision. There’s been testimony in the legislature – not only by VPON, but by John Kaufman from Portland Oregon’s Energy Department on their energy planning.

There’s a public forum on heating costs next week. Please, if you have time, the more the merrier: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 from 7:00 PM -8:30 PM in Room 11.

Also, Richard Hineburg will speak in VT, Symington and Shumlin co-sponsoring his visit in Montpelier.

As Ghandi said: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

We’re not trying to convince people that peak oil is real, we’re trying to convince people to respond to the challenges presented by peak oil.

It’s like people floating on a raft, having a party. The raft is sinking, but not fast enough to cause them to panic and try to get into harbor. So they keep partying, and the raft keeps sinking. Exactly when it will go under is unknown, but by the time their feet are wet, it may be too late to save themselves.

We know where we need to go. We’re not sure about the timing. Even if we don’t know the timing, we need to move in the right direction. We’re here today to help us understand for ourselves what the right direction is.

Developing Capacities for Response to Peak Oil Presentation

The immediacy of climate change is coming to join the immediacy of peak oil. Scientists are beginning to speak out with what they really believe.

Presented by: SustainabilityInstitute.org

A “think do” tank. Not just think about the problems, but do something about them…

Did an energy retrofit last year on the building in which they work, giving it life into the future.

Our Climate Ourselves project (ourclimateourselves.org) – there are systemic traps that face us in climate change. Climate change activists feel great common purpose (and common problems) with the peak oil people.

Requires courage, independent thinking, and willingness to hold onto a vision. It’s hard to remember that when the media is “debunking” it, that’s the good news, because at least it’s being mentioned.

A bathtub analogy was used to illustrate global climate change at this point. Rather than describe it, try the Bath tub simulator.



Moving from Despair to Empowerment

Rather than wasting our energy in ignoring our feelings, learn how to harness what we feel about overwhelming issues and put it to work.  



Rigorous Analysis & Clear Communication

For whatever issue you’re working on, break it down to see which of the 3 main categories …[***fill in later***]

Acknowledge and look for the seeds that are around us.

It’s easy to lose sight of what’s happening all around us. It’s important to look around, see what’s happening around us, and point others to those things.



Be oriented toward a vision of what we want to see.

All actions happen when someone gets a vision, that vision is shared, people co-create based on that vision, then the vision is brought into being.

Check out the Dana Meadows video on vision.

Rubber band demo:

This is where we are now – pull the rubber band taut. The tension is the difference between where we are and where we want to be. There are two ways to relive the tension: lower your vision or increase your vision, to change reality in such a way that the fullest extent of rubber band is now less than the full extent of reality.

Two Senses of Vision:

1) Personal: inspiration, motivation, action, commitent, deep aspiration. If you choose a point far enough away, it can be used as a beacon. It can be a practical tool [quote from Dana Meadows): “If we haven’t specified where we want to go, it is hard to set our compass.

2) Leadership

Engage and inspire others, motivate others to work together, and sharing what we want with others in a purposeful way.

Sometimes we self-sabotage our visions via ambiguity, reduced aspirations, or focusing on what we want to avoid rather than what we want to create.

We can build our capacity for visioning. Envisioning is a skill that can be developed, like any other human skill.

Commit your vision – be open about how to achieve it.

When we play with large ideas, we make room for vision. Let it try its little sneakers on and see if it can move.

We don’t know how we are going to get to a sustainable society, but you can travel all over the world and see the pieces of it, today.

One thing cool about vision is you don’t need anything fancy to do it – just your imagination.

Get a clear picture in your mind of what it is you’re working toward. Be very open about how you’re going to get there. If you’re clear about where you want the world to go, then you’ll recognize the seeds when you see them. The path may not be exactly what you expect, but you’ll get there.

[group practice in visualizing happens here, sorry can’t type for this exercise.]

Visions:

I’ve agreed to blog only the official presentations, not individual participant’s statements, so I’ll just state the premise: Envision where you personally are 20 years from now. What does your community look like, your home? Envision the food people eat, the clothes they wear. Etc.

How Systems Change

Hint: It’s Not “You have a leader with a plan, and the leader makes you implement the plan.”

Networks

The world doesn’t change one person at a time. it changes when networks of relationships from among people who share a common cause and vision of what’s possible. (margaret wheatley)

Emergence

Interconnections new wholes: the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Upward Spirals

Someone does something and word spreads. Someone does a pilot project and others see that it really works and are inspired.

We can choose upward or downward sprials. (See Seeing Nature for explanations of how upward and downward spirals work)

Exercise: We answered a series of questions about a project vision, the obstacles we could throw in our own way, how we could overcome those, what resources we could apply to the project, and what we’re going to do in the next 24 hrs toward it.

There are all of these images of how we will accomplish the solutions we’ll need, but none of them have a single leader making it all happen. It’s all of us working together, on our own pieces, in our own ways. Good ideas will go viral. There will be spokespeople. We wouldn’t want to bet on just spokespeople, but also on a room full of our neighbors.

Quote from Paul Krafel, Seeing Nature, p.176: “Begin the work, even though you cannot see the path by which this work can lead to your goal. Do not block your power with your current understanding. Evolution is the process by which the impossible becomes possible through small, accumulating changes.”

Talking Plain Seminar

a conflict doesn’t have to be a problem unless you treat it like a problem.

Each of us have our personality, our vocabulary, experiences, and comfort level. What’s the hook that brought you into this discussion? Write that on a piece of paper. That’s your theme. Write 3 points that deal with that. Get me a personal story.

Book: Beyond Powerpoint.

In presentations, numbers and graphs won’t do it for everyone. You’ve gotta have human pictures. How does it impact the family down the road? How does it impact you?

You want a human-to-human connection. It’s preferable if it’s your personal story and you’re willing to share it.

Write down the things that happen during your day, and what peak oil implies for those things.

Don’t use passive verbs, make it happen right now.

Almost an entire industry of researchers figuring out what it will take to get the average american to understand about climate change…

ACEE Behavior Energy and Climate Change Conference

3 categories of motivation:

Idealists

We do things because we know we should, so why wouldn’t we?



Achievement-based (by far the Largest Group)

The rest of the group is doing it, so why don’t I do it?

Most people have an OVERWHELMING urge to conform.

This group will respond if they see a reflection of themselves in others.

Social levers are more important than economic levers – “Everyone else is doing it vs you’ll save 50%.” Find something close to home.

Studies show that using fear, instead of motivating people, has the opposite effect.

The message: “We’re doing great! And we can do even more!” is MUCH more effective than “We’re not doing enough, we must do more!”

Individualists

Will do whatever they want whenever hey want regardless of everyone else.



Resources:

Transition Initiatives [warning: PDF]

Beyond Powerpoint.

World Without Us

ACEE Behavior Energy and Climate Change Conference

I'm sitting in Filene Auditorium at Dartmouth, waiting for the festivities to begin.  The Impeach Bush & Cheney banner has been hung, and the room is rumbling with the sound of excited people.

Dan DeWalt, Adrienne Kinne, and John Nichols have arrived. The Kucinch folks are everywhere. Tim Carpenter of Progressive Democrats of America is handing out stickers and flyers. 

I'll try to keep up with the speakers and will likely do multiple updates over the evening, so I won't lose everything if the connection drops. 

All the meat will appear in the extended text.

TV Crews have set up in the back of the room, the space is nearly full and people are still filing in. The fun starts in just a couple of minutes.

I’ll see if I can get a couple of pictures to post later.

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IS PARAPHRASED. I can’t type that fast.

Dan’s opening remarks:

Northeast Impeachment Coalition, PDA, Women Making a Difference, Code Pink, After Downing Street are sponsors for tonight.

Dartmouth College maintains non-partisan stance and does not co-sponsor events.

We will present what’s happening in New England now, then onto featured speakers. Livestreaming is being provided courtesy of the Kucinich folks.

The New England Impeachment Coalition was founded in July ’07, as result of groups throughout NE joining together. It has grown quickly. NJ, NY, and even places not in the Northeast have joined. Bringing back constitutional rule is going to be the role of the citizen, since Congress has decided not to do its duty. If we have candidates in office who will not stand up and defend the constitution, we’ll have to run our own people against them.  Introduced CT and ME candidates.  Stated that there will be a candidate against Peter Welch.

Speaker: John Kaminsky, Maine Lawyers for Democracy.

Founded in 2005 to protect civil rights and civil liberties. Detailed [PDF format] position paper on web. Covers impeachment in its historical context.

(and) Maine Campaign to impeach

We collected signatures around Maine to demonstrate that Mainers are serious about impeachment – and got 15,000 signatures. We used them as a springboard to get legitimacy with congresspeople and decision-makers. On Sept 25 & 26, 2007 people went to Maine Congressional offices. As a result, Mike M. is deliberating, and has voted against tabling the Kucinich bill (HRes 333).

The days of Nixon were the last time we were in this situation. By comparison in Oct. 1973, 28% of Americans said Nixon should be impeached and removed. This was after a full summer of Watergate hearings. The number rose to 55% the day before he resigned. After all the investigations and hearings, that was the high water mark.

Let’s look at today. First, 64% say President Bush has abused his power. 55% say the Pres has committed impeachable offenses. Out of those 55%, many go further and say he should be removed from office right now.

We have in this country the people having the wisdom that our congress and media do not have right now. We have people who have the wisdom to recognize what’s going on, even before hearings and media coverage. It’s time to join the people in supporting impeachment.

John Nirenberg is introduced to a standing ovation.

Speaker: Betty Hall, NH House of Reps:

I was in the house back in the 70’s. We had a legislator who introduced one of the 1st impeachment resolutions in a state legislature. He introduced it, gave a fiery speech, got exactly 11 votes. I was not one of those votes. I have regretted that every day of my life since. Last Spring, I decided “I’m not going to wait to next fall,” I decided to introduce an impeachment resolution last Spring. I spoke to the rules committee, made my case, and they voted not to let me introduce the resolution. I asked for a suspension of the rules and did it anyway. I got 40 votes. But it’s not enough.

We need to learn and understand about impeachment. I didn’t have an inkling of it during the Nixon vote. We need to have more of this kind of meeting, to learn, throughout the state, and maybe a teach-in for the NH legislature.

[applause]

In any case, it will come to the legislature in January. I hope you all come to the public hearings and make sure the legislature understands impeachment before they have to vote on it.

Q: Do you need co-sponsors?

Betty: It’s too late for it. But please talk to your legislators.

Speaker: Tim Carpenter, introduced as the President of Progressive Democrats of America:

There’s no president at PDA, it’s a citizen lobby group.

We were founded the last day the Democrats met in the election of 2004 – when they nominated John Kerry at the convention. We believed, at the end of the convention, that 80% of those who believed we should end the war and redeploy our troops never got the vote we wanted.

We believed that grassroots democrats could organize around the country to repeal the patriot act, end the war, and ensure fair & transparent elections. It’s our belief that grassroots activists can make the change.

When the Democrats were the minority, John Conyers held hearings in the basement of the House, he began hearings in Washington on Oversight and Accountability that we believed would lead to impeachment. We believe in working with legislators on the inside and grassroots democrats like Dan DeWalt and others. Many of us were excited when the democrats won. We did not get a majority of progressive democrats, instead we got democrats who still need to hear from the grassroots.

We’re here tonight to ask you to continue to support the members of Congress who work for impeachment.

Be visible about your support of impeachment. Wear buttons, use bumper stickers, slip your dinner guests “impeach mints.”

We need to challenge incumbents!

Dan D:

Last spring we did a tour with John Nichols, Cindy Sheehan, and 3 veterans. One of those vets, Adrienne Kinne, is now seeing another side of war at the VA.

Speaker: Adrienne Kinne:

I am here because I am a veteran. I was active duty in 1994 – 1998. I was an interpreter. After 2001, things drastically and dramatically changed for the worse. When I started, never would we have considered spying on an American citizen. Never. I remember once an American’s name showed up. It wasn’t even someone speaking on the call, and we removed every single trace.

After 9/11, everything changed. We were intercepting phone communications from a whole swath. In the beginning it made sense, as we were learning the new equipment. Suddenly we started noticing that these were American citizens, just ordinary citizens: the Red Cross, journalists, aid organizations. You started to question why we were doing this. We were told we were given permission to listen to Americans “just in case.” In case some aid worker accidentally came across someone from al Quaeda, or something. The constitution and our constitutional rights should not be waived “just in case.”

These were not just communications in the Middle East, but also their conversations home. We were told to just kind of “forget what the people in the United states had to say,” report on the part that originates in the Middle East. They said they had waived law in the US to make this legal.

I came to realize the significance of our oath to protect the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, when going into the service and what it means.

Iraq Vets Against the War has grown tremendously over the last 10 months – more than tripled our members.

The fact that Congress does not want to listen to the people does not absolve us of our duty to protect the constitution.

In Iraq, raids on houses, abducting Iraqis at any time for no reason, killing people who are driving up to checkpoints – this happens not because of individual soldiers, but because these are policies our government has forced upon our soldiers.

Speaker: Dan D:

This war will not end under this President.

When I was younger, I worked in the city where Dennis Kucinich had been elected Mayor. Once, there was a major snow storm that shut much of the city down, but the mayor was not the kind of guy to sit around and wait for things to happen. The next thing you knew, Mayor Kucinich was plowing the airport because it was the only way to get the job done. I’m really honored to be able to introduce you to the one person in Congress who has supported the constitution, who has stood tall above all others.

Speaker: Dennis Kucinich:

Thank you for your commitment to the principles of democratic government. The very idea that prayer for gov of by and for the people is for each generation.

When I read the declaration of independence, I am struck by founders who pledged their unity. We understand that it is all on the line today. Our very democracy is in danger.

As a member of congress I have seen this systematic destruction of our democratic principles. You can look at the Bill of Rights, you can see, chapter and verse, its destruction. Giving the government the right to reach deeply into people’s personal lives. There’s this fear of personhood, privacy, which is essential to ensure each of us is free of government intrusion.

You find things you couldn’t believe happening, like HRes 1955 – only 6 voted against it. Once again I voted against it because I read it. Section 1603 of the Defense bill broke down the Posse Commitatus act, allowing the President to use our troops against us.

We are at a moment in time when we realize that our democracy is on the line.

Why after introducing HRes 333 in April did I find it necessary to come forward with HRes 799 a couple of weeks ago? What changed?

There were no hearings on 333, despite growing approval of on the bill. So I submitted 799 as privileged resolution.

The defense budget calls for spending 10 mil to retrofit B2 stealth bombers to carry 30k ton bombs (massive ordinance penetrators). Analysts all said these will be used to drop bombs on nuke research labs in Iran. If dropped, there will be a tremendous energy release, blowing dust and debris high up into the atmosphere, creating radioactive fallout, hundreds if not thousands of miles across the continent.

I had no choice but to bring this through under privileged resolution. It resonated with article 3 of HRes 333 about the VP beating drums of war against Iran.

Impeachment is the one remedy for this administration to stay the trip down the warpath. By taking it off the table, they (the democratic leadership) are licensing the violation of the constitution and international law by pres and VP. Neither leadership nor any other member of congress has the right to not do their constitutional duty.

When I hear: “We have more important things to do.”

I say “What?”

I hear “They’ll be gone in 14 months.”

I say: “They can do a lot of damage in that time. It doesn’t take long to attack a country that has no capacity to attack us.”

Each one of us has the responsibility and the honor to restore our nation.

Speaker: John Nichols:

I don’t know what unnatural quirk of the planetary order has occurred that would have me speaking after someone who should be the pres of the united states, but I will take it as an illustration of our democratic principles in this country that the president is second only to a citizen.

There are so many friends and comrades allies in this audience.

None of this happens without Dan DeWalt.

Liza Earle is a baker and day care provider, she had never gone to town meeting before. Came to some of our events, rustled up the courage to go to her town meeting to submit articles of impeachment.

When we toured VT we thought New Englanders might not want to listen to out-of-staters, we suggested that they should. This country would be tremendously well served to have a knowing and caring veteran to represent us in the Congress.

One of the other vets was Matt Howard.

Recently Matt went to Australia. The president was there as well. President had gone to thank John Howard who was the Prime Minister of the time. He turned to prime minister and said “Thank you for sending the Austrian troops to Iraq.”

John Howard has been thrown out.  [applause]

Matt told story of his service in Iraq. they went out of Kuwait city, after 1/2 hr of training. A young marine jumped out, raised his arm with a fist to say halt. The car stopped, in it were a father with his children, wife, relatives. the father stopped, rolled down the window and returned what he thought was the international sign of solidarity (raised arm clenched fist). Then he pulled forward. The marines shot everyone in the car. That night, as the soldiers slept in the truck, the young marine stirred in his sleep screaming. Matt held him, and said, “It’s ok, bad things happen in a war.”

But bad things don’t “happen” in a war. Bad things happen when you send them unprepared, and untrained to fight.

120 soldiers a week now commit suicide.

When I hear stories like that, I despair.

When I hear our presindent speak and talk of more surge, I despair.

When I hear VP casually discuss launching a more dangerous and deadly war against the more powerful and connected state of Iran, I despair.

When I see congress fail to uphold the end of the war, I despair.

When I see people come out from across New England in a rainy night. I realize I do not have the privilege of despair.

Courage patriots, the republic is in danger, the constitution is under attack, democracy itself undermined. We are the descendants of those who fought a revolution against a king named George.

I say to you my name is John Nichols and I want to impeach the president and vice president of the United States.

I want to impeach them for their attack on this constitution of the United States. Because they shredded the constitution, because they undermined the separation of powers when they lied to congress, because

they have spied on the American people when the constitution of the us gives us freedom in our homes from intervention, because they have sanctioned torture and extaordinary rendition.

Some people want to impeach because they violated the Geneva conventions, but we don’t have to go to the Geneva conventions, we have only to go to the 8th amendment.

When Cheny authorizes torture, he commits an impeachable offense.

I want to impeach them because of what they did to Wilson and Plame.

The 3rd article in Nixon’s impeachment was for use of office to punish political foes.

When they used their office to punish Joe Wilson for speaking out, they committed an impeachable offense.

I didn’t come up with these ideas myself. I read the notes to the constitutional convention.

George Mason, author, wrote: No instrument in this document is more important than the power to impeach, for if we cede our power to impeach, we cede the ability to hold the president accountable. If we do not have power to impeach, we make him a king for 4 years.

Jefferson: without impeachment, we have a monarch for 4 years, with no difference between him and a king.

Oh, but it is a time of war. We must support the troops! Well, we do support the troops. But keep in mind, Mason said: “War is the true wet nurse of executive aggrandizement, to empty the treasury of resources …, to destroy even the freedoms that the war was supposedly launched to defend.”

Wars waged illegally and immorally are the highest of high crimes.

James K. Polk started the Mexican American war, claiming an attack by Mexico on America.

A young congressman was elected from the Midwest, and went to Washington. He offended party the leaders.

He said from the Well of the House to the President: “Show me the spot on which a single Mexican shed a single drop of American blood. If you cannot, then show me why you should not be removed from your office.”

When Polk did not answer, the congressman censured James K Polk, saying essentially “we honor the troops but not the one who sent them to an immoral war.”

When admonished that “you cannot attack the president in a time of war.”

The Congressman replied:

Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem it necessary to do so, whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose – and you allow him to make war at pleasure. Study to see if you can fix any limit to his power in this respect, after you have given him so much as you propose.

If today, he should choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada, to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may say, “I see no probability of the British invading us” but he will say to you, “be silent; I see it, if you don’t.”

The provision of the Constitution giving the war making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons: Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This, our Convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us.

I was not elected to serve a king.

Abraham Lincoln.

Q & A Session

Q: How do we change the mind of Peter Welch?

A (Kucinich): The people of Vermont can do that. Continue to talk to him.

A (Nichols): The force you use on this issue IS having an impact. The media will not tell you that.

Q: Why is impeachment off the table?

A (Kucinich): It seems that the political calculus is that the more offenses pile up on this administration, the more Republican loyalty will be brought to a lower and lower level. I think it’s a cold calculating attempt, in the same way the democrats put ads on tv against the Republicans’ war funding plans, then turned around to fund the war.

Duplicity is the word that was made for this moment.  The word duplicity has found its hour. We cannot permit this to count as governance.

It’s just incompetence.

Q: Welch voted for H. Res. 1955:

In response to a constituent, he replied: “The law doesn’t criminalize any activity.”

A: (Kucinich) It’s trying to criminalize thought.

There’s an effort to break down thought, word, deed, free speech. When you start to criminalize thought [missed]

Q: How did 400 congressman, after they read that bill pass it?

A: (Kucinich) People don’t read these bills. You get a dozen bills, some a few pages, some a hundred. Comes from your side, and vote for it. It was a democrat’s bill – Jane Harmon’s bill. They don’t read the bill, they look at the title.

This is what we’re faced with.

Then when they’re called on it, you see gymnastics that are olympian in their grandeur, but pathetic in their implications.

A: (Nichols) Most of the pathologies in this bill were also in the patriot act. It was much harder to vote against the patriot act, due to the tenor of the times.

You now hear Chris Dodd talking about how much he loves the constitution. Then why didn’t he love it enough to vote against the patriot act? It mattered at the time when the votes happened.

Q: (battery recharge needed, so I missed this one, it was 9/11 related)

Q: (Jimmy Leas) Many speakers have given reasons to impeach. We need to start thinking about them as the steps a government takes … towards dictatorship. It’s enough that our president tortures people. Once it starts moving from people in other countries, it’s going to creep toward us. Once that happens, nobody is going to stand up. When people start being afraid of being tortured, they stop speaking out. We are the ones who are the victims, because our rights are at stake. It [this effort] is to stop the next war, the current war, and preserve our constitution. We have to work so hard to build the movement, so we don’t go further down this path toward dictatorship (turned out to be a comment – no question)

Q: Republicans were going to vote against tabling H. Res 333 to embarrass democrats. I was very confused. I looked into it. I thought, what could be embarrassing to Democrats about that? When you investigate Cheney the people who should be embarrassed about it would be the republicans.

I looked into it and came up with PACs, the big pacs are oil & gas. The Republicans wanted to expose the democrats as listening to the PACs that fund them instead of listening to the people, and embarrass the democrats in the eyes of their constituents.

I am not going to be afraid to be called a name for telling the democratic leadership to stop listening to the PACs, and start listening to us. [this was another comment]

A: (Didn’t see who spoke?) We are facing a culture of intimidation – torture, wire tapping to deprive people of civil rights and liberties to make us apprehensive about speaking out for the constitution, civil liberties and this country. We don’t have the luxury of despair or of being intimidated.

A: (Nichols) I interviewed Bernstein: he says there’s no question they should be impeached. “What’s different now,” I asked? The Congress is dramatically more bought than in the 1970s. But more serious is our media. Media is invested in power. On bended knee. Media that does the work of the powerful, reinforces those in power. They’ve played the media brilliantly.

Believe me, amazing things are happening, but you won’t hear about them on TV or the radio.

I have great hope that we can fix this mess. The only thing that worries me, is our media. We can roll over Congress. Our media is in a crisis.

I don’t hear candidates talk about media reform.

A: (Dan)It’s not just Fox and Murdoch and CBS and NBC. Recently, I spoke with public media head (alan ?). “Let’s have a program about it.”

He replied, “No, it’s not an issue.”

A: (Tim:) Visit AfterDowningStreet.org

Invite people like John N., David Swanson, and others to meetings like this. Begin those kitchen table conversations.

Ask you congress member to call for hearings in judiciary on HRes 333.

Q: Had an epiphany, had copies of sample resolution for impeachment. Fill in your town’s name, go to your town, and put it in for town meeting. Talked with Secretary for my town: she said the warrants closed. Guess what, they weren’t.

You have to stay on it, want to have it happen. Before I went to the 1st places, I was afraid of what people would say. When I sat with 500 people, I knew our Republic was about done. It’s a very simple concept – when our country was founded, we were separating ourselves from the monarchies. We would not kneel to a king and be strung up for asking why if told to fight a war.

In a republic, you are the sovereign, I am the sovereign. We don’t get down on our knees.

We shouldn’t feel that someone else is going to do this work for us.

Q: On media and impeachment, when Dennis Kucinich filed HRes 333, there was a blackout. I begged for a lawsuit against media. Overwhelming evidence of 911 being fixed. John N., please look at this and start writing about and publishing.

Prince Bandar says he warned Bush.

Q: How do we impart the passion we feel to the young people at the universities?

A: (Nichols) I get this question everywhere I go, on every issue. Young people make a realistic choice not to be engaged in the political process because they see nothing come of it. Something you can do: Stop being PUNDITS. It’s the biggest disease going: stop talking about electability, and how you need electability to succeed, there’s no idealism in that. Young people respond to idealism – a promise that something real can happen. The candidate that has touched most young people in this campaign: Ron Paul. When he stared Giuliani down and said there are reasons this country was attacked and 9/11 occurred, and people, young people were watching and said “yeah! you’re right.”

Attract young people by voting your conscience, acting upon your conscience, and making real the idealistic options.

Young people look at older folks and see older folks compromising. If we don’t hold up higher ideals, we won’t get young people to believe that this is a savable political process. You will find that young people will be what you want them to be if you are what they want you to be.

A (Kinne): At ISO, There were kids responding to what our country has never been and should be.

When we have actions not governed by “What won’t offend anybody” but by what do we need to do, the kids like it and get engaged.  They’re not so afraid of offending someone for a decent cause. I don’t think we’re going to pull this off without more kids. We have a long way to go. We need to stop limiting ourselves.

Q: I believe we need to be calling on a higher power and invoke the martyrs (Kennedy, Wellstone, etc.) who have given their lives, and we must honor them, because they really are with us.

A: We will only succeed if we truly believe that we will succeed and move forward and believe that we will succeed.

Q: I am a confused citizen. In any movement it’s important to understand the position of those who do not support the position in order to get them to change their position. Our democratic legislators seem to be sitting on the sidelines. Can you comment on the rationale for the democrats to not stand up?

A (Hall): Too much money and not enough courage. I don’t know why my colleagues don’t think the way I do. I got arrested and put in jail because I didn’t move. In court, they asked all the questions – did she do this or that wrong? The answer was no, so the case was dismissed.

Q: What are they afraid of?

A (DeWalt): The smear machine that kicks in when you stand up. Also have to face possibility that they’re members of the same team, but wearing different coat.

A (Nichols): I do a lot of right-wing talk radio shows willingly for sheer sport of talking to conservatives. I talk about impeachment. I think it’s relevant to this. I say, “I know you believe George Bush is touched by God. I believe he’s been touched as well. [laughter] I know you believe he’ll do the right thing, but do you really want to hand those powers over to president Hillary Clinton?” I’m always amused by the reaction.

I am afraid both parties like power, and like it so much, they don’t enjoy a discussion about disempowering the president because they’re afraid that we’ll start discussing disempowering others, too.

Jefferson envisioned the president becoming corrupted, the congress becoming corrupted, and even the media becoming corrupted. It is for that reason we rested all power in the people.

You’re the leaders, you guys have to do it.

A (?): In my darker moments I wonder what they might be afraid of: on wiretapping, Sr. members of Democratic party were briefed on wiretapping, and know they’re just as culpable.

Some are afraid that if we impeach, we won’t be able to elect a democratic president because they won’t have Bush to kick around anymore.

We can’t address this by focusing on fear, we must address it based on protecting the constitution, and handing down to the next generation a country they can be proud of like was handed to us.

Q: About the 120 soldiers committing suicide per week: do those include returned or in-field?

A (Nichols): Returned. Not all are Iraq vets, some are Vietnam vets. There’s a dramatic surge in suicide. It’s the reason the administration and VA at fed level are not keeping unified set of stats.

I’ve interviewed returning troops – today you can pluck someone off the battlefield who would have died, send them to a hospital in Germany, then home to the VA, but the tragedy is survival in horrific condition. Part is because of that, but part is the mental agony from war.

Every single day we don’t just doom someone to die, we doom hundreds of young men and women to a future in which suicide will be a logical option. I counsel urgency because there are young men who will be ruined today, tomorrow, and every day we go forward. And that doesn’t count the innocent Iraqis.

A (DeWalt): Twice as many Vietnam vets have killed themselves as were killed in the war.

A (Kinne): I have worked with vets on PTSD. It’s not PTSD, it’s not a disorder, it’s having a conscience. When they are asked to commit war crimes and atrocities, when they come home and suffer guilt, then to be told that they have a disorder, there’s something wrong. It’s when you have leaders who send you to commit these atrocities with a clear conscience – that’s the disorder. 

Q: (John N. who’s walking to Pelosi’s office) For info, go to MarchInMyName.org. I urge you to give me pictures of you and your family to bring to Nancy Pelosi.

Q: My brother committed suicide on my birthday 2 years ago. We are all one. The thoughts and feelings are energy permeate all of existence. Everyone who has lost loved a one can understand that. I want people to realize that this world is terrifying the sensitive souls which exist here. They don’t want to express it in front of others because it “shows weakness.” I’m a radio operator, my call letters: W1JSB. I get on 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, to share with people.

[at this point Dan D. takes a moment to acknowledge Nancy (last name?) put this together.]

Q: I’m tired of writing letters and emails to Congress. I think of other countries and when the get organized, they take to the streets. What’s it going to take for us to make a showing and be heard.

A (Nichols): The original sin of this whole moment: when they were not going to count the votes in Florida. People went into the streets about that in other countries, but we didn’t. We allowed the election to be stolen from us. We have another election coming. We invite all the sins that flow from the moment they steal an election.

Q: to John Kaminsky

In the Maine Lawyers for Democracy’s impeachment document articles, you parsed many things. There must have been information on 9/11 – how were they discarded from the impeachment articles?

A: Didn’t know a lot about the questions ’til the last 3 – 4 months. I had been looking at so much other evidence and focused on putting together strong supportable case that took advantage of the evidence before us now.

We don’t have a lot of evidence in handabout what really happened 9/11. My concern is a concern of urgency. We need to move forward now, with the case we have in our hands. I don’t mean to diminish the arguments on 9/11, I fear there would not be enough time during this administration’s time in office to accomplish a complete investigation of 9/11. I would hope next pres will appoint special prosecutor.

Q: The Right of Revolution is included in NH constitution (article 10) listed on back of tonight’s program. NH is the only state with the right of revolution. [… missed the rest as we prepared to head out, since the space was closed at this point]

I'm sitting in Filene Auditorium at Dartmouth, waiting for the festivities to begin.  The Impeach Bush & Cheney banner has been hung, and the room is rumbling with the sound of excited people.

Dan DeWalt, Adrienne Kinne, and John Nichols have arrived. The Kucinch folks are everywhere. Tim Carpenter of Progressive Democrats of America is handing out stickers and flyers. 

I'll try to keep up with the speakers and will likely do multiple updates over the evening, so I won't lose everything if the connection drops. 

All the meat will appear in the extended text.

(Note: will fix typos later)

TV Crews have set up in the back of the room, the space is nearly full and people are still filing in. THe fun starts in just a couple of minutes.

I’ll see if I can get a couple of pictures to post later.

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IS PARAPHRASED. I can’t type that fast.

Dan’s opening remarks:
Northeast Impeachment Coalition, PDA, Women Making a Difference, Code Pink, After Downing Street are sponsors for tonight.

Dartmouth College maintains non-partisan stance and does not co-sponsor events.

Will present what’s happening in NE now, then onto featured speakers. Livestreaming courtesy of Kucinich.

Founded in July 07, as result of groups throughout NE. Has grown quickly. NJ, NY, and even places not in the Northeast. Bring back constitutional rule is going to be the role of the citizen, since congress has decided not to do its duty. If we have candidates in office who will not stand up and defend the constitution, we’ll have to run our own people against them.  Introduced CT and ME candidates.  Stated that there will be a candidate against Peter Welch.

John K., Maine Lawyers for Democracy. Founded in 2005 to protect civil rights and civil liberties. Detailed position paper on web. Covers impeachment in its historical context.
(and )Maine Campaign to impeach
Collect sigs around Maine to demonstrate that Mainers are serious about impeachment – 15,000 sigs. Used as springboard to get legitimacy with congresspeople and decision-makers.  Sept 25 & 26 people went to Cong offices. Mike M. is deliberating, voted against tabling Kucinich bill.

Days of Nixon were the last time. Oct. 1973, 28% of Americans said Nixon should be impeached and removed, after full summer of Watergate hearings. Rose to 55% the day before he resigned. After all the investigations and hearings, that was the high water mark.

Let’s look at today. First 64% say Pres has abused is power. 55% say Pres has committed impeachable offenses. Of those 55%, MANY GO FURTHER AND say he should be removed from office right not.

We have in this country people having the wisdom that our congress and media do not have right now. We have people who have the wisdom to recognize what’s going on, even before hearings and media coverage. It’s time to join the people in supporting impeachment.

John Nuremberg is introduced to a standing ovation.

Betty Hall, NH House of Reps:
I was in the house back in the 70’s. We had a legislator who introduced one of the 1st impeachment resolutions in a state legislature. Introduced it, gave a fiery speech, got exactly 11  votes. i was not one of those votes. I have regretted that every day of my life since. I’m not going to wait to next fal, I decided to introduce last Spring. I spoke to the rules committee, made my case, they voted not to let me introduce the resolution. I asked for a suspension of the rules and did it anyway. I got 40 votes. But it’s not enough. We need to learn and understand about impeachment. I didn’t have an inkling of it during the Nixon vote. We need to have more of this kind of meeting, to learn throughout the state, and maybe a teach-in for the NH legislature.

In any case, it will come to the legislature in January. I hope you all come to the public hearings and make sure the leg understands impeachment before they have to vote on it.

Q: Do you need co-sponsors?
Betty: It’s too late for it. But please talk to your legislators.

Tim Carpenter, President of PDA:
There’s no president at PDA, a citizen lobby group.

We were founded the last day the Democrats met when they nominated John Kerry. We believed at the end of the convention that 80% of those who believed we should end the war and redeploy our troops, never got the vote we wanted.
Grassroots democrats could organize around the country to repeal patriot act, end the war, fair & transparent elections. It’s our belief that grassroots activists can make the change.

When the Democrats were the minority, John C. held hearings in the basement of the House, began hearings in Washington on Oversight and Accountability that we believed would lead to impeachment. We believe in working with legislators on the inside and grassroots democrats like Dan D. Many of us were excited when the democrats won. We did not get a majority of progressive democrats, we got democrats who still need to hear from the grassroots.

We’re here tonight to ask you to continue to support the members of Congress who work for impeachment.

 

Be visible about your support of impeachment. Wear buttons, use bumper stickers, slip your dinner guests “impeach mints.”

We need to challenge incumbents!

Dann D:
Last swpring we did a tour with John Nichols, Cindy Sheehan, and 3 veterans. Adrienne Kinne is now seeing another side of war at the VA.

Adrienne:
I am here because I am a veteran, was active 1994 – 1998, was an interpreter. Things drastically and dramatically changed for the worst. Never would we have considered spying on an American citizen. Never. I remember an American’s name showed up, and we removed every single trace.

After 9/11, everything changed. We were intercepting phone communications from a whole swath. In the beginning it made sense, as we were learning the new equipment. Suddenly we started noticing that these were American citizens, just ordinary citizens: red cross, journalists, aid organizations. You started to question why we were doing this. We were told we were given permission to listen to Americans “just in case.” The constitution and our constitutional rights should not be waived “just in case.”  Not just comms in the middle east, but also their conversations home. Just kind of forget what the people in the United states had to say, report on the part that originates in the Middle East. They had waived law in the US to make this legal.

I came to realize the significance of our oath to protect the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, when going into the service and what it means. IVAW has grown tremendously over the last 10 months – more than tripled our members.

The fact that Congress does not want to listen to the people does not absolve us of our duty to protect the constitution.

Raids on houses, abducting Iraqis at any time for no reason, killing people driving up to checkpoints. This happens not because of indiv soldiers, but because these are policies our government has forced upon our soldiers.

Dan:
This war will not end under this President.
Mayor Kucinich was plowing the airport because it was the only way to get the job done. I’m really honored to be able to introduce you to the one person in Congress who has supported the constitution, has stood tall above all others.

Denis Kucinich:
Thank you for your commitment to the principles of democratic government. The very idea that prayer for gov of by and for the poeple is for each generation.

When I read the declaration of independence. I am struck by founders who pledged their unity. We understand that it is all oon the line today. Our very demoracy is in danger.  As a member of congress I have seen this systematic destruction of our democratic principles. you can look at the bill of rights, you can see chapter and verse destruction. Giving the gov right to reach deeply into people’s personal lives. This fear of personhood, privacy, which is essential to ensure each of us is free of government intrusion.

You find that Home Grown Terrorism act, only 6 voted against. Once again I voted against it because I read it. 1603 of Defense bill broke down the Posse Commitatus act. We are at a moment in time when we realize that our democracy is on the line.

Why after introducing 333 in April did I find it nec. to come forward with 799 a coupld of weeks ago. What changed?

no hearing son 333, despite growing approval of on the bill. Submitted as priv resolution. Defense budget calls for spending 10 mil to retrofit B2 stealth bombers to carry 30k bombs (massive ordinance penetrators). Analysts all said will be used to drop on nuke research labs in Iran. Tremendous energy release, high up into the atmosphere, radioactive fallout, thousands of miles across the continent.

I had no choice by to bring this through under privileged resolution. Resonated with art 3 of 333 and VP beting drums of war against Iran.

Impeachment is the one remedy for this administration to stay the trip down the warpath. By taking it off the table, they (democratic leadership) are licensing the violation of the constitution and international law by pres and VP.  Neither leadership nor any other member of congress has the right to not do their constitutional duty.

When I hear: “We have more important things to do.”
I say “What?”
I hear “They’ll be gone in 14 months.”
I say: “They can do a lot of damage in that time. It doesn’t take long to attack a country that has no capacity to attack us.”

Each one of us has the responsibility and the honor to restore our nation.

John Nichols:
I don’t know what unnatural quirk of the planetary order has occured that would have me speaking after someone who should be the pres of the united states, but I will take it as an illustration of our democratic principles in this country that the president is second only to a citizen.

There are so many friends and comrades allies in this audience.

None of this happens without Dan DeWalt.

Liza Earle is a baker and day care provider, she had never gone to town meeting before. Came to some of our events, rustled up the courage to go to her town meeting to submit articles of impeachment

When we toured VT we thought New Englanders might not want to listen to out-of-staters, we suggested tht they should. This country would be tremendouasly well served to have aknowing and caring veteran to represent us in the Congress.

One of the other vets was Matt Howard.
Recently Matt went to Australia. The pres was there as well. Pres had gone to thank John Howard who was the Prime Minister of the time. He turned to prime minister and said “Thank you for sending the Austrian troops to Iraq.”

John Haward has been thrown out.

Matt told story of his service in Iraq. they went out of Kuwait city, after 1/2 hr of training. A young marine jumped out, raised his arm with a fist to say halt. Car stopped, father with children wife, relatives. Gave sign of solidarity (raised arm clenched fist. Pulled forward. Marines shot everyone in the car. Soldiers slept in the truck that night. Stirred in his sleep screaming. Matt said, “It’s ok, bad things happen in a war.”
Bad things don’t happen in a war, bad things happen when you send them unprepared, untrained.

120 soldiers a week now commit suicide.

When I hear stories like that, I despair.

When I hear our presendent speak and talk of more surge.

When I hear V{P casually discuss launching a more dangerous and deadly war against the more powerful and connected state of Iran.

When I see congress fail to uphold the end of the war.

When I see people come out from across New England in a rainy night. I realize I do not have the privilege.

Courage patriots, the rep is in danger, const is under attack, democracy itself undermined. We are teh descendants of those who fought a revolution against a king named George.

I say to you my name is JohnNichols and I want to impeach the pres and vp of US.

I want to impach for their attack on this cost of US. When they shred the const, undermine separation of powers. When they lied to congress,
because
they have spied on the american people.
because the const of the us gives us freedom in our homes from intervention

because they have sanctioned torture and extaord rendition.

Geneva conventions, but we don’t have to go to the gc, we have only to go to the 8th amendment.  When cheny authorizes, he commits and impeachable offense.

because what did to Wilson and Plame.
3rd article was for use of office to punish political foes.

When they used their office to punish Joe Wilson for speaking out, they committed impeachable offense.

I didn’t come up with these ideas myself. I read the notes to the const convention.

George Mason, author, wrote: No instrument in this document is more important than the power to impeach, for if we cede our power to impeach, we cede the ability to hold the president accountable. If we do not have power to impeach, we make him a king for 4 years.

Jefferson: without impeachment, we have a monarch for 4 years, with no difference between him and a king.

Oh, but it is a time of war, we must support the troops. We do support the troops. But keep in mind, Mason said: War is the true wet nurse of executive aggrandizement, to empty the treasury of resources …, destroy even the freedoms that the war was supposedly launched to defend.

Wars waged illegally and immorally are the highest of high crimes.

****This is a quote I need to get from prepared text. Very compelling, but couldn’t keep up.***

James K. Polk started the Mexican American war, claiming an attack by Mexico on America. A young congressman was elected from the Midwest, and went to Washington. He offended party the leaders.
He said from the well to the President: Show me the spot on which a single Mexican shed a single drop of American blood. If you cannot, then show me why you should not be removed from your office. When Polk did not do answer, congress censured James K Polk, we honor the troops but not the one who sent them to an immoral war.

You cannot attack the pres in a time of war. Cong replied: allow pres to invade a nation when he claims to see a potential for an attack, if you can fix any limit to his power in this respect, 

[need to get the rest of this quote….]

I was not elected to serve a king.

Abraham Lincoln.

Q: How do we change the mind of Peter Welch?
A (Kucinich): The people of Vermont can do that. Continue to talk to him.
A (Nichols): The force you use on this issue IS having an impact. The media will not tell you that.

Q: Why off the table?
A (Kucinich): it seems that the political calculus is that the more offenses pile up on this administration, the more republican loyalty will be brought to a lower and lower level.  I think it’s a cold calculating attempt in the way the democrats put ads on tv then turned around to fund the war.

Duplicity the word that was made for this moment.  The word duplicity has found its hour. We cannot permit this to count as governance.

It’s just incompetence.

Q: Welch voted for 1955:
In response: “The law doesn’t criminalize any activity.”
A: Trying to criminlaize thought.
Break down thought, word, deed, free speech. When you start to criminalize thought.

How did 400 congressman, after they read that bill pass it?

A: People don’t read these bills. You get a dozen bills, some a few pages, some a hundred. Comes from your side, and vote for it. It was a democrat’s bill – Jane Harmon’s bill. They don’t read the bill, they look at the title.

This is what we’re faced with.

You see gymnastics that are olympian, but pathetic in their implications.

A: Most of the pathologies in the patriot act. It was much harder to vote against the patriot act.

You now hear Chris Dodd talking about how much he loves the constitution. Then why didn’t he love it enough to vote against the patriot act. It mattered at the time when the votes happened.

Q: (missed this one)

Q: Many speakers have given reasons to impeach. We need to start thinking about them as the steps a government takes … towards dictatorship. It’s abd enough our pres tortures people. Once it starts moving from people in other countries, it’s going to creep toward us. Once that happens, nobody is going to stand up when people start being afraid of being tortured. We are the ones who are the victims, because our rights are at stake. It is to stop the next war, the current war, and preserve our constitution. We have to work so hard to build the movement, so we don’t go further down this path toward dictatorship (not a questin)

Q: Republicans were going to vote against tabling to embarass democrats. I was very confused. Looked into it. What could be embarrassing baout that?  When you investigate Cheney the people who should be embarrassed about it would be the republicans. I looked into it and came up with PACs, the big pacs are oil & gas. Wanted to expose the democrats as listening to the PACs that fund them instead of listening to the people, and embarrass the democrats in the eyes of their constituents.

I am not going to be afraid to be called a name for telling the democratic leadership to stop listening to the PACs, and start listening to us.

A: We are facing a culture of intimidation – torture, wire tapping to deprive people of civiol rights and liberties to make us apprehensive about speaking out for the constitution, civil liberties and this country. We don’t have the luxury of despair or of being intimidated.

A: In interviewed Bernstein: no question they should be impeached. Different now, the Congress is dramatically more bought than in the 1970s. But more serious is our media. Media is invested in power. On bendend knee media that does the work of the powerful. Reinforces those in power. They’ve played the media brilliantly.

Believe me, amazing things are happening.

The only thing that worries me, is our media.  We can roll over Congress. Our media is in a crisis media.

I don’t hear candidates talk about media reform.

It’s not just Fox and Murdoch and CBS and NBC. Recently I (Dan) spoke with public media head (alan ?). Let’s have a program about it.

No, it’s not an issue.

A: (Tim:) Visit AfterDowningStreet.org
Invite people like John N., David Swanson, and others to meetings like this. Begin those kitchen table conversations.

Ask you congress member to call for hearings in judiciary on HRes 333.

Q: Had an epiphany, had copies of sample resolution for impeachment. Fill in your town’s name, go to your town, and put it in for town meeting. Talked with Secretary for town: warrants closed. Guess what, they weren’t.

You have to stay on it, want to have it happen. Before I went to the 1st places, I was afraid of what people would say. When I sat with 500 people, I knew our Republic wasa bout done. It’s a very simple concept – we were separating ourselves from the monarchies. We would not kneel to a king and be strung up for asking why.

  In a republic, you are the sovereign, I am the sovereign. We don’t get down on our knees. We shouldn’t feel that someone else is going to do this for us.

Q: On media and impeachment, when Dennis Kucinich filed HRes 333, there was a blackout. Begged for a lawsuit against media. Overwhelming evidence of 911 being fixed. John N., please look at this and start writing about and publishing.

Prince Bandar says he warned Bush.

Q: How do we impart the passion we feel to the young people at the universities?
A: Get this question on every issue. Young people make a realistic choice not to be engaged in the political process because they see nothing come of it. SOmething you can do: Stop being PUNDITS. Biggest disease going: electability, how to succeed, no idealism. Young people respond to idealism – a promise that something real can happen. The candidate that has touched most young people: Ron Paul. When he stared Giuliani down and said there are reasons this country was attacked and 9/11 occurred, and people, young peple were watching and said “yeah! you’re right.”

Voting your conscience, acting upon your conscience, and making real the idealistic options. Young people look at older folks and see older folks compromising. If we don’t hold up higher ideals, we won’t get young people to believe that this is a savable political process. You will find that young people will be what you want them to be if you are what they want you to be.

A: At ISO, There were kids responding to what our country has never been and should be.

When we have actions not governed by “What won’t offend anybody” but by what do we need to do, the kids like it and get engaged.  They’re not so afraid of offending someone for a decent cause. I don’t think we’re going to pull this off without more kids. We have a long way to go. We need to stop limiting ourselves.

Q: Believe we need to be calling on a higher power and invoke the martyrs (Kennedy, Wellstone, etc.) who have given their lives, and we must honor them, because they really are with us.

A: We will only succeed if we truly believe that we will succeed and move forward and believe that we will succeed.

Q: I am a confused citizen. In any movement it’s important to understand the position of those who do not support the position in order to get them to change their position. Our democratic legislators seem to be sitting on the sidelines. Can you comment on the rationale for the dems to not stand up.

A: Too much money and not enough courage. I don’t know why my colleagues don’t think the way I do. I  got arrested and put in jail because I didn’t move. They asked all the questions – did she do this or that wrong? Answer was no.

Q: What are they afraid of?
A: The smear machine that kicks in when you stand up. Also have to face possibility that they’re members of the same team, but wearing different coat.
A: I do a lot of right-wing talk radio shows willingly for sheer sport of talking to conservatives. I talk about impeachment. I thin it’s relevant to this. I know you believe GB is touched by God. I believe he’s been touched as well. I know you believe he’ll do the right thing, but do you really want to hand those powers over to president Hillary Clinton. I’m always amused by the reaction.

I am afraid both like power, and like it so much, they don’t enjoy a discussion about disempowering the president because they’re afraid that we’ll start discussing disempowering others, too.

Jefferson envisioned the president becoming corrupted, the congress becoming corrupted, and even the media becoming corrupted. It is for that reason we rested all power in the people.

You’re the leaders, you guys have to do it.

A: In my darker moments I wonder what they might be afraid of: wiretapping, Sr. members of Democratic party were briefed on wiretapping.

Won’t be able to elect a democratic president because they won’t have Bush to kick around anymore.

We can’t address it by focusing on fear, we must address it on protecting the constitution, and handing down to the next gen a country they can be proud of like was handed to us.

Q: The 120 soldiers committing suicide per week: do those include returned or in-field?
A: Returned. Not all Iraq vets, there’s a dramatic surge in suicide. It’s the reason the administration and VA at fed level are not keeping unified set of stats.

I’ve interviewed returning troops – you can pluck someone off the battlefield who would have died, but the tragedy is survival in horrific condition. Part is because of that, but part is the mental agony from war.

Every single day we don’t just doom someone to die, we doom hundreds of young men and women to a future in which suicide will be a logical option. I counsel urgency because there are young men who will be ruined today, tomorrow, and every day we go forward. And that doesn’t count the innocent Iraqis.

A: Twice as many Vietnam vets have killed selves as were killed in the war.

A: I have worked with vets on PTSD. It’s no PTSD, it’s having a conscience. When they are asked to commit war crimes and atrocities, when they come home and suffer guilt, then to be told that they have a disorder, there’s something wrong. It’s when you have leaders who send you to commit these atrocities – that’s the disorder. 

Q: (John who’s walking to Pelosi’s office) MarchInMyName.org, give me pictures of you and your family to bring to Nancy Pelosi.

Q: My brother committed suicide on my birthday 2 years ago. We are all one. The thoughts and feelings are energy that permeates all of existence. Everyone who has lost loved one can understand that. I want people to realize that this world is terrifying the sensitive souls which exist here. They don’t want to express it in front of others because it “shows weakness.” I’m a radio operator, my call letters: W1JSB. I get on 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, to share with people.

Dan: Nancy (?) put this together.

Q: Tired of writing letters and emails to Congress. I think of other countries and when the get organized, they take to the streets. What’s it going to take for us to make a showing and be heard.

A: Original sin of this whole moment: when they were not going to count the votes in Florida. People went into the streets about that in other countries. We have another election coming and a horrible election coming up. We invite all the sins that flow from the moment they steal an election.

Q: to John Kaminsky
Parsed linear things (articles of impeachment). there must have been information on 9/11 – how were they discarded from the impeachment articles?
A: Didn’t know a lot about the questions til the last 3 – 4 months. I had been looking at so much other evidence and focused on putting together strong supportable case that took advantage of the evidence before us now.

We don’t have a lot of evidence in hanabout what really happened 9/11. My concern is a concern of urgency. We need to move forward now, with the case we have in our hands. I don’t mean to diminish the arguments on 9/11, I fear there would not be enough time during this administration’s time in office to accomplish a complete investigation of 9/11. I would hope next pres will appoint special prosecuter.

Q: Right of Revolution is in NH constitution (article 10) listed on back of tonight’s program. NH is the only state with the right of revolution.

In the California wildfire coverage, I came across a federal site with satellite images of fires throughout the world. I created a time-lapse movie of the images beginning january 1, 2007 and ending with the most recent image, from October 17. Images are created once every 10 days, and are a compilation of the daily images from that 10-day period. The current CA fires won't show up until the 28th.

The most interesting patterns seem to be the consistency of fires around deserts, and the mass of fire in and around the rainforest in S. America.

One has to wonder what these fires mean in terms of the desertification of the earth and the carbon in the atmosphere.

Long ago and far away in a land called America the President and his administration decided that they really, really wanted to bomb the bejeebers out of a country that posed no threat.

So they went to the Congress and asked “pretty please.”

They said the country needed to be bombed, because they had all these things that they shouldn't have, and that they were doing things they weren't doing, and that they were being run by a big meanie who tortured people and arrested without charges and left them to rot in prison with no trial. 

And the Congress, still shaken because bad guys took over some planes and committed a horrible act entirely unrelated to the country that the administration wanted to bomb, said, “Oh, OK.” and granted the President the right to use Military Force without asking Congress for permission.

Thre's more…

The President jumped up and down with glee and after pretending to follow the rules laid out in the authorization, started the bombing.

And many, many Innocent People died. Plus a few thousand soldiers. And twice as many people as were killed became refugees. Many of the refugees are starving and will probably die.

So the people in America decided it was time to end the war. Luckily, there was an election coming. And those who wanted to be elected had Strong Words so say about the war.  They promised, if elected to bring the war to an end. 

And the people in America worked hard, and elected many of those who said Strong Words about ending the war. And the people rejoiced. They were very excited, because the war was going end! 

But then the Strong Words didn't turn into Tough Votes to end the war. They told the people that their hard work hadn't been enough. The New Winners with Strong Words didn't have enough friends with Strong Words who would help them end the war. So they just went along and did what the Other Guys wanted.

The Other Guys, however, didn't like some of the other things the New Winners wanted to do. So they, even though there were even fewer of them, decided to not go along with the New Winners. They said “we won't let you! We'll just keep talking until you do what we want!” So the New Winners went along with the other guys, because the Other Guys have magical powers and don't need as many friends to get their way.

And then the Other Guys said, “Hey, guess what! We think the last authorization to use force worked out just swell!  And the President wants Even More Authorization. So we should give him one!  This one will be different, though, because we used a different letter in the name of the country!  It will be even gooder!”

And so, there was a vote in the Senate (which is one part of the Congress). A whole bunch of people, even some of the New Winners just went along. Because not going along would make the Other Guys Very Cranky. And when they get Very Cranky, they call the New Winners mean names.

So, now we're waiting for the other part of the Congress, called the House, to vote. They'll probably vote to give the President More Authorization, with a whole new letter in the country's name. 

But because it's different, we know he'd never, ever use it! The Other Guys are right. This President should get his way. The New Winners should just go along. 

The following members of the party of the New Winners did not choose to enable the Bush administration to decide unilaterally to  start a war with Iraqn:

   Biden (D-DE)
   Bingaman (D-NM)
   Boxer (D-CA)
   Brown (D-OH)
   Byrd (D-WV)
   Cantwell (D-WA)
   Dodd (D-CT)
   Feingold (D-WI)
   Hagel (R-NE)
   Harkin (D-IA)
   Inouye (D-HI)
   Kennedy (D-MA)
   Kerry (D-MA)
   Klobuchar (D-MN)
   Leahy (D-VT)
   Lincoln (D-AR)
   Lugar (R-IN)
   McCaskill (D-MO)
   Sanders (I-VT)
   Tester (D-MT)
   Webb (D-VA)
   Wyden (D-OR)

 All the rest of apparently thought that the last time they voted to give the President an Authorization to use force went just swimmingly.

Join us for a mini DemocracyFest, now with Anthony Pollina! 

Saturday, August 18, hosted by Jessica Falker in Pittsford, VT.

It's like a DemocracyFest event, but on a smaller scale with a less structured schedule. If you haven't been to a DemocracyFest event before, come find out what all the buzz is about! Contributions raised will help fund future Annual DemocracyFests.

Anthony Pollina will speak on Saturday afternoon at 4 PM.

For details: http://democracyfest…

Join us for education, celebration, films, food, on-site camping…and, more!!!

After days (weeks) of jumping through technological hurdles, we've bade i to and through the 1st Day of DemocracyFest. Today is the 2nd and last day.

I missed all but a couple of minutes of every speaker, but Odum's coverage allows me to “see” them vicariously. but that means I can't give any cool accounts of “Encounters with Greatness.”

We do have one of the most compelling speakers of the event coming up tonight, just before Dean (note, the rest of the event requires a ticket).  

 In 2004 Carlos Arredondo answered the door to find two men in uniform – waiting to tell him his son was dead. Alex had gone to Iraq and would never return home.  Carlos asked them to leave, and they refused. Learn abou Alex, about Carlos and Melida's (Alex's step mom) wonderful son, and their ongoing mission to end the conflict in Iraq. 

Carlos, Melida, and many others will be here today. Come join us!!!