My editor, Paula Routly, went to the screening of the Nader documentary “An Unreasonable Man” at the Mountaintop Film Fest last week. Said it was great. Nader spoke to the audience afterwards via video feed. Here’s Paula’s report on it, which is buried in a column called Scene@, which appears in the calendar section of this week’s Seven Days.

I’ve just been on a conference call sponsored by the “Progressive States Network,” aimed at generating support for opposition to the Bush/McCain escalation of the war in Iraq. Joining the call was Senator Ted Kennedy, there to promote his bill requiring separate authorization for any such escalation, and most particularly for the funding of any such escalation.

But the main thrust of the call was to inform state level actors of their right and responsibility to speak out on this issue, even though it might be considered purely a matter of federal policy. State legislatures, we were reminded, can have a profound impact on Washington, and most especially on their representation in Congress. And it’s not as if such issues haven’t been addressed at the state level in the past. The PATRIOT Act, Social Security privatization, the genocide in Darfur, CAFTA and other trade agreements — all have been addressed in the recent past by state legislatures.

All fascinating, of course. And to no one’s surprise, there was no mention of impeachment, a subject about which four state legislatures have already seen resolutions introduced — almost all greeted with the same objection, often from both sides of the aisle, that it was “a federal issue.”

Well, next week — on the day President Bush delivers his State of the Union address, actually — New Mexico will become the fifth.

The resolution will be introduced by State Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque), along with cosponsor John Grubesic (D-Santa Fe). Democrats control both houses of the legislature: 24-18 in the Senate; 41-28 in the House. The signature of the Governor of New Mexico, Democrat Bill Richardson, is not required. Richardson is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 2008.

Text of the draft resolution follows:

  A JOINT RESOLUTION

  PETITIONING CONGRESS TO COMMENCE THE INVESTIGATION OF AND IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND VICE PRESIDENT RICHARD B. CHENEY.

  WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney conspired with others to defraud the United States of America by intentionally misleading congress and the public regarding the threat from Iraq in order to justify a war in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 371; and

  WHEREAS, George W. Bush has admitted to ordering the national security agency to conduct electronic surveillance of American civilians without seeking warrants from the foreign intelligence surveillance court of review, duly constituted by congress in 1978, in violation of Title 50 United States Code, Section 1805; and

  WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney conspired to commit the torture of prisoners in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Chapter 113C, the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Geneva Conventions, which under Article VI of the United States constitution are part of the “supreme Law of the Land”; and

  WHEREAS, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney acted to strip American citizens of their constitutional rights by ordering indefinite detention without access to legal counsel, without charge and without the opportunity to appear before a civil judicial officer to challenge the detention, based solely on the discretionary designation by the president of a United States citizen as an “enemy combatant”, all in subversion of
  law; and

  WHEREAS, in all of this, George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney have acted in a manner contrary to their trust as president and vice president, subverting constitutional government to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of New Mexico and of the United States of America; and

  WHEREAS, petitions from the country at large may be presented by the speaker of the United States house of representatives, according to Clause 3 of House Rule XII; and

  WHEREAS, Section 603 of Thomas Jefferson’s Manual on Parliamentary Practice and of the Rules of the United States House of Representatives states that impeachment may be set in motion by charges transmitted from the legislature of a state;

  NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney, by such conduct, warrant impeachment and trial and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to cause to be instituted in the congress of the United States proper proceedings for the investigation of the activities of George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney, to the end that they may be impeached and removed from their offices; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of state be instructed to certify and transmit to the speaker of the United States house of representatives and the clerk of the United States house of representatives, under the great seal of the state of New Mexico, a copy of this resolution and its adoption by the legislature of the state of New Mexico. The copies shall be marked with the word “Petition” at the top of the document and contain the original authorizing signature of the secretary of state.

State legislators in Vermont considering such a resolution already know that they’re not alone, having seen similar resolutions introduced last year in Illinois,  California, and Minnesota.

This year, not only will New Mexico be joining the ranks, but a major drive will be on for state legislatures all over the country to do for the war exactly what you may have been told you had no right to do on impeachment.

And if you’re interested in challenging that notion with respect to the war, too, you’ll find a model resolution at the Progressive States Network site, here.

Dear Democratic Party,

You guys (and gals) are out of your (well intentioned) minds.

Today Barck Obama announced he was filing exploratory paperwork and considering a run for President. You need to stop his silliness this right now.

Barack is as ready to be President of the United State as George W. Bush was in 1999. Yes, that’s right – George W. Bush.

Remember 1999? Bill Clinton was at the end of his final term and Clinton fatigue had settled over the country. The Republican Party, so tired and disgusted after 8 years of Bill, was desperately searching for someone, anyone, who was the anti-Clinton.

Along came the plain speaking Cowboy Governor of Texas who talked of compassionate conservatism and restoring dignity to the office of the Presidency.

Restoring dignity, ah what a campaign platform!

The Republican Party (and then the whole country) brushed aside questions about the Cowboy Governor’s lack of experience: “Experience? Shit boy, W has had two terms as Texas’ Governor and their ain’t nothing finer than Texas!”

Then the Republican Party (and then the whole country) brushed aside questions about the Cowboy Governor’s campaign platform: “Issues? Shit boy, W has said he’s for restoring dignity to the Office of the Presidency. Ain’t that enough? What are you, a Log Cabin Republican?”

We all know how the Cowboy Governor worked out.

Which brings us to Barack.

In 2007 this country has a serious case of Bush fatigue. Both political Parties (and everyone in the country with the exception of Barney and Laura) are looking for an anti-Bush in ’08.

Along comes the plain talking Senator Hunk of Illinois who talks of “a different kind of politics” and the nation’s “hunger for change”.

Said Senator Hunk when he filed the exploratory paperwork today:

  “I certainly didn’t expect to find myself in this position a year ago. I’ve been struck by how hungry we all are for a different kind of politics. So I’ve spent some time thinking about how I could best advance the cause of change and progress that we so desperately need.”

Hallelujah! This HAS GOT to be our man! What depth. What detail. What Compassionate Liberalism!

Obama’s for C-H-A-N-G-E!

Give me a C…

And, just as the Cowboy Governor was a proud hick beloved by his hick loving activist base, Senator Hunk is African-American, an added bonus for limousine liberals activists who would no longer have to snag token black friends from corporate America.

Ah the irony.

And so my Democratic Party friends I ask you, can we really afford another 8 years of Compassionate anything?

In the world we live in, having a President who is policy-lite is not a good thing.

Write Robert Gibbs and David Axelrod a letter and tell them how you feel. They’ll still love you in the morning.

Obama is running for President. As if we didn’t know that already, but – you know…

And that’s why I wanted to tell you first that I’ll be filing papers today to create a presidential exploratory committee. For the next several weeks, I am going to talk with people from around the country, listening and learning more about the challenges we face as a nation, the opportunities that lie before us, and the role that a presidential campaign might play in bringing our country together. And on February 10th, at the end of these decisions and in my home state of Illinois, I’ll share my plans with my friends, neighbors and fellow Americans.

IMO, he’s the odds on favorite at this point, but keep an eye on Edwards…

One Tin Soldier

Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,

It is the Bush war, not an American or Vermonter war.  We have no responsibility but to withdraw all troops NOW.  The fact that yet another post WW I faux state is falling apart is just that — a commentary on the hubris of that war and era. 

If Wilson, Lloyd George etc. were blinded by hubris, Bush is only blinded by sheer evil and stupidity. 

Yes, it would be nice if Iraq fell apart the way the Czechs and Slovaks divorced, but it was never to be.

Think of it this way.  No weapons of mass destruction, no Saddam.  False alarm.

Even more it was the commander in chief who called in the false alarm.

No one penny more.  Not one person more.  No more lies!  NO MORE

The New York Times and CBS reported this weekend, “According to U.S. military figures, 198 American and British soldiers have been killed, and more than 600 wounded by advanced explosive devices MANUFACTURED IN IRAN and smuggled in through the southern marshes and along the Tigris River.”

but the UK’s Independent wrote on Sunday “…soldiers, who were targeted by insurgents as they traveled through [Iraq], died after being attacked with bombs triggered by infra-red beams. The bombs were developed by the IRA using technology passed on by the security services in a botched ‘sting’ operation more than a decade ago. THIS CONTRADICTS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S CLAIM THAT iRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD IS HELPING SHIA INSURGENTS TO MAKE THE DEVICES.
http://kurtnimmo.com…

There’s more (if you have the stomach for it)
 

“The Independent on Sunday can also reveal that the bombs and the firing devices used to kill the soldiers, as well as two private security guards, were initially created by the UK security services as part of a counter-terrorism strategy at the height of the troubles in the early 1990s. According to security sources, the technology for the bombs used in the attacks, which were developed using technology from photographic flash units, was employed by the IRA some 15 years ago after Irish terrorists were given advice by British agents.”

“IN FACT, THE DEVICES WERE MADE IN AMERICA. ‘In late 1993 and early 1994, I went to America with officers from MI5, the FRU and RUC special branch. They had already sourced the transmitters and receivers in New York following liaison with their counterparts in the FBI,’ Kevin Fulton, who infiltrated the IRA in the Newry area while being handled by the Force Research Unit, told [Ireland’s] Sunday Tribune in June, 2002. Fulton’s trip was confirmed by the FBI, according to Matthew Teague, writing for the Atlantic. The Independent on Sunday ‘has also spoken to a republican who was a senior IRA member in the early 1990s. He confirmed that Mr. Fulton had introduced the IRA to the new technology and that the IRA shared this with ‘like-minded organizations abroad.'”

Is there any doubt we’re at war with Iran now, with more facts ‘cooked’ by Bush and lapdog Tony Blair again?  According to Friday’s Washington Post,  “last month, U.S. forces seized two senior Iranians — Brig. Gen. Mohsen Chirazi and Col. Abu Amad Davari — in the first round of raids. Chirazi is the No. 3 official in the al-Quds Brigade and the highest ranking Iranian ever held by the United States”.

Yesterday’s raids were both in Irbil, a Kurdish city in northern Iraq. One was carried out at 3 a.m. on the Iranian Liaison Office, which is used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a local headquarters, U.S. officials said. Kurdish officials said U.S. troops came in helicopters. They disarmed the security guards, broke through the gate, entered the building and detained six men, Iranian officials told the Iranian news agency. One was later released.  Another raid was at the Irbil airport, where U.S. forces tried to detain people until Kurdish troops intervened — and almost ended up in a confrontation with U.S. troops, said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. “A massacre was avoided at the last minute,” he said. A U.S. official confirmed that the incident nearly resulted in U.S. and Kurdish allies firing at one another”.

If these aren’t acts of war, I don’t know what is. Add to this more warships off the coast of Iran, and we are doomed.

Call Leahy, Sanders and Welch first thing Monday morning to stop this insanity!  No more blood for oil!

Barbara

Happy weekend all. And happy football.

Over at Greenmountainpolitics1 I typed out this little missive. Though this wonderful community might enjoy.

Yeah, I have opinions.

http://greenmountain…

Passing this along to anyone interested…

VERMONT SAYS END THE WAR IN IRAQ!
Saturday, January 20th 2007 10 am
Montpelier, VT USA

Website: http://www.unitedfor…

Gather: 10 am- Montpelier City Hall
March to Statehouse:10:30 am
Rally at Statehouse: 11 am
Speak out in VT on Jan 20… speak out in D.C. on Jan 27.
VERMONT SAYS BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!VERMONT SAYS CONGRESS STOP FUNDING THE WAR!

Location:
Montpelier City Hall and VT State House Main St and State St Montpelier VT 05602

Contact:
Debra Stoleroff
debra@vtlink.net

Sponsored By:
PeaceVermont, US-Law, VT Peace and Justice Center, Central VT Peace and Justice, VT- AFSC, Central VT WILPF, Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel, Green Mtn Veterans for Peace, Iraq Vets for Peace, ISO, UVM Students Against the War, Middlebury Students Against the War, Johnson State College Students Against the War, many other peace and justice organizations in Vermont.

We are amazed but not amused
By all the things you say that you’ll do

Though much concerned but not involved
With decisions that are made by you

But we are sick and tired of hearing your song

Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong

‘Cause if you really want to hear our views

“You haven’t done nothing”!

It’s not too cool to be ridiculed

But you brought this upon yourself

The world is tired of pacifiers

We want the truth and nothing else

And we are sick and tired of hearing your song

Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong

‘Cause if you really want to hear our views

“You haven’t done nothing”!

Jackson 5 join along with me say

Doo doo wop – hey hey hey
Doo doo wop – wow wow wow
Doo doo wop – co co co
Doo doo wop – naw naw naw
Doo doo wop – bum bum bum
Doo doo wop

We would not care to wake up to the nightmare

That’s becoming real life

But when misled who knows a person’s mind

Can turn as cold as ice

Why do you keep on making us hear your song

Telling us how you are changing right from wrong

‘Cause if you really want to hear our views

“You haven’t done nothing”!

Jackson 5 sing along again say

Doo doo wop
Doo doo wop – oh
Doo doo wop – co co co
Doo doo wop – sing it baby
Doo doo wop – bum bum bum
Doo doo wop – um
Sing it loud for your people

Doo doo wop – um um um
Doo doo wop – stand up be counted, say

Doo doo wop – co co co
Doo doo wop – ow
Doo doo wop – bum bum bum
Doo doo wop – ah hum