The stench of "politics as usual" and the anger from below

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

By Sunsara Taylor
Online Journal Contributing Writer

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_1611.shtml

<snip>

The triumph of the new Democratic Congress on their first day and their promises of a "new direction" offered all the refreshment of Lysol dressing up the stench of rotting homes in New Orleans' Ninth Ward, of human waste and blood in the secret C.I.A. torture dungeons, and of the mangled bodies that are being chewed by dogs in the streets of of Baghdad.

Nancy Pelosi's much touted agenda for the first 100 hours of the new Congress made no mention of ending the war on Iraq, repealing the Military Commissions Act which legalizes torture and rips up habeas corpus, rebuilding New Orleans, or -- for all the talk of her chairmanship as a "great advance" for women -- taking on the assault on women's reproductive rights and basic equality.

Throughout their painstakingly choreographed first day in Congress, the horrors that the Democrats are working with the Bush Regime to push out of the public eye and the deep and widespread disgust of millions with these horrors kept bubbling up.

On January 4, millions of readers woke up to articles in the New York Times, Washington Post, New York Post and elsewhere with the exhilarating news of Cindy Sheehan seizing the microphone after Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emmanuel fled the disruption of his press conference by anti-war protesters. Emmanuel's smug arrogance about his "success" in turning the Democratic Party into one that is even less distinguishable from the Republicans -- by recruiting pro-war, anti-abortion, anti-gay candidates -- was challenged before his new Congress was even sworn in...

[WCGreen]

1. You , give 'em a fucking week before you start shreading them...

Huh, act like an adult...

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

2. Doesn't sound like you bothered to read the article.

[WCGreen]

3. I read what was put on the post...

I don't have time to read everything...

If the article was different than the post, maybe you should have chosen something more representive....

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

5. So if I understand you correctly...

...you've got time to read the first few paragraphs of an editorial, form an opinion condemning it, express that opinion informing the poster (me) that I need to behave like an adult, and then to respond to my questioning whether you even read the whole editorial (admitting that you didn't) -- but don't have time to read the whole editorial?

Adult behavior?

[midnight]

15. I like what I read in the first few paragraphs.

Adult behavior or not. Sounds right on to me.

[David Dunham]

4. Ms. Taylor sounds like a "my way or the highway" type, unrealsitic

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

7. To me she sounds like someone...

...exercising her right to protest an illegal war and occupation being carried on in her name, and with her tax dollars. I think she, like most Americans, would like to see Dem leadership become very forceful in calling for an immediate withdraw of our troops from Iraq.

[stevenleser]

8. David, you and Mr. Green have it spot on...

... I love these supposed Progressive types who have joined the conservative media pundits in Bashing the Democrats before they were seated and now on any statement that can be twisted into a reason to bash them without any solid facts behind them.

These folks have crossed the line dividing Progressives and rabid attack dogs.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

9. Are there any specifics in Ms Taylor's piece...

...you'd like to cite as supporting evidence of her alliance with conservative media pundits?

She doesn't sound too conservative to me.

What criticisms, or comments made in her piece do you consider to be inaccurate and/or unfair?

[stevenleser]

10. Everything is unfair

As Mr Green tried to tell you in the very first response, what day are we in of the new congress? (Hint, single digits)

Every statement on Iraq (or lack thereof) is proof according to the author that Democrats are siding with Bush Iraq policy.

This is insane reactionary drivel barely masquerading as legitimate commentary

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

11. Your response to her piece seems a bit reactionary to me...

...Why so thin skinned about criticism of Dem leadership?

She (like most Americans) would like an end brought to our participation in this illegal occupation and doesn't think Dem leadership has or is doing enough to bring that about. How is that position reactionary? And why do you choose not to specifically cite where you believe she is misguided or mistaken and develop your own counter argument?



.

[stevenleser]

13. Why the short response?

Trying to get comments in during work without cutting down on productivity. I thought what I wrote was enough. It should have been. Is anything I wrote unclear? Did she not indicate what I said she did?

Thought so

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

14. Perhaps after work you can find...

...time to give it a more thoughtful read and provide a fuller response.

I think you're letting your irritation with what you regard as Ms Taylor's unnecessary or cheap slaps at Dem leadership (clearly she's both passionate and angry) prevent you from a more thoughtful consideration of the overall content of her piece.

[badgerpup]

6. Er... this just landed in my emai five minutes ago.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/07/AR2007010701097.html?referrer=email

Democrats Revise Agenda To Deal With War in Iraq
With Bush to Announce New Plan, Domestic Policy No Longer Primary Focus

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 8, 2007; Page A04

Democratic leaders who had hoped to emphasize their domestic agenda in the opening weeks of Congress have concluded that Iraq will share top billing, and they plan on aggressively confronting administration officials this week in a series of hearings.

Pushed by House members who want a quick, tough response to the Iraq strategy President Bush is expected to announce this week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has backed off from her initial assertion that nothing should detract attention from the legislation she hopes to pass in the first 100 hours of House debate.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has altered the "first 100 hours" agenda of the House to take on the president's upcoming announcement of a new strategy for Iraq. (By Sarah L. Voisin -- The Washington Post)

Late last week, she summoned the chairmen of the Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, intelligence, Homeland Security, and Oversight and Government Reform committees to plot a series of hearings. On Thursday, Democrats will call Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to defend the war-strategy shift Bush will outline in a nationally televised speech.

A House Armed Services Committee hearing with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, planned for Jan. 19 was abruptly moved to this Thursday after consultations with Pelosi. And leadership aides went to work on a response to Bush's speech that they hope will be delivered on national television after the president's appearance.

In the Senate, the Foreign Relations Committee will hold hearings Wednesday on the current situation in Iraq, then grill Rice on the president's plan Thursday. Pace and Gates will go before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Friday.


(more)

I don't think they've dropped the ball quite yet, now....

[pberq]

12. Yes, it's an improvement - it shows they are listening

But I still agree with the OP - The Bush adminsitration has committed one crime after another, and these are not just little crimes. We are talking about the unnecessary deaths of thousands - crimes against humanity, war crimes, whatever you want to call it.

They belong in jail, not running this country, and it should be the top priority of the Dems to see that justice is carried out.

[ShortnFiery]

16. You can't play nice with cheats and thugs ... it's time to LOCK DOWN on

the run away Republicans and unilateral antics of OUR Executive Branch.

NEVER look away or back down, they'll eat you alive.