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inadequate representation in Congress. With a list of "high crimes and misdemeanors" such as we have never before seen in this country, the leaders of the new Congress are forced to say "impeachment is off the table," because, realistically, they cannot achieve it. They CANNOT hold this Junta accountable. Nor can they stop the Iraq War, even with SEVENTY-PERCENT of the American people wanting it ended. Because our elections are still rigged in many ways, but most of all by the installation of direct rightwing corporate control over the results, by means of TRADE SECRET, PROPRIETARY programming code in all the new, fast-tracked electronic voting systems. People don't realize that that WAS the coup. And we can vote in big numbers and overwhelm the rigged electronics to a certain degree, and those who control the machines can let some steam out of the system as well, by permitting a craftily designed Democratic majority to win--a majority that contains a block of "Bushite Democrats"--like those who voted for torture and suspension of habeas corpus a few weeks ago--who will act as "swing votes" to defeat investigation, impeachment, an end to the war, and serious reform. And the upshot is that nothing changes.
To perpetrate unjust war, in a democracy, you have to rig the elections. That's what they've done. And until we change this--which I think can only be done at the state/local level--we are going to have war, and crippling military expenditures, and more death, whether we want it or not.
I wish Seymour Hersh would address himself to this issue. Why, with 70% of the American people wanting an end to the Iraq War--and with Bush/Cheney's numbers in the basement for two years now!--is this regime not only making NO effort to end the Iraq War, but are moving on to the NEXT war?
I think it's obvious. To the vast corruption in our campaign contribution/lobbying system, and the control of all news and opinion by 5 rightwing billionaire media mogul CEOs, has been added DIRECT, SECRET control over all vote tabulation. We have a Congress that has been sculpted to appear more representative, but which still has inadequate numbers to enforce the will of the American people. Further, the new Congress appears to have no will to re-assert the essential "balance of power" in our government. If they did, they would never have said "impeachment is off the table." They would have said that impeachment is always an option under the Constitution, and it is a DUTY of Congress, and a REQUIREMENT of Congressmembers' oath of office, to initiate impeachment proceedings when "high crimes and misdemeanors" are suspected. Further, Nancy Pelosi & company would be, today, drafting a new "Magna Carta" to be delivered to the White House on January 1, stating, in no uncertain terms, what the "balance of powers" means, and that Congress intends to RESTORE it.
That's what a truly representative Congress would be doing. But the new Congress is not showing any signs of doing that, and is instead showing every sign of acquiescence to an out-of-control executive, continued war in Iraq--more money ($120 BILLION more!), more troops (stripping us of our National Guard, turning U.S. soldiers into psychopaths and basket cases with multiple tours of duty)--and expanded war in the Middle East, which, according to a poll posted here at DU before the midterms, is opposed by EIGHTY-FOUR PERCENT of the American people!
What is this new Congress going to do when Bush/Cheney's operatives manufacture their "Gulf of Tonkin" incident with Iran? Nothing!
And I think the reason why is hidden in Diebold/ES&S's TRADE SECRET vote tabulation programming code in all the central tabulators in the nation.
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