What's It Gonna Take?

[NanceGreggs]

Okay, I admit it.

Sometimes I’m too trusting, too believing, too optimistic. And sometimes I’m just ridiculously naïve.

I remember seeing comments a few years ago – frequent comments – that “if George W. Bush ate a live baby on the White House lawn, he’d get away with it.”

At the time, I thought that was over-the-top rhetoric. Now I’m beginning to believe there’s some truth to the concept behind those kinds of remarks.

It’s not that I think he would actually eat a live baby – because even if he wanted to, surely the GOP would stop him. And that’s not because they necessarily care about babies (which they don’t, once they’ve left the womb), but simply because the Fundies might frown on such behavior, and that’s a voting block the Republicans don’t want to lose to non-baby-eating Democrats.

But short of that, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the little puppet, "PNACchio", can do anything and get away with it – and I do mean anything.

He has plundered our treasury, given tax-cuts to the wealthy, and corporate welfare to Big Oil, Big Pharma and Big Business as they rake in record-breaking profits at the expense of the working middle-class.

He has repeatedly lied – and been caught doing so. He has entangled the country in two unwinnable wars, enriched and empowered his cronies, plunged the country into unprecedented debt, broken the law, ignored the Constitution, and lost the loyalty of our traditional allies while garnering the enmity of the world.

In addition, he has not only condoned torture but signed its use into law. He has spied on American citizens, eroded the very freedoms he swore to defend and uphold, and incited the enemies of our country to become more violent, more incensed against democracy, and has given them more reason than ever before to hate everything we stand for – and, in doing so, has rendered the nation less safe from foreign attack than in any time in our history.

As if the aforementioned wasn't enough, he is a public embarrassment who can’t string more than four words together without sounding like an idiot. He consistently ignores sound advice when proferred because, in his unbridled arrogance, Mr. AWOL considers himself to be an expert on military strategy, Mr. Doesn’t-Read-the-Newspapers holds himself out as the last word in current affairs – and, as The Decider, he has decided that he need not answer to anyone, no less the citizens who employ him to do their bidding.

All of which leads to the ultimate question: Exactly what is it going to take before someone – anyone – puts a stop to this madness?

Impeachment off the table? Exactly what table are you elected representatives – Republican and Democrat – sitting at? Is it the kiddie table perchance, you know the one you are relegated to because you have been deemed too immature to interact with the thinking, well-informed adults?

It would seem so.

I realize that even when you’re seated with the children, there are political niceties that are traditionally observed. You are expected to not fling peas at each other, or wipe your mouth on your sleeve.

But for the love of God, do you really think it is your place to watch the man seated at the head of the table set fire to the dining room while you calmly discuss whether the fish fork or the salad fork is the more appropriate utensil for the shrimp cocktail?

In case you haven’t noticed, our country is in dire straits – militarily, economically, and morally. While you’re busying yourselves talking about political etiquette, our sons and daughters are dying in Iraq, along with hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis – you know, the ones we are supposedly liberating.

While you’re weighing the impact of your actions on your future political careers, the taxpayers’ dollars – weighed in tons – are potentially disappearing into the pockets of the very people we are allegedly fighting.

While you’re discussing the embarrassment you might cause this out-of-control president, he is embarrassing all of you – along with our entire country – as he goes along his merry way, dismantling the very foundation this country was built upon.

Wake up, people! This isn’t about right or left, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat – this is about our country and its survival.

What is it going to take? George W. Bush eating a live baby on the White House lawn?

I’m beginning to think even that would only elicit a furrowed-brow photo-op, and a sternly worded letter that amounted to tsk-tsk, shame-on-you, Mr. President, while you slink off to your offices with a bevy of consultants to discuss whether you had gone too far in verbalizing your displeasure.

Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? If you, the elected representatives of our country’s citizens, don’t have what it takes to speak up on our behalf and stop the madness that has engulfed the highest office of our nation, step aside and allow us to do your job for you.

Fling open the doors of the House, the Senate, the Oval Office and we will be there, in the millions, to show you how it’s done.

We, the People of the United States of America, have had enough.

So either DO your job, or pack your bags and go home.

[Q]

1. There is one reason why there won't be an impeachment...

...DLC and the 'new' Democrats. It's not just that they're spineless...they want many of the things that Bush has brought (bought) for the upper classes. They also like the fact that Bush has ushered in the age of politicians accountable to no one.

The two party system is dead in America. Controlling America is the far-right and their silent partners...the New Democrats.

[midnight]

18. What organization is Howard Dean chairman of?

Who are the New Dems?

[ktlyon]

28. It is the people that have allegiance to corporations.

Right or left it is all about the money.

[seafan]

2. It's now time for massive demonstrations outside the Capitol Building.

Thank you for this essay, Nance.


This has gone on long enough. This incessant dithering by our leadership is unacceptable. Our fighting men and women, along with countless innocent Iraqis are dying and becoming permanently maimed in massive numbers, every single day that passes.


We The People spoke in November, 2006. We want OUT OF IRAQ. AND WE WANT OUT NOW.


While members of Congress pussyfoot around on *the proper way* to proceed, dither with nonbinding resolutions, kowtow to foreign lobby groups that would like nothing better than to stampede our military into yet another war, America is dying a convulsing death of neglect.


Congress, get out of your leather chairs and put a stop to this man who claims to be president. He is nothing but the illegitimate result of an unprecedented ruling of a poisonously partisan Supreme Court. He has almost destroyed our Constitutional form of government and is a psychopathic murderer.


Start impeachment proceedings against this president and vice president, and start them now.


Or get out of our way.

[NanceGreggs]

4. Thanks YOU, seafan!

You might consider posting that as a separate thread - well said!

[chknltl]

9. YES YES YES!!!

WE THE PEOPLE need not stand for this. WE THE PEOPLE fueled the removal of RMN from power...WE THE PEOPLE can do it again! IMPEACHMENT is our duty!

A famous statesman once said: If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem!

[Greyhound]

31. That quote is attributed to Sidney Harris, a journalist, what statesman

are you referring to?

[chknltl]

38. I had seen it attributed to JFK but wondered about that

...so I left his name out. It just never sounded like something JFK would have said. I do not know this Sidney Harris... great quote he made. Now I'll know who to credit it to. (After I see what else he had to say that is...thanks)

on edit: I found many quotes by Sidney Harris but alas not that particular one.
In another link I found:

"You are either part of the solution or part of the problem"
Eldridge Cleaver

After doing a Wiki on him, (at least I had heard of him but I knew nothing about him), I decided that he was not what I would call a statesman. He was a MODEL republican in his later years...(well I am being snarky there). The things I learned about him in Wikipedea seem pretty outlandish.

That said, I am not so sure how I feel about quoting EC if those things ARE true about him. Perhaps his quote was adopted from Sidney Harris's quote...I could live with that!
Thanks for the question, it prompted me to get of my *** and do a little research.

[Bobbie Jo]

37. Torches and Pitchforks

Message: We brought you here, we can TAKE YOU OUT, and If you're not willing to do the job, we'll find someone who will. :grr:

[chknltl]

39. I like that image

"Torches and Pitchforks" and dissenters on the Whitehouse lawn!!! :thumbsup:

[stellanoir]

3. 3rd rec

You go girl.

And hey Nance. . .

Did you ever here the quotation from *'s mom when she was first (akhtem) lady in regards to a seating arrangement once when the Queen of England was in attendance for a State Dinner? I don't remember it verbatim and am two computers past easy access to it. It was something to the effect of. . . he had to be seated at the far side of the table because he'd cause far too much embarrassment if he was was anywhere closer.

Then far later, his stupid heavily secured choppers trashed the Queen's rose gardens when he went to Buckingham Palace. Enormous protests ensued and he brought his own chefs and 1000 security agents that were a total pain with which the Brits (our primary allies) had to contend. Again, that was I believe in November of '03 but can't verify easily. (modem issues)

I posed this question on election eve of '00. "Why should we afford him the privilege that even his mother would not?"

I should have posted it far sooner. Yikes.

Beautifully done as ever dear.

best and keep it up

[NanceGreggs]

5. That's a GREAT story, stellanoir!

Thanks for sharing it here!

[stellanoir]

16. The image of him "eating babies on the WH lawn" reminds me of why the

psychological and psychiatric communities so often brings up the totally deviant urge of why he blew up frogs with fireworks and derived such pleasure from it as a kid after his folks went golfing and his sister died. They had no funeral for her. Not a healthy family complex at all.

It's just sad and has had horrific reperussions.

We can fix 'em I swear.

[seafan]

6. Our boorish pResident

Monday, November 24, 2003. Page 8.

Five Chefs and the Queen
By Matt Bivens

Ten years ago, George W. Bush was just the president's smirky son, and his mother warned him sternly he was not to speak to the Queen of England when she visited. As a Washington Post article explained then, "The family never knows what he'll say in polite society."

Dubya ignored his mom. He showed up at the White House in cowboy boots made for the occasion that said "God Save the Queen" on each foot. He asked Lizzie -- sorry, the Queen -- who the black sheep was in her family. Dubya's mom appeared "out of nowhere," according to the Post, to cut in with "Don't answer that!"

<...>

And from Salon:

November 25, 2003

India, Seema Sirohi in Outlook India

This White House gets what it wants -- even from the Queen of England ... No other U.S. president has stayed inside the royal compound, and she has met 11 of them in her time...
Clearly ... her first impression of Bush . In 1991, Bush famously appeared wearing cowboy boots at a White House dinner given by his father for the Queen and cheerily informed her of the inscription on the heels: "God save the Queen." A frosty frown appeared on the royal brow, an eon passed, many feet shuffled all around. Convinced that understatement or sarcasm would be lost on the man standing before her, the Queen asked bluntly: "Are you the black sheep of your family?" Bush replied in the affirmative and shot back: "Who's the black sheep in your family?"...

Wonder what infuriated her more -- Bush's boorishness or the abundance of black sheep in her family.

This time the Queen ... had to receive him with the highest pageantry, even as her subjects were screaming "bloody murderer" next door.
So why did he inflict himself on an unwilling people? It is not like he is an easy guest to handle. When the US president travels, 700 others travel with him as does his limo, missile bearing planes, black hawks, guns, snipers, medical units and truck loads of communication equipment. A whole city really...

But Bush's political managers don't care a hoot. They were in it for the photo op. They wanted the ultimate backdrop as 2004 nears -- Bush and the Queen riding into the sunset proving to the American voters the incumbent knows a few foreigners, has traveled a bit, and can hold his own on the world stage. In those impending campaign ads that will surely talk about Iraq, Bush will be seen standing next to Tony Blair and supping with the Queen. She is one international figure the American public can recognize and she has cachet here.

Karl Rove, Bush's powerful political strategist, knew that no other visit could produce the definitive clip that this one could ... Ken Livingstone, the left-leaning mayor of London, had it just right when he asked the Republican National Committee to pay for what was certainly the most extensive security curtain dropped on London for any visitor -- since it is for Bush's political benefit.

23 November 2003
GROUND FARCE 1

Queen's fury as Bush goons wreck garden

Exclusive By Terry O'Hanlon

THE Queen is furious with President George W. Bush after his state visit caused thousands of pounds of damage to her gardens at Buckingham Palace.
Royal officials are now in touch with the Queen's insurers and Prime Minister Tony Blair to find out who will pick up the massive repair bill. Palace staff said they had never seen the Queen so angry as when she saw how her perfectly-mantained (sic) lawns had been churned up after being turned into helipads with three giant H landing markings for the Bush visit.
The rotors of the President's Marine Force One helicopter and two support Black Hawks damaged trees and shrubs that had survived since Queen Victoria's reign.

And Bush's army of clod-hopping security service men trampled more precious and exotic plants.
The Queen's own flock of flamingoes, which security staff insisted should be moved in case they flew into the helicopter rotors, are thought to be so traumatised after being taken to a "place of safety" that they might never return home.
The historic fabric of the Palace was also damaged as high-tech links were fitted for the US leader and his entourage during his three-day stay with the Queen.

The Palace's head gardener, Mark Lane, was reported to be in tears when he saw the scale of the damage.
"The Queen has every right to feel insulted at the way she has been treated by Bush," said a Palace insider.
"The repairs will cost tens of thousands of pounds but the damage to historic and rare plants will be immense. They are still taking an inventory.
"The lawns are used for royal garden parties and are beautifully kept. But 30,000 visitors did not do as much damage as the Americans did in three days.

.....

"Some of the roses, flowers and shrubs damaged are thought to be rare varieties named after members of the Royal Family and planted by the Queen Mother and Queen.
"Other Royals had their own favourite parts of the garden as children and some of those areas have been damaged."

[stellanoir]

14. Thanks for the backup.

I'm a cyber ninnie really. But I've a steel trap memory at times.

Tis nice to be affirmed.

I knew I didn't imagine all of that crap. I've far better things to do with my imagination. LOL

[Larry Ogg]

26. Queen's fury as Bush goons wreck garden! That is funny, it reminds me of the macho man photo op on

his ranch ware he’s clearing the brush and sawing that tree. “Woo, that’s hard work” he said. Yup, Bush the bush whacker, whacker of many bushes… Texas sage brush, knotty pine, royal gardens we do it all… he he he…! Ha Queen, ya think that’s bad? You should see what I did to America… he he… and Iraq… he he he…

[2008]

7. oh HELL yes

never been in such a hurry to recommend a thread

:grr:

[bleever]

8. "PNACchio"

will never be a real boy, because he wasn't made with love.

He was created out of greed, ignorance, and malice.

His nose is already too long for his feet.

TIMMM-BERRRRR!


Nice chopping, Nance.

[glitch]

27. PNACchio is really perfect. It beats all the others,

even *, lil boots, mad monkey king and commander bunnypants.

[chknltl]

10. Thank you NanceGreggs

When enough of WE THE PEOPLE agree with you there will come a tipping point...one our (cough) leaders will not be able to ignore. KEEP PUSHING!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

11. K & R. 60 days later, I'm right there with you. You speak for so many, thanks for that.

:kick: MKJ

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NanceGreggs]

19. When it comes to hypocrisy and double standards ...

... we can't possibly beat the Republicans -- they invented that game.

"demflehm" ... interesting user name.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Nance, I think they're waiting on us

So let's show them how it's done.

When shall we storm the Capitol, break down the doors and tell the House of Representatives to impeach the bastards and be quick about it.



Liberty Leading the People (1830) by Eugène Delacroix
From the website of the University of Southern California

[NanceGreggs]

20. I've always been an advocate ...

... of changing the system from within. But I am losing hope.

I still believe in my fellow citizens.

But my government, my elected representatives? Not so much these days.

[AtomicKitten]

15. I too wonder what it is going to take.

What is it going to take? George W. Bush eating a live baby on the White House lawn?

It would be spun that the baby was hunted by this guy, and then deemed somehow to be perfectly within protocol.

[cascadiance]

17. I hate to say this, but perhaps an act of domestic terrorism?

To those NSA types looking here, I CERTAINLY would NEVER advocate this, but there are all kinds of minds out there, and with more and more Americans getting pissed off daily, I think it's just a matter of time before someone with a Timothy McVeigh mindset, though perhaps leaning towards our sentiments on many things might decide to go the extra mile and do something like blow up a building at Halliburton, congress, or something similar that would kill some people and perhaps shock us into knowing that this government is REALLY starting to push things too far, and taking too much for granted our "complacency" and not wanting to upset the apple cart. As I noted, I certainly wouldn't endorse such things to happen, even if they were to just "target the bad guys", but I think it might just be a matter of time before someone loses their temper a bit too much and goes off the deep end in this fashion. We're pushing a lot of different people to very serious angry states now.

In a way, you might say that this has already happened, albeit without costs of human life with some of the recent fires started by what many have been calling the ecoterrorist group Earth Liberation Front (ELF) which burned down a being built home development complex here in La Jolla a year ago or so. These guys have been trying to just cause economic damage so far, but its just a matter of time before someone I think makes it more like Oklahoma City. I dread what the response would be, as I wonder if the next round of Patriot Act updates would really make this a police state if that were to happen. Then we would be rounded up for detention centers if we participated in anti-war protests, etc. I fear.

But if America doesn't wake up and if nothing is done even though we pound the pavement every day for various protests and they all get ignored, someone may feel that this sort of act needs to happen to wake people up. I hope we don't have to wait that long!

[JeffR]

21. Goethe: "Art is long, life short, judgment difficult, opportunity transient."

As you've emphasized here, the time for Democrats to act is now. I believe it's happening, though it could never happen fast enough to suit me. I also believe the end result of that action may not be as final and just and definitive as I - as millions of us - would like. But, short of the revolution I believe has been overdue in America since at least 1968, this is what we have.

Warily, I'll take things as they unfold for now. But revolution was and is preferable to the status quo. Some forward-thinking Americans felt that way in 1776, and some do in 2007.

[blondie58]

22. yep, you speak for me, Nance

I am tired of the Dems being polite and cautious about which direction to turn.

It is true, the Democratic party is spineless. We need men like Jim Webb to state the truth without any thought of political repurcussions. This man took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and what has he done? He has used it as toilet paper. I want him to be held accountable for what he has done. I want my old country back. This is not America- well, at least not the America that I grew up in.

We must not be silent anymore. Now is the time for action. Thank you for stating, one again, what I really feel. Everytime that I read one of your rants, it spurs me to action. Yeah, she is right. That is what has happened. The outrage. He must be stopped.

[emanymton]

23. The System Has Been Gamed. It May Take A While, ...

but I believe, as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has said, - even the strongest tyrant eventually falls. The system has to be fixed by being brought done a notch or two.

When this happens, I hope shrub and Co. do not get away with their evil malfeasance though!

Do not give up NanceGreggs. It ain't over yet. Not by a long shot.

[tk2kewl]

24. He saved the baby!

Just in case you haven't seen this old video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uo-9bFJcRM

[ieoeja]

25. "If a Democrat had been president, that baby would have been aborted."

That's how the Rightwing noise machine would excuse it. Democrats would rush to defend their position on reproductive freedom. And we would spend an entire week long news cycle on baby-killing Democrats versus baby-eating Republicans.

The NRA and PETA-lite would even have us thinking Democrats are bad for not "eating their kill".

[badgerpup]

29. K & R...and I'll TELL ya what it's gonna take.

Just let it get out...starting on FAUX... that Bush is going to confiscate ALL the iPods, or xBoxes, or other hi-tech goodies that we can't seem to function without...
and it'll be torches and pitchforks time faster than you can say "What the....?"
:nuke: :grr: :banghead: :cry:


As always, you've nailed it. :patriot::applause::yourock:





:kick:

[nolabels]

30. Who knows, nobody knows, I don't know but we will all know it when it comes

The tragedy of life often has long chapters. It always could be worse and the wanting for better is often one of the main reasons it hurts. Respect is earned over time but is hard to win back and yet some still seem to think the end would always be better than the here and now. Too bad for them, because we only have the here and now. No matter where or who or why you are what you are, you or no matter how many of you's there are, you cannot change the 'now'. And that is why I and you should be comfortable and acknowledge the fact that we are living with the here and 'now'.

The sun will set and rise just as long as we stand still long enough to see it happen

[Danger Mouse]

32. Not until the dems grow some of these...

if they want to keep rolling over for bush, we'll just keep getting more of the same...

[In Truth We Trust]

33. IMPEACH NOW! Let there be rule of law or fascism forever. k&r

[mnhtnbb]

34. I was ready to storm DC in 2000. I'm ready now. Who's going to organize

a continuous presence in the halls of Congress until these bozos get the message that Bush/Cheney must be impeached?

[rhett o rick]

35. Nancy you're the best. We have to get control of the democratic party.

Take it away from those that are content with the way things are going. A good democrat would speak up against what Bushco is doing to Jose Padilla. Or against lobbying or corporate control of Congress, etc. Democracy is going down the drain and most democratic Congress members are pretty calm about it. I want more outrage. The public won't understand the outrage if our democratic leaders aren't themselves outraged at this movement into tyranny.

On the local level we need to take control of the party. For example it is probably impossible to replace Sen Cantwell. the State and national democratic party are happy with her and will back her because she is an incumbent. therefor making it almost impossible to bring someone up to replace her. Someone that will support democracy and the middle class. What happened to Lieberman was an exception.

[rhett o rick]

36. It will take a revolution. I don't see much of a turn-around in site.

Yes the democrats are making some progress but have a long way to go. Besides Bushco has broken ground into tyranny. It will be easier for the next tyrant to do the same. An American citizen was arrested and tortured for almost two years and hardly any reaction from the so called citizens of this Country. Next time they do it will be easier and so forth.

[Holly_Hobby]

40. 100% correct - but what are we going to do about it?

This people of this country have to step up to the plate. There is no Saviour coming to bail our asses out of this mess. The knight in shining armor is a fairy tale.

There are 298,000,000 people in this country. Think about what kind of power that is. But yet, we feel we're doing our part if we vote.

Voting doesn't work, as witnessed by the lack of action by the Dems since the November vote. They aren't representing us - we want the war to stop and all of the oppressive legislation passed against US citizens in the past 6 years rolled back. Isn't that taxation without representation?

It's tea time.