Congressman Grayson: And For What! (Attacks the Military Industrial Complex)

[democracy1st]

Run time: 04:35 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzh6WUxyRv0   Posted on YouTube: March 10, 2010 By YouTube Member: MoxNewsDotCom Views on YouTube: 205   Posted on DU: March 11, 2010 By DU Member: democracy1st Views on DU: 4445

 
http://grayson.house.gov/



Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement about the ongoing war in Afghanistan:


“The Washington Post reports that nearly one billion dollars per year in cash, suspected to include U.S. aid, opium receipts or both, is moving from Afghanistan to Dubai, where friends and family of Afghanistan’s President Karzai have multimillion dollar villas.


“Dubai real estate deals and a number of crooked enterprises connected to the Karzai family have created crony capitalism in a country awash with U.S. cash and U.S. blood.


“Nearly 1000 U.S. soldiers have died. And for what? Hundreds of billions spent. And for what? To make Afghanistan safe for crooks, drug dealers and crony capitalism?


“Next Thursday, I will bring a privileged resolution to this House so that Congress can claim our constitutional right to end this war and to bring our troops home. Please support the resolution.”


Kucinich will introduce the resolution on Thursday, March 4, 2010. It is expected that the resolution will be taken up for consideration on the following Wednesday, March 10, 2010 and that the debate will be subject to a rule providing for three hours of debate.

http://kucinich.house.gov/NEWS/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=173679

[BunkerHill24]

1. A media whore lunatic undisciplined wackjob scamer asking for re-election money

is this guy, by far.....and not Mr. kucinich.


on edit: no comparison was intended.

[lutherj]

2. Was there something specific in Grayson's statement that you disagree with?

[BunkerHill24]

7. Yes, His entire public appearances and his solicit soundbites...

You must of missed it. It was there all along. He did ask for money for it, on his his campaign letters. You must of not gotten a campaign letter from him?

[Lorien]

11. Um, until we demand election reform they ALL will continue to ask for money.

[valerief]

35. Ah, logic. Love it. Make sense not war. nt

[avaistheone1]

14. Obama asks for money at the drop of a hat.

Does that bother you too?

[avaistheone1]

15. Grayson is gutsy and principled.

Terrificly inspiring.

[avaistheone1]

16. I don't think I have ever seen a campaign letter from any politician that did not ask for money.

What planet are you living on?

Every member of the House and Senate has to raise thousands of dollars each and every day to prepare for their next campaign.
Complain about the system if you must, better yet change it.

At least deal with it, rather than making ridiculous attacks on Mr. Grayson.

[Turborama]

18. What planet?

Possibly one with copious amounts of free alcohol? :shrug:

[eShirl]

21. Ever see a polititian not ask for campaign donations?

Try again.

[ooglymoogly]

38. I'm shocked I tell you, just shocked to the bone;

A politician asking for contributions from those who agree with him to make sure he gets re-elected. It's down right criminal. What planet do you live on....oh wait you live in pugville don't you.

[Hardrada]

3. You forgot the sarcasm indicator.

[BunkerHill24]

4. no I didn't

[madrchsod]

6. so i take it you are`t going to vote for him....

god knows you would`t vote for a "a media whore lunatic undisciplined wackjob scamer"

[Lorien]

10. He can't. He's in Boston.

However, I can and I will!

[Lorien]

9. So now fighting for liberal principles makes one a "lunatic undisciplined wackjob scamer"?

Whatever dude. He's my congressman and I'll be voting for him again!

[BunkerHill24]

13. I guess you respect him of his media pointers. lol

By the way, why not ask him what he was doing in Africa alone whilst killing and coup was taking place, in one particular African nation. I bet he has good explanation for it.

[trumad]

20. Hey--- he's my congressman here in Orlando

and we're getting lectured by a knucklehead who's own state elected Scott Brown.

Douche

[olegramps]

25. Okay. Tell us what he was suppose ly doing.

[axollot]

28. Thank you neighbour! I'm in Clay County we love him here too!

His character is well known in the area and he gets the job done. He has at least *earned* those campaign dollars and I know how easy it is to be naive about just how much they do need (heard Rahm recently on an older video of Massa about the 200g a day he needed or "it was all over for him"! There is pressure there for sure, we need reform in that area too).
As long as Grayson keeps fighting the good fight to help 95% that do not make insanely comfortable amounts of $$$ then he'll have my support and donation. He's had to have seen the poverty around this place too! His district boarders on mine.
Cheers
Sandy

[zeemike]

19. Well I guess that will be the new meme from the right

Should any populist rise to power and prominance....they are just media whores.
and we see it on DU first.

[axollot]

29. Wait.....that would make Palin, Beck and blow Hard...oh who am I kidding.

They know. The RW went along with Palin's version that Family Guy wasnt satire (whether one thinks Family Guy is good, is irrelevant). They don't care, it's cheerleader politics for them.
Cheers
sandy

[axollot]

27. Well he does a great job of getting his point across. n/t

[ooglymoogly]

30. Oh! Thanks for reminding me I just sent money

to Grayson and hope many do the same. This is the man who should be president.

[happygoluckytoyou]

33. 100% CORRECT ! !

[polpilot]

39. Wow! Are you quoting Glenn Beck??

or that blond chick?

[JDPriestly]

42. BunkerHill24, are you paid to post obnoxious statements on blogs like this?

Apr 09th 2008

[Caretha]

46. You have been out voted

so sit the F*ck down & let me say in a very nice gentile polite voice....shut the H*ll up.

When are Republicans going to learn that they are in the minority?

[Mike K]

47. Presuming you are not trolling for comedic effect -

- and you're not a neo-Conservative mole, there is absolutely nothing valid, constructive or vaguely substantive about your malicious attack on Alan Grayson. Because even if his motive is self-serving he is doing exactly what needs to be done by our representatives, which is call attention to waste, fraud and malfeasance and denounce it.

So specifically what do you find wrong with Grayson or his method?

[pundaint]

5. If only accuracy and clarity could prevail in congressional debate...

[Hardrada]

8. Or on this board.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

12. congressman with moxy - I highly recommend this video

he has the right message and impeccable delivery.

[avaistheone1]

17. +100

[eShirl]

22. Gotta love Grayson.

Doesn't just go with the flow like all the others. Could use a few more like him.

[TatonkaJames]

23. Nothing about the substance as usual

When is someone going to address what Kucinich or Grayson said ? Those who support them obviously agree with what they said, but those who immediately spin the discussion from the substance of what was said, what do you say of it ? Neither of these guys are from my state but they are among the very few that represent us who actually use their pulpit to address these real issues no one else wants to touch for fear of looking like a wacko or losing their corporate donors.
We are fighting the same war we fought in Vietnam, with the wrong army. Like Grayson said, with just a few thousand forces we rid Afghanistan of the Taliban and AQ. Why did we continue on afterward into Iraq ? We know they weren't there ! So the Military Industrial Complex is alive and well and we continue to ignore the 800 pound gorilla in the room.
How any American can allow US lives to be lost for these corrupt people are the ones who always point the unpatriotic finger. Stop defending either party and their lunacy, start supporting an end to corruption in our government and get us the heck out of these places that will fall right back into chaos after we leave and continue to harbor more angst against America.
No ? Then I guess the trillions we're spending makes you happy that it's costing us in every way, i.e.; look at the state of the economy.

[Mike K]

43. Well said, Tatonka.

[mikelgb]

24. Kick for his tie

[peace13]

26. Well OK then!!!!

You go Congressman Grayson! Hat's off to you!

[julian09]

31. Out of staters also appreciate Grayson

many people wish they had someone of his passion to serve them.
That could be why some are intimidated by his rise in popularity,
and ability to articulate issues. He is well rounded on the issues,
not just a one issue guy.
He definately is not a back bencher; we need more like him, to stand up
to anyone including the president, when he is not living up to promises made.
Backbone is not a bad thing, dems need a few more like Grayson and Weiner.
If only we had their likes in the senate, instead of spineless appeasers.
He may be looking for contributions but he is not for sale; like others just sitting
on their duff and taking contibutions for doing nothing.

[Plucketeer]

32. You bet we do! - appreciate Grayson!

Here in the 21st of California, I've NEVER gotten a letter with a donation form from OUR Rep. That's because his corporate owners take care of all his needs. See.... So I'd rather have a Rep that depends on the people he supports, rather than the Corporations that twiddle his strings.

[peace13]

40. I hear you.

I live in Ohio but I send Grayson contributions. We have Sherrod Brown and he is great but Voinovich has been sucking the life out of us for years.We are all lucky to have Grayson on our side.

[valerief]

34. That crap is all war is good for. nt

[DeSwiss]

36. K&R

:yourock: Alan Grayson for President in 2012!!!

[GreenTea]

37. I Love Grayson-He certainly will need more of our DONATIONS-The republicans, the corporations

and the almost trillion dollars each year military corporate/industrial complex are ALL going to come after Grayson....do all they can to get rid of a voice like Grayson....that's what bullies do....WE have to stand up to the republican bullies!!

Support donate, and work for Grayson....If we don't keep Grayson in office, other Dems will be afraid to open their mouths, and if we do keep Grayson in office in will encourage other Dems that we have their back against the republican owned corporate media destroy machine.

http://www.actblue.com/directory/query?query=grayson

[JDPriestly]

41. Abraham Lincoln could not have said it better.

Thank you, Alan Grayson.

[colsohlibgal]

44. Is This Guy Too Good To Be True?

Thank you Alan, thank you, thank you, thank you. Somehow way too many people, including way too many in DC, accept this Orwellian perpetual war mode without even thinking about it. We need money? How about closing down these idiotic, counter productive, wars.

[Moostache]

45. Weiner - Grayson '12....I WILL WORK FOR THEM FOR FREE!!!

At the very least, they give a damn about their constituents and their principles. The entire Democratic leadership in the Senate, the grifters and opportunists in the House, and the President himself have sold us out on EVERYTHING that was crucial in the campaign in '08. To wit:

1) No Health Care reform to date (and at BEST a very watered down shell of reform on the horizon)...
2) Afghanistan? Still hemorrhaging money and ESCALATING after 9 years!!!!
3) Iraq? Quietly staying there forever I guess?
4) Banking Regulations? Dodd and Co. are so busy getting fiscal BJs in the back rooms that their so-called "reforms" are going to end up as more of the same...
5) Global Warming / Climate Change Leadership? Get real...I know better leaders in my local Cub Scout Den leaders than what we have seen on this issue...
6) Energy Independence? You got solar on your house? Electric cars any part of the GM turnaround pla - you know that car company that WE THE PEOPLE OWN!?!?!?

I was bamboozled once. After years of apathy and disgust with the entire political culture in this country, I cared about '08. I believed Obama. I voted for Change I Could Believe In...

I got kicked in the nuts for my trouble and watched them hand over the country further to the special interests and corporate paymasters. I'm done. Unless there is a serious primary challenge to Obama - preferably from people with the courage of their convictions and a total lack of interest in kumbaya 'bi-partisanship' then the Dems can simply count on me staying home - not just from the election either, from the campaign, from the rallies, from the contributions. Fuck you Dems...if I wanted to piss away my time and money, I would vote for the Reps, at least with them I would KNOW what they were going to do from the very word "go"...

[slipslidingaway]

48. Transcript ...

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/clip.php?appid=597818874


"...WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ IS NOT A WAR.

IT'S A FOREIGN OCCUPATION.

YOU CAN READ THE CONSTITUTION FROM BEGINNING TO END AND YOU FIND NOTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT PERMITS A FOREIGN OCCUPATION, MUCH LESS ONE THAT GOES ON FOR ALMOST A DECADE.

WITH YOU SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD THESE WARS ANYMORE, BOTH IN THE PRICE OF MONEY AND IN THE PRICE OF BLOOD.

I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A REPORT IN "THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE" DATED JANUARY 31, 2008.

THIS REPORT SAYS THAT 15% OF ALL THE TROOPS THAT SERVE IN IRAQ RETURN WITH PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE.

THAT'S RIGHT, PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE.

HERE'S SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED.

A LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS, GENERAL POOR HEALTH, MISSED WORK DAYS, MEDICAL VISITS, AND A HIGH NUMBER OF POST CONCUSSIVE SYMPTOMS.

-- POSTCONCUSSIVE SYMPTOMS.

LATER ON ON PAGE 459, NEARLY 15% OF SOLDIERS HAD A LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS OR LOSS OF MENTAL STATE.

AND THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS CAUSED MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO HAVE AN INJURY THAN THE 17% OF SOLDIERS WHO REPORTED INJURIES.

SO MR. PRESIDENT, WHEN YOU SAY YOU ARE SENDING 50,000 MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN, WHAT YOU'RE REALLY SAYING IS THAT YOU ARE CONDEMNING 7,500 YOUNG AMERICANS TO LIVE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES WITH BRAIN DAMAGE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REALLY SAYING.

AND BEYOND THAT WE SPENT OVER $3 TRILLION ON THE WAR IN IRAQ.

THAT'S OVER $10,000 FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN, CHILD IN THIS COUNTRY.

OVER $70,000 FOR MY FAMILY OF SEVEN.

AND FOR WHAT?

WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2010 THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2009 OR 2008 OR 2007 OR 2006?

IN FACT, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE OTHER SIDE TODAY THAT THEY COULDN'T HAVE SAID BACK THEN AND THEY WANT TO SAY NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT?

NOW, THINK ABOUT THIS OUR TOTAL NATIONAL WEALTH IS ONLY $50 TRILLION.

WE SPENT $3 TRILLION, 6% OF THAT, 6% OF THAT ON THE WAR IN IRAQ.

THAT KIND OF ECONOMIC DAMAGE IS SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY AL QAEDA THEMSELVES, OSAMA BIN LADEN'S BEST DAY COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WOULD YOU HAVE VAPORIZED ALL OF NEW ENGLAND TO COME CLOSE.

LISTEN, WE ARE THE MOST POWERFUL NATION ON EARTH.
NOBODY CAN FORCE US OUT OF IRAQ.
NOBODY CAN CAN FORCE US OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION OURSELVES.
BUT REMEMBER, WE NEED ONLY NOT STRENGTH BUT WE NEED WISDOM.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE WORSE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO US AS A COUNTRY ARE THE THINGS WE DO TO OURSELVES, INCLUDING THESE TWO WARS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH."

[midnight]

49. K&R

[bertman]

50. Grayson is my idea of what a Democratic politician should sound like and be like. Rec. nt

[gtar100]

51. Like the spoiled brats they are, every republican needs to be sat down and

given this lecture until it sinks in.