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Kudos from feline: One of the many things I love about this chatroom is knowledgable people who can instantly gratify my need to be informed, and immediately exchange ideas - I love it!

Democrats: An Alarming Absence of Leadership

Reed31463

Of course there is little main stream media coverage of last weeks rotten congressional Democratic leadership and GOP assault on democracy. Yes I am talking about you Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. I am so glad you were able to pull the party together and challenge the final GOP assault on democracy.

There is very little left to fight for because the Fascists have all the enabling laws they need in place to destroy democracy. Ian MacLeod pretty much sums up the situation. Next time you see an "I Want You" sign, turn the other way and run. It just might be YOU or I they REALLY want....."disappeared" that is.

Pray for international rescue because America cannot and will not save itself.

More analysis from Antiwar.com

...the redefinition of the "unlawful combatant" concept that lays the foundations for this administration's reconstruction of the gulag. Here is the new, broadened definition, as enunciated in the legislation recently passed by the House:

"The term 'unlawful enemy combatant' means – (i) a person who has engaged in hostilities or who has purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States or its co-belligerents who is not a lawful enemy combatant (including a person who is part of the Taliban, al-Qaeda, or associated forces); or (ii) a person who, before, on, or after the date of the enactment of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, has been determined to be an unlawful enemy combatant by a Combatant Status Review Tribunal or another competent tribunal established under the authority of the president or the secretary of defense."

It doesn't say "alien" or "terrorist," although it specifically includes members of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. It says "person" – any person, including American citizens.

------SNIP------

Congress has now granted the president the powers of a dictator. The rest of the story of our slide into absolutism is merely a matter of filling in the details.

Our rulers will naturally continue to pretend that we live in a normal democratic country, that the Constitution still means something, and that nothing essential has really changed – but, of course, everything has changed, as the post-9/11 War Party has relentlessly argued, and we had better get used to it. Because if you very vocally and aggressively refuse to get used to it, they can and perhaps one day will come for you. As an Arab friend of mine puts it when describing the routine operations of Middle Eastern police states, "You will never see the light."

Comment # 1 ~ Rusty ~ 09/19/2006 07:51 GMT

Thank you, TIA. It is that simple, America. Reject fear. Reject those who incite it. Toss the fearmongering Republicans out of power and into prison, where most of them belong for turning the greatest democracy on earth into a DieBold wasteland of lies, corruption, shame, and war profiteering.

Comment # 2 ~ Reed31463 ~ 09/19/2006 12:07 GMT

For myself, I did not have time to fear terrorists or the huddle in fear from events that occurred on September 11, 2001. There was no time for fear. On this anniversary of 9/11, I fought my very own personal battle with a worker/employee terrorist corporation: BASF. But because they were dealing all the marked cards, declaring all the trump, and calling all the shots, I was destined to lose; no matter what cards I held.

You see, one year ago at another workplace, I spoke up about illegal war, torture, and war crimes. I did this because I was, (and still are), obligated to educate those whom I hear saying ignorant things about the abuses at Abu Ghraib: things like, "Our guys didn't do anything wrong, except get caught with pictures, now THAT was stupid," or "They should have killed them instead."

There are many who did not want to hear my message about why it was wrong and that it put our own soldiers at a greater risk for torture and abuse if they were captured. They told me to stop, but of course, the rule of law forbade me to stop. Otherwise I too, by my very silence, would become complicit and could possibly become implicated in these crimes against humanity. I felt this truth in my heart, and in fact, the Nuremberg precedent truly could make this reality into a possibility.

Those companies and corporations that took retribution against me and continue to hold me accountable for educating abusive people will find themselves implicated in crimes against humanity. They too should be held partially accountable because of their attempts to silence me and for failing to educate their workforce on the laws of war during a time of war.

One day soon, my time will come before a judge. I hope that whatever decisions come out as a result of my case will be used to further new avenues for discovery, help aid in fixing of accountability for these crimes, and set new precedents for corporations on workplace behaviors.

Comment # 3 ~ Reed31463 ~ 09/19/2006 12:08 GMT

That's my 9/11 wish!

Comment # 4 ~ Alma ~ 09/19/2006 13:06 GMT

Beautiful piece TIA. I like the old saying that "There's nothing to fear except fear itself." That has always seemed to hold true for me.

Comment # 5 ~ tahoebasha1 ~ 09/19/2006 17:03 GMT

Wonderfully expressed, TIA.

Fear can be a crippler, emotionally, mentally, and can be a yoke that binds the human spirit -- like a "spell."

The use of fear-mongering by this Administration has been limitless and it is pure evil to perpetrate this fear-mongering on American people, some of whom might easily be led down the fear path and would succomb and react in accordance with that fear.

I join hands with TIA in saying "NO" to fear.

Alma beat me to it -- but I'm going to repeat it anyway.

"There is nothing to fear except fear itself."

Comment # 6 ~ keenekarl ~ 09/20/2006 00:07 GMT

It's worth repeating yet again: It was the famous speech of Franklin D. Roosevelt that gave us those memorable words, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."

Fear will hold you back. If you fear that something bad is going to happen, you will stop moving forward.

The continual dissemination of fear by the administration in Washington has, to a great deal, succeeded in holding this nation back from achieving much at all since 9/11.

Preoccupied with fear - dealing with issues such as poverty, health care, the environment, aids, our dependence on oil, etc. have had no place in Bush's government. We have lost 6 good years at tackling those problems - and unless the upcoming mid-term elections bring enough change in Washington, Bush & Co will be sure to waste another 2 years while attacking Iran and sending us further towards oblivion!

We can put an end to this focus on fear and move towards real solutions by electing people to congress who will stand against the failed policies of this administration!

The only thing I fear is another year of Bush & Co's power running unchecked in Washington. But this is not a fear that has paralyzed me - it is a fear that has motivated me to take action!

I will not rest until the source of my fear is defeated!

Comment # 7 ~ Truthinaction ~ 09/21/2006 02:46 GMT

Thank you, Rusty, for your eloquent and kind introduction. You travel a fearless path, and I'm proud to know you!

Comment # 8 ~ Truthinaction ~ 09/21/2006 02:50 GMT

Every day brings new battles, Reed. In these hard times more than ever bevore our very survival is uncertain, thanks to the policies of this Administration and its fear tactics. I wish you all the best in your personal challenges.

Comment # 9 ~ Truthinaction ~ 09/21/2006 02:52 GMT

Alma, Tahoe, your kind words touch my heart. Together we move forward in the direction of bringing a new dawn, a brighter day, one step at a time. It takes courage, hope and fearlessness and we will prevail.

Comment # 10 ~ Truthinaction ~ 09/21/2006 02:54 GMT

Keenkarl, those are very stirring words you put forth. Encouraging and heartening. We do not walk alone in this battle.