Sirotablog
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.
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May 26, 2007 10:50 AM
Democrats Hire George Orwell to Run Their PR Shop
Apparently, House and Senate Democrats have resurrected George Orwell from the dead and put him on staff as the head of their PR department. Why do I say that? Because House and Senate Democrats are now insisting that this week's votes to give President Bush a blank check to continue the war were, in fact, heroic efforts to stand up against George Bush and stop the war. I kid you not.
Here's a line from the Democratic Party's official radio address this weekend, delivered by Elliot Anderson, a veteran of the Afghanistan War:
"The best way to honor the troops is to responsibly end our involvement in Iraq's civil war. As long as President Bush stays committed to the same policies that aren't working, it won't be easy. But I am proud to see Democrats and now some brave Republicans standing up to him." (emphasis added)
Now look, I have all the respect in the world for those like Anderson who have served or are serving our country in the military. And I think Anderson is absolutely right that "the best way to honor the troops is to responsibly end our involvement in Iraq's civil war." But the claim that "Democrats and now some brave Republicans standing up to" President Bush just a few days after 90 percent of congressional Democrats voted to give Bush a blank check is right out of a George Orwell novel (by the way, I don't blame Anderson for any of this - I'm guessing Harry Reid's people wrote him the speech or at least shaped it accordingly as a condition of him getting to deliver it).
Same thing, I might add, from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Hours after the blank check vote, the organization sent out a fundraising letter saying:
"The House just passed legislation that will go to the White House that includes critical issues Democrats have been fighting for including canceling the President's blank check in Iraq."
And, big shocker, there was Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) telling reporters that giving Bush a blank check somehow represents "the beginning of the end of the president’s policy in Iraq."
Again, it's an utterly Orwellian attempt to make the public believe something happened when clearly the opposite happened. We are expected to believe Democrats did everything they possibly could to end the war, just like George Bush would have us believe the war is going swimmingly - because politicians in Washington, to paraphrase Orwell, believe that while all Americans are created equal, some - in particular, the creatures of the Beltway who think they are smarter than everyone and can trick the public - believe they are more equal than others.
The only difference between the Democratic Party's behavior right now and an Orwell novel is that the state-run propaganda in the latter is just a wee bit more convincing. Memo to Democratic politicians and their new political consultant, George Orwell: YOU AREN'T FOOLING ANYONE. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THE MORE YOU PRETEND THAT YOU HEROICALLY DID EVERYTHING YOU COULD TO STOP THE WAR, THE MORE PATHETIC YOU LOOK.
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About David Sirota
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Hostile Takeover. He lives in Denver, Colorado. His daily blog can be found at CREDO Action. He contributes regularly to the Denver Post's Web site, is a senior editor at In These Times magazine and is working on his second book. He has been profiled in Newsweek and the Rocky Mountain News and is widely known for his reporting on political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties. Sirota serves as co-chair of the Progressive States Network, a 501(c)3 organization that supports state legislators and that is a partner of CREDO.
You can subscribe to Sirota's e-mail newsletter by going to davidsirota.com and signing up in the lefthand corner. To find out more about Sirota, download his official biography or see his recent media appearances. You can e-mail him at sirota@credoaction.com.
The views expressed on this blog are his own, and do not necessarily represent the views of Working Assets (publisher of CREDO Action) or the institutions Sirota works for.
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Discussion
Well of course those cynical and unethical bastards on Capitol Hill were bound to issue some bizarro world Pravdaesque statement to cover their brazen gutting of Congression responibilities.
Its sad day for the country to see the capitulation of the legislative branch along with the judicial branches of gov't. Now we're stuck with a imperial presidency with no checks and balances.
Thank you Pelosi and Reid along with all the other gutless Democrats for destroying our gov't and Constitution. You did something the Nazis, Communists and Osama Bin-Laden couldn't do, and that is destroy the Republic.
There is a telling statement from Jim Webb on his site that, as tactfully as freshman Senator should be, I guess, reveals what we've assumed has occurred, behind the scenes within the Democratic party:
"I worked very hard to try to persuade the Democratic leadership to include clear, restrictive language in this Supplemental. I did not succeed, and was disappointed in many of the provisions that remained."
So Webb is affirming that this capitulation came from the Democratic leadership, over the opposition of the newly elected. He then goes on to say:
"However, we are working under the reality that, on the issue of Iraq, this Senate does not have a Democratic majority. From the outset, we are a minority of 49, given Senator Lieberman's position on the war. This reality dictates our conduct."
Note the significance of a freshman Senator naming Liebermann in this context. That is a no-no of no small proportions. But he has chosen his words very carefully here. "This reality dictates our conduct." This is like watching a Viet Nam POW blinking out a message in Morse Code. There is an implication here that Liebermann dictated this capitulation, either simply by his unwavering pro-war position, or by more direct coercive means.
This question begs for investigative reporting, of the kind we will never see from the MSM. Blogging and commenting assumptions just will not do. Someone is needed who can get with the Webb's of the house and Senate, and their staffs, get them to talk off the record, and put the pieces together of how this deal actually played out.
At the very least Connecticut voters need to be made aware of Jim Webb's statement, so the consequences of their error can be made crystal clear.
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To continue, he makes one assertion that I simply disagree with:
"On the one hand, I find myself unable to vote against a measure that is necessary to fund our troops who are now in harm's way. On the other, I will not relent from my continuing efforts to bring this occupation to an end."
He concludes by declaring his intentions for action on the Defense Authorization Bill.
http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=275136&
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A final observation. Webb did not have to comment on his vote. Certainly not in Virginia. He could have taken the same Orwellian tack that the party leadership has, and just declare victory and act like nothing unusual has happened.
Remember, Jim Webb is a guy with a history of taking risks and sacrificing for his integrity. He told the Reagan administration to go f*ck themselves and resigned in protest as Secretary of the Navy, virtually ending his promising career as a Republican appointee. Politics was being played with the mandate he was given, a direct parallel to this situation.
Jim Webb made this statement, with its implications, for a reason.
I would really like to see what he is pointing to.
This was Bush's War but now it's Pelosi's war, and Rahm Emanuel's War and Harry Reid's War, and "Stanky" Hoyer's War and Murtha's War too..!
It's These Demo-rats War..!
I am quiting the Democratic party right after the Holiday after 40 years a registered Democrat, 40 years of Voting and and working for Democratic Candidates including Robert Kennedy...!
RFK would be turning over in his grave if he knew what's happened to his party and what these pusillanimous pernicious swine have done..!
It's your War Now Nancy Pelosi It's your War..you Bitch..!
Why couldn't you be Irish or Swedish, did you have to be Italian..your another Torricelli, Nancy, even worse you've got Blood on your hands now Nancy the blood of other women's son and daughters..!
Hagel offsets that swine pig Liebershit..!
Remember Lieberman isn't the sole corruptor, think back when Lamont was campaigning and the Democratic senate threw their weight over to Lieberman. He had the backing of the Democratic leadership right after Lamont won the primary. To me this was a indication that Lieberman isn't the only crook in the senate. When the senate rallied around Lieberman it was a chilling look into what those people think of ordinary Americans who try to reclaim their gov't.
They despise us and don't want mucking up their racket.
TJ, waltc, and 3rdOption, you guys have nailed it. I went on-line yesterday and donated $0.01 via my Mastercard to the Ohio Democratic Party. Then I emailed them and told them that was the last cent they will ever get from me. I haven't voted for a Republican since 1972--and don't ever see myself doing that--but no more "tweedledee" over "tweedledum." The Damnocrites will have to prove to me that their candidates are better than any third party types.
What amazes me is how many voices in the progressive blogosphere - at Kos and Firedog - seem to be willing to cut the cowards some slack. I don't believe those in Congress were running scared of moderate/conservative voters so much as simply taking the safe, easy way. On my local District blog I invited all to attend the funeral of the democratic party. Don't tell me i have nowhere else to go.
What amazes me is how many voices in the progressive blogosphere - at Kos and Firedog - seem to be willing to cut the cowards some slack. I don't believe those in Congress were running scared of moderate/conservative voters so much as simply taking the safe, easy way. On my local District blog I invited all to attend the funeral of the democratic party. Don't tell me i have nowhere else to go.
Most of the progressives here in California are is utter and complete shock that there would be such a total capitulation by the "Democratic leadership"....an oxymoron if there ever was one. And it really doesn't matter how Rahm and Nancy try to spin it. They're no match for Rove, but you can certainly see they've adopted the same techniques.
After reading over your first blogs on H Res 438,the bizarre "first rule vote" put forward by Louise Slaughter (who took over the Rules Committee and seems to have adopted the Dreier method of operation), I cannot clearly explain what they did...and I can find no one in my circle of political types who can either.
So, please write another piece on "Screwing the Public 101" and walk us through this again.
After I read your first posts, I called Congressman Waxman's office to complain about his "yea" vote, only to be told that he had voted AGAINST the funding. I rechecked the roll call of yea/nea for 438 and found Kucinich in the NEA column... so, that would mean to me that Waxman did NOT vote the correct way on that first vote. So, we really need the 101 course.
Congressman Howard Berman in the adjoining Los Angeles district hosted about forty protestors outside his home today, since he didn't even bother to vote. Seems no one in his district office yesterday could explain WHY he DIDN'T VOTE or how he WOULD HAVE VOTED had he managed to be there. So, yes, for one of the MOST IMPORTANT VOTES EVER, he's a NO SHOW!!!
One sign at the protest had a drawing of a spine and said, "Howard Berman, Here's a Spine, STAND UP FOR PEACE." Huge banners had "Diplomacy Not Warfare, OUT OF IRAQ and DON'T ATTACK IRAN."
Organizers acknowledged that there would be no response from the Congressman, at least today, since he wasn't home (it was a no-host day).
It would be nice to know if he's off on another lobbyist-paid junket or what his schedule during the WEEKlong holiday recess is. Gee, anyone else get a PAID WEEK OFF for Memorial Day? Especially since he didn't DO what he was paid to do the day before.
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Most of the progressives here in California are is utter and complete shock that there would be such a total capitulation by the "Democratic leadership"....an oxymoron if there ever was one. And it really doesn't matter how Rahm and Nancy try to spin it. They're no match for Rove, but you can certainly see they've adopted the same techniques.
After reading over your first blogs on H Res 438,the bizarre "first rule vote" put forward by Louise Slaughter (who took over the Rules Committee and seems to have adopted the Dreier method of operation), I cannot clearly explain what they did...and I can find no one in my circle of political types who can either.
So, please write another piece on "Screwing the Public 101" and walk us through this again.
After I read your first posts, I called Congressman Waxman's office to complain about his "yea" vote, only to be told that he had voted AGAINST the funding. I rechecked the roll call of yea/nea for 438 and found Kucinich in the NEA column... so, that would mean to me that Waxman did NOT vote the correct way on that first vote. So, we really need the 101 course.
Congressman Howard Berman in the adjoining Los Angeles district hosted about forty protestors outside his home today, since he didn't even bother to vote. Seems no one in his district office yesterday could explain WHY he DIDN'T VOTE or how he WOULD HAVE VOTED had he managed to be there. So, yes, for one of the MOST IMPORTANT VOTES EVER, he's a NO SHOW!!!
One sign at the protest had a drawing of a spine and said, "Howard Berman, Here's a Spine, STAND UP FOR PEACE." Huge banners had "Diplomacy Not Warfare, OUT OF IRAQ and DON'T ATTACK IRAN."
Organizers acknowledged that there would be no response from the Congressman, at least today, since he wasn't home (it was a no-host day).
It would be nice to know if he's off on another lobbyist-paid junket or what his schedule during the WEEKlong holiday recess is. Gee, anyone else get a PAID WEEK OFF for Memorial Day? Especially since he didn't DO what he was paid to do the day before.
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3rdoption, about Webb. The guy was put over the top due to the increase in support from Northern VA and Hampton Roads. These two areas are filled with more buyer's remorse. The rest of the state could care less of course. Webb was always a Reagan "Democrat" and everyone knows that Reagan "Democrats" are the Republicans' best TOOL any day !
I'm going to suggest that Webb will end up being a significant force against the abuses of the Bush administration and the Corruption of the Democratic leadership in the Senate.
I don't expect any readers to accept that at this point. That's perfectly fine by me.
I've followed his career since I had to leave the yard and go out into town to buy the issue of the Washingtonian in which Webb had published an article. I needed it as a source for a paper, and it was banned at our school at the time.
His book, "Something to Die For" http://www.amazon.com/Something-Die-James-Webb/dp/0380713225/
was one of two reasons why I did not volunteer for a unit that was about to deploy to participate in the first Iraq war. This was a good decision, for me.
Let me be clear. Jim Webb is a dick. I have had one interaction with him, in a distant way, and it was not necessarily to my benefit. But he has a history of standing on principle, often to his personal detriment. Contrast that with a Hillary, for example, who has a history of decades of triangulation, and naked ambition.
I didn't make the above post to excuse Webb's vote on this specific Rule, because I disagree with it.
I made the post as an alert to what he had stated on his website.
As veiled as it was, freshmen Senators simply do not make assertions of this nature.
At least that's my opinion.
3rdoption, yes sometimes I do feel that I have misjudged the guy. The concern I have is Webb has been an insider for so long that he knows damn well that he can easily raise a filibuster now that he's a senator. Yes, he's a hell of a lot better than Hillary but myself a Virginian and living in Hampton Roads and commuting back and forth between that and Northern VA, I can tell you that last year Webb received a lot of unusual support, the vast majority of it from people who had faith that he wouldn't cave in to selling out. The day he voted AGAINST property tax relief that Sanders proposed, I angrily ripped the "Webb for Senate" bumper sticker off my car. From the voters' sentiment in these two fastest growing areas of the state, I can tell you that he has already torn down his chances of getting a second term.
I'm a late comer to todays blog, but I can't resist a few comments however unread they may go. My reactions are more on the comments made here, some very interesting and enlightening indeed. Webb's bold revelation, more correctly reminder of the Lieberman Damocles sword hanging over the democrats cannot be ignored. His thoughtful defense of his vote for the bill modestly did not remind us that he left the democratic party because of its defunding of the Vietnam war. How could he do the same at this juncture. He would be totally ridiculed as a hypocrite or worse, a demagogue. I thought this was the act of a thoughtful and brave and brilliant man. As far as voting him out of office on one issue, (I am unfamiliar with) that is what I would call unwise use of the mandate. All this Orwellian talk is perfectly applicable, but so is all politics Orwellian; however as regards this vote, where there is only the Lieberman two face between us and the GOP otherwise, what other face is there but a happy face. The folks don't like screams. There may only be one neocon left but he's our Caesar. Our every emanation should not forget this unless you want the GOP back in charge of the committees. The demos are in a holding pattern one must assume because L. will not allow them to go forward. This does not excuse some of the other unsavory triangulation I admit. But it is positive thinking. We are in the clutches of a dark cloud. There must be a silver lining somewhere. I'm for Dean and Webb in 2008 Draft them if possible. Et tu Brutus.
To me what is disturbing to me isn't so what Webb or any other consumate insider is saying or doing, its whats occuring at the grassroots so to speak.
Because what these folk do or don't is going to decide what the Orwellian Democrats do in the next 18 months.
Where is the pressure to put a end to the corporate written trade and immigration bills, because if either passes its going to kill the Democrats at the voting booth. You'd think the blogosphere would be raising caine about them but they are not.
This collective silence or self-censoring of the blogs not only on trade and immigration but the betrayal on the Iraq funding vote is scary. The first two don't even exist and the latter just barely warrants a post now.
I have my own theories why, but folks need to ask themselves why the collective silence of blogs at this critical juncture in our national politics?
Hey people, I know you all are as angry and livid as me. The day before and the day after the vote I was up untill 1:30 am writing threatening and then furious emails........I told Patty Murray to fuck off cause she has no spine, no political brains, (same with Reid/Pelousy in my phone calls to their offices) and that after all of the talk about being against the war, she must have been turned into a whore for, military industrial complex/oil company campaign contributions. I Pulled no fucking punches, and in reality whoever voted for yet another blank check deserved a real punch in the face
It is utterly vile that they would allow this war to continue without a real attempt to fight it, and the insult of the Nov '06 campaign lies is just about driving me NUTS. But I have 2 kids and I can't afford to go nuts as much as I might want to.
The question remains, what are we going to do about it? As disappointed as I am with this am I going to let my anger turn to cynisism and then apathy? I can't do that, like I said I've got 2 little ones, and they deserve habeus corpus, and judicial review, and health care, and corporate restraint, and peace, etc.
We must redouble our efforts, double and triple our calls and emails of congradulations or protestations. We must get active in the local party meetings to change the direction of those meetings. (whichever party it may be) We must be willing to force the change peacefully, and respectfully at first. And if that doesn't work, we must get more assertive, and radical if necessary. It is OUR government we have to take it back.
PS: I really liked the interview John Edwards
had with Mike Papintonio, I know I misspelled Pap's name. Edwards' message was really anti-war, and pro middle class/populist. I also like Gravel, anti war, pro civil rights/middle class and great on taxes. Richardson has been consistent about the war too.
(866)220-0044 Capitol Hill switchboard, free of charge.
David,
If the Democrats aren't going to end the war, they can at least do their job and investigate the real causes.
It is embarrassing that only a handful of members of the House like Dennis Kucinich, Jim McDermott, and Lynn Woolsey have spoken out on how the Hydrocarbon Law Bush is forcing on the Iraqis will steal their oil wealth. As far as I know, NO senators have discussed this outside the bounds of the Bush generated talking point on how the oil income will be divided among the various Iraqi ethnic groups--leaving out how much of the pie big oil will keep for themselves.
If the public understood who is profiting from this war, and that their goal is to keep oil expensive not make it cheap, we will be able to run Bush and Cheney out of DC on a rail.
That Democrats in Congress aren't talking about beyond endorsing the Hydrocarbon Law as one of their benchmarks makes me wonder if they aren't complicit.
IRAQ WAR OIL MOTIVE RESOURCES:
http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/2006/09/iraq-oil-war-resources.html
It's sickening. I no longer will support Democrats, and long ago stopped supporting Repblicans. The wheels have come off the country, and quite frankly, it was past due. I always thought that those cynics who said "It makes no difference who gets elected, they all do the same thing" were just rationalizing laziness and ignorance, but I was living in a delusional fools paradise. The Dems supported this blank check because the Iraqi Parliament is set to vote on corporate sponsored legislation that the Iraqi government will not nationalize their oil. And guess who is strongly in favor of siphoning off as much Iraqi oil as possible and maintaining our dependence on fossil fuel? This vote was an epiphany for me, and now I see how things really are. The Democrats Kafquesque spinning of their position as standing up to Bush while going down on him is like an updated version of Chamberlain returning from Munich, waving a worthless peice of paper proclaiming "Peace in our time!" Enough already. I am going to train myself not to care about any of this, and get caught up in "Idol" like everyone else. In the mean time, pass the barf bag.
Ewode, my understanding is that times and rules have changed and Liberman changing parties now won't give the committee chairs back to the Repukelicans.
Add to my last post: Not that it matters.
Here are the Documents making G.W.Bush full Dictator the media and our elected Representatives are hiding from you..
NSPD-51 and HSPD-20
http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-51.htm
Happy Memorial Day..!
TJ Colatrella
Scary and depressing reads, but its not only the media and reps its most of the bigtime Democratic blogs as well who are keeping this from the people.
Its apparent to me the American people have no friends or allies either in the MSM, D.C. or even among the mainstream bloggers. All of them are in on the deception IMO.
I wish it were all a bad dream, to witness the implosion and death of the national democratic party last week and with it the loss of the legislative branch of gov't. And also with that goes the last barrier to a imperial Bush presidency.
Its ironic though, it wasn't the Republicans who gave Bush the Republic on a silver platter it was the Democrats.
THE MILLION PHONE MARCH TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ
No Free speech Zones. NO arrests. No marginalization by the press.
You call Republican contributor and war contractor General Electric Corporation at 203-373-2211 and ask for the public relations department and give them an ultimatum. http://www.ge.com
GET THE GOP to END THE WAR or WE DON'T BUY YOUR PRODUCTS ANYMORE.
Tell the person that we will not buy GE light bulbs, refrigerators, ovens, stoves, telephones, TVs, radios, and everything with a GE logo on it until your CEO gets the Republican party to end the war and then Bush and Cheney to resign from office.
NO CEO WANTS THEIR TELEPHONE LINES TIED UP AND TO GET CALLS FROM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY WHILE THEY LOSE MONEY. NO CEO. NOT ONE.
http://endthewar.dmocrats.org
http://wage.dmocrats.org
http://medicare.dmocrats.org
http://www.dmocrats.org
Buckfush, think that the reason CBS News fired General Batiste for his anti-war, anti-Bush votevet ads might have had anything to do with the CBS role as "war contractor"? Another example of the media being as liberal as their conservative owners permit.
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