Democratic Leadership Plays Games As Humans Die

Dennis Kucinich is keeping the heat on the Democratic Leadership by calling them out on the war funding game. Kucinich has been adamant in telling the truth about the situation: Anytime the Dems want to end the war they are able to do so!

The situation isn't about obtaining Republican votes to pass a bill which would end the war (the myth they continually hide behind), but rather NOT PRESENTING A BILL AT ALL. No bill=no money and an end to the war; exactly what the American people want. This does not endanger the safety of our troops or the stability of Iraq, as the money that has already been appropriated will be then used to begin the process of withdraw and the U.S. works with the U.N. and other countries in the region to provide an international peacekeeping and security force.

Upon passage of another supplemental for $50 Billion more the other day, Kucinich released a statement:

“When the American people went to the polls last November, they overwhelmingly voted for Democrats. They voted for Democrats because they wanted to see a new direction in Iraq -- and that direction is out."

"For the past 11 months, all the House Leadership has done is play into President Bush’s hand. They have approved every war funding bill the President has asked for.

“Leadership could have told President Bush they will not continue to fund the war. They could have said: Use the money you already have to bring the troops home. That is what the American people want.

“They did not have to bring a bill to the floor. They could have forced the President to bring the troops home by refusing to provide any money for the war. Enough money exists to bring the troops home -- without further appropriations.

“But by offering the emergency supplemental appropriations bill today, the House Leadership is taking this Congress and this country down the same path: a path of destruction, chaos and death."

He went on to mention the extreme waste in lives and money of this illegitimate war/occupation:

"More than 3,800 Americans have died and more than one million innocent Iraqis have perished in an unjust and unnecessary war. It is commonly accepted that there is no military solution in Iraq, so why are we there?

“Each year this war is getting more and more costly -- both in the amount of money spent and in the number of lives lost. The Congressional Budget Office released a report last month showing the Iraq war could total $1.9 trillion through 2017 and just yesterday the Joint Economic Committee published a report revealing the total economic costs of war could exceed $3.5 trillion through 2017.

He concluded by asking the same painful questions that 70%-80% of all Americans have been asking themselves:

“When will the House Leadership stand up for the American people? How many more lives have to be lost before they stand up to this Administration and refuse to send any more money for the war?”

To which one might add a few other equally painful questions: When will someone other than Kucinich start to tell the truth on this issue and push for an ctual end to this war? When will our Democrats in Congress and running for a highest office stop playing games? When will our politicians put lives above politics?

Kucinich Will Force Impeachment Vote Before Thanksgiving

Tuesday night in a nationwide phone call organized by Progressive Democrats of America, Dennis Kucinich reportedly announced:

he will go before the U.S. House of Representatives on a point of personal privilege to move the impeachment of Dick Cheney.  Mr. Kucinich stated he will bring the impeachment forward before Thanksgiving.

Kucinich introduced articles of impeachment against Vice President, Dick Cheney, back in April. H.R. 333 consists of three articles of impeachment, with supporting examples:

1.) In his conduct while Vice President of the United States, Richard B. Cheney, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of Vice President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and Congress of the United States by fabricating a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to justify the use of the United States Armed Forces against the nation of Iraq in a manner damaging to our national security interests

2.) In his conduct while Vice President of the United States, Richard B. Cheney, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of Vice President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and Congress of the United States about an alleged relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda in order to justify the use of the United States Armed Forces against the nation of Iraq in a manner damaging to our national security interests

3.) In his conduct while Vice President of the United States, Richard B. Cheney, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of Vice President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has openly threatened aggression against the Republic of Iran absent any real threat to the United States, and done so with the United States proven capability to carry out such threats, thus undermining the national security of the United States

Kucinich also provided roughly 50 supporting documents for the articles, on his Congressional website.

Over 80 cities/towns have now passed impeachment resolutions, with 50 more pending, and major polls, such as Zogby, have indicated a majority of Americans support impeachment proceedings. However, the MSM and members of Congress have failed to listen to the American people.

H.R. 333 has picked up 21 cosponsors, far short of what is needed to start proceedings, and House Speaker Pelosi has continually insisted that impeachment is "off the table".

But, as Kucinich holds nothing higher than his duties to defend the Constitution and represent the people of the United States, Kucinich is making sure that it gets back on. When asked about the Congress' failures to protect the Constituion, at the San Mateo Presidential Straw Poll, Kucinich replied:

"If Congress did the right thing, they would be talking ... about impeachment...

"I introduced House Resolution 333 because I heard from the American people and they said they wanted some response to make Dick Cheney accountable for the statements that he made that took us into a war based on lies. And the statements he made that would take us into a conflict against Iran. Again, more lies.

"The President is now openly invoking the specter of World War III with respect to Iran. He ought to be held accountable also. I'm the only member of Congress who stepped forward on the issue of making Dick Cheney accountable. And now we have 21 members who've joined me. That's a step in the right direction. But I'm going to go beyond that. I'm going to call a privileged resolution, at which point, would force a vote --- at least if it's only on a procedural motion --- members are going to have to confront this issue of impeachment. They're not going to escape it. This is a question of defending our Constitution. It really is."

Kucinich proves yet again his courage and leadership in Representative Democracy against fear and political calculation. He proves that he will not play party politics if it is against the interests of the United States and American citizens. He proves, again, his credentials for holding our highest office. Support Dennis Kucinich!

Why This Isn't George Bush's War

Why? Well, for starters because we are approaching 4,000 dead U.S. Soldiers and have wasted over a trillion of the tax payers dollars. If it there's anything worse than those considerations it's the outrageous losses in Iraq: estimates of over a million Iraqi deaths and over 3 million displaced refugees.

Why isn't it George Bush's War? Because it isn't even a war any longer, it's an occupation; an occupation that steals the future wealth of the Iraqi people by privatzing their oil and reconstruction, an occupation that partitions their country and increases volatility, destabalizes the region and inflames American resentment; an occupation that enriches and empowers multinational companies and mercenaries, undermines America's international standing and security at home, and acts as strategic position for more aggressive actions in the region.

Why isn't this George Bush's War? Because he is our Representative. The crisis in Iraq is mine, yours, his and hers; ours, as Americans and theirs, as Iraqis to Iranians to Israelis to just about anyone who is affected: a long list. Sorry, Mrs. Clinton and frontunners, this involves the whole country and we need to take action now. Sorry, Mrs. Pelosi and too many Congressional members, it's our problem and we need to reassert Congressional authority where the Constitution has granted it. No more politics. No more games.

Let's be clear, however. George Bush has a very large share of responsibility. I'm not writing this to vindicate him. He is certainly blameworthy for many decisions leading us here. These were his plans, his deceptions and his corruptions. But, then again, I'm not vindicating Clinton and Edwards either for not reading the NIE, or along with Obama, their consistent funding of the war and subsequent occupation, silence on the Oil Privatization and weak leadership in ending this conflict. On the contrary, I'm talking about responsibility and leadership here.

It's time to accept responsibility for every death, every bullet, every dollar involved in Iraq as ours. It's a proposition as weighty and profound as one can imagine, a dark and dreary idea that most don't seem ready to accept, as many times as I hear "Bush". Really, I can only imagine someone like Sartre not blushing. But, with this heavy responsibility comes a great power: We will end this disaster in Iraq!

As we finally accept this as our problem ("our" being President, Congress, citizens, etc.) we will no longer depend upon others to provide the solution. We will no longer wait for the President to change course, or the congress to "get enough votes". We will act now as we are able to. And what is the only way to end this occupation now? No more money. Congress as a representative of the 70% of Americans who want to end this conflict now, will not offer a bill to the President for further action.

The power of the purse is soley the authority of Congress and it is the only way we will end this conflict now, rather than 2013 or later. The Congress does not offer legislation for continuing military action, but will allow appropriation to safely withdraw U.S. troops in a timely fashion, upon consultation and recomendation of the military. It is that simple. No 2/3 majority. No veto. Done. Bush can'd do anything and if Republicans tried to enact legislation, the Democrats (who virtually all say they are against the war but don't have the votes to overide the veto) fillibuster to block it, for which they only need 41 votes to do and which they surely have. Please read here, here and here.

Needless to say, the Democrats have not been telling us about this, but rather hiding behind the troops or just misleading us about not haveing the votes. However, Dennis Kucinich has been a lone exception throughout the campaign. Just as Kucinich lead the effort to opposing the vote for war originally (actually citing the faulty intelligence), 100% voted against funding it, spoke out alone against the Oil Privatization, as well as aggressive action against Iran, Kucinich has lead here as well. Time and time again he has told us what the others would not: that we can end this war whenever we have the will.

After cutting off funding, Kucinich's plan for ending the occupation, H.R. 1234, incorporates a plan for a safe withdraw of U.S. troops, who are then replaced with an international peacekeeping force to stabalize the region. The national Oil and reconstruction contracts will be given back to Iraqis, as the U.S. engages in multilateral regional negotiations for long term solutions. It is the most reasonable and most practical plan. After all, what is inflaming the violent insurgency, but the occupation?

Kucinich has taken up the leadership here as he has on other issues. He is offering an active plan and immediate steps toward a solution. Kucinich is claiming his responsibility. We need to do the same.