Progressive Calendar 11.07.07
From: David Shove (shove001tc.umn.edu)
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 16:02:02 -0800 (PST)
             P R O G R E S S I V E   C A L E N D A R    11.07.07

1. Intro/GreenParty  11.07 6:30pm
2. MPN4P MerriamPark 11.07 7pm
3. Voices v war      11.07 7pm

4. Jodin Morey     - Air America ad v Reps McCollum/Kline on Iraq/impeach
5. Stephen Lendman - Congressional shame and duplicity
6. ed              - Impeach Cheney slogan

--------1 of 6--------

From: PRO826 [at] AOL.COM
Subject: Intro/GreenParty 11.07 6:30pm

Reminder of the upcoming workshop on Nov 7th, this  Wednesday at the GPM
office.  Use the Raymond door entrance.

Introduction to the Green Party
Start: Nov 7 2007 - 6:30pm
End: Nov 7 2007 - 8:00pm

Learn about our ten key values and more, such as the history, structure
and current organization of the party. Discuss the need for participation
by third parties who take no corporate or PAC money.

Every first Wednesday of the month, at the state party office:
2395  University Ave W. #224, St. Paul
Contact Ken Pentel
612-387-0601
_KenPentel [at] yahoo.com_ (mailto:KenPentel [at] yahoo.com)


--------2 of 6--------

From: Krista Menzel <krista [at] kristamenzel.com>
Subject: MPN4P MerriamPark 11.07 7pm

Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace Meeting
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
7:00-9:00 p.m.

Merriam Park Library - Meeting Room B (in basement)
1831 Marshall Avenue (at Fairview Avenue), St. Paul

Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace meets the first Wednesday of each month
at 7:00 at the Merriam Park Library. All are welcome!
Free, and open to the public.
More Info: http://www.mppeace.org/events.htm or info [at] mppeace.org or Anne
at (651) 647-0580 or Krista at (651) 641-7592


--------3 of 6--------

From: "wamm [at] mtn.org" <wamm [at] mtn.org>
Subject: Voices v war 11.07 7pm

Voices Against War: Iraq War Veterans and Military Families Speak Out!

Wednesday, November 7, 7:00 p.m. Augsburg College, Foss Center, Hoversten
Chapel, 625 22nd Avenue South, Minneapolis.

Speakers include Wes Davey, Brandon Day and a member of Military Families
Speak Out. Wes Davey and Brandon Day are both members of Iraq Veterans
Against the War. Co-Sponsored by: Augsburg College Coalition for Student
Activism, Iraq Peace Action Coalition, Iraq Veterans Against the War
(Minnesota Chapter), and Military Families Speak Out (Minnesota Chapter).
FFI: Email Military Families Speak Out, <mfso-minnesota [at] mn.rr.com>.


--------4 of 6--------

From: Jodin Morey <organize [at] impeachforpeace.org>
Subject: Air America Ad Criticizes Reps Betty McCollum/John Kline on
    Iraq/Impeachment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday Nov. 6, 2007
Contact: Jodin Morey, 612-328-1451, Organize [at] ImpeachforPeace.org

Air America Ad Criticizes Betty McCollum/John Kline on Iraq/Impeachment

An ad created by Impeach for Peace and airing on Air America calls out the
Democrats on impeachment. Specifically it mentions Minnesota
Representative Betty McCollum and John Kline, neither of which have signed
on to Dennis Kucinich's Cheney Impeachment resolution. The ad opens with
two U.S. soldiers in Iraq discussing whether the insurgents hate us for
our freedoms, or if it's that we're killing them with the occupation. The
two soldiers conclude that impeachment of the president is the solution to
ending the war, but find that the Democrats are being spineless in their
opposition. They decide to call their Congress people to pressure them to
stand up to the administration and to initiate impeachment. Below is the
audio of the ad, as well as the text of the ad...

Audio is here: http://impeachforpeace.org/impeach_bush_blog/?p=3933
-----------------------------------------------------------
[Sounds: Tank, explosions, gunfire]

Soldier 1: Hey, Sergeant Ralph. You know how Bush says they hate us for
our freedom?

Ralph: Yeah?

Soldier 1: And you know how weıre forced to occupy Iraq and tons of
innocent people are dying as a result?

Ralph: Yeah, I noticed that. Why?

Soldier 1: Iım starting to think maybe *thatıs* the reason they hate us.
Also, Cheney and Bush have said they wonıt send us home as long as theyıre
in office, and Iran may be next. So now I think impeachment may be the
only solution.

Ralph: (Frustrated) Yeah, but the Democrats are spineless. My
representative, Betty McCollum, wonıt sign the impeachment resolution
currently in Congress.

Other: Yeah, my rep John Kline wonıt do it, either. But at least weıve got
people in Minnesota working for us. I was looking at Impeach For Peace dot
org, and theyıre encouraging people to call Congress at 800 828 0498.

Narrator: Accountability *is* possible if we tell our representatives we
want impeachment. Representative Kucinich will be forcing a House vote on
impeachment before Thanksgiving, so call your representative now. Also
visit ImpeachforPeace.org to join the push to have the Minneapolis and St.
Paul City Councils pass an impeachment resolution. This ad paid for by
your donations at Impeach For Peace dot org.

Ralph: Our buddies could die here, and itıs good to know people care
enough to act.

Contact: Jodin Morey, 612-328-1451, Organize [at] ImpeachforPeace.org


--------5 of 6--------

Congressional Shame and Duplicity
by Stephen Lendman
 November 03, 2007

The latest October Reuters/Zogby Index shows record low approval ratings
for George Bush and Congress - 24% for the president that looks almost
giddy compared to the bottom-scraping 11% level for the nation's
lawmakers. It's more evidence that the criminal class in Washington is
bipartisan and hoping November, 2008 will change things is pure fantasy.

A voter groundswell sent a message last November to end the Iraq war and
occupation. Instead, the Democrat-led 110th Congress continues to fund it
generously. In May, the House overwhelmingly passed HR 1585, the FY 2008
National Defense Authorization Act. It calls for $506.8 billion for DOD
plus $141.8 billion (of the $150.5 billion White House request) for
ongoing Iraq and Afghanistan operations. The Senate followed with a
similar bill on October 1 with only three opposing votes against it.
Neither bill proposed an Iraq withdrawal timeline, and final legislation
has yet to be sent to the president.

Add on further amounts like George Bush's latest $46 billion request
putting FY 2008 supplemental war-funding above $196 billion and rising.
Congress will approve it and more in spite of Democrats signaling a
protracted budget showdown ahead. The only showdown will be over how much
pork will be added to the final appropriation and for what purpose.

Democrats also back the administration's push to attack Iran by echoing
what the Israeli Lobby calls "The Iranian Threat." War with Iran is
AIPAC's top priority, and key Democrats in Congress are on board hyping a
non-existent threat to prepare the public for what may be coming. Earlier
in March, Speaker Pelosi removed a provision from an appropriations bill
that would have required George Bush to get congressional approval before
attacking Iran. Then in July, the Senate unanimously (97 - 0) passed the
Lieberman amendment that practically endorses war if it's declared. It
affirmed George Bush's baseless charges that Tehran funds, trains and arms
Iraqi resistance fighters "who are contributing to the destabilization of
Iraq and are responsible for the murder of members of the United States
Armed Forces."

The House added its voice on September 25 by voting 397 - 16 for the Iran
Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 that imposes sanctions on non-US
companies investing in Iran's oil sector. The next day the Senate acted
again by overwhelmingly (79 - 22) passing the Kyl-Lieberman amendment that
calls for US policy to "combat, contain and (stop Iran by use of)
diplomatic, economic, intelligence and military instruments." Other
bellicose language in the resolution stated:

-- "the United States should designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards
Corp as a foreign terrorist organization....and place (it) on the list of
Specially Designated Global Terrorists....it should be the policy of the
United States to stop inside Iraq the violent activities and destabilizing
influence of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, its foreign
facilitators such as Lebanese Hezbollah, and its indigenous Iraqi
proxies."

This measure helped smooth the way for George Bush's October 25 unilateral
imposition of sanctions discussed below. It was an unprecedented move
against another nation's military Senator Jim Webb (voting no) said
provides "a backdoor method of gaining congressional validation for
military action, without one hearing (or) serious debate (and that the
action) is Dick Cheney's fondest pipe dream."

George Bush acted provocatively twice. At his October 17 news conference,
he menacingly said he believes Iran "want(s) to have the capacity, the
knowledge in order to make a nuclear weapon....it's in the world's
interests to prevent them from doing so....If Iran had a nuclear weapon,
it would be a dangerous threat to world peace....So....if you're
interested in avoiding World War III" this possibility must be prevented
implying war (potentially using first-strike nuclear weapons) is the way
to do it.

On October 25 Bush acted again to counter China and Russia's opposition to
sweeping UN Security Council measures. He unilaterally imposed harsh new
sanctions against Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), its Quds Force, three
state-owned banks and over 20 Iranian companies. The IRGC was named as
"proliferators of weapons of mass destruction," and the Quds Force was
called a "supporter of terrorism."

Democrats buy this stuff and ignore IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei's latest
October 28 statement that repeated his earlier ones. He said he had no
evidence Iran is building or seeks to build nuclear weapons and accused
the Bush administration of adding "fuel to the fire" with its bellicose
rhetoric. The "loyal opposition" prefers instead to accept White House
press secretary Dana Perino's October 29 charge that Iran "is a country
that is enriching and reprocessing uranium and the reason one does that is
to lead towards a nuclear weapon."

This accusation and new administration sanctions ratchet up tension
further and amount to what one analyst called "a warning shot across the
bow (that stops short of) a signal we're going to war," but it's got other
observers thinking the likelihood is greater than ever with Congress on
board. The move also caught Vladimir Putin's attention in Lisbon where he
was attending an EU leader summit. "Why worsen the situation and bring it
to a dead end" with sanctions or military action," he said. He then added
a pointed reference to George Bush stating: "Running around like a madman
with a razor blade, waving it around, is not the best way to resolve the
situation."

Newly imposed sanctions won't affect US companies. They're already barred
from doing business directly in Iran, but they do target their foreign
subsidiaries and other foreign-based ones with threats of penalties and
exclusion from the US market. It remains to be seen how effective they'll
be as key EU countries as well as China, Russia, India and others have
growing economic ties to Iran. They won't be eager to sever them or join
the US campaign for a wider Middle East war. In addition, Iran is a major
oil supplier. With the price of crude touching $96 a barrel on November 1
(and December futures up to $125), any cutoff or severe reduction of
supply guarantees it'll top $100 and make a global economic slowdown or
recession much more likely.

Nonetheless, the Bush war machine presses on with congressional Democrats
aboard. Presidential candidates from both parties support Bush's move, and
Democrat front runner Hillary Clinton is as hawkish as Joe Lieberman and
John McCain. They both endorse attacking Iran, and McCain believes
striking Iran's nuclear sites "is a possibility that is maybe closer to
reality than we are discussing tonight."

Clinton is just as bellicose, is close to AIPAC, and in an earlier speech
said: "The security and freedom of Israel must be decisive and remain at
the core of any American approach to the Middle East. (We dare not) waver
from this (firm) commitment." She was also quoted in the current issue of
Foreign Affairs saying: "Iran poses a long-term strategic challenge to the
United States, our NATO allies and Israel. It is the country that most
practices state-sponsored terrorism, and it uses its surrogates to supply
explosives that kill US troops in Iraq....(Iran) must not not be permitted
to build or acquire nuclear weapons. If Iran (won't comply with) the will
of the international community, all options must remain on the table."

The only give in her position (that's hardly any at all) is wanting
congressional approval for any future military action. Up to now, that's
been pro forma rubber stamp. It'll be no different if George Bush orders
an attack as congressional Democrat leaders, including Hillary Clinton,
have already signaled their approval.

John Richardson wrote on October 18 in Esquire.com that two former
high-ranking Bush administration National Security Council officials fear
the worst. They're Middle East experts Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann,
and they're reacting publicly. They believe war with Iran has been in the
cards for years, and we're "getting closer and closer to the tripline."
Key for them was the unprecedented move to name Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Quds Force a terrorist organization.

Richardson lays out what they think will happen: UN diplomacy will fail
because Russia and China won't agree to harsh sanctions. Iran's policies
won't change without "any meaningful incentive from the US. That will
trigger a....White House (response with) a serious risk (George Bush)
would decide to order an attack on the Iranian nuclear installations and
probably a wider target zone." This, in turn, "would result in a dramatic
increase in attacks on US (Iraq) forces, attacks by proxy forces like
Hezbollah, and an unknown reaction from....Afghanistan and Pakistan, where
millions admire Iran's resistance." Attacking Iran "could engulf America
in a war with the entire Muslim world." The article also quotes former CIA
officer and author Robert Baer (from Time magazine) saying an unnamed
highly placed White House official believes "IEDs are a casus belli for
this administration. There will be an attack on Iran."

The London Times raised the betting odds further for one in its October 21
report. Columnist Michael Smith wrote: UK defense sources disclosed that
"British (Special Air Service - SAS) forces have crossed into Iran several
times (along with other special forces, the Australian SAS and American
special-operation troops) as part of a secret border war against the
Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Al-Quds special forces." They engaged in "at
least half a dozen intense firefights" along the Iran-Iraq border in what
looks like deliberate US-UK efforts to provoke Iran into providing
justification for a major American attack.

Speculation one looms has been around for some time, and if it comes, it
won't surprise observers like Iran expert Gary Sick. He was a military
advisor to three US presidents and was recently quoted in Germany's Der
Spiegel magazine saying: The recent shift in US emphasis to "Iran's
support for terrorism in Iraq....is a complete change and is potentially
dangerous." That's because it's much easier proving (true or not) Iran
supports Iraqi resistance fighters than it poses an imminent nuclear
threat to the world.

Der Spiegel also reports on a leak "by an official close to" Dick Cheney
that he's "already asked for a backroom analysis of how a war with Iran
might begin (and in) the scenario concocted by (his) strategists,
Washington's first step would be to convince Israel to fire missiles at
Iran's (Natanz) uranium enrichment plant." That would provoke Iran to
retaliate and give the Bush administration the excuse it needs "to attack
military targets and nuclear facilities in Iran." That's OK with Democrats
if it comes including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Black Agenda Report
writer Margaret Kimberly calls a "Quisling" and an "absolute disaster for
the Democrat Party and....the entire nation (because of her) eagerness to
cooperate with the Bush regime (and) her incompetence in leading
Congress."

Other key Democrats share those qualities and that assures extremist
Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey's confirmation won't be
challenged. That's in spite of reports top Senate Judiciary Committee
Democrats Chairman Leahy and Majority Whip Durbin say their votes depend
on his admitting waterboarding is torture. During his confirmation
hearing, Mukasey was evasive and noncommittal.

When asked during questioning, he incredulously claimed not to know what
waterboarding is even though it's been around for centuries and what it
entails is common knowledge. Mukasey would only say "IF (waterboarding) is
torture, it is unconstitutional." He then repeated the White House line
"We don't torture" even though he knows DOJ legal opinions confirm the
Bush administration condones the practice by endorsing "the harshest
interrogation techniques ever used by the Central Intelligence Agency."

He should also know about the ACLU's new "Administration of Torture" book
based on FOIA requested evidence. It documents that "marching orders" for
torture came from Donald Rumsfeld so the White House had to be involved as
well. That includes George Bush and Alberto Gonzales, who in 2002 as White
House Counsel, called the Geneva Conventions "quaint" and "obsolete" and
as Attorney General authorized physical and psychological brutality as
official administration policy.

Mukasey promises business as usual as AG and confirmed it by claiming "I
don't think (Guantanamo prisoners) are mistreated." He also supports the
president's right to imprison US citizens without charge and deny
"unlawful enemy combatants" their habeas rights, but that's OK with
Democrats on the Judiciary Committee with a large party majority sure to
agree.

In a follow-up letter Senator Leahy requested, Mukasey was just as evasive
and noncommittal as during his confirmation hearing. He sidestepped
commenting on presidential surveillance powers limits beyond what FISA
allows and continued to avoid admitting waterboarding is torture. Instead
he said: ...."there is a real issue (whether) the techniques presented and
discussed at the hearing and in your letter are even part of any program
of questioning detainees."

He then added if confirmed he'll concentrate on "solving problems
cooperatively with Congress," advise George Bush appropriately on any
"technique" he determines to be unlawful, and the president is bound by
constitutional and treaty obligations that prohibit torture. This man and
the president defile the law and practically boast about it, but Democrats
will confirm him anyway as the next Attorney General.

House Democrats Pass New Terrorism Prevention Law

Almost without notice, the House overwhelmingly (404 - 6) passed the
Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 (HR
1955) on October 23 some are calling "the thought crime prevention bill."
It now moves to the Senate where if passed and signed by George Bush will
establish a commission and Center of Excellence to study and act against
thought criminals.

The bill's language hides its true intent as "violent radicalization" and
"homegrown terrorism" are whatever the administration says they are.
Violent radicalization is defined as "adopting or promoting an extremist
belief system (to facilitate) ideologically based violence to advance
political, religious or social change." Homegrown terrorism is used to
mean "the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a
group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily with
the United States or any (US) possession to intimidate or coerce the (US)
government, the civilian population....or any segment thereof (to further)
political or social objectives."

Along with other repressive laws enacted post-9/11, HR 1955 may be used
against any individual or group with unpopular views - those that differ
from established state policies even when they're illegal as are many
under George Bush. Prosecutors henceforth will be able to target anti-war
protesters, believers in Islam, web editors, internet bloggers and radio
and TV show hosts and commentators with views the bill calls
"terrorist-related propaganda."

If this legislation becomes law, which is virtually certain, any
dissenting anti-government action or opinion may henceforth be called
"violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism" with stiff penalties for
anyone convicted. This bill now joins the ranks of other repressive
post-9/11 laws like Patriot I and II, Military Commissions and Protect
America Acts that combined with this one are grievous steps toward a
full-blown national security police state everyone should fear and
denounce.

Blame it on Congress and the 110th Democrat-led one that was elected to
end these practices but just made them worse....and there's still 14
months to go to the term's end with plenty of time left to vaporize Iran
and end the republic if that's the plan.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen [at] sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Steve
Lendman News and Information Hour on TheMicroEffect.com Mondays at noon US
central time.


--------6 of 6--------

 Impeachers of America, arise!
 You have nothing to lose but your Cheney!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   - David Shove             shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu
   rhymes with clove         Progressive Calendar
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