“Hardly 48 hours ago … I once again explicitly offered the United States to send a medical force with the necessary means to offer emergency assistance to the tens of thousands of Americans trapped in the flooded areas and the ruins Katrina left behind after lashing Louisiana and other southern states.”
Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba, September 4, 2005
http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/english/speeches/art11.html
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Fidel Castro offered to send doctors to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast to help the people who were impacted by the hurricane. He went on to say,
“Cuba would be completely powerless to help the crew of a spaceship or a nuclear submarine in distress, but it could offer the victims of hurricane Katrina, facing imminent death, substantial and crucial assistance.”
Fidel Castro spoke for his country and offered help from his nation. The offer of help was rejected by the U.S. government. Had it been up to the people of New Orleans, I suspect they would have welcomed this support.
Three years later, Cuba has suffered extensive damage from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The island needs help. The United States government has offered $100,000 and team of experts to assess the damage. The Cuban government has rejected this offer. Americans want to reach into their own pockets to send money and provide aide to Cuba. Treasury Department restrictions prevent US citizens from transferring U.S. dollars to Cuba or for family members to visit relatives on the island.
During the recent Presidential Forum on volunteerism, both candidates Barak Obama and John McCain extolled the virtues of private giving and volunteerism. Private citizens reaching into their pockets or volunteering to help people in need has been a hallmark of the Bush Administration’s compassionate conservative policy. Yet, American citizens cannot offer help to the Cuban people because of U.S. governmental regulations.
The United States Congress needs to act immediately to end these Treasury Department restrictions on giving money and providing support to the people of Cuba so that Americans can offer help where help is needed.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Too Much Information is Not Such a Good Thing
Ever since the Sarah Palin announcement, last week, I have had to accept the fact that I do love soap operas, even though I never watch them. Instead of watching, I prefer soap opera living even if it is a vicarious experience. Thanks to the Sarah Palin story my emotions have been totally jagged, one moment I’m greedy for information, the next I’m furious, and I have to admit for a few moments I’ve actually been a bit in awe of the Republican’s vice presidential candidate. If Nancy Pelosi, who is supposed to be an iron woman, had shot from the hip the way this Alaskan gun slinger does, I suspect she would be President now running to be elected in her own right.
My first question, when this beauty arrived on the scene was who is raising the baby? The fact that she has a four month old baby and is running for Vice President seems a little odd to me. But as is always s the case with Sarah Palin, there was more to the story. She made sure that we all knew that this is a special needs baby and because she is such a moral upstanding pro-live woman she made the choice to carry it to term. She proudly proclaimed that she was back at work three days after the baby was born. I do not understand any mother who has a baby and proudly leaves it in the care of others within days to go back to a job. I don’t care whether the baby is perfect or has special needs, as far as I’m concerned all newborn babies deserve to have the full attention of their mothers. The way you know they are ready to set their mothers free is they get up on their own two feet and walk away.
My opinions on child rearing were what made my relationship with Sarah Palin so complicated. All of her women compatriots from the Republican Convention came out like gang busters to deal with this motherhood issue. “You wouldn’t expect this about a man,” they hissed. I was intrigued that these good Republican women who go on about family values don’t seem to care what you do with the kid as long as you let it be born. Once the baby is born; it is on its own.
Of course Sarah didn’t disappoint for no sooner than the handlers let us know that she is a gun totting, pro-lifer, energy expert, who is the Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard, Sarah let us in on a family secret. Her seventeen year old, unmarried daughter is five months pregnant. But it is fine, we were assured, because the daughter is going to marry the father of the baby and she has the support of her family. All it means is she is going to have to grow up a little faster. And by the way the campaign made this announcement to dispel those nasty liberal rumors that the four month old baby is not mom’s, it is the daughter’s.
No wonder I became a voyeur in this soap opera. With a set up like this, you’d have to be crazy not to follow up on every juicy detail. So for the past week, I have been checking the internet constantly for more gossip.
I went to the nasty liberal blogs that ran the story about the pregnancy cover-up and was not totally convinced, though I find it incredible that a woman could wait until she was seven months pregnant to let everybody around her know the “obvious” which wasn’t so obvious.
I have been following trooper gate, Alaskan ear marks, and the bridge to nowhere turnabouts. I googled the star spangle banner photo shopped bikini photo and looked at pictures of the “f---ing redneck”, teenagers with guns, and the Wolfowitz hair stylist. I haven’t been able to find hubby’s work schedule on the Northern Ridge, child care arrangements, or a private plane, but I suspect they’ll come out before too long.
In the evenings I tune into the Republican convention in small doses. To the women who wear the “I support unwed mothers” buttons, I yell, what about the pregnant teens in our cities who need your support? I fume at the constant prattle about how serving as mayor of a small town and governor in a small state is all the preparation that you need to be Vice President. After all she is the only one running with management experience. I think that whoever came up with the explanation for Sarah Palin’s vast foreign policy experience should be commended. She’s a foreign policy ace because Alaska is next Russia.
It is during the evenings that I get angry at Sarah Palin and her story. I do not appreciate the implications that her people make about Americans and their families. They say that people will relate to and love Sarah Palin because she has problems that we all have. I’d like to remind the Republicans that the problems that most Americans are facing involve job insecurity, health care, the rising costs of food, shelter, and fuel, and paying for a war that they don’t support.
I hope to get my life back soon. With luck the Sarah Palin’s story will fade and I can leave this soap opera for my own boring life which isn’t as dysfunctional as the Republicans claim it is.
My first question, when this beauty arrived on the scene was who is raising the baby? The fact that she has a four month old baby and is running for Vice President seems a little odd to me. But as is always s the case with Sarah Palin, there was more to the story. She made sure that we all knew that this is a special needs baby and because she is such a moral upstanding pro-live woman she made the choice to carry it to term. She proudly proclaimed that she was back at work three days after the baby was born. I do not understand any mother who has a baby and proudly leaves it in the care of others within days to go back to a job. I don’t care whether the baby is perfect or has special needs, as far as I’m concerned all newborn babies deserve to have the full attention of their mothers. The way you know they are ready to set their mothers free is they get up on their own two feet and walk away.
My opinions on child rearing were what made my relationship with Sarah Palin so complicated. All of her women compatriots from the Republican Convention came out like gang busters to deal with this motherhood issue. “You wouldn’t expect this about a man,” they hissed. I was intrigued that these good Republican women who go on about family values don’t seem to care what you do with the kid as long as you let it be born. Once the baby is born; it is on its own.
Of course Sarah didn’t disappoint for no sooner than the handlers let us know that she is a gun totting, pro-lifer, energy expert, who is the Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard, Sarah let us in on a family secret. Her seventeen year old, unmarried daughter is five months pregnant. But it is fine, we were assured, because the daughter is going to marry the father of the baby and she has the support of her family. All it means is she is going to have to grow up a little faster. And by the way the campaign made this announcement to dispel those nasty liberal rumors that the four month old baby is not mom’s, it is the daughter’s.
No wonder I became a voyeur in this soap opera. With a set up like this, you’d have to be crazy not to follow up on every juicy detail. So for the past week, I have been checking the internet constantly for more gossip.
I went to the nasty liberal blogs that ran the story about the pregnancy cover-up and was not totally convinced, though I find it incredible that a woman could wait until she was seven months pregnant to let everybody around her know the “obvious” which wasn’t so obvious.
I have been following trooper gate, Alaskan ear marks, and the bridge to nowhere turnabouts. I googled the star spangle banner photo shopped bikini photo and looked at pictures of the “f---ing redneck”, teenagers with guns, and the Wolfowitz hair stylist. I haven’t been able to find hubby’s work schedule on the Northern Ridge, child care arrangements, or a private plane, but I suspect they’ll come out before too long.
In the evenings I tune into the Republican convention in small doses. To the women who wear the “I support unwed mothers” buttons, I yell, what about the pregnant teens in our cities who need your support? I fume at the constant prattle about how serving as mayor of a small town and governor in a small state is all the preparation that you need to be Vice President. After all she is the only one running with management experience. I think that whoever came up with the explanation for Sarah Palin’s vast foreign policy experience should be commended. She’s a foreign policy ace because Alaska is next Russia.
It is during the evenings that I get angry at Sarah Palin and her story. I do not appreciate the implications that her people make about Americans and their families. They say that people will relate to and love Sarah Palin because she has problems that we all have. I’d like to remind the Republicans that the problems that most Americans are facing involve job insecurity, health care, the rising costs of food, shelter, and fuel, and paying for a war that they don’t support.
I hope to get my life back soon. With luck the Sarah Palin’s story will fade and I can leave this soap opera for my own boring life which isn’t as dysfunctional as the Republicans claim it is.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Which Article of Impeachment Pushes You Over the Edge?
As I listened to Dennis Kucinich introduce the 35 Articles of Impeachment to Congress (http://www.progressive.org/mag_wx0601008), I was lulled by the constant repetition of “In his conduct while President of the United States, George W. Bush, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States...”
I began to dose as each article was explained until this statement snapped me out of it, “...authorized or permitted the arrest and detention of at least 2500 children under the age of 18 as "enemy combatants" in Iraq, Afghanistan, and at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention relating to the treatment of "protected persons" and the Optional Protocol to the Geneva Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, signed by the US in 2002.”
Article XX, Imprisoning Children is the article that pushed my buttons. I had no idea children as young as ten years old were being confined by the US in our Middle East war zones and at Guantanamo where a special children’s section is called Camp Iguana. Some of these young men have been in captivity for so long they are now over 18 years of age. I didn’t know that in November of 2004 as men and boys tried to flee Fallujah prior to the battle, they were turned back by Marines.
I suppose if I had thought about whether we were imprisoning children, I would have suspected that something like this could be happening. To be fair, I am a teacher and have worked with middle school students, so I am well aware of what a bother they can be. I’m just a petite little old lady in running shoes, so of course any big 14 year old boy or girl is going to love to take me on. But it is shameful that the U.S. government doesn’t know how to differentiate between children and men and it is not honoring international treaties regarding the treatment of children.
The killing, imprisonment, and mistreatment of children are reasons we, freedom loving people, hate oppressive regimes. To me, Article XX points out just how far this President has sullied our reputation and had involved the people of the United States in criminal actions. If for no other reason President Bush should be removed from office for allowing children to be held as “enemy combatants”.
The sole purpose of impeachment as outlined in the U.S. Constitution is to remove a president or vice president from office. Impeachment doesn’t provide for punishment of the people who have committed high crimes and misdemeanors.
Dennis Kucinich has outlined a comprehensive and detailed argument for why the U.S. Congress should be holding impeachment hearings. Unfortunately the media, members of the House of Representatives, and many political know-it-alls are slaying this messenger for his devastating message. Few are actually reading the 35 Articles of Impeachment and talking or writing about why those charges require immediate action.
My challenge to you is to find the Article of Impeachment that wakes you out of a dose or pushes your buttons. Explain why this article is so important that it needs immediate attention. Instead of falling into line and playing with the politics of impeachment, let’s use our brains to digest the information the Dennis Kucinich has given us and use it to push for impeachment hearings. Perhaps if more people heard Kucinich’s message, there would be a push for Congress to act.
I began to dose as each article was explained until this statement snapped me out of it, “...authorized or permitted the arrest and detention of at least 2500 children under the age of 18 as "enemy combatants" in Iraq, Afghanistan, and at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention relating to the treatment of "protected persons" and the Optional Protocol to the Geneva Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, signed by the US in 2002.”
Article XX, Imprisoning Children is the article that pushed my buttons. I had no idea children as young as ten years old were being confined by the US in our Middle East war zones and at Guantanamo where a special children’s section is called Camp Iguana. Some of these young men have been in captivity for so long they are now over 18 years of age. I didn’t know that in November of 2004 as men and boys tried to flee Fallujah prior to the battle, they were turned back by Marines.
I suppose if I had thought about whether we were imprisoning children, I would have suspected that something like this could be happening. To be fair, I am a teacher and have worked with middle school students, so I am well aware of what a bother they can be. I’m just a petite little old lady in running shoes, so of course any big 14 year old boy or girl is going to love to take me on. But it is shameful that the U.S. government doesn’t know how to differentiate between children and men and it is not honoring international treaties regarding the treatment of children.
The killing, imprisonment, and mistreatment of children are reasons we, freedom loving people, hate oppressive regimes. To me, Article XX points out just how far this President has sullied our reputation and had involved the people of the United States in criminal actions. If for no other reason President Bush should be removed from office for allowing children to be held as “enemy combatants”.
The sole purpose of impeachment as outlined in the U.S. Constitution is to remove a president or vice president from office. Impeachment doesn’t provide for punishment of the people who have committed high crimes and misdemeanors.
Dennis Kucinich has outlined a comprehensive and detailed argument for why the U.S. Congress should be holding impeachment hearings. Unfortunately the media, members of the House of Representatives, and many political know-it-alls are slaying this messenger for his devastating message. Few are actually reading the 35 Articles of Impeachment and talking or writing about why those charges require immediate action.
My challenge to you is to find the Article of Impeachment that wakes you out of a dose or pushes your buttons. Explain why this article is so important that it needs immediate attention. Instead of falling into line and playing with the politics of impeachment, let’s use our brains to digest the information the Dennis Kucinich has given us and use it to push for impeachment hearings. Perhaps if more people heard Kucinich’s message, there would be a push for Congress to act.
Why I Changed Course
Back in the 1970s, I spend a year working for the Close-up Foundation as a program instructor. Delegations of high school students from all over the country came to Washington DC to learn about government. One of our duties was to introduce Congress members and Senators to the students. I was asked to introduce Tip O’Neill, Speaker of the House, to a group from Massachusetts. Our meeting was on the floor of the House of Representatives. I got up to make my introduction, turned red, and all that came out of my mouth was “ah, ah, ah”. I had completely lost my words. The Speaker walked up with a big smile on is generous face, shook my hand, laughed, and took over.
I have to confess that when I stood up at that podium, I though, this is where I want to be. I love the House of Representatives and all that it stands for. But, clearly, I don’t have a talent for it; I lost my words, and members of Congress don’t do that.
Now, thirty years later, I feel like members of Congress have lost their words. I cannot believe that our representatives do not know that the shameful war on Iraq must be ended. I believe that our representatives know that the President and his administration have committed high crimes and misdemeanors and must be held accountable for their actions. I will not believe that our representatives do not understand that most Americans are fed up with their inability to act in the best interests of the American people. Yet, except for a few squawks, Congress is silent at a time when there is turmoil within the nation.
While the U.S. Constitution maintains that members of congress must live in the state they represent, my own opinion is that a member of Congress should be more than just a state resident. A representative should live in the district and enjoy the support of the voters who live there. When I began my quest as an unlikely candidate, I said that I needed to know that there were people from New York’s 8th CD behind my candidacy. I understood that we would begin small and it would take time to build support. I also knew that it would be tricky to get support without an official announcement.
During the month that we tried to put together a congressional challenge, we sent out notices to people who are committed to the impeachment issue and asked for help. The majority of people, who responded to our call to action, lived outside of the 8th Congressional District. They were tireless with their energy, had wonderful ideas, and were a terrific support in this endeavor, but they couldn’t sign a nominating petition or vote for a challenger. I, possibly because of my own ideas of what representative government is, could not continue with this campaign without some support from voters of this district.
Our goal for this campaign was to raise awareness about impeachment and the need for hearings. As we worked on the campaign, we found that our energy was taken up with the details of creating a primary campaign. One of the great flaws of our election system is it has been created and maintained by incumbents. Consequently, it is near impossible for a challenger to mount a campaign unless there is the support of the party or a large number of voters. Campaigns involve mountains of paperwork, tedious details, and a need for money that is obscene at a time when so many people have financial troubles.
Mounting a primary challenge a month before the petitioning period is a bit of a fool’s errand especially in a district that is pretty much satisfied with the job that the Congress member is doing. Our greatest problem was the limited amount of time we had to mount this challenge. From what I saw and heard from different people, knocking this incumbent out, might not be as impossible as it seems if there were the time to do it properly. If somebody from the 8th CD was interested in taking this seat and began to work on it now, it wouldn’t surprise me to see our Congressman handed a pink slip in January 2011.
I have to confess that when I stood up at that podium, I though, this is where I want to be. I love the House of Representatives and all that it stands for. But, clearly, I don’t have a talent for it; I lost my words, and members of Congress don’t do that.
Now, thirty years later, I feel like members of Congress have lost their words. I cannot believe that our representatives do not know that the shameful war on Iraq must be ended. I believe that our representatives know that the President and his administration have committed high crimes and misdemeanors and must be held accountable for their actions. I will not believe that our representatives do not understand that most Americans are fed up with their inability to act in the best interests of the American people. Yet, except for a few squawks, Congress is silent at a time when there is turmoil within the nation.
While the U.S. Constitution maintains that members of congress must live in the state they represent, my own opinion is that a member of Congress should be more than just a state resident. A representative should live in the district and enjoy the support of the voters who live there. When I began my quest as an unlikely candidate, I said that I needed to know that there were people from New York’s 8th CD behind my candidacy. I understood that we would begin small and it would take time to build support. I also knew that it would be tricky to get support without an official announcement.
During the month that we tried to put together a congressional challenge, we sent out notices to people who are committed to the impeachment issue and asked for help. The majority of people, who responded to our call to action, lived outside of the 8th Congressional District. They were tireless with their energy, had wonderful ideas, and were a terrific support in this endeavor, but they couldn’t sign a nominating petition or vote for a challenger. I, possibly because of my own ideas of what representative government is, could not continue with this campaign without some support from voters of this district.
Our goal for this campaign was to raise awareness about impeachment and the need for hearings. As we worked on the campaign, we found that our energy was taken up with the details of creating a primary campaign. One of the great flaws of our election system is it has been created and maintained by incumbents. Consequently, it is near impossible for a challenger to mount a campaign unless there is the support of the party or a large number of voters. Campaigns involve mountains of paperwork, tedious details, and a need for money that is obscene at a time when so many people have financial troubles.
Mounting a primary challenge a month before the petitioning period is a bit of a fool’s errand especially in a district that is pretty much satisfied with the job that the Congress member is doing. Our greatest problem was the limited amount of time we had to mount this challenge. From what I saw and heard from different people, knocking this incumbent out, might not be as impossible as it seems if there were the time to do it properly. If somebody from the 8th CD was interested in taking this seat and began to work on it now, it wouldn’t surprise me to see our Congressman handed a pink slip in January 2011.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Why Impeachment?
Impeachment may seem to be a limited issue with which to launch a congressional campaign, but it is symbolic of so many of the things that are wrong with the Democrats’ performance in Congress. We know that a majority of Americans -- some polls say as high as 70% -- want to end the War on Iraq. Americans are also concerned about the economy, job loss, the mortgage crisis, healthcare, the environment, our treatment of veterans, election reform, civil liberties, and the list goes on and on. While the electorate has made it amply clear that they want action, members of the majority party in the House of Representatives continue to dance to the tune of one of the least popular lame duck Presidents in history.
Democrats say they want to end the war, yet cave in each time the Republican administration and their Congressional colleagues raise objections. Democrats say they want to protect people who are losing their jobs or homes, yet the best they could do was sign on to an ill-conceived tax stimulus package that probably won’t even keep up with inflation. Democrats say that they are concerned about Americans who can’t afford decent healthcare, the environment, taking care of our veterans, and of course protecting our civil liberties, but Republican don’t see it quite the same way, so the Democrats fold their tent and retreat. With the arrogance, petulance, and chutzpa of a schoolyard bully, George Bush makes it clear that it’s his way or no way. The Democrats in Congress cower and do it his way.
A few in Congress are standing up for what they believe, or what the American people want. When those courageous people do stand up, all that is heard is the deafening silence from their colleagues. Every possible action or issue that Americans care about, from impeachment to ending the war, has been taken off the table.
One wonders, especially after the midterm elections of 2006, why the Democratic Caucus is so weak and inept. Is it that the members’ main concern is to protect their jobs? Considering that we have a very unpopular lame duck President, it is startling that they have been unable to make substantive policy changes. It seems that a new dynamic has been established by this President and his Republican minority henchmen: majority rule is no longer the way we do business. Legislation can only succeed with a veto proof vote in the House and a super majority of 60 Senators.
So, with all that to chew on, you might ask why focus on impeachment? After all, impeachment won’t end the war, revive our economy, solve the home loan crisis, create jobs, or provide affordable healthcare. That is true. But, impeachment is a touchstone the sums up all the problems we currently have with our government. If Congress is unable to hold the President accountable for all the misdeeds he so willingly acknowledges, how can we expect them to act on any of these other pressing issues?
As a teacher who has supervised children in a school yard, I know how one out-of-control bully can create havoc with the play of the other children. There are times when the only effective way to restore order is to remove the bully from the playground. We may have just a few months to go before the end of the term, but the damage George Bush has done is great, and he will continue on the same path until the end of his term. Impeachment is not the only action that is needed to respond to the concerns of the American people, but it is an action that would set us on a better course.
Democrats say they want to end the war, yet cave in each time the Republican administration and their Congressional colleagues raise objections. Democrats say they want to protect people who are losing their jobs or homes, yet the best they could do was sign on to an ill-conceived tax stimulus package that probably won’t even keep up with inflation. Democrats say that they are concerned about Americans who can’t afford decent healthcare, the environment, taking care of our veterans, and of course protecting our civil liberties, but Republican don’t see it quite the same way, so the Democrats fold their tent and retreat. With the arrogance, petulance, and chutzpa of a schoolyard bully, George Bush makes it clear that it’s his way or no way. The Democrats in Congress cower and do it his way.
A few in Congress are standing up for what they believe, or what the American people want. When those courageous people do stand up, all that is heard is the deafening silence from their colleagues. Every possible action or issue that Americans care about, from impeachment to ending the war, has been taken off the table.
One wonders, especially after the midterm elections of 2006, why the Democratic Caucus is so weak and inept. Is it that the members’ main concern is to protect their jobs? Considering that we have a very unpopular lame duck President, it is startling that they have been unable to make substantive policy changes. It seems that a new dynamic has been established by this President and his Republican minority henchmen: majority rule is no longer the way we do business. Legislation can only succeed with a veto proof vote in the House and a super majority of 60 Senators.
So, with all that to chew on, you might ask why focus on impeachment? After all, impeachment won’t end the war, revive our economy, solve the home loan crisis, create jobs, or provide affordable healthcare. That is true. But, impeachment is a touchstone the sums up all the problems we currently have with our government. If Congress is unable to hold the President accountable for all the misdeeds he so willingly acknowledges, how can we expect them to act on any of these other pressing issues?
As a teacher who has supervised children in a school yard, I know how one out-of-control bully can create havoc with the play of the other children. There are times when the only effective way to restore order is to remove the bully from the playground. We may have just a few months to go before the end of the term, but the damage George Bush has done is great, and he will continue on the same path until the end of his term. Impeachment is not the only action that is needed to respond to the concerns of the American people, but it is an action that would set us on a better course.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Seeds of Democracy
I am covered in dirt. I’m taking a break from digging in my garden. After nineteen years of being a weekend gardener, I had planned to begin my retirement this spring as a full time gardener by devoting the needed time to digging, planting, and weeding. A peculiar thing happened and my plans have changed.
Let me step back and confess that I love politics. I’ve thought a lot about our elected officials and my dissatisfaction with the job that they are doing. I’ve speculated on how to unseat ineffective popular incumbents who are reelected whether or not they are responsive to their constituents or to the needs of the country. To run for office you need the time and money to do it. Many with the money have been elected, but I’ve often wondered about those people who have only the time to commit to an election campaign. Two groups come to mind, the retired and the unemployed. They have time and an understanding of the challenges that face the people of this country because of poor policy. When I mused about this possibility for recruiting candidates to run against incumbents, it never occurred to me that I might be one of them.
My prospective campaign landed on me the night before my last day of work. I had agreed to have a meeting at my home for a group that I had been working with to convince our New York City Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairman of the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee, to initiate impeachment hearings. We have been working together for months and have sent letters, had meetings with him, set up a website, and have brought in experts on impeachment to education ourselves as well as Representative Nadler on the issue. Despite our efforts, he has remained firm in his position that he will not pursue impeachment.
That evening, I was baking goodies to take to my soon to be former colleagues at work, and wondering if the next day would really be my last. I had also been taken to lunch and given a beautiful gift, so I was feeling very special. At one point during the meeting, somebody said, the only way to get to Nadler take us seriously is to run somebody against him. I piped up with, “Well, I have the time.” And the people in the room responded, “Carla that is wonderful, you can be our candidate.”
If it hadn’t been for the fact that my candidacy gave such hope to the people at the meeting and those who they told, I would have let the whole idea quietly disappear, figuring that it was just a giddy moment that came about because I was feeling frisky.
I am an unlikely candidate for Congress. I don’t have a flag lapel pin and would probably wear it upside down if I did. I don’t salute to the flag, but can recite the Preamble to the Constitution and will do it if given a chance. I am not religious. I have traveled to some politically unpopular spots and am proud that I took these trips. I do not fit the traditional American political mold, but I am determined to make sure that we live by the ideas and the principles outlined in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. While I won’t swear allegiance to a piece of cloth, I would take an oath to uphold the Constitution.
Congressman Nadler took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, which is the reason that I and others like me are troubled by his unwillingness to initiate impeachment hearings. None of his arguments against impeachment -- the process will take too long, we need to focus our attention on the 2008 presidential election, Congress will be incapacitated by impeachment hearings, we don’t have the votes, we’ll investigate Bush after he leaves office -- honor the oath that Representative Nadler took to defend the Constitution.
Congressman Nadler voted against the authorization to allow the President to take us to war on Iraq. He deserves our respect for that vote, but five years later, we are still deeply mired in this war that should never have been started. Although Representative Nadler states that he opposes the war, he is convinced that it is a hopeless situation and nothing can be done to end it. If he can’t, or won’t, provide the leadership to change these circumstances, then I believe that our district, and our nation, would be better served by a representative who, at the very least, envisions the possibility of ending the war.
My goal in this candidacy for Congress is to educate the constituents of the 8th CD about the issue of impeachment and why it is critical to the future of our country that this course of action be pursued. I would like to remind Congressman Nadler of his obligation to the oath that he took to support and defend the Constitution. I also hope to give our community hope that the War on Iraq can and will be ended.
I love to garden, but have never felt particularly effective at it because my favorite part is working with the soil and doing the planting. As a part-timer, I slow down when the weeds start to pop up and take over. This year, I plan to give my full attention to weeds. We have reached a time when our government has been over taken by the weeds. We need to clear the soil and replant the seeds of democracy that our Constitution gave us “to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”
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