Naomi Wolf: Fascist America, in 10 easy steps

The Guardian | Tuesday April 24, 2007

“From Hitler to Pinochet and beyond, history shows there are certain steps that any would-be dictator must take to destroy constitutional freedoms. And, argues Naomi Wolf, George Bush and his administration seem to be taking them all”

read the article >>

Video: Naomi Wolf addressing large crowd

• A lot of her mail goes missing and the mail that gets delivered is opened - even the mail from her daughter at summer camp.
• With elections coming up and a criminal government still holding the reigns, Naomi reminds us to be vigilant and active citizens.

Pelosi Says House Judiciary May Hold Hearings On Kucinich Impeachment Resolution

Is this just a stunt to bolster congress’s low approval rating? (9% and even lower than Bush’s)

Let’s overload the office phones of John Conyer’s, Nancy Pelosi and other Judiciary Committee members and tell them it’s about time!

Please tell them to hear all the evidence and all the witnesses– not only for Kucinich’s one article (misleading US into war) but also for ALL of the articles of impeachment.

Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202) 224-2131 , (800) 828-0498

In the News:

1. Kucinich impeach bill charges Bush ‘fabricated threats’; Pelosi hints at possible hearing
2. Report: Judiciary may hold hearings on impeachment
3. Pelosi cracks door open on impeachment resolution
4. Pelosi Slips Impeachment Onto the Table
5. Kucinich Impeachment Resolution Hearings?
6. Pelosi Says House Judiciary May Hold Hearings On Kucinich Impeachment Resolution

FISA UPDATE: Outrageous and un-American

I just signed the below ad/petition and forwarded to all of my contacts, I hope you will do the same. (just copy and paste into your email program.

Michelle

____________

Dear Friend,

Cowed by the Bush administration’s pre-election scare tactics, the Senate passed privacy-stealing FISA legislation undermining your Fourth Amendment rights.

It’s outrageous, unconstitutional and un-American. That’s why the ACLU is prepared to challenge this law the moment George Bush signs it — and you can rest assured, they’ll be meeting our lawyers in court.

The ACLU’s lawsuit will send a powerful message to those in Congress who played it safe when they had the opportunity to defend the Constitution.

In addition, the ACLU will be taking out a full-page ad in a major national newspaper announcing their lawsuit and expressing outrage at this abandonment of our Constitutional principles. Their goal is to run an ad containing the names of tens of thousands of Americans who believe in the Constitution and want Congress to hear us loud and clear: next time, stand up for our rights.

You can sign your name to the ACLU’s ad by visiting:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/fisaad

Kucinich to bring single article of impeachment for misleading US into war

therawstory | Nick Juliano | July 8

“Few in the House of Representatives have any intention of doing anything with the last 35 articles of impeachment Kucinich set before them last month, so the former presidential candidate appears to be lightening the load. Kucinich sent a letter to colleagues Tuesday asking them to support a single article of impeachment, to be introduced Thursday, which accuses President Bush of leading the country to war based on lies.”

Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202) 224-2131 , (800) 828-0498

The Senate will vote on the FISA bill and the telecom immunity amendments today.

If you can’t be there in person, watch it on C-SPAN (C-SPAN 2 - Time TBD)

If you’ll be in the DC area, gather at the corner of Constitution and First to get tickets from your senator’s office.

the FISA vote is less than 48 hours away - what we can do

* CALL YOUR SENATORS’ OFFICES TODAY (MONDAY)!

• Ask for the Senator’s position on the FISA bill. The staffer at the other end of the line will be happy to tell you.
• Once you know their stand, tell them yours, and ask them to
  • Support the rule of law and vote YES on the Dodd-Feingold-Leahy and Bingaman amendments.
  • Oppose expansion of government surveillance powers and vote NO on the FISA bill
  • Work to convince their colleagues in both parties to do the same

The easiest way to call is using this http://tools.advomatic.com/7/fisa

For more on what you can do, visit the priorities page http://get-fisa-right.wetpaint.com/page/Today%27s+priorities

Thank you for standing up for our civil liberties!

Activism is Patriotic - At the Takoma Park, MD July 4th Parade

Thomas Nephew dressed as the Town Crier and talked with parade-goers about the FISA Amendment Act — “a terrible idea.”

Thomas Nephew of Takoma Park, MD

(photo: Michelle Bailey)

Celebrate the US Constitution this 4th of July! Tell the US Senate and Barack Obama to get FISA right before voting Tuesday July 8th. Don’t let illegal wire-tappers off the hook!

The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Without your help right now, a flawed FISA bill will give George Bush and the phone companies a pass next Tuesday for years of illegal spying on millions of US citizens.

What can you do to defend the Fourth Amendment? How about something easy, patriotic and fun?

(1) Call your Senators and especially Barack Obama and ask that they vote against the current FISA bill on Tuesday. Don’t let illegal wire-tappers off the hook!

Senator Cardin 202-224-4524
Senator Mikulski 202 224-4654
Barack Obama HQ 866-675-2008

(2) Visit “newsrackblog.com”

Learn more and get active about this online – including how to join “Senator Obama - Please Vote NO on Telecom Immunity - Get FISA Right” groups at “facebook” and “mybarackobama.com.”

---

Related:
Judge Rejects Bush’s View on Wiretaps

Eric Lichtblau, reporting for The New York Times, writes: “A federal judge in California said Wednesday that the wiretapping law established by Congress was the ‘exclusive’ means for the president to eavesdrop on Americans, and he rejected the government’s claim that the president’s constitutional authority as commander in chief trumped that law.”

Hersh: The Bush Administration steps up its secret moves against Iran.

newyorker.com | July 7, 2008

“Although some legislators were troubled by aspects of the Finding, and “there was a significant amount of high-level discussion” about it, according to the source familiar with it, the funding for the escalation was approved. In other words, some members of the Democratic leadership—Congress has been under Democratic control since the 2006 elections—were willing, in secret, to go along with the Administration in expanding covert activities directed at Iran, while the Party’s presumptive candidate for President, Barack Obama, has said that he favors direct talks and diplomacy.”

read complete article here >>

They won’t impeach? - Let’s try this…

Our elected representatives have pat answers to the impeachment issue including: it will hurt the democrats and look like we are just trying to get even.

So now I think I’m going to change it up a bit and ask my Congressman, Chris Van Hollen, and members of the Judiciary Committee what they plan to do to hold Bush and Cheney (et al.) accountable for - oh, let’s say my top 35 from the 35 articles of impeachment against Bush that Patriot Dennis Kucinich introduced last week:

Mr. Van Hollen, since you have a pat answer and you don’t wish to honor your Constitutional duty to start impeachment hearings, Here is a brand new question for you: How do you plan to hold Bush and Cheney accountable for:

1. Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq.
2. Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression.
3. Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War.
4. Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States.
5. Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression.
6. Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of H. J. Res114.
7. Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War.
8. Invading Iraq, A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter.
9. Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor.
10. Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political Purposes.
11. Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq.
12. Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation’s Natural Resources.
13. Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries.
14. Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency.
15. Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq.
16. Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors.
17. Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives.
18. Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy.
19. Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to “Black Sites” Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture.
20. Imprisoning Children.
21. Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran, and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government.
22. Creating Secret Laws.
23. Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.
24. Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment.
25. Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens.
26. Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements.
27. Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply.
28. Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice.
29. Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
30. Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare.
31. Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane - Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency.
    Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically
32. Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change.
33. Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.
34. Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001.
35. Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders.

?????????????????????????????????????????

“Gang of Eight” & Obstruction of Justice should move Conyers, right?

Read the impeachable, criminal, anti-Constitutional charges against Bush then ask yourself…

“What is going on here? Why is everyone (almost everyone) in Congress protecting Bush and Cheney?”

We need your fresh ideas! I’m going to start a list:

1. Obstruction of Justice Tactic: The “Gang of Eight” was secretly tipped off about warrantless NSA surveillance and torture (Articles #24 and #18 ) years before the New York Times and Washington Post revealed them to the public. Those reports have never been disputed.
   • What to do: Call Conyers & chat with him or his admin: It’s basically this: Under the House Ethics Rules, Nancy Pelosi and other witnesses (who may be accessories) are required to recuse themselves from participation to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. They are interested parties who can not in good faith move to keep impeachment off the table.
   • Details here>>

ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH

Washington, Jun 10 - Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio
In the United States House of Representatives
Monday, June 9th, 2008
A Resolution

INDEX

Article I
Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for
War Against Iraq.

Article II
Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the
Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a
Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of
Aggression.

Article III
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq
Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for
War.

Article IV
Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq
Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States.

Article V
Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression.

Article VI
Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of H. J. Res114.

Article VII
Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War.

Article VIII
Invading Iraq, A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter.

Article IX
Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor.

Article X
Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political
Purposes.

Article XI
Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq.

Article XII
Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation’s Natural
Resources.

Article XIIII
Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies
With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries.

Article XIV
Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information
And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson,
Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Article XV
Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq.

Article XVI
Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With
Iraq and US Contractors.

Article XVII
Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons
Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives.

Article XVIII
Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture
Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter
of Official Policy.

Article XIX
Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to
“Black Sites” Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to
Practice Torture.

Article XX
Imprisoning Children.

Article XXI
Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran,
and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of
Overthrowing the Iranian Government.

Article XXII
Creating Secret Laws.

Article XXIII
Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.

Article XXIV
Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in
Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment.

Article XXV
Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and
Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails
of American Citizens.

Article XXVI
Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements.

Article XXVII
Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former
Employees Not to Comply.

Article XXVIII
Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the
Administration of Justice.

Article XXIX
Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Article XXX
Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy
Medicare.

Article XXXI
Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane
Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency.

Article XXXII
Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically
Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change.

Article XXXIII
Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence
Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.

Article XXXIV
Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11,
2001.

Article XXXV
Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders.