By Dave Lindorff

I was a speaker last night at an anti-war event sponsored by the
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County, Progressive
Democrats of America and Democrats For America in Lincroft, NJ, near
the shore. It was a great group of activist Americans who want to see
this country end the Iraq War, turn away from war as a primary
instrument of policy, and start dealing with the pressing human needs
of the country and the world.

Yet even in this group of committed people, one woman stood up
during the question-and-answer session and said, “I want to get
involved in writing emails to members of Congress urging them to cut
off funding for the war and other things, but if I do that won’t I end
up getting put on a `watch list’” or something?”

Note: Our first $1,000 award in our Pelosi Video Contest goes to Anthony from We Are Change Ohio for his outstanding effort to get an answer from Speaker Pelosi! Andrew writes:

I confronted Nancy Pelosi with the full articles of Impeachment. The crimes were highlighted. I have the full details of the confrontation in my video.

It was extremely difficult to not only record the confrontation fully, but also to bring her the articles because security wasn't allowing any cameras or allowing anyone to bring anything to her other than her book. So I literally had to sneak all this by.

I maintained integrity by remaining polite and trying to get a response out of her without getting aggressive like other have been. I kept my confrontation on the point and not only did I confront her with this but I got two responses.

I got her to admit that she hasn't read the articles of impeachment and when I mentioned that all the crimes that Bush has done like eviscerating the Constitution she replied "that's terrible".

Unfortunately I was only able to get audio but I still have the footage in its original form on my camera intact. I hope this is the answer you folks were looking for and I did my best. She hasn't read the articles of impeachment and the crimes listed in the articles are "terrible" according to her.

The Pelosi Video Contest remains open so we encourage everyone to keep trying to get a substantive answer from Pelosi to our question: Of the 36 detailed Articles of Impeachment introduced by Dennis Kucinich, do you consider any to be crimes? If yes, which? If no, why not - and what (if anything) would you consider an impeachable offense?

By Gael Murphy Before the talk began Politics and Prose (host bookstore) passed around question cards so there was ample opportunity to jam the basket with the $1000 question and any others. Pelosi is a pro at deflecting confrontation. No cameras or videos were allowed - probably the host's policy. It was possible to yell out, but tricky to do without making us look stupid. After the talk some 750 pple lined up to have their books signed, so the time to say all that we wanted was very limited. We came with a handout of the Bush crimes (executive summary of minority report. You can download from AfterDowning). When our turn came to have our book dedicated to CODEPINK:Women for Peace, she greeted us with exceptional charm. We were hyper dressed in Pink. As she was signing we brought up the View and handed (placed beside) her the list of crimes explaining that the ones highlighted had been investigated thoroughly and so would be the easiest ones on which to initiate impeachment proceedings. "Here are the goods - the highlighted ones would take 2 days tops, so there is time for accountability Mame Speaker." Then we brought up Iran, specifically HR 362. She asked what it was and when we told her sever sanctions on Iran she grimaced and said with enthusiasm, "if Congress votes to bomb Iran for refusing to stop enrichment, I will vote "no"". What a bizzarre comment. Then Leslie aked her, "Why did you approve $400 million in covert activity in Iran. That isn't helping a diplomatic efforts?". I guess our time with her had run out because she waved us away and her secret service goons stepped in. There was another fellow in line who was planning to ask the $1000 question. We stupidly forgot to stick around to see his result. Note, that anyone in pink will be closely monitored either by cap police and/or by rent-a-cops on the scene. The rent-a-cop searched all bag before entry for signs and banners, not weapons and there were no metal detectors set up.

Christiane Brown from KJFK in Reno is filling in for Richard Greene on Clout on Air America tonight, and I'll be on with her at 9 p.m. ET: http://airamerica.com/listen

My name is Asher Heimermann from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I am 14 years of age and this is my fouth year involved in politics and government. I have submitted countless letters to political and government leaders as well as international leaders. I've been volunteering for Senator Barack Obama since June, 2007. Recently, I reached my fundraising goal of $3,000 for Senator Obama.

I have decided to get involved for multiple reasons, the primary reason being today a lot political views of the youth are not heard and I feel it is an important to make a difference.

For someone that talks so tough on Terror, Ed Whitfield sure doesn't care much about it when money is involved. We have already seen how Ed Whitfield won't let suspected terrorist ties, and criminal activity get in the way of his investments, and now we get another look inside the twisted, hypocritical world of this Kentucky Republican.

Like millions of my fellow Democrats across this great nation of ours, I have always regarded George W. Bush as a complete imbecile. I felt he was the spoiled-rotten black sheep of an elitist, possibly neo-facist family, that used his daddy's money, and his name to over-achieve, and get in over his head. I never thought there would even be a prayer of him being elected in 2000, and again in 2004 because I felt his luck would eventually run out.

I felt my views on him were confirmed after 9-11. While his approval ratings soared, I watched as he diverted the American war effort away from our true enemies in Afganistan and let bin Laden walk free. I watched as his war became a fiasco, with almost a trillion wasted dollars, and thousands of wasted American and Iraqi lives.

Demand That Steve Johnson Resign!

Johnson punishes whistleblowers, stonewalls Congress, and devastates the environment.

Please sign this letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Steve Johnson from former Congressman Walter Fauntroy.

When you sign, a copy will be Emailed to your congress member and to each of your two senators.

Open Letter to the American People
Calling for the Resignation of EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson

SIGN NOW:
http://johnsonmustgo.org

***
Senate Democrats call for EPA chief to resign

3 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four Democratic senators on Tuesday called for Stephen Johnson to resign as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey to begin an investigation into whether he lied in testimony to a Senate committee.

By Dave Lindorff

The dramatic hearing on presidential crimes and abuses of power
held on Friday by the House Judiciary Committee was both a staged
farce, and at the same time, a powerful demonstration of the power of a
grassroots movement in defense of the Constitution. It was at once both
testimony to the cowardice and self-inflicted impotence of Congress and
of the Democratic Party that technically controls that body, and to the
enormity of the damage that has been wrought to the nation’s democracy
by two aspiring tyrants in the White House.

The Idea

Or, as some Republicans say, the very idea!

 Even if you are retired, you'll probably be interested in this proposal: The idea is simple enough.  Next time you look for a job, replace your resume with an application that asks the prospective employer for last year's turnover rate, a short history of how the managers got their jobs and, of course, the names of some expert references on the employer; the former employees.  Think of the time and money you'll save.  Think of how many more options you'll have.