Get active

Late Saturday night, early Sunday morning, we wrote this "Editorial: Hey Bully Boy, what's that smell?" We is:


The Third Estate Sunday Review's Dona, Jess, Ty, Ava and Jim;
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude;
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man;
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review;
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills);
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix;
Mike of Mikey Likes It!;
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz;
and Wally of The Daily Jot

"Editorial: Hey Bully Boy, what's that smell?" was our argument that we could smell impeachment wafting off the Bully Boy. Later Sunday, after it posted, Russ Feingold called for a censure of the Bully Boy. Not as opposed to impeachment but to get it on the record that the Senate does not approve of the spying on American citizens without warrants, to get it on the record that the Constitution means something.

I thought when we working on the editorial that Bully Boy was in trouble and Feingold's call only makes it seem more so.

From Democracy Now!, here's what Feingold said on the floor of the Senate Monday:

Now, the facts are pretty straightforward. Congress passed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, nearly 30 years ago to ensure that as we wiretap suspected terrorists and spies, we also protect innocent Americans from unjustified government intrusion. Mr. President, FISA makes it a crime -- a crime -- to wiretap Americans on U.S. soil without the requisite warrants, and the President has ordered warrantless wiretaps of Americans on U.S. soil, so it’s pretty simple. The President has broken that law, and that alone is unacceptable.
But the President did much more than that. Not only did the President break the law, he also actively misled Congress and the American people about his actions. And then, when the program was made public about the legality of the N.S.A. program, he has fundamentally violated the trust of the American people. The President's own words showed just how seriously he has violated that trust. We now know that the N.S.A. wiretapping program began not long after September 11. Before the existence of this program was revealed, the President went out of his way -- he went out of his way, Mr. President -- in several speeches to assure the public that the government was getting court orders to wiretap Americans in the United States, something he now admits was not the case.
On April 20, 2004, for example, when the President told an audience in Buffalo that, quote, "Any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretaps, it requires a wiretap, requires a court order. Nothing has changed by the way," unquote. In fact, a lot had changed. But the President wasn't upfront with the American people. Just months later on July 14, 2004, in my own state of Wisconsin, the President said that, quote, "Any action that takes place by law enforcement requires a court order. In other words, the government can't move on wiretaps or roving wiretaps without getting a court order," unquote. And then, Mr. President, last summer, on June 9, 2005, the President spoke in Columbus, Ohio, and again insisted that his administration was abiding by the laws governing wiretaps: quote, "Law enforcement officers need a federal judge's permission to wiretap a foreign terrorist's phone, a federal judge's permission to track his calls, or a federal judge's permission to search his property. Officers must meet strict standards to use any of these tools, and these standards are fully consistent with the Constitution of the United States," unquote.

When you think something's wrong, you have to speak up. When someone breaks the law, you have to speak up. If you don't, you're helping them break the law. And if the Bully Boy isn't bound by the law then why are any of us?

That's pretty straightforward but Feingold's fellow Democrats in the Senate aren't rushing to get his back. There all basically scurrying off, shouting, "Holler!"

Hillary Clinton apparently wants to be president. Why? Where is her bravery? She can't speak out against the war. She can't even offer a "Russ Feingold is right!" So exactly where is the leadership? You want to be president, you want to be the leader of the country, well, why should we think you can handle the job?

If you can't lead as a Senator, why should we believe you can as President?

Same goes for Evan Blah (stealing Rebecca's nickname for the triangulator). There's this conventional wisdom that Hillary has us Black folk wrapped around her finger and we'll all be just as pleased as punch to vote for her. I don't know what world they're living in.

She's yet to demonstrate leadership. Until she does, she's useless.

That goes for anyone dreaming of being president in 2008. They better start showing some leadership. Right now, Al Gore and Russ Feingold are showing leadership. Everyone else is just living the DC ghetto life. They're useless. And they're crazy if they think people aren't following it. Or, for the conventional wisdom set, if they think Black people don't notice what's going on.

For that set, they need to realize that African-Americans were against the war before it started. We've stayed against it. So the idea that Hillary Clinton is a clean sweep is an idea coming from racists who think we're too stupid to follow current events.

We know exactly what she's done. We're not impressed. And if she can't find a voice on the war pretty quick, she can kiss goodbye any idea that African-Americans will support her run. She's got a severe case of "War Got Your Tongue?" and it's noted.

How about you? Are you suffering from it too? Or are you going to speak out and be heard on this third anniversary of the illegal war?

If you're thinking "Someone else can do it," then you're not doing your part. If you're thinking "I'd like to but someone might not like me," then you're a child posing as an adult. If you're thinking the media's going to do the job for you, you're living in a fantasy world. To wake up, read "The war coverage (and lack of it)."

This is the third anniversary. There's no excuse for not having an opinion or for not being able to use your voice. Think there's nothing going on in your area? Wrong. Here's a list of some CODEPINK events through Sunday:



Fredericksburg, Virginia: Three Years of the Iraq War
Friday, March 17th 2006 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Marking 3 years in the Iraq War, we will be standing roadside with signs detailing costs of the war to passersby

Oceanside, California: Iraqi Mother Seeks Your Help!
Friday, March 17th 2006 6:00PM
Iraqi Mother, Faiza Al-Araji, will meet with us to share her experiences with the destruction of her homeland by US forces. This reception is for a small group and will include time to meet and talk directly to Faiza.

Oceanside, California: Candidate's Reception for Iraqi Mother
Friday, March 17th 2006 12 NOON
Faiza Al-Araji arrives in North County and will be welcomed at a special "Candidate's Luncheon".

Oceanside, California: An Iraqi Mother Speaks Out!
Friday, March 17th 2006 7:00PM SHARP
Faiza Al-Araji, an Iraqi mother and peace emmisary, speaks about the US occupation of Iraq and how it is destroying their nation.

Boston, Massachusetts: March Against War, Racism, Sexism and Poverty
Saturday, March 18th 2006 11 AM
Dozens of community organizations are coming together against the war abroad and at home. Contact us at codepinkboston@gmail.com, and check our website calendar (codepinkboston.org) for more info and to join us!

Charlotte, , North Carolina: Charlotte NC St. Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March 18th 2006 11AM, with line up time TBA
CODEPINK of Charlotte-Mecklenburg is signed up to march in the 10th annual St. Patrick's Day parade in the heart of Charlotte on Saturday, March 18th. We expect to receive our line up location and number in the line up by Monday night, 3/13/06

Corvallis, Oregon: Peace March and Rally
Saturday, March 18th 2006 11:30 AM
United for Peace and other No More War in Iraq groups meet on South lawn of Covallis/Benton County Courthouse to march through streets of Covallis protesting WAR.

Davenport, Iowa: Peace Rally
Saturday, March 18th 2006 2:00 PM
Peace Rally marking the 3rd anniversary of the "Shock and Awe" Iraq War.Bring signs, banners, placards or anything you may deem appropiate for a Peace Rally.

Fort Collins, Colorado: Peace Rally
Saturday, March 18th 2006 1:00 pm
Death, Destruction and Defecits: it is time to change course

Indianapolis, Indiana: Peace Rally
Saturday, March 18th 2006 1 pm
Hoosiers for Peace Rally will mark the third year of anunjust war. Hoosiers will have an opportunity to contact theirrepresentatives, listen to distinguished speakers, hear inspirational music, and network with others who are against the war and interested in promoting peace. The rally will be family friendly and the focus will be on how families are affected by war i.e. loosing their loved ones, and aplea to representatives to reset budget priorities with the needs of the family in mind. The theme is Honor the Dead, Heal the Wounded, End the War.

Johnson City, Tennessee: Third Anniversary Demonstration of War in Iraq
Saturday, March 18th 2006 12:00 noon
The Joel Goodman for US Congress Campaign will be hosting a Third Anniversary Demonstration at the campaign headquarters.

Louisville, Kentucky: 3rd Anniversary of the Iraq War -2,300 + Empty Shirts Rally
Saturday, March 18th 2006 12 noon-3:00 PM
2,300 + Empty Shirts Demonstration against the Iraq War. Each shirt represents one fallen US soldier in Iraq War. Poignant and impressive.

Manassas, Virginia: Three Years of the Iraq War
Saturday, March 18th 2006 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Marking 3 years in the Iraq War, we will be standing roadside with signs detailing costs of the war to passersby

Melbourne, Florida: 3 Years too Many Demonstration!
Saturday, March 18th 2006 12:00 noon
Peace Activists & military families are marching From Front St. Park in Melbourne to Melbourne City Hall. We are carrying Mock Tombstones honoring Florida's Soldiers call 321-480-9295 for more info.

Minneapolis, Minnesota: International Protest Against the War
Saturday, March 18th 2006 1:00 PM
Protest and march.

New Haven, Connecticut: Connecticut Anti-War Mobilization: 3rd Anniversary of Iraq War
Saturday, March 18th 2006 11AM - 4PM
Starts at 11AM at Fair Haven Middle School, 164 Grand Ave. March to the New Haven Green for Rally with Speakers
March Demands:
BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW END THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ! MONEY FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE GULF COAST, NOT WAR!-No war on Iran-World Nuclear Disarmament-Justice for the Palestinian People-No Attacks on Arab-Americans, Muslims & Immigrants - Civil Liberties for all

Oceanside, California: Get On The Peace Train
Saturday, March 18th 2006 11:30AM
Get on the Peace Train (NCTD Coaster, last 2 cars) in Oceanside at 11:30AM.

Prescott, Arizona: Prescott March 18th Rally for Peace
Saturday, March 18th 2006 6pm
Prescott March 18th Rally for Peace at the Courthouse square (Veteran's Memorial on Montezuma St.) Prescott AZ 86305

Redford, Michigan: Candlelight Vigil for Peace
Saturday, March 18th 2006 6:30 pm
Please join members of Trinity Church of the Brethren as we bear in memory the lives lost and suffering endured by Americans, Iraqis and other people of many nations since the beginning of the war in Iraq three years ago. Bring a candle and meet with us. If you are unable to be at the Vigil, please take some time to grieve in your own way for all these people.

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania: Three Years too Many
Saturday, March 18th 2006 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Join members of . . . Coalition for Peace Action A Delaware-Chester CountyandDelaware County Wage Peace & Justice as we vigil and become a Human Bill -Board against the War!

Alameda, California: LET THERE BE PEACE FOR ALL THE WORLD'S CHILDREN: Send their parents home to them alive and bring the National Guard home where it belongs!
Sunday, March 19th 2006 2:00-4:00pm
Peace march and vigil, rain or shine!Child-friendly event; bring the kids!

Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Three Years Too Many
Sunday, March 19th 2006 7 PM
candlelight vigil marking the third anniversary of the war in Iraq

Maplewood, New Jersey: March in Maplewood
Sunday, March 19th 2006 12 noon March and rally through Maplewood Town Center starting at noon to mark the second anniversary of the war.

Mountain Home, Arkansas: Peace Rally
Sunday, March 19th 2006 10:00 a.m.
CST Fellowship at the UU Church followed by peaceful demonstrations against the war in Iraq

parkersburg,wv, West Virginia: 3rd memorial
Sunday, March 19th 2006 1pm meeting on market st, downtown. speakers,march to cross the belpre bridge over into ohio

Portland, Oregon: March and Rally on the 3rd Anniversary of the invasion of Iraq
Sunday, March 19th 2006 1:30 pm
Peace rally and march planned for third anniversary of war on Iraq, calls for bringing the troops home and funding human services. Over 130 organizations mobilize for March 19 at Waterfront Park.

Santa Clarita, California: 3rd Anniversary of the invasion of Iraq ANTI WAR RALLY
Sunday, March 19th 2006 3:00 to 5:00 pm
ANTI WAR RALLY on the 3rd Anniversary of the invasion of Iraq
Sunday, March 19, 2006, 3 to 5 pm at the Westfield Town Center corner of McBean Parkway and Valencia Blvd. Bring your own sign or use ours.

Waco, Texas: War protest
Sunday, March 19th 2006 10 AM
Public demonstration in the heart of Bush country to call for "No more war! No more lies!"

Woodbridge, Virginia: Three Years of the Iraq War
Sunday, March 19th 2006 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Marking 3 years of the Iraq War, we will be standing roadside with signs detailing the costs of the war to passersby.