well, we know why the Democrats have impeachment off the table

[solarbird]

Well, we know why the Democrats aren't going to do anything about torture in the United States, and why impeachment is off the table; it's because the Washington Post, in what one can pray is a sign they may have some journalists under their banner, revealed that the Democratic leadership signed off. Nobody is denying the story.

Let's put this simply: the Democratic party is complicit. The counter-argument heard in some quarters that they couldn't do anything about it is a lie. They just didn't want to, were too afraid to, or, in some cases, were big supporters (Senator Rockefeller, I'm looking in your direction), which are different things. And, of course, Republicans have been overwhelmingly for it, and many continue to argue that it doesn't go far enough.

Amusingly, I got a letter back from Rep. Inslee today. It was, of course, a form letter, and talked mostly about the Military Commissions Act, and, of course, did not address my letters specific content at all. It talks about the "implicit" signoff by the Justice Department, and the "stretching" of the Geneva Conventions, and says that he will "always be vigilant in the protection of civil liberties." Given the actions of his party's leadership on these issues, and the inactions of the body as a whole, I cannot begin to take him seriously.

Still, I suppose it's better than his response to my letter on the ENDA fiasco (he voted for the unequal ENDA, falling into line), wherein apparently his office could only be bothered to craft two form letters, one to supporters and one to fundamentalist opponents of the bill in any form. I got the one they send to the fundamentalists. Very nice.

And at least they didn't have any yellow post-its on top saying that my "no-email-please@murkworks.net" address bounced.

Comments

[angharads-house.livejournal.com]

" 'stretching' of the Geneva conventions"? Ye gods, those chicken hawks have some frigging nerve. We will see the fall-out from that for a very long time indeed.

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

I'm here through gamera_spinning. Mind if I link?

[llachglin.livejournal.com]

Inslee is usually really good with his responses, and has a good record on civil liberties issues. I'm surprised his staff did such a poor job acknowledging your concerns.

I will say that with ENDA the problem was with those who changed the bill in the first place. Once the crippled ENDA got to the floor, it put good Democrats in a bind. They could vote yes and affirm unequal application of anti-discrimination laws, or vote no to get nothing and end up with the vote recorded on the Human Rights Campaign scorecard as an anti-gay vote. Once the mainstream gay rights organizations and the Democratic leadership had folded, there was nothing the rest of the party could do.

The problem we have right now is that the Democratic leadership has failed. The question is what to do next. My conclusion is that if the Democratic Congress is spineless, they'll bend to anyone. That means we need to weaken the Republicans in Congress (by voting for Democrats) and more importantly, make sure the next president is a Democrat. Not so much because Democrats are going to change their ways, but because when you're missing oars on one side of the boat, the only way to keep spinning is to stop paddling on the other side. Then the key is to put pressure on Democrats from civil rights and civil liberties organizations. Without the Republicans leading them by the nose, and without any core principles of their own, the rudderless Democrats will be pushed whichever way the wind is blowing. It's our job to make sure it's blowing in the right direction. That is, the people have to lead the politicians, as is always necessary when securing Constitutional and human rights throughout history.

It almost doesn't matter who gets elected, so long as they're not ideological Republicans. Of the top tier candidates, I think Obama is most likely to be receptive. It's not because of his stated policies, which are not far off from Clinton's. It's because his style is to build bridges, which means he'll listen to what people on both sides have to say. That's a danger, because he'll listen to the other side, too (as with the bigoted preacher he brought along on some of his campaign stops a while back). But he won't just shut the door. Hillary's too much of a calculating politician to lead on these issues. I will say that Edwards is saying the right things on civil liberties issues NOW (though he voted for PATRIOT and his personal discomfort with GLBT issues makes him an unreliable ally there.) I went to a candidate issue forum for the local Democratic Party organization with people filling in as surrogates for each candidate and responding based upon published positions for their candidates. Edwards had the best answers of anyone, including Kucinich, on civil liberties issues. I was surprised, but can you trust him? Tactically, Obama might be the better vote. Me, I'm voting for Kucinich in the caucus.

[solarbird]

T3h intarwebz are for links. ^_^ If I expect otherwise, I friendslock.

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

Cool beans. Thanks!

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

Is there a recall procedure in place for constituents to remove their representatives? Perhaps what is needed is a mass recall of the politicians who've sold you down the river?

[kansas-dave.livejournal.com]

There's always the next election. And protesting.

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

That'll work as long as people remember the terrible job these rascals have done long enough to vote new rascals in. It just seems very depressingly obvious that when it comes to politics people can't remember more than about a month ago : (

[kansas-dave.livejournal.com]

Remind 'em! I think a sharpie, some white posterboard, a stick, some tape, and a lunch break should do the trick. Vote the bastards out.

[solarbird]

I think you live in some other reality than I do where people pay attention to that shit.

[kansas-dave.livejournal.com]

It's called Boston, and protests get news & paper coverage out here.

[solarbird]

Right, and then there's the part where people don't actually react to them in ways that change their behaviour. We have protests out here all the time. I've been in more than my fair share of 'em. They're pep rallies, not arguments.