How long have we been waiting for the Democrats in Congress to listen to the will of the American people? "Wait until we have a legislative majority," we were told. Now it's, "wait until we control the exectutive branch, and have a supermajority in both legislative branches."
Congressional Democrats have no excuse for failing to lead on protecting the Constitution, protecting the DOJ from criminals, and protecting our military from dangerous politicalization.
I'm going on strike. No money to the DSCC, or the DCCC, until the Democratic leadership supports the core values of the Democratic party, and democracy.
democrats.com has a petition to the DSCC and DCCC, pledging no money to the DSCC/DCCC until the following conditions are met:
- Restrict any new Iraq funds to a safe withdrawal of U.S. troops - the "Peace Pledge" adopted by 90 House Members
- Prohibit any use of funds to plan or execute a pre-emptive attack on Iran, and repeal the post-9/11 Authorization of Use of Military Force that Bush and Cheney believe authorizes them to attack Iran or any other country they please, as well as to wiretap all our calls and emails without warrants
- Fully restore the Constitution by strictly outlawing warrantless wiretapping and torture, closing Guantanamo, and restoring habeas corpus
- Complete the investigation of White House crimes by using "inherent contempt" to compel testimony by current and former White House officials
This is not a blanket strike on supporting Democratic candidates. I have given this year to Chris Dodd, Donna Edwards (MD-04), and am contributing to a draft movement for Scott Kleeb (NE-Sen).
I will give more in the future, and will volunteer, because better Democrats are the only ones who will enact real change. We know who the problems are: the Bush Dogs, and the weak leaders who don't whip them in line. But the leadership has to know that this kind of crap is not acceptable:
Despite their rhetoric about not wanting to hand President Bush another "blank check" for the Iraq War, Democrats appear poised to give him exactly that -- enough cash to keep the war going full steam for as long as six months, no strings attached.
Democratic leaders continue to fear GOP attacks that cutting off or slowing funds would hurt the troops, despite anger among the Democratic base over the party's failure to use Congress' power of the purse to end the war.
And while House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have said they have no intention of bringing up Bush's almost $200 billion supplemental war funding proposal this year without a timeline for withdrawal, Democrats are quietly preparing to give the president enough spending flexibility to keep the war going anyway.
Please sign the petition, or better yet, sign the petition and then call the DSCC/DCCC and tell them yourself.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Phone (202) 224-2447
Fax (202) 969-0354
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
430 South Capitol Street
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-863-1500
Fax: 202-485-3436
Be sure to emphasize how much you would like to help them out, if only the Dems kept their promises, and listened to the voters. Trust me, it works.