*****************3,000*****************

Baghdad Burning

It saddens me to think that, in recent days, The Left Shue has become closer to an obituary column rather than a commentary on people and events. Perhaps it is the fact that, during this particular time of the year, my mind tends to become more preoccupied with thoughts of life and death – humanity; inhumanity – gifts and loss.

Some of you may already be familiar with the blog “Baghdad Burning.” I feature it on my links on this page. For those who are not, I want to give you some background on the blogger and then ask you to read a few lines from the most recent post there. As you are taking stock of 2006 and examining your hopes for 2007, you might take some time to compare notes.

Riverbend is the pseudonym of a woman in her twenties who in 2003 began writing a blog relating her first hand experiences of the U.S. invasion and then occupation of her naive Iraq. Once a computer programmer in a modern, secular state, Riverbend discusses with honesty and acute political awareness the changes that resulted in the rise of religious fundamentalism. In 2005, she won 3rd Prize: Lettre Ulysses Award for Reportage and in 2006 was on the long list for the Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction. River, as she signs her posts, writes infrequently but with great power in what she has to say. In her most recent post, ”End of Another Year…””, she describes 2006 as, “…decidedly, the worst year yet.”

”This last year especially has been a turning point. Nearly every Iraqi has lost so much. So much. There's no way to describe the loss we've experienced with this war and occupation. There are no words to relay the feelings that come with the knowledge that daily almost 40 corpses are found in different states of decay and mutilation. There is no compensation for the dense, black cloud of fear that hangs over the head of every Iraqi. Fear of things so out of ones hands, it borders on the ridiculous- like whether your name is 'too Sunni' or 'too Shia'. Fear of the larger things- like the Americans in the tank, the police patrolling your area in black bandanas and green banners, and the Iraqi soldiers wearing black masks at the checkpoint”

And this:

”Here we come to the end of 2006 and I am sad. Not simply sad for the state of the country, but for the state of our humanity, as Iraqis. We've all lost some of the compassion and civility that I felt made us special four years ago. I take myself as an example. Nearly four years ago, I cringed every time I heard about the death of an American soldier. They were occupiers, but they were humans also and the knowledge that they were being killed in my country gave me sleepless nights. Never mind they crossed oceans to attack the country, I actually felt for them.
Had I not chronicled those feelings of agitation in this very blog, I wouldn't believe them now. Today, they simply represent numbers. 3000 Americans dead over nearly four years? Really? That's the number of dead Iraqis in less than a month. The Americans had families? Too bad. So do we. So do the corpses in the streets and the ones waiting for identification in the morgue.”

As we come to the end of this “Year of Transition” in Iraq, we note the death of the 3000th American service member to die as a result of duty in Iraq, the death of former president Gerald Ford - the man who brought us George HW Bush (CIA), Dick Cheney (Chief of Staff), and Donald Rumsfeld (Department of Defense), and Saddam Hussein – a man both embraced and despised by this country as it fit our purpose. However, as noted by Riverbend, perhaps the most significant “transition” is the loss of Iraq itself.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 12/30/06
Americans Killed: 2998
Americans Wounded: 22,565
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 57,707
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 150,000
Iraqi Health Ministry
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts." General Tommy Franks
.......................................................

Latest Confirmed Casualties

*Sgt. 1st Class Dexter E. Wheelous, 37, of Winder, Ga., died Dec. 25 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Michael J. Crutchfield, 21, of Stockton, Calif., died Dec. 23 in Balad, Iraq.

*Spc. Joseph A. Strong, 21, of Lebanon, Ind. died Dec. 26 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Douglas L. Tinsley, 21, of Chester, S.C. died Dec. 26 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Cpl. Joshua M. Schmitz, 21, of Spencer, Wis. died Dec. 26 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. William C. Koprince Jr., 24, of Lenoir City, TN died Dec. 27 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Capt. Hayes Clayton, 29, of Georgia, died Dec. 25 in Balad, Iraq.

*Pvt. Clinton T. McCormick, 20, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Dec. 27 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Cpl. Christopher E. Esckelson, 22, of Vassar, Mich. died on December 28 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Nicholas A. Miller, 20, of Silverwood, Mich. died on December 28 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. William D. Spencer, 20, of Paris, Tenn. died on December 28 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 12/28/06
Americans Killed: 2988
Americans Wounded: 22,565
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 57,617
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 150,000
Iraqi Health Ministry
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts" General Tommy Franks
.......................................................

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Spc. Chad J. Vollmer, 24, of Grand Rapids, Mich. died Dec. 23 in Salman Pak, Iraq.

*Pfc. Wilson A. Algrim, 21, of Howell, Mich. died Dec. 23 in Salman Pak, Iraq.

*Pvt. Bobby Mejia II, 20, of Saginaw, Mich. died Dec. 23 in Salman Pak, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Myles C. Sebastien, 21, of Opelousas, La., died Dec. 20 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Stephen L. Morris, 21, of Lake Jackson, Texas, died Dec. 24 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Spc. Aaron L. Preston, 29, of Dallas, TX died Dec. 25 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Andrew H. Nelson, 19, of Saint Johns, Mich. died Dec. 25 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Sgt. John T. Bubeck, 25, of Collegeville, Pa. died Dec. 26 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Elias Elias, 27, of Glendora, Calif., died Dec. 23 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Sgt. Jae S. Moon, 21, of Levittown, Pa., died Dec. 25 in Baghdad, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 12/27/06
Americans Killed: 2980
Americans Wounded: 22,401
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 57,452
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 150,000
Iraqi Health Ministry
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts" General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Cpl. Joshua D. Pickard, 20, of Merced, Calif., died Dec. 19 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Brian L. Mintzlaff, 34, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Dec. 18 in Taji, Iraq.

*Spc. Andrew P. Daul, 21, of Brighton, Mich., died Dec. 19 in Hit, Iraq.

*Spc. Scott D. Dykman, 27, of Helena, Mont., died Dec. 20 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Robert J. Volker, 21, of Big Spring, Texas, died Dec. 20 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Burgess, 21, of Sanford, Mich. died Dec. 21 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Ryan L. Mayhan, 25, of Hawthorne, CA died Dec. 21 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Hospitalman Kyle A. Nolen, 21, of Ennis, Texas, died Dec. 21 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Fernando S. Tamayo, 19, of Fontana, Calif., died December 21 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Spc. Joshua D. Sheppard, 22, of Quinton, Okla., died Dec. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Sgt. Curtis L. Norris, 28, of Dansville, Mich., died Dec. 23 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. John Barta, 25, of Corpus Christi, Texas, died Dec. 23 in Buhritz, Iraq.

*Pvt. Evan A. Bixler, 21, of Racine, Wis., died Dec. 24 in Hit, Iraq.

*Pfc. Eric R. Wilkus, 20, of Hamilton, N.J., died Dec. 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of an injury suffered Dec. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Sgt. Jason C. Denfrund, 24, of Cattaraugus, N.Y., died Dec. 25 in Baghdad, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 12/20/06
Americans Killed: 2952
Americans Wounded: 22,401
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 56,533
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 150,000
Iraqi Health Ministry
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
.......................................................

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Maj. Gloria D. Davis, 47, of St. Louis, Mo., died Dec. 12 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Nicholas P. Steinbacher, 22, of La Crescenta, CA. died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10.

*Pfc. Albert M. Nelson, 31, of Philadelphia, PA. died Dec. 4 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

*Pfc. Roger A. Suarez-Gonzalez, 21 of Miami, FL. died Dec. 4 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

*Pfc. Paul Balint Jr., 22, of Willow Park, Texas, died Dec. 15 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Theodore A. Spatol, 59, of Thermopolis, Wyo., died on Dec. 14 in Thermopolis of an illness contracted while serving in Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Nicklas J. Palmer, 19, of Leadville, CO. died Dec. 16 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Capt. Kevin M. Kryst, 27, of West Bend, WI. died Dec. 18 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Matthew W. Clark, 22, of St. Louis, Mo. died December 14 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Luke C. Yepsen, 20, of Kingwood, TX died December 14 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. David R. Staats, 30, of Pueblo, Colo, died Dec. 16 in Taji, Iraq.

*Spc. Matthew J. Stanley, 22, of Wolfeboro Falls, N.H., died Dec. 16 in Taji, Iraq.

*Pfc. Seth M. Stanton, 19, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Dec. 17 in Balad, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Henry K. Kahalewai, 43, of Hilo, Hawaii, died Dec. 15 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, of wounds suffered Nov. 21 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Joe L. Baines, 19, of Newark, N.J., died Dec. 16 in Taji, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Rick Larsen on the ISG Report

On Sunday, December 10th, Congressman Rick Larsen (D, WA-2) wrote an Op-Ed for the Everett Herald giving his view of the recent report from the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group. While Larsen and I apparently still disagree on the promptness and numbers involved in an American withdrawal from Iraq, he does raise some very important and legitimate points about the strengths and weaknesses of the report. He begins with an astute assessment of George Bush’s errant view of the report and its purpose:

” This report must become the central milestone for the president to change the course of the Iraq conflict, move our troops from a combat mission toward a supporting mission and bring some semblance of stability to Iraq.
The president has argued that the ISG report will help stop political bickering. Frankly, I think the president needs to take a closer look. This report is not a tool to stop political bickering; it is a tool that will help bring an end to the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.”

Another area where we agree is on the realization of the nature of the existing violence in Iraq. Larsen says, ”… I was disappointed that the report did not recognize Iraq for what it has become: a civil war. At least two different groups of Iraqis, Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias, representing two different futures for Iraq, are fighting on the streets of Baghdad. These groups have their patrons within the Iraqi government supporting and protecting them; meanwhile, the Iraqi leadership is too paralyzed to deal with them. A third group, the Kurds, wait safely and patiently in the north of Iraq for their opportunity to secede.
Concluding that Iraq is in a civil war will determine further steps, including which issues to discuss to bring stability to Iraq. That is why I applaud the report's call for a comprehensive New Diplomatic Offensive (NDO). The NDO should include Iraq's neighbors, including Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and international friends and allies. The purpose of the NDO cannot be limited to reconstruction and governance. It must bring together representatives of the civil war factions to begin hammering out steps for an Iraqi cease-fire. The NDO should address the growing humanitarian crisis in Iraq, where 100,000 Iraqis leave the country each month and the death toll continues to climb…”

Unfortunately, Rick and I are still at different ends of the spectrum on the continuing presence of American forces in Iraq. Earlier this month, I wrote about the ISG Report (and others that are being issued by various other groups), ” What we have now is a collection of groups who are attempting to “create a silk purse from a sow’s ear.” And for what purpose? Are these groups thinking about how many more Americans will die? Are they thinking about how many more innocent Iraqis are to be sacrificed? No, actually these plans seem to be centered on “just not making matters worse.” “The painful truth is this: There is no strategy that does not make matters worse for some period of time. Knowing this, what possible good can come from the further sacrifice of American blood when it is America’s presence in the region that is responsible for a large portion of the bloodshed? The time has come for the American people to stand united and demand that those who have been elected to represent us stop worrying about Bush’s legacy and start addressing the issue of saving American and Iraqi lives. The experiment has failed. It is time to bring our troops home and to end this travesty.”

While acknowledging that the role of the US in Iraq has been shifted from a previously stated effort to bring freedom and democracy to the region to a more urgent need to simply restore stability there, Congressman Larsen seems to accept the report’s suggestion of taking up to a full year to begin a draw down of up to 50% of our current troop level, leaving some 70,000 troops still in that country, ostensibly to provide contiunued training for the Iraqi security forces. He says, ” The report's recommendation that our troops move from a combat mission to a support mission, with trained military advisers embedded into Iraqi military units, lines up with my suggestion that the U.S. complete the training of Iraqi troops and embed select numbers of U.S. troops with Iraqi military forces to conduct counterinsurgency operations. These actions will decrease the number of American faces fighting insurgents, allow us to move U.S. troops to the Iraqi borders to provide needed border security, and lower the number of troops we have in Iraq. “ (Emphasis TLS)

I sincerely appreciate Congressman Larsen’s continued efforts to hold the Bush Administration accountable for the debacle in Iraq – always mindful that Rick voted against the authorization that led us into this situation. I look forward to hearing more from him when the new Democratic majority is seated in January. While I will continue to speak out for a policy that will end the needless bloodshed of our occupation of Iraq sooner rather than later, I appreciate that Rick also has the well being of our troops as well as the innocent Iraqi people at heart. I trust that he will continue to leave his door open to further discussions on areas of reasonable disagreement.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Everett Town Hall Forum on Clean Campaigns

On Thursday, January 4th, the 38th and 44th LD Democrats, in partnership with Democracy for Snohomish County (DFSC) will present a Town Hall Forum on Clean Campaigns featuring speakers from Washington Public Campaigns (WPC) and representatives from Arizona and Maine, where Clean Campaigns are already the law of the land.

The forum is the brainchild of Marian Harrison, outgoing Chair of the 38th LD and is timed to coincide with the opening of the legislative session in Olympia on Monday, January 8th. John King, Legislative Action Chair from WPC, will provide information on the three bills they will be offering for consideration. In addition to bringing back last year’s effort to enable public financing of local campaigns, there will a bill to create a process for financing judicial campaigns and a comprehensive bill to create a process for financing state-wide campaigns. With Governor Gregoire and the PDC commenting about the need to reform the financing of judicial campaigns after 2006’s Supreme Court races, expectations are high for passage of some form of campaign finance reform in the upcoming session.

The forum will be held at the Snohomish County PUD Auditorium (2320 California Street) in Everett from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. It will be free and open to the public. Local electeds from the Snohomish County area will be invited to attend as well as encouraged to participate in the question and answer period. This event is a must to those who are committed to public financing and wish to make their position known to both their local and state elected representatives. The primary focus of the event is to send the audience away with a list of names and contact information with which they may take action on this important issue. I hope to see you there.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Peace

OM,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 12/14/06
Americans Killed: 2937
Americans Wounded: 22,229
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 56,040
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 150,000
Iraqi Health Ministry
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts." General Tommy Franks
.......................................................

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Staff Sgt. Henry W. Linck, 23, of Manhattan, Kan. died Dec. 7 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Micah S. Gifford, 27, of Redding, Calif. died Dec. 7 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Kristofer R. Ciraso, 26, of Bangor, Maine, died dec. 7 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Maj. Megan M. McClung, 34, of Coupeville, Wash. (57th Wasingtonian), died Dec. 6 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Cody G. Watson, 21, of Oxford, Ala., died Dec. 6 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Thomas W. Clemons, 37, of Leitchfield, Ky., died Dec. 10 in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq.

*1st Lt. Nathan M. Krissoff, 25, of Reno, Nev., died Dec. 9 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Budd M. Cote, 21, of Marana, Ariz. died Dec. 11 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Cpl. Matthew V. Dillon, 25, of Aiken, S.C. died Dec. 11 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Clinton J. Miller, 23, of Greenfield, Iowa died Dec. 11 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. Brennan C. Gibson, 26, of Tualatin, Ore. died Dec. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Philip C. Ford, 21, of Freeport, Texas died Dec. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Shawn M. Murphy, 24, of Fort Bragg, N.C. died Dec. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Master Sgt. Brian P. McAnulty, 39, of Vicksburg, Miss., died Dec. 11 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. Brent W. Dunkleberger, 29, of New Bloomfield, Pa., died Dec. 12 in Mosul, Iraq.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Citizens' Hearing to Put Iraq War "On Trial"

Reprinted by permission of Lietta Ruger at Washblog

Tribunal Announced on 60th Anniversary of Nuremberg Principles.

The "Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq" will be held on January 20-21, 2007, in Tacoma, Washington, two weeks before the February 5th court martial of 1st Lieutenant Ehren Watada at Fort Lewis. Organizing Committee member Rob Crawford, Associate Professor at the University of Washington, Tacoma says that the national event "will put the Iraq War on trial, in response to the Army's trial of Lt. Watada, the first U.S. military officer to refuse deployment to Iraq."

Organizers announced the upcoming tribunal today, December 11th, on the 60th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly's affirmation of the Nuremberg Principles, which--in the aftermath of World War II--disallowed soldiers from following unlawful orders that can lead to war crimes.

(note from Lietta - this is an already released Press Release; please feel free to circulate widely .

For immediate release: December 11, 2006

 Contact: Cindy Sousa 206-734-5040 cindy@sdmcc.org. )

Nuremberg Trials prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz, 86, said that "The enduring lessons and principles of the Nuremberg trials were that aggressive war is `the supreme international crime' since it incorporates all of the other crimes. In addition, Nuremberg held that those responsible for crimes against humanity and major war crimes will have to answer before the bar of justice."

Iraq War veterans, experts in international law and war crimes, and human rights advocates will offer testimony, in a format that will resemble that of a congressional committee. According to Dr. Lawrence Mosqueda, member of the Organizing Committee and Professor at Evergreen State College: "We are inviting testimony by Iraq War veterans and experts to inform military personnel and other citizens to reflect deeply on their roles and responsibilities in an illegal war." Testifiers include:

*Denis Halliday, Former UN Assistant Secretary General, coordinated Iraq humanitarian aid;

*Daniel Ellsberg, military analyst who released the Pentagon Papers in the Vietnam War;

*Richard Falk, Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University;

*Nadia McCaffrey, Gold Star Families Speak Out; Brussels Tribunal advisory board;

*Harvey Tharp, former U.S. Navy Lieutenant and JAG stationed in Iraq;

*Antonia Juhasz, policy-analyst and author on U.S. economic policies in Iraq;

*John Burroughs, Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy Executive Director;

*Eman Khammas, Iraqi human rights advocate (via video).

*Benjamin G. Davis, Assoc. Prof. of Law, University of Toledo; expert on law of war.

The hearing will present the case that Lt. Watada would, if allowed, make at his court martial. His defense attorneys maintain that the war on Iraq is illegal under international treaties and under Article Six of the U.S. Constitution. Further, Lt. Watada's defense argues that the Nuremberg Principles and U.S. military regulations require soldiers to follow only "lawful orders." In Lt. Watada's view, deployment to Iraq would have made him party to the crimes that permeate the structure and conduct of military operations there.

A panel comprised of military veterans, members of military families, students, and representatives of labor unions, local governments, academia, and religious organizations will hear the testimony, examine witnesses, and issue a fact-finding report. Panelists will focus on the legality of the war, whether the invasion of Iraq in 2003 constituted a "crime against the peace," whether the military occupation and economic constriction of Iraq constitutes a "crime against humanity," and whether individual soldiers have an obligation or duty to refuse unlawful orders.

David Krieger, who was a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant stationed in Hawaii during the Vietnam War, and is currently the Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation will serve as panel chair. Krieger, who was a member of the Jury of Conscience at the 2005 World Tribunal on Iraq, observes, "The Citizens' Hearing will place the legality of the Iraq War on trial. U.S. soldiers have always had the duty to disobey unlawful orders. That obligation was strengthened at the Nuremberg Tribunals following World War II. Following superior orders to commit unlawful acts is not a defense."

Krieger asserts, "Lt. Watada's position is that if the war itself is illegal, which he believes it to be, then orders to participate in the war must also be illegal. There is a duty to disobey such orders. If this position cannot be tried in U.S. courts, it must be tried before the court of public opinion."

Lietta Ruger of Military Families Speak Out (MSFO), Washington state chapter, says: "this hearing will focus attention on the role of the U.S. government--rather than that of individual soldiers--in perpetrating the crimes of the Iraq War."

Tribunal organizer and Evergreen State College geography professor Dr. Zoltan Grossman comments: "The Citizens' Hearing will focus critical attention on the underlying premises of the Iraq War at a critical time when its future is being decided. The Citizens' Hearing will heighten the discussion of the Iraq invasion and occupation in the public--and within the military itself--as similar tribunals did during the Vietnam War."

Nuremberg Trials prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz concludes, "The best way to protect the lives of courageous young people who serve in the military is to avoid war-making itself. One cannot kill an idea with a gun, but only with a better idea. If people believe that law is better than war, they must do all they can to enhance the power of law and stop glorifying war."

The Evergreen State College's Tacoma Campus (1210 6th Ave.) will host The Citizens' Hearing on January 20-21, 2007. The organizers of the Citizens' Hearing are also launching a new website ; url is http://www.WarTribunal.org to provide regular updates about the project. For more information about the case of U.S. Army Lt. Ehren Watada , go to http://www.ThankYouLT.org

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITIZENS’ HEARING

TO DONATE ONLINE: The Church Council of Greater Seattle is the 501(c)3 fiscal agent for the Citizens' Hearing. To donate online, go to the Church Council of Greater Seattle: http://www.churchcouncilseattle.org Go to ‘give’ then click on “Donate Now Through Network for Good” button to reach the secure site. Then choose “Designate a Fund” and put “Citizens’ Hearing.”

TO DONATE BY MAIL: Checks can be made payable to CCGS, but be sure to put “CITIZENS’ HEARING” in the subject line. The CCGS will receive and disburse the funds (which meet IRS criteria as a tax-deductible charitable contribution). Checks should be mailed to: The Church Council of Greater Seattle, Attn.: Citizens’ Hearing, 4 Nickerson, Suite 300, Seattle WA 98109.

TO DONATE AIR TRAVEL MILES: To offer Frequent Flyer miles to help bring testifiers and panelists to the hearing, please send a “virtual" pledge to us. Our tickets need to be purchased in advance. We will handle all the details of transfering miles if you will pledge them for this event. Just send the name of the airline and how many miles are available to donatemiles@gmail.com  We do not need your frequent flier number or any other information yet. We especially need miles from Alaska/Horizon air. As we get the tickets you will transfer them directly to the guest speaker or witness that is coming to testify. This is through the "share miles" programs and follows all of the airline rules. These donated miles do NOT meet IRS criteria as a charitable contribution, and are not the same as airline charitable donations. If we cannot use your miles, or do not need them, you will not lose them. (Many miles "expire" at the end of the calendar year if not used.) For questions contact macgregoreddy@gmail.com

"The best way to protect the lives of courageous young people who serve in the military is to avoid war-making itself. One cannot kill an idea with a gun, but only with a better idea. If people believe that law is better than war, they must do all they can to enhance the power of law and stop glorifying war."

--Nuremberg Trials prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz

Thank you in advance for your generous support,

The Organizing Committee for the

Citizens’ Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 12/10/06
Americans Killed: 2928
Americans Wounded: 22,057
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 55,576
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 150,000
Iraqi Health Ministry
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts" General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Sgt. Jesse J.J. Castro, 22, of Chalan Pago, Guam died Dec. 6 in Hawijah, Iraq.

*Cpl. Jason I. Huffman, 23, of Conover, N.C. died Dec. 6 in Hawijah, Iraq.

*Spc. Joshua B. Madden, 21, of Sibley, La. died Dec. 6 in Hawijah, Iraq.

*Spc. Yari Mokri, 26, of Pflugerville, Texas died Dec. 6 in Hawijah, Iraq.

*Pfc. Travis C. Krege, 24, of Cheektowaga, N.Y. died Dec. 6 in Hawijah, Iraq.

*Capt. Travis L. Patriquin, 32, of San Angelo, Texas died Dec. 6 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

*Spc. Vincent J. Pomante III, 22, of Westerville, Ohio died Dec. 6 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 12/09/06
Americans Killed: 2928
Americans Wounded: 22,057
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 55,164
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 150,000
Iraqi Health Ministry
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts" General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Spc. Kenneth W. Haines, 25, of Fulton, N.Y., died Dec. 3 in Balad, Iraq.

*Sgt. Yevgeniy Ryndych, 24, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Dec. 6 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Robert L. Love Jr., 28, of Meridian, Miss., died Dec. 1 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

*Spc. Marco L. Miller, 36, of Longwood, Fla., died Dec. 5 at Landstuhl Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries suffered Dec. 3 in Taji, Iraq.

*Spc. Jordan W. Hess, 26, of Marysville, WA (56th Washingtonian) died Dec. 5 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX from injuries suffered Nov. 11 in Ta'Meem, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Brent E. Beeler, 22, of Jackson, Mich., died Dec. 7 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Cpl. Billy B. Farris, 20, of Bapchule, Ariz., died Dec. 3 in Taji, Iraq.

*Sgt. Jay R. Gauthreaux, 26, of Thibodaux, La., died Dec. 4 in Balad, Iraq.

*Spc. Nicholas R. Gibbs, 25, of Stokesdale, N.C., died Dec. 6 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

*Cpl. Dustin J. Libby, 22, of Presque Isle, Maine, died Dec. 6 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 12/07/06
Americans Killed: 2920
Americans Wounded: 22,057
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 55,048
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 150,000
Iraqi Health Ministry
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts" General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Capt. Kermit O. Evans, 31, of Hollandale, Miss. died Dec. 3 in western Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Spc. Dustin M. Adkins, 22, of Finger, Tenn., was pronounced dead Dec. 4 of injuries suffered Dec. 3 near Haditha, Iraq.

*Pvt. Troy D. Cooper, 21, of Amarillo, Texas, died Dec. 3 in Balad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis, 19, of Knox, Pa., died Dec. 4 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Hospitalman Christopher A. Anderson, 24, of Longmont, Colo., died Dec. 4 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Thomas P. Echols, 20, of Shepherdsville, Ky., died Dec. 4 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Capt. Shawn L. English, 35, of Westerville, Ohio, died Dec. 3 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Maj. Joseph T. McCloud, 39, of Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. died Dec. 3 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Cpl. Joshua C. Sticklen, 24, of Virginia Beach, Va. died Dec. 3 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Pfc. Nicholas D. Turcotte, 23, of Maple Grove, Minn., died Dec. 4 in An Nasiriyah, Iraq.

*Sgt. Keith E. Fiscus, 26, of Townsend, Del., died Dec. 2 in Baghdad, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

A Message from Our Labor Neighbor

Friends,
I have asked my State Representative, Mike Sells (D-38), - in his capacity as Secretary-Treasurer of the Snohomish County Labor Council, AFL/CIO - to keep The Left Shue apprised of any and all issues of concern to the labor community and, by extension, the greater Progressive community. Mike has issued the following response:

”Chad,
Here is what I will do, because my time is so limited, and I can't guarantee a consistent column. Have your readership share their frustrations and concerns about Labor or organized labor, and I will do a response as best I can regarding the issues that have been raised. You would need to send those on to me, and I can give you my best answers based my over 30 years of working with the labor movement, much of that in a leadership capacity. I prefer to stick to issues rather than personalities, but I will attempt to answer what I can.

Mike”

I am very appreciative to Mike for whatever insights he will offer. In Snohomish County recently we have seen some strain between certain segments of the labor community and others in the Progressive Movement. I believe that Mike Sells has earned the reputation as a well respected member of the Progressive family and I look forward to much insight from him over the next many years.

In his first outreach to this Blog, Mike sends this notice from the AFL-CIO:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2006
AFL-CIO adds Blue Man Productions to "Don't Buy" list

The AFL-CIO is asking union families to boycott the Blue Man Group, a theatrical production company headquartered in Las Vegas running shows concurrently in five U.S. cities: Las Vegas, Boston, New York, Chicago and Orlando. The company also produces Blue Man shows in London, Berlin and Toronto. This boycott is especially important in the Pacific Northwest because Blue Man Productions plans a U.S. tour in 2007 that begins here at the following venues:

o Feb. 1 at the Yakima Valley Sundome
o Feb. 2 at the Everett Events Center
o Feb. 3 at the Portland (OR) Memorial Coliseum
o Feb. 6 at the Spokane Arena
o Feb. 7 at the Boise (ID) Idaho Center

The decision to put Blue Man Productions on the AFL-CIO's official boycott list was taken at the request of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE) with support from dozens of performing arts unions in the United States, Canada and Europe.

“This production bills itself as ‘cutting edge’ as an entertainment concept, but it is a throwback to the dark ages in labor relations,” said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka. “Blue Man Productions is about to learn a harsh lesson in labor solidarity, an experience they could have avoided by simply acknowledging the right of their workers to bargain collectively.”

IATSE’s Las Vegas Local 720 was certified as the bargaining agent for stagehands employed by the company following a May 25, 2006, NLRB election. Officials from the local union stress employees are predominantly concerned with health care, retirement coverage and safety on the job.
Efforts to negotiate an initial agreement for the 44 employees involved were stonewalled by Blue Man Productions management despite earlier pledges from principal partner Matt Goldman during the period leading up to the election to abide by its outcome. Goldman retained Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, a politically-connected law firm whose partners include Democratic bigwigs Robert Strauss and Vernon Jordan along with President Bush’s nephew George P. Bush, as its counsel for the election and subsequent challenges.

Lawrence Levien, a former NLRB attorney now on the Akin Gump payroll, has represented Blue Man Productions throughout the process. Nevertheless, the union has beat back company appeals at the regional and national level, where a three-member panel ultimately upheld the union’s right to bargain and affirmed the unfair labor practice charges against the company. Blue Man Productions has appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. At the union’s behest, attorneys for the NLRB lodged a counter motion to enforce its bargaining order with the appeals court. It may be months before the court acts.
Meanwhile, IATSE has secured pledges of support from 36 labor organizations including performing arts unions in the U.S., Canada, Britain, Norway and Germany as well as an endorsement from the massive Union Network International (UNI), an international confederation of 900 unions in 140 nations representing 15 million workers.

Stagehands for Blue Man Productions had a collective bargaining agreement through IATSE Local 720 until October 2005 when the company refused to renew that agreement after moving from the Las Vegas Luxor Hotel to its new Las Vegas venue at the non-union Venetian Hotel.

In addition to the Pacific Northwest shows listed above, upcoming 2007 tour dates and venues for Blue Man’s U.S. productions include:

February 9, Sacramento (CA) ARCO Center • February 10, 2007 Oakland (CA) Arena • February 11, Bakersfield (CA) Rabobank Theatre • February 12, Los Angeles (CA) Gibson Ampitheatre • February 13, Phoenix (AZ) US Airways Center • February 15, Amarillo (TX) Civic Center • February 16, Bossier City (LA) CenturyTel Center • February 17, Biloxi (MS) Beau Rivage Casino • February 18, Little Rock (AR) Alltel Arena • February 19, Huntsville (AL) Von Braun Center Arena • February 21, Tallahassee (FL) Leon County Civic Center • February 22, Orlando (FL) TD Waterhouse Centre • February 23, Ft. Lauderdale (FL) BankAtlantic Center • February 24, Tampa (FL) St. Pete Times Forum • February 25, Ft. Myers (FL) Germain Arena • February 27, Miami (FL) BankUnited Center • March 1, Columbia (SC) Colonial Center • March 2, Norfolk (VA) Constant Convocation Center • March 3, Charlottesville (VA) John Paul Jones Arena • March 4, Knoxville (TN) Thompson-Boling Arena • March 6, Richmond (VA) Coliseum • March 8, Youngstown (OH) Chevrolet Centre • March 9, Washington (DC) Patriot Center • March 10, Atlantic City (NJ)
Etess Arena-Taj Mahal • March 11, Raleigh (NC) RBC Center • March 13, Columbus (GA) Civic Center Arena • March 15, Evansville (IN) Roberts Stadium • March 16, Memphis (TN) DeSoto Civic Center • March 17, Louisville (KY) Feedom Hall • March 18, Dayton (OH) Nutter Center • March 20, Binghampton (NY) Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena • March 21, Syracuse (NY) War Memorial at Onecenter • March 22, Buffalo (NY) HSBC Arena • March 23, Orilla (ON-Canada) Casino Rama Entertainment Center • March 24, Detroit (MI) The Palace of Auburn Hills • March 25, Grand Rapids (MI) Van Andel Arena • March 27, Green Bay (WI) Resch Center • March 28, Duluth (MN) Entertainment Convention Center • March 30, St. Paul (MN) Xcel Energy Center • March 31, Kansas City (MO) Kemper Arena • April 1, Wichita (KS) Kansas Coliseum • April 3, Peoria (IL) Civic Center Arena • April 4, Dekalb (IL) Convocation Center of Northern Illinois • April 5, Sioux City (IA) Tyson Event Center • April 6, Fargo (ND) Fargodome • April 7, Sioux Falls (SD) Arena • April 9, Rochester (MN) Mayo Civic Arena • April 10, Madison (WI) Kohl Center • April 11, Colombia (MO) Mizzou Arena • April 13, Birmingham (AL) BJCC Arena • April 14, 2007, New Orleans (LA) Arena • April 15, Mobile (AL) Civic Center Arena • April 17, Greenville (SC) BI-LO Center • April 19, Philadelphia (PA) Wachovia Center • April 20, Hershey (PA) Giant Center • April 21, Baltimore (MD) 1st Mariner Arena • April 22, Wilkes Barre (PA) Wachovia Arena
********************************************************************

In solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the IATSE and the AFL-CIO, I am asking that all Progressive Organizations join in asking their membership to endorse this boycott and defend the right of collective bargaining.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

.

A Follow-Up

In a follow-up to my recent post This Class Brought To You By: where I talked about the refusal of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) to distribute free copies of the DVD “An Inconvenient Truth” when they were offered by the documentary’s Executive Producer, Laurie David, I have received the following email from Linda Froschauer and Gerald Wheeler, President and Executive Director respectively of the National Science Teachers Association:

"Thank you for your recent e-mail expressing your opinion about the National Science Teacher Association’s decision in regard to the DVD “An Inconvenient Truth.” We value each and every comment we have received from our members and friends.

First and foremost, we want to ensure that you have the most current and accurate information about the issue. Ms. Laurie David, producer of AIT, asked NSTA to distribute 50,000 copies of the movie to its members. The NSTA Board of Directors stood by its 2001 NSTA policy prohibiting endorsements and decided not to mass distribute the DVD to members without their consent or request because it would constitute an endorsement.

As you will see in the letter that NSTA sent to Ms. David on Thursday, November 30, 2006 (http://www.nsta.org/main/pdfs/20061130LetterToLaurieDavid.pdf) we provided her with several options to publicize the availability of the DVD to both our members and the wider universe of science educators worldwide via our communication channels. We also invited Mr. Gore to participate at the NSTA National Conference in March.

This information and more is available on our website at www.nsta.org. We encourage you to read these documents."

Sincerely,


Linda Froschauer
President 2006-2007
National Science Teachers Association

Gerald Wheeler
Executive Director
National Science Teachers Association

Some of the highlights from the referenced letter:

"...NSTA would like to remind you about the many options we have previously offered to you for publicizing such programs to both our members and the wider universe of science educators. These options will greatly expand the scope of the outreach from your original request for access to the 40,000 middle and high school NSTA members. The options include:

1. Providing a link on NSTA's website (two million page views per month) that will enable middle level and high school teachers to obtain a free copy of the DVD from your distribution center.

2. An opportunity to purchase our mailing list for your distribution.

3. Announcing the availability of your DVD through a number of our channels to science teachers, which include the NSTA 'Express', our weekly email blast (circulation 250,000); NSTA publications (circulation 55,000 plus pass-along rate of an additional 50,000); and the NSTA Building a Presence for Science network online newsletter (circulation 40,000)

4. Providing your representatives the opportunity to exhibit at the National Conference on Science Science Education in St. Louis, MO. This would be an additional opportunity for you to interact with the attendees, distribute the DVD, and share the educational material supporting it.

5. Creating an online message board that would focus on the issue of global warming. The message board would be open to both NSTA members and nonmembers worldwide.

Additionally, we extend an invitation to Vice President Gore to join us as a featured speaker, perhaps in a town-hall format, at our National Conference in St. Louis on March 29-April 1, 2007, where we expect as many as 15,000 attendees. We would also plan to web-cast Mr. Gore's presentation to those science teachers unable to attend the conference."

In reading this response and the list of counter proposals offered by the NSTA, I am prone to believe that Ms David has been afforded an ample compromise from the organization. In particular, the opportunity to distribute the DVD via a link on the national website and the offer to have Al Gore featured at the National Conference in St. Louis seem like reasonable avenues for advancing the message of climate change.

I will be sending a follow up to Ms David to ask what her intentions would be in response to this offering from the NSTA.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Enough!

How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bob Dylan, 1962


It is my view that no soldier who dies in service to his or her country ever dies in vain. It is my view that any Commander in Chief who would send his or her country’s soldiers to their death without just cause, adequate equipment and force to ensure maximum security of the force, or a clear strategy for victory and withdrawal is guilty of crimes that rise to the level of treason against their country. War is not a game and the lives of brave soldiers should not be subject to experiments in foreign policy.

George W. Bush led this country into an invasion of Iraq based upon faulty intelligence of a non-existent threat at best and a complete misrepresentation of purpose most likely. It is widely accepted now (some 2900 dead American soldiers later) that, minus the false evidence of WMD, Congress would not have authorized the invasion. It is widely accepted now (some hundreds of thousand dead Iraqis later) that the Bush Administration scenario of a six-week walk in the park was built upon a foundation of quicksand. It is absolutely certain now (after casting Iraq into a state of sectarian civil war) that George W. Bush has created a quagmire in the Middle East that would not have existed without the US invasion of that country. When George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, and Donald Rumsfeld were leading this country into the invasion of Iraq, they spoke almost exclusively of mushroom clouds and other weapons of mass destruction. Only on occasion did they mention liberating the Iraqi people from the grasp of a brutal dictator. Almost four years later (with every pre-stated mission “accomplished”), rather than discuss the plan for an American withdrawal, the debate is centering on the “creation of a new and stable Iraq” and fighting an “insurgency” that did not exist before our arrival there. In other words, our military is (and has been for its duration in Iraq) being used as a tool in a futile experiment in foreign policy.

So where is the plan to bring our troops home and allow the Iraqis the opportunity to reclaim their country and their sovereignty? Apparently there is none. What we have now is a collection of groups who are attempting to “create a silk purse from a sow’s ear.” And for what purpose? Are these groups thinking about how many more Americans will die? Are they thinking about how many more innocent Iraqis are to be sacrificed? No, actually these plans seem to be centered on “just not making matters worse.” The most ambitious plan at this point seems to be coming from the so-called Iraq Study Group – a bi-partisan group of former government officials who were tasked with coming up with a solution to “the Iraq problem.” In the report that this group released, there are some 79 separate recommendations. On the matter of troop withdrawal, this group suggests a re-deployment of some 70,000 (roughly half) of the American combat troops by the “end of 1st quarter, 2008” – over a full year from now. The remaining 70, 000 American troops would remain for an indefinite period of time to continue training an Iraqi security force and keep on the look out for Al Qaida in Iraq.

As I have said, no soldier who sacrifices for his or her country dies in vain. However, far too many have already died for a lie. How many more must be sacrificed? The painful truth is this: There is no strategy that does not make matters worse for some period of time. Knowing this, what possible good can come from the further sacrifice of American blood when it is America’s presence in the region that is responsible for a large portion of the bloodshed? The time has come for the American people to stand united and demand that those who have been elected to represent us stop worrying about Bush’s legacy and start addressing the issue of saving American and Iraqi lives. The experiment has failed. It is time to bring our troops home and to end this travesty. Any other path is wrong-headed and immoral.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 12/05/06
Americans Killed: 2906
Americans Wounded: 21,921
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 55,048
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 150,000
Iraqi Health Ministry
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts" General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Spc. Christopher E. Mason, 32, of Mobile, Ala., died Nov. 28 in Bayji, Iraq.

*Sgt. Jeannette T. Dunn, 44, of Bronx, N.Y., died Nov. 26 in Taji, Iraq.

*Pfc. Theodore M. West, 23, of Richmond, Ky., died Nov. 29 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Cpl. Jonerik Loney, 21, of Hartselle, Ala., died Nov. 28 in Hit, Iraq.

*Maj. Troy L. Gilbert, 34, of Litchfield Park, Ariz., died Nov. 27 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Jesse D. Tillery, 19, of Vesper, Wis., died Dec. 2 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. John L. Hartman Jr., 39, of Tampa, Fla., died Nov. 30 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Bryan T. McDonough, 22, of Maplewood, Minn. died Dec. 2 in Fallujah, Iraq.

*Spc. Corey J. Rystad, 20, of Red Lake Falls, Minn. died Dec. 2 in Fallujah, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

The Centrists are Coming - The Centrists are Coming

Since the recent election I have been reminded on more than one occasion of the need for continued vigilance in the political sense. I am often guilty of repeating myself and have just recently re-told the story of my on again off again political activism before and after the Nixon administration with the conclusion that I cannot stop paying attention again. The final votes had not yet been tallied when we already started hearing the stories of Carville attacking Dean for not doing enough and the various pundits attributing the Democratic victory to the so-called centrists of the party. As most readers here know, one of the folks I read to keep my focus adjusted on Progressive issues and personalities is David Sirota (David Sirota is an author and political strategist. He has been a guest on, among others, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and NPR. His writing has appeared in, among others, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Baltimore Sun, the Nation magazine, and the American Prospect. He is the co-chairperson of the Progressive Legislative Action Network (PLAN) - a position he took after finishing a stint as a fellow at the Center for American Progress. He is a Senior Editor at the In These Times magazine, a writer for Working Assets, and a twice-a-week guest on the Al Franken Show. Sirota has just completed a book for Random House's Crown Publishers entitled "Hostile Takeover".) Sirota has recently posted some articles on his Blog that have started to raise the hairs on the back of my neck. In the interest of sounding the cautionary bell, I am re-capping some of those posts here.

In a post entitled The Center of What? he talks about the people who use the language of “the center” and advises that whenever we hear such stuff we always question the frame of reference of the speaker.

”“If a lefty solution works, that’s great,” Kevin Drum writes today about proposals to fix our country’s problems. “But sometimes it doesn’t, and if a wonky centrist solution works better, then that’s what we should rally around.” I guess I agree with this in theory, but forgiving my annoyingly obsessive focus on the issue of “centrism” for a moment, ask yourself: what are all these people who worship “centrism” using as a reference point for the “center?” Put another way, sure, the center can be terrific, but it can also be horrible. It all depends on what you are aiming to be at the center OF.
That’s really the problem with the term - and with Washington’s definition of it. “Centrism” as defined in the political dialogue today means “being in the middle of elite opinion in Washington, D.C.” But if you plot this “center” on the continuum that is American public opinion, you will find that it is nowhere near the actual center of the country at large. The center of elite Washington opinion is ardently free trade, against national health care, opposed to market regulation, for continuing the Iraq War, and supportive of the flattest tax structure we’ve had in contemporary American history. That center is on the extreme fringe of the center of American public opinion, which is ardently skeptical of free trade, for universal health care, supportive of strong market regulations, insistent that the war end soon, and in favor of making the tax system more progressive.”

Part of my concern about how much of a Progressive agenda we shall see beginning in January stems from this post dated 11/25/06: Dem Says Party To Engage In “Kabuki Dance” With Progressives

” In a New York Times piece about one of the great progressive champions, George Miller, we see just how cynical, self-serving and destructive a faction of Democrats will insist on being in the new Congress:
“He is liberal, and that pragmatism is always difficult to achieve when you’re passionate about something,” said Representative Ellen O. Tauscher, Democrat of California and a leader of the party’s more moderate wing in the House. But, Ms. Tauscher said, Mr. Miller understands what she calls the “very difficult kabuki dance” facing Democrats…“But in the end, this is about securing a majority for more than two years,” she said. (Emphasis added)

So here you have a Democrat going to the largest paper in the world saying that Democrats are preparing to engage in a “kabuki dance,” implying that the party will pretend to be as progressive as it promised to be in the campaign, but will really be working to follow the lead of corporate-front groups like the Democratic Leadership Council, the group whose faction Tauscher leads in the House. Then, she goes on to say that the election was not about changing the country - no, it was supposedly about Democrats “securing a majority for more than two years.” I’m all for Democrats building a long-lasting majority - but they aren’t going to do it with Democratic lawmakers running to reporters reinforcing the stereotype that Democrats stand for nothing other than their securing their own power.”

Now it is true that Ellen Tauscher might be expected to say those things in light of her background and affiliations. After all, the DLC knows it must speak in these terms to continue to secure the type of K-Street funding they need to stay in business. Which brings us to this post:

TIME MAG: When the Democrats Take Back K Street

” In the last paragraph of an article about Democratic corporate lobbyists moving aggressively to cash in on the incoming Congress, Time Magazine nails exactly why all the lobbying and ethics reforms being talked about won’t really get to the source of the problem:
“But the biggest obstacle to lobbying reform may be that in an electoral system almost entirely dependent on campaign donations, lawmakers and wealthy interests will always find a way to connect. Members of Congress know their job security depends on the money they raise before each election, and much of that comes from K Street. ‘The dirty little secret is that the biggest lobby in town is members of Congress lobbying us,’ says the Livingston Group’s Moffett. Moffett says he bumped into a powerful Senator last spring. They sat on a bench overlooking the city and talked about Moffett’s clients. After a few minutes, Moffett gave the Senator his card. By the time the lobbyist got back to his office, the Senator’s campaign staff had sent him an invitation to a $1,000-a-plate fund raiser. ‘When you’re holding the chum, says [Republican Rep. Jeff] Flake, the Arizona Representative seeking reform, ‘you can’t complain about the sharks.’”
Translation: until we have public financing of elections, nothing is really going to change.”

Now it might be one thing to be concerned when Sirota points out the DLC talking points, but when he points to statements from one of the Progressives amongst the incoming Chairs in the new Congress, we should be taking notice.

Rangel: Preserve Millionaire Tax Cuts, Consider Soc. Security Cuts, Pass More Free Trade Pacts

” Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) represents one of the poorest congressional districts in New York City. He also chairs the House Ways and Means Committee - the panel that oversees taxes and entitlements. This combination would lead the casual observer to think that Rangel, trying to represent his district, would be aggressively using his chairmanship to redirect President Bush’s tax cuts to lower-income people, strengthen and even expand Social Security and renegotiate trade deals to protect American jobs. But, no. That’s not what appears to be happening. In the weeks after the congressional election, Rangel has expressed interest in doing the exact opposite: preserving President Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy; considering Social Security benefit cuts and retirement age hikes; and supporting lobbyist-written trade pacts that have no wage, environmental or human rights protections in them. He has, in other words, moved to side firmly with the Money Party against the People Party.

Think this is hyperbole? Let’s let Rangel speak for himself. At the same time leading conservative Republican commentators like Ben Stein are saying it’s time to raise taxes on the rich to pay for the war and the deficit, here’s Rangel in the New York Observer yesterday, defending tax cuts to millionaires and falsely claiming Democrats never talked about repealing those tax cuts:

“Here he is, suggesting to a business-minded audience that no Democrat ever campaigned in 2006 on the issue of rolling back Bush’s tax cuts. ‘How many people heard the Democrats say they were going to roll back the tax cuts for the rich? I didn’t hear it, and I listen very carefully…I personally believe that repealing tax cuts that are locked into place, that people have depended on these tax cuts, invested in these tax cuts, not only is it bad tax policy to repeal it retroactively, but it’s dumb politics to do it especially when it’s going to get vetoed. Forget about it.’”

Here’s Rangel on Social Security in the New York Daily News today, saying he will consider proposals to cut benefits and raise the retirement age:

“Raising retirement age or reducing benefits can’t be ruled out if the Social Security system is to be saved from going bust, Rep. Charles Rangel said yesterday. ‘All of these things are on the table to find some way to make certain that Social Security is solvent,’ said Rangel, who is poised to take control of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.”

Trade? Well, it’s a bit better, but not much. Here’s Businessweek :

“Business may find some unlikely allies in Democrats such as Charles B. Rangel of New York…[Rangel is] a leading Democratic advocate of trade liberalization. Stung by GOP criticism of his votes against recent Bush trade initiatives because they did not include labor and environmental provisions, Rangel wants to extend trade preferences in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Andean nations. With Presidential fast-track trade negotiating authority up for reauthorization in 2007, Rangel says he hopes to work with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab to end the partisanship over trade…He’s also seeking business’ input on strengthening copyright protection and other intellectual-property issues.”

All of this, indeed, makes one’s head explode, especially since it is coming just weeks after an election mandate that gives all politicians - especially those from the poorest congressional districts - strong backing to do exactly the opposite of what Rangel is moving to do.”

Of course, just as with the ghost of Christmas Future, these all may just be shadows of things that might be and not neccessarily what will be. The only insurance that we have that this shift to a "far right" center will be if we remain vigilant and vocal with those whom we have sent back to DC to represent the people's interests. Just as the new Democratic majority has been handed a mandate of oversight, so too has the Progressive community been assigned the task of hall monitor. Are you up to the job?

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Law - Out of Order?

This headline from the Washington Post caught my eye the other day:
U.S. Prison Population Sets Record. I happen to be one of those folks who believes our “Criminal Justice System” needs some major overhauling so I am always curious about who we are sending to jail and why.

The numbers in the story, unfortunately, are just a continuation of the story of class divide we have been writing in this country for as long as I can remember.

”A record 7 million people -- one in every 32 U.S. adults -- were behind bars, on probation or on parole by the end of last year, a Justice Department report released yesterday shows. Of those, 2.2 million were in prison or jail, an increase of 2.7 percent over the previous year, according to the report.” In a just society, you might consider that on the block where you live at least one person (or one household) is impacted by these figures – assuming only two adults per household.

But wait. Before you can consider the impact these numbers represent to your neighborhood you have to ask if your neighborhood breaks down in any way similar to these numbers:

” In the 25-29 age group, 8.1 percent of black men -- about one in 13 -- are incarcerated, compared with 2.6 percent of Hispanic men and 1.1 percent of white men. The figures are not much different among women. By the end of 2005, black women were more than twice as likely as Hispanics and more than three times as likely as white women to be in prison.”…and the less than encouraging word for women is this: ”Over the past year, the female population in state or federal prison increased 2.6 percent and the number of male inmates rose 1.9 percent. By year's end, 7 percent of inmates were women. The gender figures do not include inmates in local jails.”

Finally, the piece of the equation that you knew must be coming: ”“Misguided policies that create harsher sentences for nonviolent drug offenses are disproportionately responsible for the increasing rates of women in prisons and jails," Marc Mauer, executive director of the Sentencing Project, a Washington-based group that supports criminal justice reform, said in a statement.

From 1995 to 2003, inmates incarcerated in federal prisons for drug offenses have accounted for 49 percent of total prison population growth”(Emphasis added, TLS)

Just thought you’d like to know.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue