The Pennsylvania Progressive

Myanmar

It appears the brutal regime in Myanmar has successfully suppressed the fledgling democracy movement.  By indiscriminately firing into crowds and killing people, including monks, they've illustrated, once again, how repressive they are to their own people.   President Bush imposed economic sanctions on the country as a result of it's actions.  As a result of world wide outrage the Chinese government may finally re evaluate it's support for the country once known as Burma.  Until they do little pressure will be effective because the country is well isolated.  American efforts won't do much simply because there aren't many assets to freeze.

The heroic people who were willing to confront their government knowing full well what the consequences would be deserve every bit of non-military support we can provide.  Until the people of a nation decide themselves they want to overthrow a brutal regime and establish democracy there's nothing we can do for them.  Diplomatic and economic efforts must be intensified to assist them in their struggle.  It still isn't our business to invade and overthrow another country's government unless it poses a direct, immediate threat to our strategic national security.

Peter Pace and his fear of Peckers...I mean Peppers.

This week the nation's Chief Priest said "We should respect those who want to serve the nation but not through the law of the land, condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God's law."

Thank you Priest Pace for unilaterally deciding that you have the job of deciding for the rest of us what is and isn't morally acceptable. Again with the introduction of religion into places it simply does not belong. Why the big brew-haha over gays in the military? There are gays in the military, there have always been gays in the military. As a military man one would think that Chief Priest Pace would have studied military history. I'll assume he's heard of the Sacred Band of Thebes. 150 gay couples that, for 40 years were the elite of the Thebian military. They were only defeated by Philip of Macedon (you might know his son better...Alexander the Great).

In Thebes, even to this day, a Stone Lion lies at their burial site. Been there...seen it.

Gay people can be patriotic and we can fight for our country. We're not all limp wristed pansies that go flitting around like butterflies. I was in the Navy and everyone knew I was gay...I did my job and I did it well and when it came time to fight, I fought. So?

So Priest Pace, if you're going to be the nation's Chief Priest then resign from the military and be a Priest. If you're going to be the nation's top General then resolve Iraq and find Osama and stop worrying about what the soldiers are doing with their genitals...I'm pretty sure they don't give a damn what you do with yours.

Is Iraq A "Small Price" to Pay?

Congressman John Boehner called Iraq "a small price to pay."  For what Mr. Boehner, further endangering the national security of our country, destabilizing the Middle East, creating hatred and distrust of America, radicalizing a new generation of Islamic extremists, bankrupting our country?  Is this "small price" small to the families of the 3,800 soldiers who have died for nothing or the 28,000 wounded?  How about the several million Iraqis who have their homes and country to escape the rain of death and destruction?  How about the Iraqi children getting cholera because we won't allow the people chlorine?

It seems to me Iraq is extracting a huge price from everyone affected.  We aren't creating democracy there we're enabling an Islamic Sharia government to take hold.  We aren't creating anything positive in return for this "small price."  I suspect we'll pay dearly for this for many years to come however and I fear it'll be in flesh and blood in addition to tears and treasure.

A reaction from Pittsburgh:

Another from Philadelphia:

The entire clip from CNN (for skeptics):

SEIU Rallies For SCHIP

Service Employees International Union held a rally in support of the State Children's Insurance Program in Hershey and stressed the importance of covering kids for health care.  Senator casey and SEIU President Andy Stern both spoke along with a simple, to the point statement by Noah Williams Morrill, a six year old who said he has health care because his parents both work for the union.  Noah said he can go to the hospital if needed and every child should have that same right.  Amen Noah.

Noah's father is Mike Morrill who is running for State Representative in the 127th District to oust "Traitor Tom" Caltagirone.

Mike Waltner for Congress

It's that time again, the end of the quarter for FEC filings.  This has become a big deal, mostly because of the emphasis the media puts on performance.  For some strange reason reporters only judge the viability of campaigns by how much money they raise, not the quality of the candidate, the extent of campaign activity, endorsements or voter contact, just money.  Money is important as it enables you to deliver your message but it isn't the only method for evaluating campaigns.  I've seen major campaigns with huge amounts of cash who still failed getting their message out (John Kerry anyone?) and smaller ones which did.

For some reason money raised is the barometer most political reporters use so the end of quarters has become important to campaigns.  How many emails have you been bombarded with this week by the presidential campaign you support?  It's a constant stream and this is why.  Like it or not it's the reality and a game each federal candidate must play.

Early money is like yeast, it means you can raise more cash and get your campaign off the ground.  Early money is critical, as are early endorsements.  The early endorsements also enable good candidates to raise funds.  Mike Waltner's Congressional campaign for the Third District seat held by Phil English is a campaign which has been successful early on raising money online.  Mike wanted to develop his support with the netroots from the start and has done an excellent job cultivating such support.

I've met Mike several times and we've chatted numerous times.  He's a great guy and great candidate.  He's a new kind of Democrat and one I'd love to see more of:  a man of faith who isn't afraid to tell people he's a Christian who truly believes his faith motivates him to help people, not hurt them.  It's so nice to see progressive Christians stepping forward and illustrating that not religious people are intolerant of others.  Visit his website here (one of the best websites around) and find out more about Mike Waltner then go to his Act Blue page and chip in.  The early money is important.

Communication Workers Endorse Hafer

Beth Hafer has been endorsed by Communication Workers of America, District 13, it was announced yesterday.  Hafer is running for the 18th Congressional District seat currently held by Tim Murphy.  Congressman Murphy was recently named one of the most corrupt Members of Congress by CREW.

The early endorsement by CCW is key to building momentum and comes as the quarterly fund raising period comes to a close.  You can express your support for Hafer by contributing at her website.  A press release from the Hafer campaign announcing the endorsement said:

"A union member herself, Beth Hafer is a passionate and tenacious advocate for Pennsylvania’s working families,” said Jim Short, Vice-President of the Communication Workers of America, District 13.  “We enthusiastically support Beth’s candidacy and her vision for the future.  Beth’s plans for job creation and economic growth will supercharge Southwestern Pennsylvania and make the region stronger than ever.”

Hafer has long been a strong voice for positioning the Pittsburgh metropolitan area at the forefront of the emerging alternative energy industry.  Those plans along with her commitment to improving health care and education have resonated with voters, as has her call to restore integrity to Congress.

“I am proud to have the support of the hard working men and women in the CWA,” said Hafer.  “Their needs and concerns have been pushed by the wayside in Washington, thanks to representatives more interested in the privileges of their position than in the privilege of serving their constituents.  That will change once I am elected.”

District 13 represents 24,000 workers in Pennsylvania and Delaware and approximately 10,000 in the greater Pittsburgh region."

Is Asher Already Collecting on His AG Contributions?

Montgomery County businessman Robert Asher has given or raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Attorney General Tom Corbett.  According to this press release issued yesterday by the Matthews/Castor campaign which Asher is heavily financing, Corbett's office conducted an investigation into potential pay-to-play sweetheart contracts in Montgomery County and found no wrongdoing.  Well, after all the money Asher has given Corbett I'd have swooned if he had found Asher's people at fault of anything.

Money talks and b*llsh@t walks, as the old saying goes.  Asher, convicted of soliciting a $300,000 bribe for the Pennsylvania Republican Party while it's Chair in 1986, has engaged in political corruption before.  His large campaign contributions to the Attorney General and major judicial campaigns raise serious questions about the integrity of the legal process.  Perception is reality in politics and revelations like this one make it appear Asher is running everything in Montgomery County and has Corbett in his pocket.

Meanwhile In Iraq...

While the country was obsessing over OJ (again?), football, and the new television season the war in Iraq continues.  The war that'll never end goes on and on and on.  It appears President Bush only wants to hang on until he's out of office and leave the mess for someone else.  Hillary's positions on Iraq have been so supportive of the President's I don't see how anything would change under her leadership.  I see another five-nine years of death and destruction in our future.

Meanwhile Republicans have managed to inflame the country in opposition to a newspaper ad.  Not the war, not the brutal cold blooded murders by Blackwater mercenaries, not the increased level of violence in Iraq, but a nickname for General Petraeus.  Maybe they should take into account the origin of the General's nickname.  I've heard "Betray Us" is what his own soldiers tagged him with so I don't understand all this feigned outrage against MoveOn.org.  Perhaps if Petraeus had testified honestly about the conditions in Iraq people would support him instead of demonizing him.

Cholera is increasing as Americans prohibit the use of chlorine for fear it will be used in attacks. Water, already in short supply, is expensive and electricity continues to be provided for only a few hours per day.

Violence in Iraq is on the upswing.  Rebels are increasing their attacks, most logically as a result of new support from Iraqis after the latest Blackwater incident.  The cutting down of eleven civilians for what seems to have been the sport of it has completely enraged the country against Americans.  Any progress Petraeus had made in counter insurgency was lost in those few moments.

Meanwhile our government's actions after the Blackwater escapade have illustrated that Iraq actually has no sovereignty at all.  Unable to charge, prosecute, convict or penalize the Blackwater mercenaries, they were forced to back off by the Secretary of State.  As usual, Blackwater simply removes their renegades before the Iraqis can do anything and they're out of harm's way.  The Iraqi government continues as nothing more than an American puppet regime and now will lose whatever credibility that remained among it's people.

Meanwhile trials continue for American soldiers accused of war atrocities, as they are subject to court martial.  Let's remember we have 30,000 privatized soldiers in Iraq completely above the law and more than willing to kill anyone they please.  It was the Bush White House which designated them as such in Order 17 issued by our Coalition Provisional Authority.

Returning veterans still cannot obtain adequate medical care, especially for traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress syndrome.  Adequate resources for the wounded, both mentally and physically, have lagged because of funding.  If we're going to send our people to war we must make the commitment to care for them when they return.  We must not abandon them to homelessness they way we did after Vietnam.

Support the troops, End the war.

Judge Invalidates More of Patriot Act

Another judge has struck down provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.  The unconstitutional infringement of civil liberties passed in a rush shortly after September qqth eviscerated the Fourth Amendment and allowed police and investigators unlawful powers to search ans seizure without proving probable cause.  This case is interesting in that the action was brought by the man falsely accused of having participated in the Madrid bombings.

U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the government cannot do the things it has been doing because the Act "permits the executive branch of government to conduct surveillance and searches of American citizens without satisfying the probable cause requirements of the Fourth Amendment."

The Fourth Amendment is important.  Your home is your castle and no law enforcement official can enter your home and conduct a search without showing a judge it has good reason to believe you have committed a crime.  The same goes with searching you or your vehicle.  Americans cannot be routinely stopped and frisked by police.  The Fourth Amendment prevents this from happening, or at least it did until the Patriot Act passed.

I've always found it interesting the complicated legislation was created so quickly after 9/11.  It turns out it wasn't, it was sitting on the shelf at one of the right wing think tanks ready for introduction at a propitious moment.   It was dusted off and passed in the hysteria following the terror attacks.   I'm also reminded of the story a reporter did recently after going on a cruise sponsored by The National Review.  The common theme expressed by the right wing leaders on that ship were very definitively anti-democratic and pro fascist.  Hmmmm....

Congress and the White House need to learn a lesson from the recent court rulings striking down their infringements of civil liberties:  there's only one method for changing the constitution and that's amending it.  If they feel that strongly about curtailing our civil liberties they must go through the laborious process of convincing the people to do so.  They do not have the power to shred the Bill of Rights on their own.  If you come after my rights you're going to have a fight on your hands.

Casey, Specter Approve of War With Iran

Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter both voted for the Lieberman/Kyl Amendment which could authorize military action against Iran.  Here is the text of the Amendment which could be used as a basis for war with Iran:

(b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate--

    (1) that the manner in which the United States transitions and structures its military presence in Iraq will have critical long-term consequences for the future of the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, in particular with regard to the capability of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to pose a threat to the security of the region, the prospects for democracy for the people of the region, and the health of the global economy;

    (2) that it is a vital national interest of the United States to prevent the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran from turning Shi'a militia extremists in Iraq into a Hezbollah-like force that could serve its interests inside Iraq, including by overwhelming, subverting, or co-opting institutions of the legitimate Government of Iraq;

    (3) that it should be the policy of the United States to combat, contain, and roll back the violent activities and destabilizing influence inside Iraq of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, its foreign facilitators such as Lebanese Hezbollah, and its indigenous Iraqi proxies;

    (4) to support the prudent and calibrated use of all instruments of United States national power in Iraq, including diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military instruments, in support of the policy described in paragraph (3) with respect to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies;

    (5) that the United States should designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and place the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, as established under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and initiated under Executive Order 13224; and

    (6) that the Department of the Treasury should act with all possible expediency to complete the listing of those entities targeted under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1737 and 1747 adopted unanimously on December 23, 2006 and March 24, 2007, respectively.

   As you recall Republicans frequently cited the Congressional approval of regime change in Iraq as justification of that war.  This Amendment can similarly be used now for the Administration to say Congress authorized it to go to war against Iran.  This is a terribly provocatively worded document meant only to inflame hostilities between the U.S. and Iran.