Latest in from Washington: Congress to hold hearings on DSM.

[LightningFlash]

The latest just came in from MSNBC (msnbc.com) and Congress will officially be holding hearings on the DSM and multitude of falsities with Iraq. Jun 15th, this next week.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1849088

I think we have underestimated the tone of the country. These aren't one sided hearings either, the Republicans are pissed. Many of them, just like the Democrats, have lost family and friends. These people have seen billions of dollars be lost unilaterally on a war based on LIES and deception. I really think this is going to be one of the biggest weeks.

A republican senator has called for drawing up an immediate withdrawl. Senator Voinovich wants nothing more to do with this war, either. The elected leaders in Congress are seeing there is no ignoring this, or the outpour from their constitutents.

I think this will be one of the most important weeks. We have to get the message through to all our represenatives, republican or democrat, that this war was and is illegal. That these criminal neocons lied to everybody, to our children, families, EVERYBODY and I think most of all it needs to be pounded home how much our economy has lost.

I really sense the corporate media has done itself in. They refuse to report on anything of this scandal, and the coward media, who praised Woodward and Bernstein wouldn't sooner make a single statement about this considering they helped push the propaganda. They are just as guilty as PNAC and the religious extremists for propagating this war.

Washington Post, and other papers everywhere are now covering it and if it wasn't for MSNBC mentioning the detail we wouldn't know there was hearings. And the Iraq families and Gold Star families will BE at those hearings that are being called. The New York times has changed back for the better finally too, with a new columnist who has been hitting every scandal en masse. I'm shocked. Just pick up the latest volume and you can actually *HEAR* about Coingate, Tom DeLay, DSM and everything else under the same area.

It's been so so very long, since anyone has heard actual REAL news from our REAL media, and not the corporate lying media. I believe everyone should keep the pressure on the Senate because this thing is exploding on itself.

Oh and Howard Dean just called a united press conference in Ohio on the fraud scandal.
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050612/NEWS24/506120370

[goclark]

1. Are you kidding or what?

This sounds like a dream I had last night.

Kidding right?

[LightningFlash]

5. On MSNBC now. Hearings to be held Jun 15th (Same time?)

Watch MSNBC, pay attention to latest washington headlines in website.

Ohio fraud scandal conference called officially:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x377370
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050612/NEWS24/506120370

[wryter2000]

18. Schwartzenneger

This could suck in Schwartzenneger. Be still my heart!

[mrdmk]

27. Schwarzenegger was just in Florida and Texas

raising money so he can have a special election here in California. I find it very funny that a Governor needs to go out of state to raise money for an election that the citizens do not want. People are sick and tried of having ideas shoved down their throat.

[wryter2000]

38. He's disgusting

I'd so love it if Noe brought him phony ass down.

[Cleita]

42. Nobody will give him money here in California. That's why.

I was going through Open Secrets one day and was amazed to find how many of the Repuke Reps in Congress get the majority of their money from sources out of the state. The Democrats seem to do the opposite and they get most of their money within the state. So I guess the guvenator found that out the hard way.

[mrdmk]

45. That is a very interesting revelation. n/t

[AuntiBush]

46. Yes, and of all places: Florida & Texas... Gee, wonder why!?!

Let's hope CA kicks his butt out! Would be nice to here him say, "I won't be baacck!"

[Just Me]

32. No announcement of congressional hearings anywhere in sight.

Were you mistaken? x(

[Just Me]

43. Okay. I found them -------- -------------- ------------- > here

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=6398

Meeting with Gold Star Families on the 15th



http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/6/9/164632/9662

",...on Thursday, a week from today, I will be holding a hearing with my Democratic colleagues to begin to hear evidence about the DSM. We will have a number of witnesses, including Joe Wilson, who frequent readers here already know is a WMD expert and former Ambassador; Ray McGovern, a 27-year CIA analyst; Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq; and John Bonifaz, a renowned Constitutional attorney. At the conclusion of the hearing, we will go to Lafayette Park and I will personally deliver your signatures to the White House."

The hearing will be on the 16th.

[seabeyond]

2. as much as these people in washington, think they are in the know

unfortunately, listening to them the last couple years, i am surprised how often they dont seem to know what is up. pretty evident with michael moore movie. but then conyers was in it and was honest and seems to have left an impression on him. look how much he seems in the know

i think it bats up against these peoples ego

kerry will often seem to not get it, hear and then get it. then he seems to going back to ego thinking he knows, only to not listen again

and it seems to be creeping up on all these people, how much information they dont have. and just how much bush lies

not this isnt a post of a person, sittin in the middle of nowhere thinking i am smarter than washington. i think that is just what naturally happens when a person sits themselves in side of a box. and i often feel washington does that

dean is listening. our emails work with him. dean keep mouthing off. he comes out and says, the people told me to keep mouthing off.

boxer on jan 6 listened.

but that takes a lot of work for these people. yet, it is a good thing

[kittenpants]

3. this is too good to be true!

which Ohio fraud scandal? coins or voting?

[MelissaB]

15. Both! See this thread and many discussions in ER&D.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x377370


and: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x377204

[mike_c]

4. sadly, I'm not ready to share your optimism yet...

...although I'd certainly like to be proved wrong. Bush's political fortunes might indeed be crumbling. The media is another matter-- the last several years have proven that the corporatization of major media has placed their interests in conflict with the mission Americans depended upon an independent media for in the past, and in particular during the latter half of the last century. That media-- the media whose job was to ferret out the truth about what was happening in the world and in America, and report it-- that media is largely gone. The corporate profit machine that replaced it like a pod person will NEVER embrace that mission again. There's simply more money to be made shoveling horseshit and infotainment than in serving up broadsides, and the MSM is all about money-- everything else is just "content."

[mrdmk]

33. Unfortunately, you are correct on this subject

U.S.A. has a track record of having lousy media since day one (1776). On the other hand corruption matters do come out to the light of day and a lot of people make and intelligent judgment on these scandals. Like most things, being tenacious and patient at the same time does work.

[Coexist]

6. On your Dean comment

"Oh and Howard Dean just called a united press conference in Ohio on the fraud scandal."

do you have a link?

Also, MSNBC anchor talking about Dean "controversy" actually put Dean's quotes in the correct context. I was very impressed.

[Just Me]

7. I do hope this reaches the scale it deserves.

The American people have been betrayed, defrauded, manipulated and exploited by the Bushco/neocon cabal.

I look forward, with great optimism, to the DSM hearing. The corporate war-profiteering network must be broken on behalf of the best interests of our people and the people of this great world.

If that corporate war-profiteering network is defeated, such will be a victory for humanity.

[LightningFlash]

8. May not be Congressman "Sessions", but Freedom Fries just gave up...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1849225

Congressman is putting a timetable to get out of Iraq now, actually said out loud "I feel misled and betrayed." !

Continued on MSNBC/C-SPAN "This Week" show.

[Just Me]

12. .

:cry: it's been so damn hard to just watch this whole situation evolve,...like all we could do is just keep screaming in the dark,...and I am really REALLY glad that we did keep screaming,...but, it's been rough to witness the betrayal.

[Oversea Visitor]

48. n/t

:hug:

[Windy]

13. and he said the word neo-con specifically

maybe there is hope!!!

[cthrumatrix]

9. if there is honest intent...expect MAJOR distractions....MAJOR

[LightningFlash]

10. Agreed. Which is why we need to be real active this week.

[wryter2000]

17. Michael Jackson

They're expecting a verdict this week. Maybe on Thursday? What do you want to bet KKKarl is trying to get the jury foreman's phone number?

[salin]

11. rove mutters *curses on Sensenbrenner*

because his antics last week were so egregious that they got coverage and folks will be watching subsequent hearings with an eye towards abuse by committee chair.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. You mean the repukes are actually going to join Conyers at the hearing?

I'll believe it when I see it.

Howard Dean called a united press conference in Ohio on which fraud scandal. For what? The vote fraud or the missing Unemployment compensation $$$?

[LightningFlash]

19. Both unfortunately. Ohio is a quagmire.

[librechik]

25. probably just to shut them down

if the past is any indication

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. Last I heard, Sensenbrenner told the House Dems that they could not

use the hearing room for anymore of their business. I find it interesting that NOW, after that statement, the repukes are joining the hearing with the Dems? and in light of what happened at the Patriot Act hearing, it's even more baffling to me.

[Pikku]

39. Perhaps the Dems could move their hearings to the Capitol Steps?

:)

[wryter2000]

16. Oh boy

:popcorn:

I watched all the Watergate hearings. I think this is going to be very much like that. It's a criminal shame that things had to come to this to get rid of Whistle Ass -- all the people who had to die. But hell, we didn't cause it. We tried to stop it. So, now I'm going to sit back and enjoy the show.

Liberate this, blood suckers! :mad:

[AuntiBush]

20. It's "$215 Million Dollars" in Coin-Gate, not $50 Million according to

the Toledo Blade which has it "wrong."

Go here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/coin_politics

And reported in the Baltimore Sun Newspaper this past week.

[mrdmk]

40. Actually there are two problems with money Ohio

1) The investment into coins from the Workers Compensation Fund.

2) The investment into a Hedge Fund from the Workers Compensation Fund.


This whole problem in Ohio can be confusing I agree.

[Lorien]

21. WRITE to the media

call who you can. Let them know that we, the people, see this as a story of critical importance.

[mrdmk]

22. This is on the front page (A01) of the Washington Post

Please confirm.

<snip>
Memo: U.S. Lacked Full Postwar Iraq Plan
Advisers to Blair Predicted Instability

By Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 12, 2005; Page A01

A briefing paper prepared for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his top advisers eight months before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq concluded that the U.S. military was not preparing adequately for what the British memo predicted would be a "protracted and costly" postwar occupation of that country.

The eight-page memo, written in advance of a July 23, 2002, Downing Street meeting on Iraq, provides new insights into how senior British officials saw a Bush administration decision to go to war as inevitable, and realized more clearly than their American counterparts the potential for the post-invasion instability that continues to plague Iraq.
<end of snip>

link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/11/AR2005061100723.html


Here is the Londay Sunday Times claiming that the British Government had to fix the intelligence around the policy

<snip>
Ministers were told of need for Gulf war ‘excuse’
Michael Smith
MINISTERS were warned in July 2002 that Britain was committed to taking part in an American-led invasion of Iraq and they had no choice but to find a way of making it legal.

The warning, in a leaked Cabinet Office briefing paper, said Tony Blair had already agreed to back military action to get rid of Saddam Hussein at a summit at the Texas ranch of President George W Bush three months earlier.

The briefing paper, for participants at a meeting of Blair’s inner circle on July 23, 2002, said that since regime change was illegal it was “necessary to create the conditions” which would make it legal.
<end of snip>

link
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1650822,00.html


Congress needs to run for cover considering their collective poll numbers are in the basement. I really mean to say what does it take to point out we have a bunch of bad apples in the White House?

edit: formatting and other supid mistakes.

[LightningFlash]

23. The $215 million scandal is in the newest NY Times article too...

[Just Me]

24. Will you post the MSNBC link, please?

Has anyone else published about the congressional hearings?

[rodeodance]

26. does this mean some Repug will be Chairman instead of Conyers?--I

am confused.

[Just Me]

28. Have you spotted any announcements consistent with this?

I don't see any. I am confused, too.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

30. Gold Star Families for Peace will be meeting with members of Congress

Members of Gold Star Families for Peace will be meeting with members of Congress on 15 June, 2005 to demand that each individual member act in accordance with his/her conscience, integrity, courage and duty as employees of America sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and abide by its contents.

GSFP believes that the so-called Downing Street Memo is the "smoking gun" proof that is a validation of the fact that the invasion/occupation of Iraq is based on deceit and prefabricated intelligence. We believe that lying to Congress and the American people is traitorous and constitutes "high crimes and misdemeanors" and are impeachable offenses.

We will be calling on members of the House of Representatives to begin a Resolution of Inquiry into the memo as first step to introducing Articles of Impeachment against George Bush, Dick Cheney and everyone in the Cabinet who also lied. It is not only the House’s obligation and duty as sworn elected officials to do so, it is also their responsibilities as members of humanity. GSFP members have had valuable, loved and indispensable loved ones murdered for the deceits of this Executive Branch of our government.

GSFP believes that our loved ones have died needlessly, senselessly, and avoidably in the aggression against Iraq. We would like to see someone held accountable for the irresponsible deaths of American forces as well as tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens.

GSFP will be holding a press-conference before we visit Congress in the morning on June 15th. Time and place TBA. Pleace call contact for more info. Contact: Cindy Sheehan 707-365-7750 [e-mail] www.afterdowningstreet.org

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=6398

Maybe this was what MSNBC was talking about?

[Just Me]

31. A meeting is hardly "congressional hearings".

Did the OP accidently inflate what was announced? Did MSNBC misreport? :shrug: I don't know but suggesting that congressional hearings will be taking place is quite a seed of disinfo if it isn't true.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

34. June 16 is Rep. Conyers Memogate hearing...

maybe they are being sloppy and combining the two?:shrug:

on edit : link

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/061005X.shtml

[Just Me]

37. Okay. Where is the link about the 16th "hearing".

I just want to make sure I am clear about what is happening, when.

[WilliamPitt]

35. Is it the 15th or the 16th?

[Hubert Flottz]

36. It's about time the country had some good news!

Maybe we all should just stop paying the cable companies for a while and quit watching until the media wakes up! It would be a very easy way to fight back...almost painless in fact. Better than paying for something that just sits there and lies to you 24/7! Your TV has become your family lying machine, thanks to saint Ronzo Reagan and his greedy GOPer hordes, deregulating!

Does every household in the US need to pay their good honest hard earned bucks, for a stinkin' lying machine? I guess the people who thrive on being misled by the misleaders couldn't do without their lying machines even for one day. Why are we always, paying these big huge prices for 'some-*-thing', that just stands there and lies into every family living room in the country? You can't even trust the Wild Eyed, panhandling, political Preachers on the damned Gawd channels anymore!

And what do we tell the children who see these people on TV lying all the time? Do we tell them it's okay to lie like the pResident and all those people on FOX do day in and day out?

What ever happened to that old Sunday School lesson, "Honesty Is The Best Policy"??? Now there's a rare "MORAL FAMILY VALUE" for ya!

[rodeodance]

41. did msnbc mess up and say Congress instead of Democratics ??

what is going on with this?

[rodeodance]

44. it is the 16th--this is from his blog website

Hearing on DSM
Signatures to be Delivered to White House Thursday

Read about it at DailyKos.

[LightningFlash]

47. No idea if Sensenbrenner will be there or not.

But evidently it will be a hearing.