WilliamPitt's report on the PDA/CodePINK DSM Rally

[Kevin Spidel]

Conyers At the Gate
By William Rivers Pitt
Monday 20 June 2005

"I was in Washington yesterday at the rally and at the Conyers hearings. And since I laid a heavy statement on you last week, I just wanted to make a correction. It's finally over. My despair is over. Something has happened these last ten days that has revived the antiwar issue. I won't say how optimistic I am. But something is coming together--you can feel it."
- Anti-war activist, as reported in The Nation Magazine, June 19, 2005

After almost a thousand days of marching, organizing, screaming and shouting over the illegal and unjustified invasion and occupation of Iraq, a day of change long awaited finally came. With the suddenness of a windstorm at sea, this nation's capitol was swept up in a large, loud and defiant chorus of demands on Thursday, June 16th, that the Bush-maintained status quo of violence, disinformation and despair in Iraq must change, and must change now.

Several things happened at once. Rep. Maxine Waters formed an 'Out-of-Iraq' Caucus, made up of 50 House members, whose sole purpose was to push the Bush administration to plan and execute a withdrawal of American forces of Iraq. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, joined by Republican Rep. Walter Jones, offered legislation demanding a timetable for that withdrawal.

more...
http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/events/dsm-hearing-rally.php

[gordianot]

1. Dare say "The beginning of the end?" n/t

[ailsagirl]

2. I feel terrible despair over the news that Congress okayed more

money for killing Iraqis...

Haven't they been LISTENING?????

:spank:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3907034

[cyberpj]

3. And that Halliburton just got another 30 million to add on to Gitmo!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050616/ts_nm/security_guantanamo_halliburton_dc

[ailsagirl]

4. It's just too much. The hope I felt after Conyer's hearing has

evaporated. All the corruption, greed, and evil are just
overwhelming me. I don't see how we'll ever dig ourselves
out from beneath this monster. We're woefully outnumbered.

[cyberpj]

6. Not only outnumbered but they're way ahead of us as far as

their "Rovian" tactics.

Owning the media allows them to instigate and focus on stories that will deflect attention from any controversay about them.

Also - I've never in my life noticed so many important issues attacked and needing attention in my life! It's as if they used buckshot to attack everything they could and we're so busy trying to respond to all the wounds we can't gain ground on healing anything.

Take heart in the Conyers hearing and his and his supporters' tenacity about the Downing Street Memo. He will not drop the ball on this. Once we get that first BIG crack (and notice, the approval numbers have been dropping for Bush) I believe it will become much easier to force it wide open and reveal all sorts of vile lies and activities. Once people start talking and whistleblowers have less fear, they're going to come out of the woodwork.

Take a break when you need one, that helps, but come back and fight because we need you!

Peace
PJ

[LightningFlash]

7. Keep focusing in on the core problem- Downing Street.

Don't forget the core problem and ignore the distractions. An illegal war, illegal invasion, billions lost....Keep on the core problem.

[cyberpj]

8. Well, it's my NEW core problem. But only because it's hot right now.

My true core problem is election fraud because no matter what we keep healing, as long as they can keep winning elections and holding onto their power we're in deep crap!

But for as long as we can keep this in front of the public, I'm ON the Downing Street stuff.

[Hapameli]

5. We need a "summer of protest". CodePinkLA will be setting the example.

All other cities should follow. Every week, peacefully protest in front of the media outlets, shaming them into reporting on this shameful administration. Force them to put you on the air (we succeeded in this at our Downing Street protest).

We've been given the opening. Now we need to act. Now is not the time to stay home and wait for someone else to stop this war and this evil administration for you.

Never has these words of Ghandi, ONE MAN WHO CHANGED HIS COUNTRY, been more true:

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

YOU!