Decision 2006: Why This Year Will Be A Watershed (For Better Or For Worse)

[Plaid Adder]

I went to a New Year's Eve party last night where people were talking about whether 2006 will be better or worse than the rampantly sucky 2005. Here is my take on that:

2006 may be good or it may be bad, but it will be very important. That's precisely because so much stuff has come out in 2005 about what the current government is doing. OK, so now it's public. What will make us or break us as a nation is whether or not it matters.

Because...

--If our fellow-Americans now know that Bush and his advisors lied and cheated in order to get us embroiled in a disastrous foreign war which continues to kill Americans and drain the treasury without any forseeable end in sight...and it doesn't matter,

--If they know that Bush's team was willing to jeopardize national security in order to out an undercover CIA agent in order to prop up what they have as good as admitted was a bullshit case for war in Iraq...and it doesn't matter,

--If they now know that Bush gave the NSA the authority to spy on any Americans who were making overseas calls, without any legal justification...and it doesn't matter,

--If they know that Bush admitted in public to having done something illegal and unconstitutional, and proudly plans to go on doing it because nobody has the power to stop him...and it doesn't matter,

--If they know that our government is fighting to preserve what they appear to believe is their right to torture...and it doesn't matter,

--If they know that the party that currently controls both houses of Congress and the executive branch is corrupt to the core and using our tax money to line their pockets and the pockets of the industries who pay the lobbyists whose bitches they have all become...and it doesn't matter,

--If they know that our President believes that whatever he does is legal whether or not it is consistent with the actual laws of our country, the Constitution, or basic human rights...and it doesn't matter,

then they would rather have a dictatorship than a democracy, and in that case, we are all screwed.

So either things get a lot better in 2006...or they are going to get much, much worse.

Let us hope for better,

The Plaid Adder

[Upfront]

1. Well Said.

I hope your thoughts get passed on to America.

[Strawman]

2. That pretty much sums it up

I'm a pessimist. I don't think swing voter types will give a rat's ass until it affects them personally in the pocketbook. They probably won't turnout in 2006. It's just a matter of turning out enough people to win "competitive" races. In 2004, 96% of House races were not competitive. The game is rigged by GOP redistricting.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Gee, might as well not even bother to vote?

Attitude is half the battle and with attitudes like yours we will never win anything.

Open your eyes. These bastards are going down. Indictments are coming are them from every direction and folks like Abramoff and Causey are going to jail even with a plea deal. These plea deals mean that the prosecutors in these investigations are going after the politicians and probably Bush and his top administration. I think we are going to see a lot of resignations in the near future, with Rove being among the first. The only thing that they think can get them out of this is another MIHOP event and even then it will be their end anyway.

Hang in there. I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Johnny Noshoes]

5. I've gotta agree with you.

Yeah we have some obstacles in our path but nobody ever said that democracy was easy. You have to fight for it every day and you cannot win battles without the right mind set. We can't be pollyannas but with a positive attitude and the will to fight the battle can be won. We pick up our swords, mount our horses and do battle with the dark forces because we must there is no other choice. To paraphrase Aragorn from "Return of The King":

The day may come when the courage of America fails,
when we forsake our heritage of freedom and break faith with
those who have fought to defend those freedoms against
all enemies, foreign and domestic.

But it is not this day.

The day may come when America believes the lies of the
Wormtongues who speak of "phantoms of lost liberties" while
jailing people without hearings and limiting dissent to
designated First Amendment zones.

But it is not this day.

The day may come when Americans no longer hold their
constitutional birthright so dear that they will pledge
their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to defend it.

But it is not this day.

This day, we fight.

We fight to take our country back.

Will you join us?

[Gronk Groks]

10. I WILL NOT SURRENDER MY FREEDOM....

...not today, not tomorrow, not ever. If it comes down to it, to paraphrase the NRA:

"I will give up my freedoms when you pry my cold, lifeless fingers off the trigger..."

Consider THAT you wiretapping NSA fascists !!!

[petgoat]

21. The World Can't Wait

Silence and paralysis are NOT acceptable.
That which you will not resist and mobilize
to stop, you will learn-—or be forced-—to
accept.


http://www.worldcantwait.net/

[madokie]

6. Somehow, someone will be the catalyst to save our country

I just feel it deep down and I don't think it's the arthritis this time either. These bastards are going down for sure. My hope is to still be around to witness it.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. It's not going to be someONE this time

there will be no knight in shining armor or messiah to come save us. We have to save ourselves. That is what the second coming is all about.

[glitch]

17. It's going to be EVERYBODY. And it's lovely to see the numbers growing.

Nobody likes fascists, not even other fascists.

Happy New Year!:party:

[petgoat]

22. There is not going to be some savior from the Democratic Party.

This whole idea of putting our hopes and energies into "leaders"
who tell us to seek common ground with fascists and religious
fanatics is proving every day to be a disaster, and actually serves
to demobilize people.

http://www.worldcantwait.net/

[julianer]

28. We are the leaders n/t

[Strawman]

26. My attitude is fine

We'd better do something to make elections matter in this country, or else voting is a waste of time. That's what I'm saying. 96% of House races were non-competitive in 2004. That's a statistic you'd expect out of some totalitarian regime. We'd better win control of enough state legislatures to fix all the gerrymandered districts that have artifically boosted the GOP House majority. And I'm not even talking about Diebold here. They don't need Diebold's help in winner take all districts that they draw.

Turning out our base of voters in off year elections like this one, taking control of State Legislatures, that's what will change things. Not waiting for the people to "wake up." Who's going to wake them up? The media? The same people who sat on the domestic spying story during the last campaign. The same people who will be saying this is "old news" in a week when they put the next runaway bride at the top of the news agenda.

[Joyce]

37. Who are those guys???

Who are the prosecutors? Are they controlled by the Attorney General? Does Gonzales have the right to determine how far the prosecutors can go in their efforts to get to the bottom of so much corruption? Even if a couple of Dems have to suffer, if they've benefitted from Abramoff's crimes, then I want them to be punished, as well.

[SupplyConcerns]

4. Natural gas prices this winter

Could maybe, just maybe, prove the kick in the pants that some Americans need. Ironically, things like energy prices are the least Bush's fault, but he'll take the most heat for them.

[MelissaB]

7. This is what I've been thinking but could never say it the way you do.

Thank you!

:kick:

[annabanana]

8. That's it PA......(but)

We are truly on the fulcrum of history...
Which is why I keep freaking on the voting machines...

I trust the American People, given their voice, can get us out of this mess..... IF THEIR VOICE MATTERS.

Please, everyone, Keep abreast of the machines in your states and counties, for the sake of the country..

[Higans]

18. Agreed, Touch screens SUCK!

We the people keep saying that we are gonna win by voting them out. I ask how when they rig the vote every time?

I don't believe the country is split down the center. I don't believe Bush got 51%. I don't believe Bush got 49%. I don't believe bush got 40%,or even 25% of the vote. I don't believe there was anything even close to a moment of accountability. People tell me to prove he cheated. I say Prove he didn't. People say prove that Kerry won. I say Prove that Bush won.

I simply don't understand how any one can continue to say "Have faith in the voting machines." you mean the same faith you have in God? Why would any sane person have the same faith in a machine as in God?

It's all BS and un checked they will just do it again and again.

www.votergate.tv
www.blackboxvoting.org
www.votescam.com

To name only a few.

Wake Up America and realize that you are in the grips of a dictatorship that We the People did not elect. A dictatorship that has used technology to seize power from the People and now tells us that we are crazy conspiracy theorist if we don't have faith in Die Bold.

Excuse me wile I vomit.

[swimboy]

11. Well said, It is good to hear from you.

I agree it is a pivotal year and all of this "new" information is out on the table. What we as a nation do in reaction is what historians will look back on as the year we saved and renewed the Republic, or shrugged and accepted a police state. I'm ready for renewal. As for the fuckers in charge I want to see a light at the end of their (metaphorical) funeral!

[PurpleChez]

12. Brava, Plaid Adder!

[robbedvoter]

13. No change if we refuse to acknowledge that elections are pasee

Unless we come to terms with the FACT that the last 3 elections are stolen, it will be again Lucy , Charlie and the football...

[SmokingJacket]

14. Yep. I was trying to make some predictions for 06...

and realized I just have no idea what this year will bring. But it will definitely be interesting. If the GOP lose the house and/or senate: wow! And if they don't... holy crap.

Thanks for another good post!

[indepat]

15. Extraordinarily well said: all your points should be obvious to all, but

to far too many, it doesn't matter a whit so I'm afraid we are all screwed.
:(

[cornermouse]

16. I think a lot of people are waking up to what's going on,

but with the media's rather conspicuous silence on the spying on Americans in their own country issue and after this morning's around the table agreement by the talking heads that basically came down to "yes, we do lose freedom in time of war but after the war's over the politicians apologize, make nice, and everyone gets happy", I'm not feeling to optimistic right now.

[Trevelyan]

24. Please write to Newsweak to object to their arguing if bush should be king

== NEWSWEEK’s Richard Wolffe will take your questions on the NSA domestic

spying program, Wednesday, Jan. 4, at noon ET
Enter your City and State

Enter Question

==http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10663996/site/newsweek/

Newsweek: Blissfully Ignorant of the Constitution
by Armando
Sun Jan 01, 2006 at 05:48:30 PM PDT
"When the Media wonders why bloggers have a great deal of contempt for them, I like to point out stories like this one in Newsweek. This story shows such a lack of understanding of the Constitution, our system of government and history that you wonder if anyone at Newsweek could pass a citizenship test. Look how idiotically Evan Thomas and Daniel Klaidman frame the illegal domestic surveillance by the Bush Administration - done in the face of an express prohibition enacted by the Congress - FISA:
....
The debate suggested by Newsweek is whether War makes Presidents Kings? But there is no such debate. Or there never has been until the worst President in history took office. Unfortunately for us, it appears some of the worst journalists in history are sharing his tenure."

[lyonn]

27. Here in Oklahoma City some of our friends and relatives

who are repubs are complaining about bush. It's unbelievable. Could it be that they are figuring it out? Mostly it's the war news and maybe how we got in the war that bothers them. They think he is dumb, they must be picking something up in the evening news!

How can we the general public do something on polling days to help defend the vote? We use the scanner machines in our district.

[H2O Man]

19. I think that

2005 had a number of terrible things, from the war to the flood. But politically, it was a year in which democrats at the grass roots level should take some pleasure. Bush started out popular, and dropped in the polls. Libby started out powerful, and ended up indicted. Rove and Cheney have become damaged goods.

2006 will be a dynamic year for democrats.

[the911show]

20. The root of all evil

Plaid Adder's post is excellent, and sounded the alarm about
apathy in the face of all the outrageous acts of the Neocons. 
However, one act was ignored: the fake terrorist attack that
took place on September 11, 2001.  If THIS does not matter,
then it's very likely we will have another fake terrorist
attack when Bush and his cronies are backed up against the
wall.  Then they will suspend the constitution, declare
martial law, and start rounding up people they don't like
(such as us).  All of the discussion here will be for naught,
a lot of words that float away like farts in the wind.

In my work as a cab driver I meet a lot of people, and I hear
a lot of things.  Recently a woman from New York City was a
passenger in my taxi, and told me that she had been widowed in
the 9/11 attacks.  She told me that she was very angry,
because most people are gullible enough to believe the
official version of events about 9/11.  Like me, she believed
that the attacks were planned and carried out by the
government.  She told me she had two relatives with high ranks
in the military, and both of them told her the government was
behind the attacks.  She said she was thinking about moving to
another country, because of the apathy and ignorance here
about the 9/11 fake terrorist attacks.

I simply do not understand why almost all of the people from
one end of the political spectrum to the other in this country
are not opening their eyes to the true facts about 9/11.  It
doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that these
attacks were not carried out in the manner that the Bush
Administration and the Corporate Media would have us believe. 
Their conspiracy theory about 19 Arab hijackers with box
cutters simply does not hold water.  (Just for starters, six
of the named hijackers turned up alive overseas, and there are
no Arab or Arab-sounding names on the passenger manifests for
the 4 flights that were allegedly hijacked.)  I challenge
anyone to read David Ray Griffin's book, THE NEW PEARL HARBOR,
and then come back to me and tell me that they still believe
the government's conspiracy theory about the 9/11 attacks.

The 9/11 attacks are the Root of All Evil inasfar as the
current administration and their supporters and their actions.
 They use this phony event as the rationale for every
injustice they commit.  Torture is a nasty thing to do, but we
live in extraordinary times, right?  Swarthy-skinned religious
fanatics from other parts of the world attacked us on our own
soil.  Too bad about those civil liberties that went bye-bye
when the Patriot Act was passed, but we are in great danger,
are we not?  Terrorists (definition, please?) are hiding under
every rock, waiting to attack us at any minute.  What, you
don't like these wars?  Well, didn't some Muslims kill 3000 of
our citizens?  Should we not go to the Middle East and work to
dominate the whole region, so this dastardly act will never
happen again?  

We are a nation in denial.  No one wants to believe that the
Bush administration and the military would purposely commit
genocide against over 3000 US citizens on their own soil, as a
means of furthering their ends.  Even the most left-leaning
people are saying, well, we know they're bad, but they can't
be THAT bad.

The only way we can possibly prevent a second terrorist attack
is to expose the first one.

[Trevelyan]

25. 'Bomb-Like' Explosion in North Tower Basement

http://www.arcticbeacon.citymaker.com/articles/article/1518131/29079.htm



Monday, July 11, 2005

'Second WTC Janitor Comes Forward With Eye-Witness Testimony
Of 'Bomb-Like' Explosion in North Tower Basement

Jose Sanchez, while working in a sub-level 4 workshop of the
north tower on 9/11, heard a bomb-like explosion, had his hair
burned and rescued a co-worker who had his leg and knee broken
from the basement blast taking place at the same time the
jetliner struck the top floors.

..
"It sounded like a bomb and the lights went on and
off," said Sanchez in the tape recording. "We
started to walk to the exit and a huge ball of fire went
through the freight elevator. The hot air from the ball of
fire dropped Chino to the floor and my hair got burned,"
said Sanchez in the tape 
recording. "The room then got full of smoke and I
remember saying out loud "I believe it was a bomb that
blew up inside the building."'

[newyawker99]

30. Hi the911show!!

Welcome to DU!!  :toast:

[the911show]

34. Thanks Nuevayawker99

Thanks Nuevayawker99, for welcoming me.  I have almost no
experience with message boards, so I will try to figure out
the ground rules as I go along.

I hope that I have started a discussion that others will add
their thoughts to.

[Trevelyan]

23. Very powerfully statement but... People feel helpless whether they keep up

with the scandals online or the lesser number of scandals that MSM will address. Any ideas on what to do? Taking to the streets will get you biologically warfared as the Tulermia released in the last big demonstration warned. Congress including Dems have responded only with words, do they have the power or will they get anthraxed or Wellstoned?

Tactics including those used in the Resistance to Hitler need to be discussed as well as the propaganda war and pushing the media to report the truth... They have gotten better but it is not enough. keep pushing.

Please sign Rep. Conyers' Impeachment bill letter/petition.

Shameful that he still only has about 26,000 signatures when the Downing Street Memo Petition garnered 500,000 signatures. Where is everyone who has been demanding impeachment when it comes time to sign a letter/petition by a Congressperson who has stuck his neck way out to legally begin the Impeachment Inquiry process?

Please sign and post info on other sites.

Thank you.

Most Important Impeachment Petition/Letter by Rep. Conyers EVER!!

Congressman Conyers has used the Impeach-Word several times in his proposed Impeachment Inquiry and has several other members of the House of Representatives as co-sponsors but needs more and has asked for our help in signing his letter to Bush and in writing to our Congresscritters to request they support him in investigating the Bush Regime's massive illegal activities harming the American people. Please add your signature here:

http://www.johnconyers.com/ - Conyer's Action Items
http://www.conyersblog.us/

"Join me, below, in sending the:

Letter Advising the President of Censure

and

Steps to Begin Special Committee Investigation

Dear Mr. President:

We are brave, proud, patriotic citizens of the United States. We love our country and are writing to express our profound disappointment with you and your administration for your conduct surrounding the Iraq War, the collection and use of intelligence, and your disrespect for the laws of this great nation..."

[drduffy]

29. How many DU'ers are willing to walk door to door?

That is what it will take. How many are willing to risk arrest by demonstrating? Because that is what it will take. How many are willing to put the bumper stickers on their cars that truly challenge the repukes. How many are will to really push the points with relatives and friends ..... to confront others, to challenge others to think. Cause all of this is the least of what it will take.

It's nearing time for a revolution folks... and if Chimpy declares martial law.... which we all suspect the neocons Will do if need be. If somebody doesn't stand in their way. Who's gonna be the 'somebody'?

[petgoat]

33. "risk arrest by demonstrating?"

What? Has W made it illegal to demonstrate now?

Before walking door to door we need to get the idea of resistance out there.

January 8th is National Impeachment Action Day.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=25734

January 31 and Feb 4 we need to demonstrate.

http://www.worldcantwait.net/

[greiner3]

31. All that requires a media outlet that will not back down;

To Executive pressures. Will history repeat itself with the Post? Too bad Katherine had to die! And Ben had to retire.

[tmooses]

32. I think you summed it up very well. I think it is very important for

us to support progressive media-they are providing a message that has been silent for the last 10 or 20 years. But we cannot depend on any one solution-that is always our failing. There is no easy solution to the cabal that has taken over the country-no single perosn to put all our faith in. The power must come from those who become aware and active. we are at a major crossroads-are we to be a corporate controlled former democracy?

[Alva Goldbook]

35. 2005: 12 Months of Hell for the GOP.

2005 has been 12 months of agony and hell for the GOP. From scandals to indictments to resignations, the GOP has paid the price for their arrogance and lawlessness in the last 12 months. If fact, there’s been so much scandal that it’s hard to remember it all! So allow Nitwit Planet to take you on a trip through memory lane, and relive 2005.

Relive Condi Rice being shown to be nothing but a bald face liar by Senator Barbara Boxer. Find out what Education Secretary Roderick Paige said about giving Armstrong Williams $240,000 in bribes. And discover what anti-abortion activist Neal Horsley used to do down on the farm in Georgia!

That, and SO MUCH MORE can be relived at Nitwit Planet. 2005: 12 Months of Hell for the GOP

…(how’s that for cheesy commercialism?)

[Joyce]

36. Fooled Again?

And if all of the evidence demonstrating that both the 2000 and the 2004 presidential elections were illegitimate, making ALL of the Bush/Republican -led legislation, appointments, and stealth programs that they've achieved also ILLEGITIMATE... and they don't care about the privatizing of our vote, then we have truly lost everything good about our government and our nation.:yoiks:

[MrSlayer]

38. The sad thing is so many people don't even realize it's being done.

Half the country doesn't even vote and then a good portion of those that do really have no idea what's going on or are fed the lies from RW talk radio.

[Karenina]

39. The 24/7 hate spew

on your airwaves is VERY unhealthy.

Superb, PA!!! :hi: :loveya: :hi:

[Fortunato]

40. Law of Intertia: What is at rest, stays at rest

>...then they would rather have a dictatorship than a democracy, and in that case, we are all screwed.

My personal opinion is that, unless life is somehow significantly impacted for the common person, they won't raise much clamor about Bush's policies. Everything is much too philosophical ("privacy rights") and thus easily dismissed.

I mean, half the nation voted for him in 2004 despite dissatisfaction with him. If not given a favorable alternative to Bush, people will let well enough alone.

I don't see any sort of impeachment occurring unless Congress either turns on Bush (as they did on Clinton) or some VERY disastrous immorality comes to light.

People are quick to gripe but slow to provoke where action is needed.