Senate to condemn MoveOn?

[OnionPatch]

What the heck is this????!!! Senate to Condemn MoveOn?? When did they condemn the Swiftboaters when they impugned the character of John Kerry?

From my email:
This morning the Senate is expected to vote on a resolution condemning MoveOn.org.1 Can you call Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer IMMEDIATELY and ask them to vote no?

Dear MoveOn member,

This morning the Senate is expected to vote on a resolution condemning MoveOn.org.1 Can you call Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer IMMEDIATELY and ask them to vote no?

This is the same Senate that has done nothing to change President Bush's policy on Iraq. Yesterday, they couldn't even pass a bill to give soldiers enough leave with their families before redeploying.2 But they have plenty of time to crack down on folks who criticize the war. It's ridiculous, it's un-American, and it's wrong.

Call Sens. Feinstein and Boxer: Tell them this is a right-wing intimidation campaign aimed at all of us who've spoken out on the war—and every honorable Senator should stand up against it.

Here's where to call: (Note from poster: This is my senator, call senators from your states.)

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Phone: [phone]

Senator Barbara Boxer
Phone: [phone]

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSCA_1.FSCA_2&cp_id=587&id=11265-3966098-guEZfP&t=3

Republicans have been on the attack since we ran an ad last week accusing General Petraeus of betraying the public trust by "cooking the books" and presenting politicized facts to Congress.3

Why? They're flailing. Last week's Bush Administration PR blitz completely failed—the percentage of Americans favoring withdrawal from Iraq actually increased.4 Meanwhile, vulnerable Republicans are sinking lower and lower in the polls (or announcing their retirement). Bashing our ad is a way to distract the public—and intimidate war critics.

Sixteen brave Americans died in Iraq in the last week.5 The whole country is looking to Congress to stand up to Bush and get our troops out of Iraq—and instead, they're spending time on a newspaper ad!

Maybe you liked the ad. Maybe you thought we should have worded it differently.

But at its heart was a painful truth—President Bush is using General Petraeus to mislead the public about how things are going in Iraq, just like he used Colin Powell in 2003. And Republicans are trying to make sure we pay a heavy price for saying so. As strategist George Lakoff says:

MoveOn hit a nerve. In the face of truth, the right-wing has been forced to change the subject—away from the administration's betrayal of trust and the escalating tragedy of the occupation to of all things, an ad! To take the focus off maiming and death and the breaking of our military, they talk about etiquette. The truth has reduced them to whining: MoveOn was impolite. Rather than face the truth, they use character assassination against an organization whose three million members stand for the highest patriotic principles of this country, the first of which is a commitment to truth.6

They're trying to use the full force of the U.S. Senate to shut us all up. To send a message that if you speak unpleasant truths about this war, you'll pay.This is what we expect from right-wing bullies like Fox, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity. But the Senate should know better.

Call Sens. Feinstein and Boxer today: Tell them that in a democracy, we revere the truth—before generals, before presidents.

Thank you for everything you do, every day, to get the truth out.

–Eli, Justin, Wes, Nita, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Thursday, September 20th, 2007


Sources:

1. You can see the resolution text here. Absurdly, it claims that MoveOn (with hundreds of thousands of veterans and military family members among our ranks) "impugns the honor and integrity of ... all the members of the United States Armed Force.":
http://pol.moveon.org/cornyn_amendment.html?id=11265-3966098-guEZfP&t=4

2. "Effort to Shift Course in Iraq Fails in Senate," New York Times, September 19, 2007.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/washington/20cong.html?hp

3. You can read the ad text, the facts behind it, and why we ran it here:
http://pol.moveon.org/petraeus_ad.html?id=11265-3966098-guEZfP&t=5

4. "Poll: Most Say Bush Iraq Plan Falls Short" CBS News, September 17, 2007.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2978&id=11265-3966098-guEZfP&t=6

5. iCasualties.org

6. George Lakoff. "Whose Betrayal?" Huffington Post, September 15, 2007.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2974&id=11265-3966098-guEZfP&t=7


Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:

http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=11265-3966098-guEZfP&t=8

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

[BushOut06]

1. I will gladly K&R

Fucking chickenshits in Congress. They don't have the backbone to challenge Bush over his illegal war, but they can sure crack down on MoveOn.Org. What a waste of fucking time.

[AndyA]

2. This is just total bullshit. We have troops dying in an illegal war, and the Senate

has time for THIS BULLSHIT?

What the hell is going on, Harry? Get control of the Senate, or step down and allow someone with BALLS to run things for a change!

:mad:

[bryant69]

3. Well the republicans are filibustering every significant piece of legislation

That frees up a lot of time. Oh and Harry Reid is a damn fine senate majority leader.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[The Vinyl Ripper]

7. I honestly don't understand why the Dems..

Don't let the Reps just filibuster away..

Eventually the public will get the point..

[AndyA]

11. Well, you couldn't prove Harry is a damn fine Majority Leader by me.

He is supposed to be in control. There are things he can do regarding the GOP filibustering, but he isn't doing them. What about the nuclear option?

The Dems are in control of both houses of Congress. They control what makes it to the floor. They can just refuse to allow ANY GOP bills to the floor until the GOP agrees to stop filibustering and pass some of the bills the Dems want passed.

There is more than one way to make things happen, and the Dems should know by now that the GOP isn't going to cooperate no matter what, so it's time to fight fire with fire.

From what I've seen, Bush/GOP are still mostly getting what they want. Where's the opposition?

[Nite Owl]

17. That's exactly what I have been asking

He's the majority leader so don't let any of their amendments etc come to the floor. So what if they filibuster everything nothing is getting done anyway.

As long as people accept whatever comes from their mouths as truth this will go on, they figure we will believe the small majority bull. I find it insulting.

[meegbear]

4. You heard correct, oh great one ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3534734&mesg_id=3534734

[KansDem]

5. Hey, Senators! YOU might have been bamboozled by the Pricktator in his lust for war...

But don't think that kind of crap will work on us out here in America!

[Hissyspit]

6. Wow. Absolutely fucking pathetic of them on a grotesque scale.

It didn't even call Petraeus 'Betrayus.' There was a question mark at the end.

So they are going to tell American citizens that they can't use the PRESS to question their government's actions?

What a joke we have become.

[AuntPatsy]

8. God, enough is enough, don't they realize how stupid they look anymore when

they issue statements such as this considering what has come at any and all democratic individuals? They have got to be kidding.

[Beelzebud]

9. Any Democrat that votes for this POS bill needs to be removed from the party.

[marmar]

10. They can't approve a resolution to give troops relief and begin and end to this Iraq mess.....

and they can't approve a measure to give residents of Washington DC the ability to be fairly represented....
and they can't give children health insurance coverage....
BUT they can condemn an organization for exercising its right to free speech?

Good gawd I can't stand what this country has become..... :mad:

[BattyDem]

12. Anyone who votes for this does not understand the Constitution they swore to uphold.

First amendment ... remember that? :eyes:

The Dem response to this POS should be: "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

[tom_paine]

22. But it won't be. It won't be their response.

This bill will easily pass, and I would guess that the vote will be roughly 66-34 or so.

[wtmusic]

13. Busy...I got through on Feinstein's FAX:

[phone]

[budibudinski]

14. Can we submit a list of GOP organizations that may also fall under

the same category as Moveon.org?

As this campaign progresses we will see the Right also come out with their sponsored orgs. Is the Senate prepared to censor them also?

This is a case of free speach & as stated above, right wing sponsored intimidation.
That's it.
This pisses me off. Let the fight begin!

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

15. How lost in the rabbit hole can these folks get?

Will Dan Rather report on this?

[Skidmore]

16. As I said earlier...

"Six monkeys upside down in an airplane flying backwards???"....

What more can we expect?

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. I saw dumb ass Cornyn with his dumb ass resolution yesterday on the floor. That resolution isn't

going ANYWHERE unless he agrees to amend it to include the Swiftboating of John Kerry and Max Cleland...DICK DURBIN said so.:) Barbara Boxer said she's writing up her own resolution to counter the Cornyn resolution. Knowing the Dems though, the Cornyn resolution will go through as written...we shall see.:(

Cornyn's dumb ass excuse for NOT letting his resolution be amended was because Petraeus wasn't in politics :rofl: and was only fighting for our country and Kerry and Cleland were running for political office so Swiftboating is to be expected because they put themselves in the situation. Poor Mr. WH mouthpiece Petraeus didn't put himself in that situation!:crazy: He's such a piece of crap. If Petraeus isn't a mouthpiece for the WH, I'll eat my right leg.

[BattyDem]

23. He's a political appointee!

He was appointed by * and confirmed by the Senate. As far as I'm concerned, the moment he accepted a political appointment, he was in politics!

[w8liftinglady]

27. i called Cornyn out for yesterday's amendment failure in my ltte

Our Republican senators have yet again shown how they “support our troops.” Both Senator Cornyn and Senator Hutchison voted “no” to the Webb-Hagel Amendment today. For those of you who are unaware, this amendment would have assured that:

1. Units and individuals in the Armed Forces be certified as “fully mission capable” 15 days prior to deployment


2. Limits the length of overseas deployments of the Army, Marine Corps and National Guard

3. Establishes a minimum time between deployments for the Army, Marine Corps and National Guard

4. Provides additional appropriations totaling approximately $3.1 billion to reset Army National Guard and Reserve equipment and to address funding shortfalls for Army National Guard training, operations and maintenance
5. Requires the president to report to Congress on the comprehensive diplomatic, political and economic strategy of the U.S. regarding Iraq

Although some Republicans put partisanship aside in the best interest of our military, our senators did not, and the amendment failed 56-44.
This is the second time our Senate has tried to get this amendment passed.I find it particularly disturbing that John Cornyn serves on the Senate Armed Services committee,and,according to his resume,has been instrumental in Mental health care and Traumatic Brain injury aid for our active duty and retired troops.Failure to pass this amendment will perpetuate these problems,and shows how important it is for these senators to follow party line,rather than support our troops
.There is an election coming up in 2008.Who are you going to vote for?

[flyarm]

19. DOES ANYONE HAVE THE kpete LINK THAT SOLDIERS SAID bETRAYUS FIRST?

THANKS..

FLY

[Junkdrawer]

21. Here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1843316

[The Count]

20. Meanwhile, freepers are invited to the White House - cuz throwing acid on

waitresses who report the underage twins drinking is patriotic
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1848841

[PA Democrat]

24. I called both my Senators.

What a waste of the Senate's time.

[flyarm]

25. JUST CALLED bOXER'S OFFICE AND SAID OUR SOLDIERS CALLED PETREAUS ..BETRAY US FIRST..AS PER KPETE

THREAD..bARBARA BOXER'S OFFICE HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS .. and asked how they could get this info..i steered him to Kpete's thread..please when you call tell them about this!!..they didn't know!! and they need to know..now i will call the repig senators and let them know as well!

thanks kpete!!


KPETE POSTED THIS THREAD..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1843316

MoveOn.org Didn't Invent BetrayUs- The Troops Did!
MoveOn.org Didn't Invent BetrayUs- The Troops Did!

.....

.....the origins of the nickname "Betrayus".

Many people are falsely assuming that "Betrayus" was a clever rhyme made up by Moveon.org for the New York Times ad. Which I think is a key assumption for this ad controversy to work for the republicans.

And that assumption is false. The nickname did not originate with Moveon.org.

I clearly remember reading Petraeus's nickname on various military forums/comment threads over two years ago. I remember it so because I thought it was very clever and suitable nickname. In the past couple of months, I have also started seeing the nickname used on progressive blogs and comments.

.....................

Here's a comment from 2005:

FromBLACKFIVE: Generals of yesterday and today
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2005/11/generals_of_yes.h...

I don't know GEN Petraeus personally...but when I was in the "Devil Brigade" folks called him "Colonel Betrayus". He came up with things like the "Devil button" (button your BDU collar up to the top when on jumps) and the "Devil grip" (special name for keeping your trigger finger out of the trigger well) which sounded hokey to most of the troops at the time.

Can any other All American paratroopers out there expand on my comment?

Posted by: TBone | November 19, 2005 at 10:52 AM

..............

Update: Terre in the comments has a great find:

From the Times Online

Americans doubt ‘General Betraeus’ over troop surge (8/19/07):

AFTER being hailed as King David, the potential saviour of Iraq, the US commander General David Petraeus is facing a backlash in advance of his report to Congress in September on the progress of America’s troop surge.

Critics, including one recently retired general, are privately calling him "General Betraeus" on the grounds that he is too ambitious to deliver a balanced report on the war.

Lawrence Korb, a defence official under Ronald Reagan who is now at the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think tank, said Petraeus was regarded as "the most political general since General (Douglas) Mac-Arthur", a reference to the second world war hero who was touted as a possible president.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/articl...

and more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/9/18/215826/698


ALSO; POSTED BY The Vinyl Ripper

http://balkin.blogspot.com/2007_01_07_balkin_archive.ht...

Incidentally, I offer the following sidenote about General Petraeus, by almost all accounts an enormously accomplished man: A student of mine at the UT Law School, who had had combat experience in both Afghanistan and Iraq, referred to him as "General Betrayus" because of what was thought to be his inordinate interest in good publicity (and presumed self-promotion) rather than concern for his troops. I have no idea whether this is fair, but I do know that this is what my sober and thoughtful student told me.

[Coexist]

26. they have time to do this shit? UNREAL

what the fuck.

[earth mom]

28. This is the STUPIDEST thing I've ever heard. They haven't the time to Impeach the REAL CRIMINALS

but they have the time for this shit?! :wtf:

[robinlynne]

29. Don't worry about Senator Boxer. She is a true democrat! But Feinstein...we need

to get rid of her. We cannot allow her to saty in office another term. never again. I am committed to her removal from office next election. Any other californians ready to work hard for this? She voted against moveon. She voted against the FISA courts. She singlehandedly was the swing vote more than once placing republican legislation in place. We need a replacement candidate, and we need to work hard for that person.

[Swamp Rat]

30. What the heck was it???

STUPID!!!!!