Talk Walker

I am so disheartened and disgusted at the Senate’s passage of “The Military Commissions Act of 2006,” I almost have nothing to say. I expected as much of the Republicans. How could they accept President Bush’s back-door fundraising and not give him their pounds of flesh, but what about the Democrats?

How so-called Democrats Carper (Del.), Johnson (S.D.), Landrieu (La.), Lautenberg (N.J.), Lieberman (Conn.), Menendez (N.J), Nelson (Fla.), Nelson (Neb.), Pryor (Ark.), Rockefeller (W. Va.), Salazar (Co.), and Stabenow (Mich) can hold their heads up and ask their constituents to re-elect them is beyond me.

Their sell-out has really put American voters between a rock and hard place. All we have been hearing since the campaign season began, is how only a Democratic majority can change the direction of our country. Now it looks like these Turncoats actually like the status quo, and are capable and willing to carry the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld’s water, and clear the way for the ill-wind that is blowing in the White House.

Batten down the hatches and CYA.

One of the main problems I have with President Bush insisting on being able to torture “known terrorists” has to do with the foundation of his assertion the people in custody are indeed terrorists.

It has already been established the U.S. had questionable and faulty intelligence regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, and the possiblity of a Post-War insurgency, not to mention the Bush Administration ignored intelligence regarding Al Queda activity pre-9/11. Yet, they insist on being able to use torture on “known terrorists” currently in custody to glean information that would ”protect the American people,” and  forgiveness for “techniques” already executed.

While it is possible there are some known terrorists, it is just as likely some are someone’s uncle, brother, father or grandfather who got caught in a massive “sweep,” when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan.  The former have been in custody for approximately four years, so their information is already dated and limited, and the latter should not be forced to surrender their human rights because the President has a right to know. There have already been new articles of a Canadian, American film-maker and AP photographer who were arrested and held in military/CIA custody for at least five months, as possible Al Queda operatives.

Given this Adminstration’s track record with intelligence (both personal and military), we should not give them permission to torture anybody, nor should we forgive any past mistakes and misjudgements.

 This is America.

Recent polls indicate the public’s desire for a change in the way our government is run, and the policies it is putting forward. Recent generic polls, which ask likely voters if they would vote for a nameless Democrat or a Republican in November reveal a strong Democratic tendency. The best case scenario for Progressives comes from  a September 9-10 Gallup poll which shows a 53%-41% Democratic lead. The worst case shows a neck and neck of 48%-48%.

In Senatorial races Democratic challengers are gaining substantial leads over Republican incumbents, which is historically highly unusual. For example, in Pennsylvania where Rick Santorum had been targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) early in the race, State Treasurer Robert Casey Jr. leads 47%-43%. A more surprising case is in Montana, where Jon Tester is ahead of Conrad Burns, 52%-43% (Then again, considering both Republicans just made the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington “20 Most Corrupt Congressmen” list, it should not come as much of a shock).  Even in Ohio, Congressman Sherrod Brown is ahead of Senate incumbent Mike Dewine.

Finally, depending on the poll, there are up to 40  vulnerable Republican seats, half of which were considered secure a year ago. In any other year, this would be reason for celebration, premature or not. However, with fresh memories of Ohio in 2004, and Florida in 2000, there is plenty of reason to be especially concerned about paperless, electonic voting. 

Investigative journalist Brad Friedman (who I heard speak at a panel at Democracy Fest last July) of bradblog.com/ is advocating concerned voters to contact their Senators or Representative to initiate and pass Emergency Paper Ballot Legislation. This would ”require Emergency Paper Ballots be made available at the polls during this November’s general election,” and could be known as the Let America Vote Act! 

I agree with Brad’s concern, given this year’s primary election meltdowns and train wrecks that have been reported since March 7th of this year, where electronic voting machines failed to start up or froze, and thousands of American voters who were turned away when they came to vote. Paper ballot voting has never been more integral to a bona fide election, especially considering VelvetRevolution’s new Princeton Diebold Virus Hack report which demonstrated conclusively electronic voting machines could  be hacked in a minute’s time resulting in “flipped” elections without any evidence of tampering.

With companies such as Diebold involved in our elections, it is imperative that we make sure everyone is allowed to vote, and every vote is counted. You can find your senator’s contact numbers and email at senate.gov. Representatives may be located at house.gov, along with their contact numbers.

It is no longer enough to vote, unless we are sure each vote is counted.

Last night I went to an impressive indie film about our American Soldier’s experience in Iraq, and how it has affected them personally and psychologically. The Ground Truth is a documentary that addresses how our military prepares our soldiers for war, by conditioning them to be able to kill anyone under any circumstance. The military’s logic is this is for their own survival; otherwise they won’t come home.

But the reality of this theory put in action in Iraq is any circumstance includes killing women, children and young and old men who pose no threat. The film depicts some innocent Iraqi civilians being shot as if they were target practice, or as a way of “cooling down” like one walks a horse after a fast run. Once the soldiers make the connection of killing someone who was not a threat, they struggle internally with what they have done, and what else they might do while they are in that arena.The Ground Truth explores the cause and full effect of this experience on our soldiers’ psyches, which is not pretty and painful to say the least.

“Who we are when we leave, is not who we are, if and when  and if we are lucky to return.” Sean Huze, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

Producer and Director Patricia Foulkrod said, “I produced and directed THE GROUND TRUTH so we could start talking about what really happens in war - the fact that people kill and get killed; the realities of the thousands who are injured and have to live out their days in pain and suffering long after the conflict is gone - long after the faces of the “bad guys” are gone.”

Former Army Specialist, Aiden Delgado, addresses how many Americans support the troops in a cursory fashion with yellow “Support Our Troops” stickers on their cars. He says if you really want to support them “Honor the veterans by really listening to what they have to say.”

We didn’t have this opportunity after WWII, The Korean War or Viet Nam, and so many of those veterans live to this day with their own horror stories. We can’t do anything about that now, but we can listen to today’s veterans now with this film, and really hear what they have to say. I urge everyone reading this post to go to a screening this week-end. If that is not possible, purchase the CD and host an event during the week of October 4-11.

Then, think about if you agree with or oppose what this Adminstration is doing and what “Staying the course” really means to our soldiers and their families. If you oppose it, what you are willing to do to stop it?