"Do Nothing Democrats"? READ THIS!

Trouble is, when Democrats do SOMETHING, it never gets coverage. It never gets acknowledged by the ruling party. It never sees the light of day. (And as you'll see later, THEY GET THREATS FROM THE GOP.)

Except on CSPAN. Go to this link. Scroll down (or page over) to this listing:

Senate Democratic Policy Cmte. Hearing on the Iraq War
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) chairs a Senate Democratic Policy Cmte. meeting on the planning and conduct in the War in Iraq. Major General John R.S. Batiste, U.S. Army (Ret.) and other former military officers are scheduled to testify on lessons learned and corrections that should be made going forward.
9/25/2006: WASHINGTON, DC: 2 hr. 10 min.

Nothing in the news. Nothing in the papers. But several generals who were on the ground (the ones Bush says he listens to) made some very amazing testimony.

So yes, readers. The Democrats are doing something. But the dictators in charge and their media poodles won't let you see it without jumping through hoops.

I wouldn't have known this myself if I hadn't heard it on Randi Rhodes' show today. It's truly astounding - and astonishingly ignored - testimony. I'm looking for a transcript but surprise...I'm having a hard time finding it.

UPDATE - HOLY SHIT DEPT.: You thought I was being paranoid about the coverage? The GOP is threatening retribution - let me repeat that: THREATENING RETRIBUTION if the Democrats pull that again.

THIS is why EVERYONE - yes, even you - believes that the Dems do nothing. This proves just the opposite once and for all. From The Hill:

Lott threatens the Dems

Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) is threatening to punish Democrats for using an Appropriations Committee room for an unofficial hearing on Iraq oversight if it happens again.

“They better stop this,” the Mississippi Republican said. “This will be the last one or there will be retribution.”

Lott suggested that Republicans could hold GOP-only hearings or seek other forms of payback.

But if he is looking for a culprit in abetting the Democratic Policy Committee’s (DPC) hearing yesterday, he need look no further than fellow Mississippi Republican Thad Cochran, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, who controls the Dirksen Building room that Democrats used yesterday and have used for past hearings.

“We just call and ask,” said DPC spokesman Barry Piatt, a fact confirmed by Senate Appropriations Committee spokeswoman Jenny Manley.

The DPC has held similar hearings on several issues such as Iraq reconstruction and the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, during the 109th Congress.

But Lott and other Republicans are upset that Democrats have gone outside the committee process to highlight the Iraq war before the November election.

“They’re abusing the system,” Lott said.

The use of committee rooms could be moot, as Democrats plan to take future hearings on the road.

Believe it. The GOP threatens Democrats for wanting to find out the truth about Iraq.

Take that to the bank. And for God's sake, take it to the voting booth.

We'll discuss this and more tonight in our Live Chat - 9pm ET, 6pm PT. See our homepage for details.

Comments

[t, SF, CA]

Is there ANY reasonably sure way we as mere citizens (aka, "fodder for next-gen weapons testing") can get the word out, and see that this is published - and shoved down the throats of the GOP puppets? (Is the traditional "letter to the editor" remotely enough anymore?)

[KEVIN SCHMIDT, STERLING VA]

The reason why the Dems are called the "do nothing Democrats" is because the Democratic Senators refuse to filibuster any of the Rethugs' anticonstitutional, pro corporate fascist bills, and they and the House Democrats are ineffective at getting their message out to the people.

They don't need the MSM to get their messages out to us. They can send out mailers and email, not to mention sending in letters to the editors of newspapers and posting in blogs.

The only Dems I ever see doing any of that on a regular basis are Kennedy, Kerry, Clinton, and Boxer.

Aside from that, John Conyers is the only Dem I see publishing any official findings that prove the Republicans are mismanaging the country and committing crimes.

Where were they last week when the pro-torture bill was up for debate? I saw nothing on the internet about that from Dems.

[St. Paul MN]

Screw that! I say we all send a nice letter to Mr. Lott and remind him that THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE'S ROOMS TO HOLD WHAT EVER MEETING THEY CHOOSE FIT! WHO THE HELL DO THESE REPUBLICANS THINK THEY ARE? ENOUGH ALREADY, AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THIS BULLsH**T MUCH LONGER. I DON'T CARE WHAT PARTY THESE POLITICIANS BELONG TO, FIGHTING AND THREATEN OVER WHAT ROOMS ARE BEING USED AND WHY THEY ARE MEETING, ARE WE IN HIGH SCHOOL?
IT'S A WAR AND KIDS ARE DIEING AND IT SHOULD BE TALKED ABOUT NOT ONLY IN EVERY ROOM IN DC, BUT ON EVERY STREET CORNER IN THIS COUNTRY! LETS USE OUR HEADS HERE PEOPLE AND GET OUR SELF’S OUT OF THIS MESS NOW, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE FIRST STEP IS TO GET THESE SELF RIGHTEOUS, POMPOUS, FRAUDS OUT OF WASHINGTON. EVEN IF IT MEANS WE ALL HAVE TO GO TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND TELL THE BUNCH THAT THEY ARE FIRE AND THEY MUST GO NOW! EVERY TIME I THINK I HAVE HEARD IT ALL....UNBELIEVABLE!

[Mr. Shaman]

"Is there ANY reasonably sure way we as mere citizens (aka, "fodder for next-gen weapons testing") can get the word out, and see that this is published - and shoved down the throats of the GOP puppets? (Is the traditional "letter to the editor" remotely enough anymore?)"

DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://boards.billmaher.com/showthread.php?t=50502

[Bill in Clearwater]

Senator "Hairspray" must think he's still the Senate Majority Leader, or that the fascist coup is complete already. Maybe he knows something we should know?

[vwcat]

I've been saying on postings on other blogs that the only place you can find out any info on the Democrats is Cspan. They hold press conferences every week and have talked about thier plans for different issues but, it's never carried or talked about on the networks. It's the best kept secret.
Unless you watch cspan you'd think the Democrats have said nothing about anything.
This morning on Washington Journal, Byron Dorgan, was a guest and talking about the hearings.

[rhoda]

St. Paul MN, I was also pissed at the dressing down of the women who protested torture yesterday. I think it was Spector who scolded them. These politicians conveniently forget they work for the citizens of this country. The longer they are in elective office the more imperial they act.

[donna]

Just sent Trenty a nice lil letter myself.

Be polite, kids! (oh, and pick one of the available military titles - Lott has a great selection of them...)

http://lott.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email

[Mad as Hell]

Americablog has video of the Generals testimony!

Monday, September 25, 2006

Select video from today's Democratic national security hearing
by John in DC - 9/25/2006 11:03:00 PM

All via YouTube:
Major General John Batiste

Major General Paul Eaton

Col. Thomas Hannes

Major General Batiste on Troop Strength (37 Seconds)

Major Batiste on Congress (30 Seconds)

Major Batiste on Rumsfeld (51 Seconds)

Colonel Hammes on equipment for the troops (1:01)

Major General Eaton on Rumsfeld (29 Seconds)

Comments (65) | Permanent Link |

[lugnut]

These republicans care absolutely nothing about our troops.

What they and the msm, have done, both foreign and domestic, is clear and unadulterated treason.

Their actions exposes how weak and vunerable our country really is.

Our biggest problem, media consolidation.

[lugnut]

Now this traitor from mississippi, threaten to retaliate against people holding hearing to expose to the citizenry, the pathetic non existent leadership of this administration.

[Yankee Clipper]

Thank God for Bloggers. Without you many of us would feel all is lost already!

It's good to hear from so many that feel the same way and are not afraid to speak out! I, too, am frustrated and angry - yes, ANGRY - that the media has been taken over to the point nothing is reported on the many "solutions" the Democrats have offered. The media people choose to only spout the "talking points" over and over again saying the Dems have not come up with any "ideas" - on whatever topic they are discussing. Say it over and over enough times and people will believe it is the Republican "motto" and they do live by it - with the assistance of the media and so-called "reporters" that sit at anchor desks and pretend to know what they are talking about. All empty heads and high school mentality. They are as useless as the Republicans in Congress.

Thank you for listening - I could go on all night, but I won't as I know you all get the message and have the same thoughts. Keep up the good work - we are all we have for the time being.

[Dwight Thomas Powers]

This racist Trent Lott can threaten all he wants!The words of truth, regarding the Bush Iraq War have taken some time to get out, but like the levees in New Orleans, the floods of water nor truth can be held back or covered up forever! I watched the coverage of those hearings on CSPAN and they should have been seen by all Americans of all politcal stripes. More and more highly ranked and esteemed retired officers are becoming more brave and venturuing out into the public arena to tell truth to power. One of those officers yesterday, strongly urged Senator Clinton and the others, that Congress quickly use it's subpoena power, to summon active duty officers, under oath and question them at length about the abusive to our military Donald Rumsfeld and all of his failings. The war in Iraq is a horror show, and is so, BECAUSE of Rumsfeldian and Bushevekian ignorance! The rethuglicans have held and misused unnecessary power way to long.The time is now ripe for all Americans to bring back some semblence of DEMOCRACY to our own republic, and demand that the war in Iraq be debated in both house of Congress.Our fine troops lives depend upon us all doing our duties as citizens of the USA. To those highly respected officers who appeared at that Senate hearing yesterday, I say both thank you and Semper Fidelis! I only wish there were officers of your caliber, when myself and 2.8 million others were stuck in Vietnam!

[James B.]

Thank God for C-Span, I agree. Maybe Democrats can finally turn the corner and, at minimum, create accountability. If the facts can get out, everybody wins, not just Democrats.

[Instant Karma]

Oh, Trent! Please go ahead and knock yourself out. Seems that the Dems can always steal the limelight, even without subpoena power, when they show the American people the
truth about the fiasco in Iraq. The Republican cover-up is about to end.

[MARI]

This is not a game! I am appalled that any one in our government would threat or make statements that, Make any person who speaks his mind is a traitor. This is what the constitution protects. Not a game! Resign now!

[mari]

Where the hell is this whimpy Congress! We are headed to an October surprise that may take us to nuclear death. Get rid of this congress!

[mari]

Humor aside, we are living in a time of sick people governing America! Cock roaches are governing America!

[Jeany]

I think the Dems should be thanking Lott for showing what the problem is in Washington so close to the election.

Of course, it'll be for naught if the Dems don't make something of it. The facts are on our side, but we have to shout it from the rooftops.

[lawton watson]

DONNA just followed up on Lott . I gave him a good dose of anti bigot venom . Thanks for the E-mail link !

[Scott Sanford]

The Supreme court ruled that money is a form of free speech. As a result our votes our bought by a fraudulent elections. And if there is anything at all this administrations wants, it just prints money. The money printing press has got to be taken away from these pirates or nothing will change.

[Big-Phat-Jay]

Time to throw the law-breakers out of office!!

Use the attached URL or the following link to download a groovy little George W. Bush tune by anti-conservative musician Todd Snider.

http://www.silverlinedesign.com/f-bush.html

Power To The People!!

[verifi]

Kevin got it half right:

"The reason why the Dems are called the "do nothing Democrats" is because the Democratic Senators refuse to filibuster any of the Rethugs' anticonstitutional, pro corporate fascist bills, and they and the House Democrats are ineffective at getting their message out to the people.
THEY DON'T NEED THE MSM to GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT. They can send out mailers and email, not to mention sending in letters to the editors of newspapers and posting in blogs."

Well said, Kevin!
MORE to the point, every two years a major election rolls around, and even the media whores over at the Washington Ho Post and New York Slimes want to be in on "THE BIG STORY." And every two years, the Democrats scatter like quail before a Dick Cheney shotgun, and ALLOW the MAJORITY OF real ISSUES to go UNCONFRONTED.

IF *ALL* the Democrats GOT TOGETHER and DEMANDED (for example) that Chertoff and Brown be fired, and the White House investigated, for massive FEMA corruption and incompetence after Hurricane Katrina, even the Ho media would cover it. Ditto for one-thousand-and-one other issues. NEWT GINGRICH might be an unprincipled hack, but as a minority Congressman HE WAS ABLE to get his fellow Republicans to do just that, gather together on the Capitol steps in 1994, bypass the Democratic controlled Congressional message, and create a media event that the DC and national media just HAD to cover.

Indeed, even when the current crop of Senate Democrats DID get such a media event handed to them on a silver platter.... they blew it. Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont COURAGEOUSLY 'switched' parties, or 'defected' from the Republican Party, thereby handing the Senate Majority back to the Democrats in early 2002.
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=5465269&nav=menu183_2_9_3

In a text book example of the Democrats SITTING on and SMOTHERING the big issues of the day, Jefford's switch put TOM DASCHLE back in the Majority Leader's seat, and put Senator JOE LIEBERMAN back in the Chair of the Senate Governmental Affairs committee. Both Lieberman and Daschle and the rest of the Senate Democrats next DID NOTHING to AGGRESSIVELY INVESTIGATE and PROSECUTE the ENRON SCANDAL in the mid-term elections (the investigation ended up in Lieberman's committee, where he "WET-BLANKET" smothered it), thereby ROBBING mid-term Democratic candidates of THEIR BEST ISSUE, the ability to tie the Bush White House and Republican Congress to ENRON CORRUPTION. Daschle's, Lieberman's, and the Democrat's ABJECT FAILURE to prosecute Enron-Bush ties aggressively when they had the chance would ALLOW the Bush White House to do NOTHING as Enron next extorted billions of dollars from California rate-payers (electricity consumers) via rigged bids and coordinated grid and power-plant shutdowns. Having FAILED to protect American workers, investors, citizens, consumers, pensioners, and voters from Enron's Republican-backed systematic frauds, the Democrats next lost the California governor's office in the bogus "recall election.' Clearly, this self-destruction and betrayal of American citizens, and the Democrat's ensuing demise, is not entirely of the media's making.

KS also mentions another Democratic betrayal:
>

Every damn day the Bush White House pushes for more STALINIST repressive measures, and every day the damn Dems find new ways to scurry for their Georgetown cocktail party- and big-donor-lobbyist mouseholes. Even on LIFE and DEATH issues like TORTURE, and Rumsfeld's GROSS MISMANAGEMENT of the Iraq war, and the Bush White House using government contracts as a means to LOOT the treasury and defraud taxpayers - even Dick Cheney STILL having Halliburton stock in his portfolio, as he rewards that company he was once Chairman and CEO of with huge, no-bid, no-oversight contracts - the Democrats PREFER TO SIT ON THEIR HANDS and NOT make an issue of it. And John Kerry is no better than Joe Lieberman, he could have used his 2004 campaign to highlight Bush-Republican corruption, and REFUSED to do so.

[lawton watson]

I have to agree with verifi . Even though we are not the majority in congress there is still enough Democrats to effectively ban together and raises one hell of a stink that would have to be covered regardless of who owns the fucking media. Fourty four powerful senators could really skunk up any house. For some reason they just refuse to do it !

There are no Democrats, there are no Republicans, there are only people who don't
give a damn saying elect me again,"I need this job, just like you need your job".