They Did What !

There is a phrase (from Martin Luther King) quoted by Barack Obama in many of his speeches. He speaks of “the fierce urgency of now” - an apt description of what is needed today. A sense of urgency inspires people to act. Without action, we cannot stop this administration’s continuing assault on our Constitution and the freedoms it guarantees. So the question is how to make people aware of “the fierce urgency of now.”

Perhaps a good place to start is with the gross misunderstandings of today. There seem to be many people who are unable to differentiate between partisan issues and American issues. Partisan issues such as taxes, spending, and social programs have always been viewed differently by Democrats and Republicans and that has helped to maintain a balance in our country. But American issues such as the Constitution, government checks and balances, and the freedoms inherent in our way of life, have traditionally been protected by both Democrats and Republicans. Today it is obvious that many politicians, of both parties, put loyalty to their party or their large contributors before loyalty to their country.

Sentimentality and feel good verbiage have replaced honest patriotism. While our country is being devoured from within, we alternate between waving flags and cowering in fear. Where is the outrage as Congress continues to allow Bush and Co. to unravel the very fabric of our society? What happened to the momentum exhibited in the 2006 election when we sent a message that we’d had enough? Why are we allowing business as usual to continue? Just look at what some of our so called representatives are doing.

Diane Feinstein: With her vote to confirm Mukasey on the grounds that he would be better than an acting AG appointed by Bush, went the responsibility to ensure that Mukasey does what he was confirmed to do - restore the creditability of the Department of Justice. So where was the outrage with Mukasey’s recent interference with the congressional investigation of the destruction of CIA tapes because they would hinder his investigation?

Joe Lieberman: It is hard to think of this Senator as anything but Israel’s representative in our government. He sides with anyone who is promoting something that benefits Israel and the interests of our country come in a poor second. No one should be surprised at his endorsement of McCain, the gung-ho Iraq war candidate.

John McCain: With a majority of Americans calling for our withdrawal from Iraq, McCain, while campaigning to represent the people of America as their president, supports ongoing occupation and permanent military bases in Iraq. He even claims that Americans aren’t opposed to this idea as long as we keep the body count low. What America does he think he is representing?

Nancy Pelosi: The biggest disappointment to date from the 2006 Democratic win is Pelosi. She was going to do this, she was going to do that, but as my grandmother used to say, she wound up doing wonders in her drawers. Pelosi caved and pulled an amendment that would have forced President Bush to come to Congress for specific authorization before attacking Iran. Either Pelosi and other Democrats are buying into Bush’s lies about Iran just as they did about Iraq or they are under the ridiculous illusion that Bush will request such authorization. Jim Webb is more realistic. He stated:

[T]he President's "signing statement" accompanying the 2002 congressional resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq indicates that this Administration believes it possesses the broadest imaginable authority to commence military action without the consent of the Congress.

All of this gives me a sense of urgency, about our Constitution and the weakening of its protections; about the checks and balances built into our government that no longer work; about the daily encroachment on our freedoms. If you do not feel a sense of urgency, perhaps you are not paying attention.