A Busy Few Days of Bailout Bullsh*t.

We've been told that our nation is close to financial collapse. We have been told that our only recourse is to hand over $700 Billion dollars to a former Wall Street executive with no rules for the spending of these dollars. Yesterday started early with preparations to demonstrate against the "bailout" in front of the White House. From there we went to support some homeless folks being thrown out of the only men's shelter in DC. That was pretty intense. We basically had a very slow walk around and around the intersection in front of the shelter during rush hour in Washington, DC. For some reason, fear leaves me in these times. It's empowering and I stop worrying about things that would normally make me pretty jumpy.



I have to say, this makes me nuts. When the people ask for universal healthcare, we are told that it would just be too expensive, drive taxes sky high and it would be far far too complicated a thing for the government to handle. Well my friends, you want to talk about too expensive, high taxes and complicated, let's take a look at this bailout ordeal.

People did try to get Washington to address the foreclosure problem, but they just couldn't really come through. Now, that the foreclosure issue hits the rich, the issue has become an Emergency.

On Monday, September 29 I joined Code Pink in a Die-in on the steps of the Congressional Office Building and in front of the Capitol. We started the day by visiting the offices of Rep. Barney Frank and Speaker Pelosi. After a lively debate, we went outside for a press conference. We were all dressed to represent a group of Americans who have been hurt by the economic nightmare, but not bailed out.





The full set of photos can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/2902735586/

Epic Fail, Wall Street Style

Yesterday, I attended the Senate Banking Committee hearing on the proposed $700 billion bailout. http://wsj.com/article/SB122217048963566935.html

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke were there to defend the request for this enormous bailout and to emphasize the gravity of the economic situation in which the United States finds itself. The questions got pretty darned heated and it was apparent that not one senator on that committee wanted to look like they were taking this request lightly.

The picture above was taken shortly after the beginning of the opening statements. I noticed that the seat I was in put me directly between Paulson and Bernanke. I had one sign with me that was made by my friend Gael. It had messages on both sides. There was this really uptight young woman sitting in front of me. She was clearly working for one of the gentlemen testifying. She first claimed that my seat was already taken, but it wasn't. she had two seats next to her saved with pieces of white paper that said. RESERVED. I turned around to Gael to borrow a marker and then I slipped one of those RESERVED papers right off the seat in front of me. With lolcats and the failblog on my mind* I hastily scrawled FAIL and held it up high between the Secretary and the Fed Chair. I could hear photographers giggling and clicking away.

The problem with these hearings (most of the time) is that the legislators get to ask questions and offer statements, but the people of the United States don't get the same opportunity unless they take it. Today, I took it.

*When I got home I checked http://icanhascheezburger.com/ and there was my picture. If I never acheive anything else in my life, getting my 15 minutes on icanhascheezburger will sustain me.

An Ode To Rowdy Broads!

http://picasaweb.google.com/RochesterAgainstWar/SarahPalinDoesNotSpeakForMe#






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I'm not nearly as articulate as my dear friend Lobo. I will let his words speak.

I get distracted by thoughts of rowdy broads. They're the greatest type of human beings I know. And youse women know who you are!! Blessed be the rowdy broads, for they'll save us all from the insanest of the insanity. All of y'all who ain't rowdy broads, youse guys are fortunate to know some, whether or not you're aware of it. Thank a rowdy broad for all she does every chance ya get. They EARN our gratitude in so many ways--

“Rowdy broad” is a term I use for strong wonderful women for whom I have the utmost respect and admiration. My grandmother was the original rowdy broad in my life. My mama is still a great rowdy broad. Most of the women I met at Camp Casey and at events in Washington, D.C. and other places are rowdy broads. Why? They take action and get shit done!

Rowdy broads are definitely individual singular people. Yet, they have certain attributes in common. They all have compassion, courage, altruistic motives, innate wisdom and strong Spirits. I love rowdy broads. All through history, rowdy broads have made major contributions to all positive changes.

One example of the far ranging impact: Rowdy broads from the nations of the Oneida, Mohawk, Seneca, Cayusa and Onondago united to end constant warfare and cause the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy. This confederacy was over 300 years old when Jefferson, Franklin and others studied its 3 branches of government to form the basis for our Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. A big part of ending the warfare was a sex strike. Thus, they also originated the concept which today is known as “Make love, not war”!

2 of only 4 (former) military officers I willingly and proudly salute are rowdy broads. All rowdy broads are Earth Mothers to me, though some are personally childless. Creating and sustaining a peaceful environment/society on any scale has always been matriarchal.

In the last few years I have had the honor and privilege to work with some incredibly rowdy broads. My relationships with them vary; mother, daughter, sister, friend. I still hope to marry one.

I applaud the rowdy broad as the ultimate status of womanhood a person of the female persuasion can attain. You are beautiful.

Walk In Beauty and PEACE Lobo

A Million Doors For Peace

Yesterday, September 20, was the day thousands of volunteers went out into the neighborhoods of this country and knocked on doors to talk about the war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

I went along with the members of the DC Code Pink chapter to knock on doors in Ashburn, VA. Why Virginia? Because the residents of Washington, DC don't have the full rights of citizens. The are not fully represented in Congress and live with archaic laws made for a day and time when DC was a slave plantation.

I partnered up with a lovely woman from Cleveland, Ohio and together we knocked on more than 80 doors. I cannot begin to tell you how empowering it is to actively participate in the antiwar movement and to find out that your neighbors share your views. Even the folks that don't agree with us seemed to understand why we do this work and are not too far away from us in our thinking.

The signatures collected yesterday by volunteers from all over the country will be delivered to congress on Thursday, September 25. You can bet that if there's a way for me to be there, I'll be there to witness the hand off of these signatures. It's not too late to stand up and be counted with the ranks of the peaceful. you can fill out the petition online at milliondoorsforpeace.org.



Other organizations participating in the campaign include: Catholics United, CodePink, MoveOn, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Progressive Accountability, Progressive Democrats of America, United for Peace and Justice, Voters for Peace, United Methodist Church-General Board of Church and Society, Organic Consumers Union, Democracy for America and Win Without War. Combined, the coalition boasts a membership in the millions and hundreds of state and local affiliates.

Sign up, volunteer and let's show Washington who's really the boss around here....us.

Shocking Footage: Politicians In Bed With Big Oil!

Dig my Oscar the Grouch slippers!

The idea that our nation's energy policy is bought and paid for by Big Oil is sadly not all that shocking. Yesterday, I joined a group of activists in front of the capitol to illustrate the fact that our government is literally in bed with the oil companies. Employees of the Department of the Interior (the agency responsible for the oversight of domestic oil production)have been found to be sleeping with and sharing drugs with lobbiest from the oil companies. The energy policy of our country has been sold to the highest bidder and we the people have to foot the bill.

Check out more photos from yesterday!

http://whitehouseprotest.org/index.php/20080918116/Congress-in-Bed-with-Big-Oil.html