[Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] Iraq war protest today, 5pm, Vets Memorial Urbana, rain or shine.

[C. G. Estabrook]

Bob--

Does it disturb you at all that the Democrats, having a majority in the 
Senate, could abolish the filibuster rule any time they wanted to?  (The 
Republicans set out how it would be done in the last Congress: they 
called it, with obscene self-importance, "the nuclear option.")

It's clear why the Democrats don't want to do that and prefer posturing, 
as in tonight's session. Senator Hagel, one of the sponsors of the bill 
being blocked by the Republicans' filibuster, let the cat out of the bag 
tonight when he admitted his bill would neither end the war nor remove 
US troops from Iraq.

Democrats want the anti-war cachet without really changing US policy in 
the Middle East.  Some protesters pointed that out when the Democrats 
tried to hold a rally outside the Capitol this evening. "'Stop financing 
the war,' several anti-war activists chanted as Reid exhorted about 300 
protestors [sic] to back Democratic efforts in the Senate" (AFP). --CGE


Robert Naiman wrote:
> There will be a "Citizens' Counter-Filibuster" today (Tuesday) at 5pm
> at the Champaign County Veterans' Memorial, Broadway and Main, Urbana
> (next to the old county courthouse and across from the parking garage,
> 1 block north of Lincoln Square.)
> 
> We will be protesting threats by the Senate Republican leadership to
> block by filibuster any legislative effort to end the Iraq War and
> bring the troops home. We'll be reading stories from military families
> and veterans.
> 
> Sponsored by MoveOn's Operation Democracy, Americans Against the
> Escalation in Iraq, and Just Foreign Policy.
> 
> You can "RSVP" and find more info here:
> http://political.moveon.org/event/counterfilibuster/39352
> 
> Here is an article about the filibuster threat and Senator Reid's
> announcement that he would challenge the filibuster by forcing the
> Senate into all-night session:
> 
> Reid To Force Senate Into All-Night Session Tuesday
> http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/2007/07/reid-to-force-senate-into-all-night.html 
> 
> 
> Weather.com says there is a 40% chance of precipitation at 5pm, so you
> might want to bring an umbrella, etc.
> 
> The other way of looking at it is that there is a 60% chance of no
> precipitation...we'll be there in any event.
> 
> Candles and signs focussed on bringing the troops home and ending the
> war are also welcome. Signs and candles will also be provided.
> 
> Questions:
> Robert Naiman
> Just Foreign Policy
> 217-344-3354
> naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
> www.justforeignpolicy.org
> _______________________________________________
> Peace mailing list
> Peace at lists.chambana.net
> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace