[Peace-discuss] Tim Johnson congratulated us on being consistent

Thu Dec 10 12:04:38 CST 2009

Hi Steve,

    I share your concerns regarding Mr. Johnson.   We are suddenly to believe "pledges" made by Mr. Johnson, the man who signed a pledge to vacate Washington, D.C. by 2006 (a "pledge" which permitted him to win a narrow victory in a hotly-contested Republican primary in 2000)?  Actions like voting to invade Iraq (an action I publicly opposed) speak much louder than words, especially actions that cost the blood of millions, and the lost opportunities that a trillion dollars would have brought to the American people and the world.  And has Mr. Johnson even actually made such a  "pledge" publicly?  If so, can Mr. Estabrook actually reference it for us?  I read Mr. Johnson's press releases very closely, and while he calls for "responsible" withdrawal from Afghanistan, I can't find the call for "immediate" withdrawal which Mr. Estabrook ascribes to Mr. Johnson.

      Finally, to set the record straight:  I am not the "putative" Democratic candidate for Illinois' 15th district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2010 election, as described by Mr. Estabrook.  I am the true and actual candidate, as evidenced by a quick look at the web site of the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Thanks,
David Gill, M.D.

________________________________
From: Steve Cox <coxsg at sbcglobal.net>
To: Peace-discuss List <Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>; Karen Medina <kmedina67 at gmail.com>; tif-cu at googlegroups.com
Cc: Quakers <ucfriendsmeeting at gmail.com>; tif-cu at googlegroups.com; David Gill <docgill37 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Wed, December 9, 2009 5:46:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Tim Johnson congratulated us on being consistent

Ladies and gentlemen, I find it very hard to consider Representative Johnson's current conclusions as anything other than political posturing.  With President Obama, a Democrat, holding the responsibilities for our Executive Branch of government, it is very convenient for Mr. Johnson to take a studied perspective of our military involvement in Iraq and Afganistan.  The real time for Mr. Johnson to have made indications or even statements of his differing conclusions was when President Bush was in office.  That was the time that he needed to make a devout expression of concern and conscience in opposition to the war and torture.  That is when he should have stood up for truth, justice and human dignity.   The truth is he did not.  He failed to serve the 15th Congressional District with the complete devotion that his office called upon him to present.

I believe a person stands for what is right no matter what the personal cost when they see something wrong being done or is projected to be done.  The truth is what matters.  The United States of America should never have attacked and invaded the country of Iraq.  Once that was factually known, our nation should have confessed that error and done everything possible to make appropriate restitution. Our complicity is due to the fact that we, the people of this nation, did not make our leaders in Congress and the Executive Branch pronounce that open and clear statement to the world.

Please do not misunderstand.  I favor Mr. Johnson's new position.  I encourage your solicitation of him to sponsor measures for peace and against torture.  But I find it hard to believe that his change of mind or repackaging of his old positions is anything other than political gamesmanship.

Thank you for the work you individually and collectively have performed to help us move to a better time and better world for all.  Please never feel that your efforts are not enough, not important or have little results.  The fact that you care for another human being is the greatest gift you can give to our world.

Forgiveness and love are appropriate for Mr. Johnson, too.  But wisdom cautions us to know and understand who he is and what he has done or not done.

Respectfully,

Steve Cox   

--- On Sun, 12/6/09, Barbara kessel <barkes at gmail.com> wrote:

>From: Barbara kessel <barkes at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Tim Johnson congratulated us on being consistent
>To: "Peace-discuss List" <Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>, "Karen Medina" <kmedina67 at gmail.com>
>Cc: "Quakers" <ucfriendsmeeting at gmail.com>, tif-cu at googlegroups.com
>Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009, 10:54 PM
>
>
>Thanks, Karen for passing this on. i agree with others: Let's give Tim Johnson a hand officially. He didn't just change his mind; he acknowledged that AWARE has been consistent.  
>
>
>There is a related issue that REP. TIM JOHNSON has been relatively good about: TORTURE. The National Religious Coalition Against Torture will be meeting with him (probably in Washington D.C.) this Wednesday to ask him to be a co-sponsor of a bill to establish a select committee to review our past interrogation practices and recommend future restrictions.
> NRCAT asks us who are in his district to start calling his office to urge him to be a co-sponsor. Same time we can thank him for coming to the right conclusion on the wars. Two reasons to call! 
>Please give Tim Johnson a call this week sometime. Washington D.C. (202) -225-2371 or 2004 Fox Drive, (217) 403-4690. 
>
>
>Barbara Kessel
>
>
>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>--- On Sat, 12/5/09, Karen Medina <kmedina67 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>From: Karen Medina <kmedina67 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>Subject: [Peace-discuss] Tim Johnson congratulated us on being consistent
>>>>>>To: "Peace-discuss List" <Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
>>>>>>Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 6:10 PM 
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Peace-discuss,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Representative Tim Johnson approached the AWARE table at the Holiday
>>>>>>Market while it was personed by Dave Harley and Stuart Levy. Tim
>>>>>>congratulated us on being consistent from the beginning, Tim now
>>>>>>believes that he was wrong twice and regrets his mistakes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>Peace-discuss mailing list
>>>>Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
>>>>http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
>>>> 
>>>
>>>
________________________________

>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Peace-discuss mailing list
>>>Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
>>>http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
>>>  
>>
>>_______________________________________________
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>>Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
>>http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
>>
>>
>
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