This is how we can ENSURE & EXPEDITE the fall of bush*

[DagmarK]

I see a lot of posts on DU falling into two categories:

1) absolute elation that the press and many politicians and groups are standing up for the truth re reasons and justifications for war;

and

2) a bit of trepidation that maybe Bush* will get away with this as he has with sooooooo many treasonous crimes.

Now, personally, I think that Bush* is eventually going to fall on his own sword. I don't think this is going to go away.

But at the same time, we have some very desperate illegitimate high-level officeholders who will go to ANY length to turn this back around in their favor. The cost in actual LIVES, I fear, is quite high. I think many of agree that the BushCabal would create quite a disaster to turn this around.

So, the stakes are high.

But there is one thing that we can do to seal this and corner these bastards so that they can't STRIKE in some really horrible way. And so they can't just wiggle out of it with a wave of a royal hand.

We need to take to the streets, people. Like we did before. The difference today from Jan and Feb when millions marched in protest is: our platform is the same, and we have been proven RIGHT. The media is somehow turning around in the favor of TRUTH reporting. MANY high-level Congress people are also waking up. And many flag wavers have folded up their flags.

The ONLY thing that gives a president any legitmacy is public approval. That's why Karl Rove watches it like a ticker tape. Even the most evil warmongerer who stole the white house is not immune from low public approval ratings.

If Bill Clinton's numbers had been low during the impeachment process, he would have had to resign. That's the truth.

and that's the way it is with Bush as well.

And so we MUST rally the american people to speak their outrage. And to do that, we should NOT rely on Bob Schieffer or Peter Jennings to do this for us. We MUST take to the streets in large numbers. I have no doubt that the time is ripe for us to make our move.

A few DUers tried to elicit a committee of sorts to get a protest march together.....and that's what it remained: a few DUers.

Well, I challenge every politically active person on this board to stand up and put into action our GREATEST privilege and most powerful tool: The freedom to assemble.

Please commit yourself to this. It's the ONE THING that can totally ENSURE that this all gets taken care of expeditiously and judiciously. Oh yeah.....I believe and know this.

So......are we sitting back or are we REALLY ACTIVISTS here?

SEE LINK for a place to sign up:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=256&mesg_id=256&page=

[DagmarK]

1. Kick.......

I like this "view count" on DU2.......so I can get a very GOOD barometer reading on whether we are activists or people who just dig talking politics.

Almost 100 views.....I got one PM from someone interested in this.

[sam sarrha]

2. activism pretty much ended with the MURDERS at Kent State

the right wing ended activism against not only the Viet Nam war but public opposition against the goverment. it was some really serious mind control for the day, they didnt kill the protesters they murdered innocent bystanders. this gave the subliminal message not to even associate or be around anyone who was unhappy about the goverment. this was combined with the disappearances of tens of thousands of innocent people in central and south america who were just accused of being unhappy with a goverment supported by the usa, and provided with training and personel to oppress those people.

[DagmarK]

4. Where were you Jan 18th, and the following Feb and March 2003?

No, it isn't dead........

[aquart]

17. What a ridiculous thing to say. Activism is a phoenix.

It was reborn at Kent State. Good lord, that was the afternoon I sat in a deserted classroom with a group of spoiled scared fellow commuter students discussing how to make a molotov cocktail. If they were really coming for us, we intended to fight.

Instead, when no troops appeared, we poured in DC, telling the government what they could do with their war and their guns.

Every campus in this country was mobilized within hours of Kent State and that was before the internet, snookums.

[rhino91063]

3. I do what I can

Here is a link to sign a petition to the heads of the Senate for a full investigation.

http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/index.cfm?CFID=8437318&CFTOKEN=40323879

In addition, I patrol Yahoo news. If you see that the most popular pictures(by rating) shows the horrors of bush's war and the stories reflect the horrors and the lies, I might have had something to do with it.

[DagmarK]

5. That's cool Rhino......

I know.....we all do A LOT.......

But I just KNOW to the bottom of my bones that a huge turnout would have irreversibly positive impacts on this heinous situation.

Right to Assemble......is THE most powerful tool we have. WE the people are the 4th check/balance........

[msanger]

6. good idea but....

I marched in all the DC marches last year, and while they were great fun and got some press attention, I have to think that there might be other, more effective ways for us DUers to take action.

I don't know the forms it might take, but it seems like the internet is a very useful tool. I myself have created three sites designed to put the pressure on bush , and which just went up yesterday. It is just a small amount of pressure, but it is something.

I think emailing our friends to come to DU or KOS or some of the other excellent site might help move them out of the "uncommitted camp" into the activist camp. And being an activist can mean emailing their friends, donating money to the campaigns, joining moveon.org or who knows what.

Anyway, I hope the local organizing goes well, and you all come and visit us in DC in 2004for the first inaugoration (sp??) of an elected president in 8 years.

michael

[DagmarK]

9. Sounds good Msanger.....

but this time, we *do* have the press on our side.....that would make a big difference.

And the sense of commaradarie is quite the feather in one's hat.

I think I like your weaponsgate site more than your draftmccain site.......but that's to be expected, since I am a dem. :-)

[Augspies]

7. Dag, you are right.

I personally will construct a sign that says, "Bush lied, thousands died, vets denied" on it, and march down to Pack Square (That's our little protest place in Asheville, NC). I will be there every evening from 6pm to 7pm baring unforseen circumstances.

This is exactly what we need. Come on DU'ers it only takes a few of us to get it started.

Jeremy

[DagmarK]

8. You have sooooo inspired me Augspies!

Yeah.......only takes one person, one sign, one committment.....

COOL......if we can't muster up a protest in the 100 of 1000s......I will follow your lead.

Thanks!!!!

[drdigi420]

10. We have "BUSH LIED, PEOPLE DIED"

signs on our vehicles and have been posting them around town (ATL).

Grassroots WORKS! Keep it up!

[DagmarK]

11. Yet another sensational idea, drdigi!

You guys inspire me. Thanks

[drdigi420]

20. Thanks

Here's a URL to help you get started.

http://www.onwithyourhead.com/bushlied.pdf

Print and post it!

[w13rd0]

12. It can also be little things...

...I recall, as the drive for war reached peak volume, when the marches were occurring and dissent was being stifled, finding a special reassurance driving around my neighborhood. On every Stop Sign for a good two or three miles, someone had printed up a sticker that simply said WAR and put it beneath STOP. New stickers are now going up, over the WAR ones, that say BUSH.

I've also experimented with packaging some of the best Flash spots, PDFs of articles, and a few audio clips and protest songs, on those miniCDs, as multimedia (play in a CD player, the audio, or in a computer, for the data) and leaving them places.

Also, get a black magic marker, and start scrawling on your paper money. STOP BUSH, IMPEACH BUSH, BUSH LIED, etc.

If you have a palm, or a cellphone or PDA capable of IRDa, keep some info handy, and go places frequented by those likely to have receiving devices. Beam at random.

We have to bypass the corporate media. Make them follow us. There are ways to do that.

[Athame]

13. We just held our 44th weekly protest march in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara activists

some great pics here



After the invasion the numbers dwindled down to a few dozen--we had 8,000 at our February march to coincide with the NYC protest and averaged 800-1200 for most of the buildup. Last week, though we were still under 100, we got a lot more positive response from bystanders and traffic. People were honking and giving us the :thumbsup: all along the route. I do think there is an awakening, though it is slow and weak and could die out if we don't keep up the pressure.

Along with the marches, usually led by the Veterans for Peace, but sometimes by other groups, we have committees working on film festivals, voter registration, media teach-ins, and special demonstrations at the local defense corps (Raytheon, Applied Magnetics, etc.) and at Vandenberg AFB. We also had floats or entries in the famous Santa Barbara Summer Solstice parade and the 4th of July parade (where we did a Defend the Bill of Rights float with people dressed as the Statue of Liberty and Founding Fathers). The activists are spread over a number of groups, but we have gotten to know each other and there is a lot of overlap. One thing that has helped is to have a number of social events, potlucks, picnics, town hall meetings where people can just get together and share stories. We also want to build up the relationships in case the internet gets attacked. I love DU and other sites because I get my news and views here, but it is also important to grow local connections.

It is easy to get discouraged when the numbers go down, but we have to be in this for the long haul, forming a vision of what we want to create after the shrub* cabal goes down.

Ma

[DagmarK]

14. wow, Ma.....that's fantastic......

Sounds like you have really created a family-like community around the vision that you all share. No matter what happens......I think you are sitting pretty.

Due to my circumstances......I am not connected really to ANY group locally..... I should work on that.

[Athame]

15. We all need real companions in this effort

I don't know where you are, DagmarK, but there have to be candidate meetup groups in your area, NION groups, the Unitarian Universalist and Quaker congregations are good sources for information about activists in any community. We started with just a few e-mails to friends, saying, "let's meet at the park for a protest Saturday morning." In Santa Barbara there is a farmer's market every Saturday across the street from the park where we met. The word spread like wildfire (and around here that is not just a loose expression) and we had hundreds that first week. That was last September, before any of the big marches in San Francisco or LA or NYC or Washington. Then we called a town-hall meeting at the city library, put a public service announcement in the paper. Provide the opportunity and people will join you. Good luck.

This forum helps us to know we are not alone. I could not have kept myself motivated without DU! Thanks for starting this thread.

Ma

[DagmarK]

16. That's just a wonderful and incredible story........

I really think you should write a nice article about this experience of people coming together -- cause it's really inspiring on not just a "gee, we are politically empowered" level, but on a human, community level. Nice.

Yeah, there are lots of groups in Portland, Oregon (where I am).....I am remiss for not joining. But you know, when it comes to politics and this awful situation, my worst personality emerges! ACK! It really does. In "real life" I am gas to spend time with. But in Bush-fighting politics, I leave little to be desired. I could work on that I suppose, but there's just this burning ember inside me that is just soooooo outraged. Maybe I will get a punching bag! LOL

Anyways, thanks for the inspiration......what a great story!

[dawgman]

18. I write (and have been since before the SOTU) bush lied and

thousands died....on every dollar bill that passes through my hands. Small thing to be sure but just trying to reach folks I normally wouldn't contact.
peace, dawgman.

[kainah]

19. I never LEFT the streets

I've participated in between one and five peace events every week since January, unless I was sick or out of town, and that's in Laramie, Wyoming. Our group does a ton of activist stuff all the time. I encourage you to go to our website and get some ideas, as well as downloadable fliers and anything else that will inspire you.

I have to admit that sometimes I have my doubts about giving more money to DU because I wonder if it might not encourage people to spend too much time sitting in a cocoon with their computer friends rather than going out into the streets and telling people, visibly, dramatically, that this is simply not an acceptable substitute for our United States of America.

[jbm]

21. Hiya Kainah...

I hear what you're saying about about wondering if DU has an adverse effect on people taking action..and maybe it does on some,but it works the other way for me. I read what every one else is doing to spread the word,and it makes me realize that I have an obligation to spread it as well. Maybe it's that whole puritan work ethic thing going on,but the idea of sitting around while you guys are out there doing all the work makes me feel guilty as hell..not to mention unamerican. Sooo..in my own small little ways I'll be making signs and writing on dollars and doing what I can when I can..and as much as I'd like to believe that I'd be doing it anyway(and hopefully I'd do SOME of it anyway)most of it is directly because if DU. Thanks for all the stuff you've been doing!

[Athame]

23. Lots of great ideas at the Wyoming website StandUpForPeace

:hi: Kainah, I have to acknowledge it takes a whole lot of dedication to stand out there in a Wyoming winter! Santa Barbara is protest paradise compared to that.

[diamond14]

26. GO Wyoming! all YOUNG DRAFT-AGE people should look at

this photo...these are guys who got DRAFTED...once upon a time, they were JUST LIKE YOU, not wanting to die, not wanting to go, thinking it wasn't going to affect them, going to college, and then, they were "sucked into the intake....and then they were GONE" (Rumsfield, Jan.6 2003, Defense briefing)

look again at this photo...there are few YOUNG DRAFT-AGE people out there protesting...young people are NOT participating...if you want to LIVE, then you MUST get out and stand-up with these people...

remember...YOU will be drafted, and YOU will DIE or be horribly injured and disfigured if YOU don't stand-up to the bush*....what are your plans for action TODAY ????

[G_j]

22. ~bUMp~

:kick:

[rhino91063]

24. Bump

Got to make bush pay for his crimes!

[diamond14]

25. help organize, get active, write to YOUR congress reps...(links)

sign up here, start organizing in YOUR community, it's fun and easy, great way to make new friends and engage people in the RE-DEFEAT bush* in 2004...it's very important to start NOW....

http://www.democrats.com


here's a link to YOUR congess reps...if you want an investigation, which can lead to impeachment, let your congress reps know, TODAY...your life depends on YOUR actions...

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/