Maine Owl

What they bought in the junked-up appropriations bill:


Robert Greenwald collects the bits of news that Americans get and weaves in the real story of Afghanistan

Now that the U.S. Senate has voted 91-5 to extend and expand war in south Asia, the Democrats have no more excuses. They really, really own the wars now.

I'm just glad our two Reps. have courage of their convictions. Let's not let them (or Obama) forget that a lot of us out here want funding attached to a plan to bring the troops home, not just more Bush-like blank checks.

And let's not let the Leadership forget that the excuse they used last year--a "hostile" White House made them do it--doesn't work any more. Sadly, President Obama, Rahm Emanuel, and Democratic Congressional Leadership now are all too happy. The faux disgust of Speaker Pelosi after the War Supplemental passed last year gave way this year to a sickening display of glee by top Democrats. Their conduct should be that of a funeral.

Progress made, 36 of 39 votes needed to block war funding secured in House, Michaud and Pingree still both reported by staff to be voting "no"

I called Mike Michaud?s D.C. office around noontime today. Mike is holding "no" on the War Supplemental. He is standing by his original statement against the bill:

Just like the Iraq War, I believe that we need an exit strategy for our operations in Afghanistan. Until I see clearly defined benchmarks for progress and a plan to bring our troops home, I will continue to oppose these types of funding measures.

Still, the discussion with the staffer included the quote, "as of now." So it is imperative to continue making calls!

The bill number is H.R. 2346.These direct links to the Representatives give full contact information:

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE MICHAUD
REPRESENTATIVE CHELLI PINGREE

The scorecard by Jane Hamsher at Fire Dog Lake suggests 36 of 39 needed House anti-war no votes are of this moment confirmed.

Now, HERE is something unbelievably awesome!! Our good work is noticed!



I've struggled for a long time (six years) of marginally-read blogging, often wondering if it was even slightly worth it. At moments like this, when a small group of committed people take on a wrong policy that appears to be sailing, unhindered by the slightest consideration of its morality--and we make some progress--yes, every word of every post suddenly seems a lot more worthwhile.

AND BIG THANK YOUS TO REPRESENTATIVES MIKE MICHAUD AND CHELLI PINGREE. You listen. You help make Maine's politics some of the best anywhere.

A chapter out of the book of Delay

House Democratic leadership very much wants the IMF credits to ride through on the War Supplemental. I thought that since November 2006 the public had voted for "change" in Washington D.C. I guess not.

House Democrats Pressed to Back War Supplemental
CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE | June 12, 2009 ? 1:56 p.m.

Despite deals cut late Thursday to wrap up the fiscal 2009 war supplemental, some House Democrats say they do not yet have enough support to pass the final bill. ...

Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami said the Speaker continues to push for support for the bill. "The vote is scheduled for next week, and we're moving forward," he said.

Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California, a leader of the antiwar Democrats, said the White House is threatening to withdraw support from freshmen who oppose the bill, saying "you'll never hear from us again."

She said the House leadership also is targeting the freshmen.

"It's really hard for the freshmen," she said. "Nancy's pretty powerful."

Funny how this beltway drama is generating very little news coverage. There were a few articles today.

H/T Gerald & Jane Hamsher.

Update: Read THIS. It emphasizes that it is the White House that is dealing out threats to freshmen Democrats.

HERE is a complete run-down on the War Supplemental, showing its pork in full bloom. Be sure to read through the excellent comment by Hugh.

Emanuel making like Pink Floyd as the pork flies

THIS is amazing:

Rahm's Game Plan: Blackmail Progressives With "Cash For Clunkers"
Jane Hamsher | Thursday June 11, 2009 7:00 am

Sources on the Hill say they've never seen anything like it coming out of the White House. Rahm is dealing as furiously as he did during NAFTA, and will stuff everyone with so much pork that they have to vote for the supplemental.

They will evidently try to jam Cash for Clunkers into the conference report -- a $4 billion bid to buy votes from progressives in auto manufacturing states ...

We have another chance to block funding for war expansion. A couple of weeks ago, it looked like the $100 billion War Supplemental (H.R. 2346) would pass through Congress with hardly a bleat of opposition. To their great credit, Maine's two Representatives, Chelli Pingree (1st Congressional District) and Mike Michaud (2nd Congressional District) joined a small group of 60 in the House who opposed the original bill. Unfortunately the off-budget appropriation for continuing and expanding the U.S. south Asian military adventures (including full-throated covert war) flew through both chambers in May.

However, in reconciling the passed versions in conference, there were two extremely interesting developments. First, an outrageous provision was added at the behest of the Pentagon, the CIA, and the White House to carve out a special exception to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This would have prevented the release of detainee abuse photos. Supposedly, the sky would fall if more visual evidence of American war conduct became public.

Glenn Greenwald has much, much MORE on the story and implications of the Graham/Lieberman amendment, now apparently out of the conference report.

Second, a $5 billion appropriation for guaranteeing $100 billion in IMF credits to troubled foreign financial institution was added by the Senate. It quickly became evident that this provision is extremely dear to the administration and its chief bailout enabler, Rep. Barney Frank.

The foreign bailout provision has peeled off all of the Republicans. From my own point of view, I agree with THIS piece on how the IMF imposes destructive neoliberal policies, "forcing draconian budget cuts and high interest rates that are strangling economic activity" in countries where poverty already is endemic.

So, the handful of anti-war and progressive Democrats who initially voted no on the War Supplemental--including Mike and Chelli--now are essential for the administration to switch to yes in order to get it passed.

We know what to do. Call Mike and Chelli right away with your views, and ask them specifically how they are planning to vote on the supplemental. It would be helpful to report your results HERE.

Below is the Kucinich/Woolsey letter urging colleagues to oppose the War Supplemental:

More of it HERE from NPR.

Killed for their hospitality

Destruction of defenseless civilians is the main outcome of U.S. drone attacks, as in the Pakistani village of Khaisor on May 20. According to a dear friend of the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine:

Kathy Kelly: A U.S. drone airplane fired a missile at the village at 4:30 AM, killing 14 women and children and 2 elders, wounding eleven. The previous day, some travelers had come to Khaisor, and the villagers had served them a meal. "This is our custom," my friend relates. "It is our traditional way." But these travelers were members of the Taliban, and their visit was noted by U.S. forces. It is possible they were identified through pictures taken by unmanned U.S. drones. Although the visitors had left right after their meal, the U.S. responded to this act of hospitality by bombing the homes of the hosts early the following morning.

Write to President Obama and ask him how he would feel if his own wife and children were buzzed and then blown to bits by a diabolical remote-control killing machine.